California....

We took a trip to Disneyland at the end of September. I had been planning it in my head for months... you know where to stay, how long, driving or flying? and it was like this awesome commercial in my head.  You know the ones where they are smiling and riding with the music playing in the back ground...and imagine to my surprise that it didn't turn out exactly like that.  I knew it would be tough with 8 of us....especially every time I called a hotel and they would always said with a smirk "wow 8 in your party" - and I would think in my  head "oh yes 8 is a party" .
It was fun and we had made some great memories with our little family and cousins too.  Todd's sister met us and spent a few days with us there.
But along with the fun there was some of "those moments" that I will include because surprise...sometimes life isn't always smiling with music in the background.



Downtown Disney at the Lego Store-
Our last day they each had some money to spend and we told them we would buy them one item.
They all picked a build- a-bear -
My favorite part of Downtown Disney was the Beignets- they were yummy I went twice for them.

Goofy's Kitchen

 

Woody

Cars Land
It was seriously amazing.  The wait for Cars was at least an 1 1/2 hrs all day.  We figured out how to get the fast passes early in the morning to cut the wait to 1/2 hour. Zack was just under the height requirement so Todd was on a mission to get him on it...stuffed socks in shoes, bought new shoes and the day we got him tall enough with fast passes to ride it - Cars breaks down and shuts down... poor Zack missed his chance.  he still talks about it to the day that he is tall enough now to ride Cars. 

Optimus Prime & Bumblebee @ Universal Studios
Universal was our first stop ...it was sooo hot.  95 degrees. We had a great time. Transformers, Jurassic park, Shrek 3D. 

We had a 3-day hopper for Disneyland & California Adventure

Tyson, Sam & Cooper were picked to be Jedi Trainers.  It was so fun to see them train with light sabers and participate!!

Mickey Mouse

 

Family time with Aunt Michele & Uncle Aaron- Brooke- Ellie. 

We did Universal Studios, Seaworld & 3 days at California Adventure & Disneyland - we stayed at the Camelot Inn & Suites in a family suite (almost right across the street from Disneyland) and it was awesome. Our first day at Disneyland was so hot.  Almost 100 degrees. after being there for 3-4 hours of kindof aimlessly wandering- a little complaining...okay a lot from the boys especially those that didn't want to walk- we all fell apart.  So we made a plan to split up I would take the little ones back to the hotel and Todd would take the olders to Splash Mountain...well that produced some tears from some scared children.. we just all gave up and went back to the Hotel.  Todd was flabbergasted that we were wasting our day - the kids swam for hours and loved it....Todd decided then and there all we need is a pool...we may have packed up and left then if we had driven but we stayed and went back that night and enjoyed it in the cooler evening.  The rest of the week was not as hot, less whining and more fun!