Dance party.

Linna was reunited with her British bestie Lottie last night, at a BBQ at the Legg's condo. Linna and Lottie met in Singapore when they were infants, and they've been the best of friends ever since! Love watching these two grow up together...

Flashback: Linna and Lottie when they first met back in 2012. Tiny babies!

Riding her scooter.

It's a Singaporean thing. EVERY kids has one, and I swear I've seen babies riding these things. So Papa Saigh has been teaching Linna how to ride her new scooter. Today, she showed off her skills, all by herself... In her undies (it's hot here yo!). You go girl!

Chinese new year party at school.

Tomorrow marks the Chinese New Year holiday... the year of the horse. This is a HUGE celebration in Singapore! People are off from work, there's parades, festivals, and parties all over the island, and of course lots of eating. Today, Linna's school celebrated the Chinese New Year with a little party of their own this morning. The kids dressed in red and orange, sang songs, ate snacks and sweets... kicking off a five-day weekend!

Linna and her teacher Kuan Laoshi.

Linna in her Chinese New Year dress from Elly in Singapore.

Linna and her school principal, Mrs. Loy.

Do you know tough it is to get four kids to look at the camera at the same time?!
Linna with her three other classmates: Alissalah, Emilia, and Avik.

Papa Saigh dropped her off at school today, but Mama Saigh picked
her up! We love our little bug.

The school children dancing and singing at assembly this morning. Can you spot Linna?

DIY mailbox for kids.

This is the easiest and cheapest DIY project ever! Our 2-year-old has been all about "mailing" things lately. She's constantly trying to put objects in any type of compartment or hole she can find (this could get awkward really soon, I'm sure). So yesterday, I found an old box, cut off the closure flaps, cut a slit into the side of the box, and created a little mailbox for our little postal delivery worker. I painted it white because we had some left-over white paint in the house, wrote "MAILBOX" on it in big letters with a marker, and turned the box's closure flaps (from the bottom of the box) into letters that she can "mail". I'm sure I could have made this much fancier, but hey... I didn't. Super easy and our 2-year-old is obsessed.

Now where can I find cute postal worker dress-up clothes?

Minnesota snow-day indoor activities for kids.

School is canceled. It's too cold to go outside. And the kids are home (yikes!). Here's a list of 10 things to do with the kids indoors on a snow day...

1. Skype with relatives who live far away.

2. Get a head-start on Valentine's Day. Have the kids make Valentines to send to grandparents, teachers, aunts, uncles, and cousins, and pop them in the mail when it's finally warm enough to go outside. Pinterest-search for items you have in your house (Example search: Valentine's Day Craft Toilet Paper Roll), and craft ideas that you never thought of will pop up!

3. Have the kids help organize their room and play room. Go through the closet, donate what doesn't fit, and find toys they don't play with anymore, so they can do a toy "swap" with friends.

4. Have the kids plan dinner. Let the kids look through the refrigerator and cupboards, and have them make a dinner menu, and help serve the meal. You'll get some "free"/quiet time while they write out and design their own menus.

5. Make silly videos. Ask the kids to put on costumes, make up a story to act out, then set up the camera or your phone and let them shine! These video will be fun for the whole family to watch together.

6. Have a tea party. Let the kids help make tea sandwiches (PB&J is always a winner) using cookie cutters, and have them serve their stuffed animal friends.

7. Act out a storybook. A parent or caregiver reads the book out loud, while the kids act out the story. Have the camera rolling on your little actors and actresses, so they can watch their performance afterwards.

8. Paint the windows. Let kids use washable finger-paints to make art. Have a washrag and/or a full bathtub waiting for the mess!

9. For Toddlers: Use egg cartons to sort and count small, colorful objects.

Idea and photo courtesy of What Do We Do All Day blog.

 10. Indoor Science Fun: The Kitchen Pantry Scientist shared some fun and easy ideas with Chris and Elizabeth on Twin Cities Live. Click on the photo below to see the video of all the ideas.

What are other ideas that YOU have for a snow day with kids?!

