Part 1: California Vacation - DISNEYLAND!!

As I sit in my cave (my bedroom) feeling crappy from chemotherapy 

I have decided to blog about some happy memories.

Back in October we went on a FABULOUS 9 day trip to California.  Corey had a business conference in Newport Beach so we decided to join him and go out early and make it into an unforgettable family vacation.  We had been planning this trip for months before we found out I had breast cancer.  After we found out the diagnosis we thought it was even more important for us to go have some family bonding time before the long cancer journey began.  The trip might have broken the bank, but oh my it was worth every penny.

I took a MILLION pictures.....I did my best to narrow them down...seriously I did. 

 I have decided to break down our trip into 3 parts.  Part 1: Disneyland, Part 2: California Adventure, Part 3: Beach

 

Waiting for our flight to CALIFORNIA...so EXCITED!

DAY ONE: Disneyland (Wednesday)

 Our first photo at the Happiest Place on Earth....for our kids FIRST trip to Disney!!!

 peace 

 Dumbo...the kids first ride

 loved the train ride

 my boys

 should I bail them out?

 Goofy grabbed Berkeley's hand and they skipped around Toon Town.  Unfortunately this was the best picture I captured.  It was so magical!!!!!

 It should say "JollEy Trolley" now :)

 Mickey Mouse - another magical moment.  I think I was more excited than my kids.

 I love Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

 Carlie's beautiful new princess mouse ears hat.

 my princess waiting for the Winnie the Pooh Ride

 Cotton Candy & the Matterhorn = perfect match.  This was the first "scary ride" we convinced the kids to go on.  They LOVED it.  We were so lucky that Berkeley was just barely tall enough to ride on everything at Disneyland.

 monorail...great ride for tired feet

 Berkeley's first mouse ears hat

 The Haunted Mansion was all decked out for Halloween.  As a matter of fact all of Disney was decorated for Halloween.  It was so cool; wish I had taken more pictures.

 Waiting for Mickey's parade.  The parade was out of this world.  They have all the characters so well trained that my kids thought every single Disney character was looking & waving right at them.  My kids were flying SO HIGH after that parade. 

 We LOVE Star Tours with our 3D glasses

 

someone is getting tired!!!

 what a weirdo

After we went on the Star Tours ride we headed back to our hotel. 

  My hubby & kids held hands and skipped around on our way out.  

It was the cutest thing EVER!!! 

 I tried to get a pic or video of it, but had no luck.  But, I still have the memory in my mind and it makes me SO HAPPY!

DAY 2 at Disneyland (Saturday)

(we spent Thursday & Friday @ California Adventure)

another beautiful day in sunny CA

I love this picture because it really captures how sweet Carlie is to her little brother

 Carlie wanted to meet Merida from Brave more than any other Disney princess

 looks like she is choking my little guy

 I love the look of concentration

 Small World

 Believe it or not.....It's a Small World is my husband's favorite ride.  We went on it twice.

 Star Tours..AGAIN...love it

 hanging out in the French Quarter after Pirates of the Caribbean

 Jungle Cruise...Carlie looks scared

what a silly mamma

 hitching a ride to Tom Sawyer's Island

 After spending FOUR days trying to convince Carlie to go on Splash Mountain

 and lots of crying on her part we got her to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Look how terrified she was!!!  But, after the ride she was so happy and

 couldn't quit talking about how much she loved it!!!!!!

 

 He..he..my 8 year old is almost as tall as Rapunzel!!!

 another one of my favorite sites at Disney

 WOODY!!!!!!!!!

 SMALL WORLD...again.  We sang along the whole ride!

 They were SO EXCITED when they got to ride in the very front of Big Thunder Mountain....I think this ended up being one of their favorite rides.  I know it is one of mine!!

 On our way out of Disneyland after 4 MAGICAL days at Disney we watched Mickey's Parade again.  Berkeley insisted on waving at ALL the characters.  

He kept saying, "Dad, they see me!"

 What a cutie!!!!

 

 Classic Aldridge Silly Pose

PART 1 of California Trip Blog Post is done!!!  

Next, post.....California Adventure!!!!!!!!!