Day 6 and 7 ...the end!

Okay, so the vacation is posted. Each day has it's own post (except for this one!) and at the very end is our Easter! If I was you I would start at the bottom... but do what you want, I always do!

Day 6 was spent at Knotts Berry Farm where Ethan continued to prove that he was a coaster champ. He rode everything and anything he was tall enough to ride and was devastated when he wasn't tall enough! Luckily we had Doug to babysit this day. All though since he was secretly ecstatic he didn't have to ride the thrill rides I think he was just as grateful we had small kids with us! I went to Cali with one ride in mind! The Xcelerator.... what ride was closed all damn day? That's right the Xcelerator. Were they unwilling to compensate me for my disappointment? You betcha! I would of totally driven there the next day just to ride that and then go to the beach after. Ethan was a huge fan of Boomerang he made us ride it like 5 times! He didn't want to ride Perilous plunge, then neither did I really! He was mad when he couldn't ride Rip Tide, and they have the coolest log ride ever! We pretty much had the park to ourselves on this 101 deg Monday so we got to just sit on rides when there was no lines! It was awesome. Almost as cool as front of the line passes!


Ethan getting strapped in for another ride on Boomerang!


The whole fam ready to go!

Day 7 was spent at Newport beach, it was hot and the water was cold! Ethan took his arm floaties and his tube and hit the waves head on. Is he really half Kyle? By this point in the vacation I am really starting to wonder. Just kidding, Kyle did awesome the whole week as well. He only sat out of the two really spinny rides. The teacups and then some el revolution thing at Knott's which I could have ridden all day, it was so relaxing! After a couple hours in the water and then building a clam farm, catching a starfish, and a sand crab with my boys, I was off to my towel. Where I promptly fell asleep (for an hour) and fried my legs! Thanks for walking by and sun screening me mom (why did I bring her anyway if she was just going to let me bake myself)! Kyle's sides got fried as well. Plus he has a cool Zorro back thanks to my sweet spray sun screening techniques! Then after lunch/dinner it was another mad dash to the airport, only to have our flight delayed 35 minutes or so!

That's it. If you read this from the bottom to the top you probably think you are exhausted but you have no idea what exhausted means! Not only did we not get home until like 1am every night but I had a test on Wednesday at 8 that I was up till like 2 am studying for after my long day of beach and flying! Bottom line, it was a ton of fun and I can't wait to go back. This time with all my kids! Although it will probably never be the same. I think Ethan through two temper tantrums the whole week and they lasted maybe 3 minutes each. He wasn;t even sad when it was time to leave. I know I will never be that lucky again, but I still can't wait to give all my kids the same experience!

Day 5... California Adventure

California Adventure was a blast. Some of Disney's coolest rides are there. Ethan proved to be a thrill ride champ (internal yah for me!). He rode the Tower of terror and the coaster several times! Whoever invented magnetic roller coaster was a genius! I like the suspense of climbing and climbing up huge hills too but there is just something about being rocketed up hill from a stand still that is totally cool! I personally thought that the board walk/carnival section kind of lessened the experience, but it was still a great time. I am secretly grateful that the Farris wheel was out of commission, that thing looks terrifying! Toy story was awesome! Way cooler then the laser contest in buzz light year. The graphics and 3D effects make for an awesome time!


Mr Incredible. Too bad you can't see his awesome camel toe in the pic!


The family by the fake city. This is just a mural. This is after our first two times on tower of terror that were back to back!


Toy story.. Way cooler then Buzz Light Year! Needs a fast pass!


Mad that his snake did not look as cool as the picture! Definitely not worth 13 bucks!


Swings!


Ethan with Wall E after our last time on Tower of Terror!


The mandatory flower pic before we say good bye to Disney!

Day 4...Universal

Universal studios! One of my very favorite places in Southern California! Okay my favorite place! I loved it when my Dad lived in Cali, I love it now! If you go there, and you should, invest in the front of the line pass! OMG they can not get you on the rides fast enough. Saturday was bound to be a busy day, what better way to deal with a packed amusement park then to have VIP treatment the whole day! I thought some of the stuff would scare Ethan but he is a champ. The only thing he didn't like was the Mummy ride. He rode Jurrasic park three or four times and the Simpsons like 5 or 6! He wasn't even scared in the earth quake simulation!


Shrek!


Jaws!

Curious George


Now that is one SEXY couple!

P.S. I am really sorry I am too stupid to flip my pics the right way!

Day 3... Disney day 2

Day 2 was character day. We actually didn't even see any characters the day before which was good since our stupid hotel told me that they didn't have my autograph books even know they actually did! So we woke up ready to hit toon town and fill those books! Quick side note..WTH is up with the adults getting photos and autographs for themselves? If you do this, you may have a problem. We also ate dinner at Goofy's Kitchen this night which may have been one of the best investments of my life! They really made me feel like I got my money's worth. The characters went to every table (and there are a lot of them)and while we were there they did two dances with the kids. Even the photos they sell you are reasonably priced as far as Disney is concerned. I will probably go to a character dining every time we go. The kids had so much fun and that's what really matters to me. Plus tax and tip is included so there is nothing to worry about!


His cool pirate outfit that I got him to go with his autograph book and sword pen! Thankfully he didn't insist on wearing this to the park!


Minnie!


Where all kids should go!


Roger rabbit line


Pluto


Ethan pulling out the sword and the stone!


The fam on the canoes. I have never been on these. I didn't know people actually did them! But Eth wanted to and what Eth wanted Eth got... this week at least!


SSOOOOO excited! Towards the end of the day he was tired cranky and a little cold!


On the monorail on the way to dinner. This is my post splash mountain (see facebook photos!) hair and (lack of) make-up!


