For almost a year, all the planning had been done secretly. Plane tickets booked, hotel, rental car, Disneyland tickets. All of it. We decided the week after Mc got baptized would be a great time to surprise the kids. Santa really wanted us to go to Disneyland for Christmas. It was hard keeping it a secret for so long but SO worth the sweet video of Mc reading the letter from Santa the day we left (she almost cried when she read that Brynlee was coming- adorable!).
The entire week before, we like geniuses, decided to get our house ready to put up for sale so that we could have a million showings while we were gone (we had one). The night before, we packed the kid's bags and got ready to leave first thing in the morning. The challenge, the few days before we left, Mc was diagnosed with walking pnuemonia and had been throwing up for two days. I was SO worried that she would be too sick to enjoy the trip but she was back to her old self by the first day at the park (prayer and Priesthood blessings at work).
We also made the executive decision to leave Mr. Lorenzo Niels home with Grandma Mary Ann, Mimi and Alex. It was such a SMART decision. No stroller. No bum changing. And we were able to go on EVERY ride (that we could force the kids to ride that is). He will be old enough to go the next time and for that I am excited.
California welcomed us with perfect weather- shorts and minimal jacket wearing the entire trip. The hotel was close to the park so we rode the tram back and forth every day. Continental breakfast, swimming pool, fire pit. It was great.
The park is just as magical and amazing as it is at Halloween. I truly have grown to love Disneyland and what it offers my family. I had a thought that Heavenly Father must really like Disneyland- it's clean, wholesome fun and SO much happiness. You can't beat it.
The kids had a blast! We were so glad to be traveling with the Thomases. The kids would go back and forth between the hotel rooms and play. Mc and Brynlee were inseparable and we hope that Tyler and Jade will come next time so K will have Cash. I just love taking my kids. I hope that we can continue to go every two years or so.
We ate in the park most days. Had Monte Cristos, Dole whips, churros, the most delightful gingerbread men I have ever eaten (and I may never find one to rival them again) and the $8 corn dogs.
Most of the rides took convincing to get the kids to go. K was pretty much scared of the "hills" but once he rode, he would say how awesome it was and want to go again. The Tower Of Terror (the name is more scary than anything) was the biggie but the kids rode, albeit Mc crying ALL through the line, all the way to the door, all the way to her seat and through most of the ride. They loved Pirates, Soarin', Space Mountain, Toy Story, Haunted Mansion (which is always my favorite for the holidays) and Thunder Mountain. The lines were surprisingly short (except for Cars- which always has the longest line of all time) and the park was at a low point which was awesome for us.
Souvenirs were important as ever- Mc chose a limited edition Holly doll from the Tower of Terror. A cute doll that you can only buy in the park and was a perfect choice to remind her that she can do hard things. We discovered the Lego store in downtown Disney later in the vacation and the only bribe that lured Kingston to the Tower of Terror was a a Lego rally car. I got our yearly ornament that says, "Final Check out 2017" from the Tower of Terror since it closes in January and will be converted to a new ride. I will miss it. Glad we got to ride it one last time.
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| K conquering Splash Mountain. It might have taken a bit of fibbing ("we will tell them you don't want to go on the hill") but he went. And he had a blast. |
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| K on Space Mountain |
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| Mc on the Tower of Terror |
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| Final Checkout for the Tower of Terror |
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| K was whining about riding the Tower of Terror and a sweet vendor lady (her name was Bette), said if he would go, he could have a free Icee. Notice the cute Mickey ears she made for him! Brave kid, sweetest lady. |
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| K at the Lego store. The coolest sculptures made all out of Legos. |
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| Our last ride, on the last day! |
We spent three full days in the park and enjoyed every minute. I wasn't ready for it to be over and to go back to real life. Thursday was our "free" day so we went to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach. It was by far the best aquarium I have ever been too! So much to interact with- we got to touch Jellyfish and see sharks inside their eggs developing. The otters were being fed while we were there, we got to touch sharks, stingrays and see newly hatched Seahorses. We stopped at a hole in the wall Donut shop on the way home that was pretty good- "just look for a sign that says Donuts" was the recommendation that we got from a friend, didn't disappoint. That night we let the kids swim and play, take out from Olive Garden and then we headed back to the snow and ice, school and jobs that were waiting in Utah.
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| Aquarium of the Pacific |
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| This HUGE touch pool. The best part was all the volunteers were Senior Citizens- they were so sweet and knowledgeable! Totally would do that if I lived anywhere near this place. |
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| Picture with the Diver in the HUGE tank. (Mc's fake glasses) |
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| Touching Jellyfish |
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| Shark inside the egg- hatching December 15. Mc keeps saying if we leave now, we won't miss it. I wish. |
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| Channeling our inner Beetlejuice. |
We took the kids to the beach really quickly (since there were quite a few homeless people) and let them put their feet in and enjoy the sun and sand.
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| Sure did miss this kid. Even though every time we talked to him all he did was the "Hulk Face". He was extra happy to see daddy. |
There was something extra special about this trip. I think the timing was perfect for us and the Thomases. I think that we all needed that bright spot in our lives. 2016 has been really good to us and I am so glad that we got to spend some quality time with the kids (and Enzo on Facetime). I love making memories with them- this one, hopefully, will be one that they always remember.
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