After traveling all day on Thanksgiving, I think we were extra thankful we did not live in California. It took us just about as long to get from Santa Ana, CA to San Diego, CA as it did from Detroit, MI to Santa Ana, CA. Well, OK maybe that was a little bit of a stretch, but at least from Denver, CO to Santa Ana. Need I say more... Traffic was bumper to bumper all the way. My favorite part of the traveling day was when we were almost to the hotel in San Diego, all of a sudden the San Diego Temple popped up from no where. It was amazing. The rest of the day was spent giving thanks for
Sl
eep. (Major jet lag.)
On Friday morning, we were starving and decided to go to
IHOP for breakfast. Well, it was short lived when
Dallin did not get his pancakes fast enough and started throwing a fit. He just started to cry uncontrollably to the point of coughing. Coughing so much, that yes he gaged himself. Now with Barf all over him and me, I can't say I was too hungry after that. Poor waitress. After that we had to make a trip back to the hotel to get cleaned up, so we could go the Sea World. Sea World had a lot of amazing shows with Dolphins, Seals, Killer Whales, and even Cats and Dogs. Alexis and
Dallin even got to feed seals, even though the sea gulls caught more than the seals.
On Saturday, it was to
Legoland.
Legoland was a lot of fun. It is perfect for little kids. Alexis loved riding this horse and a dinosaur roller coaster (even I thought it was fun).
Dallin...well I think he was a little too little most of the rides. He went on a few, not too sure if he had any favorites. There was one ride he could not ride and Grandpa
Dansie watched him.
Dallin threw a big fit... to the point of laying on the pavement and kicking his legs. Poor Grandpa, tried to keep our little devil quiet. The tantrum continued so he took him into a store and bought him a sword. When we got off the ride, we would have never known such awful behavior was displayed. Sorry, Grandpa!
Jonathan and I loved the Mini
Legoland. There were many different cities all made out of
Legos. So cool. This is the White House all out of
Legos... Amazing, huh!
Sunday was spent at the Doctor trying to help Jonathan get rid of a cough he had for a good month. We waited for him in the car, parked in a parking garage... the whole time I feared an earthquake was going to hit and we would be toast. Just a side note... Jonathan still has a cough and has seen a doctor here in Michigan as well. None of them seem too concerned, so hopefully it will go away soon.
Monday
through Thursday was all Disneyland. It was very special for the kids and I, since it was our first time. It was all decorated for Christmas and that made it that much better. The kids got to meet lots of Disney Characters. We even got to eat lunch with the princesses. Alexis was on cloud nine when she saw Sleeping Beauty. We even were able to see Santa Claus and his reindeer. The kids were a little
scared to sit on Santa's lap, but Alexis had time to tell him what she wanted.
Our first ride was pirates. Probably not the best ride for
Alexis's first ride. Too Dark. But by the end of the trip, she was telling us her favorite ride was Peter Pan and Pirates. Alexis was very brave and rode Splash Mountain with her dad. She said she would never ride it ever again. I think it is kind of funny, because she tells us this with
a big smile on her face. So yes, if we go again I am sure she will ride it.
Dallin's favorite rides were the new Toy Story ride, Monsters, and of course Buzz
Lightyear. He loves Buzz
Lightyear now. Jonathan said he does not know what his favorite ride was, but I bet it was the Tower of Terror. It scared me too much for it to be my favorite. It is pretty
embarrassing when your 3 year old niece liked it. My favorite ride was
Scream'n. We loved all the parades and the fireworks. My personal favorite was the
Pixar Parade. We loved spending time with Jonathan's side of the family.
On Friday it was time to go home. I think every time we travel there is a little bit of stress... Making it to the airport in time... getting the kids and ourselves through security and not missing the flight... and hoping the kids behave and not scream while in the air. Well this time was no different. We were trying to get through security, telling Alexis to get he shoes on, Jonathan was getting his shoes on, I was helping have all of the medicine tested since it was 4 oz bottles instead of 3 oz and poor
Dallin was just standing there with his pants around his knees... crying of c
ourse. We had a great time and loved being there with family.
We had a great Christmas this year. We shopped in Salt Lake on Christmas Eve for all of the last minute items, which was about everything. We had a yummy dinner that my sister slaved over while we were shopping. We then opened our Christmas PJ's and read some Christmas stories just like Mom does every year. We put the kids (my sisters and ours) in bed all in the same room... It reminded me of when I was growing up, all seven of us in a bedroom laughing all night and asking Dad if we can get up every 15 minutes. By 5:30, he finally lets us get
up. We could not where our PJ's into where Santa had been, we had to be dressed, teeth brushed, hair done...everything but have breakfast. They did try to one year, but it didn't go over very well. Anyway, this year it was not the kids asking to get up... it was Uncle Justin. I went up to the bathroom around 4:30 and Justin came up and woke up the kids. It was fun to see him so excited. All the kids lined up in the hall youngest to oldest and went to see what Santa had brought them. The rest of the day was spent playing with the things Santa brought, playing games and relaxing... Of course, Justin got in his nap! We all got our Christmas wishes!
