Disneyland

I was going to make this post into 3 different post, one for each day, but I've learned that this morning sickness thing is taking more out of me than I thought. I don't want to do anything in my spare time other than sleep so I haven't been blogging. I'm way behind and I'm forced to do some major catchup. So instead of 3 blogs, enjoy this long blog with a slide show.

A family picture in front of Sleeping Beauty's castle after we first arrived.

The week of Thanksgiving was spent in California with Kenny's family. On Monday we started our 3 days of Disneyland. The kids have never been to Disneyland so it was a fun, new adventure for them. We got up early on Monday morning and headed to the park. It was so much fun to watch the kids get excited at all they saw. We first headed to Fantasy Land where we went on the Peter Pan ride, Dumbo, and the Carousel. Ben was not a big fan of the rides that went inside. He didn't like the idea of no knowing was was coming. It took a lot of work to get him to go on most rides, but he liked most rides so it was worth it. We spent all day Monday in Disneyland leaving around 2:00 to return to the hotel for a much needed nap. Some of the highlights of the day were Star Tours, (Ben still talks about this ride, this morning he told Kenny that Star Tours is only a movie on a ride in Disneyland, it's not actually real) Space Mountain (I thought it was a highlight, it's my favorite ride, but Ben and Sarah were not as enthused) Tarzan's Tree House, The Indiana Jones ride (Ben loves Indiana Jones and was so excited to go on the ride. He was just tall enough, but we had him wear Sarah socks as extra padding just in case they said he wasn't tall enough. He LOVED the ride. It was worth it) and Splash Mountain (this was Sarah Kate's favorite ride. I got to take her on in and it was so much fun hearing her giggle and scream with delight throughout the ride.) I also loved the firework show at night. Disney can sure put on a show.

Tarzan's Tree House

The second day we got a later start and headed to California Adventure. This park has changed a lot since I was last there 8 years ago. We headed over to the new Toy Story ride, but the line was over and hour and we didn't want to wait. We took the kids on the carousel and then Kenny and I went on Screamer the roller coaster while Grandma watched the kids. Missi, a cousin whose 6 months younger than Sarah, went on it just after we finished so Sarah thought she'd try it. I took her and she screamed the whole time, but when it was over she said she liked it. I think it was one of those, 'I want to like it' things.

Riding the Carousel

We went to a Bugs Life to ride the little ride and get wet (it was surprisingly hot that day.) We saw the 3D Bugs Life show and the kids were not fans. It is a little scary and they were terrified. I had Ben and Hannah climbing on top of me during the movie and Sarah crying next to me. Ben ran out of the theater as soon as the doors opened. Not a good experience. After that we went to the water rapids ride and wore ponchos to keep us dry (it was starting to get a little chilly) as when got showered with water both time we went on the ride. Kenny had the little girls (and Ben for one of the rides) in the Brother Bear play area which I wish I would have had more time it because it looked really cool.

Gracie and her cousin Zack at Brother Bear

Kenny went back to the hotel to get some warm, dry clothes (I was fortunate to be one without a poncho on the first trip down the rapids) and we stayed and watched the Pixar parade. While at the hotel Kenny locked the keys in the van and had to wait for someone to rescue him. It took a little while longer, but he made it back to us. While Kenny was gone the whole family headed over to the Tower of Terror. The whole family decided to go and Sarah wanted to be brave like her cousins so she opted to try. She was terrified the whole time we were waiting in line. She kept trying not to cry, but wanting to anyway. Everyone tried and tried to convince her that it would be OK, but she was still scared. Finally right before it was our turn to get on the elevator I told Sarah we could leave if she wanted to. She thought for quite a while and when they came to open the door she decided to go on the ride anyway. We got on, got buckled, and as soon as they closed the door she said she changed her mind and wanted off. At that point there was nothing I could do so she went on the ride. I loved it, Sarah Kate HATED it. She was very brave and I was very proud of her. When we got off one of the guys working there saw how scared she was and heard her talking to others about how much it scared her. He brought her a sticker that said "I took the DARE" and told her what a brave girl he thought she was. It was so nice and it helped her stop crying.

After the Tower of Terror with friendly worker guy Eddie

After the scary Tower of Terror we took the kids to some happier rides. They went on Monsters with their cousins while Kenny (just back from the hotel) and I went on Tower of Terror. Then we headed to watch Crush from 'Finding Nemo' and then to Soaring which was really cool. Last we ran in the pouring rain to Toy Story that had a much shorter line. We were one of the last ones in line just before it closed. The two little girls slept, but it was a great ride so we're glad we went on it.

Our third day was spent in Disneyland again. It started out by Ben fighting Darth Vader in the Star Wars show. We'd been looking forward to this the entire trip and were really bummed when the first show was canceled due to rain. Luckily the second show went on and, thanks to Ben's Obi Wan Kenobi Halloween costume that we brought, Ben was one of about 18 kids chosen to learn how to be a Jedi. Ben loved learning the Jedi moves for the Jedi master, but as soon as Darth Vader came out Ben wanted nothing to do with it. It turns out he wasn't scared of fighting Darth Vader, he just thought Darth Vader would think he was the real Obi Wan and fight extra hard and mean. When Kenny told him he could take off his costume, he was ready to go up and fight Darth Vader. He did well and had a lot of fun. I loved watching him. For a boy who loves Star Wars as much as Ben does, it was a dream come true.

Fighting Darth Vader

We stayed for the next show and watched cousin Travis, who borrowed Ben's costume, get chosen and fight Darth Vader. Well actually Kenny, Ben and Grace stayed and watched, I took Hannah and Sarah on Autopia because Hannah was absolutely terrified of Darth Vader and did not want to stick around. The rest of the day was spent on various rides. Some of the highlights were Roger Rabbits Cartoon Spin in Mickey's Toon Town. This has a car coming out of the building and it was very disturbing to Hannah. She kept pointing at the car and says, "Down Car" in her very poor language. It was really cute. Big Thunder Mountain was another highlight. The kids LOVED it, especially Ben and they went on it over and over and over again. The whole family headed to pirate island and then to ride Pirates of the Caribbean and then saved seats for the Fantasmic show.

The kids hanging out on a sign in Mickey's Toon Town

While waiting for the show our little family headed over to watch the parade and then Kenny and I took Sarah on Splash Mountain (in poncho's) while the others slept with Grandma. Fantasmic was and amazing show (of course, it's Disney) and I was shock that Gracie slept through all but the last 2 minutes or so. At this point we decided to stay until the park closed at midnight. We went on the Haunted Mansion and then headed over to It's a Small World. Hannah LOVED this ride, I think it was her favorite. She couldn't get enough of the dolls and was so amazed when she'd turned her head to the other side and be able to see more dolls. Ben didn't want to go on It's a Small World so Kenny took him to Big Thunder Mountian. He apparently thought that ride was best at night. After Small World we split up from the family and took the kids to the Nemo Submarine and finished the night with Autopia. It was a great trip and I'd love to go back again. I was amazed at how much more there was still to do. It was awesome.

Saying Goodbye!

And now a slide show of some of the cute pictures we took.