California Adventures! Day 5

We spent day 5 of our vacation at California Adventure Park.

We were once again one of the first few people through the gates and we promptly went on my all-time favorite Disney ride, Soarin' Over California.

Then we headed over to Ariel's Undersea Adventure, which is a ride that only recently opened up. It was really cool!

Josh and Leeann went on the Tower of Terror. Leeann came out in tears, but insisted that she'd go back on it again... funny girl!

Meanwhile I rested a bit and Rob took Titus on some rides in Bug's Land since Titus didn't want to go on the Tower of Terror.

Titus LOVES this ride because it was one of the first rides he was tall enough to meet the requirements of the measurement stick. He insists on measuring himself up against it every time even though he's been able to go on it for years. 

Daddy and his sweet little girl, both sportin' Beavers shirts. 

Josh with Hip Hop Mickey. 

Our munchkins with the mouse. 

Titus staring in awe and wonder at the new Cars Land being built. He got a good view from the top of the Jumping Jellyfish ride. 

While Josh and Leeann rode Goofy's Sky School a couple of times (Titus wasn't quite tall enough) he begged us to take him to King Triton's Carousel, which he and Rob rode twice. My head was spinning just watching these two... no crazy carousels for me!

Leeann and I enjoying some Jumping Jellyfish.

At the top of Mickey's Fun Wheel. It's a long way up, but it offers beautiful views at dusk!

The World of Color is an amazing water show. We got a great front row view from the bridge this year unlike the view of a bunch of people's backsides our short family got last year. It's a standing show, and we can't exactly see over other people very well. It's much better when you can actually see, I assure you!

Paradise Pier. 

About half way through World of Color Titus crawled into the jogging stroller and went to sleep. He was all tuckered out and ready for bed. I don't blame the kid, if the stroller were big enough I would have been in there first!


Rides and Attractions:

Soarin Over California

Ariel’s Undersea Adventure (2X)

Golden Zephyr (Rob, Josh, Leeann and Titus)

Operation Playtime (featuring the green army men) (Rob, Josh, Leeann and Titus)

Toy Story Mania

Turtle Talk With Crush

The Aladdin Musical

Monsters Inc. (Rob, Josh, Leeann and Titus)

Muppet Vision in 3D

Tower of Terror (Josh and Leeann)

Francis’ Ladybug Boogey (Rob and Titus)

Tuck and Roll Drive ‘Em Buggies (Rob and Titus)

Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train

Disney’s Dance Crew Performance

Grizzly River Run (Robyn, Josh and Leeann)

Jumping Jellyfish (Rob and Titus)

Silly Symphony Swings (Rob and Titus)

Silly Symphony Swings (Robyn, Josh, Leeann and Titus)

Goofy’s Sky School (Rob, Josh and Leeann)

Dinner at Boardwalk Pizza and Pasta and Paradise Garden Grill

Goofy’s Sky School (Josh and Leeann 2 more times)

King Triton’s Carousel (Rob and Titus, 2X)

Mickey’s Fun Wheel

World of Color Show 

California Adventures! Day 3

I know I'm going a little out of order here, but between being utterly exhausted and having spotty internet access I haven't been able to blog every night. These pictures are from day 3 of our trip, which was a "down day" (i.e. non-park day).

We spent the day mostly in Downtown Disney, then Rob and Josh ventured out to the grocery store to get our breakfast and lunch items for the week.

Obligatory picture in front of our hotel.

We took a walk to Downtown Disney from our hotel, but stopped by a few of the Disneyland hotels first. Here the kids are posing by a statue in the Paradise Pier Hotel. We like to go in and imagine what it would be like to stay there. Then we quickly leave and head back to reality!

Rob and I got annual passports this year, since we plan to go back for our 10 year anniversary in December. Because of this Rob and I needed to go inside of the gates and get our pictures taken from a Disneyland photographer. Josh and the kids stayed just outside the gates while Rob and I snuck in a few minutes on Main Street. The first photographer we found happened to be in front of this cool looking pumpkin so we stopped for a quick picture as a couple and I'm really glad we did!

The kids stopped by the front gates to "smell the Disneyland air", since it would be another whole day before they would get to go into the park.

We are sad that they took the CALIFORNIA letters down, but we are glad they put this sign up for a photo opportunity.

Pictures in front of the Lego store.

There's something about these giant legos that just demand being climbed on!

I think both of these boys would be more than happy to display this statue in their rooms!

Howdy Partner!

