Lessons learned

I learned a few things on our fun filled, old fashioned family vacation.... maybe these will help, maybe you will just laugh at me, who knows.

1. Make sure to have specific directions to your destination and insist on them to the driver.

2. Don't continue to tell your husband how hungry you are when he is trying to find a place to eat and has been for an hour.

3. Find places that are near the hotel to eat BEFORE you venture out in the California traffic

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4. DO NOT buy one of those big ass balloons at Disneyland until right before you leave. You can't tie it to the stroller without the stupid thing blocking your entire view and you can't tie it to the back because it hits everyone in the face that's walking by.

There's that damn balloon that *someone* bought

5. Reapply sunscreen often and don't forget parts of the hair....

6. If people don't get out of the way of the stroller, then they deserve to get ran into.

7. If you child has shoes that slip on and off easily, take them off before entering an exhibit. Especially a dark exhibit.

Bye-bye shoes

8. Bring an extra pair of shoes.

9. Wear nicer clothes when checking in to a fancy hotel.

10. Always check the room like 5 times before you leave (we left a pillow, 2 blankets, a dress, and a shirt in the room. awesome)

11. DVD players in the car are a LIFE SAVER!

12. Having pizza delivered to the room two nights in a row is perfectly acceptable...especially if it's the cheapest way to eat:)

13. The majority of people at Disneyland are ignorant.

14. The majority of people on the beach did NOT have perfect bodies (I liked that)

15. "Firsts" happen only once and if you blink, it will be over. Make sense? I learned to watch everything that the kids did because I didn't want to miss anything.

His first time in a hotel

Her first time seeing Minnie

16. Family trips NEVER turn out like you planned, but that's what makes them memorable. I love that.

Day 2.....

Ok....settle in.... here's day 2. We had a two day park hopper pass so we headed back to Disneyland for some more adventures.
We made it just in time to see the first show that the characters do right in front of the castle. We were front row for all the action. The second the marching band came out, Delaney....plugged her ears. Kaylie sat next to her to make sure that she was okay...........

During the show, Pluto noticed her plugging her ears and spent the next 5 minutes trying to make her feel better. It was so adorable. She never gave in.

Here he comes....

He tried so hard, bless his heart

After the show, we took a family picture. I know the big kids were annoyed, but I told them from the beginning that this is a family trip, who knows how many more we will do all together and they just need to deal:) They did....

Then off to the carousel. Delaney was jumping up and down wanting to ride a horsey. So Kaylie said she would take her and I would take Brody. Let me just pause here and tell you all how awesome the big kids were on this trip. They jumped in to help any time it was needed and they were just as excited to see the babies reactions as we were. They were great. This, for example. was one of those awesome moments from Kaylie. I didn't think that Delaney would love the ride and boy was I right. She cried and cried and cried. Kaylie kept her cool and tried to keep Delaney from leaping off the horse. Brody.... was cool, calm and collected.

We went on the Storybook Land ride before heading over to Toon town again.

This next picture cracks me up. The day before, the big kids eash bought a Phineas and Ferb shirt. Kaylie planned on wearing hers and to her dismay, Daylen wore his too.... I told them I wanted a picture of the Phineas and Ferb twins. Kaylie was not amused.

Leaving Disneyland and heading to California Adventure.

Daylen really wanted to go on California Screamin but there was no way that Eric or I was getting on the crazy ass thing.

We happened to see Mickey while we were over there, so we waited in the line because I thought Delaney would die if she didn't get to hug him. Anyone who knows Delaney, knows her obsession with Mickey. She has loved him since she was 6 months old and here was her moment........

and she grabs his junk..... But still way cute.

Next we headed over to the little water park that they have for the little kids. Delaney was a bit hesitant, but Brody the psycho child came out. He was so funny. He had people stopping and watching and laughing like crazy. He went balls to the walls and I loved watching.

This is Eric bringing Brody back over near me because he was on a dead sprint all over the water park,

Kaylie and Brody

After the water park we went to see Playhouse Disney Live. It was one of the main things that I wanted to do and the little kids LOVED it....after Brody woke up

This was actually INSIDE Playhouse Disney Live.....he was sleepy.

