Disneyland Vacation

Okay.... Here's the scoop on our Family Disneyland adventure! We got to our Hotel on Wed. We stayed at a super cute hotel called the Candycane Inn. It was really convenient, had a continental breakfast, swimming pool, and a free shuttle bus that was super easy to catch there and back. I recommend it to anyone going! The only thing the kids wanted to do when we got there was go swimming! It was a favorite daily activity.

We spent Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in the park. It was really nice because it wasn't super crowded ever. We did have to wait in a few lines but nothing like I imagine it when it's busy. It was a little chilly in the shade and the wind blew quite a bit. Fireworks were cancelled on Friday and Saturday because of the wind.

Ellie was upset because she didn't see the princesses wandering in the park so we went and stood in line for an hour to walk through and meet three princesses. The princesses change out every once in a while so you don't know for sure who you are going to get. We totally lucked out and got Cinderella, Belle, and Jasmine! It was so worth the wait to see Ellie's reaction and hear the excitement in her voice the rest of the week!

This was a big hit with Tate. Jedi Training. The people looked really real! It was so much fun! Tate practices the moves everyday with his new light saber... like we needed another one in our house!

What a magical place..... this is how I found these two sleeping the first night. They snuggled all night!

Of course...... we found an airplane in California Adventure! Tate and Jeff were thrilled. Tate found one of his favorite souvenirs- A little B52 airplane that he carried around everywhere.

Ellie was scared of almost EVERY ride. I don't blame her. They even make finding Nemo ride scary! This little area in the California adventure side was all bugs life stuff. There is a 3D movie that freaked both kids out- I LOVED IT, and there was this little Caterpillar ride that Ellie and I rode on three or four times! She was diggin' it.

My cute little man chillin' for a photo op.

Ellie's souvenir was a build-a-bear lamb. She dressed her in a Snow White outfit. It was so cute! Her name is Lambie.

Lunch with the princesses! I hesitated paying the money to go do this, especially after standing in line for an hour to meet some of these princess already but it made Ellie's whole trip. I think she loved Cinderella the most before Disneyland but I am thinking Snow White and Aurora are now here fav's.

Love, Love, Loved this Cinderella! She was so kind and sweet! Ellie loved her.

Mater. Tate and Ellie loved the "Cars" stuff there. They didn't have a whole lot of things but the parade was really cool!

T-I-G-G-E-R!

Okay, this was pretty much the only ride I REALLY wanted to go on because I remember it from when I was a little girl (Small World). Ellie looks thrilled, right? She did not want to go but ended up loving it! Tate was a really good sport. He went on two rides that I thought he never would do- Grizzly River Rafting (he almost puked after), and he did pirates but didn't love it. I am happy he at least tried it. They kept teasing Jeff that he was going to have to go do the Tower of Terror! Holy smokes.... I think that ride would be pushing my limits!

We went to Newport Beach the last full day we were there. It was cloudy and chilly but the sand was really warm and fun to play in. The water was freezing and crazy people were still swimming in it!!!

Ha,ha,ha,ha.... Ellie was strolling along the beach and this big wave came washing up on the shore! Ellie was running and screaming as fast as her little legs would move. It was so hilarious and I just happened to be trying to take a picture of her!

The kids are really relieved to know that there weren't any sharks that wanted to eat them up.
I could totally be a beach bum! I loved it there!

..... and then we had to come home! We really didn't want to come back to the real world. Tate loved the airplane rides! On the way into Long Beach the airplane did some funky sudden drop. It felt like we were falling out of the sky. I freaked out of course and he LOVED it! When the plane landed there was this HORRIBLY loud noise. It sounded like the whole top of the airplane was going to rip off! I was again freaking out but as soon as it was silent Tate YELLED, "That was awesome!!!!" Everyone around us started laughing their heads off. What a cutie!