It really IS the Happiest Place on Earth!

We are back to Arizona from Disneyland! We got back late last night. I should back up......

Early on Wednesday morning, we began driving to California for our BIG ADVENTURE. Matt & Suzanne ended up going along too. FUN! So, we packed our gear and our 7 selves into the rental SUV and on our way we went! I was worried that the kids would be antsy in the car, but thanks to iPods, Nintendos and a few snacks, all went really well. We arrived at our hotel and found that we LOVED our room! It was a King Suite with a divider door and curtain. Never had seen anything quite like it. But, John and I had one side, and the boys had a bunk bed combo with a double bed on the bottom in their room. We each had our own t.v., and a place of "our own". So, that was really nice. Matt & Suzanne's room was pretty cool too. Like a mini apartment. Very nice! After unloading our stuff, we took a quick trip over to Huntington Beach. Now all of my children can say, that they have SEEN both the Atlantic AND Pacific Oceans. I didn't accomplish that feat until I was a mother of 3!! Of course, if you ask Daniel, he will tell you that he saw the "INDIAN" ocean. Whatever, Daniel! It was pretty, but cold. Daniel who, "LOVES WET" (according to him) got a bit out too far in the ocean, and a wave crashed all over him and his non-beach clothes! He loved every minute of it however. We were like, "Hey! Get outta the water!" And, his response, "What?!?! I like WET!" Then, I guess you did get your wish then, buddy! Jackson wasn't much better, and it took a bit of restraint on Noah's part too. The beach was pretty, and the pictures are cute. After that, we fed our group at Red Robin and decided to head to California Adventure, since we had 3 day hopper tickets, which allowed us to get into BOTH Disney parks. Our thinking, was that we could do a few things there (since that park closes early each night) and then we could say we'd done it, and at least experienced part of it. John, Matt & Suzanne went straight for the Hollywood Tower of Terror. A 13 story DROP. FREAKS! I kept the children SAFE with me, and we did Turtle Talk with Crush. This is an interactive exhibit which the kids loved. Especially Daniel. Fun! They were especially hysterical with all of the talk of having "a bad case of the bubbles...." which, being boys, I wasn't surprised! We also rode the Monsters, Inc. ride, while waiting for the other 3 thrill seekers. The droppers made it through, and met up with us after their ride. Then, we all went to the Toy Story Mania in 4D ride. FUN! We ALL had a blast on that one! Kind of like an amusement park game, more than a ride, but what a blast! Great Animation, and fun for everyone! Noah wanted me to note that HE won. Which NEVER happens! Hee hee! So, cheap thrills, buddy! Take 'em while you get 'em. I completely understand! By the time we got all of that done, the park was closing. We could have gone to Dinsey, but opted to take the kids back to the hotel to rest them up for the BIG and LONG day coming up on Thursday.

We had Magic Morning passes for Thursday, which meant we got to go into the park 1 hour early before everyone else! This ended up working out so GREAT! We got a group shot at the entrance of the park, avoided some of the crowds, and......got to meet Mickey Mouse right when we got onto Main Street! Well, all of us, except Daniel. He fell right then, and was having a "moment". Which is too bad, because he kept saying that Mickey was the one he REALLY wanted to see. So, when I get the pics posted, you'll notice his unfortunate absence! Bummer for the Mommy! We got to ride Star Tours right away, which was SOOO FUN! Yes, I DID ride this, and was a bit apprehensive. Even little Daniel rode it. Of course, I loved it, and Daniel wasn't completely won over, but he can at least say he did it! Daniel got to ride the Astro Orbitor ride with his oldest brother (his ultimate favorite of the trip, BTW), we all rode the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster ride (again fun! game type of ride) I believe Suzanne won every time at that ride! SHOCKING! Lol! And, then it was off for the 5 adventuresome riders in our group to go on Space Mountain. Daniel wasn't having any of that, and so I HAPPILY sacrificed myself to stay behind with him. Whew! Ride averted! We went and he did Astro Orbitor another time, and then the Buzz Lightyear 2 more times while we waited.

Now, for those of you who are not aware....I don't do rides. Never have. The few rides I've been on, have scared the holy poo poo out of me, and I don't enjoy it. I especially don't enjoy DROPPING from any great height. UGH! All of this zipping, flipping, spinning. I just don't get it! My family and friends are FULLY AWARE of my PARANOIA. It isn't a huge secret. In fact, Noah has come up with a catch phrase describing my level of uncomfortable-ness with rides....he calls it "CODE BROWN". Allow me to use that in an example....."Mom is having a CODE BROWN moment! Please excuse her while she changes her pants!" Hee hee! I am sure you can understand why......contact me if you need further insight! LOL! All of this information is completely necessary for the duration of the rest of this post.

I seem to ATTRACT people who are RIDERS! What is that? My cousin Tracy gets the NON-RIDER status, as she, herself, is also one of our rare breed! I digress....I attract people who are THRILLED with riding things! And, they DELIGHT in getting ME guilted into riding these contraptions with them! What the ##*()(#?????? Remember the previous mentions of ziplining in Hawaii???????? What about the unfortunate screaming in terror incident on the Log Ride at Six Flags? Yes, you KNOW the ones! These are complete moments of terror for me. Well, I have now, from my own loins, brought into this world at least TWO out of 3 RIDERS!!!! UGH! And, as a Mom, you don't want to disappoint the little "darlings" (whatever!) So, you take them to places that have RIDES. At some point, these creatures are going to EXPECT YOU to get on them!!! Suzanne is like one of these children!!!! She says things like, "You rode the LOG thing with Mary. You rode the White Water Rafting thing with Buffy. What about ME?" Hey girley! I went ZIPLINING over Kau'ai with YOU! To her, this wasn't sufficient enough, because the small print on the friendship clause stated that ziplining didn't constitute as an "AMUSEMENT park ride". WHAT?!?!?!?!? Big sigh, inserted here. Okay, okay......I don't want to be forever known as the girl who wouldn't take one for the team.......It was at this moment that I KNEW I had lost all of my ever loving God given sense!

