2 Days at the Disneyland Theme Park
This was the funnest part of our trip- no duh
When we arrived at our hotel room the 1st day, Kate ran to the window- looked out and in complete happiness shouted she could see the castle. The thing was that we did not have a park view room and she was pointing at a parking garage. I couldn't wait for her to see the real thing.
We had a magic morning pass for early entry the 1st day. We jetted over to FantasyLand and rode all the snow white, mr toad little cart rides. Then Small World. Small World was the 1st ride that had no element of scary and was just fun. And it was the kids favorite. We liked it too. It was long and cool. They kids danced and pointed for the whole seven minute ride.
We ended up riding all the rides the kids could- plus traded out so each of us could ride the Matterhorn. We rode most the kid rides two- five times, and even got the kids to go on Pirates and the Haunted Mansion once.
Kate makes the Ladybug face from Bug's Life from the day before.
The crew waiting for a ride.
In front of Small World.
Riding the Rockets.
Over in tomorrow land we found Jake and my favorite ride too. The Buzz Lightyear ride.
There was never a wait and Jake and I enjoyed competing for high score.
Plus expectation is everything. The 1st time we entered the building with this ride we didn't know it was a ride. So we were pleasantly surprised.
Kate meets Minnie.
The 1st day Kate wore an Ariel shirt- and met Ariel.
So this day when Kate wore a Minnie shirt she was sure she would met Minnie.
Leaving the 1st day for a break/ Sam's nap, Kate said "but we haven't seen Minnie"
I explained that we might not see her, That she might not be here.
She replied in perfect faith "Don't worry mom, I know she'll come"
It broke my heard and I hoped that she might get to meet Minnie before we left. Nobody wants to see belief like that crushed.
It literally brought me to tears, when we walked back into the park two hours later and Minnie was standing right there.
Riding Jungle Cruise. This was one of my favorite rides because it was long and cool. The kids surely thought those animals were real too. Sam roared like a lion for an entire cruise- all the other passengers seemed to think it was hilarious.
Kind of like when he called out "memo" on the Nemo sub forty times.
One great memory the 2nd day at Disneyland was on Small World. A lady sitting in front of us with her daughter and husband shouted to her husband "Look at that Little Boys FACE!" She meant it in "he is the cutest thing I've ever seen" but it sounded really funny.
Silly faces spinning around on Tea Cups.
We met Mickey at his house in Toon Town. It looks like there is often a long line for this, but there was no line for us. Of course when Sam saw him he was more interested in his shoes.
Kate and Sam play on some cars at Toon Town. They loved these cars and would hardly eat dinner because they could see them from our table.
Jake and Sam on Dumbo
Riding Dumbo
Sam and Kate love the Carousels. At both Parks. We rode the Carousels at least 6 times
While the boys rode Pirates a 2nd time- Kate and I waited in line to see some princesses at the princess walk through. Kate refused to ride Pirates again because it was scary- but Sam seemed to really like it and roared at all the pirates. We didn't know we would be waiting in this line for almost an hour. It was so not worth it. We had already seen most the princesses, we were just hoping to see Mulan- Kate's favorite next to Ariel, but she wasn't there. I would not recommend doing this feature of the Park.
The kids run to see Jasmine. We had not met her before this, like we had the other princesses.
Jake and Sam on Peter Pan. This was Kate's favorite ride, but we only rode it twice because it usually had a 30 minute wait. This is also one of my favorite pictures of the trip.
This is Jake and I towards the end of the last day. We just didn't have any picture of ourselves so we asked somebody in line to take one. Jake and I spend more time than most couples together seeing as how he works from home, so I know I am already lucky, but having him with the kids and I for nine days straight was so much fun.
Disneyland was the best. I hope we are back very soon. We have now resolved to drive there more often after trips to Fresno.
Today I told Kate to hurry and get her shoes on and get in the car.
She said "Mom are we going back to Disneyland"
I told her no.
She said " But I will get my blankie and sleep in the car"
... and so the begging from children to return begins.
After growing all summer and taking up our entire side yard we finally pulled up the pumpkins today. Last night froze our garden- which is likely because our sprinklers were running for some reason. We are not too sad though, It is almost Halloween, and we have been harvesting 30 or more tomatoes a day still. Our pumpkins didn't have a chance to get orange really, but they were large enough in size to please our little two.