Chef Goofy


Dancing at Goofy's kitchen!

Day 2.. 1st day of Disney

Day one started early and ended late! We had a great time. Not much to say, we spent the entire day in the park, here are some pics! Me and Kyle had not been to Disney since we were little. So all I have to say is that Fast Pass is the best invention ever!


Our very first ride in the park! He rode with my mom on most rides this day it was kind of like me and Kyle were just there together, which is a rarity in our lives. We actually felt a little weird without anyone to chase around and discipline all day! Don't worry, we quickly got over this!


The Alice and Wonderland ride. One good thing about Disney is that everything is kid friendly. The kids can ride everything. However for thrill seekers like myself it would be very boring without that happy face to look at all day!


Cute kids in a teacup right after lunch!


Some hot mamas in a teacup! We were definitely the fastest cup out there and no one lost their lunch!


Kyle not participating in the teacups and looking super cool in my pink back pack! Looking awfully serious while he plans where to go next!


A happy family in the submarine line. The ride is better now that they upgraded it to Nemo but it's still pretty lame! Well not lame just not worth the wait and the ride its self takes too long as well.


The super HOT couple! The flash wasn't going off and so I have like 10 of this pictures and my face ranges from my stupid smile to getting really pissed that the camera isn't working! I should make a flip book out of them!


My mom scarring me yet again in the Tiki Room at the end of the day! FYI.. this is my scarred for life face! I thought for sure we were going to scar Ethan as well but he liked those damn singing birds!


Exactly what 14 hours of Disney does to a 6 year old! This is how we all felt in the inside. He did make it the whole week without a stroller though he is a trooper!

Vaca Day 1! The big reveal

Ethan had NO idea we were going on vacation. He thought we were taking my mom and Doug to the airport and then we were going to take him and McKenna to Discovery Gateway. I was most excited about getting to tell him we were going on the plane too and that he got to go to Disneyland. This did not turn out to be as exciting as I had planned in my head. First of all we were later to the airport then I wanted to be because of a miscommunication with the small kids pick up time. So we were rushed and ended up having us dropped at curb side to stand in line while Kyle went to park the car. So I didn't have enough minutes to fully explain the situation properly. Then he was disappointed that he wasn't going to the children's museum. How he could even care about that over Disneyland, I have no idea. He has been asking to go for three whole years now. Then there was the fear of the airplane right after we got out of the car it hit him that he was going to fly. That's when the tears started. He told me later that he was never sad about going to Disneyland just scared of flying. So the big reveal was rushed and tear filled. But once in line to check our bags he started to calm down with several reassurings that flying was not scary and that we would be with him the whole time. He started to get really excited and by the time we were on the plane he was the bouncy, excited kid from my mind! He was still a little apprehensive and didn't really want to watch while we took off or flew but he was a trooper. At the beginning of the flight he turned to me and said, "Mom, I get to go on a plane, and I am going to Disneyland. I am the luckiest kid ever!" It was so cute and so loud! Everyone in a five aisle radius turned and smiled and laughed. It was a priceless moment. He won't admit to this but in all the chaos off the curb side drop off he asked why Packy and Brynn didn't get to come and that he was going to miss them. Landing was another tear filled moment when he couldn't get his ears to pop but it was short lived. Here are some pics!



In the car not quite sure what to make out of this whole thing yet!


How wonderful my surprise worked out! Here is his melt down when he found out that he had to go on an airplane. He wanted to drive, he wanted to be older when he went on a plane for the first time.


Happy fam in the plane, waiting to take off.


When it sinks in that he gets to go on a plane and to Disneyland!


His happy place while in the air! Thank you Jet Blue for the individual Tv's. I love JetBlue and may always fly them in the future!

Easter

So since Easter was forever ago I can't really remember what happened! I know that night before I was up until 2AM getting everything ready while Kyle slept on the couch. We also dyed eggs on Saturday night which I always enjoy and so do the kids. As always the kids were spoiled. They each got a new outfit and jammies. This year the Easter Bunny hid money eggs along with the real eggs which everyone thought was pretty cool. Little do they know I just emptied one of their zillion piggy banks to fill them! I am officially the worst mom ever... Not only did I basically steal and re-gift their own money but they picked out all of their own stuff at Target the day before so I could 'give it to the Easter Bunny to hide' Yep I'm awesome! My mom made a yummy dinner and Stef and Joe came over to help eat it. I had to take mine to work with me so I didn't get to socialize but everyone says it was a fun time.


Here is Packy after school on Thursday! I love his school they always make the coolest stuff and do the funnest things.


Here is Ethan with his loot


Brynn is really excited about all the candy


Paxton being a little OCD about the egg lining up. These are another pair of Jammies he picked out at Target and he now pretty much lives in them! Today he played outside in them and wore his snow boots for shoes. It was a pretty awesome sight.


Here they all are sorting the 'cold' eggs from the plastic so they can go back int he fridge.

Hair cuts!

A week or so ago I cut Brynn's hair off. Well I took her to have it cut, I didn't actually cut it! She wouldn't let me put it in a pony tail or braid it anymore but she really thought it was cool to get it flat ironed so I chopped it off! So last night I cut all of my hair off too (10") and donated it to locks of love. Here are the before and after pics!










Her are some 'during' shots!


Goodbye Bynnies hair!




Almost done!


Right after she cut my pony tail off!


Me trying to get a pic after she cut the sides off too!

A couple afters!


Having a sucker after being so good during her hair cut.


Just being a goof at the house!


The mandatory self pic!


Kissy kiss


Kyle tried to take like a thousand pictures of our new hair but my eyes were always closed so that is what I am posting!