Universal Studios

I love Universal Studios- I think seeing how some of TV/Movies are made is really neat. It always amazes me how something so small can be turned into a whole city for a movie. I love the shows and tours ;) Mike & me

Jordan, Cassie, Ashley, Patrick & Max

Right inside Universal Studios was a fountain with bronze statues of a director, camera man and 2 other film people. After a few minutes one of the statues started to wave, he was real. It was fun to see peoples reaction when they figured it out- people watching is always fun on vacation! Our 3 superheros were all there to protect us, just in case an evil villan was there- Patch and Ashley planned it and I had no idea when I dressed Max that day. Grace was sad we we left her Super girl shirt home.

Curious George spent so much time with my kids. They watch him every morning and seriously were in love with him. After pictures he took the kids by the hand and led them back to his park for them to play.

While we were sitting in the play area we kept hearing this shooting noise, I got up and looked through a window and saw this huge room where kids were playing-it had two levels and thousands of little soft balls. You could gather the balls and put them in bins and guns and vacuum them up to shoot people- some you could control and others came out wherever they wanted.

Max loved to shoot the guns and Grace spent most of the time picking up balls and vacuuming them up. Mike said she's just like me and couldn't stand the mess in the room- I can't help it! They really would have stayed there all day, we had to remove them by force!

We watched the Shrek 4D show which we all liked and then headed down to the lower lot. While we were waiting for my family to ride a big kid ride the Mystery Machine drove by- My kids LOVE Scooby Doo, they were in heaven! (The bottom left picture was snapped while Scooby was with Max, I turned around and Shaggy was totally hitting on Daphne! Look what happens when friends not around!)

For the record, I hate Spongebob- I can't imagine a more annoying character. It goes back to my Convergys days and just my luck my kids like him. We rarely watch it my house because I can't stand it so bad!

They had a new Simpson ride, Grace was tall enough and it was one of those virtual roller coaster rides that throws you all over the place, she rode with Ashley and Patch and so she had to be brave- I thought it had some funny commentary, but the ride itself wasn't my favorite.

Mike and I rode the Mummy Return ride and Jurassic Park without the kids and then we all took the hour long tour. What a good day!

Sea World

You know those days that everything is on your nerves, everything goes wrong and no matter what happens the day is just destined to be one with a sour taste? That's pretty much how the day at Sea World was. My kids were up several times during the night, I woke up ornery, I let little things drive me crazy, the drive to San Diego took forever because of an accident, it was hot, my sunglasses broke 3 minutes after we got there, several rides and attractions were closed, including Atlantis, which is what I wanted to ride. My kids were too little to ride the other two rides, and the only ride they were big enough for you had to pay extra to ride it, are you kidding me? We paid how much money to fly to California, more money to go to Sea World, drove 3 hours to get there that morning, paid to park and then you want more money to ride the only ride for little kids. On top of that after I ordered lunch, now mind you I was already almost to the end of my short fuse- seagulls attacked my tray, while I was carrying it and took 1/2 my kids fries. The food was gross, seagulls sat at our table with us waiting to dive at any minute, I think Mike at 3 bites, I had 2 bites, the kids each had a chicken tender and I literally threw everything else away. I might have broke the garbage can as hard as I chucked it. I was pretty pissed, and no, there was not an eat inside option- all the tables were outside.

We ran to the Pets Gone Wild show which my kids really enjoyed and then ran to the Shamu Believe show. I wasn't happy they only had 1 showing of each show, and they stacked them so close together you had to run from one end of the park to the other just to be on time. But, I enjoyed most of the show, that is until the very end when a stupid seagull pooped on my head. No, I'm not kidding. I really did just have a shitty day. I wanted it to end. I decided we wouldn't go with my family to the beach and we drove back to the condo, hot tubbed and grabbed a Little Cesar pizza (next to the liquor store...only a bit scary).

Over all, I was relieved the day ended, and we will never go back to Sea World. (This picture was pretty early in the day)

We learned about Star Fishes in preschool the previous week, so Grace thought it was really cool to hold one!

The bigger kids and our friend got to feed dolphins, my kids got to feed Stingrays. Grace loved it, she even touched the slimy little fish. You could pet them too- all I kept thinking was, wasn't' it a stingray that killed the crocodile hunter?

Snow caves- they really were cold. Patch and Ashley got comfy in one...