Our little monkey.

I present to you "Five Little Monkeys" by 2-year-old Linna...

Is this what it's like having boys?!

RECIPE: Creamy chicken sun-dried tomato basil pasta.

I planned on making stuffed chicken breasts with these ingredients (minus the pasta), but didn't feel like getting my hands all chicken-y, so I made this pasta instead. All the ingredient amounts are approximate, as I just kind of threw it together, but it sure was yummy!

Ingredients:

1 cup penne pasta
2 cloves fresh garlic (minced)
Butter
1/4 cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes (I used the kind in oil)
1/4 cup fresh basil (chopped)
Flour
Olive oil
Milk (2% or whole/fresh milk is best)
1 chicken breast (or any type of chicken meat you have in the house)
Salt/Pepper

Cook pasta in a sauce pan on the stove. While the pasta is cooking, saute minced garlic in a bit of olive oil in a medium/large frying-pan for a minute or two. Add the diced chicken breast and cook through. Once cooked through, set aside on a plate. In the same pan, melt about a tablespoon (and a bit more) of butter, and then mix in about a tablespoon of flour to make a paste (about a minute on the stove top). Add in about a half-cup milk, and whisk over heat until it starts to thicken. Add in about another 1/4 to 1/2 cup milk and continue to whisk over heat, until a creamy sauce is made (again this is all approximate amounts). Add salt and pepper to taste, then throw is the chopped basil and sun-dried tomatoes, and cook for about a minute while stirring constantly. Add in the cooked chicken breast and garlic and stir. Drain pasta, then add to sauce mix. This will serve two adults, and one toddler:) Enjoy!

Artist at work.

Linna was painting outside on our balcony in Singapore this afternoon, and I caught her doing this...

It's like she was putting her feelings into her art... like a real artist. Too funny! Sorry for the gorgeous weather we're having, Minnesota friends;)

Starting to spell.

She knows other words/letters, but CLEARLY books were more important than Mama Saigh's silly videos:)

GIVEAWAY: The very hungry caterpillar.

Congratulations to DEVRA EMMEL of Chaska, MN! You're the winner of 4 tickets to this Friday night's performance of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" at the Children's Theatre Company in Minneapolis. Please email us (minnesotababyinfo@gmail.com) with your address and phone number to claim your tickets!

There's two ways to enter for a chance to win 4 tickets to see The Children's Theatre Company's production of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar and Other Eric Carle Favorites" in Minneapolis, on Friday, January 17th:

1. "Like" the Minnesota Baby Facebook page, and share the contest post with your Facebook friends (you must click "share" under the "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" contest post on our Facebook page).

2. Comment on this blog post (below) with your first and last name, along with the city you currently reside in.

Two simple ways to enter, and if you complete both ways, you'll double your chances to win! You must enter by Monday, January 13th at 10 p.m. to be eligible, and this contest is only open to US residents. One winner will be randomly selected to win four tickets to see the FRIDAY, JANUARY 17TH performance, which begins at 7 p.m. 

* PLEASE NOTE: You MUST be able to attend this performance date and time, as these tickets cannot be substituted for another performance. The winner will be randomly selected and announced on this blog by Tuesday, January 14th. Good luck everyone!

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW:

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Little Cloud, and The Mixed-up Chameleon by award-winning children’s book illustrator and writer, Eric Carle, will be on stage in black light with colorful puppets pulled straight from the pages of the beloved books. Follow the brave journeys of three of Eric Carle’s most treasured stories. retold on stage by Nova Scotia’s Mermaid Theatre, whose unique adaptations of children’s literature have delighted millions of young people spanning four continents. This show is recommended for preschool-age children and older.

Tickets are available through the Children's Theatre Company box office.

GIVEAWAY: The ant and the grasshopper.

Congratulations Emily Guo! You're the winner of 4 tickets to see "The Ant and the Grasshopper". Please email us with your address and phone number, so we can verify and get you your tickets (minnesotababyinfo@gmail.com). Thanks to everyone who participated!