I was apprehensive to ride Star Tours, because it is listed as one of the best attractions at Disney, and you could use a Fast Pass on it. Translation to me = SCARY--to be AVOIDED! However, I put myself, and my 6 year old (who doesn't like riding) on this ride. It was......SO FREAKIN' FUN! I screamed of course, which is part of the small print of my own personal clause. The fine print reads as such....."if for some reason I DO end up on a life altering, Code Brown, kind of ride, the party of the first part (ME!) reserves the right to SCREAM HER FREAKIN' HEAD OFF THE ENTIRE TIME!" Only a few Screams on Star Tours, but I had so much fun! And, for the record, I kind of felt that this was my contribution to the "riding" a ride, and that I was off the hook. So glad to have gotten that out of the way first thing! GO me! So, then, it was off to the Finding Nemo Submarine. Mild. Matt got a bit sick from the close quarters. I felt weird too, but didn't get what it was until he shared later! Autotopia was interesting. Noah and Jackson rode in their own car. I rode with Daniel. Well, it was like a video game gone wrong. Daniel drove. It was SHARP turn to the LEFT! SHARP turn to the RIGHT! BANG! BANG! BANG! I might have whiplash! But I definitely haven't laughed so hard in a while, and I have the sore stomach muscles to prove it. We went on the Monorail thinking it would take us to the other side of Disney. WRONG! It took us outside the park to Downtown Disney which isn't where we wanted to be at all. We had to re-check our bags, and all of that drama to get back in! Of course, we figured by taking the monorail, that we'd avoid any unneccesary walking, but I think in the end, we walked more. LOL! Oh well, now we know! Then it was off to Pirates of the Caribbean. Suzanne's favorite ride of the trip, BTW! Daniel rode, and was a bit freaked out. But, I rode too! WAHOO! Two rides, mwhah haa haa haa! I'm on a roll here! We opted to eat lunch at this point. Well, we TRIED to go in the French Quarter, but we all were crapping a cupcake at the prices! We just wanted something normal! We, we headed to the Coca-Cola Refreshment corner for hot dogs and pop! Budget Friendlier. It was at this point, that a strange transition began to occur. And, no, it wasn't from the hot dog! Suzanne says, "Hey! Let's ride the Matterhorn!" I say, "Okay, we'll walk over there, and you all can ride." Her response? Nay, nay! Her REAL translation...."Let's me and Missy ride the Matterhorn, and whoever else comes along is a bonus....." WHAT????? I already rode things! Let's give her a chili dog and some coke and rattle her brains on a ride? Hmmmmm, I think NO!!! But, that pouty face.....those eyes......THE GUILT!!!!! It works every time, folks. So, we are off to the ride. John and Daniel bowed out. (Wise! I was thinking....) And, I am getting panicky, clammy handed, a near Code Brown was on the horizon!!!! Waiting, in the line, this is what you hear.......'SCREAMING!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOTS OF SCREAMING!!!!!!! And, No, not from me in line (that was inaudible, only in my mind!) The people on this ride are yelling their heads off! Suzanne just smiles, that sweet smile. It'll be okay......you can do this......it'll be FUN. Yeah to a RIDER!!!! I have already established that I am NOT one of those, right? Truth be told, I almost bolted like, 3 different times! And, even as I type this, my hands are clammy again! LOL! Noah, the brave boy that he is, decides he's going to ride with me. So, we get on, and the pit of dread in my stomach is like that I've never known! The ride takes off, and starts climbing......and climbing....and then ZOOM it flies outta there! I am holding onto Noah for dear life!!! And, well, SCREAMING (see original "clause" mentioned before!) And, then I'm laughing, because I'm screaming, and he's laughing, because I'm screaming, and then, I'm screaming some more! Soooo funny! Suzanne is giggling from the car behind us. And, you know what???? THAT RIDE WAS SO FREAKIN' FUN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was shocked, amazed, stunned! I had rode the ride, No Code Brown.....I even LIKED IT! What is wrong with me??????? This system of guilt, riding, and whatever continued all day long. I ended up riding, Star Tours (TWICE!), The Matterhorn, Big Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, AND Indiana Jones. The only rides I didn't do were Space Mtn., and Splash Mtn. A lot of that was due to time, as I originally chickened out on the first Space Mtn., run. The kids rode all of these too, well, except for Daniel who was a BIT OCD about Astro Orbitor (5 darn times!). Daniel DID however, ride Star Tours (once) and Indiana Jones and Pirates and the Haunted Mansion along with some younger kid friendly things. So, he rode some of the popular things. I also rode those damn TEACUPS. All of the other adults bowed out. Wise move again. But, my kids had fun spinning the hell outta me! IT was a long, fun day.

This was all day one.....and we are off to do some more Arizona things....so I'll have to write about day 2 later on.