Shamu & friends

This guy really was funny, we were waiting for the Seal show and he entertained us for 15 minutes before the show started- he danced to several different songs and had us all laughing.

The seals did short tricks and acts from CSI, Survivor & Dancing with the stars, it was the best thing there.

Walrus's

Sharks

Polar Bears

Penguins

California Adventure

California Adventure has two good rides, in my most humble opinion...Soaring over California and Tower of Terror... but- you have to go when you're there right?

We actually had quite a bit of fun, Grace was tall enough for the Jumping Jellies ride, and she loved it! She rode once with me, once with her dad and wanted to go again. I may sound mean but I loved how she made sure I held on tight to the handle and how she tensed up when it started, but by the end (30 seconds later) she wanted to go again. It makes me remember the first time I was tall enough for the scary rides at Lagoon! My kids met Handy Manny, who they loved.

Goofy and Grace...Grace and Goofy... Lets just say there were about 15 people in the crowd laughing their butts off, she was pulling faces, dancing, chasing him and just being silly... Goofy jumped up on the ledge and she went right after him, he started giving me the crazy sign and I told her she was just to goofy for him!

When we got home she said "Goofy was just goofing around the park"... What a spaz!

My kids liked the cars, but wouldn't pose.

I loved these signs, this was the first time I've rode the Monsters Inc ride, its cute.

Bumper cars ;)

Max loves little green army men, he was fascinated by the big green army men!

They are opening several new rides in the next couple of years, and as a result there were several areas with walls, it felt...um construction zoney. It will be cool to go in a few years and see the new rides and not be so packed in.

We do know where the first aid station is now. I ate lunch in Disneyland and by the time I got to California Adventure I broke out in hives. Soon they were all over my arms, my legs, my back side, my stomach and I could feel them moving up my back. I'm not positive what I'm allergic too, but it might be fennel, I've never had it before and it was on the pizza I ate from lunch. Leave it to me ;)

Disneyland

Just a note before I blog this week... there will be picture over load... I promise not to post even 1/2 of what I actually took, but there is a ton of pictures ;) "The Happiest Place on Earth" - someone needs to tell Grace she is suppose to smile for pictures- in 10 years she's going to wonder why she never is looking in the camera smiling... maybe not.

We went with my parents, my 3 youngest siblings and my brothers friend Ashley. Grace fell in love with Ashley- she wanted to hold her hand, smother her and pretty much just wanted to be with her all day.

Out of order picture...this is us waiting to see the princesses, we waited for an hour and overall the kids were pretty good. We really were hoping for Belle, Cinderella and Aurora- you don't know who you are standing in line for until you get there, we got Aurora, Jasmine (again) and Snow White-

Max kept trying to make Buzz fly, he kept pushing the costume buttons. He loves Buzz! On , a random side note, Buzz really creeped me out, I know he's suppose to be a toy, but his face seriously needed some help!

Jessie and Woody were really fun - Woody autographed our book and handed it back, Jessie hit him and my kids laughed and laughed- I loved how good they were with the kids!

We bought Max a Buzz Lightyear costume while we were there...I'm sure he will wear it everyday!

It's a Small World has been redone, it now features several Disney Movies including Finding Nemo, The Little Mermaid, Lilo & Stitch and Cinderella. Grace loves this ride, she wanted to ride it over and over, the whole time she would sing "It's a small world, it's a small world after all". Sometimes we'd be walking in the park and she'd just start singing it, it made me smile.

Grace meeting the princesses ;)

Aladin and Jasmine were really good with my kids. Max was carrying a luggage key all day, shooting people of course, Jasmine knelt down and asked if he was giving her the key to his heart. Max looked at her, smiled and said "Uh-huh" in the cutest voice, he totally loved her!

Minnie was really hard to find- we finally spotted her on our last day in the park. Grace had an outfit I wanted her to see Minnie in so they matched for pictures...my plans didn't work out too well!

Max was so tired he didn't make it out of the park the first night, Mickey went and posed with him for a picture! Loved it!

Goofy and Pluto were the first characters we saw when we entered the park, and what does Max do? He walks up to Goofy and kicks him. That was my kid! What the heck! I'm not sure what happened, he didn't kick anyone else- who knows...

The kids loved Dumbo!

