Pumpkin Patch 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wesley's 1st Birthday Photoshoot

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Disneyland Day 3

At this point of the trip it kind of becomes a blur. I know we slept in and I think we made it in the parks around 10:30am. We met up with the Villas and headed to Toontown to see Mickey and Minnie. I know we ended up back in California Adventure and rode more rides and hit up a show (Disney Jr Live) and then hopped back over to Disneyland to hang out again with the Villas.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At some point we ate dinner together and then decided to line up for the parade. I remember the kids acting crazy, but I thought the below picture was a better picture to show. After the parade we rode  a couple more rides and decided to end our night on the tea cups and then a stop for ice cream on Main Street on our way out of the parks.

 

Finally this is us back at our hotel for the night...I want to say around 9:30pm

 

Disneyland Day 2

We decided to sleep in on day 2 and not get up for Early Morning Hours. We casually strolled in the park at 8:30am and I could tell we all felt better this way. We decided to start in California Adventure for Day 2 and we head to the Fast Pass for Radiator Springs which all ready had a return time of 4pm! After we got the fast pasees, we rode on Mater and Luigi's Flying Tires (I felt like I was getting an ab workout). Today Austin was not having issues with any of the rides. I am guessing because most, if not almost all of California Adventure's rides are outdoor rides. The Villa Family decided to come up from San Diego and join us in the parks. After more rides for a couple hours, we split up and went to the Carthay Circle Theater for lunch. This meal was by far the best meal we ate at the parks. It was an actual restaurant and it made you forget you were even in Disneyland. As part of our lunch we received Fast Passes for World Of Color that evening. World of Color is California Adventure's water and light show. Think Bellagio Fountains on steroids.

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch we were all still feeling good so we decided to get some shopping in and Austin got her first pair of ears. Of course they are princess ears.
 

We went on to ride on almost every ride that California Adventure has to offer. The only thing Austin did not want to go on was the Tower of Terror and she was actually bummed she was not tall enough for California Screamin' (the big roller coaster). One ride we did go on that scared Mommy and Daddy was the Ferris Wheel's swinging gondolas (aka the Mickey Ferris Wheel of Death). Austin was laughing, Luke wanted to puke and my eyes were tearing. By this point is was getting close to our return time for Radiator Springs so we decided to power through and not take a break.

We finally met back up with the Villa clan and went to a show (Aladdin) and then dinner. We parted ways when it was getting time for us to line up for World of Color. I think it was around 8:30pm and while waiting for the show to start Austin fell asleep in her stroller. About 5 minutes before it was about to start we woke her up so she could enjoy it too. When it was over we left the park and it was 10:15pm (almost 14 hours straight in the park!)

 

Disneyland Day 1

I had always told Luke, when Austin turned 5, I wanted to take her to Disneyland and I thought that would be a good age. I started planning the trip around February of this year and soon my life was all about researching Disneyland whenever I had free time (usually late at night). I was so excited for this trip. I personally had only been to Disneyland once in my life. I was 14 years old and it was for my 8th grade graduation present. I am not sure why we never went back. The day of the trip we sent Austin to school as normal but told her she had a doctor's appointment and we would pick her up at 12:30pm. I could not wait to share the surprise with her. Since Austin is now in Kindergarten we decided to plan the trip around her fall break which was actually the weekend before her birthday.

 

I am not going to lie, I wanted that crazy freak out reaction from Austin. She did get tears in her eyes and could not stop laughing and smiling once we told her there was no doctor appointment, but a trip to Disneyland in her future. It was not a viral video reaction though...oh well.
 

This picture was taken at 6:30am PST on Saturday, September 28th. We decided since this was a special trip for Austin's birthday we would stay at one of the Disneyland properties. We chose the Disneyland Paradise Pier Hotel which is the best "value" at $250 per night. As part of staying "on site" you are able to enter the park early during Early Morning Hours, an hour before regular park opening. On Saturday the park opened at 8am, so 7am for Early Morning Hours. I had done so much research I really thought this was the way to do it. Push it hard the first couple of hours and get in as many rides as possible before the crowds come. I was up at 4:45am (am I the child?) and ready to go before I even woke Luke and Austin up at 5:30am. After a quick breakfast we were out the door. I was surprised it only took us less than 10 minutes to get to bag check. Once they finally started checking bags we made it to the main turnstiles and they actually do a count down before they let everyone in...people were running. Seriously people, its Disneyland. We finally made it to Fantasyland and in line for Peter Pan. This is when Austin started to freak out! OMG I was that parent. Telling her don't worry, its not scary, to stop acting like this. Well Austin must have prayed very hard because after about 5 minutes in line they announced the ride was broken and they were not sure how long it would be down. :-( We got out of line and went on to Dumbo and the Tea Cups. This is when I realized Austin HATES indoor rides and none of the rides in Fantasyland she would want to go on. No, Alice in Wonderland, No Mr. Toad's, No Peter Pan. We ventured over to Tomorrowland and we somehow got her on Buzz Light Year and she hid in Luke's lap the entire time. We almost couldn't get her to ride on It's A Small World after this, but we promised it was not scary. Luckily the morning went pretty fast and it was time for her appointment at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

 

This picture makes my heart melt. She loved the tea cups and we went on them many many times.

 

If your kid won't ride on rides, at least she is willing to have her picture taken!

 

 

At the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique you get to select a hair style, have make up put on (very sheer) and get you nails painted. Austin chose the hair style that came with a hair piece (no that is not her real hair). She was wonderful for her Fairy-Godmother-In-Training and sat very still.

 

The finished product! They sell dresses and every type of crown, scepter and shoe you can imagine a Disney princess would want. Luckily because of all the research I had done I knew you were allowed to bring your own dress and I went to the local Disney store and bought Austin a brand new Rapunzel aka Tangled dress.

 

 

After our appointment we "hopped" over to California Adventure and went to lunch at Ariel's Grotto.

 

 

 

 

 

The food was nothing to write home about, but it was more about getting to interact with all the princesses. After lunch we were all beat! We decided to head back to the room to rest. We were back in the parks in the late afternoon and took in a show (Mickey and the Magical Map), ate dinner and rode Casey Jr Train about 10,000 times. Then we decided to go save a spot for fireworks. Well folks after waiting 90 minutes and them even announcing the fireworks are going to start in 5 minutes, the fireworks were cancelled. Kids freaked out! Luckily, Austin was so tired she was ready to head back to the room and call it a night at 9:45pm.