Fun at Pretend City in Irvine

Address: 29 Hubble, Irvine
Hours: 10am-5pm (closes at 1pm on Mondays)
Ages: Infants to 8 years old (I recommend walking to 6 years old)
Admission price: $12.50/per person (adults must pay admission, under 12 months are free)

Pretend City is one of my favorite places to take the kids. There's so much for the kids to do that we rarely get to everything in one visit. The toys and facility looks sparkly clean even though the place is crawling with grubby hands. But the best part is that there are volunteers everywhere returning the toys to their proper homes.

There are so many exhibits to explore and keep the kids busy.

Amphitheater

What kid doesn't want to be the center of attention on stage? There are usually costumes, props, and/or musical instruments available so that the kids can really get into it. My kids' favorite part is the sound and lighting panel. It's the perfect example of cause and effect. Push a button and something cool happens.

Parenting is...

...counting down until wine o' clock and bedtime

I love spending time with the kids. We have fun making random crafts out of whatever I have laying around the house, riding bikes while ringing all of the neighbors' doorbells to see who can come out to play, and playing with the 5.892 millions toys in the living room all at once; but by the afternoon, I'm done and cannot wait until I can relax with a glass of wine and watch a mindless tv show that is not on the Disney Junior channel.

...repeating yourself

Sometimes, or all of the time rather, I think it would be easier to just talk to the wall. "Hello? Hello? Is this thing on <tap, tap>?"

...wiping butts and faces (not in that order)

My daughter is potty trained but she cannot be trusted to wipe her booty just yet so I'm still on the hook for two clean booties not including my own. And there's the other end too. How can so much food end up around the mouth and so little food end up in the mouth?

Disneyland's Diamond Celebration

As if Disneyland couldn't get any more magical, Disneyland has been blinged out to the max to celebrate their 60th anniversary.

To help celebrate the diamond jubilee, Disneyland has debuted a new fireworks show and nighttime parade, "Paint the Night," and California Adventure revamped the "World of Color" show. And, of course, an array of bejeweled 60th anniversary merchandise has been added to store shelves and "special edition" food items has been added to park menus.

The celebration kicked off on Friday, May 22, 2015, with Disneyland's annual open-24-hour-you're-insane-to-go day. My cheapy pass was blocked off that day, but I did occasionally (or obsessively, if you ask my husband) check in on their live streaming cameras. To give you an idea of how hysterically ridiculous it was at the park, people were camping out the day before, Thursday, as early as 2pm; and the park was at full capacity by the early Friday afternoon causing Disneyland to shut its gates.

I did sneak away the following Monday night to check it out. Being that the kiddos are a little on the young side for a 9:30pm fireworks show, I haven't seen the fireworks in years so I was very anxious and excited to see how the new show. I arrived at the park at 6:30pm and Main Street was already full of visitors staking out their spots for the parade and fireworks show. Lucky for me, I was able to snag a seat right in front of the castle.

From left to right: Paint the Night Float with Peter Pan, Mach from Cars, Anna and Elsa