D I S N E Y L A N D !!!!!!!!!!!
So about 6 months ago when my family did their annual Disneyland trip, my mom told Ethan she would take him when he came out to visit. Well this kids mind is a steel trap now. Remember when your kids were 2 and they couldn't remember something you told them 10 minutes ago?? Ethan is passed that stage and it is taking me a long time to figure that out.
ANYWAYS...my mom being the fun, loving and generous grandma that she is was more then happy to make his wishes come true.
We went on the PERFECT day. It was warm enough but not hot at all. There were hardly any lines! Seriously! So awesome!
Here we are in the quintessential photo spot!
Tigger!!! This little corner of the park is one my personal favorites. Why may you ask?? Well if you are familiar with the layout of Disneyland you know that it is a quiet, pretty little spot. You have splash mountain in one corner (Bryan's favorite) Winnie the pooh in another (one of Ethan's favorites and definitely Nate's...he danced the whole ride) and best of all Pooh's Corner Store. They make BOMB confectioneries. Not only tasty and freshly made but beautiful too. You should see the Belle dress they make out of a caramel apple! My personal favorites are the Tigger Tail, Milk Chocolate covered-caramel-marshmallows on a stick and the Apple Pie Caramel Apple. YUM!!
Nate LOVED meeting all the characters! He would get SO anxious to go get them whenever we saw one. He would squirm to try and get down and run to whoever it was. 1 year olds don't understand lines. Especially when meeting Disney characters. He gave every character a kiss! Sweet!! But I kinda hope the lysol those costumes.
Pooh Bear!
Can you spot Bryan?? He LOVES this ride and there were NO line! Sweet! Ethan was tall enough but he refused to go. Pitched a total fit! I told him he HAD to go on one "scary" ride. Which to him was Pirates or Haunted Mansion. He chose Pirates and was upset the whole time. I'm such a mean mom.
We went and ate lunch at our favorite place is the park, Cocina Cucamonga! If you haven't been there...GO! It is right by Big Thunder Mounatin Railroad. It isn't too pricey (for Disneyland) and has GREAT mexican food! I asked Ethan if we wanted to go on the choo-choo train ride (I thought that sounded tame enough) and he agreed....onto Big Thunder Mountain! Guess what?! He LOVED it!! Can you see them??
Dumbo is always a favorite...and one of the only lines we had to stand in. A whole 10 minutes...sheesh!
In Mickey's house. Nate LOVED it in there. Everything was so bright and colorful and just his size. He had to touch and sit on everything. It was adorable.
Mickey was of course one the highlights! "Mickey Moush!" (as nate calls him) Nate couldn't stop touching his face and kissing him. He was in heaven and so was I seeing my sweet little boy in love like that =)
I love this picture of Ethan. It represents his personallity to me. Cute, silly, fun-loving and sweet as pie! My mom jumped out of line for Tigger to get him that signature book at the above mentioned Pooh's Corner Store. One of the best purchases! He took such pride in getting all the signatures. He is so grown up!
Goofy!! a.k.a. "Koofy"
Nate had just woken up here...he was unimpressed with the tea cups.
The boys were in line for Nemo, or as Nate says "Me-mo" (my mom and I can't stand that ride! Claustrophobia!!) and we spotted the Storm Troopers so we grabbed Ethan and got a picture with them really fast. He was so excited to come home and tell his friend Cameron from preschool that he met the real storm troopers. Cameron loves Star Wars!
This was in the lobby of our hotel, Paradise Pier. It was the first time we stayed there. My fam typically stays at the Grand Californian (at an amazingly discounted rate...). It was a cute, fun hotel. I'm a big believer in staying in on-site hotels. They are always pricier, but if you can make it work it is TOTALLY worth it! They make your trip SO much more enjoyable being so close to the parks. Especially with little kids. Even with big kids who want to change clothes half way through the day.
Doug! Ethan kept yelling "Squirrel!!" and Doug would look the other way really fast. It was really funny.
Woody!!!
Because Ethan was 5 (almost) he got to drive the bumper cars. It was kinda scary haha. He caused a lot of traffiic jams.
Buzz!!! The boys were so excited to see Buzz! Ethan would always pick Nate up and carry him to the character and say to him in his cutest baby voice "Look Nate! Its ___!!" Everyone in the buzz line was oohing and aahing. I had a good mommy moment...my kids really are cute it isn't just in my head!
We had a FANTASTIC 2 days at Disneyland and California Adventure! Oh how I love that place! I didn't take nearly enough pictures the 2nd day at California Adventure but the most noteworthy thing is that Ethan and went on Tower of Terror!! Yes, the same child who balled over Pirates the day before! WHAT A BRAVE BOY!! That is no small-feat, Tower of Terror is named appropriately!
Also, a side note to those of who you might actually be reading this. (I don't think anyone really reads my blog??) If you go to California Adventure you MUST, I repeat MUST eat on the pier at the Boudin Sourdough Bakery. It is our go-to lunch every time! Boudin is San Fran's oldest running shop and Disneyland is one of the very few places in the state that makes their bread fresh everyday. It is SOOO good!! They have uh-mazing soups and salads you order in a fresh baked bread bowl. The cheddar broccoli soup is delicious! I got the Chinese Chicken Salad and that was awesome too!
