Spring Break With the Girls....

Steve and I had planned to take a trip for our 3 year anniversary but we had no idea where to go this time. We wanted to make it a low key trip to just relax and enjoy ourselves. We found out that Karah had no school for 5 days and so we decided to take the girls with us because their mommy had to work. We had planned to go to California to visit Steve's mom and sister as well as possibly visiting my aunt MaryAnn.

Well at the last minute we decided to spend a few days in Disneyland while we were there. Steve is so spontaneous sometimes that it cracks me up. After talking with my niece about their recent trip to Disneyland I was so excited and fired up to give the girls this opportunity. They have been through a LOT lately and so they DESERVED it!

It was midnight Wednesday night and we were all packed up and ready to begin our road trip. We planned to drive the entire night so that we would arrive early Thursday morning. That way we would have more time to enjoy ourselves in SUNNY CALIFORNIA!

We also thought the "ALL NIGHTER" would make the long trip much easier for the girls. We figured they would sleep the majority of the night. Well...THEY were WIDE awake. In fact we stopped by the nearby Walmart to buy a camera and I could hear them laughing and giggling throughout the ENTIRE store as Howie BUZZED them around in the cart. WOW!!! It was 1:00 in the morning and they were so hyper! People in the store were probably thinking...."GET THOSE KIDS TO BED!"

Luckily I brought my laptop so that the girls could watch movies during the road trip

Poor Howie was exhausted. He had worked all day in Idaho...then driven home to South Jordan...Helped pack up the car....and we were on the road again. We switched driving back and forth and it was pretty scary at times becasue of some HUGE snow storms that we drove through. SERIOUSLY it was like a WHITE OUT for a large portion of the trip. We finally arrived in California about 10:00 am. The girls were zonked out so we took about a two hour nap in a parking lot. Ahhhhh That felt GREAT!!!

Papa Howie enjoying some gogurts for an early morning snack....Well it looks like his face enjoyed it the MOST!

Oooops.....Missed your mouth there Howie!!!!

I had to take a picture of this JB's BIG BOY guy when we were in California. I used to work at that restaurant in the 70"s and it brought back a LOT of memories. I don't see those restaurants around any more. FUN PLACE TO WORK!

Once the girls woke up we took them out to breakfast before we headed to Disneyland. They were so STINKIN' cute!!!

They were both really excited to be on this trip with us!

This is a cute video of Little Lyss telling us WHERE we were going! She would get the cutest smile on her face each time we would ask her.

We also took a video clip of Boo reciting her new poem she had to learn for school. I love the expression on her face and her sweet voice as she recites it. Especially when she gets to the "WHAAAT?" part. SO CUTE :)

All fed and now it is time to head out!!!

Disneyland HERE WE COME!

After about 12 hours of driving and about 2 hours of sleep we are ready for our ADVENTURE!

Not sure who was more excited.....

The girls OR Papa Howie!

HEY WAIT FOR ME!!!!!!!

We loaded the shuttle that takes us to the Park. Alyssa had this GREAT BIG SMILE pasted on her face for the next three days. SHE WAS IN HEAVEN!

While Steve went to rent a stroller for the day the girls started looking over the map of Disneyland.

It was so cute to watch them as they looked it over to decide where they both wanted to go to FIRST! I loved listening to their converstation together as they tried to decide if they wanted to go to the "PINK AREA or the YELLOW AREA" first. They had NO idea what they were pointing to, but it was ALL ABOUT the COLORS! I really don't think they even knew what to expect once we entered the park! THEY WERE AMAZED and in AWE!!!

A quick shot by Mickey before we start our day!

It's a Small World......

It's a little crazy that we had just driven all through the night and decided to come right over to Disneyland. WHAT ARE WE THINKIN? We were surprisingly full of energy and decided to GO FOR IT! The kids were sure excited once they saw all of the fun rides and bright colors!

We headed to It's a Small World first because I wanted to make sure we got that ride in. The last time we came with Steve's kids at Christmas-time we didn't make it on that ride and Steve really wanted to go. We later found out that it was all decked out for the holidays and was pretty cool. Steve was a little disappointed. So we decided for this trip....it would be our first ride of the day.

It was a long wait in the line but the kids had fun watching the "COOL CASTLE" and the boats float by.

I was a little concerned as to how they would handle the "LINE" issue. If they would be bored out of their minds as they waited for each ride. Surprisingly they did quite well!

It helps to have a Papa as your own little "JUNGLE GYM!" As I was looking through our pictures when we got home from this trip I realized that the girls were CONSTANTLY climbing on him, hanging on his legs, sitting on his shoulders, or he was holding them. He complained a few times that he was EXHAUSTED and I couldn't figure why! Well...... NOW I KNOW!

