Last week we got to go to California and spend the week visiting family and going to Disneyland. This was the last time our kids would have a break from school during the year (they were off track and next year our school will go to a traditional schedule), and it was my birthday so we would get one free admission....so we decided to make it a vacation! We had a great time and I'm glad the kids will be able to have this fun memory....I know I will!
Here is my journaling of our trip... sorry if it's long and boring, but this is my only source of scrapbooking or family history keeping so I've got to write at least some of it down!
Ben and Lucas is line at Monster's Inc.
Rachel's one and only ride was at Monster's Inc. She took it all in pretty good but didn't really know what to think.
Still in line at Monster's Inc!
This is is the only picture we got with the whole family. Rachel only came with us the first day when we went to California Adventure. My mom very kindly watched Rachel for 2 days when we went to Disneyland. It was a treat for us and the boys to be able to go on all the rides and to not have to take turns.
Lucas catching bubbles from the Pixar Parade
My sister Ally was able to come for the afternoon that day. Ben and her caught a last minute ride on the Tower of Terror and didn't make it to where we were sitting for the parade....so they watched it somewhere else. Right after the parade ended for us, we see Ally and Ben walking right at the end of the parade trying to find us. It was funny because they didn't realize that everyone was watching them walk along the parade route..as if they were part of the parade!
This is a clip of Ben showing me how he was dancing while walking behind the parade!
The next day we took a break from Disneyland and spent the day in Newport Beach. We lucked out and got a great deal at a Marriott Resort, so we wanted to be able to enjoy some time there. It was such a nice place and made our trip so enjoyable to be able to stay there. Most of the day the kids spent swimming, but this picture is when we went into Newport Beach and took a harbor cruise.
Lucas on the boat!
Ben on the boat! My mom had Rachel and they stayed on shore because Rachel had a bad cold and I was afraid she'd be too cold on the boat. It turned out to be a lovely day and she probably would have been fine, but it's always a bit more relaxing without a baby! My mom really did help us out a lot this trip!
The tour we took was of this man made island that's filled with mansions built right along the harbor. They pointed out many famous people's houses and their humongous yachts parked right in their back yard. This particular house used to be owned by John Wayne at one point..who knows who lives there now! Zac and I liked seeing the houses and boats...but the kids bored after the first 15 minutes. The tour guide said there wasn't a house on the island less than 7 million dollars...Zac and I laughed when the boys asked if we could ever live there someday!
Lucas playing at a park on the beach where my mom and SIL Lacey had waited for us.
Ben showing me he's not too big for the slide
This is my niece Lizzy..her mom brought her up to spend the afternoon with us but didn't want to ride on the boat, so she waited for us at the park!
Our first day at Disneyland, in line at Thunder Mountain Railroad. The kids rode all the roller coasters at Disneyland and loved everyone one of them!
Lucas on the carousel. Out of all the rides, he said this was his favorite....what a crazy kid!
Ben and his cousin Paige. That day my brother D.Max and his family, my brother Donnie, and my SIL Erika and her twins all came to spend the afternoon with us. It was so fun for the boys to have their cousins to go on rides with.
Our gang on the Tea Cups. The kids with Uncle Donnie thought they were the fastest!
Our gang on the roller coaster in Toon Town. The worker was so amazed that we exactly filled up the whole roller coaster with our group that she offered to take a picture.
I think this picture is so funny..it's not the greatest quality because I took it from the tv screen..but it's all our family on Space Mountain. Notice my over excitement..I look like a big kid!
Rachel is ready to spend the day with grandma again. They hung out at the pool and went shopping with grandma for little girls dresses for my brother's upcoming wedding.
This is me looking like a geek with my birthday button. I thought it was funny when people wished me happy birthday..even calling me by name. It throws you off guard..but we all got a kick out of it!
This is the famous disneyland picture with the sword and the stone but I especially love the boys faces on this one!
This was the last day at California Adventure. I came back by myself with the boys (long story short..we didn't have another ticket because I got a free one for my birthday, so Zac went back to my mom's house with Rachel that day.) My main goal for that day was to see the muscial Aladdin (which we all loved and I'm glad we saw) and to get the boys to go on California Screaming..the big roller coaster. Ben was adamant that he would not go on it, but after Lucas and I went on it first, he saw how Lucas liked it. He also had gotten bribes for $5 from 2 aunts, and a new webkinz from me...so he finally gave in and got on the ride. (Since when do you have to bribe kids to go on Roller Coasters?) And of course...just like I told him...he loved it!
It was a great trip and I'm so glad we were able to enjoy it as a family. Of course, like any vacation with kids, there were not so fun times, like a screaming baby on the airplane (on the way down she was a literal MONSTER....luckily the trip back wasn't quite as bad!), Rachel getting a cold (one night she didn't sleep at all), the boys still fought and whined at Disneyland, and Zac and I trying to keep our cool throughout it all.....but all in all we had a great time and hope to do it again someday...just not too soon because it definately is true that you need a vacation just from being on vacation!
I think Zac was out there in this group of swimmers. It's hard to tell when they all look alike! They start at different times and Zac and Travis were in different groups.
This is Travis coming in from the swim
This is Zac bending over as he transitioned from the bike to the run. I'm sure it didn't help him to have all the kids yelling at him to hurry up!
Zac starting off on his run
Travis starting his run
The kids kept themselves entertained by giving all the runners high-fives as they came to the finish line!
Zac coming into the finish line with a BIG smile!
Our hero...happy to be done!
Zac and his 3 biggest fans!
Travis coming to the finish line...his daughter Olivia joined him to finish the race with him. His other boys jumped over the partition to run with him as well!
Zac and Travis have been friends since high school. Not only do I have Travis to thank for this new hobby of Zac's, but I have him thank for introducing me to Zac...he went on a mission with my good college friend and they set us up after my mission!
The family after the race!
