This past Thanksgiving, we took a magical Disneyland trip with my side of the family. My parents have wanted to do this for a long time. A dream come true for all of us. The boys were thrilled to go to the "Happiest Place on Earth" with their cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents too.
We rented a home in Anaheim in a beautiful, historic neighborhood. We spent Thanksgiving in California Adventure park, Friday at the house for a more traditional Thanksgiving dinner, Saturday in Disneyland, Sunday at church and then the long drive home.
I jotted down several of the little things from our trip that I wanted to remember. Not so much the big things, but the little things that I noticed as we spent this weekend together.
The first day, cousins walking down the main walks, hand in hand, so happy to be together.
While in the baby center with my sister in law, the attendant asked us if we wanted her to draw a privacy curtain to nurse our babies. I said, "We're sisters, so we are fine." That word, "sisters" just rolled off my tongue so naturally. In that instant, Eva was a sister, I didn't need to add that "-in-law" modifier.
All Mr. Four's adoring fans in line, as they smiled and interacted with my chubby cooing baby.
Watching our boys, as they walked through the parks and onto rides with
different adult family members, one ride with Grammy, the next with an
uncle or aunt. It made being at the parks with four kids so easy,
knowing that I had a herd of people watching out for my kiddos.
The look of utter excitement as my boys got to see Mater and Lightning McQueen driving down the road, so real to them.
Mr. Two was the only little one brave enough to ride the Tower of
Terror. He was quite scared, but he moved forward, eyes bugging out,
and went on the ride. After getting off, he emphatically told us he did
NOT want to do that again, but as the days wore on, it became his badge
of courage, and he would proudly say that he loved it. He is our real
thrill loving one.
My brother in law Scott photo-bombing our pictures. Silly fun. (Look closely between the gas pumps.)
The Toy Story ride that everyone loved going on, especially with the awesome glasses.
The delicious bread bowls and soup from the Pacific Wharf Cafe and watching the World of Color at night. Amazing!
The glee that the boys exhibited, getting on Star Tours as their very first Disneyland attraction. They loved it. We were so excited to get in with little waiting, we forgot to take pictures! However, the boys loved the rockets and we did manage a few pics there, you can see Star Tours in the background.
Every once in a while, Mike and I would get to go on a ride alone. No
kids. Oh how nice it was to hold hands and snuggle for a few moments,
knowing our kids were happy and well-taken-care-of by family.
Eating at the Blue Bayou and felling like I was in a magical world (oh, and the amazing Monte Cristo sandwich).
The Haunted Mansion, decorated with a "Nightmare Before Christmas" theme. The two oldest boys were quite hesitant to go on this one, and at one point, the ride stopped. Poor Mr. One was scared, begging to get out, but telling himself it wasn't real and holding it together pretty well. Mr. Two was just staring, grinning at all the spectacle around him. Mr. Three was smiling, waving and saying hello to all the ghosts in the graveyard.
The moment when timid Mr. One told me that he wanted to be brave too and ride Thunder Mountain Railroad. As soon as it ended, he shouted, "That was AWESOME!" So proud that he tried something new.
Hearing Dad express concern that Mom really wanted to go on the Matterhorn (she stayed with the kids while most of us rode). I love that he was thinking of her, but I also think he secretly wanted to go again, with Mom alongside him (still so in love)!
Mr. Three's squeals of delight, arms raised the whole time, as he rode
the Goofy roller coaster, or his uninhibited laughs and shouts to go
faster on the the teacups, as he was plastered to the side of the cup,
spinning away.
Screaming at the top of my lungs on the roller coasters, part out of terror and part just because it is so fun to scream.
Laughing and reminiscing about Disneyland trips from our childhoods.
The boys getting so excited to get a little Disney souvenir (Star Wars items of course). Oh, and the churros!
Contentedly dreaming boys at the end of two long but fun-filled days.
Thanks Mom and Dad for a wonderful, magical Thanksgiving that we will never forget!
