For Christmas this year mom and dad gave us Disneyland. They decided to take us in shifts: Bryan’s family and us over Thanksgiving and Amy’s and Heidi’s families this spring. Memories are always an amazing gift to bestow and we created scores of them at the most magical place on earth. Our vacation began the same way it ended- a thirteen hour drive, straight through from Utah to California and back again. Eight of us packed like sardines into an eight-seated vehicle! Mom and I rode with Emily and her bulky car-seat between us and bags beneath our feet. I have never been so numb in my life. However, on the way down, with only one hour of sleep the previous night, I was able to doze off amid the constrictiveness. In spite of it all we had great fun: laughing, visiting, and lunch at the Pasta Factory in St. George- a family favorite! On the way home our conversation centered on all things Disney.
Thanksgiving was the first of three consecutive days at Disneyland- early through the gates and home after midnight. And of course non-stop walking- with Eric along it is always Go, Go, Go! We met up with my Uncle Dennis and his family for a fantastic Thanksgiving meal at Mimi’s Café (thanks Nicole for the employee discount, even though you gave the staff such a beating… j/k). The hit rides on this trip were: Tower of Terror, Autopia, California Screamin, Midway Mania, Indiana Jones, Space Mountain, and the Matterhorn. The guys mastered the Fast Pass and we girls collected a stack of stroller passes several inches thick. All 13 of us were able to book-it from ride to ride and never waited longer than 20 minutes for any attraction. We covered considerable ground in three days- my feet are still in recovery! How do all those women walking the park in high-heeled boots do it… and why? They look ridicules!
The inseparable C’s:
Cousins under Carly’s charge:
Matterhorn whiplash:
(Still photography is easier on the neck!)
In honor of Kent who took the kids to see Wall-e this summer:
Doing what he enjoys most:
The entire crew:
(What troopers! Especially Lindsay- look at that load she is carrying!)
Pirate Island:
(Yo-Ho, Yo-Ho, don’t be so distracted by the swing-dancers in the front that you miss the crazy-baby running wild to the beat!)
A real thrill-seeker:
(The kids loved Redwood Adventure!)
Too old for baby stuff:
Around and around she goes:
Heelys with wads of napkins stuffed into the heels and a spiked hairdo only got Travis on this ride twice in six attempts:
(He was elated!)
With a single shot, Eric and Bryan both won stuffed animals at the basketball toss:
(Carly, the recipient of her dad’s exceptional aim, cradled “Sparkly-Spark Mansell” all over the park and even onto a few rides!)
The best thrill-adventure in the park:
(… at least Mom, Dad, Lindsay, Carly, Courtney, and Travis would agree with me!)
