Elders @ Applebees

One of the highlights of our little California vacation was being able to stop and see Elder Johnson (aka Wacy, my nephew) and his companion Elder Jorgensen (also named Wacey-what are the odds?). Elder Johnson has been serving in the San Bernidino Mission for a little over a year. We visited him in Rancho Cucamonga.

He's a great example for my three boys and he was so full of the missionary spirit it was incredible. I am super proud that he made the choice to go on a mission.

L.A.

We decided to do something different than Disneyland on Sunday. After a yummy breakfast at Ruby's...

 we drove to LA so we could see the temple. This is a REALLY big temple. Really, I had no idea. It's huge.

Then we went to see the stars on the sidewalk where the celebrity stars are. You know, that famous street that I can't think of the name right now. Sunset? I was pretty much lost the whole drive. The street performers picked my nephew Aidan to perform with them. Who knew he had the skills to perform on the street? They were pretty talented dancers except that they spent 10% of the time dancing and the other 90% explaining why we should give them money. If you have to explain it, then you don't deserve it. Bringing up a cute kid to perform was the better money making move. (Nice guys though, they did give Aidan part of the earnings.)

The actual foot prints of the Star Wars characters who don't actually exist.

Wax statues look real.

The sun...it blinds!! The Hollywood sign is in the background. At the time it seemed like a good photo op. In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have risked the possibility blinding of my kids.

This is the Griffith Observatory. It is very cool. 

  On the roof are some beautiful views of the city and maybe even the ocean. It was much clearer in real life.

I was looking for the boys and found Noah sitting on this ledge. It totally freaked me out until I realized that there is a roof just below where they are sitting.

What does it say about me, that the entire time we were in LA I couldn't get the Big Time Rush theme song out of my head? I don't think I have ever actually sat down and watched an episode even though it is on a lot, but I know that was a main motivator for my kids to see LA. Oh, oh, oh, oh...

Disneyland--Waiting, patiently waiting

There just isn't any way around it, if you go to Disneyland you better be able to wait, preferably without climbing on something, swinging on the chain dividers or whining. October was a good time to go because the lines weren't very long and we did a lot a fast passes.  Sometimes we even got to walk right on.  It does take some strategy though to ride the really popular rides. The Toy Story ride was crazy busy. Like you could ride the California Screamin' ride twice in the time it takes to get on this ride once busy. And it doesn't have a fast pass. On our last day, our plan was to make it our first ride. We even got there before California Adventure opened and waited behind this rope.

We weren't the only ones with that genius idea. This might have been the longest line we waited in. It's a cute ride, but we didn't ride it again.

When the kids didn't want to ride a ride, I was the designated waiter (mostly because I didn't want to ride it either). I took the boys to Tarzan's Tree house while everyone else got disappointed at the Haunted Mansion. 

While I waited, I entertained myself by taking some covert photos of comedian Kevin Nealon and debating whether I should say something to him. (I am chicken and didn't say a word).

Zack & I  also did some waiting while everyone went on the Tower of Terror. It gave Zack the opportunity to enjoy some cotton candy. "It's like eating a cloud, or heaven."

The worst waiting for me was after Zack fell asleep and I had to wait with him while everyone went on some rides while we all waited for World of Color to start (a double wait!). We were at California Adventure and they were promoting the movie Tron pretty hardcore. I ended up in the middle of a techno rave (at Disney?!) that involved thumping bass and cage dancers (at Disney?!). I was entertained for a minute but it got old pretty fast probably because I am getting old. 

 This is the best way to wait:

 But if your battery is dying or you aren't fancy, I recommend waiting with these two cuties. They are funny.

Disneyland- Thrill Rides

The absolute best part about our Disney trip was that everyone was tall enough to go on every ride. It was great! No being left behind to wait with the too shorties. No one getting left out. No good reason to cry. Last time, all Zack wanted to do was ride the big rides but was too short to do most of the cool ones, except for the Matterhorn.  This time, he was a little more hesitant, but he was brave enough to try.
California Screamin' is by far the best ride. I love it. (Although I learned that I have to break it up. Twice in a row is all I can handle.) This is Zack on his first time:

I don't think I had his shoulder thing (yes, that's the technical term) as tight as it should have been. He used the word levitate to describe his experience and I think it freaked him out a little bit. Ben didn't want to ride it the first day, but was feeling brave on day two. This is him waiting for his first ride.

