Highlights of Disneyland!!!

Meeting The Big Cheese - Mickey Mouse


Jessica was silly over Pluto


Me and Mike During Fireworks - we took the pic ourselves


This is what Mike woke up to on Day 4


Jessica's favorite place - her Dad's arms


Our family - Huntington Beach

Meeting Pooh Bear

We are BACK. We are exhausted, our feet hurt, our backs are strained and my neck is out...but we made it. We had THE BEST time in Disneyland. This post will be boring (probably) for most but it's a way for me to record the great memories we had on our recent vacation.

Day -1 : Drove to Anaheim. Girls were traveling troopers with only the occasional fuss. DVD players in the van are a great invention. We arrived at the Anaheim Village RV park to meet my parents who were already set up and waiting for us. We went to Downtown Disney that night and bought Minnie Ears for the girls and had dinner at The Rain Forest Cafe. It was overpriced and an absolute zoo, but the kids thought it was fun.

Day -2: It was overcast but the sun broke through by mid morning. We had breakfast with Minnie and other Disney characters. The girls got one on one time with Minnie, Winnie the Pooh, Tigger and Captain Hook. They were very excited to get to see Minnie. We then ventured to Mickey's Toon Town and met the Mouse himself. We got to go through Mickey's house and play in Goofy's house. The girls got to meet Goofy too and ride on a roller coaster that was way to fast for them. We headed to Fantasy Land where we rode Alice in Wonderland and the Flying Dumbo ride. We went to the Princess Faire where the girls got to sit on a big ballroom floor with other little girls and Snow White came out to tell a story to all the little girls. After lunch, we all rode Pirates of the Caribean. After Pirates, we all took a little breather in the Enchanted Tiki Room where the girls were mesmerized by the singing birds. Then, Mike and I broke off and rode the Indiana Jones roller coaster while the girls terrorized the big Disney store with my mom and dad. Then, we got all situated for the parade which was awesome! The girls loved the parade. Jessica was a bit of a punk this day with a bad attitude. She didn't want to stand in line and she was cold and overwhelmed. I think it was all so much for her to take in. Katie just rolled with the flow and was happy the entire trip. But once the parade started Jessica really liked it. After the parade, we took the girls on Buzz Lightyear Spin Ride and then had dinner at the Pizza parlor in Tomorrow land. After dinner, we were beat and headed back to the RV Village.

Day 3 - We wanted to have a day in between parks so we could rest and make sure the girls got a good nap. We took the girls to Huntington Beach in the morning for their first look and feel of the ocean. The loved it. They ran and ran on the beach and put their feet in the water. They loved running away from the waves with their dad and collecting seashells. They loved the beach and the ocean. After the beach, we ate lunch at Duke's Canoe Club and went back for a long and much needed nap.

Day 4 - Today was California Adventure. We LOVED this park. It is beautiful, well designed and has some great features. Mike, my Dad and I loved the Soarin Over California ride. It is a virtual ride where you actually feel like you are flying over all different parts of California. They even pump in smells like the forest, orange grove blossoms and salt air depending on which part you are at. The girls loved the Bug's Life area which had rides just their size. But by far, our favorite thing we did was had dinner with the Princesses at Ariels Grotto. We got to meet and visit with Snow White, Mulan, Cinderella and Jasmine. The girls were so funny and so star struck during dinner. They were so excited and they loved every minute of it. I'll put a seperate post about Katie feeling up Jasmine. After the Princesses we went back to Disneyland and watched the parade again, went on the Finding Nemo submarine ride and stayed for hot chocolate and fireworks. As we were watching fireworks, Jessica told me to snuggle her so I wrapped her in my arms from behind. She leaned her little head on my shoulder and said "mama, I love Disneyland. This is SO special". It was one of the best moments of my life and I will never forget it. Jessica also chased the end of the parade because Donald Duck was at the end and she really wanted to say hi to him so she ran after his float yelling "hi Donald, hi Donald" It was super cute. Both girls entertained park guests by dancing in the street to several street performers. By the time we got back to the RV village, they were exhausted but really had a good time.

Special things that happened: Getting their "real" gold lockets with Minnie Mouse on the outside. Getting to meet Mickey Mouse. Taking them on the Dumbo ride. Seeing their faces during ther Disney Playhouse show. Seeing them meet the princesses, especially Cinderella. Watching them boogie down in Main Street to a mo-town type of quartet. Going on the Nemo submarine ride and Katie yelling during the whole ride "Neeeemoooo, where ahhhh youuuuu?" Katie holding up her necklace and yelling to Jasmine across the room "Jasmine, Jasmine, JASMINE, I'm over here Jasmine. I have a necklace Jasmine". Jessica working so hard to give Cinderella the glass slipper sticker and to give Jasmine the Magic Lantern sticker. Jessica telling me that this was so special. All of us singing Yo Ho Ho, A Pirate's Life For Me on the Pirates of the Carabeian ride. Going on their first roller coaster. Seeing them kiss Pluto's nose. Sticking our feet in the ocean and watching the girls reaction to the ocean for the first time. Running away from the waves. Katie yelling during the show "HI JUNE" "HI LEO" during the Little Einsteins part. Getting Mickey Ears with their names on the back. Watching the parade and Jessica chasing the Donald float. Looking at all the lights on Main Street USA from the train. It was beautiful. Katie sleeping through the entire 2nd time at the parade. Just being together and sharing these memories with my mom and dad , my husband and my daughters. We always call ourselves "The Pack" and it was so fun to share all this together.