"Keep your hands, feet, and heads inside the car at all times . . .

. . . unless you are going to vomit, then please lean out over the side."

I think that's what the instructions should say when riding the rides at Disneyland. At least it would have been applicable to us on Tuesday morning.

Monday afternoon we drove to California for three days at Disneyland and California Adventure. The kids have been out of school for track break all month and they have been so spoiled with activities and this was the big one they had been waiting for. I have to admit that I get just as excited as they do. I can't sleep very well the night before and I run through all my childhood memories of those rides in my mind as I am packing, cleaning, and getting ready to go. So after waiting for some papers to arrive from FedEx, a quick lunch, and an hour of sitting in traffic in south Las Vegas, we were on our way. We got to our hotel late evening so we just unloaded, got in our pj's and watched TV until we fell asleep.

The adventures started early Tuesday. We got ready in our Disney tees and set off to grab some breakfast on our way. While we were walking, Jake started complaining of a stomach ache and said he wasn't feeling well. Being the sympathetic mother I am, I told him that he would be fine if he ate something and that he needed to suck it up because we were going to Disneyland no matter what! He drank a little bit of juice and ate a couple bites of a muffin and then announced that he was going to throw up so I told him to just lean into the bushes if he needed to. About 2 minutes later, he coughed and leaned into the bushes. We thought it was over because he said he felt better so we continued on our way while pushing him in the stroller. Carlee enjoyed walking and "being higher" in Daddy's shoulders.

The weather was perfect and so were the lines. We got through Adventureland and Frontierland in less than 2 hours and Jake even went on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad exclaiming that it was AWESOME! We headed to Fantasyland to start on the kids rides. We piled onto the Casey Jr. Circus Train. Jake started complaining again about his stomach but he hadn't really eaten anything so we thought he would be okay. A couple of minutes later, the cough and leaning came again, but this time, he leaned over Joe. Yuck! They were a mess but luckily for the next rider, the train car was safe and "clean". Those two headed straight to the restroom to clean up and I found a table for lunch. While Joe was buying lunch, Jake fell asleep with his head on the table. I moved him into the stroller and he slept for about 2 hours while Joe and I took turns taking Clark, Kate, and Carlee on the rides. When he woke up, he insisted on riding Dumbo so he did. I was nervous he would have another "leaning episode" so we didn't allow him on any big rides. He went on a few other small rides and seemed fine after that so we stayed until the park closed at about 8:00. We grabbed some Subway sandwiches and headed back to our hotel. Jake ate so much that evening and I was worried but all was well and he fell asleep early and was ready to go Wednesday.

We visited California Adventure on Wednesday. When we came about 3 years ago the kids were too small for any of the big rides but not this time. We hit Bug's Land right when it opened and it wasn't busy at all so we got it done in less than an hour. The greatest was the 4-D movie, "It's Tough to be a Bug". It is the best I have ever seen and the kids loved it. Well . . . except Carlee. She screamed and cried when the spiders came. Jake even got scared and ripped off his 3-D glasses.

Then we went to Hollywood Backstage Lot for Playhouse Disney, Muppets 3-D, Monsters, Inc. ride and the Hollywood Tower of Terror. None of us had been on the Tower of Terror before so we didn't really know what to expect. We knew it was an elevator that would drop and rise but didn't know how the ride actually worked. Since Joe has a fear of elevators, I was nominated to take the kids on this one. They kept asking me questions and I didn't have any answers for them. I just told them we would all have to see and experience it together. There was a father with his three daughters next to us in line and they were telling us how awesome it was but the kids were still a little nervous. We buckled into the ride and started up in the elevator. As we were on the ride, they told a little story about the hotel and how it turned into the twilight zone when it got hit by lightning many years ago. At the top, they open the elevator doors so you can see outside into the park and then they shut quickly and you drop. Everyone screams and your legs, arms, and hair fly up as you plummet to the ground. Katelyn was squeezing my right arm so tight and screaming her head off. Jake held my left hand and was frozen in his seat. Clark had his eyes closed and was yelling, "Mommy!" Again, being the sympathetic mother I am, I was laughing hysterically at my terrorized children. Tears were streaming out of my eyes because I was laughing so hard. That father and his girls were sitting directly in front of us and he kept looking back at my kids and laughing hysterically too. When the ride got over, Clark and Kate were almost in tears and Jake was completely silent. When we walked out to Joe, they said that they would never go on that ride again. I thought it was FANTASTIC! I think I need one in my backyard for the next time my kids get out of bed. Mwahh haa haa haa!

