Family Photos

I like to take a few family snapshots at Thanksgiving time each year. These are the ones that I was able to get in the short amount of time the kids would cooperate. Notice there isn't an individual of Paxten, because he would not stand by himself to let me take a picture. He is at that age, and I didn't want to fight him for a bad picture of him crying. It was freezing cold, so Parker and Paige didn't last long outside either. Nevertheless, we got a few good ones! Matt 30, Erika 30, Parker 7, Paige 4.5, Paxten 20 months.

Disneyland Day 5

We woke up on the last day in California, had breakfast at McDonalds, caught our shuttle and made it to the airport by 11:30. We made it through security with only me being subjected to further screaning, because Matt was holding Paxten, I was the one that had to do it. We had to wait in the terminal for abour an hour and then we boarded a very full plane. On the way there, there were empty seats and we were all able to sit by each other. this flight was very different. We were all spread out throughout the plane in 2 seats here, 2 seats there. There was not one empty seat on the plane. Matt sat with Parker and Paxten and Paige and I were together on the very last rows in the plane. The flight was a little bumpy on the way into Salt Lake because of the weather, but it was a beautiful sight to look out the plane window and see the blanket of clouds covering the earth. It was amazing. Paige slept the mojority of the flight and we landed in Salt Lake to 34 degree weather! We had left California and it was in the 70's so 34 seemed so cold!!! There had been a storm while we were gone and the car had about 5 inches of snow on it. By the time we got our bags from the baggae claim, got the car out of the parking lot, stopped for dinner and gas, we didn't arrive home until 9:30 that night. It was such a fun vacation and we were so glad we made the effort to take the kids while they were young. It was truly magical and the kids were so well behaved, I was amazed!! We were also lucky enough to go with Matt's Dad and Mom Kerry and Tara, and Quentin, Macee, Race, and Tosh. It was so fun to spend time with them and to get to know them better and to create these memories with them. The great news is that after spending a week side by side with each other we still love each other and want to spend more time together. Family Bonding!! We love it!!! The kids are constantly asking me when we are going back....we will be going back, I am just not sure when at this point!!

Disneyland Day 4 Part 2

Some of our favorite snacks were:

2 Dill Pickles ................................................$5.98
2 Churros.......................................................$8.00
2 Mickey Ice cream sandwiches .......... $9.50
5 Diet Cokes.................................................$17.50
2 Mickey Pretzels .w/ Cheese ............$10.00
1 Dole Whip Float .........................................$5.60
1 Watermelon Cotton Candy ...................$4.00
2 Slushies .....................................................$9.00
2 Bananas ......................................................$3.98
1 bag grapes ...................................................$2.99
1 bag cheetos .................................................$2.99
5 Corn dogs .................................................$30.00
1 Cars Collectors cup W/ root beer ........$9.50
.........................................................................$119.40
Priceless!

The food in the park was rediculously priced, but we did splurge on a few items to really get the whole Disneyland experience. They honestly had THE best pickles I have ever had, I would know! The mickey pretzel with cheese dip was also amazing. And one of my very favorites was the Dole Whip Float, pineapple ice cream floating on pineapple juice. It was delicious. Paige and I each had a mickey ice cream sandwhich and it was creamy and delicious as well. Parker like the churros and the pretzels and the cotton candy. I think we really did experience the true Disneyland and loved every minute of it!! The kids can't wait go back. We probably could have spent two more days at the parks doing all the things we missed and visiting stores and stuff that we didn't even get around to. But my feet, as well as everyone else's might not have made it 2 more days. 3 days was just about right!

Disneyland Day 4 Part 1

For our final day at the Happiest Place on Earth, we went back to Disneyland to ride the rides we had missed the first day as well as some of our favorites. When we first entered the park we saw Mary Poppins and Pinnocchio. We went to Mickeys Toon Town and rode a ride there, we went on the Teacups again, rode Mr. Toads Wild Ride, we rode Pirates of the Caribbean again, splash mountain, and Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage. Some of them also went on the Space Mountain again and the Buzz Lightyear ride. We were really lucky to have gone at the time of year when the lines for the rides were pretty short. There is no way we could have ridden all those rides again if it had been the middle of July! As we were about to end our day of fun, It's A Small World reopened and we were able to go on that. That is a classic and a must if you visit Disneyland. It was all decorated for the holidays and they sang holiday songs as well as It's A Small World. It was fun to end our adventures with that ride. Matt and Tosh wanted to ride the tower of terror one more time over at California adventure, so they went over there and the rest of us went to Downtown Disneyland where the kids picked out a toy and a shirt as a souvenir. I was exhauseted after chasing three kids in the store by myself. It had also rained off and on that day and was much cooler, which was nice, but our feet were very wet when we got back to the hotel. We had a nice dinner at IHOP and then went back to the hotel to get our stuff packed and ready to leave in the morning. 

