The Beach

We decided to break up the days at Disneyland by going to the beach on Wednesday.  We got a recommendation and headed out to Dana Point Beach.  It was not crowded at all but really gross and had rough waves.  Carter didn't mind the  waves, at first.

 He was very excited to be digging in the sand and to make his first sandcastle.

 It was his first time at the ocean and a little weary of the big waves but did well.

 He headed out and gathered a bucket of water to use.

 Neil and Carter starting in on the sandcastle.

 All the kids joined in on the sandcastle, while Carter is running back to the ocean for more water!

 Too lazy to rotate this pic!

 Dana Beach ended up being a bust with the big waves and smelly seaweed all over.  Not to mention the gross seagulls who tried to eat all our food.  So we packed up the van and headed up the coast.  We found a great beach, Crystal Cove and it was perfect.

We had to try our names in the sand and pose for those.

One for Jax since he couldn't be there!

At this second beach I didn't get too many pictures because things went down hill quickly for Carter.  Right as we got there he headed down to the water and wasn't watching the waves.  As he was bending over a big wave came and completely knocked him over.  He ended up doing some somersaults and scared him to death.  He had no desire to get in the water after  that as he was a little traumatized.  I kept trying to convince him to try again and that only brought tears.  I finally gave up and instead we played in the sand and had a great time.  He did get really nervous every time some one else would get in water.  When we thought the tide was starting to come in he got really panicked and shrieking anytime someone went near the water.  Hopefully he forgets by the next time we head to the ocean!

This day was a great break from Disneyland and a beautiful day to spend at the ocean.

The rest of Disneyland

Since I can't seem to keep up on the blog I decided to forgo the individuals days and just lump all these pictures together.  

 We took very few family pictures and here's one of our bests!  If only Carter were taller and my arms didn't look freakishly long!  This pic was snapped on Pirates of the Caribbean.  When we came 2 years ago Carter hated this ride!  He whimpered throughout the entirety.  So to prep him for this trip we talked about how he was older now and more brave etc.  He didn't buy it and one day after I told him that we were riding the Pirate ride, "no matter what," he looked at me and said "I've changed my mind.  I think I won't go to Disneyland, I'll stay home with Grandma!"  But luckily we bribed him to go on it and after that he loved it.  He even learned the words to the song and gave a great Off Key performance!

He was just as happy on the little Carousel as any other ride.  So easy to please.  And best part, there were no lines for this ride!

He once again loved Mickey's Toon Town and spent lots of time there.  In the fun houses as well as the cars parked outside.

One of our top 2 rides was the Toy Story ride.  The last time we were there it was a brand new ride and the wait for over 2 hours!  No ride is worth a 2 hour wait in line, so we skipped it.  This time the lines were about 30 minutes(longest in the park).  We did this ride several times and loved it!

You wear 3-D glasses and go through a virtual arcade.  Great for all ages.  Not great for Neil and I's competitive sides.  He beat me handily every single time we rode.  I really should have rode with someone other than him.

This was on the lame Car's ride.  You lean to try and steer your tire.  But really you just sit and do nothing.

The new Car's ride was the other Top Ride for us.  This also had a 2 hour wait but thank heavens for Fast Passes!  We went 2 different days to this ride and both times we had to get in the fast pass line first thing in the morning to barely get some of the last passes.  It was a great ride.  

 You cruise through Radiator Springs and get ready for a big race.  Then you wait for another car to pull up and race to the finish line.  This car shows my family (except for the random Blond lady in the green shirt).  I don't have any pictures of us, just the rest of the crew.  I made sure to snap pics of my sister's family, but apparently she couldn't return the favor(kidding Carrie!)

 All the cousins in front of Radiator Springs.

Neil and I aren't souvenir people. (gasps!) There, I said it.   But Carter thinks he is.  So we told him he could pick out one toy on the last day in the park.  He picked out this Disneyland Bus the very first day and waited oh so(not) patiently until Friday when we bought it.  He was in heaven and still plays with it today.  I'm just glad he picked out something useful and not something I would have to sneak into the garbage can when we got home!

We rode Space Mountain several times.  I actually like roller coasters more now as a 30 something year old then I did as a kid.  And a big bonus, they don't make me sick anymore!

At our last stop in Toon Town we happened to be the first to catch Mickey Mouse.  What a great mouse!  He blew Kisses and Carter was very happy to pose with him.

                                       
Mitchell even jumped in the picture.  They were both pretty quiet with him were so great to pose and hold his hands.  I guess when you meet the most popular person in the park, words can and will fail you!

 Another confession, We aren't parade people either!  But Disneyland Parades fall into a different category and we enjoyed watching a couple of them.

