DISNEYLAND!
The excitement was palpable in our house as we counted down the days to our California trip. We talked every day about all the fun we were going to have - Haley didn't believe me that people actually get to live in California and go to Disneyland all the time. Those fortunate kids! Somehow Rob and I managed to get ourselves, 2 kids, 3 suitcases, 2 carseats, one double stroller, 2 carry-ons and a diaper bag from our house to the Minneapolis airport (a 4-hour drive to long-term parking, shuttle to the terminal, then the gauntlet of check-in and security.), got in to LAX around midnight local time, picked up the rental car, and finally made it to our hotel next to Disneyland around 2 am (4 am our time). Whew!
But it was worth it the next morning as we walked from our hotel across the street to Disneyland. We spent that first day in the California Adventure Park, which was fun, but not as magical as Disneyland. The kids got soaked in the Bug's Life water area before we headed back to the hotel to meet Rob's parents and sister Katie. They had come down just to go to Disneyland with us. We spent the entire second day in Disneyland - riding the carousel, teacups, Casey Jr. train, etc. Haley even got a very special appointment to talk with 2 princesses. She was so excited and got all dressed up in a Cinderella dress, and wouldn't say one word to them. But whenever we ask now what her favorite part of the trip was she says, "Meeting the princesses!). By the end of the day we were sweaty, hot, and exhausted, but very glad we'd traveled across the country to have this experience with our kids.
Their voices were strangely high-pitched and they kept making weird princess gestures with their hands (see Sleeping Beauty) - no wonder Haley was shy! But still, every girly-girl's dream come true.
Countless rides on the carousel, but happy each time. Well, Jake doesn't look it, but he really did have fun!
Jake is still in love with any kind of ball - this is what he picked out as his Disneyland souvenir.Nothing like an amusement park to wear out the kids. Fortunately the stroller reclines and he was able to snooze comfortably.
Sitting on Mickey's couch at the end of the day. The kids were so tired but we just couldn't leave without taking them to Toon Town.
SO WICKEDAs if Disneyland and the beach weren't fun enough, I also got to see the Broadway show Wicked in L.A. Rob's family loves musicals, but he doesn't, so he very graciously offered to watch the kids while we went to the show. His sister Anna drove down from Bakersfield to come with us (her husband sayed home to watch the kids too...), so we got all dressed up and drove to Hollywood to the Pantages Theater on Hollywood Boulevard. It was wonderful! And while we were walking to the theater I looked down and noticed all the stars - here's my foot with Mr. Cole's star.
OCEAN-BOUNDWe left Anaheim and drove west to spend a few days at Redondo Beach. That same crazy anticipation and excitement that Haley felt about Disneyland? That's what I felt about the ocean. I always loved my family's trips to the Washington Coast as a kid and want my own kids to have the same kind of memories. But living in Grand Forks we're about as far from an ocean as you can be! The Red River just doesn't cut it...
So I was thrilled that we got to spend 2 1/2 days just hanging out on the beach, and we milked every minute of it. Morning walks before breakfast to look for sea shells, long afternoons watching the kids dig in the sand and run shrieking with delight/terror from the waves, evening walks down to the shore to watch the sun set over the ocean. Like Haley, I kept thinking to myself, "People get to live here! They can go to the beach every day!"
We also managed to squeeze in some high-powered shopping - hurray for Nordstrom, Build-A-Bear Workshop, and the Vans store! We left California with sand in everything, slightly-corrected farmer's tans, dry skin from the salt water, and an intense desire to find a way to afford living by the beach.
