A Day at Disneyland

Day 2 of Disneyland was equally as fun.  We started at breakfast with all sorts of random character visits.  Can anyone tell me if that's Chip or Dale?

And some random bear.

 A gorilla I think.  Doesn't really matter.  My kids didn't seem to mind not knowing who they all were.  They just wanted their attention and lots of pictures.

Isla was not sure about the characters.  When they'd lean in, she'd lean away and never took her eyes off them.  And she refused to smile at them which is unheard of for this little charmer.

I raced off with the boys to ride a few of the rides before the crowds got in.  Waiting in line?  At least there's plenty of rails to swing around on.

Mater didn't disappoint.

This picture is classic.  It's actually my favorite from the whole trip.  Laughing his head off.

I did try to take pictures throughout the day while we were on rides but either the movement or the lighting made the pictures all bad.  So you'll have to just trust me that it was fun upon fun upon fun.

Mack and Sam flew in for the fun Saturday and Isla couldn't get enough of Sam.  These two were so cute together.

A brief picture with the storm troopers while Ethan hugged a wall and refused to participate (seriously you're too cool for these guys???) and while Barbara got yelled at by some random lady.

A brief stop back at the hotel for naps and another Christmas since finally almost everyone was together.

Isla got these fabulous shiny gold boots from Mack and Sam which were adorable and perfect since the weather turned rainy and cold.  Of course she preferred removing them from her feet so she could chew on them.  They were still cute being chewed on.

And then we headed back out.  Apparently rain and cold is when you should go to Disneyland because it was seriously empty.  Radiator Springs at night was pretty neat too.

Love these aunts and uncles.  Taylor was really worried about not being there to help me with the kids but it turned out just like I knew it would.  My kids love their aunts and uncles and they played with them and rode with them and carried them the entire 2 days.  They were great.

Isaac ready to ride the Cars ride again for the 3rd time.  It really is a fun ride.  You ride inside replica car characters through the movie story line and then at the end you get to race another group of riders in another car and it turns into a fun roller coaster ride.  Isaac loved it.  I love the smile on this silly guy.  I'm a little sad the picture of Miles in the Car ride didn't turn out but Hallelujah! he did get to ride it.  Miles and Grandpa have a special bond (maybe it's the 3rd boy in a family thing) so when Miles was just 1/4 inch too short to ride the first day, Grandpa set off on a mission to help in "GROW" 1/4 inch overnight.  And he succeeded!!! He actually went and bought a pair of thick flip flops, cut the straps off of them, inserted them into Miles' shoes, and tadaa!!! he was 1/4 inch taller.  It was perfect.  And such a sweet thing for him to do.  Grandpa really went out of his way the entire trip to make sure I was happy and that the boys were having a good time.  We really appreciated it and we really loved everything about the trip.

Radiator Springs at night was breathtaking.

Roller coasters, twirly rides, plummeting elevators, bumper cars, train rides, boat rides, we did them all and the day was full.

A group shot in Radiator Springs.

And finally we stayed to watch the laser light show in the water around the park.  It was amazing and was so nice at the end of two busy days to sit and snuggle with my littles and think back on the fun we'd had together.  Good memories.

A Big California Adventure

The real reason the kids and I stayed behind while Taylor went home to work was that Grandpa wanted to take us to Disneyland.  And far be it for me to refuse a fabulous trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.  Our first stop had to be Radiator Springs of course.  And it didn't disappoint.  It looks just like in the movies.  

I rode on the Cars ride with the others while Grams waited with Miles and Isla.  Sadly Miles was a mere 1/4 inch too short to ride.  And when Grams went with the others on the ride for the second time, he totally flipped out.  So I may have felt bad enough for him to placate him with popcorn- in an orange cone- from the Cozy Cone Motel.  So cute.  And here's the blissfully happy little guy.

While we waited for everyone, Lightning McQueen drove past us.  (Mom why are you making me NOT look at McQueen!?!)

And Mater drove past us too, in a Santa hat of course.

Isla was unaware of being left out of the fun but enjoyed the spoils of popcorn just the same.

Luckily there were plenty of rides that everyone could go on.  The Toy Story ride was a favorite of the boys because you get to shoot at everything.

Barbara and Clint came along for the fun too and were very helpful in taking kids on rides.  You really do need 1 adult per kid because there's so many rides where they can't go alone.

The Little Mermaid was bizarrely Miles' favorite.  No idea why, but he loved it.

Grams took lots of turns waiting out with the 2 littles.  It was so nice to get to go with my older boys and know she didn't mind helping out.

Partway through the day we stopped into a Dance off room.  It was so much fun- all sorts of Disney Characters you could not only meet, but dance and play with.  Ethan refused to even come onto the dance floor.  He stayed glued to the wall and couldn't be convinced to join in on the fun.  This was the first time he decided he was too "cool" for something at least that I've seen.  Kind of funny.

Isaac though was all over the dancing- especially because his favorite villain, Captain Hook, was there.

He refused to dance with him but laughed and smiled as he ran circles around him and got chased by him.

Miles had no problem dancing with them and could have stayed all day.

Barb and Clint didn't mind taking a break either and I think this room was just genius in a place like Disneyland where you're standing in lines or walking so much of the day- the kids get to run and dance and play while the parents rest on couches in a cool place.

By chance we ended up in a perfect spot to stop and watch the parade.  They really do an impressive job.

I'd want to be these insect people swinging around and doing acrobatic tricks.

Isla was a perfectly easy angel as always.  She didn't get her normal 2 hour naps with the plane flight and then getting dragged around the park, but she was still happy and smiley and just took cat naps whenever she could.  It was a bit chilly though so we kept her wrapped up and warm in her fantastic hat.

More parade fun.

Taylor's dad got us all rooms in the park so we could come and go as needed and get the kids naps.  So nice and thoughtful of him.  And Disney was brilliant as always.  My room had a queen bed plus a bunk bed with a trundle underneath.  The closet was even big enough for Isla's crib to fit inside so she could crash while the rest of us had room service for dinner and then also all crashed.  So much fun packed into 1 day.  I was excited to read by flashlight after the kids went to bed but I passed out within 15 minutes.  Disney wore us all out!

Zoo Lights- Phoenix Style

You'll be amazed there are only 2 pictures!!  I know, I tend to over do the pictures.  Lucky for you my camera had a hard time capturing the lights in the darkness and also there were thousands of people so we had to just keep moving.

We got to the zoo just an hour after it opened for the lights and already we were sent a 1/2 mile away to the overflow parking.  Seriously, there were at least 5000 people there but it was worth it.

The lights were amazing and everywhere and much more impressive than the ones in Salt Lake.  Plus it was 60 degrees so it was a nice walk.

McCormick Stillman Railroad Par

Sadly Taylor had to leave early Wednesday morning to finish up work back in Salt Lake, but the boys and I stayed to enjoy more family time.  We visited a railroad park.

And of course the first thing we had to do (after taking pictures in the cutouts of course) was to ride the miniature train.  Miles and Isaac wanted to ride in the cattle car even though that meant they had to be locked in.  So funny.

Ethan decided to be big and ride in a regular car....

with grams and Isla and me.

And we rode the carousel

Miles looks pretty happy back their with is Grams.  We don't get enough time to just do kid things during the year so it's nice to take a few days and be together.

Isaac is in heaven.  I love this silly boy.

Isla and Grandpa waited on the side.

And then at the next exhibit the poor thing was so tuckered out that she started bobbing her head.  When grandpa noticed he laid her out on his arm and she audibly sighed and passed out.  So cute.

And lastly we went to visit the warehouse full of model trains.

 A truly perfect morning.