Beach Day

FRIDAY

Our final day we packed up, ate a late breakfast, and headed for the beach.

I don't know what it is about the sand, but my kids LOVE it, and could play in it for hours...

which is just what they did.

We didn't go in the water past our feet.

It was FREEZING!!

After the beach we ate dinner and then started the drive towards Barstow (where we stayed the night). The traffic was a nightmare!!

I thought Utah traffic was a mess...not compared to California's!

It made me glad I live in the country...where there isn't even a stop light! :)

SATURDAY

We drove ALL DAY LONG.

Boy was it good to see my little Bubbs again. I had missed her so much!!

And so, our vacation came to an end. Hard to get back to reality.

And so...The Magic Comes to an End.

THURSDAY

And here we have the highlight of the trip: Meeting Rapunzel and Flynn (but mostly just Rapunzel).

I waited in line for a little over an hour so the girls could meet "Tangled". From the moment they found out she was there, it was all they could talk about. Can I just tell you...the hour long wait was worth it! She was amazing. She looked and sounded just like the real deal, and that hair you see in the background...70 feet long! That is the beauty of Disneyland - nothing left undone. Everything perfect down to the smallest details. MAGIC!

They just really loved, loved, loved her!

Wade eating his Mickey cookie. $3.50 later.

Our last day in the park we went back and forth between Disneyland and California Adventures, hitting the rides and places we wanted to go one more time.

We were hosed by the end of the day...

But not too hosed to wait an hour just to watch World of Color one more time!

Dear Disneyland,

We love you.

We can't wait to get back and experience the magic all over again.

I felt like a kid again, and everything was so beautiful.

Tears of joy come to my eyes when I think about the happiness you brought our little children.

See you in a few years.

Love, The Andersons

P.S. Worth every penny (except maybe the many pennies you cost us in food)

SEA WORLD!

WEDNESDAY

We took a break from Disneyland on Wednesday and drove to Sea World.

It was a cold day.

Notice Addi? Clear on the right.

Yep...still didn't want to be in any pictures.

The whale show was pretty amazing, but I guess I was expecting a little more.

I think maybe they have toned things down since the death of that trainer last year.

Touching the star fish was a highlight for the girls. The water was FREEZING!

Look at the size of those shark teeth! I love this picture. We told the girls to make scared faces, and this is what we got! :)

Wade loved the shark tank.

The Sea Lions were my favorite part of the day.

They were hilarious. You can buy fish to feed them, and they scream and yell and wave at you until you throw them a fish. It was so funny!

A family pic after the Believe show, and I must say...

Though the animals were amazing...I'm sorry Sea World - you didn't quite make a believer out of me. Here are a few reasons why...

It may have been because we missed out on the dolphin show (it was closed that day).

It could have been because it was too cold that day

It could have been because I thought it cost too much.

It could have been that I had a pounding headache (I think my poor pregnant body was just too tired after 2 days of Disneyland to go anymore)

It could have been the horrendous traffic back into Anaheim

Or maybe the fact that Addi was a grouch the entire day...

I'm not sure. But the following picture kind of shows the kind of day we (or at least Addi and I) had.

Maybe it will go better next time.

(if there ever is a next time) :)

California Adventures!

TUESDAY

Our action figures!

We LOVED the Toy Story ride in California Adventures.

I'm proud to say that Wade got the high score of the group (twice). :)

It's tough to be a bug. LOVED the Bug's Life stuff.

Mini me, and Wade.

Monster's Inc. is one of my favorite Pixar movies so I was thrilled when they did a parade!

My Mr. Incredible with Mr Incredible.

Janie and I with Minnie.

(Another picture we couldn't convince Addi to be in.)

At least she made it in the group shot with the bears from Brother Bear.

Ka-chow!

Waiting to watch the World of Color fountain/light show.

The highlight of the trip (for me). It was AMAZING!! I nearly cried.

And So...The Magic Begins!

CALIFORNIA

Our first stop: the beach.

Where the girls experienced the vastness of the ocean for the first time.

They thought it was pretty incredible!

Ready to unload all our stuff.

The girls were so excited to stay in a hotel.

Notice anyone missing?

We missed our Ellia so so much.

A big thanks to my family for watching her for us while we were away.

MONDAY

Disneyland! Hooray, Hooray! So excited for our magical stay!

Wade's brothers and their families as well as his parents were all there.

Having our cousins with us made it that much more exciting!

Here's Addi on the Finding Nemo ride.

It was the longest line we waited in (about 35 minutes).

But it was worth the wait. We all loved it.

All our little "fairies" waiting to meet Tinkerbell.

Notice all the matching shirts? So cute.

Thanks Aunt Megan for sharing your sweet skills!

Yay!

Praise the heavens for this picture of Addi. She didn't want to be in any pictures almost the entire rest of the trip! (stinker)

Meeting Goofy.

Pretty much the best balloon crown I have ever seen!

Aunt Megan taking the little girls on the teacups (for the third or fourth time).

There was NO way I was going on them! I'm the biggest wuss ever when it comes to spinny rides.

The end of the day. Exhausted, but happy, and already looking forward to the next day...

SHE'S 2!! ALREADY!

The Birthday Girl

She has been really into Winnie the Pooh...so she got a Pooh cake (made by her mother - who obviously doesn't do this on a regular basis.)

She got a new scooter, a pillow pet, new shoes, and a new book.

It was a very happy birthday!

And now, a little bit about the birthday girl:

• She has turned into a little parrot! And can speak quite well.
• She loves books. Her Favorite Book: My Picture Book of Songs. She wants to read it every night, and sings right along with mom. It's the best!
• She's a picky eater. She does better with a variety of foods and doesn't like having the same things over and over.
• She loves Aladdin and wants to watch it everyday! I have seen more of that movie in the last few weeks than I care to admit.
• She loves being outdoors and hasn't been out much lately...too cold...we all hate it!
• She still drinks out of a bottle before bed (don't judge), and she HAS to have a little towel wrapped around the bottle.
• She doesn't like change.
• She is very determined, but laid back at the same time.
• Loves her mom, sisters, dad (in that order).
• is VERY good at getting what she wants.
• Bottom half of her hair is still curly, and I really don't want to cut it!

We love you SO much Ellia. What a joy you are to us. You are such a smart, loving little girl!

Christmas!

Christmas Eve Dinner

(Which was delicious might I add!)

Christmas Eve Jammies.

I got to join in the fun this year.

Wade got me the softest pair of pajama pants ever!!

Aunt Jill got to spend Christmas with us this year. It was so much fun having her!

Annual reading of A Christmas Dress for Ellen:

Unfortunately, most of Christmas morning is captured on video and not in pictures...so this will have to do. Wade and the girls playing a new game.

It was such a fun Christmas this year. The girls were so excited about their gifts. Nothing quite like the joy of Christmas morning. I am so grateful for my little family!