Happy New Year! The Farrell-Landers clan had the most idyllic start to our new year. After breakfast, we all cuddled on the couch with blankets to watch the Rose Bowl Parade on television. Aiden was so mesmerized with all of the floats and marching bands. He sat on my lap watching the parade for at least an hour before he wanted down to play. What a shock!
After the parade, we decided to head downtown to visit a park from Josh's and my childhood -- Encanto Park. Encanto Park is a municpal park established in 1934 and consists of picnic areas, a lagoon, a boat house, swimming pool, nature trail, amusement park, fishing and two golf courses. It was a beautiful day to go to the park. Sunny and not too chilly. We all had a great time. The first thing the kids wanted to do was feed the ducks. As soon as we opened the bread bag, the ducks and geese started swimming over. Madilyn was so excited to throw bread out to them in the water. Aiden, on the other hand, was more interested in eating the bread himself instead of sharing it with the ducks.
After we left the park, we headed over to Christy and Brandon's home. They invited us over to an early New Year's day dinner, which is a tradition for them. Apparently, there are a variety of foods that are believed to be lucky and to improve the odds that next year will be a great one. Their tradition is a Southern meal of bacon (aka hog jowl), black-eyed peas, and cabbage. The custom of eating pork on New Year's is based on the idea that pigs symbolize progress. The animal pushes forward, rooting itself in the ground before moving. Pork is also consumed as its rich fat content signifies wealth and prosperity. Black-eyed peas are considered to be lucky. And cabbage is a symbol of economic fortune. Christy also prepared some delicious corn muffins for us to enjoy. What a fun new tradition! We increased our chance for a happy new year and our bellies were very happy too.
After the parade, we decided to head downtown to visit a park from Josh's and my childhood -- Encanto Park. Encanto Park is a municpal park established in 1934 and consists of picnic areas, a lagoon, a boat house, swimming pool, nature trail, amusement park, fishing and two golf courses. It was a beautiful day to go to the park. Sunny and not too chilly. We all had a great time. The first thing the kids wanted to do was feed the ducks. As soon as we opened the bread bag, the ducks and geese started swimming over. Madilyn was so excited to throw bread out to them in the water. Aiden, on the other hand, was more interested in eating the bread himself instead of sharing it with the ducks.
Feeding the ducks
Everything was going smoothly until a very aggressive goose decided to jump up on the bank next to us. He continued to stare Madilyn down as she fed the other birds. He slowly began to encroach on us until he finally lurched at Madi and her bread. We quickly shooed him back into the water where he swam to the other side of the lagoon where he paced back and forth on that bank squawking and ranting. He continued this charade for a good ten minutes until he decided to return to our side of the lagoon. That is when I decided that was the end of feeding the ducks.
Crazy, aggressive goose!
After feeding the ducks, we walked over to Enchanted Island Amusement Park located in the middle of Encanto Park. Both Josh and I reminisced over our childhood memories of this quaint, adorable little amusement park. It was so much fun to see our kids enjoy it as much as we remember enjoying it when we were kids. We all rode the historic Enchanted Carousel (twice), the C.P. Huntington Train and the kids rode the Kiddie Cars all by themselves. We all really enjoyed our time here.
Riding the carousel
Riding the cars
Riding the train
Riding the carousel *again*
After we left the park, we headed over to Christy and Brandon's home. They invited us over to an early New Year's day dinner, which is a tradition for them. Apparently, there are a variety of foods that are believed to be lucky and to improve the odds that next year will be a great one. Their tradition is a Southern meal of bacon (aka hog jowl), black-eyed peas, and cabbage. The custom of eating pork on New Year's is based on the idea that pigs symbolize progress. The animal pushes forward, rooting itself in the ground before moving. Pork is also consumed as its rich fat content signifies wealth and prosperity. Black-eyed peas are considered to be lucky. And cabbage is a symbol of economic fortune. Christy also prepared some delicious corn muffins for us to enjoy. What a fun new tradition! We increased our chance for a happy new year and our bellies were very happy too.
The traditional New Year's meal
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