The Happiest Place on Earth....Part 2

Disneyland was definitely the highlight of our trip. But on the days we didn't go to Disneyland, we still had a great time.

We went swimming....(why is it so fun as a child to go swimming at a hotel?)




We shopped at Downtown Disney. Braden just died when he saw all of the "Buzz Lightyear" and "Cars" items that were everywhere. He just started loading his hands, saying "I want dis and dis and dis........". He ended up getting Buzz Lightyear pjs. He wanted them on immediately - and didn't want to take them off....ever!

We went to see High School Musical 3 at a new theater across the street from Disneyland. The movie was great, because there was NO ONE ELSE IN THE THEATER! The kids thought we had bought out the show for them. They could talk, laugh, run around, and kick the seat in front of them as much as they would like. That is my kind of movie theater experience!




We also took a trip to the beach. Who can beat a day of basking in the hot California sun, while playing in the sand, and listen to the waves. Doesn't get much better than that! (We did have to convince our kids that there were NO SHARKS before they would get in the water).

We saw this in the sky the day before election day. Pretty cool.....



It says "Save Traditional Marriage".....a plane left this in its wake.


We had one more surprise on the last day of our trip.......



Oh, how I LOVE Wicked! I have seen it twice, and I wanted Brandon and the kids to see it. My kids love the music and know all the words (you should here Braden sing "Popular"), and are always asking when they can see the "real live play".

They loved every second. I stayed at the hotel with Braden and Ava while Brandon took them. I wish I could have seen their faces while they were watching it. Needless to say, they couldn't stop talking about it when they got home. (It did take 2 hours to drive there - when it was only 30 miles away....love California traffic).



And, I had to add in a collage of "Disneyland foods". Do you ever wonder why a churro, pickle, cotton candy, etc. just taste so much better in Disneyland? It is because you are paying gourmet prices....so they better be gourmet!



So, if you want a fabulous family vacation....head to Disneyland in November. It was definitely one we will always remember!

The Happiest Place on Earth.....Part 1

Since I was little I have always LOVED Disneyland! It is a magical place that I could never get enough of. Since having my own kids, I love it even more.

I want to go every month

But Brandon doesn't!

In fact, he doesn't seem to catch the magic like I do. Granted, the last experience we had was at Disney World two summers ago....it was HOT (95 degrees, and 95 percent humidity), and so crowded! Heat and crowds are two things that make Disney World/Land not very fun! So, I reassured him that this time would be better.

And it was PERFECT!!

Our kids didn't know....we surprised them. We told them we were going to St. George for a week. We stayed over in St. George....and the next morning we told them we were going to Las Vegas. 6 1/2 hours later (don't drive to Calif. on Sunday...apparently everyone is coming home from a weekend of gambling in Sin City) we arrived. The kids were not happy we had decided to go to Vegas....it took way too long!

But, bunkbeds in the hotel room solved everything!

I can't believe Kason didn't read any signs or notice where we were. I guess because it was dark, and being distracted by a movie in the car helped!

The next morning we told the kids we weren't in Vegas....but actually California! There faces were priceless. They were ecstatic! The first words out of their mouths were "We are going to DISNEYLAND!"

Nothing is better than totally surprising your kids! It is worth every dollar just for their reaction.

Oh, what a time we had....it was beautiful weather (75 degrees and sunny); and completely uncrowded. We were walking on to almost every ride.

Like I said, It was perfect. Even Brandon said so!

I planned for meltdowns with the kids. But, they didn't ever occur.....I think the "no line waiting" was the reason.

So here is an onslaught of pictures to document the fun!

Braden's favorite rides were Buzz Lightyear, Monsters' Inc., and the new Toy Story ride. I think he rode Buzz Lightyear and Monsters Inc 25 times each. One time he rode Monsters Inc 6 times in a row! Like I said....no lines!

All of the characters. We bought autograph/picture books for the younger kids. They loved it and now they have their very own scrapbook. I recommend doing this if you have little ones!

I will post more of the rest of the trip in a coming blog. We were in California for a full week! Nothing better than being with your kids (no school or other commitments interrupting) and your husband (no work or hobbies interrupting) for a whole week!

Just a note....if you need a great workout try chasing your 5 and 3 year old in "Tarzan's Treehouse" with a 5 month old and 2 cameras in tow. There are a ton of steps in the "Tarzan Treehouse", and 5 and 3 year olds can run much faster than I can! I was seriously so sore the next day...my thighs were on fire. We went up and down the treehouse multiple times while waiting for the big kids who were on Indiana Jones.

Overachieving

I have been taught since I was very little to always do my best in anything I did. Always go the extra mile, do the extra credit, leave things better than I found them, and make sure to do more than was asked of me.

I think this was something that my parents did a good job instilling in me.

I feel like as I have gotten older I have not been able to do this very well....I wish I could go the "extra mile" a little more! It somehow seemed easier to do this when I was younger. ( I must be getting tired!)

But, I have found something that I have definitely "overachieved" in this year:

Anyone else have their Christmas lights up already?


Have you had them up for a few months.....just being extra prepared for the holiday season?


Did you make sure you got them up before the snowstorms come?


Anyone else have such a wonderful husband, that you didn't even have to ask, beg and plead to put the Christmas lights up this year??


Well, we have definitely gone the extra mile in this department, because our lights are up! (I am so happy to see that all of my parent's hard work has not gone by the wayside!)



Just don't tell anyone that we didn't even take them down from last year! Seriously...can you believe that. Brandon just kept rationalizing it by saying that we would be the first in the neighborhood to have our lights up - and the lights are clear - so no one notices them! What?


I am glad I don't have to beg and plead this year to have him put them up. It looks like the problem is going to be begging and pleading for him to take them down! :)