The best part of our time in Downtown Disney was meeting up with some of Rob's family. It was really random that we all happened to be in Southern California at the same time, so we decided to meet up for lunch in Downtown Disney. Aunt Barb and Uncle Ken are from Indiana and his cousin Aaron and his wife Tamara are from Texas. They were nearby on vacation themselves and were kind enough to make the couple of hour trek up to see us. It was so good to catch up with them, though the time went by way too quickly!

The kids stopped for a picture with Elmo the bird.

And I happen to think this picture is incredibly adorable! Okay, truth be told, this kid is adorable. I think 5 is a fantastic age!

California Adventures! Day 4

Today was our first day inside of Disneyland. We started out the day at the very front of Gate 13 (of course!) and quickly made our way to the end of Main Street where we waited for the rest of the park to open. We made great time, standing in line for no more than 10 minutes on most of the rides.

All in all, today was a very magical day. We had several impromptu character interactions which included following some princesses around the castle, being kidnapped by Storm Troopers (I kid you not!) and strolling down Main Street with Mickey Mouse to create the perfect ending to what might just be the perfect day!

Our Day in a Nutshell:

Dumbo
Peter Pan's Flight
Mad Tea Party
Alice in Wonderland
Matterhorn Bobsleds
Star Tours
Pictures with Princesses (Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty)
Indiana Jones
Tarzan's Treehouse
Jungle Cruise
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
Laughing Stock Company at The Golden Horseshoe
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
Jedi Training Academy
Kidnapped by Storm Troopers
Space Mountain-Ghost Galaxy
Hungry Bear Restaurant
Splash Mountain
Winnie the Pooh
Haunted Mansion
Mickey's Soundsational Parade
Casey Jr.'s Circus Train
Strolled Down Main Street with Mickey Mouse

Walked back to the hotel with sore feet, tired kids and one delightfully happy family!

We were the first people to the end of Main Street at the beginning of the day. 

Star Tours was a much anticipated ride. Titus loved it a ton, and I think Josh loved it even more than Titus. It was a little too bumpy for my liking, but it was fun to experience with the boys!

We randomly ran into a couple of princesses headed toward the castle. They were very friendly and talkative. We don't usually see them roaming around in the park so this was a special treat. 

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad!

Both kiddos got to train at the Jedi Academy today!

Then we randomly got kidnapped by a pair of Storm Troopers. They made us all put our hands in the air and paraded us through Tomorrowland. 

Then they took pictures with each of their captures!

Josh was so excited to get this picture with them!

At the end of the day we were strolling down Main Street and lo and behold, Mickey just came up and grabbed our hands and started strolling with us. He even kissed mine and Leeann's hands! What a perfect ending to a delightfully magical day!

California Adventure! Days 1 & 2

We left Sunday after church for a California Adventure. And so far, an adventure it has been!

We drove down to my mom and step-dad's house in Klamath Falls on Sunday night where we enjoyed a yummy dinner and a comfy place to lay our heads. We left around 6:30 on Monday morning hoping to get down to Anaheim by 8:00 or so that evening.

I'll spare you the unnecessary details but it turned out to be a rather trying day emotionally and physically and we didn't actually make it to our hotel until closer to 11:00 pm. But by the grace of God, we made it. And when we saw the lights of Disneyland the long trying day seemed to disappear amongst the beauty and magic of the area.

In the end we were really glad we didn't try to make the entire trip in one day or else we wouldn't have gotten in until the middle of the night and that wouldn't have been pleasant for anyone. We're hoping for a much less eventful ride home. But, in the meantime we are all very much looking forward to our time here in Southern California.

Rob and both feel like the timing of this trip has been such a blessing. Only God could have known how much our family could use this trip right now. As a family, we simply can't think of anywhere else we'd rather be or anything else we'd rather be doing.

Our nephew, Josh, Leeann and Titus rocking out in the backseat.

A beautiful sunset over Klamath Lake. This picture doesn't begin to do it justice!

Titus running out some of his energy at one of our many stops.

Josh with one foot in California and one foot in Oregon.

Welcome to California!

Poor Titus, who's prone to getting carsick threw up three times before lunch. He was on the mend after that though.

Titus wanted a picture with some palm trees. So a picture, I took!

The boys enjoying their In-N-Out burgers. We really need to get one of those franchises in our neck of the woods!

Leeann caught a fly with her bare hands. She's my little karate kid and she was very proud of herself!

We were all happy campers. Er, I mean, passengers, after such a yummy lunch. After a late lunch the rest of the trip was long and desolate but pretty easy sailing.