There's two ways to enter for a chance to win 4 tickets to see I Theatre's production of "The Ant and the Grasshopper" in Singapore:

1. "Like" the Minnesota Baby Facebook page, and share the contest post with your Facebook friends (you must click "share" under "The Ant and the Grasshopper" contest post on our Facebook page).

2. Comment on this blog post (below) with your first and last name, along with the area of Singapore you currently reside in.

Two simple ways to enter, and if you complete both ways, you'll double your chances to win! You must enter by Friday, January 17th at 8 p.m. to be eligible, and this contest is only open to Singapore residents. One winner will be randomly selected to win four tickets to see "The Ant and the Grasshopper", which runs February 26th - March 15th, 2013 at Jubilee Hall at Raffles Hotel. The winner will be randomly selected and announced on this blog. Good luck everyone!

MORE ABOUT THE SHOW:

This is I Theatre's first production in 2014, and it is a 50-minute musical, suitable for anyone age three and above. It's a fast-paced and interactive musical, full of fun, and based on the famous Aesop’s Fable. There's colorful characters, puppets, and catchy songs. The show was specially created with the younger audience in mind, but with unexpected twists and turns to keep even the grownups engaged, involved and on their toes. The play will explore key themes of: friendship, rewards for hard work, how to use your time wisely, balancing the arts, leisure and work, how to work smart, generosity and judging others.

Tickets available through SISTIC

Happy toddler... with a little surprise for mama saigh.

When I picked Linna up from school today, she was too busy playing to come up the stairs like the other kids do. No complaints here! So, I went down to the school's play area to get her, and her reaction when she saw me was priceless! However, she did something "naughty" in the little house that she was playing in, just seconds before I shot this video. Any guesses?!

"I peed." - Linna

Oh well! At least she was all smiles today:)

PS, how do I get pee out of sparkly Toms?!

Recipe: Auntie lisa's honey-mustard chicken.

This recipe is amaze-balls... and husband approved! We could eat it every night. Our 2-year-old didn't try it because we ate late, as my husband worked until 8 p.m. last night.

Auntie Lisa's Honey Mustard Chicken

0% Greek yogurt
Honey
Dijon mustard
Chicken breasts or unbreaded strips
Salt/pepper
2 cups corn flakes

Mix yogurt, honey, and Dijon mustard to taste (a base of about a cup of yogurt, then go from there). Once mix is made, divide it in half. Put chicken in a bag with half of the mixture, and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour. Smash cornflakes in another bag, and add salt and pepper. Remove chicken from the bag, and roll in corn flakes until heavily coated. Yogurt mixture/marinade will make the corn flakes stick pretty well, and your hands will be a mess. Spray baking pan with cooking spray, and bake chicken at 425-degrees until cooked through. Use the remaining mixture (not the mixture that was on the chicken) to dip the chicken in. Enjoy!

*** The green beans are just fresh green beans, sauteed in a little olive oil, fresh garlic, and a little salt. The pasta is simply a penne noodle, with a basic roux sauce (butter, flour, milk, salt and pepper) that I added some chili pepper to as a spice.

Recipes: Auntie lisa's turkey burgers & my aunt pulie's salsa.

I'm trying something new. I'm actually going to cook for my family. Not just for Linna like I have been, but for me and my husband too (I've totally been "wife of the year" lately). Living in Singapore has many advantages, and delicious, ethnic, convenient, inexpensive take-out and delivery is one of them. However, I have taken advantage of this luxury for a bit too long, and I actually miss cooking. I think I miss actually knowing what's in my food, more than I miss cooking. I've never been an outstanding cook (my husband will vouch for me on that one), but there are many meals we've enjoyed that were prepared by family member or friends, so I've simply asked some of these people for their recipes. How difficult is it to recreate a recipe, right?! Night #1 was a success when I made Auntie Lisa's Turkey Burgers, and My Aunt "Pulie" Krekelberg's Fresh Salsa. I put my alterations to the recipe in parentheses, as Singapore doesn't have some of these ingredients easily accessible.

