California Trip {{Part 2}}

The last time I went to Disneyland, California Adventure was brand new.  I remembered a little bit of it but I knew it had changed a lot too.  It was much more fun than I thought.  My camera battery was near dead the whole time so I didn't take as many pictures.  Luckily, my mom took a bunch.

We started off in Bugs Land to warm the kids up to the idea of rides again. Only Bugs Land isn't as awesome as Fantasyland. I wonder if they'll tear it out someday and put in something new. The bathroom there was in a convenient location on the way to Tower of Terror and Aladdin though and I think I used it 7 times in 2 days. 

Henry was too small to ride the bumper bugs so we rode the caterpillar train (sorry I'm not providing the real names to these rides. I either didn't learn them or don't remember). 

You can see how much fun it was.

We went back to watch the family ride the bumper bugs. 

And a spinning bug ride.  Think the teacup ride but more jerky and noisy and less whimsical.

We rode Soarin' Over California (one of my favorites). We even got Sarah to ride it. Poor thing was starting to not trust me anymore since violated her trust in Disneyland (Peter Pan, Haunted Mansion, etc).  By the time we got on, I told her we were just going to watch a movie. And we're going to sit on a big swing. "Why do we need seatbelts?" Smart girl.  Well, would it be okay if it just lifted off the ground? "Okay." She did great but kept reminding herself and me that we were just in a building watching a movie during the entire ride. Then we rode The Little Mermaid ride.  I really liked that ride and Henry didn't cry at all! Sorry, no pictures, you'll just have to trust me.

Sarah and Henry joined in the army guys show. I really wanted their feet to be connected like in the movie (the army guys, not my kids).

Sarah played in the water while some of us rode Tower of Terror.  She was soaked the rest of the day.  

We stripped her down and put on the only extra clothes we had, Henry's hoodie for a shirt, my mom's jacket for a skirt.  She was a trooper and didn't complain

So I'm a really lame mom and didn't want to wait in the line for Buzz. But since he is Henry's favorite, here we are with him waaaay back there.  Unrelated, he bawled all through Toy Story Mania. I beat Justin but only because he stopped firing to console Henry.

I'm on the far right on this boat on Grizzly Rapids. You can see my sunglassed eye. I got soaked. Justin got good and wet too but every part of me was either really wet or just wet.  People I didn't even know were pointing and staring.  I should have hugged them to teach them a lesson on manners.

Sometime during all this, we went to the Aladdin show. I know it was after Grizzly Rapids because I took my shoes and socks off to try to dry them out. Henry was a monster the entire time. Like church monster. The production was great and funny and super entertaining but I will really remember Henry trying to shove his toy helicopter into my mouth (Peyton can relate).

And sometime we rode the Racers in Carsland.  Sorry no pictures but it was super fun.  It starts out all boring and I was getting worried and wondering what all the excitement and long line were about and then woohoo! Yes, that's my summary.

Here we are on one of the several rides on the carousel. This kid is an addict.

That evening we ate a turkey leg for dinner and Henry threw a slobbery piece of pretzel on the lady next to us. I was so mortified. Then we rode the carousel some more. Luckily I dried off before it got dark and cool. Then Jaana and I took Sarah on the swings and then watched World of Color which totally blew my mind.

The next morning we checked out of our hotel near Disneyland and drove to Huntington Beach.

Jaana, Peyton, Sarah, Justin testing out the waves  Sarah loved the water and sand which surprised me since last time we were at the ocean, she wouldn't get off the beach towel.

You can't go the beach without burying something.

Or digging a hole.

And you have to get in the hole you dug.

It's a like a rule.

Henry hated the water but loved the sand.

I shouldn't have been surprised since it's just like a big dirt pile to play in.

More digging and burying.  This time it was my feet.

This is funny for 2 reasons. 1-I am running from Justin because I thought he was going to throw me into the water and it was freezing. 2- He's not chasing me but I swear he had that look in his eye. Maybe I should just say I went for a run on the beach?? Ahem, this is me running on the beach because I am carefree and healthy like that.

 Lisa bought this inflatable....thing.  It was affectionately dubbed the tractor wheel. It was great for riding waves, I hear. I didn't try it because the water was freezing.

 Henry doing sand angels....

 face down.

Henry spent a lot of time just jumping and landing in the sand and then he'd chase some seagulls and then played in the sand some more.

Then we drove to our next hotel in Long Beach. We cleaned up and after a fruitless online search of someplace to eat, we ended up at a burger place. It was delicious. Stay tuned for my next installment, Day 3 at Disneyland, swimming at the hotel pool and the ride home!

California Trip {{Part 1}}

Have you been anxiously waiting for this post?  We've been back for five days and I've been writing this post in my head as I gathered pictures from 4 cameras.  May this post not disappoint.

May 19 we left for California. We drove to Hurricane and stayed in my parents' "little house" as Sarah calls it and then arrived in California on Sunday.  This is Henry loving the many ceramic animals that adorn the house.

