Our Disney Vacation

We had a FANTASTIC Disneyland vacation!  As we were enjoying ourselves, I kept making little notes in my phone.  Things I just didn't want to forget.  And my memory is so terrible that if I don't get them typed out now, I know I will forget what they all mean.

First off, I don't know if they'll let Earl and I back in the state of California again.

When we were there many years ago for our 1st Anniversary (1994), we experienced the Northridge Earthquake.  This time, we were there for the Mexicali Earthquake.

Do we bring them with us?  I sure hope not!

During the quake, Earl and Brayden were walking around Cal Adventure while the rest of the kids and I were in line for the Aladdin show.  None of us felt anything.  But they had to evacuate the rides and check for damage.  The Aladdin show started a bit late...Earl and Brayden eventually found a ride to go on (Tower of Terror!).  We didn't know how much it had really effected the park until we left later that night.  There were news crews out on the corner of Harbor and Disney Way interviewing people.  Apparently, when they evacuated the rides in Disneyland, it led to complete gridlock in that park.  People, people everywhere and no place to go.  I'm so grateful we ended up in Cal Adventure that day!

We made some great memories this trip!

Earl and I decided that we are retiring to Disneyland.

We have always talked about what we will do with Brayden once all of the other kids leave home.

He is a great road-trip partner.

He doesn't whine, cry, scream, or complain.

He LOVES being in the car.

It is his HAPPY PLACE.

So we have always thought that we would do lots of roadtrips with him.  Then....I had an epiphany!  Why not have Anaheim (or some other nearby place) be our home-base for those trips?  Then Earl had the BEST idea yet.  We're going to work at Disneyland so we can take Brayden to Disneyland all of the time!

I think that is the best retirement plan ever!

We love all of the cast members at Disneyland.  They are so great with all of the kids.  The girls are always called 'Princess'.  They just love that.  Usually I hear the cast members call the boys 'handsome' or some other cute term.  This year on one of our passes through the security tents, a cast member referred to Brayden as 'Master Jedi'!  So cute.  Spencer and I thought that was pretty awesome.  I don't know anyone who would make a better Jedi than Brayden.

Speaking of the security tents. We had a few interesting interactions with the CMs there.  You know, Brayden really loves his silverware.

  Loves to look at it, throw it, hear it clank...all that good stuff.  So, we ended up taking some with us in the car.  And he also pilfered a fork from one of the Disney eateries.   Apparently, taking a spoon into the park is no problem.  A knife is completely off limits (we didn't have any of those).  But forks were questionable to a few people.  They had to ask and make sure it was OK for him to take a fork into the park.  Thank goodness it was!  Can you imagine the fit he could have thrown if they took away HIS FORK!!?!?!?  Oh man, I'm so glad we didn't have to find out what he would do!

Thanks to my sweet, cute, little girlies, we met lots of new people on our trip.

Andraia is our outgoing, no-fear, people-loving little girl.

She met people at the swimming pool, the breakfast buffet, the elevator....you name it.  She also made sure to say 'HI' to each and every CM she came in contact with.  We even met a lady at Jack in the Box who was so cute with her.  Andraia had said HI to her a few times.  I think she even asked where she was from and a few other of her 'standard' questions.  I'm always worried that she is bothering people, but I try not to interfere unless I can see people becoming pretty uncomfortable.  This lady was very sweet, answering all of the questions.  When this lady left, she tapped on the window and waved at Andraia.  It always melts my heart when I see people react this way.  I don't know why I don't just EXPECT these sweet reactions, but I don't.  I expect people to ignore her or maybe even be rude.  I don't know why....I'm terribly cynical when it comes to things like that.  But it makes me SO HAPPY to see her get a smile, a wave or a tap on the window from someone she has touched.

I'm trying to follow her example.  I am more the 'wait-and-see-if-they-say-HI-first' type.  But Andraia is helping me change my ways and maybe...just maybe...be a little less cynical.  I met some great people and had some interesting conversations while waiting in lines for different rides or waiting to order food.  

And little Miss Chloe is our quiet charmer.  Her smile will make just about anyone smile and say HI.  But she only hides from that point forward.  She's such a silly little girl!  I was worried that she would decide the characters were scary.  But I had nothing to worry about.  She had a great time giving everyone hugs.  Everyone in a costume that is....just don't be a 'normal' person and expect her to say HI to you. :)

One of my FAVORITE activites of the trip was actually walking to and from Disneyland.

We found a great deal at the Ramada Plaza.  A little farther from the park than we like to be, but we decided to try walking it.  The walk turned out to be REALLY enjoyable!  Spencer even said...'Mom, we should talk like this more often.'  It gave us a great chance to talk to each other and enjoy spending time without rushing for a ride or getting jostled by other park-goers.

I never would have guessed that picking this hotel would have such great benefits for our family time!

Thanks for suffering through my trip journal!

More coming!!