Disneyland

My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this month and decided that to celebrate they would treat the family to a Disney vacation!! We had such a great trip, it was a blast! Get ready for some pictures....

The 5am sleepy faces (watching a DVD)

At the airport.  Owen loved watching the planes.

Walking out to the tiny plane we took.

Once we got to Disneyland we realized that Noah loved the characters, Caitlin was fearless, and Owen was happy just to watch everything around him.  Noah would run after any character he spotted and if he was able to get close enough he would give them a big hug.  Caitlin had no fear when it came to rides.  She went on everything...space mountain, splash mountain, big thunder mountain, California screaming, tower of terror, Indian Jones, she loved them all.  Owen loved the calmer rides like Peter Pan, It's a small world, Dumbo, Jungle Cruise, etc. 

Noah so happy to see Donald

Tarzan's treehouse

The weather was absolutely perfect the entire trip.  Not too hot, not too cold.  It got a little busy at the park during the weekend, but was very quiet during the weekdays we were there.  Thanks to Jon, who was our F.P.C. (Fast Pass Coordinator), we never waited in a line for more than 20 minutes.  If it weren't for Jon we wouldn't have gone on half of the rides we did.  He made sure we had a valid Fast Pass at all times.

Owen on the Mark Twain Riverboat.  He loved watching the paddle-wheel.

The only time you could find Noah in his stroller was when he napped

Both Noah and Owen napped everyday in their stroller for a couple of hours.  We took turns sitting by them while they napped and I usually volunteered to do that because then I was able to do my favorite thing - people watch.  

Buzz Lightyear was a hit with Owen

Back at the hotel

In front of "it's a small world"

Although it was a "baby ride" according to Caitlin, I know she still liked "It's a Small World"

Bubble Maker! This kept Owen happy for hours!

We had a 6 day park hopper pass, which I thought would be way too many days, but it worked out to be just prefect.  We managed to see and ride pretty much everything and still had lots of time to relax and enjoy time at the pool and just hang out. 

The Carousel at California Adventure 

Owen looks like a giant in this stroller, but he wouldn't have survived without it.  Even Caitlin had to sit in it from time to time with all the walking we did.

Peter Pan.  I thought it was a very cute ride.

Brent, Noah and a Storm Trooper

The Parade.

Noah watching the parade with the Matterhorn in the background.  Of course the Matterhorn was closed for refurbishments...isn't it always?

The "Chew Chew Train" in Flik's Fun Fair. 

We allowed the kids to pick out a souvenir and it made me laugh how different Caitlin and Owen are.  With a minute of Owen walking into the store, he found what he wanted and could not be persuaded otherwise (which was "Wheezy" the penguin from Toy Story 2).  On the other hand, I'm pretty sure Caitlin could have spent all day in that store trying to decide on what she wanted to get. 

Owen holding his new penguin, Wheezy

Nap time (once again, Owen with Wheezy)

Owen fascinated on "It's a small world"

We usually headed back to the hotel around 5 or 6 in the evening.  By that time Caitlin was done.  She was go-go-go all day and didn't nap like her brothers did.  So in the evenings the adults took turns either staying with the kids at the hotel or heading back to one of the parks for some more rides and to see the evening show "World of Color."

Swimming at the hotel

Caitlin, Owen....and Wheezy

Dumbo

Noah found Goofy in Toontown

Owen did not want to leave Donald's Boat in Toontown

Trouble

Toy Story Mania.  Fun ride for the whole family!

Noah and Mickey

Noah, Mickey, Owen...and Wheezy

Owen being all awkward

Awwwww

On Monsters Inc.

Bumper Bugs

Caitlin and Jon on Grizzly River Run

A little video showing the chaos of when a character roams the street (I love how you can hear the parents telling their kids to "go get him" and there's even a little boy who hits him...I wonder what kind of job turnover there is for these characters)

Caitlin trying to look grumpy...in the happiest place on earth

The kids in a tea cup...with Wheezy

Noah and the souvenir he picked out

Toontown

Waiting for the train...with Wheezy

At the Santa Ana Airport, just chilling.