Post-California Vegas Trip

After a very busy week in Disneyland, we decided that we needed some down time in Vegas to recover.   So we hung out with our Robinson friends, ate a bunch, played a bunch, and just had a nice couple of days.  I think the highlight of all of this for the boys was getting to just go play at a park.  No lines, no rules, just all play.

California - Back to Disneyland

Our third and final day in Disneyland was spent going through Toon Town, riding the train, and visiting again our favorite rides from the first day we were there.  It being our third day, we were able to just take things slowly, since there wasn't anything left that we HAD to get done.  I think it was my favorite day.  Beautiful weather, beautiful family, and just lots of simple fun.

Noah really really wanted to ride on the 'big mountain' ride, aka the Matterhorn.  I was worried he would think the yeti was too scary, but he thought it was lots of fun, and wanted to do it again later with Zander.

Kaiden and I got to ride on the carousel together while Zander and Noah went and did one of the bigger rides.  This kid seriously is so adorable!

The Electric Company door in Toon Town.  When you pull on it, it makes electricity noises.  Noah thought that it was hilarious.

Me and Noah on Splash Mountain.  I was really surprised how much he liked it, but he thought the big drop was a lot of fun.

My adorable Kaiden boy on the tea cups.  He kept saying "faster, faster, faster!"

California - A Day Off

After doing a whole lot of driving, and then playing at Seaworld and Disneyland for a couple of days, we needed a day off.  We had a lazy morning, played in the pool for a while, went out to lunch (non-resort food!!!), and then hung out in Downtown Disney.  We had a surprisingly good time hanging out down there.  We got some beignets (K had two bananas), played at the Lego Store, and then spoiled the boys in World of Disney. 

California - California Adventures

Truth be told, I don't love California Adventures.  There are a few rides over there that I really like, but overall, I feel that the time is much better spent in Disneyland.  The other problem for us on this trip was that we had already done 2 days of driving, then 2 days in other parks before we made it over to California Adventures.  We were all tired and grumpy. But we still had a whole lot of fun, and made some great memories.

 

 Cars Land was REALLY cool.  It was like walking right into the movie.  I missed the glimpse of seeing it at night, but Zander said that it was amazing.  The new rides over there were a lot of fun and perfect for the younger crowd.  Noah and Kaiden kind of obsess over the Cars movies, so seeing Lightening McQueen and Red the Firetruck and all of the other Cars stuff was really fun for them. 

 

As we were walking from one side of the park to the other, I suddenly heard the Phineas and Ferb opening credits start playing.  We happened to get there just in time to see the dance party that they do.  The kids were really tired by this point, but it was a lot of fun to see the little show.  It also made a lot more sense seeing it this time as compared to last time Zander and I saw it and had no idea what Phineas and Ferb was. 

I'd say the highlight of that park for our family was the Toy Story Midway Mania.  Zander and I fell in love with that ride when we were there last time, and Noah thought it was pretty amazing too.  Kaiden slept through that part of the park, but was sure a whole lot happier when he woke up.  I imagine waking up from a nap and finding yourself in any part of a Disney Park has to be pretty awesome, even if you are only two years old.

 

 

  

That night we were able to get a pretty good spot for World of Color, and the boys really thought it was cool.  Which it is.  That show is amazing.  Brings tears to my eyes every time I see it. Noah fell asleep while we were walking back to the tram that evening.  Tired tired kids, but totally worth it. 

California - Disneyland!!!

DISNEYLAND!!!!!!!  Truth be told I was pretty grumpy on our first morning down in Anaheim.  But as soon as I saw the Halloween Festive gates, everything was 'right as rain' and I found myself bouncing up and down in anticipation for the amazing time that I knew we would have.  

We knew that we would have several days in the park, so we took our time and just went methodically through.  This was my first time in the park when the holiday stuff was up, and it was awesome.  We stopped and took pictures with Jack and Sally, since they aren't very often found out in the park, before heading into the Haunted Mansion.

 

Noah was a total trooper and was willing to try every single ride that he was tall enough to do.  He surprised us and really liked all of them.  Splash Mountain and Star Tours were his absolute favorites.  While he was off riding the big rides, Kaiden chose to ride Winnie the Pooh over and over...and over.....and over.  It was by far his favorite ride.

