Disneyland!

The first week in December Mike's parents took us to Disneyland for Christmas. I love the holiday decorations - it's my favorite way to visit! We went with Mike's sisters as well, so we had 5 kids 12 and under, 3 under 3 and we knew there was going to be some challenges.

I was nervous to take Grace and Max on the plane, I didn't want to be "that mother" of "that baby" who wouldn't stop crying. They both did beautifuly on the way to California, not so much on the way home, but 50/50 isn't bad right?


We had so much fun in Disneyland, I love getting to make memories with my kids, they are probably to young to remember too much, but we'll always have pictures!


The first day we went to the character breakfast at our hotel, staring Lilo and Stich. I got assaulted by Stitch. Most of you know my personal space bubble, and it was shattered. He had me in a head lock and kept giving me hugs because Max was so scared of him. I didn't count him being scared either, he usually is just an easy going boy, but he did not like any of the characters.

This is the first day in the park, I told Max I wanted one cute picture of him smiling at the camera, he looked at me and smiled cute! What a good boy!

I didn't get a picture of Lighting McQueen on my camera, hopefully someone else did! They were really cute!

This is the huge Christmas tree right as you walk into Disneyland. It is huge! They bring in semi's each year to set it up. I love all the decorations and the Christmas music.

There are so many pictures on the carousel, Grace and Max both loved it. We made the mistake of taking Grace on Snow White first and she was scared to death! She wouldn't ride anything in the dark again. So we just kept taking her on the carousel. This is Grace and Grandma Ruth.

They had Santa's sleigh and all his reindeer back by this excellent BBQ place we ate lunch at. The food was so good, and it's a good thing it was all you can eat because Grace had a hungry week and ate 4 chicken legs + beans + cornbread.

Aunt Caitlin and Max

The 2nd day we took the kids into Toontown, Grace had been so scared to ride anything the first day. I told her I would ride everything with her and not let anything happen. She was just barely tall enough to ride the Toontown roller coaster, but I didn't think she really would do it. The whole time we were in line she just kept watching it asking why it went around like that. I showed her how all the people were smiling when they were done and bribed her with a sucker if she would ride it.

Look at this proud girl after she got off her 1st roller coaster! Way to go Grace! (Mike said her face was terrified the whole time, but she didn't cry at all!) We went and got suckers afterwards!

Grace is usually a pill when it comes to the camera....

Grace and Mike in jail. Right were they belong! :)

If there is water around, Max will find it. But look how happy he is!

The jungle safari ended up being one of Grace's favorite things, she loved the zebras*, the hippos and the rhinos. Max loved it too!

(*for those of you who have been to Disneyland, do you remember that the zebra is getting eaten by the lion? do you think I should be concerned that's her favorite?)

Max has become quite the mama's boy, he is cautious about so many things that I never thought he would be. This is him on the jungle cruise as he's watching the animals. I look terrible, but I loved the picture of him!

Grace went through Chip and Dale's tree house and was mad they were not home. She was excited to see them later that day. I also didn't get a picture of her with Donald Duck, who is her favorite. She told me the day before we left that Donald is her favorite because he doesn't wear pants. Well, when we finally found Donald he was signing another girls book. He did something I can't remember what and I said, "Oh he's an angry Donald." Well, he looked at me, blew a raspberry, threw the girls book and kicked the post. Grace laughed and laughed, she says that was her favorite thing too. He really played Donald so well!

Grace and her cousin Tylor -

One of the attempts to get the 5 grandchildren in the same picture....

Max rode everything, he never cried he just loved being with us, outside and watching people.

The carousel at California Adventures is so stinking cute! Plus they don't make you get off so they just rode and rode.

Our hotel was decorated for Christmas too! They had a Santa, but my children wouldn't go near him. We had to wait until he left to get a picture by the tree. It was darling!

We really did have such a fun time. We were worried about all the walking with Mike's back, but he held up really well. The last day I told Grace we were going home and she said "Grandpa will bring me back next week." I wish too sweetheart!

Thanks Todd and Ruth!