Auntie Lisa's Turkey Burgers:

97/3 ground turkey
1 egg
Bread crumbs (1/2 to 3/4 cup - I used Japanese bread crumbs)
2 to 3 garlic cloves or shallots (I used yellow onion and garlic)
Red pepper flakes (1/2 tsp. or so, depending on how spicy you like it - I used red chili pepper flakes)
Salt/pepper to taste
**Auntie Lisa says you can add in whatever you want to get rid of in your house (i.e. onions, peppers, etc.)

Saute the shallots/onion and garlic (and peppers if you decide to throw them in) in a little olive oil. Mix all the ingredients together and refrigerate all day if you can (I just did an hour). Form into patties, and cook in a hot pan with a little olive or grape seed oil. Auntie Lisa doesn't do this, but I added cheddar cheese on top. These patties are delicious enough to eat without a bun, but we're fat Americans so we put them on a toasted sesame seed bun:)

My Aunt Pulie Krekelberg's Fresh Salsa with Tortilla Chips:

3 to 4 cloves of fresh garlic
1 medium onion
5 medium tomatoes
1 jalapeno (I used a green chili pepper - remove the seeds if you like it less spicy)
Juice from 1 lime
1/2 cup fresh cilantro (I used fresh coriander, as I can't find cilantro ANYWHERE in Singapore)

Chop and mix everything together! The longer this sits, the better. Serve with tortilla chips.

First day of nursery school.

Linna waiting at the bus stop on her first
day of nursery school. I take her on the
city bus for  pick-up and drop-off.

Today was a big day, as Linna started nursery school at a local school here in Singapore. I am emotionally drained.

When we signed Linna up for this school's nursery program, I was thrilled that I would have three "free" hours, five days a week. But now that her first day of school had finally arrived, I was having a tough time "cutting the cord". Linna loved this school when we initially checked it out late last year, and all the teachers are wonderful with her. We went to pick up her school uniforms yesterday, and Linna was really upset that she didn't get to stay to play. So, when we left for her first day of school this morning, she was SO excited!

She goes to school from 11:30 a.m. - 2:45 p.m. We chose the afternoon session because Linna likes to sleep in until 9 a.m. or so, and I hate feeling rushed in the morning (the school's morning session is 8:30 a.m.). Linna also naps for three hours in the afternoon, and we let her stay up until 9:30 p.m. or so, because Papa Saigh doesn't get home from work until 7:30 p.m. or later. Judge us if you will on our late bed time, but this works for us.

Tears were shed throughout the school day by our little lady. It started right away when we got there, because the students gather in a large room for assembly that isn't in the classroom area. I think Linna was expecting to go directly to the classroom area, so she was a little peeved. The students have their temperature taken, hands and mouth checked for spots (yes, they are very hygienic in Singapore), and sing songs in Mandarin during the 15-minute assembly. Then they all head downstairs to the classroom area. There are only FIVE kiddos in Linna's class (YES!). There's an English teacher, a Mandarin teacher, and assistant to help out in her classroom. The afternoon class session must not be very "in demand", which worked in our favor. I hovered nearby (did you expect anything different?!), and watched as Linna played with her teachers and classmates. She was absolutely content and happy while she played... but then the tears started. She saw me... ran to me and... wait for it... asked me to "rock her".

I die.

The teachers then led the kids into the classroom for lunch and more playtime. I decided to stay outside the classroom and watch from the window. This proved to be VERY difficult.

(Linna exiting her first day of school. Not sure why the tears started,

but she slept HARD for three hours when we got home!)

Putting on her shoes all by herself!

Playing with her school principal Mrs. Loy, and classmate Aliss.

Temperature-taking during assembly.

Not a fan of the school uniforms in general. They only had a size 3/4,
and Linna is JUST a size 2. I had to hand stitch her hem, as her
shorts/skirt looked like a full-length gown. Yes, the thread doesn't
match the color of her uniform. Eh, whateves.

Spying on Bug from outside her classroom window.

