Our Trip

Last Thursday (11/18) right after the kids got home from school we packed up the car and took off for Disneyland! We made it to our hotel in a little under 6 hours and had no traffic at all. We also got to see a beautiful sunset! We stayed at the Paradise Pier Hotel at Disneyland and Calissa decided right away that she wanted her picture taken. We hadn't even checked in yet!
Smile Calissa!

We were on the 10th floor of the hotel and had a fun view of California Adventure. We even had enough beds for all 5 of us. Usually one kid is on the floor, but they had another twin bed that the kids took turns sleeping in. We were there 6 nights, so they each got two turns.

The kids and Travis enjoyed the hot tub one night. It was too cold to be outside in a swimsuit, so I sat on the side and put my feet in. Unfortunately the towel that I was sitting on got wet and I had a nice wet spot on my behind as we walked back to our room! Conner and Calissa are showing off their beards!

Here is the water slide at the pool. Parker said it was boring because it didn't go very fast and the water was cold.

Conner getting off. I think they only went down twice and then headed over to the pool.

Parker

Calissa looks freezing!

Relaxing in the pool. Travis and I sat and read our books and kept warm. The weather was on the cool side, but not too bad for our trip.

I decided that since I had sooooo many pictures that I would break our trip up into a bunch of smaller posts. Happy Reading!

The Matterhorn

Our kids have never really liked scary rides or roller coasters which is weird because Travis and I really love them (well, Travis likes them after he has had a Dramamine)! We've tried several methods in the past of getting the kids on them and they have never really worked. This year, I came up with bright idea of paying the kids ESPN Zone arcade money for the scary rides that they went on. (Smart me ... figured we would go there anyway so thought it would be a way for them to "earn" their arcade money). So it worked ...except for Calissa!

We had gotten her on Space Mountain and she liked that, but this is what she looked like before going on the Matterhorn. She was crying and not happy (people in line probably thought we were mean parents).

Parker getting ready to go!

This plan of mine worked perfect for the boys. Conner and Parker did not complain once about a ride. Conner was nervous to go on several, but not a peep.

Here we are getting ready to go on it for the 2nd time in a row. See Calissa, we promised that you would like it!

Watch Out Drivers!

A favorite ride is always the cars. Our first day there we were recruiting people because they had to have 24 drivers to start the ride. Our line was trying to get people to come join as they walked past. It was great on Friday ... not busy at all and we were able to go on anything we wanted with a 10 minute or less wait. (Only problem was that it spoiled the kids for the rest of the week as each day got progressively busier!)

Waiting to drive ... it'll be here before we know it!

Calissa and Trav. He pushed the pedal and she steered.

This is Conner and I as he drove and kept crashing us into the bar in the middle of the track. We were laughing pretty hard!

When can I drive mom?

Cutie!

Watch where you are going Conner!

Splash Mountain aka Calissa's old favorite ride

Splash Mountain was Calissa's favorite ride when we went to Disney World a couple of years ago. No more! She has a new favorite now, but you'll have to continue reading to find out what it was!The front is not the place to be!

Fun times and great memories!

Big Thunder Mountain

Calissa was again afraid of this ride. (I think this is my favorite ride at Disneyland). She got on with less crying though ... I think she was maybe starting to believe us when we told her that she would like it. Calissa and Dad getting ready to go. She ended up loving it!

Parker sitting in front driving the train. He liked sitting by himself because he would get thrown around as the train went around the corners. I told him to hold on and he said, "Why? I'm having fun." Later he wondered why he had bruises. Hmm ....

Calissa going on for the 5th or 6th time!

We conquered the mountain!

Watch out for the rattlesnakes!

Toy Story Mania!

One of the favorite rides at California Adventure was Toy Story Mania. We remember this ride from Disney World. At Disney World they have fast passes for it, at California Adventure they don't. That means that this was the first ride that we went on each day as the park opened at 10:00. We didn't go on it the last day since within 10 minutes of the park opening the line was 1 1/2 hours long. Totally not worth it! (Although it's fun!)Calissa listening to Mr. Potato Head. He was telling jokes as we waited in line.

Toy Story Mania is in 4-D. You wear the 3-D glasses and play carnival games to get points. If you hit certain ones, air or water fly back at you.

Conner and Parker ready to go!

Waiting in line on Saturday morning.

Crazy coincidence of the week. As we were waiting in line this morning the lady behind us started to chat with us and ended up asking us where we were from. We said the Bay Area, by San Fransisco and Oakland. She asked where and I told her Concord. She said that she and her family had lived in Concord in the early 70's. We chatted about some streets, where they were married, etc. She asked about the Elementary School Monte Gardens. I said, "That's where my kids go!" She said her son went there and they walked to school. I asked what street she lived on and she said Noemi Drive. That's the same street my grandparents lived on and my brother lives on now. What a small world!

One more time!

He looks excited, huh?

Another fun Toy Story Ride is in Disneyland and is called Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. You shoot at Zerg (I don't know how that is spelled?) and you get points. After, you can email your picture home. Don't I look excited?

Parker and Conner and busy shooting.

Travis looks a little too into it, huh?

The Very Scary Ferris Wheel

Travis doesn't do spinning rides like the teacups and can't even watch the merry-go-round while we ride it. He takes Dramamine so he can go on the other rides. (He said it's because he has incredible balance and that's why he gets feeling sick). So, I was very surprised when we decided to go on the Ferris wheel and Travis agreed to go along. I asked him if he was sure and he said, "I should be fine." We got on and Calissa was saying that she was a little afraid and Travis said, "It's not scary Calissa and it's really safe." Then I looked down and saw his hand holding on!

We're just getting going and everyone is happy!

We decided to get one of the swinging baskets instead of the stationary ones that go super, super high.

Once it started swinging this is what Parker and I saw. Open mouths and screaming as we swung around. Parker and I were laughing so hard that we were crying by the end of the ride.

Who knew that the Ferris wheel was the scariest ride that we would go on?

Tower of Terror

When we were at Disney World a couple of years ago, the kids refused to go on the Tower of Terror. We told them that the next time we were at Disneyland that they had to go. Here it is in the background. I love the look on Parker's face!Calissa actually didn't put up much of a stink on this ride.She actually kind of liked it and went on it twice in a row.

See ... it's not so scary after all!

Calissa Screamin' (I mean California Screamin')

This is the ride that is the scariest at either park. I wasn't sure Calissa would agree to go on it, but figured that she would like it if she did. The first day this is what Conner and Calissa did while we were going on it. They waited for us ... happily!

Here is Parker after he went on the awesome ride!

Notice the people going upside down? He wasn't so sure about it, but loved it once he went on.

Conner went on the next day and loved it and after much arm twisting, Calissa finally decided to go on. (Conner and Parker were trying to tell her that the Ferris wheel was much scarier!) All it ended up costing us was a new coloring book and some Disney crayons! This is her as we were first getting on ... she looks a little scared, huh?

She wanted me to hold on to her during the ride.

Once it was over she thought it was best ride ever and became her favorite ride.

She got off with a huge smile on her face and said, "I don't want to say it, but that was AWESOME!" Told you so Calissa!

The crazy boys!

Calissa and Conner conquered California Screamin'!

This ended up being everyone's favorite ride and the ride we went on the most.

We went on it three times the last day we were there.

Don't you love their faces?

I guess maybe these children belong to me.

I'll claim them now that they love roller coasters!