We started our seven or so weeks away from home with a bang. School got out on Thursday, Jarad worked his last day Friday, we spent Memorial Day weekend here at home and left Tuesday morning as the sun rose (before it could get too hot here). We took the long way around to my parents house in UT, spending about ten days in California before heading down to Happy Valley. Here is our travelogue in parts…
Stop 1: Joshua Tree National Park
Yeah, so this was ALMOST considered a stop. We spent a few hours in the park on the way to California. Long enough to take some pictures, climb some rocks and do the Junior Ranger Program with the kids. After about 30 minutes of climbing around on the large boulders, we told the kids it was time to move on to something else. When they complained we said “but when we’re done here we get to go to Disneyland!” To which Case replied: I don’t wanna go to Disneyland, I just want to stay here and climb rocks! Unfortunately he was having so much fun and going so high that I didn’t get a single picture of him climbing. He was out of sight the whole time!
Stop 2: DISNEYLAND!!
Whew nothing like starting our trip with the highlight. The kids were looking forward to it so much, and it truly did not disappoint. The best advice I received beforehand was to take a break in the middle of the day or there's no way you're making it to the fireworks! The kids were the perfect ages to go -- even the twins could ride every ride -- and they were all old enough that we didn't have to spend ANY time on the small kiddie rides. It was great. Case started the morning with a good cry (OK I'll admit it was a full-fledged screaming fit), but once we got past that it was a perfect day.
Tess's Favorite: Splash Mountain and the teacups, although she beat everyone but Jarad in the Buzz Lightyear ride. Not sure how that happened. Oh, and Fisher got to dance in the parade. Of course he did his signature moves for us all…
Case's Favorite: Haunted Mansion
Fisher's Favorite: Splash Mountain/Thunder Mountain because “I like getting scared! It made me scream like a little girl!”
Emma's Least Favorite: Pirates
Stop 3: The Beach
You can't be in the OC without going to the beach, right? We spent the day at Huntington Beach where the kids literally spent hours running in and out of the waves. Spent the evening in Newport. Pizza, ice cream and the arcade. We were clearly too early for the season rush -- there was NO ONE at Newport pier the night we went! We had the arcade all to ourselves. Cute Fisher won a bunch of tickets and just could NOT decide what he was going to trade them in for at the goody counter: should he get one big thing for himself or lots of cheaper things he can share with his brother and sisters? He opted for a handful of small tops that he promptly gifted to his siblings. I love this kid's heart! Probably our kids’ favorite part of Newport was the IHOP we ate breakfast at. How is it that they had NEVER been to IHOP before?
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