The only picture I have of Carter on the new Car's ride.  He was very insistent that he be allowed to buckle his own seat belt!

Mitchell and Carter on the Toy Story Ride.  They loved being on rides where they didn't have to ride with an adult.  And honestly, we enjoyed a 5 minute break from them as well.  This time I'm not kidding!.....

After 4 days at the Park I was very tired and ready to be done.  We had a great time.  The weather was a little on the hot side but the lines were very manageable.  Carter even had some brave moments and went on several rides that were beyond his comfort zone.  A couple he refused to go on again, but we were just glad he was brave enough to try them once.  See you in a couple of years Disneyland.....

Disneyland Day 1 & 2

We decided back in January that we wanted to take Carter back to Disneyland this year.  We figured he was at the perfect age.  We decided to not take Jackson with us because a 1 year old is not much fun at Disneyland.  So we ditched the baby but gained many more family members.  My sister and her family and my parents all met us in Sunny California!  

 Carter was excited about all aspects of the trip.  Including the ride from Park N'Jet to the airport.  Or as he calls it "Riding the Short Bus!"

Once we arrived at the airport he was so excited that he willing grabbed his own suitcase and wheeled it right in.  I wish he was always so helpful.  I guess I didn't take any pictures on the plane ride there but we flew with BlueJet and much to our delight they had TV's on the plane.  It made for a quick, easy flight.

My sister and her family met us at the airport as we'd rented a 12 passenger van for all of us!
We came back to our hotel and the first item of business was swimming in the hotel pool with cousins.

(that is none of our backsides-the lady in the black swimsuit just happened to make our photo!)
We swam several of the mornings we were there as the park didn't open til 10 am.

 After swimming we met up with my parents who had just arrived and went to dinner to celebrate my dad's birthday.

                                          
Lots of food and birthday cake for everyone!

The first day at the park brought a very cranky Carter.  I'm not sure why but he kept asking to go back to the Hotel!  After 2 hours at the park we stopped and ate lunch and after that he perked right up and was his happy(sometimes whiny self!)!

Our first stop was California Adventure and on to the New Car's Land.  It was one of the most amazing things I have seen in my short life.  No expense or detail was spared in this section of the park.  It looked exactly like the movie.

We rode Mater's Junkyard as our first ride of the trip.  It was a huge success for everyone and really fun.  Plus the wait time was only about 10 minutes!

This exhibit was labeled "Mater's Petting Zoo."  

On to the next ride in Cars.  Luigi's Flying Tires.

Do not wait in this line.  I think this was the worst ride in the park.  We waited for about 30 minutes for a ride that wasn't even fun.

The Bug's Life bumper cars were a hit with everyone.  It is one of Carter's favorite rides so we rode this one several times.  It was me and Chloe my niece against....

Carter and Neil!

Then we snuck in an adult ride.  One of my favorites is "Tower of Terror."  I think we rode this ride 3 times that day.  Thanks to a short line and fast passes we basically walked right on.

Here is the picture they snapped while on the ride.  Neil and I in front right.  And my parents and Chloe right behind us.  I couldn't believe how brave my sister's kids Chloe and Mitchell were.  Carter is the complete opposite so it was fun to ride with Mitch and Chloe sometimes.

After most of the day at Cali Adventure we headed to Disneyland!

Carter was not interested in posing for a picture since he could see and hear the train just behind us.  The train ride around the Park is another Carter Favorite.

I loved this ride because it meant I could sit down and rest my aching feet and back for 10 minutes!

Carter and his cousin Mitchell are close in age and had a great time together.  Always willing to make funny faces at the camera.  They loved rides where they could sit together, without any adults!

One of their favorite rides was Buzz Lightyear.  It is every little boys dream.  Ride in a spaceship and shoot bad guys with a gun.  I think we did this ride about 10 times in the 4 days we were there.

I love this picture of the boys.....they were so focused and every time I would turn around I thought they would lean so far that they'd fall out!

While waiting with some of the kids while others did a more "mature" ride we ran into Mickey!

Carter had no hesitation.  He walked right up to him and gave him the biggest hug!  I think this was one of my favorite moments of the whole trip.  Watching Carter with Mickey.

Carter and Mickey.  The stuffed crab Carter is holding was given to him by a nice couple who won it at one of the arcade games.  He was instantly in love with it and insisted on carrying it around the whole day.

My sister and her twins, and Carter and I all posed with Mickey.  What a great way to end the first night.  We all came home and crashed and slept soooo well.  I wasn't sure if I would be able to walk the next day.....come to find out, wearing my tennis shoes over flip flops really cuts down on back pain and sore feet!