California..Day 6

We headed over to downtown Disney today and did some shopping with the kids. It was HOT today and Jeff's feet & back hurt..poor baby.

So off to the beach we went. I called my aunt and she came with us over to the beach. We stayed there for a couple of hours. The kids had a lot of fun playing in the sand.

We headed back to the hotel for showers and then had dinner at Denny's. Our kids fell in LOVE with Denny's while we were there and we liked it because everyone could get what they wanted - breakfast or dinner. I LOVE their Pineapple Dream drink...YUM!!

Then over to Disneyland AGAIN!!! WOW!! To our surprise it is CRAZY and BUSY!! We hustle into the park for the Fantasmic Show and end up trying to hold all 3 kids on our shoulders so they could see. After the show, we RACED over to Splash Mountain and was able to walk right on because everyone was off watching the fireworks. The operator of the ride let us go a 2nd time because there was no one in line.

Here's the attractions we got today:
Splash Mountain (twice)
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Astro Orbitor
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (Jeff kicked our butts on this one!)

The lines are horrible now and so we are exhausted so we head back to the hotel BUT not before stopping to take pictures outside California Adventures. I had this idea - but wish that I had taken the pictures during the day...but oh well.

Pics of the Day:

Chance & Hailey at the beach

Mermaid Calista

Very well endowed Mermaid Hailey

Buried Chance

Rock Climbing on the Beach

This was totally amazing to me. It looked like a rock from the distance but once we got up close, we discovered that it was covered my mussels - billions and billions of them. AMAZING!

Jeff & the kids playing in the water.

Waiting in line at the Astro Orbitor - we only went on one more ride after this..poor kids was exhausted.

California...Day 5

Off to Disneyland again today...

Today we made it to the following attractions:
Space Mountain (got right on..I would HATE to wait in that line!!! it took us FOREVER just to walk it)
Autopia (Hailey is a scary driver)
Captain EO (for old times sake and to torture the children)
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Lunch at Tomorrowland Terrace and watched Jedi show
Alice in Wonderland
Mad Tea Party
Storybook Land Canal Boats (Chance wanted to ride through the whales mouth)
Mr Toad's Wild Ride
SHOPPING
High School Musical 3 show
Soarin' over California (AGAIN)
Grizzly River Run (AGAIN)
MulHolland Madness (except me...I HATE that ride!)
Screaming over California (AGAIN)
Tower of Terror (Hailey & I didn't got...we saved spots for the Celebration Parade)
Celebration Parade (Calista was invited to participate)

MAN...we are tired and headed back to the hotel - but not before stopping at Denny's to eat and some swimming in the pool!

Pics from Today:

Riding in the Teacups

Storybook Canal Ride

This is the whale that Chance wanted to ride through

Chance driving me around Autopia

Hailey driving Jeff around Autopia

Chance did NOT want to take this pic but we made him...can you tell?

The bear by Grizzly River Run

Coolin' off with some Mickey Mouse treats!

Some days I wish I could package them off and sale them...hahaha! J/K

Calista in the conga line during the Celebration Parade.

California...Day 4

We're loving Disneyland but we also have tickets for Universal Studios. The weather is cool today so we decide to head there instead of the beach.

Got stuck in some traffic on the way there(not a big surprise there). Took a detour thru some side streets - in case I haven't already mentioned it - I LOVE my new GPS!!

Here's what we did today!!
Universal's House of Horrors (scared our kids to DEATH!! live actors jumping out of dark areas..they were clinging to us the entire way)
Terminator 2: 3D
Revenge of the Mummy (rode it twice)
Jurassic Park (rode it twice)
shopping and lunch at Jurassic Cafe
The Simpsons Ride
Studio Tour (including King Kong 3D)
Did some shopping and headed back to Anaheim.

We stopped at a store called Disneyland Outlet Store - just 7 minutes from Disneyland. They have great deals on close-out Disneyland items.

Pics from today:

Waiting for Terminator 2: 3D

Universal was all "decked" out for Halloween

Entrance to Revenge of the Mummy ride

Hangin' out with JAWS

Fred & Wilma Wilkinson

California...Day 3

Today is Tuesday..looked like it was going to rain today so Jeff ran to Target and grabbed some umbrellas. (wasted effort - didn't need them) It turned out to be a perfect day.

Here are our adventures for today:
Jungle Cruise
Indiana Jones Adventure
Tarzan's Playhouse
Pirates of the Carribean (kids loved this one)
Haunted Mansion (not very scary)
Lunch at the Golden Horseshoe (watched a show)
Splash Mountain (several times)
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (several times)
Autopia
Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (Calist was scared..what if the sub flooded?)


We stopped off at Tony Roma's on the way back to the hotel and then the kids went swimming at the hotel. We tried to sit in the hot tub but it was TOO hot. No one dared to sit in it - it was so HOT! So we played in then not so warm pool!

Pics of the Day:

Lunch at the Golden Horseshoe while watching the show

Riding through the Haunted Mansion

Do they look scared?

Autopia..Calista wishing she was 16

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

Characters we Met Today:

California...Day 2

Today we begin our adventures at Disneyland. We are fortunate that the weather is perfect - mid 70's and the park is not crowded at all!! We are able to go on all the rides in less than 20 minutes!! WOW!!!

Today we rode:
It's a Small World
Gadget's Go Coaster
Mickey's House
Donald's Boat
Flik's Flyers
Francis' Ladybug Boogie
Heimlich's Chew Chew Train
Tuck and Roll's Drive "Em Buggies
Tower of Terror (Calista cried before it started but loved it!! Chance's favorite ride)
Pixar Play Parade
Soarin' over California (lucked out to get 1st row seats...AWESOME!)
Grizzly River Run
Redwood Creek Challenge Trail
Mulholland Madness (Calista loved this one...I HATE it!)
Golden Zephyr
Silly Symphony Swings
Mickey's Fun Wheel
Jumping Jellyfish (kids only)
California Screaming

We also watched the World of Color tonight at California Adventure...it is a spectacular show!!

After the show, we walked across the street and ate at IHOP. Chance & Hailey were so tired that they fell asleep while waiting for the food. We are ALL exhausted!

A few characters that we met today:






Random Pics:

Uncle Alan told us that we HAD to try one of the HUMONGOUS smoked turkey legs!! They were delicious and they were HUGE!!

Jeff & Chance on Mickey's Fun Wheel

Doesn't Jeff look excited to be riding

Hangin' out in Mickey's House

California...Day 1

Today we got here and stopped by my Aunt Leah and Uncle Alan's house. They were so kind and had Sunday dinner ready for us. It's probably the best meal we are going to eat all week (fast food gets old FAST). Anyway, after dinner they took us to a beach that is located about 5 minutes from their house. The kids didn't have swimsuits on but that didn't stop them from enjoying the water. They LOVED it!

We went back to my Aunt's house and the kids showered and cleaned up. We had dessert (which was delicious) and then left for our hotel. We got there just in time to watch the fireworks from the roof of our hotel. AWESOME DAY!!