Disneyland

We just couldn't pass up Disneyland since we were just 1 1/2 hours away so we headed down there the week of New Years and spent two days. Mack had to fly home so Monday morning Taylor's dad dropped him at LAX and picked up Arty's girlfriend that flew in that morning. Poor thing came straight from Dubai on a 16 hour flight and had never been to the US before and where do we take her to introduce her to true American culture? Disneyland!
L to R: Esther, Arty, me and Miles, Pluto, Ethan, Taylor, Isaac, Sonia, and Jeff. Barb and her boyfriend Clint missed the picture but they were there too.
Without realizing it we picked 2 of the busiest days of the year. The park "sold out" both days and it was crazy trying to push a stroller through the crowd and the lines were really long. Isaac actually woke us all up Sunday night at 2am throwing up so he and Taylor missed most of the first day. Taylor caved, and carried him to 1 ride late Monday night after he kept pointing at Mickey in the hotel and saying "Meekee".
The sickness and the busyness of the park were blessings in a way though because they made us slow down and not worry about getting to every ride. We also spent more time in line talking with each other and playing with our kids. And really, in the end, everyone rode the rides they wanted most and we had a great time.
Miles was a little freaked out by the Jungle Cruise.
This was what Isaac chose as his favorite ride. I can tell you that definitively because every time we passed it in the park he'd scream "dat" and point. He was trying so hard to get our attention one time that he stood up in his stroller and launched himself out and right onto his forehead. So we made sure to ride the rockets and he giggled the whole time.

Because it was Christmastime they had all sorts of fun lights and decorations up. The Haunted Mansion was decorated with ghosts and pumpkins and Christmas festivities. A completely different ride almost. On it's a small world they threw up an amazing amount of Christmas decor and even changed the song so it went back and forth from "it's a small world" to "Deck the Halls" and "Jingle Bells". It actually blends seemlessly and is really neat. Even Cinderella's castle was decked out with snow.

Ethan and Isaac are finally not afraid of mascots anymore so they loved meeting all the Disney characters. Right now Isaac is sitting on my chair with me and pointing at the screen saying "Goopy". They loved them. So here's Ethan doing the twist at breakfast with Goofy.