disneyland

DISNEYLAND TRIP, November 2010
The happiest place on earth...Family shot on the Ferris Wheel
The BEST helpers on earth:

We took Carter and Sydney on the Tower of Terror- I don't think they knew what they were getting themselves into! Carter actually started crying and the look of sheer terror on their faces below (left back and middle) is kinda priceless. I know, we're mean.
A very thrilling ride (but this was our 3rd time so we decided to be silly--front row)Here we are about to take off for the California Screamin' Roller Coaster. Sydney was an inch and a half too short for this ride, but she is such a dare-devil that she really wanted to go on it. My mom and I went to Target the first night on the hunt for some high heels or some moon boots to add a few inches. We found some cute chunky shoes and packed them in the stroller on the second day. We did a couple of shoe-changes that day and I'm so glad we did. Sydney LOVED it and went on it over and over and over again.

Going up the Matterhorn
Damian loved the Buzz Lightyear ride. And I love how he looks like the evil emperor Zurg here...
Damian couldn't go on several rides and so my mom, dad and Parker would stay with him so the rest of us could ride the rides. It was so nice to be able to go on all the rides together with Carter and Sydney. Mike and I really appreciated having them there and for their chill attitudes... At one point my dad said "we are just here to watch your kids and do what you guys want to do.."
The boys and Cruella. She was hilarious!
We couldn't have asked for better weather. It was in the hi-80s, low 90s and felt perfect. Hot, but not too hot and such a relief coming from the rainy Northwest.
We LOVE the teacups... Actually this was the ride that made me the sickest.
The castle at night. Tinkerbell flew across the sky and Sydney loved seeing that.
After a Bug's Life show. Like our bug eyes?
My mom, Sydney, Damian and I went and had lunch with the princesses at Ariel's Grotto. Sydney loved meeting all the princesses and getting her picture taken with all of them. Thanks mom for treating us to lunch!

This is what we looked like at the end of the day. We really did go all day nonstop. We'd get to the park at opening and leave around midnight each day. We were so exhausted but we got our fill of fun and then some!

SEA WORLD
For our last day we woke up early and drove down to San Diego to visit Shamu and friends at Sea World. I had found tickets for sale on Craigslist that were half price the gate-price. It's always a little risky and shady meeting some dude in a parking lot and handing over a couple hundred dollars for 8 tickets and wondering if they are really going to get you in the park, but we made it in the park safe and sound and saved quite a bit of money.
We first headed over to the dolphin pool and the kids kept trying to touch them. Carter and Sydney both touched one--poor Dames has short little arms and couldn't quite reach, but it was so fun to be that close to them.
Sydney and Mike tried to get up close and personal and one of the dolphins tail-swatted right at them only inches away! Sydney was literally drenched with not a dry spot on her clothes! It shocked her at first but she was a trooper and thank goodness it was warm out!

Here she is with her sopping wet hair and clothes.
I loved seeing the look on Carter's face as Shamu did her thing! Carter has always been so fascinated with ocean life and orcas and sharks and so this was a treat for all of us.
Parker is the absolute best uncle on earth! So helpful and entertaining! He kept us laughing the whole trip.
One thing we tried that we'll never do again is we purchased the all day meal ticket--it sounded like a super deal up front: pay a one time fee and then get to eat at all the restaurants in the park all day long.... well, little did we know that 3 of the 4 restaurants served the EXACT same things and they were not that great. So fyi, pack a lunch!
The kids were excited to pick out one item from the gift shop at Sea World from Gramma B and Bart! Carter chose an Orca necklace, Sydney picked a dolphin, and Dames grabbed a turtle.
We had such a fun family vacation! We have been talking about going to Disneyland for several years now and this was really the perfect time to go! The older two kids were tall enough (with chunky shoes) for all the rides and it was so magical for all of them. I don't know how people go with young kids and no help! I'm so glad my mom and dad and Parker came with us! We all had a blast and can't wait for our next trip in a few years...