Disneyland May 2010

Oh Disneyland. I've been wanting to go for so long. The last time we went was when Matthew was just a few months old (he slept the whole time and it was actually a really enjoyable trip!) and since we had been living in Kentucky, it obviously was out of the question for any family outing. So right when we got back in February, I wanted to plan a trip with Chris for when he got back. Our family just loves this place! We have been so many times and it never gets old. There are always so many things I want to eat when I think about DL. Mickey ice cream, churros, pineapple whips, ice cream, more ice cream...the list goes on and on. The food at Disneyland is amazing! Being in the park takes you to another world. You really don't think about life back home. Whatever problems there are, whatever things you should be doing but aren't...they're all forgotten.

This trip was particularly nice because it was my parents (they were celebrating their 31st wedding anniversary), Chris, Sloan, Gavin, Matthew and me. We had such a fun time! We started out on Tuesday the 18th and had a few setbacks on our trip. We missed having Reese, Ammon, Zane, Shaun, Gina and Amelia, but because of our mid-week trip, all the guys with jobs (Chris took off and so did my mom from babysitting) had to stay back. We went in the beast and loaded everything up. The boys were so good in the car and the whole trip. They had such a blast being together.

Just happy to be out of the car! (I was inside dealing with Wyndham. We decided to use our points from our time share and after the whole "children count as adults" rule, things turned out great. We waited a long time and missed out on precious beach time, but it all was fine in the end). Right across from Wyndham is Anaheim Garden Walk with a million places to shop, eat and look at. It was a place I'd never been and a whole new look at a different place in Anaheim. Plus, it was within walking distance. And with perfect weather the whole trip, none of us minded that we had to walk. It was a nice refresher!

The best parents anyone could ask for. I can't believe they have been married 31 years now. That just seems so...weird! I am so happy that I can say that my parents have stayed married that long. It seems so strange in our world today. My siblings and I are so lucky to have them as our mom and dad.

Gavin and Matthew were elated. They had been in the car all day and just loved running around outside.

DISNEYLAND! After a good night's sleep, we woke up Wednesday and got to the park right when it opened. Sloan had one of her good friends hook us up with a good deal with tickets a mile from the park so we picked those up and my dad dropped us off at the park and he went and rode the shuttle back. We just had to be there right when it opened and I can only imagine the looks on our faces as we ran to the gates to beat the crowds. Chris had been dreaming of Disneyland for two years (that's what he literally kept saying!) and it was so nice to get to take Matthew when he is old enough to enjoy it.

Right when we got in, we rode all the little trolleys, trains, cars and carriages you can think of back and forth from Main Street to the Castle. What a fun thing!

Matthew loved the horse of course. He just had to touch him. His name was Sully. Too cute.

The boys wanted to meet Pluto and since the line was only a few people long, they couldn't wait to get up there.

Sloan and Matthew. He loves her! And the way he says his name is adorable. (How pretty is she?!)

The boys loved the firetruck!

The cutest boys on the planet!

On the train going to New Orleans Square. Gavin was in heaven with all the trains that we rode that day. How cool would it be to be 2 and to ride on huge trains like that when you love them so much?!

While my mom and Chris rode Indiana Jones, Sloan and I took the boys on Pirates. It was so cute to watch them. We finally met my dad, went to the Haunted Mansion and went to ride Winnie the Pooh. Matthew LOVED it. We got out and went to my favorite little shop in all of Disneyland...the one right by Pooh. My dad gave Matthew this Pooh and he wouldn't let go so he had to buy it for him. (Can we say spoiled?!). I got these great Mickey Mouse measuring cups and spoons. I just couldn't resist.

Autopia is always so much fun but usually a million hour wait. That day? Ten minutes. It was wonderful.

My mom has these light sabers at her house that Matthew just loves. He plays with them all the time and rides them like a stick horse or pulls it around behind him (Matthew pulling something?! Never!). I just couldn't resist getting him a Mickey one. He played with it all day. Sloan bought Gavin one too. It was so cute.

Eating, eating, eating. I don't think Matthew STOPPED eating the whole day!

My mom and Chris took the boys to get a corndog and my dad and Sloan and I all went on Pirates and Indiana Jones. The guy in front of us had this shirt on...I had to take it for Ammon (or in remembrance of Ammon). That'll be him soon!