Max got to ride the roller coaster in Toon Town, he loved it!

We bought Grace a Tiana dress- she looks stinking cute!

These are Graces ducks... the top one is the girl and the bottom one is the boy. While Mike and I rode the Indiana Jones ride my parents sat outside with the kids, apparently the ducks, Allie & Jelly stuck right by her. She wanted them to follow her when we left, she was broken hearted to leave them.

It was fun to be with some of my family, the kids loved riding on Grandpa Guys sholders and taking turns riding with Grandma Kate. We sure missed the rest of our family that couldn't come!

Someone who loves puppies just as much as Grace...if you make this picture big you'll see how in love with Cruella Grace was- she asked Grace if she loved puppies and of course Grace was like yes! She asked her what was her favorite and Grace told her black labs, Cruella said "Darling, thats no good at all, they have no spots!" Her accent was perfect! She then asked Max if he could help her catch puppies in the park with his gun and if it shot a net to trap the puppies, Max was like "Yep!"

Autopia- Grace loved it, she laughed and laughed, I got thrown around like a rag doll! Lets say crazy driver!

I must be old...this was the last time I'll do the teacups, yuck! Still to come...California Adventure, Sea World & Universal Studios, but not tonight.

Quips from my duo

I really need to be better about writing down things my kids say, they crack me up! Lately Max wants to sleep on his floor, when I put him in his bed he says "Monster!" In my mind I think hmmm and sleeping on floor right next to your bed is safer?

Nicole mentioned the pillow pet one day, and yes Max does love his pillow pet. He won't lay down without it, or his green nanny. Grace still comes into my bed pretty much every night. I'm too tired to fight her, but she wants to cuddle and I don't like being touched. So I hear "Daddy, it's cuddle time." And it makes me smile, even though I know its like 3 in the morning.

My kids are starting to play better together, and that's making our days much more enjoyable. In these pictures they were pretending to be Monsters (see the theme...we watch way to much Scooby Doo) and laughing so hard!

Yesterday on the way to dance Grace asked if bee's and flies were the same thing. I told her no, bee's were yellow and black and flies were mostly all black. Then I said that they were both insects and both fly, Max perks up and says "Batman flies!" He is all boy;)

Today Grace came in riding two stick horses, she said "Hi, remember me? I'm your cousin from Seattle." How does she even know there is a Seattle?

I let Grace wear a necklace and bracelet the other day, she told her Grandma that I gave them to her because my waist was too big for them...I suppose she's right, I would have never got them around my waist!

When coming home from their grandmas the other day I asked if they were good kids that day. Grace said yes she was but Max was mean. I asked her if she was being honest and from the rear view mirror I see her roll her eyes and she says "Yes, I'm being honest, why don't you just call and ask grandma." She had the most snotty tone- she seriously cracks me up.

Today a friend of mine asked her which princess was Grace her favorite. Grace said Ariel, which is the one movie she will not watch. It scares her so bad! She likes Belle and Cinderella, she could have said Mulan or Tiana, but Ariel? Okay. (Which is one of my favorites.)

Max has really started talking now, he is quite the ham, but he struggles with his B's. "Can you bix it mom?" (fix). Well when he runs through the grocery store he yells "I run baster! baster! Baster!" I've got a few interesting looks!

I posted this on facebook, but I wanted to have it here too... The other day I asked Grace what movie she wanted and she picked Monsters Inc. She said she wanted to watch if for the perky girls. I busted out laughing, diet coke came through my nose. When I regained my composure I asked what perky meant and she said, "Big hair?"

Too much information?

I realize my last post was about Max, but the boy made me laugh so hard tonight. He came into the bathroom and said he had poo in his bum, well I knew he hadn't pooed so I told him no he didn't. He insisted that he did, and I insisted that he didn't. He climbed up on the bathroom counter, bare bum and all, put his rear end up to the mirror and bent over trying to look in his butt. For the record I was right, but I was very impressed that he figured out how to look in there....

One day I'm sure he'll thank me for documenting this.

Protector of the World

One of my favorite things lately is seeing Max protect the world. He feels its his job to single handedly eliminate the bad guys. Every time a bad guy comes on TV he runs and gets his gun and shoots them. "I shoot them mom. Bang!"
The movie they were watching here was a Barbie movie, very dangerous! Good thing Max was there to protect us! What a little stud!