Disnyland Trip - Day 2 - A little more...

We stopped in Toon Town (briefly) and rode the crazy Taxi ride, played in the jail and toured Minnie's house...though she wasn't home! They kicked us out for fireworks about an hour later and we never made it back! :(

Caleb "driving" Cody in a Toon car! He played there for about 15 minutes...

Cam made himself comfy on Minnie's bed! (Emma did too! I swear they have no manners at all! Bwahahaha!)

Caleb getting dolled up at Minnie's dressing table.

I missed the photo...but Cody hoped on Minnie's computer and read her email! (What was I saying about manners??) He discovered that Chip & Dale have a crush on Minnie! *giggle*

But...shhhh...don't tell anyone! *wink wink*

Caleb loved touching and exploring! Wish we hadn't slept through their Magic morning! They could have seen Mickey and Minnie at their houses! (we were just TOO pooped to push it!)

I love Cody's face in this one! If you talk into the well...you can hear Snow White (or someone) singin back to you! He was shocked! LOL!

"Only When You Are 12 or in Disneyland!"

So...my little Emma turns 11 this year. She loves one-on-one time... that is her "Love Language". She had asked (multiple times) for time shopping while on our trip with just her mom. Now...having said that...we had very little time really (as...ummm... have I mentioned 3 days is SO NOT enough time for BOTH parks??). As we passed through Downtown Disney there was a store called Club Libby Lou. She really wanted to go look! (think Claire's in the mall) While the boys were finishing up their Wetzel's Pretzel's and Jamba Juices for lunch, I grabbed Em's hand we we did a 5 minute shopping blitz. I was loving watching her enjoy the items and the time together for a moment and a twinge of guilt that it was going to not be very long.

And then I saw the sign.

Free piercing with purchase of earrings.

And they had the *cutest* little diamond star studs. And it hit me. Bend the rule... my own rule... and make a memory she will have forever! And so I did.

"Emma... I forgot to tell you! Remember the rule about not getting your ears pierced until you are 12? It actually has a clause... 'or in Disneyland' - so it's up to you!"

I thought she was going to jump right in. Not so. My little girl needed re-inforcements. She hoed and hummed... and then asked to use my cell phone. She called her girlfriends at home to ask about pain etc, she called Gram to see what she thought she should do.... it was a tough decision! LOL!

We left the store, with the promise we would come back that evening if she decided "yes". It didn't take long... *grin*

OK! Mom! Hold my hand!!

She hates pain... LOL! She was pale and shaky and looked like she wanted to puke! I was feeling bad that I had offered this for the stress is was causing... when... 1....2....3!!! IT WAS OVER!

In an emotional burst of "Holy crap I did it!" I got a huge hug and a couple of tears!

And then she wanted to see the "New Emmalee"

And all I got were hugs and smiles and "I love them! I look SO pretty!" She says it only hurt for a second and then she never complained once!

I do need to add though... my little girl who almost hyperventilated at the thought of riding the waterfalls on Pirates... was pumped and ready to go to ride the Matterhorn after this!! If she can do fear of earrings.... racing at lighting speeds with snarling snow monsters is NOTHIN'!! *grin*

LIGHTING MCQUEEN!! There is LIGHTING MCQUEEN!!! I thought Caleb was going to have a heartattack!! We got preferred seating for the Pixar Parade and he followed Lighting all the way along the chain! He was SUCH a happy little piker! I kept tearing up! It was fantastic to see him so excited and happy!!

He was in heaven! Our trip to Disneyland was SO worth every step and trial and cost...

All the gang from Toy Story was there! (My sis, upon watching the video of the parade with us, inquired "I wonder how it looks to list on one's resume 'I was Slinky's butt' " BWAHAHAHA!! We laughed SO hard!

'Mater wrapped up the parade and we had a few tears when the realization came that McQueen was not coming back by! LOL!

After the parade we ran down and watched the Muppets 3D show and then had to leave the park because they closed for a Halloween Event. We enjoyed California Adv. - the parts that we saw - we look forward to going back and seeing what else it there! *wink*

Day 2 - Continued

Caleb was is SHOCK! We went to Disney Playhouse LIVE while in California Adventure! There was a lot of child interaction, and bubbles and blowing leaves and dancing, singing and chanting! He was in AWE! It was darling!

Goofy, Mickey & Minne LIVE! LOL

We got kick out of the "Soaring Over California" ride...so Caleb got to go shopping in the Lighting McQueen store - he got a hat and a new car. The tears were short lived once I bought him off! Bwahahaha!! (It's Disneyland for heaven sake! no one should be as sad as he was!!!)