On Pirates!

Fantasyland. Peter Pan. The best part! Matthew went with my mom and dad on this one while I went with Chris. I don't know what I was thinking! He loves stars and I wanted to see his face when he flew through them! I'm sure he loved it.

More Fantasyland!

Can I say how much my son loved the Carousel? He wanted to ride it over and over. I couldn't believe that he wasn't scared of any of the rides and wanted to do so many things by himself. He loved everything about the horses and loved going around and around. Who would've thought this would be his favorite?!

Did this kid love Dumbo or what?! Normally, I'm not a "go round in circles a hundred times til you puke" type, but I decided to take Matthew this time. I'm so glad I got to see his face as he saw down.

Alice in Wonderland!

My mom and Chris took the boys on the tea cups. (My dad, Sloan and I all sat out. We're all alike when it comes to the circle-bit!)

Grandpa with his boys. He loves them and they both just love and adore him.

Riding Dumbo again. Chris with Gavie!

Didn't get to ride Matterhorn, but maybe next time!

We brought Sloan's new stroller and it was perfect!

We went over to California Adventure and got to ride Soarin. We didn't spend hardly any time at all there because we were only going for one day, but this was a highlight of Gavin's day. He was so excited to see Lightning and Mater.

While Sloan and I saved seats for the parade, the boys got to eat at the French Market with everyone else. This is always a must-eat when we go and I missed out. I did get to try the corn dogs finally and I have to say that I'm hooked. I'll definitely have to get one everytime now!

The parade was so much fun! We all loved getting to see the people dance and sing. It was a parade I'd never seen before and it was cool to hear them talk about celebrating everyday, not just because you're there for a reason. Matthew loved to dance when they asked. Sloan took him and Gavin out there.

The costumes they have at Disney are just fabulous. Can't get better than them.

Mickey stopped right in front of us! It was perfect!

Oh boy did they love getting the confetti after it was over.

Afterwards and since we had fast passes for Space Mountain, my mom and Chris and I all went to go ride. Well, a strange thing happened. It stopped in the middle. It was so funny to see the ride with the lights on and get to sit there for ten minutes listening to the workers try to figure things out. We even got to stay on and ride it again. Not too bad!

A weird view not a lot of people get to see!

Matthew had to point out every single trash can he could find all day long. This kid loves them!

Back to Fantasyland! We got to go to Toon Town, ride Buzz, Mr. Toad, Snow White, Small World...everything we wanted except Splash Moutain (it was closed). We had a great time because there were never any lines! The longest line had to be around 20 minutes and who even notices that?! We got lucky considering the park was only open until 9:00 pm. (boo!)

Another ride on the Carousel!

The last ride of the night was the rockets for everyone but my dad, Sloan and me. My dad had gone back to get the car to pick us up after Main Street closed, so the boys got to go and take a ride with Chris and my mom. They were so excited! My mom said Matthew wasn't so sure at first, but he definitely loved it in the end. I'm so proud of him!

After we shopped for a few things on Main Street, we were so sad to go. Matthew and Gavin had been so good the whole time and didn't have a nap or a long night's sleep the night before. I really could've stayed longer!

They both fell asleep in the car and Gavin never even woke back up after Sloan changed him and everything! They were so worn out!

Our hotel room was SO nice. I was very impressed with Wyndham. We had never stayed in one before (you would think after paying for it for three years that we'd get on that. Yeah, well.....) and it turned out to be so nice. My mom and dad had their own bedroom, Sloan and I and the boys had ours, and Chris had the pull out sofa. The room had a full kitchen and even had two DVD players and two bathrooms. We got very lucky.

The boys loved taking a ride with Grandma as we waited to load the car to go. It was so sad!

Before we left town, we decided to go to Downtown Disney and eat lunch. We stopped in a few stores and got to take one last good look at Disneyland (for now).

We had so much fun and I wouldn't have changed anything about the trip (other than Gavin not feeling well the last day and the rest of our family not being able to be there, especially Ammon). I am so glad we got to go with my parents and with Chris! We missed him the last time we went and I know he loved getting to go! We can't wait to go again!