Linna was SCREAMING for me, as her teacher tried to calm her down. She's still jet-lagged from our trip four days ago from the US, so she was understandably exhausted and overwhelmed. It took every fiber of my being to not walk into the classroom, scoop her up, and cuddle her. But again... it's time to cut the cord. She cried for a good 15 minutes, but then her teacher brought out the bubbles and Linna cheered right up! She was calm with no tears for an entire hour, so I decided to run to the store to grab some things for dinner. When I got back, Linna was still happy as can be. Then came the school dismissal bell.

Dun dun dun...

The moms and I (four of us stayed the entire time, and one mom left right away) waited outside for our little ones to come out. Then, we heard the tears starting. It was my kid. I don't know if she was just mad that she had to leave, started to miss her mama, or if she was just tired, but there were tears from Linna and another classmate at the end of the day. To be fair, ALL of the kids cried at least once today. Yes, I was watching... and judging.

Checking out the toys.

Papa Saigh came to see Linna on her first day of nursery school!

Linna, her classmate Ryan, and Mrs. Chng
during morning assembly.

Overall, today was a roller-coaster of emotions for Mama Saigh. I LOVED that Papa Saigh surprised us by leaving work for a bit, just so he could see his little lady at her first day of school. I just can't believe our baby is going to nursery school already. I know it's going to be SO great for her, and I am going to enjoy the "free" time, but it's still hard to let go. Papa Saigh isn't helping by telling me that Linna needs to "grow up". Jerk.

Love you, Papa Saigh.

Let's see what's in store for day #2. One can only hope that I'll be able to take advantage of those three "free" hours...

Linna's first trip to disney world.

This year for Christmas, my parents surprised Linna (and Mama Saigh) with a trip to Walt Disney World! They just bought a house in Florida, so they thought it would be the perfect time for me and Linna to go and see their new place, AND visit Disney World while we were back in Minnesota visiting over the holidays. Since Papa Saigh had to stay back in Singapore to work (someone has to bring home the bacon, right?!), he didn't get to join us, but I captured almost every moment of Linna's first trip to Disney World to share with him... and you guys too;)

My dad, sister, Linna and my mom in the Magic Kingdom!

Our little princess at another princess' castle.

My sister and Linna with Cinderella's Fairy Godmother.

Bug on the carousel at Downtown Disney.

Since I haven't been to Disney World since I was MUCH younger, I reached out to our Minnesota Baby Facebook friends for advice on hotels, tickets, places to eat/go, etc. Thank you all SO much for the tips, because we followed some of your advice, and we had an amazing experience. When people say Disney World is "magical" (I used to roll my eyes at this), they aren't kidding. I can't even put into words what it's like to experience Disney's Magic Kingdom as a mom. Watching my daughter's face light up in amazement at some of the things she got to see and do, is something I could do over and over again.

Dumbo ride!

We've arrived... and she sleeps.

We drove three hours from my parents home in Estero to Orlando, and decided to do an overnight at a hotel so we weren't rushing anything. We could have stayed MUCH longer, but there's always next time! Choosing a hotel in Orlando is a job in itself. Since there was five of us on this trip (my mom, dad, sister, Linna, and I), we decided to book a larger suite at the BuenaVista Palace, which is right across the street from Downtown Disney. I searched through so many hotel options, but this place seemed like the best fit for us. This hotel was ideal, as it's not in the center of all the Disney action, so we could head back to our rooms when we needed some peace and quiet. The hotel has a free shuttle that runs to and from all four Disney Theme Parks and Water Parks, but the hotel is just a quick walk across the street to Downtown Disney! Plus, the hotel always seems to be running good promotions, so you can get a lot more space in your hotel room for about the same price as you'd pay to be at a hotel in the heart of Walt Disney World. We stayed in a suite, which gave us TWO floors, with two bedrooms (and a bed for each of us), a living and dining area, THREE bathrooms, and private balconies. All of us agreed that we could have lived comfortably for a few weeks in this suite. It was clean, spacious, and we even had a view of the evening fireworks over Downtown Disney! We were so busy running around Disney World, that we didn't even have time to enjoy the great pool at the hotel. There were always a lot of kids playing at the pool, which would have been really fun for our 2-year-old. Although we had most of our meals in the Magic Kingdom or Downtown Disney, we did get to have breakfast at the hotel's Watercress Cafe, and it was very yummy! They even made Minnie Mouse waffles for Linna, since we didn't get to do a character breakfast during this trip. It was only after our trip to Orlando that I realized that the hotel does a character breakfast buffet on Sunday mornings. How convenient! When we return to Disney World for another visit, we'd definitely stay at this hotel again... just a little longer next time:)

