One year older and wiser too...

Recently is was my birthday! Wahhhh, another step closer to 30!

I had a little celebratory meal out with girlfriends the day before my birthday. Is it sad that I was so excited for a reason to wear heels and lipstick? Oh, the life of a mother. But you can't go wrong with Pizza Express...

I was treated like a princess on the day by my husband, and my parents came down to visit. Mike had to work so my parents and I went out to lunch (our annual trip for a lovely pub lunch by the Epsom racecourse). It was such miserable rainy weather that we wanted to fit in a little walk in the countryside in-between downpours but it didn't happen. They then helped with Max while I packed and got a few bits from the shops for my big birthday present...

I think my husband thought he would soften the blow of getting a little bit older by treating me (and himself and Max) to a trip to Disneyland Paris, so I could feel like a kid all over again. I was seriously so excited. The Eurostar was booked so off we went the next day.

Thrilled to be there...

20th Anniversary parade - Max was dancing away to the music

Its a small world

My boys

He wasn't too sure about the carousel

Amazing Arabic restaurant we went to after meeting Aladdin himself

Some of my husbands fam came for some of the trip. We did two days in Disneyland, one all of the groups and one just the three of us, and we had a trip to Versailles and went into Paris too (separate post to come).

It was so fun to see how Max was on the rides - we have a little timid timmy on our hands. Bless him, he was not a fan of any rides that make your tummy 'go'. He loved 'Its a small world' of course, and liked the Dumbo ride and Pirates of the Caribbean (before any of the slopes anyway).

Gorgeous one
The weather was so nice and we all caught a little bit of a tan - the trip was the perfect birthday treat!

His reins were such a help as he loved wandering / running off!

My Top Tips for Disneyland Paris with a Toddler:

• Pack plenty of drinks and lunch - food and drink is generally very expensive in the park
• Use the Fast Pass as much as you can - you can swipe your park ticket at any of the Fast Pass machines outside the big rides so you miss most of the queue
• Take advantage of the 'Baby Swap' card - if it is a ride that your baby / toddler can't go on, such as Space Mountain, some of the group queue up and go on the ride, making sure to ask for a baby swap card. When they come off, up to two people, that were watching the child, can go straight to the front of the queue.
• Consider using a sling / carrier - if your little one is little enough to go in one. You have to leave pushchairs / strollers at the front of every ride and restaurant so if you want to have free hands a baby carrier would be ideal
• Don't worry about taking them to the shows - it is Disneyland after all so they are use to children being noisy or crying and the staff were so helpful in helping you where to go
• If you want to buy anything from any of the stores in the park you can leave it there and collect when you leave. Perfect if you have bought something bulky like a giant cuddly toy! Or you could take advantage of the shops in the Disney village, after you leave.
• If you go to guest services at the entrance (in the 'City Hall') you can get a badge to clip to your little ones where you write on their name and a mobile phone number so if they are lost they will know who to call
• Wear some comfy shoes - you are basically standing or walking all day
• If you are interested in the parades, make sure you get a leaflet at the entrance about the times and locations. Same goes for spotting the characters. (Though we did manage to see quite a few characters on our walking around, without even planning it)
• Have fun!