That's the end of our second day at Disney!! We headed to San Diego that evening and then had 2 more fun filled days there~~~

Bored yet???

Good Old Fashioned Family Vacation: Day 1

****Warning: You are about to read a very long post with pictures that probably won't interest you. I must let you know in advance that I took a crap load of pictures and want to post them for my own memories and for whoever else wants to see them.

This is day one. I am thinking there will be about 4. Hold on:)

We finally went on our first *whole* family vacation. Where else does a family of 6 go to have fun? California, of course. So, we load up the family truckster aka Wally wagon aka the killer mini van and we headed out.

A 14 year old, an eleven year, a two year old, and a one year old....all packed in, ready to go.

                                                                 

That's how we roll.....

                            
                                       

And we're off..........

The snack basket.

Typical teenager:)

We accidentally took a wrong turn and ended up taking the scenic route to LA. So here we are in an unplanned destination:  Wickenburg, AZ.

Kaylie and Brody...

Delaney and Daylen at McDonalds

Photo op in Wickenburg....see the sign in the background:)

FINALLY, after a ton of stops and lots of Caillou and Dora, we arrived in Anaheim. This was Brody's first time in a hotel room and he went ballistic. The hotel room was pretty small, we moved the beds so we could put Brody's pack n play in between them and Daylen slept in a chair (he wanted too), but it worked.  We decided to go eat dinner and get ready for the next day: DISNEYLAND.

Monkey and Daylen

Kaylie and Delaney coloring

After a long day of traveling with 4 kids....Eric and I found our sanity in the form of liquid.

Ahhh...............

Delaney running on fumes....

Brody, picking his nose, checking out girls

Okay....the day had arrived. Delaney was finally going to see Mickey Mouse and give him a hug. We went down and had breakfast first.....

and then we made it to

We loaded the stroller up with 2 diaper bags, a blanket, 2 sippy cups, 4 bottles of water and 2 toddlers and we made it in. Delaney instantly saw Mickey! I watched her reaction and thank goodness, NO TEARS! She does have a little issue with loud noises and when she is nervous or afraid, she plugs her ears. SO, 3/4 of the pictures have her plugging her ears.

The kiddos....

On Daddy's shoulders after checking out the opening parade (plugging her ears)

We thought we'd jump right in and go on It's A Small World. Delaney was hesitant at first, but quickly began to love it and Brody thought it was awesome!

The men.

The sisters

After the ride, we headed to Toontown. Let me just say, this place is the cutest thing I have ever seen. We headed over to Minnie's house to see what was going on and to our surprise, Minnie came right out next to the stroller! Delaney was SO EXCITED!!!! Minnie shook her hand and then went over to her house, so we followed. While we were waiting in line, Delaney said, "Mommy, just tell them excuse me. It's my turn now." When I told her we had to wait, she took it upon herself and yelled, "Move people, I want to hug Minnie. Come on!" So, after that embarrassment, we made it up to see her.

Minnie's house

Waiting in line....

Finally......

Happy moment:

We went around Toontown and had a blast.

Delaney in Minnie's kitchen watching the cake bake

Brody in Mickey's house

Daylen lifting weights

Photo op with Goofy

After Toontown we had some lunch and made it just in time for the HUGE Celebrate parade on Main Street. It was a way cool show and the kids loved it. At one point they have the kids go out onto the street and dance and Delaney was all about that (with her ears plugged).

Woody

Brody taking it all in

Brody and Eric...

Delaney waiting in line for Pooh and Tigger. She was so funny...she kept saying, "I just want to hug him. ok? Just right now I do it."

Score!

The kids did awesome, but the odds are pretty good with a one and a two year old that some tempers are gonna rise. And then you get this....

Followed by this:

But not Monkey....he's too cool for school

Kaylie's ears:)

Me and Eric in California Adventure.

We started the day at 10:30 and left at 9:45. Long day, but totally worth it.

And that folks is just day one. Now I know you can hardly contain yourselves for the rest of the week, but you're going to have to. Stay tuned:)