A nice "welcome" gift from the hotel! They even gave Linna a Minnie Mouse stuffed toy. So nice!

One of our rooms.

BuenaVista Palace Hotel in Orlando, FL.

Linna enjoying her breakfast at the Watercress Cafe.

On the afternoon that we arrived in Orlando, Mama Saigh hit up the hotel's spa for a relaxing facial and massage, while my parents and sister took Linna to Downtown Disney. I needed a little "me time", and my family was looking forward to some quality time with Linna. The hour-long facial and massage were JUST what I needed after a long flight from Singapore to the US, and a three-hour drive from Estero to Orlando. I'm not gonna lie, I sat in the spa's relaxation area a little longer than I "should" have, but the peace and quiet was simply too inviting:) Thank you Kim Casperson Spa for this much needed mommy-time-out! It's amazing how refreshed a mama can feel after a little spa visit.

After my 2.5 hours of spa bliss, I met up with Linna, my parents, and my sister in Downtown Disney. Linna's eyes were bigger than silver dollars as she checked out all the lights, Disney characters, and the little shops. I LOVE Downtown Disney. It feels like you're walking through an old-fashion village. Of course, almost everything in the shops and restaurants is pricey, but we grabbed a bite to eat at the Rainforest Cafe, and did a little shopping in the adorable shops after. We stayed until dark, but then headed back to the hotel, as my sister wanted to be up bright and early to head to the Magic Kingdom in the morning.

("It's a Small World" ride in Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom)

My dad and sister jumped on the hotel shuttle around 8 a.m. to get to the Magic Kingdom (about a 15 minute ride from the hotel), while my mom, Linna and I enjoyed a quick breakfast at the hotel. I wasn't in a rush, and just wanted to enjoy a nice breakfast. We took the ferry to the Magic Kingdom, which was actually a really cold ride, so I'm glad we brought a blanket for Linna to cover up with in the stroller. FYI, a stroller is a MUST if you have little ones in Disney World... do NOT leave home without one! Also, follow my sister's lead and get to the park early to avoid long lines. My dad and sister did the right thing by leaving the hotel at 8 a.m., because my mom, Linna, and I got stuck in a pretty big crowd (my idea of hell), after we left the hotel around 9 a.m. However, once you step foot inside the Magic Kingdom, you simply forget about all that craziness.

The first thing we saw was Cinderella's Castle. Talk about spectacular! Linna was in awe, but even more excited about all the Disney characters walking around the park. Without waiting in any long lines, we met Cinderella's Fairy Godmother, and Gaston from Beauty and the Beast. We waited in line to meet Minnie Mouse and Daisy Duck. Linna walked right up to both of them, and gave them big hugs! The line to meet some of the Disney princesses was over an hour long, and since Linna wasn't asking to see anyone in particular, we skipped those meet-and-greets. I think if Linna was a bit older, and obsessed with princesses, we would have waited in line. Again, there's always next time!

Flag lowering ceremony in the Magic Kingdom at the end of the day.

Mama Saigh and Bug at Walt Disney World.

Linna in her new Tinkerbell costume.