Sarah was under the impression that we were going to Disneyland that day and was very disappointed at a gas station in the desert when I explained were weren't going until the next day.  "But we are in California," I consoled.  "Hurray!!" she yelled. I've never seen anyone so excited to be in a California gas station.

There was 10 of us in 2 cars so swapping riders helped the drive go faster.  My 15-year-old nephew Peyton rode with us all the way and put up with Henry watching Toy Story 4 times in the Mojave Desert.  Henry affectionately dubbed him "Pete" so he was Pete to all of us the whole trip.  Sarah rode with my brother and his family and was very entertained by my nieces, Jaana and Kyra and my mom.

Monday morning we got to Disneyland.  Sarah had her matte ready for all the characters to sign.  Pluto was my favorite. As long as I was right there with my kids, they did great and weren't scared.

Her matte is all filled up with signatures.  Now I just need her to pick a picture to go in the center and we'll frame it for all to see.

We were there to see the rope drop. I'm surprised at how caught up in the anticipation I got.

Sarah and Kyra. I wonder who loves Minnie the most.

We did the customary Fantasyland first to ease my kids into the whole ride concept.  Matt's family were great sports.  They really wanted my kids to have a good Disneyland experiences and stuck with us the whole time when they could have skipped the kiddie rides altogether (although I know some of these are still their favorites).

For future reference, Henry's eyes and face swells when it comes in contact with spray-on sunscreen. And Henry loooooves carousels.

And who doesn't like Dumbo?

See this weird smile? Get used to it; it's a Disneyland staple.

Hey there good lookin'.

 Crazy cousin Pete.

My brother and sister-in-law Lisa aka our hosts and fast-pass runner.  They are Disneyland veterans and know where everything is, what my kids would like, and all the ins and outs.  They made it a great trip. And my mom with her wheelchair access.  We got spoiled and will never want to wait in a regular line again.

 These girls were inseparable the entire week. I'm pretty sure Sarah is going through withdrawals.

 Henry actually liked the teacups.  What's the ride really called?

 I don't remember anything of this ride. That was the case on a lot of rides. I was too busy watching my kids watch.

Meeting Pooh, Tigger and Eeyore was a highlight too.  Henry kept saying "Hoo-hoo-hoo-hoo" quietly to Tigger as he signed Sarah's matte.

Way to mess up the picture by closing your eyes, me. Henry asked for Pooh the rest of the day. But he was scared during the Winnie the Pooh ride, go figure. Neither of them liked any ride in the dark but that didn't stop me from being a mean mom and taking them on the Haunted Mansion.  They didn't cry but they didn't like it either.

Then we went on Splash Mountain.  Sarah even went on it. I was so proud!  She seemed to like it at the time but refused to go again. And we went on the Indian Jones ride which is one of my favorites. Thunder Mountain Railroad was closed (which is my first favorite) so I guess I'll have to come back.

Princess Tiana hangs out in New Orleans Square, conveniently enough. She was the only princess we found.

She was kind of aloof and unfun so I laughed a little when Tiana asked Sarah all important-like if she'd ever seen Princess and the Frog and Sarah said no (she has seen it which made it funnier).

Ahh, It's a Small World.  This ride gets a bad rap. Sure it's annoying but I'll never complain about a long ride in an air-conditioned building

 Especially since it won this little heart.

This is a water thing in Innnoventions. Henry loved it. 

 He may have gone a little crazy.

They tried out the Xbox Kinect thing but couldn't get it to work. I think they were too short. I love Henry's pose.

 Oh silly Pete.

 Oh silly Kyra and poised Jaana.

This is the Nemo ride which I missed as I was on Space Mountain at the time so I have no commentary here.

 Or here...although I hear they liked it.

Lisa bought my kids ice cream while we were in Space Mountain or Star Tours or something.  It was the nicest, messiest thing anyone did for them the whole day.

Since Peyton is only 15, I let him drive our Autopia car to get some experience. Am I the coolest aunt or what?

 Handsome boys.

 Henry and Justin are in the green car, Lisa and Sarah are right behind.

While Justin, Lisa, Jaana, and I went to the Matterhorn, Henry zonked out on Matt. (And the Matterhorn broke down just as our bobsled headed up the mountain so we had to climb out.  I wonder what people in sleds up at the top did.)

Here's my mom and the blessed/cursed wheelchair.

 Sarah was just excited to be there!!! We ended the day with a jungle safari cruise and a stroll down lighted Main Street.

And that was just our first day. And that was me restraining myself on pictures.

7 Years

Justin and I left on a journey seven years ago today. 

We got married. Perhaps you were there. Remember how we cried? Remember how unbelievably happy and giddy we were? 

We were just babies then. We have babies of our own now.

We had no idea where we were going. Still don't. But we have learned a few things.

Like that staying up with sick babies or making $5 dollars last two meals are the skills that matter most.

And the ability take care of each other even when we are tired or annoyed is more important than being fun or looking good.

 But it's still important to enjoy the ride and hold on tight and to never let go.

 Because, hey, you can see life better when you've got someone to lift you up.