Karah with her new found jungle gym.....

After quite a LONG wait it was finally time to board the boat for our first ride at DISNEYLAND. Alyssa was a bit nervous and clung to Howie for the first few minutes but once she realized that she was SAFE she really enjoyed herself.

It doesn't matter where we travel to.....THE DUCKS seem to FOLLOW!!!! (long story) but funny to see them travel all the way to Disneyland with us!!! uuuggggghhhhh! I can't stand DUCKS!

Video of Small World Ride....

There was NOTHING better than to see the excitement in the faces of our grandkids throughout this trip. Awwww....to be a kid again!!!!
It was a perfect way to start off our trip. It's a Small World is CHUCK full of FUN characters, BRIGHT colors, and MUSIC!

Toon Town.....

Toon Town was a fun place for the kids as well. I love the way they have made this area of Disneyland. SO COOL!

I would love to see this through the eyes of a child. Everything is so animated! They had fun running from one house to another just checking things out.

Here they are trying to break out of the jail

Alyssa is SOOOO strong!

Karah almost has that lock picked!

The kids went with Howie to the POWER HOUSE. Most people would just open the door and cause the loud shocking sound. NOT HOWIE....He is a CRAZY man and had a lot of people around there laughing. ELECTRIFYING!

The kids enjoyed climbing all over the cars and props they had there. They had so much energy!

Look out...Boo is behind the wheel!!!!
We decided to go on this rollercoaster ride in Toon Town.

Karah was a bit concerned about her little sister and if she was "TALL" enough.

YEP! She passed :)

The wait was EXTREMELY long but the girls didn't seem to mind much.
Papa kept them entertained once again.

Here he is handing out coins to throw in the wishing pond area.
Make a wish!

I love Lyssi's smile. She was ONE HAPPY CAMPER on her first day in Disneyland.

We were almost to the front of the line when I noticed Lyss climing on this structure. The next time I looked over she was LICKING IT!!!!! WHAT THE HECK? When I asked her what she was doing she said (in the sweetest voice) "I LIKE DISNEYLAND" Okay....you can "Like it" just DON'T "Lick it!
Giving the pole hugs instead. MUCH BETTER ALYSSA :)

The girls were probably NOT suppose to be climbing on this BUT whatever it takes to help pass the time IN LINE works for me!

Finally all strapped in and ready to go.

This ride was much faster than I even expected. I would have given ANYTHING to have video-taped Lyssi's response once the ride stopped. I LAUGHED SO DANG HARD. When I looked back to see how she survived, she had a look of SHEER TERROR on her face. This picture shows just a glimpse of her fear about what she had just experienced. She looked like she was about to burst into tears.

When Karah and I started saying how much fun it was....her look of terror INSTANTLY turned into THIS! She got this GIANT smile on her face- lifted up her arms- and said "Lets go again!" I am so happy that this ride didn't FREAK her out too much or our trip to Disneyland could have been a disaster. After I saw that scared look on her face I thought...Oh no! We will NEVER get her on another ride again!!! What a trooper!

Before we went home for the day we went to Mickey's House to meet him and get pictures taken. Lyssi did not want much to do with him at all.

As long as she was safely beside her Papa she was fine.

Back to the Hotel....

After about 6 hours at Disneyland we were BEAT! Because of our long drive to California that day we decided to head back to the hotel and rest up for the next day.Our plan was to eat and then relax while watching a movie while the girls wound down. The girls had a TON of energy still and began a HUGE pillow fight with their Papa Howie. He was just laying there basically DEAD to the world as Karah threw one at a time at him.

Finally Papa joined in on the fight and the PARTY began! I loved how they would try to launch pillows at him and sometimes couldn't even get them over their heads because they were laughing so hard. Lyss kept bringing more ammo (pillows) for her sister to throw. It was so funny how hard Alyssa tried to throw the pillows. They were too big for her to pick up and throw. She would try to throw one and end up on her butt! so funny.

I love this video clip. I love to watch the girls playing with Papa. SO MUCH LAUGHTER!
WHERE DO THEY GET THIS ENERGY! That goes for you too Papa Howie. They were all out of control. It was funny how Alyssa started jumping on the bed the MOMENT that I told her "No more monkeys jumping on the bed" It was almost INSTANT! Funny thing is -she had a bunch of monkeys on her pajamas, so she told me that she could jump on the bed, because she was wearing monkeys. SO CUTE!

FINALLY calmed down and ready for bed.

I love these girls.

Sweet dreams!