Disneyland 2009

We arrived home yesterday morning after a loooong 24 hour car ride back from Disneyland (and California Adventures and San Diego Zoo too!) The ride there was equally endless but the anticipation of going to Disneyland carried us through. The long ride cooped up in the Suburban with five fidgety boys was worth it. Disney did not disappoint! Despite an initial downpour the first morning in the park, all was sunny and warm. The boys were on their best behavior and few complaints were heard. Everyone had a blast and I, at long last, rode my beloved Pirates of the Caribbean. Lines were fairly short the first two days (the rain did not scare these Oregonians away!) and we avoided rides with long lines on the third day, opting to use Fast Passes and Switch Passes for those rides. On our last full day in California, we went to the San Diego Zoo. The boys loved all the animals and I enjoyed the tour bus ride after many hours of walking and pushing the double stroller. We decided that this is a trip worth repeating soon.


Here are the boys in their matching yellow shirts, ready to leave for our first day at Disneyland (we were staying at Uncle Brian's.)



The boys excitedly waiting for Sarah and big Will to arrive so we could go in...(little Will excitedly picking his nose!)


They finally arrive and join the group...


Hats...


Snacks...


Souvenirs...


Naps...


Rides...



And Fun...






The Zoo






And the Animals....

Party On....

We spent much of Saturday celebrating birthdays. Our little friends Kimy and Joey celebrated their fifth birthday at a fun indoor play warehouse, complete with giant play structure, inflatable jump houses and slides,climbing wall, a raceway with push cars and much more. The pizza is good too!


Here is Ben enjoying one the of alien cupcakes that my friend Katie made for her twins' party. She also made some awesome cupcakes for my boys' party.


Kimy and Will bonding on the climb wall (arranged marriage anyone?)


Mmmm..chocolate icecream!


Later the same day, we celebrated Will's fifth and Jack's third birthdays at Papa's Pizza. The boys love the play area and I love that it's all enclosed in glass, sound proof glass! And that there are no tokens ala Yuck E., err Chuck E. Cheese.


My Sweeties waiting to open presents...


Oooh, what did you get? (Translation: what can I take from you later?)


Thank You Katie for the amazing Diego and Panda cupcakes!!!!




Will wanted pandas...


Jack wanted Diegos...


Two satisfied birthday boys...

5!

Five years ago I gave birth to William Jeromey, the baby we longed for after two tragic losses, our beautiful nephew Jeromey and our tiny unborn baby. Will gave us a reason to celebrate and feel joy again. He continues to bring sunshine into our lives every day.

Here's my sweetie the day after he was born...


A year old...


Two years old...


Three years old...


Four years old...


And our big five year old...


Happy Birthday Will...We Love You!!!!!

17 Days And Counting....

Disneyland Here We Come...well, in 17 days anyway, oh and a couple extra days for travel also, but who's counting? ME, me, me, me!!!! I can hardly wait, in particular because it's been 15 years since I've ridden on the Pirates of the Caribbean. Every time I've gone in the last 15 years it's been closed for refurbishment, always a bitter disappointment. This time we are not only riding this ride (many times over) but we are also having dinner at the Blue Bayou, a small dream of mine since childhood. Anyway, to mark our upcoming trip, I'm going down my own Disney memory lane...here are pics from a couple of Disney trips past.