So Cal

Every year in May Dave gets invited to go to a convention in Anaheim.  We don't go every year and I always wonder why.  This year we decided to go.  Anaheim happens to be one of my most favorite places.  It might have something to do with a place called Disneyland that we like to visit while we are there.  This year the firm that sponsored Dave at the convention asked if they could also pay for our hotel.  After twisting and twisting our arms we finally said OK.  They put us up at the Grand California.  That hotel is amazing especially when someone else is paying for it. 

 Dinner at the cafe in the hotel.  We are on vacation so who cares if we had a Mickey Mouse cookie for dinner.

 eating out on our balcony.

 The kids loved that they had a bunk bed.  The girls wanted to both sleep on the top but half way through the night after hearing Clara bump into the rail for the millionth time I moved her down to the trundle.

 The first place we went was to the kids favorite ride...thunder mountain railroad.

 The kids could seriously ride Thunder Mountain over and over and never tire of it.  I on the other hand am getting old and need a breather every once in a while.

 This was one of the best days I have spent at Disneyland.  The longest ride line was 10 minutes and we only waited 30 minutes to see the princesses.  The kids rode whatever they wanted and we rode multiple times.  We started using our fast passes in the evening when the high school kids showed up and it started getting crowded. I was a little nervous because it is the first time I have taken my kids to Disneyland by myself.  They were AMAZING.  They stayed with me and no complaining.  I was super proud of them.  The girls are total dare devils and want to do every ride.  Cameron...not  so much...so while the girls went on rides, Cameron fed the ducks.  It was all good.

 Aladdin and Jasmine.  Aladdin was trying to show Cameron how to pose.  The girls didn't need any help.

 Sleeping Beauty's castle

 We met three of our favorite princesses.

 A visit with Mickey

 just to prove I was there...here we are with Minnie

 we took a little break during the day to ride the water slide at the hotel.  The pools at the hotel were really fun.  The kids would have stayed there all day.

 The next day we headed to California adventure.  Apparently something smelled funny outside Toy Story Mania.  At least Clara thought so...

 My posing bugs.

 My kids are all about meeting characters.  They love them.

 One of our newer favorites is Jake from Jake and the never land pirates.  We were So excited to meet him.

 This is fly girl Minnie

 We rode the Grizzly river run with the girls.  Remember how I said they would try anything...they laughed all through this ride.  They were soaked. It was warm so they didn't care.

 Dave joined us in the afternoon.  We hit Tower of Terror a couple of times.  I love Lauryn's face in this picture.  I know it is blurry but it was so cute.  It shows her love/hate relationship with this ride.  Right next to her you can see Clara's little arms up in the air. She rides EVERY SINGLE RIDE with her arms in the air the whole time.  It kills me.

 The guy working the carousel gave the girls crowns.  I have no idea why but they were thrilled.

 Clara could hardly wait to "surf".  She went and put her "board" down on the beach in the water and then stood on it.  She came back up to me and said "Mom, these waves aren't big enough!"  So cute.

 I just love this picture.

 
 boogie boarding

 she literally LOVES the sand.  She rolls and rolls in it.  It makes me uncomfortable just to watch her.

 My little beach bums.  They could play here all day every day and never tire of it.

 After the beach we headed to Olvera Street for taquitos.

 We always go to the same little shop.  The guy has been there for 35 years.  We love him and his taquitos.

 After Olvera Street we hit a Dodger game.  Clara made sure lady didn't feel left out.

Our favorite pitcher, Clayton Kershaw was on the mound.

 Cameron thought he had died and gone to heaven.

We had great seats and enjoyed every pitch.  I wish we lived closer to Dodger stadium.  I would love to have season tickets.  My life dream is to meet Vin Scully.

Within about 30 seconds after we sat down, Clara asked when the cheerleaders were coming out.  It broke my heart.  They enjoyed the game even without cheerleaders.  The Dodgers won 6-0.  The pitcher hit a double and Sellers hit a home run.  The only bummer about the game was that Cameron's favorite player, Matt Kemp is on the DL right now.  He could still see him in the dug out so all was good.