Thursday we went back to California Adventure to hit the Toy Story Midway Mania ride. It was so busy on Tuesday that we decided to do it first thing when the park opened. Unfortunately so did everyone else that went into the park. The line was about 45 minutes long. It was a fun ride and definitely the longest wait. The kids then did the carousel and river run one more time before heading back to Disneyland.

Toon Town and Fantasy Faire were our last stops at Disneyland before hitting our favorites again. It was great to see Mickey and visit his house and the girls loved learning to be a princess at the royal Coronation ceremony with Ariel, Jasmine, and Aurora. We then hit all of our favorites one more time and bought our souvenirs. Due to my royal migraine, we ended our day early and went to dinner at Red Robin. Then back to the hotel for a good night's sleep.

Other highlights of our trip:

-Pixar Play Parade

-Getting soaked on the Grizzly River Run

-Redwood Creek Challenge Trail

-Mulholland Madness

-Running over to Disneyland when California Adventure closed early

-Disneyland Parade

-Pirates of the Caribbean over and over again

-Space Mountain over and over again because "It was so wicked!"

-Indiana Jones because it too was "wicked"

-Downtown Disney's extremely expensive pizza

-Downtown Disney's shops and night-life

-Lego store in Downtown Disney

-Jedi Training that was "so awesome!"

-Haunted Mansion transformation into "Nightmare before Christmas"--I loved this! It was so cute and better than the normal Haunted Mansion ride

-Pineapple Ice Cream float at the Tiki Room

-Pumpkins and candy corn everywhere

-Fall decor and garland everywhere

-Great weather

-Small crowds and short lines

Friday we packed up and checked out. We had a great breakfast at the Original Pancake House and started our little drive home. We stopped at the outlets at the state line and arrived home just in time for dinner. It was a great week and we can't wait to go again. Disneyland is truly "the happiest place on earth" unless you are vomiting, afraid of elevators, scared of spiders, and holding onto a migraine. Luckily those things are temporary and the memories will last forever!

Sisters in Vegas

This weekend my 2 sisters and their families came down for a visit. Jennette came in on Wednesday night and Catherine stayed with Stephanie (in St. George) for a couple of days first and came in on Friday afternoon.

Thursday morning was spent at the outlets shopping and then Jenn and Kyle watched Carlee and Jake while Joe and I took Clark and Kate to Tuacahn. Thanks, you two, for being so willing to babysit and hang out with our youngest munchkins.

Friday we waited for Jay and Cath and their kids to get here and then headed downtown. We checked out The Venetian and saw the live statues and the street masquerade performers in St. Mark's Square. We then watched the water show at the Bellagio. The kids were hungry so we decided to head back home for dinner and a big game of Neon Leon (see previous posts for game instructions ;)). Then we tucked the kids into bed, relaxed, talked, and watched parts of movies.

Saturday we headed back downtown for the Secret Garden and Dolphin Habitat at the Mirage, New York New York's Coney Island Arcade, and M&M World. The Secret Garden was fun and we got to see lions, tigers, cheetah, alpacas, and white tigers, including 5 cubs that were only 5 weeks old. The habitat had dolphins splashing and swimming around and the trainers were teaching them tricks. There was also a baby dolphin that was only 6 weeks old. In the indoor tank a dolphin was showing off by rubbing up against the glass and putting its nose against it. The kids were laughing and I think the dolphin loved the attention.

We ate lunch at a pizza place in Coney Island and then played a bunch of arcade games. This was definitely the best part for Joe and Clark. I personally can't stand arcade games because they are such a waste of money but Joe is always determined to win. Luckily, it was a pretty good day because he and Jay won stuffed animals for all the kids without wasting too much.

M&M World was the kids' favorite and they walked through the little M&M factory into the 3-D movie. Then they all got a package of M&M"s and we headed home.

