The Happiest Place on Earth!

A few weeks ago, we enjoyed a trip to Disneyland with my family...seven siblings and their spouses, 12 grandkids and my parents...27 of in all. It was a great trip and we so enjoyed being with all the cousins and family. We're huge Disney fans and have loved the two recent trips we've taken with extended family (we went in Oct '07 with Bryan's family). Here's some highlights and tidbits:

1. The day before we left, I was packing and getting things ready when Ben came in to talk with me. He was so excited to be going. I think anticipating and planning for the trip is almost as much fun as actually going! Anyway, he says..."Mom, you know how you sometimes have tears running down your face but you're happy?" I respond with a yes.... "Well, that's me Mom. If you see tears on my cheeks they're tears of happiness Mom!" So I asked him if he was going to cry right now and he said "Not yet but almost!" So cute!

2. With such a large group to coordinate schedules with, there ended up being only one full day that everyone was at the park together all day. On that day, we arrived early to the park to be one of the first people in line. One of my sisters was first in line and asked one of the workers if they had a family to open the park yet. If you've never been, they have a little count down right as the park opens and they usually pick a family to come into the gates first and help count down for the "magic to begin". Anyway, they ended up letting our big family come in first to do the count down. We all got badges and were the first people in the park. I cried some tears of happiness I must admit!


3. We arrived early each day at the park to beat the crowds a bit and get on as many rides as possible before it got too busy and crowded. We had so much fun racing from ride to ride...we were definitely exhausted by the end of each day but we packed a lot fun in! Some favorite rides for Ben...Buzz Lightyear and Toy Story Mania, Star Tours, the Teacups, and Soaring over California. Natalie wasn't sure about any rides at first but ended up loving Small World, the carousel, and Dumbo.


4. As I said, we're huge Disney fans and have been many times at different seasons and with different groups, but being a parent and taking your kids to see it, really makes is so much more magical. We've been lucky enough to take our kids 3 times in the past 2 and 1/2 years. They're already talking about our next trip!


5. By the end of each hot and busy day of fun and battling the crowds, we were all exhausted and ready for bed. Tuesday night, Ben and Natalie fell asleep before I even finished reading them stories and Wednesday night, Natalie fell asleep during the fireworks and didn't wake up til the next morning...she slept through the noisy fireworks, the walk/drive back to the hotel and me wrestling her into her pajamas!


6. The beach...so nice to sit and relax on the beach after being in the hustle and bustle of crowded Disneyland! It was a bit cool and cloudy so we didn't really get in the water other than to walk in the waves washing up on the sand. Ben and Bryan built a fun sand castle together and Natalie snuggled with me on the beach towels. It was very relaxing and we wished we have more time to spend there.


7. The only thing we really had to complain about ...besided wishing we had the park to ourselves...was dealing with traffic on the drive to and back. We got stuck in traffic in Nevada with the crowds returning from Las Vegas to CA. It took us 2 extra hours to get there. And then on the way home, we got stuck in construction traffic in Las Vegas. Again...another 1 to 1 1/2 hours added to the trip. The kids were troopers though and we played many games of 20 questions and I Spy!