Adventures at Disneyland Resort

We are finished with our trip to Disneyland. The boys and I drove over from my parents on Monday. We got checked into the hotel by 10:30 AM and then went to California Adventure. We went straight to It's a Bug's Land. We were able to walk right on to all the rides. Xander really liked the ladybug boogie ride, he was just laughing the whole time.

We also saw Flik and Atta from the movie Bug's Life, Xander gave Flik a big hug. After Bug's land we went to Paradise Pier and had lunch and rode the Carousel and the Sun Wheel. Then it was time for Playhouse Disney Live. After the Playhouse Disney Live show we went back to the hotel to get our room, since we had checked in before it was ready. Xander had fallen asleep on the way there and took a nap. When he woke up the boys and I went down to the pool at the hotel. They both put on life jackets and swam around and went down the small watercolors until Xander got too cold. Then we went to the hot tub for a little bit and then back to the room. We got dressed and decided to go over to Disneyland to eat dinner and maybe ride a ride or two. We ate pizza in tomorrowland and then rode the train that goes all the way around Disneyland....Eventually. We had to wait a long time to get on the train at New Orleans Square, but we finally got to ride the train, then we got our stroller and headed back to the hotel.

The hotel room had a queen size bed, and a set of bunkbeds, which Drew thought was awesome. They had a playpen in the room for Xander to sleep in. We all went to sleep by about 9:30.

Tuesday April 12th
We did the early entry into Disneyland, the lines were really long, but we eventually got in there and were able to pretty much walk right on the new Buzz Lightyear Blasters ride. It was a dark ride and you have a gun to shoot at targets inside the ride. Drew thought the ride was kind of scary and Xander didn't want to leave the gun in the car when it was tim to get off the ride. We went to downtown Morning Madness and all become honorary citizens of downtown. The boys both rode Gadget's Go Coaster. Then Andrew and Jake went on Big Thunder Mountain. I don't think Andrew really liked it. He was very nervous about "drops" after that. Xander and I went to the Little Patch of Heaven petting zoo area that was near Big Thunder Mountain to wait for Jake and Andrew. Xander loved the goats and the cows.

Andrew then came over to pet the animals. He and Xander were petting one of the cows. The cow started to pee and Andrew exclaimed, look Xander the cow is giving milk! :)

We also took the boys on Pirates of the Caribbean, which put Xander to sleep, but he lasted until the last hill back up to the beginning of the ride. We also went into Tarzan's Treehouse, into the Tiki Room, King Arthur's Carousel, Teacups, and Winnie the Pooh. Andrew and I rode Splash Mountain. Poor Drew was scared about the big hill, but he seemed like he liked the ride well enough after it was over, although he said he wouldn't go on it again. Andrew and Jake also rode the monorail. We stayed at Disneyland till around 7 and then ate dinner at La Brea Bakery. The boys were pretty exhausted and fell asleep pretty quickly that night...

Wednesday April 13th
We started the day at Disneyland. We rode the monorail over from Downtown Disney. Then we took the boys on Autopia, Xander loved driving, and so did Drew. Then we did Small World, which both of the boys loved. We did Alice in Wonderland, which Drew had been dying to do, but he really doesn't seem to like the dark rides. But, we drug him on Mr Toad anyway, as it is a must do at Disneyland. But, I didn't make Andrew do Haunted Mansion, although I did want to take Xander on it since it is another must do at Disneyland and it was his first trip. Jake took Andrew over to Tom Sawyer's Island while Xander and I went on Haunted Mansion. I don't know if Xander liked Haunted Mansion, but he didn't cry. His eyes were big as saucers and he let me hold him all the way through though. On most of the rides he wanted to sit on he seat by himself and he didn't want me to even touch him.

