I'm going to Disneyland!

So last week was Spring Break and we figured it was high time we took the kids to Disneyland. So we packed up the car and drove out bright and early Wednesday morning. (Notice June's head wear.)

We had a wonderful time visiting with Grandma & Grandpa Wiley, Peter, Tommy, Stephanie, Brett & Natalie. Thank you to everyone for your generous hospitality and making time for us.

Highlights from the trip:

June:

• Taking her first steps and then wanting to walk around everywhere. She's not very steady and prefers having a finger to hold, but this was a big turning point for her to even be interested in walking at all. She loved all the low railings along the lines at Disneyland.
  
• Getting to know Truman the dog. June was in heaven chasing him all around the Wileys house. He was very patient with her - always staying just close enough to lick up her crumbs, but far enough that she couldn't quite reach him.
  

Oliver:

• "Big Thunder Mountain is the coolest ride ever." Oliver also loved the rockets, tea cups, flying dumbos, and riding the carousel all by himself. He shopped carefully for his one promised souvenir (we told the boys at the beginning of the day they could each get one souvenir that we'd buy at the end of the day) and settled on a silver chain necklace with a skull & crossbones on it (a la Pirates of the Caribbean even though the boys wouldn't go on that ride).
• Jumping on the trampoline (I jumped with him a bit and he tried to teach me some cool tricks, but turns out I've had a few too many babies to be able to jump anymore), jacuzzi time, chocolate drop cookies, playing with Peter & Tommy, realizing he's not afraid of Hobie (the giant horse-sheep-dog).

Brenden:

• Brenden's day at Disneyland got off to a rough start when the very first ride, the Jungle Cruise, startled him to tears (he hadn't figured out yet that everything was pretend and rides are on tracks, etc). It's hard to recover from that with your cousins and whole family watching, but eventually he got braver and more willing to try things and by the end he loved Big Thunder Mountain and the Matterhorn. He was even willing to try Space Mountain but the line was just too darn long. Autopia and the tea cups were also favorites.
• Other highlights - spending time with Grandpa & Dad, playing with Peter & Tommy, cannon balls into the swimming pool, chocolate chip cookies, go fish with Grandma, and jumping on the trampoline.

Sarah:

• A great hand carwash. As soon as we arrived in L.A. at 5pm, we unloaded the car quickly so I could make it to the carwash before they closed. Can't beat the quality or the price! Wish we could import some Mexicans to teach the kids at Supersonic a thing or two.
• A great pedicure - another priority for every trip to California (and another benefit of a cheap immigrant labor force). What a bargain. June sat (mostly) patiently on my lap while Scott and the boys went to the gun store with Webb. (could we get any more stereotypical in our gender roles?)
• My favorites at Disneyland were the turkey legs (seriously - turkey legs), helping June practice walking while we waited for the boys on the rides, watching the boys get over their fears and be willing to try scary things, spending time with family, listening to the DL Brass Band.

Scott:

• First and foremost, the beloved Montrose Cristo Sandwich from the Black Cow Cafe.
• Very close second, Disneyland Churros, the only true and living Churros.
  
• Driving 11 hours (twice), cleaning up after sick kids, protecting kids afraid of dogs, not going on most of the good rides at Disneyland, spending a fortune to not go on most of the good rides at Disneyland, entertaining kids, feeding kids, breaking up fights, ... oh wait - wrong list.
• Spending time with Mom & Dad, Steph & boys, and Brett. Can't beat that!