Vacation Day 4 - California Adventure

With our southern California passes we bought we were allowed one early day pass and could arrive one hour prior to regular hours. Well by the time we got going we were about 1/2 hour early, but it didn't do us a whole lot of good. We waited quite a while just to get in the gate. And then realized that everyone was running to get in the line for the fast pass for Radiator Springs. It was a joke. They didn't start handing out fast passes until the park actually opened. So we stood in that line for probably 20 minutes and then the line started to move, but took another 20 minutes just to get the fast pass. Then our time to return to the ride was four hours later. When we finally got to go on the ride, it was pretty cook and amazing what they did to create the ride, but I am not sure it would have been worth waiting 2 hours to go on. If you didn't end up getting a fast pass, which I believe they ran out of within a couple of hours, you had to wait in line for at least a few hours. Very crazy. 

We loved the Tower of Terror, California Screamin', and Radiator Springs. When we went on Mickey's Fun Wheel (a big ferris wheel), we were in one of the carts that would swing back and forth as it went around. It was so funny because Parker couldn't touch the ground and the first time the cart swung he fell on the floor and couldn't get back up. He was very mad and all we could do was laugh at him. He was not going on that ride again. 

We left the park for a little while and walked down the downtown disney shopping area. We ate dinner at Rainforest Cafe. It was kind of a fun place. Looked like you were in the middle of a rainforest. We then went back to the park for a little while.

Eric and Maisie really wanted to go on California Screamin' again and Parker was tired so we sat down and watch the parade while Eric and Maisie went on the ride a couple more times. We didn't think there was as much to do at California Adventure and by the end of the day we were tired. We left at about 7:30 and went back to the hotel and the kids got to swim for awhile. 

One of my favorite pictures. They really do love each other.

Notice the Big Ferris Wheel. Parker's favorite ride. LOL.

Vacation Day 3 - Disneyland

We had to wake up kind of early because we were driving straight to Disneyland. By the time we packed all our stuff, ate a quick breakfast, and said our goodbyes, I think it was about 8:45 a.m. when we left.  We had such a great time staying with Clark, Teresa, and Justin. We sure wish we could have stayed longer. It was so nice just spending a little bit of time visiting. Most of the time when we see each other there are so many other people around that you just don't get to visit. Hopefully, one day we will make it back. 

We arrived at the parking lot of Disneyland just after they opened at 10:00 a.m. We jumped on a bus and then headed to the gates. Our first ride of the day was Indiana Jones. Parker did not like that ride for some reason, but we got a fast pass so we could go on it again later that day. 

Have I mentioned that Maisie and Parker were such good kids. I still can not believe how good they were this whole vacation. They did not ask for one drink, one treat, one food item, or one souvenir. We were able to take water and snacks in with us and that definitely helped. 

We left the park about 2:30 and went to check into our hotel room, which was about a mile from Disneyland. When I went to check in, I had no driver's license. I had switched to two different wallets before deciding which one to bring and did not get my driver's license. Thankfully, we made it all the way to California without getting pulled over or in an accident. The hotel was kind enough to let me use Eric's driver's license to check in. After we got all our stuff in the room, we walked across the street to Denny's and ate lunch/dinner. Then we went back to Disneyland. We stayed until right before they were closing. Maisie decided she wanted to buy with her money a Mickey Mouse necklace with the letter "M" for Maisie. Parker didn't want to buy anything with his money because he was saving it for Vegas "Monster Jam". 

When we got back to the hotel, we were exhausted and ready for bed.

So apparently, I didn't take very many pictures at Disneyland. We were too busy riding the rides. 

Vacation Day 2 - Sea World

We didn't have to get up too early since we were going to Sea World and they didn't open til 10:00. Clark and Teresa fixed us a yummy breakfast. While eating breakfast we decided that we would stop by the beach and let the kids put their feet in the water. We packed our snacks and lunch for the day and then headed to the beach. It was kind of cloudy overcast day, so it was hard to see the full effects of the ocean and beach, but the kids sure did have fun. We were only there for about 20 minutes and the kids did not want to leave. Wish we had more time to spend there, but we had a full day planned. Of course, Parker managed to fall in the water and we had to strip him in the parking lot and change his clothes. Thankfully, I had a spare in the car.

It took us a bit to figure out how to get to Sea World. Even with the GPS. There round abouts and all the freeways make it very confusing. I am so grateful for the GPS though. If it wasn't for that, we would have been totally lost. We got there just after they opened and began our day. We planned out the shows we were going to see and then headed for the rides. We first went on the Manta. A really big roller coaster. This was Parker's first real big ride and I was so nervous about how he was going to handle the rides. He was a little scared, but after the 3rd time on it. He was doing really good. He tried to tell us he didn't want to go again, but with a little bit of coaxing we got him on all the rides. He did a lot better than I thought he would, since he is scared of heights.

We enjoyed all the shows at Sea World. We went on almost all of the rides. We didn't make it on the Shipwrecked Rapids, because it was getting late and we were about to leave. We didn't want to get wet again after just getting dry from the Atlantis roller coaster. Parker loved the one's that we got wet on. It was a little bit chilly that day, so getting wet didn't help.


We left the park when it closed at 6:00. We had decided earlier that day to meet Clark, Teresa, and Justin for dinner. The original plan was to go Phil's BBQ, but when we arrived we realized it was closed on Monday's. So we went to Island's Restaurant. It is a lot like Rumbi. It was really good.


After dinner, we went to the Mormon Battalion. It was really cool. The have a great interactive video where the photos on the walls actually come to life and talk. Very cool. The video and story tells of the long march from Iowa to San Diego the Mormon Battalion took and why this group of Latter-day Saint men and women joined the U.S. Army and what they accomplished during and after their march. The building has been newly remodeled and evokes Old San Diego and includes hands-on exhibits and resources for learning more about those who served in the Battalion. 

Then we headed back to Clark and Teresa's. Justin had promised to play with Parker and as soon as we walked in the door Parker was ready. We visited for a little bit and then we were ready for bed.

Vacation Day 1 - The drive to San Diego

We left Sunday, March 17th at 7:45 a.m. to head to San Diego, CA. We drove straight through. Well other than gas and potty breaks. Eric had just gotten of graveyards and so I drove. Our first pit stop was in Beaver, Utah. That was about a long as I could hold my pee. I was going to stop before Beaver, but everyone was sleeping and I did not want to disturb the peace. We were making such good time. We then continued on. Our 2nd stop was Vegas. It was so fun to see the kids reaction as we got over the hill and could see Vegas for the first time. Vegas is all Parker can talk about. It was bummed that we had to continue on to California. He doesn't really understand what Vegas is. In his little mind, Vegas means monster trucks and nothing else. So we are making good time. Stop in Vegas for gas, thinking we are going to make it to San Diego in no time. Well little did we know that everyone in LA decides to go to Vegas for the weekend and then head back home Sunday afternoon. Once we reached Buffalo Bill's about an hour outside of Vegas it was stop and go traffic, uggghhhh. And those California drivers are CRAZY. The traffic was really thick until about Barstow and then it wasn't too bad. Just when we felt like we were almost there, we realized we still had two more hours. We got to my Aunt and Uncle's, Clark and Teresa, at about 7:30 p.m, California time. So almost exactly 13 hours. It was so nice to finally be there. Teresa was so kind to warm us some dinner. We visited for a while and then we were ready for bed. Last fall they bought my grandparents camp trailer so that when guests came to visit they could have their own place to stay. It was very nice and cozy. They sure made us feel right at home. Even Eric that was so nervous to stay and someone else's house, felt very comfortable. We were so exhausted that we sleep very well.