Disneyland!

Well, we went to Disneyland.  And it was AWESOME!  We loved it!  LOVED it!  Is that enough exclamation points for you?!  Here are some more!!!!

But really, we had a great trip, really enjoyed California.  We spent 3 fun-filled 14 hour days at Disneyland and California Adventure, a day a Legoland, a day at Newport beach, and a day resting (and two days traveling).  We have a ton of pictures, I am putting about 1/4 of them here.  You can skim if you want.  :)


Highlight #1:  Plane ride!  We tried to keep the kids guessing, but I think the older two had it figured out - that we were flying and not driving.  It was fun and everything went very smoothly! If some of us look a little bleary eyed, it's because we got up about 5 a.m. to catch our flight.  Woo hoo!

 

 

 Highlight #2: Staying with Tyson, Desi, Lexi, Gauge, and baby Addie.  I don't have photos of them all, but here is McKinley thrilled about holding baby Addie.  She loved the baby! 

Everyone was so nice to let us come crash there for a week, Lexi had to give up her room and everything.  The girls had a fun time playing together!  Thank you for letting us stay!  It was the best lodgings anywhere in the Anaheim area.

Highlight #3: Newport beach.  Our kids have been the Cherry Creek Reservoir, but never to the ocean, so it was a lot of fun to visit the REAL beach with Tyson and Desi & family.  It is hard to tell in the photos, but it was actually really steep down to the shoreline, so the kids didn't really swim, but had tons of fun in the sand and playing catch-me-if-you can with giant crashing waves.  Caleb loved watching all the surfers attempting to skim the shoreline and then getting pounded; Ella dug and built in the sand and made new friends; she, Rachel and McKinley loved chasing the seagulls away.  It was great fun!

 

(At one point, I thought Kinley had messed her diaper, which was fine because I had a disposable swim diaper on her rather than the cloth one.  I changed her just to find the diaper full of sand.  Yum!  So I put on the cloth swim diaper...then she decided to go poops.  Awesome, Kinley.  Not the end of the world, though.) :)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highlight #4:  Legoland!  We saved this as a surprise, too, only telling the kids we were going to Disney.  We thought Caleb especially would be so excited to go there (he has asked to go at least a dozen times.)  We heard that one day there was plenty, so that's what we planned, and they were right!  One day was just enough.  The trouble is, after you've already been to Disneyland...Legoland just doesn't seem as cool.  You have to go there knowing it is NOT Disneyland.  There are lots of cool lego structures to look at, and some rides - but the lines are longer, rides are shorter, and there was virtually nothing for Kinley and Rachel to ride (too short height-wise).  So yes, it was cool, but we jokingly called it lame-o-land, because...not to sound snobby, but it was nothing compared to Disney. :)

 

 

 

  

McKinley nap: version Legoland.

 

 

 

  

A massive Star Wars X-wing plane, the largest Lego ever built (I believe).

 

 

Now...Highlights #5, 6, 7...and more -  of DISNEY!  

Kip liked fast passes, RideMax software, rider switch passes, and how you can ride tons of things in one day.  He liked watching the kids ride the rides.  He liked Space Mountain and California Screamin, and the corn dogs (just kidding on that last one).
Katie liked how clean everything was.  Seriously, employees are cleaning all day with a smile on their face!  I liked how there are plenty of rides for all ages - everyone got to ride tons of things.  I liked the shows and parades, they were all high energy and lots of fun.
Caleb liked all the super fast rides and loved that he got to go on them over and over as a buddy with Dad AND mom (while we took turns with the younger ones on smaller rides).  He loved California Screamin, and riding all the rides as much as possible.  The apple doesn't fall far from the tree!
Ella liked the Matterhorn, the Radiator Spring Racers, and anything where she got to be the "driver," like Tuck & Roll's bumper buggies.
Rachel liked all of the rides and being able ride in the stroller and not get too tired.  That also meant she was close to all of the snacks!  :)  She was the one who wore her princess Merida dress every day and loved when employees called her "Princess" and "Your Highness."
McKinley was a great sport considering she napped in a stroller for a week.  Her very most favorite thing was meeting characters - she LOVED getting up close with the big "leopard" (Tigger), Pooh, Woody from Toy Story, and Mickey Mouse.  She had a great time on lots of rides too!

And now, presenting the rest of photo overload: Disneyland!

The Matterhorn, from Autopia.

 The Lego store at Downtown Disney:

 

 

 McKinley nap, Day1:

 

In front of the Fantasyland Castle:

 Riding the Astro Orbiter:

 

 Look!  A real banana tree!

 McKinley busting a move right before the Jedi show:

 

Caleb trained to be a Jedi...

...then fought Darth Maul!Yikes!

 He graduated!

 Meeting Mickey Mouse

 Meeting Pooh

 

 

Date night at CA Adventure

 

 Meeting Woody!

 McKinley is enamored.

  

Haha, Ella. :)

 

 

 Fish faces!

 

 

 Radiator Springs

 

AAAHHHH!  We're being eaten by Monstro!

 Meeting "the leopard" Tigger

 

  Teacups!

 

 The treasure pile at Pirate Island.  That's Caleb's "arg!" face.

 Bringing something up from the deep...

 During the parade one afternoon.  I do not know this guy, but parenting?  He's doing it right. :D

 DUMBO!

 

 

 On the outer (swinging) car of Mickey's Ferris Wheel. 

  

 Waiting for Grizzly River Run.

And finally, Kip's panoramic of the World of Disney laser and water show.  So pretty!

We would all be happy to go back anytime!  Well, maybe in a year or two when McKinley doesn't need naps.  It was wonderful!  I was a little skeptical of people who go on a regular basis - come on people, aren't there other things in the world to see?  But now...I get it.  Disney really is magical!