Disneyland

So we just got back from Disneyland. Rich and I went there 8 1/2 years ago for our honeymoon and talked back then about going back with our kids one day. Well, one day arrived and we took off along with our parents. Our trip was fantastic, maybe not as cosy as it was with just the two of us but it was just as fun.

This picture was taken as we were leaving the park on the last night. Just b/f we had been on the train - the ride Christian was waiting to go on ALL day and he had been wide awake for that - within five -10 minutes of getting of the train he was asleep. He did so good going all day long every day. He only had two naps the entire time. Oh - he also really hurt his foot in the Seattle airport - at first we were afraid it was something really serious as he sobbed (unlike him) but thankfully we had a stroller for him so he rode in that and by the end of the week he was skipping around (with a limp).

We had such a great time with each of the kids. Aiden loved all of the rides too. He went on every ride he was big enough for. I think his fav. was Splash Mountain. He would cuddle in too on rides he was a little bit scared in. Christian was scared of a lot of the rides to begin with (pirate, haunted house, Nemo) but he would always go on again and those rides ended up being his favourite. He thought all of the 3D movies were scary and did refuse to go into those ones again.

On the last morning we went to have a character breakfast in Goofy's Kitchen. We hummed and hahhed about doing this but we are so glad we did. The food was so good and it was fun to have the characters come around and spend time at our table. We saw - Goofy, Pluto, Chip and Dale, Captian Hook, Princess Jasmine and Sleeping Beauty. They did fun things with the kids too like a band and the macarina. If you go to Disney dig deep into the old wallet and do a character meal.

As we were walking into Fantasyland I saw all of the Princess stuff. I couldn't resist putting this on Callia's head and when I did she lit up. SO CUTE!! I felt a little emotional when I saw all the girly stuff b/c I thought YEAH - I have a little girl to buy this princessy stuff for. We are so blessed to be able to do both the boys stuff and the girls stuff - that was only a dream a year ago and now it's a reality!:)

Ethan loved to go on any rides he could by himself (wasn't many). We had our highs and lows with this guy. Ethan was SO excited he couldn't contain himself on the first day - in fact he didn't even eat breakfast. Lack of food led to a rather irksome first morning as he complained about a lot of things. I thought GOOD GRIEF we're in Disney - who complains here? It was not turning out how I thought it would. HOwever, after he ate lunch he did a complete turn around and was pretty happy. Of course we had our moments, even in Disney no one is perfect. One minute Ethan would tell us it was the best vacation ever and then when something didn't go his way it was suddenly the worst. The best thing with Ethan and Disney was seeing his face light up during and after a great ride. His fav. was the big roller coaster at California Adventure. I also loved it when he was scared and would suddenly grab hold of my hand or cuddle up!

The boys loved to pose with any characters they saw and got all of their autographs. In fact we had to find Buzz light year for them since when we saw him the first time they were "anti" character.

Callia responded in a way I didn't expect. I thought we would just be dragging the poor girl along but we weren't - she thoroughly enjoyed herself. When she was able to go on rides her little head was going back and forth, constantly taking everything in and then (as in this pic) she was enthralled with the parades. Of course she won't remember it but for the moment she was taken by everything she saw.

Christian was our first kid to get an autograph. At first Ethan and Aiden were not going to have anything to do with the characters.

The first thing the boys wanted to do was Jedi Training so we did. We were so happy b/c both boys were picked to do the training. We also did it the last day but only Ethan was picked. Sad for Aiden but he was a trooper and didn't let it bother him too much. This was a fabulous show.

Disney was so great. I can't wait to go back there again with the kids. WE've said we will go back when Callia is 40" - that's the height for many of the bigger rides and they're very strict with it -but Idon't know if we can wait that long!! It won't be too long if she ends up being tall!:)