Thursday, October 9, 2008

Disney Magic

It's...

here...


and you know us, we can't pass up a celebration!

We started off the trip with our annual picture of the kids on the stairs of the Del Sol Inn--our cheap, clean, favorite place to stay right across the street from the entrance to Disneyland. Since we spend no time in the hotel room, except to rest our weary bones after a full day at the park, we choose not to splurge on accommodations!

This time, however, we had extra kids to photograph on the pleasing purple stairs of the delightful Del Sol...

Yay! The Edgrens and the Callaways joined us for an unforgettable trip! It was especially enjoyable to experience it with the Callaways for their first time--they were Disneyland virgins!
We started Thursday off with early entry at Disneyland...

We also joined up with the Slavens making our group a whopping 26 (including Rach's parents Dixon and Denise and her sister Michelle and her husband Porter)! We were ALL able to fit in one boat on Pirates of the Caribbean!
Check out all these cute kids...


Chancellor and Owen have a special bond...


Maybe it's because he kept slippin' him these...

Mmmm!
Thursday was jam-packed and the kids (and adults) loved every minute!




Friday we headed over to Disneyland in the morning to ride some favorites again...

Jake got noticed by a beautiful young lady named Alice...

Check him out smiling like the Cheshire cat!

Then we headed over to California Adventure for the rest of the day...


Can I please arrange this marriage? Kiera and Alex are to die for!


Weeeee! I become a little kid at Disneyland...it's magic!


Shout out to the Slavens who helped Jake overcome his fear and ride California Screamin'! My rule is that when the kids reach the height requirement, they have to try the ride no matter what (I know, some of you are thinking I am so cruel) Jake sobbed and sobbed with snot running down his face the whole way in the line. Kristi sent me to the back of the line where I couldn't hear him (as much) and her and Monte helped Jake through the whole ordeal. He had a pep talk from the employees making sure that he really would ride the ride.

Disneyland Employee: "Hey there, Do you want to ride this ride?"
Jake (all sobs and tears and snot): "No, but my mom is making me!"

Finally, after two employees and ten minutes, he nodded that he would try it and they started the ride.

After the ride:
Me: "Jake!! You did it! What did you think?"
Jake: "It was okay." with a shoulder shrug.
(However, it was all he could talk about for the next two hours!"That was AWESOME", he kept saying to his buddies. "I wasn't even scared.") ha!
Thanks Slavens (and everyone else in line next to him who had to endure his wailing. Oh, and those in line behind him who had to wait through his pep talk!) What's that saying?? "It takes a village..."??
He was so proud of himself.
California Adventure closed at 6 pm so we headed back over to Disneyland (along with thousands of others). It was crazy! We road the train and then went to see Mickey and called it a night.



Chalk it up to another great adventure.

10 comments:

Karen S said...

That looks so fun. I love Disneyland- and how fun to go with people that have never been. I'm dying to take the girls again.

Hailey Smoot Kandell said...

I am so jealous! Disneyland is our favorite! We went last October and had the best time! I wish we would have planned to go again this October! I have even thought of taking my kids alone in the middle of the week. But I doubt it!

Camille said...

I can't even speak I am so jealous! i wish we could have met you...... only 10 hrs away. We miss you guys so much! That one pic with you on he ride makes me feel a little nauseous i can feel you spinning around.

Rach said...

so so fun! we must make it a tradition and I WILL ride all the rides next time :) love ya

I stole some of you photos for my blog too :)

Marilyn said...

Wow!! And how fun to be there with so many great friends. Hurray for Jake for conquering his fears (with a lot of help from the village). What beautiful people you all are. Alex and Kiera make an especially cute couple. And I can't believe Owen! He is no longer our baby boy, but one of the big kids sitting there on the stairs so grown up. Dad and I need some of that Disney magic! Love you all, Mom

Anonymous said...

So Fun!

I love that place:)

Chelsea

Farrah said...

I am cracking up about your "rule." That is too funny!!! Cute, cute kids.

Leisa Waldron said...

What a fun trip! You guys look like you had a blast! :)

Jen said...

That place really is magic! I fall in love with it every time I go! Your kids look so grown up!

Linsey said...

Halloween at DisneyLand is the best. We experienced our first disney halloween last year at Paris Disneyland, what an adventure.