Right when we got home, Kyle, Jay, Cath, Joe, and Clark headed back to town for the Air Force Academy-UNLV football game. Jenn was supposed to go but she was too tired so she stayed home with me to help watch the kids. We ate a quick dinner, got them into their pajames and watched Barbie and the Diamond Castle. The kids went to bed great and without any trouble and then Jenn and I just vegged on the couch watching TV. Two days walking around town hit us hard and we were tired. The rest of the crew came home about 11:00 after a great and close game with the AF beating UNLV by 1 point. We then all crashed for the night.

This morning everyone woke up, had breakfast and then packed for home. Jenn and Kyle were heading to St. George to spend a couple of days with Steph and Cath and Jay were driving back to Lehi. It was a wonderful weekend and a good visit. We missed you, Steph and Jim! Next time!

Les Miserables

Thursday night we spent a wonderful evening with our great friends--the Aikeles, Bodilys, and Swaseys. We had a yummy birthday dinner for Wynette at Texas Roadhouse and then drove out to Tuacahn Outdoor Theater for Les Miserables. The show was fantastic. It was the first time I've ever seen it. Although I'm sure it doesn't compare to Broadway it was still very impressive and the actors and set were fabulous. The older kids went with us (Clark, Katelyn, Morgan, Aubry, and Mia) and had a great time too. They loved the play but I think their favorite part was sitting at their own table in the restaurant and ordering their own food from their own server. Clark said they were treated like grown-ups and it was cool. Tuacahn was beautiful and the weather was perfect with a little autumn chill in the air. Thanks, wonderful friends, for another great night.

My Lil' Punkins

On Wednesday we took the kids to a pumpkin patch for a hayride and to pick some pumpkins. Unfortunately, the orchard only had a few pumpkins left and they were pretty small. While running some errands, we found a little harvest fun in an empty parking lot and decided to go there. There were haystacks and pumpkins everywhere along with rides, yummy snacks, and blowup slides. We bought tickets and the kids had a great time. We really miss the Hondo Corn Maze in Texas (it was the best) but at least there was a little something in Vegas.

The best activity of the day was bungee jumping. There was a trampoline on the ground and the kids would stand on it while getting harnessed and a winch would pull the kids up and they would jump on the trampoline and fly up into the air. The ride operator actually had to grab their legs and pull them down because their feet couldn't touch the trampoline. Clark went first and screamed the whole time. He had a blast. Katelyn and Jacob couldn't decide if they wanted to go or not so while we were discussing it with them we didn't notice Carlee had climbed up the haystacks onto the trampoline and stood there ready to be hooked up. When we noticed her standing there patiently we asked if she could go and he said yes so there she went. I was laughing so hard. I don't think she knew what she was getting into but she wasn't scared at all, even when that stranger put her into the harness. He jumped her up a couple of times and it did scare her so he swung her back and forth and she kept saying, "Whee! No jump! I swing!" She had a ball too. That did it for Kate and Jake. They couldn't let their little baby sister go and not them so they were hooked up and had a great time. Jake went flying the last couple of times because we told him to be brave and do a "big one." He was screaming and kicking his legs. We just stood there laughing. I think we found our new torture device. It was fun.

Fall in Las Vegas

This past weekend the weather got a little chilly so it has started to feel like fall. It has dropped almost 30 degrees and was in the low 60's all weekend long. It was so fun to put on the jeans and jackets. It even got cold enough that we turned on our fireplace. How romantic!

Friday night we went to Logandale to watch the high school's Homecoming game. We had a great BBQ with even greater friends and then all 23 of us headed to the game. Of course the entire town came out so we sat on the "guest" side. I know, shame on us but we all got to sit together and the kids could run up and down on the bleachers so it was totally worth the shame. The wind was blowing like crazy but it was so much fun. Don't ask us what the score was because, like high school, we were too busy talking instead of watching the game.

Monday afternoon we went up to Mount Charleston. The kids and I had been there before but Joe hadn't so we went up there for a drive and a little hike. There was even a bit of snow (a skiff) but according to Jake it was the most he has ever seen! Apparently we haven't been to Utah for a winter trip in a long time. The kids had a ball throwing snowballs and hiking around. Carlee loved the "water" (snow on the hills) and the "cold" when she picked the snow up. The boys loved throwing the snow on everyone and Katelyn just loved posing for pictures holding it. It will be so exciting when there is a lot this winter and we get to check out the sledding hills and ski resort. Who knew there would be a ski resort in Las Vegas? I can't wait!