Caleb was 1/4" too short. It SUCKED!!! He barely missed the height requirement for quite a few good rides...including MY absolute favorite: Thunder Mountain. We decided that just means we need to go again soon! The kids are even saving up their pennies now...

Cam all ready to enjoy the Bugs Life 3D show where we got spit on, gassed, and stung! It was a riot!

Bugs Life Land - Disneyland Day 2

One of our favorite places to play... Bugs Land was awesome!

California Adventure - Day 2

Headed to the closest park...

Playing in the water fountains! They were all soaked...which was perfect! It was near 90 the days we were at the parks!

This is SO much fun Mom!!

Dad & Caleb in rear, Cody and Emma up front - Riding the Caterpillar Ride in Bugs Land. We loved the Bugs Life 3D show and all the little rides in Bugs Land. It was one of the few places we got to see in Cal. Adv. - we never made it back to this park after this day!

Cam's favorite today was this ride...

Disney Character Breakfast - Day 2

We had breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. It was lovely! It was buffet style so the kids could eat anything they wanted for breakfast... including pizza and hot dogs. Caleb loved the icecream!

We met Pluto and of course GOOFY! LOL! We also saw Balou & danced the Macarena with he and Goofy!

Caleb loved meeting Belle. He told her he was his friend Liza's prince. (Liza LOVES Belle!) Belle even said hellp to Liza on our home video for Caleb to show her when we got home!

Chip was fun too!! The kids LOVED this part of the trip! And they finally got some autographs started in their books!

Disneyland - Day 2

The Disney Fairy came!!! She brought us all new shirts to wear!!

(we all got new PJ's the day before!)

Emma in her Eeyore PJ's

(Grandpa & Emma)

Walking to our Character Breakfast at the Disneyland Hotel...

I love the trees!! It is SO pretty around Disneyland!!

Day 1 - Continued...

The Haunted Mansion HAD to be on Day 1! We had bought "Nightmare Before Christmas" a few weeks before, and Caleb LOVES it! It even has a tour of the Haunted Mansion decked out by Jack Skelington for Christmas on the DVDs- just as it is done in Disneyland for every Oct/Nov/Dec. It was awesome! Caleb didn't want to leave! He was SO excited seeing Jack all dressed up as Santa... he was a hoot! As we passed Jack each time we rode it (this one was another do again ride) he would yell out "HI JACK! HI!!! HI JACK!!" and WaVe!!! He loved it!

We walked through Fantasyland this first night - the kids were dying to see the castle up close...but it was closed this late at night. We did run in and ride "Snow White's Wild Adventure" since there was no line. This is all that we saw of Fantasyland. 2 1/2 days is just NOT enough time with the 2 parks now! We never made it to Bear Country at all... and we missed almost all of Toon Town! LOL!! Darn! We have to go back! *GRIN*

The whole place was decorated for Halloween! It was marvelous! We rode the Autopia as well... and each of the older kids got photos done for their "Drivers License" - which Cam carried faithfully the entire trip! It was very special to him! Autopia is the only ride we rode more than twice... at Cam's request!

After a long eventful day...he didn't even make it half way back to the hotel! *Giggle*

Disneyland - Day 1

We finally arrived in Disneyland about 4pm the first day. In retro-spec we should have waited and saved a full day for Disneyland... but there was no "not going" once we reached Annaheim! LOL! We saw Donald Duck and Alladin & Jasmin as we arrived, but we missed photos/autographs with them as we were excited to just get inside!

Our first stop was City Hall. The kids each got a button that said "1st Visit" on them. Grandpa was asking all sorts of knowledgable questions and so they gave him and "Honorary Citizen" button to wear! It was later in our trip I learned my dad went to Disneyland as a child the 1st day it opened in 1955!! WoW! Jess and I bought him a ball cap that says "Authentic Disney 55" on it. Very cool! They all wore their buttons faithfully. *grin*

Our first ride HAD to be the train! I mean 'common! I have a Dad who loves trains and two of his grandkids/my sons are WILD about trains! We got a great quick view of the park and ideas on where to go next!

The next stop was of course Pirates! Here are the kids waiting in line praticing their "hooks" LOL!

Emma was SURE it would be scary! It had waterfalls you went down after all!! ACK! Tee hee!! She loved it and it was one of the few rides we rode more than once...

DISNEYLAND HERE WE COME!!!

HERE WE GO!!!!

Cam was so excited he wore his Mouse Ears almost the entire trip!