Sunday, May 4, 2014

Disneyland–Day 2

This is the day we had reservations for breakfast with the Princesses, we were all soooooo excited!

ariels grotto sign Tessa posing

The only picture we got of me I have my eyes closed, awesome. Smile And Tessa didn’t want to smile, poor soul is too sensitive for being in a rush sometimes.  She sure was cute looking down the grand stair case peeking at Ariel though.

Soph Jess Tess Ariels grotto Tessa looking down at Ariel 2

Here’s the crew we have 9 girl cousins on the Chapman side and 2 boys… the boys weren’t invited.  (Baby Kaylee wasn’t in this picture, if you are counting.  And for the record Matt and Cami are having another girl this fall, brining it up to 10 girls!  Matching dresses were so fun and provided by Grandma Nina, of course. Winking smile

Elise Alice Sophie Tess Emma Melody Jacie Lily - Ariel Grotto 2

Here’s baby Alice trying on her crown, she looks shocked we would do such a thing to her!  Here they are hugging Belle, Tessa’s favorite princess, and her name sake!

Alice crown 2 Belle hug 2

I love the look of adoration on Tessa’s face while she looks up at Belle, waiting for her autograph.  Disneyland really is a magic place for kids.  Tessa is forcing Emma up for a hug with Aurora, both of Cami’s girls were scared of the princesses and refused to take photos with them, poor Cami. Sad smile

Tessa watching Belle Tessa Emma Aurora

This is one of my favorite moments of our trip, when they announced that Mulan (Sophie’s favorite, because she can fight of course) was coming out Sophie turned and looked at me like this!  Just pure excitement and delight!  It was awesome.  They she yelled, “MULAN, it’s Mulan!!!  All the way from CHINA!!!!”  Love it, and love her.

Sophie excited Sophie and Mulan 2

Group shot with Mulan.  Tessa’s cute face watching princesses come out.

Mulan and girls Tess watching princesses

The food was really good too!  They had cute little themed breakfasts make to look like sea life or boats.  Plus tons of fresh fruit (to Tessa’s delight) and pastries (for Sophie’s pleasure).  This picture of Sophie made me laugh because she was still holding on to what we call one of her “snaggle teeth” and had to eat on the side of her mouth!

 Tessa breakfast Sophie snaggle tooth   

Tessa loved the cute little spoon they gave her to eat her cereal with.  Last but not least, the most exciting part of the day was that it was Sophie’s Birthday!!!!  I told her we will never top this day for a birthday, what a lucky girl!  Sophie we love you so much!

Tessa eating 2 Sophie birthday cupcake 3

Watching the Ferris wheel.

Girls in front of ferris wheel

After eating ourselves silly we went to find the boys, just sitting down to eat…

Jacob eating Ray Jacob stroller 2

The big kids and adults rode California Screamin’ (I think that’s what it’s called) which is the big coaster there, during which the little ones rode the under the sea merry-go-round a few times.

Jacob Emma carosel Melody carosel Ray carosel Tess Elise Soph walking

Then we decided it was time for a picture of all the kids since they had not messed up their matching outfits yet.  I love Elise’s flamingo leg, Ray’s crying and Emma’s running away, but still the rest are smiling like it’s no big deal!

all the cousins 5

Sophie and Elise measuring heights, yep they’re the same height! right?  Here’s Melody and Tessa riding Heimlic’s (from Bug’s Life) train ride.

Sophie and Elise measuring heights 2 Melody Tessa

Here’s Jason and Jaycee riding Tuck and Rolls’ bumper cars (also in bug’s land) and Tessa with Dan, we’ll half of him…

Jason and JayceeTessa bumper car 

Then someone got all of the kids lollipops… probably uncle Matt, he’s always spoiling them rotten.  And look how rotten they are!  I had a hard time picking 1 lollipop picture of Emma, she was all smiles and I must have had half a dozen cute ones of her blue mouth.

Tessa lollypop  Emma lollypop face 2

This toy story ride was really cool, definitely Dan and Jacob’s favorite, wearing your 3-D glasses you shoot at things in a mini games made like carnival games and it keeps your score!  All the guys were very competitive about it. Winking smile

Jess Tess glasses 2 Tom Nina toystory ride 2

That night we must have gone over to Disnleyland for a parade or something, it was the first time my kids had been, because up to this point we had only been in California Adventure.  They were quite excited, Tessa’s face says it all I think.

Sophie Tessa Aurora's castle Jacob new gun

Monday, March 3, 2014

Disneyland–day 1

Elise Sophie sunglasses 2

We were so excited to FINALLY take our kids to Disneyland, it’s something we’ve wanted to do for years!  I took lots of pictures, as always.  So I am going to divide this in to separate posts.

Here we are at a rest stop, we drove, yes DROVE all the way from Colorado to California!  The mountain behind the is Dragon’s… something… nest?  I can’t remember.

Dan Jacob dragon Sophie Tessa dragon

We got into town at lunch time, so we stopped and ate before joining the rest of the family at the park.  Our first stop was Radiator Springs!  I was amazed at this place, it is so well done!  Just looks exactly like the movie.

Ann Tess Melody Mater ride 4 Ann Tess Melody Mater rideDan Jacob Mater ride 2 Dan MaterJacob Maters petting zoo Sophie Elise Mater ride 2Tom and Nina Mater ride Tom Jacob Dan

As you can see we were all very excited to be there.  Just having the time of their lives!

Elise Melody Sophie 2 Elise Melody Sophie 5 Jacob Tess Melody Sophie Elise Lightning McQueen 2 Sophie Elise Tessa Melody radiator springs Tess in line 2

Bug’s land.  Sophie is doing her, “oh no, we’re the size of bugs!” face.

bugs land Sophie bug landTess Dan jacob

We went to Disneyland with all of Dan’s siblings and parents.  It was a celebration of this cute couple and their 40th wedding anniversary.  They were overtaken by the music and broke into dancing in the street.  Such wonderful people, I am lucky to be part of their family.

Tom and Nina dancing 4 Tom and Nina dancing 7

Radiator Springs was really cool at night with all of the neon on.  Loved it!

flo's v8 cafe Luigi's casa della tiresRadiator Springs at night  Tess Sophie radiator springs

That’s all for day 1, which was just a half day for us.  More to come!