Father's Day Weekend in SoCal – Part 2 of 3

Saturday, June 17th
Vivian, Carrie, and I had tickets to see the Sesame Street Live production Elmo Makes Music, a 10:30 am showing. Hmmm. We typically refer to an afternoon show as a matinée but what is a morning show called? I googled it and matinée is the French word for morning but has been taken to mean anytime before evening. So now, even though it seems to be redundant, the custom is to clarify this showtime as a morning matinée. There! Now you have another wrinkle in your brain you did not need.

Vivian was subdued during the performance, but seriously engaged, taking it all in. She did not participate in any dancing in the aisles but she did enjoy the show.

The storyline was that the truck carrying the new music teacher's instruments was late in arriving and so the residents of Sesame Street had to make their own instruments, at least temporarily.

At intermission, Carrie texted Dan a picture of Vivian and me standing in the aisle with a vendor with in the background holding a huge bundle of helium balloons. Dan was with Frank at the time and, showing him the picture he said, "Hey Dad, bet ya five bucks Viv comes home with one of those." Frank refused to take the bet and yes, Grandma did get her one of those balloons that had Cookie Monster on one side and Elmo on the other.

On the way out after the show I also let Vivian pick whatever she wanted from the souvenir stand. She selected a Big Bird plush toy. Here we are after her afternoon nap, Vivian, Big Bird, and me watching the movie Sing.

Vivian loves the song Pig Dance, as she calls it, from the movie Sing. Dan plays it in the car for her. I learned how to locate it on the computer next to her bed so that when I tucked her in one night she could listen to it as she fell asleep. The song is actually titled Shake It Off. For those curious, there is a YouTube excerpt of a movie scene where the pigs Rosita (Reese Witherspoon) and Gunter (Nick Kroll) are performing it.

Carrie is a planner. Saturday morning was Sesame Street Live, Saturday afternoon was a friend Brock's 30th birthday party and Saturday evening was a music concert in a neighborhood park. Frank and I offered to stay home with the kids at the afternoon party and let Dan and Carrie go alone, without kids in tow, martyrs that we are. I think their friends were a bit envious of Dan and Carrie's unfettered free time. For Frank and me, we got to stay in where it was cool, sit on a comfy couch instead of a hard bench, and maybe even sneak in a bit of a nap when the two girls did. It was a win-win.

Dinner later that evening at the park was "gourmet" hotdogs. The home owners' association had hired a vendor truck to park curbside and sell a variety of wiener options.

As the evening rolled around the weather cooled and sitting outdoors in the park was glorious. Frank and I enjoyed relaxing.

The concert music was a bit of country western with some line dancing being taught. I line danced some, carrying and bouncing Lillian. She may be tiny but it was still a workout for me. I am front and center wearing lilac pants bouncing along after the leader in white boots and white lace dress. Lillian was good natured about it all even though she appears as if she is going to slip right out of my arms.

Frank seemed to have fun mingled with the kiddos, too.

Sunday June 18th

Sunday was Father's Day and we had reservations for a late brunch at the Storyteller Cafe associated with the Grand Californian Hotel at the Disneyland Resort. What better place to spend Father's Day than at Disney!

Characters roamed the dining room during the buffet stye brunch. Chip and Dale visited our table as did Pluto and a Bear. Dale took a liking to me. It was mutual.

He even danced with me to a Disney tune, hoedown style.

Dale let me touch his nose.

Vivian, seeing Grandma's bravery, tentatively touched that red orb also.

But turn about was not fair play. "You're not touching my nose," Vivian tells Dale. Lillian was fascinated.

Dale offered his paw to Lillian for touching. Perhaps his nose was a bit sore by this time.

But then the two of them did get up close and personal.

Pluto was very social too. He very patiently let Lillian explore his whiskers.

He offered Vivian high five.

Pluto hung out with Frank like the two of them were best buds.

One of the stars of Bear Country ambled over for a visit.

I reminded Vivian of one of the songs she'd sung at graduation, Goin' On A Bear Hunt.

 Lillian seems curious. After all she is safe in her mama's arms.

 But then she turns toward me as if to ask, "Is this guy for real?"

Our brunch was a great success. All six of us were all were quite full with great food and fun character visits.

We had driven the 23 mile, ~30 minute route from Lake Forest to Anaheim in two vehicles, so after our meal Carrie was able to take the girls home for their naps. Frank and I had not been in Downtown Disney for a while so we elected to stay behind and explore a bit. We walked the length of Downtown Disney and back but decided the stores were not our age demographic. They were too "hip" for us. See? I do not even know the contemporary equivalent of the term "hip". We did like meandering through the Disney Store with Dan and seeing all the character paraphernalia, but we did not buy anything. It was pretty hot out so we went back to the lobby of the Grand Californian to cool off and relax.

We had an another ulterior motive for staying behind. Dan had needed to be at the Grand Californian mid-morning to monitor his company's progress on their job of refurbishing its lobby. Dan is the project manager for the renovation. Frank and I had ridden in with him earlier before our scheduled brunch reservation since we were curious as to what was being done and his involvement. Learning about that was another treat for our Father's Day and the subject of my next post.