It ended up being his favorite. Once, he even got a front row seat.

A few times we let the older boys go around the park on their own.  They got a lot more rides in this way. We caught them coming back, just as we were getting ready to get on. Noah's looking a little worked over.

The camera location for this ride is kind of funny to me. It's not positioned at a really steep or particularly thrilling spot, so I kind of faked it.  Zack was too short to see in almost every picture. Except one.

We were disappointed in the Space Mountain scary makeover to Ghost Mountain. It was lame and actually a little too scary for the kids. Zack didn't mind it because he closed his eyes the entire ride. We only rode it once until, luckily on our last day, it was switched back.

We had seven Indiana Jones enthusiasts with us, so we hit that ride several times. Because there was so many of us, we got our own jeep every time. Matt needs chiropractic care after every ride, I think it is fun. Zack is tall enough to ride the rides, just not to be seen in pictures.

Inauthentic enthusiasm for Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

This is the one ride I refuse to go on. I've never done it & probably never will.

This is a ride I should never go on. I almost avoided it...

But the kiddos needed an adult to go with them. It's kind of slow and even a little boring,  but it makes me so sick to my stomach. Bleh...

I am not going to lie, Splash Mountain freaks me out. It's all fun and zip-a-dee-do-dah-day-y and then there's that blasted drop off. I dread it. I don't like drop offs (hence no Tower of Terror). Loopty loops are fine, steady climbs and falls are ok, but blind drop offs--no good. Add the element of water and I'm out.  Once is my limit for this one. Thankfully, Emily was kind enough to go multiple times.

With our crew of thrill seekers, we missed out on some of the usuals: Dumbo, Tea Cups, Peter Pan, Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, It's A Small World (that one was actually closed).  I'm a little sad about Peter Pan but it was really great to be able to experience the same rides with everyone..again & again. 

Disneyland- Photo Opportunities

In honor of our first Nevada Day, we went to California. The kids already learned all about Nevada  (Zack can sing you a song) so why not take advantage of a three day school vacation? Throw in Disneyland, the cousins & you have a super fun trip.

I have never been to Disneyland during the fall. It was fun to see all the Halloween decorations.

I have been known to torture my kids by taking lots and lots of pictures. I didn't do that this year. As much. My goal was quality over quantity. But some opportunities just can't be passed by.

I love these cars. I sort of forgot the quality/quantity goal.

Prior to this picture, Ben opened a can of whoop a** on Noah. I can't remember how he was wronged, but it was definitely our Disney low point.

Turkey legs--so good, even Ben will eat one. After I took this picture, I embarked on a cross-park trip in search of pizza for a certain 6 year old who would eat nothing but pizza. Of course California Adventure does not sell pizza. For real. Of course the dining hour coincided with that Main Street Parade. He owed me big time. Big time.

This is how the park looks when you get an hour early admission. No random people in your pictures. It's a dream come true. And the kids loved it because they rode the Matterhorn, got off then got right back on--again & again.

Allow me to introduce you to...

This is Princess Gorgeous, I came upon her in Zack's room. And it's not what you think. At least not what I thought. Apparently, Zack drew her for Henry because when they play he always likes to have a "hot girlfriend."  The answer to the next question is a "no" with an eye roll because it's obvious that the guy next to her is a bodyguard not Henry.

Halloween Avoidance

I almost did it! My dream to skip Halloween entirely was almost a reality. It was a perfect scenario: Halloween on a Sunday, no school costume parties and a vacation planned for the five day school break. But Zack wanted to trick or treat and I caved. He's only 6! So we threw together some last minute costumes and went to our ward trunk or treat. 

My friend Katie and I decided to share her trunk. Neither of us was into the decorating part so we each brought a few random things. Turns out, we ours was one of the best. That just makes me laugh. It's also a sad commentary on the other trunk decor. Our awesomeness was all because of the Funkins. Lit up pumpkins in a trunk? How is that possible?

The trunk was only slightly better than this picture shows.