alright, a few more pictures and details of our trip. we left home Sunday after church, and drove - with a brief pit stop in Stirling at Cory's parents house, then back on the road. We hit the border late Sunday, then drove and drove and drove, getting to our hotel Monday evening. after only taking one wrong turn in California- those highways are big, and don't miss your exit, because you will have to take the long way to where you want to be!
I just have to say, Disney knows how to do it, and they do it right. It is truly such a magical place! Walking down the road in Cars Land was like walking into the movie. the scenery, the workers, the music playing, the little shows that just seem to happen in the middle of the street- magical!
it is hard to not get caught up in the stuff. Stores everywhere selling everything. including this awesome Chewbacca back pack. Sweet, right? we actually didn't spend too much in Disney land, The kids all got California sweaters that we bought in Downtown Disney. I was very surprised that there wasn't more Frozen stuff. apparently there is a world wide shortage. even in Disney Land. That was so very interesting to me.
I forced them into watching the parades. I loved them. If I could go back in time, and do it all over, I would be a singer/ dancer in Disney Land. Oh, and if I had mad singing and dancing skills, of course. Such great entertainment!
The California sunshine was wonderful! even if I got a bit sunburned. (it is totally snowy here today, I miss the sunshine!)
this ride in cars land had some sweet drifting going on. The boys really liked this ride. we did it a few times!
Minions at Universal Studios. If I could do our vacation again, I would possibly take another day at Disney over going to Universal Studios. I did really enjoy the studio tour bus ride, and really could have done that all day, with an actual tour inside a sound stage, and more behind the scenes stuff- that would have been amazing. but, it was just a short bus tour, and then the rest was - meh. I think we were just ride-ed out, or something. wasn't the best part of the trip, that's for sure!
after universal studios, we stopped at the beach. Sadly it was just as the sun was setting- which was beautiful, but very chilly. and it was windy. but the kids stepped in the ocean, and we found some shells, so it was all good, but I could have gone for a full warm afternoon hanging out at the beach.
maybe next time!
Then Saturday morning, we packed up and headed back home. and drove and drove, and found Ben at home, alive and well, with a lot of pizza boxes. Good to know he can get along without us!
I would do this trip again- for sure. it really was so much fun. but one thing I would remember is when you head out to Disney Land, make sure your big camera actually has the battery in it, so when you hand it to the photographer dude to get a family picture in front of the big castle, he doesn't look at you like you are crazy, because your camera doesn't work, because it doesn't have a battery. Just a little tip. Good thing I had my ipod, and it was charged up! and maybe I would plan it a bit more in advance, so my oldest could have had more time to find someone to take his shifts, so he could have gotten off work, and come with us. Then it really would have been an even better trip!
