Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Knott's Berry Farm

On the last day of our vacation, we went to Knott's Berry Farm! Tim's dad was able to get us some free tickets (score!) and came along with us! We have been reading about and watching Charlie Brown and Snoopy since Brooke was little so we knew she would enjoy Knott's. We spent most of our time on the kid rides and walking around, with a nice lunch break at the restaurant there. Here are some highlights from our day!


daddy and Brookie on the hot air balloon ride




She was brave and even rode rides all by herself!


Carousel! I think we rode 5 different carousels during our vacation! It's a favorite!


playing games!


Tim's dad watched Brayden so Tim and I could go on the Log ride with Brooke!






She loved it!

Grandpa Brown and Brookie girl Schroeder


Sally

SNOOPY


Waiting for the show

3 Brown men



such a big girl
She finally got to ride a roller coaster. She was just barely tall enough to ride the kid roller coaster! She loved it and wanted to go again!







She loves her brother, although he was not wanting her to hug him, obviously!




Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Our Little PRINCESS!!!

When I was pregnant with Brooke, Tim and I talked about all the things we would encounter in life with having a daughter. One of the things we talked about was that we didn't want her to be one of those girls who was a "princess", and by "princess" we meant we didn't want her to have an attitude of entitlement or arrogance. From the time she was little we didn't let her have any "princess" toys, movies, clothes, etc...We watched non-princess Disney movies, in fact, we stuck mostly to Pixar movies (Toy Story, Monsters Inc., Nemo, etc.). We had bought a big book of a bunch of Disney stories that we would read to her at night sometimes. That book did have a couple of Princess stories in it, and about a year ago, Brooke started telling us she was a princess. I was serioulsy shocked that she had picked that up and it stuck...it stuck hard.

Right away anytime she would tell us she was a princess, Tim would tell her that she was a SERVING princess. Someone even bought us a book called the Servant Princess. It is just crazy to me that there is just something about girls and princesses. We have embraced the princess craze and talk about the characteristics of a serving princess. A princess should be loving, kind, humble, putting others before herself...all qualities a true princess (a daughter of THE KING) should strive to have.


All that to say, the term "princess" has a new meaning in our household, and have since watched all of the Disney princess movies and her favorite has become Beauty and the Beast. We bought her a Belle dress before we left and told her she could wear it to Disneyland. We decided to let her wear it on our 2nd day in the park, because we knew that would be our long day. We also tried to plan on meeting as many princesses as we could that day as well!Twirling in front of the castleThey had a couple princesses outside by the castle: first stop...Cinderella




Sleeping Beauty


There is a cute, interactive show that they teach you how to dance and bow like a princess


Then the princesses come out and dance with you


Then they got to dance around the maypole...as you can tell from her expression, she didn't really get this :)

After the dance she got to meet Snow White




After the show we (and by we I mean Brayden and I) stood in the longest line we stood in the whole time we were at Disneyland...the Princess Fantasy Faire line. Tim took Brooke to get some food and walk around! Best idea!





First Princess after the SUPER long line...Ariel! Brooke and Ariel talked for awhile. Brooke was being typical Brooke and saying typical Brooke things, like when Ariel asked who her Beast was, since she was dressed as Belle, She replied with, "ummm, Cinderella". Ariel talked to her about her birthday and they both were laughing and talking like they were best friends. It was sooo cute!

Brooke could spot Jasmine and got a little distracted, but we managed to get a picture of them together. Ariel came up to me after the picture and said that Brooke was so cute and seriously just made her day!

We moved on to the next princess, which was Belle! Brooke loved that they were matching! She was able to see that there were other princesses in the room and started to get distracted so we told her that we could take a picture and move on to go meet the other ones. Brooke was not fond of that idea...she ignored us and told Belle she wanted to play hide and seek with her. We tried to stop her and explain that there were a lot of other little girls waiting to meet Belle, but before we could finish, Belle said SURE! So we watched our little Belle play hide and seek with the "real" Belle!

apparently the best spot to hide is behind her! haha!

After hide and seek Brooke finally took a picture and reluctantly moved on...


...to Tiana. So, what was the first thing Brooke said to Tiana? Yep, you guessed it. "Let's play hide and seek! You hide and I'll count." Tiana didn't miss a beat...We are starting to feel bad because there are a ton of people waiting and all the kids before us just took a picture and maybe signed an autograph. Then there is my kid who thinks the Princesses are there just for her!
found you!
Brooke's turn to hide





Tiana found her!

Time for a picture!


While all of the hide and seek was happening, Ariel had stopped the line of people, got Belle, and they both headed over to watch Brooke. While Brooke was hiding from Tiana, Ariel and Belle stood in front of Jasmine to hide her from Brooke


Ariel asked her where Jasmine was


can't fool my girl


They were all telling her where to look

She finally found her!

It was such a special memory for Brooke (and us too!!) They made her feel so special! And of course, when anyone makes it a priority to make your child feel special, you can't help but be grateful!


Asking Jasmine where her prince was :)


Our sweet little princess, we love you!