Disneyland Day 3 Part 2

After drying off and getting in a nap, we went back to California Adventure to ride some more rides before the show started. Parker, Matt, Tosh, and Macee went on the Screamin Californis Rollercoaster and Race and Paige went on King Triton's Carousel. Parker wasn't too sure of that coaster after he got off, it was pretty fast and went around in loops a lot. At least Matt was with him. We did some shopping around the Paradise Pier and rode the new Toy Story Ride. It was one of my favorites, you sat in a chair and wore 3D glasses. As the ride moved, you had to shoot different targets in Andy's room. It was really fun. Matt and Parker, and Tosh and Macee went on Mickey's Fun Wheel and then they went on Goofy's Sky School. We bought our family 5 corndogs, and spent $30!, we found a spot to stand and watch the World of Color Show. It was pretty amazing all the stuff they can do with projectors and color. It was about a 30-40 minute show and we were tired of stading in one place for that long, but the show was well worth it. It incorporated different images from years of Disney shows and music to go along with it. It was fun. We then went back to the hotel and the older boys hit the hot tub and I stayed back and got the kids to sleep. We sure know how to wear them out!

Disneyland Day 3 Part 1

We decided to use our early morning pass and get into California Adventure one hour earlier than the regular Park opening. The downfall of that is there ar 500 other people doing the same thing. And on early morning openings they only open certain parts of the park so everyone is congested to one part of the park until 10:00. Cars Land happend to be the part that was open and we all rushed to try and get on the  Radiator Springs racers before everyone else arrived. It was amazing walking into that part of the park, it looked identical to the town in the movie Cars. It was so fun!! The first ride we stopped at was Mater's Junkyard Jamboree and everyone but Paxten and I were able to ride this ride. While we were waiting for them to finish we got our picture taked with Lightning McQueen. The others finished just as we were and they were able to get pictures too before the crowds realized Lightning McQueen was there, so we didn't have to wait at all to se him. We then saw Red the Firetruck and Stanley, the founder of Radiator Springs.  We finally made it to the Radiator Springs Racers and we werent sure they were going to let Paige ride, she was right on the verge of being too short. But she made it. Paxten and I were once again the lone persons not able to ride. So we walked aroung Radiator Springs and took some pictures and saw Mater! We got a drink at the Cozy Cone, in a cone shaped cup and then we walked to another part of the park where Paxten could ride the rides. We met back up with the others and got our tickets for the World Of Color show that night. We went to a Bugs Land and rode the rides there, then went to the tower of terror. Matt, Parker, Tosh, Macee, Tara, and Quentin rode that ride. Grandpa, Grandpa, Paxten, Paige, Race, and I went for a ride on the trolley and saw Mickey the conductor, Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates, Chip and Dale, and Goofy. After a bunch of pictures, we went on the Monsters INC ride and Tosh and Matt went back to the Tower of Terror. We then made our way to the River Rapids ride, were we all got wet but had a great time. So much so that we rode that ride twice and took turns watching Paxten. After that we decided to go back to the hotel for a few hours to dry off and take a break before going back for the night show.  

Disneyland Day 2 Part 2

Paxten was not big enough to ride on quite a few rides, neither was Paige. A lot of the rides you had to be 40" tall. Paige was about 39.5" so some of the rides she snuck by and was able to go on and some she wasn't. She was able to go on Splash Mountain and she was in the front and boy did she get wet!! She wasn't too sure about how fun that ride was after she came off and was pretty soaked. While they were on that ride Paxten, and Grandma and I rode the Winnie the Pooh ride and then Paxten and I got our pictures taken with Tigger and Eeyore. After those rides we went and rode on Pirates of the Caribbean. That turned out to be one of our favorites and all of us could ride it together in one boat. That really made it fun. After that we decided that we had about had enough walking for the day and we were all hungry. We had packed in snacks and stuff, but hadn't really had a substantial meal all day long. It was about 6:00 and  as we were leaving the park we saw Pluto, and Mickey Mouse! We had to get a picture with them, after that Minnie Mouse came right by us and we got a picture with her. Tara happened to see Aurora and Cinderella walking and she literally chased them down to get a picture of them with Macee. After she got her picture she came and grabbed Paige and they both took off running to chase them down and get a picture with Paige. Paige was so excited to get a picture with some of her favorite princesses and that was a wonderful ending to our first day. We left the park and had dinner at McDonalds right by our hotel. The kids were completely worn out! Matt stayed with the kids in the hotel room and Tosh, Tara, Quentin and I hit the hotel hot tub and relaxed and visited for about a hour. It felt so good to relax and rest from walking all day long. We were very excited about the next day when we would be going to see Cars Land in California Adventure!