Then Xander and I met Andrew over at Tom Sawyer Island. Both of the boys loved it over there. They loved exploring the caves and goin gover the bridges. Andrew loved the tree's and Xander even climbed the ladder and up and down the stairs of the tree's all by himself, with jakes watchful guidance of course. :)

After lunch in Frontierland we visited the Buzz Lightyear gift shop to fulfill a promise to Andrew and then headed over to California Adventure. We went to the Redwook Creek Adventure Trail. The boys really loved that, I think it was their favorite part of the entire trip. Andrew got Jake to take him on the Jumping Jellyfish ride at Paradise Pier, while Xander and I went on King Triton's carousel and then back to It's a Bug's Land, we rode Ladybug Boogie one last time. After that it was about 5 PM and we were all theme parked out. So we headed back to the hotel. After relaxing for a little while, Jake and I headed out with the boys to get some dinner. We ended up at ESPN Zone, since the line was shorter than at Rainforest Cafe. After dinner Jake offered to watch the boys for a bit in the hotel room while I did some final souvenir shopping. It was a much needed break for me, and the boys had a good time with their uncle. He even had them both asleep when I got back :)

Thursday, April 14th
We checked out of the hotel a little before 9 AM and drove back to my parent's house. We just had a down day and both boys took good naps.

Friday, April 15th
Jake and the boys and I got up and got ready to go to the airport with my boys to pick up Jared and surprise my mom. We went to the mall and got some pictures of my brothers and I taken for my mom as another part of the surprise. We did a couple with my boys in it too, they turned out really good. My mom was super surprised. We were able to sneak my brother in, so she saw the picture before she saw him, it took her a minute to put two and two together. It was so much fun :)

Saturday, April 16th
Today was just a visit to my grandparents. My uncle David was there, it was a nice afternoon. It was the first time I'd seen them since their bouts in the hospital this past winter. They both looked really good and really enjoyed the boys.

Ok, I think I've rambled long enough. :)

Road Trip!

We left today for the short drive to California. The boys were really good in the car, Drew didn't start asking how much longer until we were almost 30 minutes down the road :)
The boys watched The Incredibles, and Hot Wheels Acceleracers on the DVD player (thank goodness for that!). We stopped off at Barstow at the McDonald's that has train cars that you can eat in. Both boys thought that was really fun, and it was a much needed stretch our legs break.
We left Vegas at about 10:45 AM and got to my parents about 4 PM. Traffic wasn't as bad as I was afraid it would be for the Sunday heading to LA traffic.
My mom made me porcupine meatballs for dinner and my dad had bought a birthday cake for me. It was nice to spend my birthday with my parents.
It's kind of funny, Jason got to spend his birthday with his mom this year and I got to spend mine with my parents this year. And considering that our birthdays are 2 weeks apart, and our parents live about 2000 miles apart, that's pretty amazing :)
But, I better turn in so that I can make it through our first day at Disneyland tomorrow! :)

Our first blog post

One of the things I miss from the old sodabox is telling stories about the pictures I post. So, I'm trying this method. We're just kind of chilling out today and the boys and I are getting ready for our trip to Disneyland and to visit my family in California.

I recently posted some pictures from our trip to Iowa and of Drew's new big boy bed. We had a really nice visit in Iowa and the boys had tons of fun with their Grandma Anderson. They especially liked coloring easter eggs. Andrew was very careful with his, but Xander cracked every egg he dropped in the cup, then he spilled the blue dye, hence the pictures of Xander in only a diaper and spots of blue all over him.

Drew's new bed is huge, but he's loving it. I need to take some pictures of all the stuff he's put on his new shelves and in the drawers. He's arranging his toys like they're precious knick knacks, it's pretty cute. Once the bed was all together he couldn't wait to have Xander come up and explore it with him. Although, he wasn't so happy a couple nights later when we got his full size mattress and Xander decided that he should sleep with Andrew that night. Xander went into his room and got his blanket and carried it up the steps to Drew's bed. Then he went and layed down on the second pillow, like he was so sleeping there that night. :)

Anyway, you guys will have to let me know how you like this whole blog thing.