The highlight of our entire Magic Kingdom experience was the Disney Parade through the park. THIS was one of the most magical experiences I've ever had with my daughter! I'm not kidding when I say that the parade had both me and my mom in tears. It was so emotional seeing Linna light up in astonishment, as some of her favorite Disney characters waved to her from the parade floats. It was like she couldn't believe that all these characters were walking, singing, and standing right in front of her! She squealed each time a character walked by, and we were all squealing right along with her. The sight of her shocked and excited little face, paired with the "Celebrate" song playing over the park's speakers, was enough to turn me into an emotional mommy mess. And THAT'S how they lured me in! Right after the parade, I found myself racing to one of the Disney shops to buy Linna a $65 Tinkerbell costume. Walt Disney had cast a magic spell over this mama, and our bank account was the victim;) Honestly, if I had to do it all over, I STILL would have bought the damn costume. Linna LOVED it... and we all loved seeing the happiness on her cute little face!

(The parade right through the Magic Kingdom... our favorite!)

There was never a dull moment inside the Magic Kingdom. As far as eating goes, we really just grabbed food along the way. I wish we would have booked a table at one of the character breakfasts inside Cinderella's Castle, but we simply just didn't have enough time. Plus, I think it will be even better when Linna is a little older. We did all the fun rides like "It's a Small World" (I cried during this one too), the Teacup ride, etc., and when you get one of the Fastpass tickets, there isn't much waiting in long lines at all! I think the longest that we ever waited in line was like 10 minutes. These days, Disney World has a lot to keep kids entertained while you're waiting in a longer line.

We left the park just before dark, as we had a three-hour drive back to my parents' house in Estero. If we had to do it all again, we DEFINITELY would have booked a second night at the hotel. There's just so much to do, and we only visited ONE park. A least we have a lot to look forward to when we visit again!

Thanks mom and dad for this truly magical trip. Linna and I can't wait to do it again! Is this coming December too soon for another visit?!

A few tips from Mama Saigh:

1. If you're looking to save money somewhere, book a hotel that's not in one of the Disney Theme Parks. I'm sure those resorts are an amazing experience, but we really enjoyed our stay at the BuenaVista Palace.

2. Get the FASTPASS as often as you can. It's free, and there's no waiting in long lines!

3. December is a great time to visit if you're looking for spring or fall-like weather. It was sunny when we visited on December 18th, 2013, but cool enough so we weren't sweating.

4. Get to the park early to beat the crowd. Also, be prepared to battle a huge crowd if you stay to watch the evening fireworks!

5. Bring a stroller, and back-up clothing for your little potty-trainers. We put our 2-year-old (who is potty-trained) in a diaper while we were at the park, to avoid having to carry around "pee clothes". There's lots of restrooms inside the Magic Kingdom, but be prepared for the inevitable accident!

6. Don't be in a rush. Just ENJOY THE MOMENT! There WILL be crowds of people, and long lines, but don't let that ruin your experience. Remember, this IS the happiest place on Earth:)

Little monkeys.

She won't let me sing along with her, but Linna sure loves music...

So easy to forget.

Photo taken January 4th, 2014. Linna is 28 months old.

Yesterday, I walked into Linna's bedroom to wake her up from her 4.5-hour afternoon nap (she's jet-lagged), only to find her all curled up in a ball, with her little butt in the air in her crib. I wanted to crawl into her crib and snuggle her, as it reminded me of how she used to sleep as a baby. I took a picture before I woke her up, because I never want to forget these moments. We've been experiencing many precious moments lately, and I've been to busy/lazy to jot them down. That's why I started this blog in the first place, right?! Here's a couple more...

1. Every night before Linna goes to bed, or lays down for nap, I sing her a song about something. This started one night when I had a few glasses of wine before bedtime (story of my life), and I started singing her a song about bears (I know. WTF, right?!). I literally just sang a random tune about bears. It went a little something like this:

"Bears are big. But bears aren't scary. They can be cuddly. Bears live in caves. And bears eat honey..."

I think I'm onto something here;) Every night now, Linna picks something for me to sing about (lucky girl). Last night we sang "The Crayon Song". I think Linna was ready to present me with a Grammy.

2. Yesterday when I was leaving the house to go grocery shopping, Papa Saigh was holding Linna and she said, "Peace out Mama!". OMG. I die. I say "Peace Out" all the time, but to have her just say it on her own?! Love her.