Disneyland...finally!

About a month ago, Ryan called me from work and told me he had to go on a business trip to California for the first week the kids were off track. UGH. I was not at all thrilled. Having all four kids home all the time is only remotely survivable if Ryan comes home and TAKES OVER every evening so I can regain some sanity. But in this day and economic climate I wasn't about to tell him he couldn't go on the business trip. Then I started thinking...and asking questions. Where in California is this trip? Only 15 minutes from Disneyland? Okay, we are coming, too.

We decided to surprise the kids. We were already in Utah for the wedding so we got in the car and told them we were taking a different route home. Two days later we pulled up to the happiest place on earth. Their reaction was not what I was expecting. Isaac just kept looking at me like he was thinking, "This looks like Disneyland, but there is no way they brought us to Disneyland." They were all too shocked to be screaming with excitement like I thought they would be. It was still awesome!

The trip went well! The kids and I hung out at the park from around 10:00 am until about 5:00 every day. Ryan would usually meet us for an early dinner and take the kids on as many "big kid" rides as they could hit before it was time to leave. It worked out perfectly and it was a great way to start our long winter break! Here are a few pics of the trip. (I didn't have our nice camera with us for most of it--I can only do so much and keeping track of my four kids, the stroller, the backpack and the camera was just too much! So I got a disposable camera for when we were alone and Ryan brought the nice one when he came at night...)

Our annual attempt to free the sword.
This was Lincoln's reaction to any dark part of any ride--he would "play dead." (He's not asleep.) It was hysterical! At the end of each ride, he immediately said, "More!" He was fun.

Autopia--one of our favorites!Waiting for the incredible Christmas parade to start.

This is the outside of our hotel.
Here is Linky's favorite person of all time--Handy Manny (or Dada Manny, as he calls him.) He is much bigger in real life than he is on t.v., though, and Lincoln got a little shy when we got up close.Hey, look! The word "California" contains all of our initials!!

Chloe

Ryan
Lindsay and Lincoln
Isaac
Audrey
I just have to say, Disneyland is incredible this time of the year!! They always do everything 150%, but I was shocked at how much they pull out all the stops at Christmas. Everything was beautifully decorated. "It's a Small World" was just amazing! There were virtually no lines and the weather was a balmy 70-75 degrees the whole time we were there. It was a great trip!