Rewind...Road Trip part 3!

This leg of our trip took us to DISNEYLAND! I have such fond memories of going there as a kid and I was especially excited to take my kids there (oh, maybe my childhood wasn't so deprived after all). Justin never went as a kid so he didn't really see what all the fuss was about, but after three days there with our kids and seeing it through their eyes, we've converted him!

We were staying at a different hotel than my family, so we actually got to the park first. While we were waiting, the kids all got their nifty Mickey Mouse ears. Classic.

One of the first things we did was see Ariel. I was surprised at how excited the boys were to see her. I thought for sure they wouldn't really care, but they did...and they loved it.

Then we split into groups to go on rides. The best thing about going with my family is that they have all been a lot so they knew all the tricks and secrets to getting on rides fast. It was a big help to be able to have their knowledge and wisdom for our first trip to the most magical place on earth.

The boys are waiting for the Star Wars ride. This ended up being one of their favorite rides. I went once (I don't remember how many times they went, but it was a lot) and it made me motion sick. Bleh.

Their group also hit up Space Mountain a few times. Clearly Zach knew right where the camera was. I also love the looks on Landon and Clayton's faces.

Sammie would crash hard once a day (which was nice). We would take that opportunity to go on Small World. It was nice and air conditioned and long so it was a perfect place to go. Sweaty sleeper!

I love this. Splash Mountain is one of my favorites. We went on this one several times.

We took the girls to the princess lunch. It was the perfect way for them to get to meet the princesses without having to stand in long lines. Here they get to meet Ariel again.

I just love this.

Josie thought she was a princess too. (Also, I love the dresses that they're wearing. Such wearable princess dress ups. Several people at the parks commented on them and asked me about them. They were perfect. I didn't make them, but if you're interested I can tell you who did!)

Aurora

Belle

Snow White

Cinderella

This picture makes me laugh every time. I cannot remember what's happening here, but clearly Sammie needed Max to stop talking.

The next day we had a magic morning. This meant that we got to go into the park an hour early. We weren't quite sure what to do with our extra hour so we hung out and met Mickey and Minnie while the lines were short. Next time, we will know better and use the opportunity to go on some rides (because that magic morning was awesome and, played right, would be a serious advantage).

This was the day that we were on our own. My family had all left to go back to Vegas so we were doing our own thing (which was nice now that we had learned the tricks of Disneyland). We split up into boys and girls (so from here out, my pics of the boys will be almost nonexistent - sorry boys). It worked out well though because the boys got to go on the rides that were more interesting to them while the girls and I did things like Dumbo and the Teacups.

That afternoon, Justin decided to treat his little ladies to makeovers and the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique. These girls were in Heaven getting pampered. It was a little over the top and gaudy, but to my girls, that's how it should be!

I love these next two pictures so much I can't even tell you.

They were worried how she'd do because she's so young, but she sat so still and just let them make her over. It was adorable.

And, of course, Miss Diva was all about it.

She lived that right up!

We stayed late that night for the shows as our last hurrah in the park. Our night ended with four exhausted kids (one of whom - Sammie - puked in the elevator of our hotel) and two parents who felt very satisfied with the awesome vacation they just gave their children.

I know there are a ton more pictures from Disneyland. I need to round them all up and do an additional post, but this is a start.

I know that we'll go back someday (maybe not for another few years, but someday). It was too good of a trip not to repeat. While this was not the end of our road trip (we spent some time in Vegas and some time in Utah), I'm going to call it the end of the road trip posts. I still have a post (or two) to do about our time in Vegas and then I'll get started posting about our new life here as Idaho spuds. It's been a whirlwind summer, but I wouldn't change any of it.