On a whim (like usual) we decided to head out to the Thanksgiving Point's Halloween Fun this afternoon. Like is tradition we ate JCW's, and then to join in all the Fall fun at Thanksgiving Point. This is the 2nd year we have gone to this Fall activity park/ dinner at JCW's. I really like this evening. I think we will do it next year as well.
Can you believe how handsome this guy is?
I guess we know why my little boy is so handsome.
We rented a wagon to tote kids around in.
Here we are lost in the corn maze. We found some corn though. Corn Sam tried to eat, but Kate told him we had to wait till we got home. Sorry kids- we are never eating that corn you found.
There are not very many picture of Kate because even before we got to the park, Kate was saying she wanted to go home. She was grumpy because she had fallen asleep in the car and we had to wake her up, but also because it was really cold, and when we had played at the park this afternoon it was really hot, so all I brought the kids were sweaters. That is okay- last year Kate was really grumpy here too- I guess it is all part of the tradition. The rest of us had tons of fun.
Sam didn't let the cold get to him. He loved everything. Including throwing hay all over himself.
Kate and Jake climb a hay tower.
Riding a bike trike.
Sam has no fear on the big slides.
Kate finally got happy around the time she rode this monster.
Sam enjoyed jumping on the trampoline with Jake.
When we decided to leave of course, Kate didn't want to go home anymore, and wanted to do more things like ride these moose swings.
Sit on this train.
Riding trikes in a hay maze.
Ride in some cow carts pulled by a tractor
We spent nearly two hours at all the activities and there was lots more to see and do not pictured- including Jake and my favorite- little pig races. We had planned to get pumpkins but we were too cold and it was too late by the time we had done all the activities, so we will have to plan another pumpkin trip.
Kate loves to pose when I get the camera out. Sometimes she will just ask me to take a picture of her if she likes what she is wearing.... she is only three right?
Kate goes to an all little girls school now one day a week. She packs her own backpack with things she will need and promises me she will listen to the teacher.
Kate told me yesterday that Sam was her best friend in all seriousness and love.
Sam says "CHEESE" now every time I get the camera out.
Sam sat at the top of the stairs pointing at the picture of Christ saying "Jesjus" for a good five minutes today.
Sam finally discovered the Reader's Digest Nature Encyclopedia that was Kate's favorite for her entire 2nd year of life. I think it is one of his new favorites.
Earlier I was complaining about the weather and how I had planned on a perfect fall picnic only to have to cancel because of the weather.
This is when the animals finally retreated into the forest.
Kate makes the Ladybug face from Bug's Life from the day before.
The crew waiting for a ride.
In front of Small World.
Riding the Rockets.
Kate meets Minnie.
Riding Jungle Cruise. This was one of my favorite rides because it was long and cool. The kids surely thought those animals were real too. Sam roared like a lion for an entire cruise- all the other passengers seemed to think it was hilarious.
One great memory the 2nd day at Disneyland was on Small World. A lady sitting in front of us with her daughter and husband shouted to her husband "Look at that Little Boys FACE!" She meant it in "he is the cutest thing I've ever seen" but it sounded really funny.
Silly faces spinning around on Tea Cups.
We met Mickey at his house in Toon Town. It looks like there is often a long line for this, but there was no line for us. Of course when Sam saw him he was more interested in his shoes.
Kate and Sam play on some cars at Toon Town. They loved these cars and would hardly eat dinner because they could see them from our table.
Jake and Sam on Dumbo
Riding Dumbo
Sam and Kate love the Carousels. At both Parks. We rode the Carousels at least 6 times
While the boys rode Pirates a 2nd time- Kate and I waited in line to see some princesses at the princess walk through. Kate refused to ride Pirates again because it was scary- but Sam seemed to really like it and roared at all the pirates. We didn't know we would be waiting in this line for almost an hour. It was so not worth it. We had already seen most the princesses, we were just hoping to see Mulan- Kate's favorite next to Ariel, but she wasn't there. I would not recommend doing this feature of the Park.
The kids run to see Jasmine. We had not met her before this, like we had the other princesses.
Jake and Sam on Peter Pan. This was Kate's favorite ride, but we only rode it twice because it usually had a 30 minute wait. This is also one of my favorite pictures of the trip.
This is Jake and I towards the end of the last day. We just didn't have any picture of ourselves so we asked somebody in line to take one. Jake and I spend more time than most couples together seeing as how he works from home, so I know I am already lucky, but having him with the kids and I for nine days straight was so much fun.