We of course had to stop for some Dole Whips while waiting for the Tiki Room.  This was an especially important moment for Kaiden since he doesn't get to eat ice cream.  Ever.  He was so excited that we finally let him have some.  Thank you Disneyland for having Dole Whips be dairy free. 

 

Later in the afternoon we headed over to the Blue Bayou for some very anticipated dinner.  The boys didn't really understand how cool it was.  They were just happy to be somewhere cooler with food.  Kaiden literally fell asleep while putting spaghetti in his mouth.  I never noticed before that the best part of the Blue Bayou is how quiet it is in there.  Everywhere else in the park there's constant chatter and noise going on.  It's always happy noise, but it's still noise.  Constantly.  The Blue Bayou is the only place in the whole park where you can really give your senses a bit of a break.  Though it might be a bit of over stimulation on the sense of taste.  Food there is GOOD.

After dinner Kaiden stayed asleep for about an hour.  Noah had gotten his rest while we were sitting there at dinner and he was ready to get going again.  We finished off the evening hitting up our favorite rides all over again, and grabbing the boys their first Disney souvenirs.  Perry the Platypus, and Agent P.  The boys were pretty darn happy about it.

Months later as I'm actually writing this, it makes me all sorts of happy and warm inside remembering the amazing time we had together in that magical land.

California - Sea World

Our first morning in California I made a quick run to the grocery store so that we would have something quick and easy for breakfast for each morning, and so that we would have plenty of snacks while we were on the go all the time.  I hate having to buy snacks in the parks with how overpriced they were.  Then it was off to Sea World San Diego.  The kids weren't really excited to be back in the car again, but oh well.  They were excited to see the ocean for the first time in their lives, and that made up for having to be in the car.  again.

The last couple of times that Zander and I have been to California, we've gone to SeaWorld and really had a great time.  And this trip didn't disappoint either.  The boys love going to the zoo and the aquarium when we're at home, so imagine their surprise and delight when they get to see killer whales, polar bears, dolphins, walruses etc up close and in real life.

 

Towards the later afternoon, Noah decided it was definitely time for a nap.  He passed out for about an hour while the rest of us got some lunch.  He woke up just in time to get himself some spoils from the gift shop.  Unfortunately, due to Kaiden's food allergy, just about the only thing he could eat in the entire park was previously frozen strawberries, and jello.  Under normal circumstances he would have passed out like Noah did, but he had enough sugar going through him that he kept on trucking until we were about halfway back to Anaheim.

California - The Drive

Do I have photos from our drive down to Disneyland?  No.  I don't.  And honestly they'd be pretty boring.  Driving in a car with two little boys isn't all that exciting really.  But I'll write the story down for posterity sake anyway.

We started the day off with a wedding.  Zander's sister got married to this awesome guy named Mike.  It was an afternoon wedding, so we left as soon as it was done.  Sorry Alisha that we weren't there for your reception.  We got on the road somewhere around 5, and drove as straight through to Vegas as you can when you're traveling with two little kids, one of which has to go to the bathroom every 2 hours.  We spent the night in Henderson with some good friends, had breakfast with them, hung out for a bit, then got on the road around 11.  Again we drove as straight through as possible when you're traveling with two little kids.

Finally we got to Anaheim late that afternoon.  We got settled into our condo, took a bit of a break, then headed over to Bubba Gump's at the Garden Walk to get some dinner.  Dinner, of course, we delicious, if not a little spastic due to a rather noisy restaurant, and over-stimulated, tired kids.

After dinner the two year old REALLY spazzed.  Kaiden ran from the bed to the couch in the living room, back and forth, back and forth, back and forth, for probably about 20 minutes straight.  Wearing only a diaper.  Noah jumped on the bed for about the same amount of time.  Then they CRASHED.  I've always been worried about staying in a hotel with kids, largely because they go to bed at 7:30, and I don't go to bed until around 11.  Thankfully they slept through any noise Z and I made going to and from the fridge for our midnight snacks while they slept on the pullout bed in the living room.  Seriously, it worked out surprisingly well.

Quiet Little Boys

Every mom knows that when the kids are playing quietly, that's when things are being destroyed.  Noah and Kaiden fully proved that today.  They put literally EVERY SINGLE TOY that they own into the pack n play that was set up in the toy room.  Somehow they had themselves in there as well.  I think the game started with Noah simply throwing toys in the pack n play that Kaiden had climbed himself into.

Thankfully they were really good sports and cleaned it up.  It took a while, but they did it.