Southern California September 2009

I have been putting off this post for a while because there are SO many good pictures from our trip. I knew it would take me a LoNg tiMe to get it all posted, but here it goes. This is from our annual trip down to southern Cali with my family. We went a few days early this year and go to DiSnEYlAnD first. We usually just go for one short day and it seems hectic and long. This is the first time that we have stayed at Disneyland with the kids and it was well worth the time and money to do. They had a blast. We stayed at the Paradise Pier hotel (which we realized used to be the Pan Pacific or Emerald of Anaheim that I stayed at every year when I was a kid and went to Disney with my family!). We were able to go back to the hotel and have naps each day, so the kids could stay until 11:00pm or later at the park. I can't believe how well Grey did. He spent a lot of hours in his carseat and was the sweetest happiest boy EVER! The boys rode everything from Space Mountain to Splash Mountain. They voted and liked THuNdEr MouNtAiN the best. I think they rode it at least 15 times, maybe more. Because of Grey, we did the rider switch pass, so I would go with the boys while Steve stayed with Grey, and then Steve would go and they always let him take both boys again. It allowed the boys to get so much more out of it. We watched the Fantasmic Show for the first time. Co loved it, Landon was too grouchy to enjoy it. Grey slept through it. We all stayed in one room and it was great, everyone was so easy.

My parents had an adjoining room and did 2 of the 3 days with us and the boys enjoyed that. We also got to spend some time with my best friend Summer and her boys there as well. It was a little hard because our schedules were different, but just getting to see her a few times over the 3 days was so fun. I miss her terribly and wish she was closer. My boys love her boys and they are such amazing kids. It was harder leaving her behind in AZ than anything else.

We got to go to dinner at Goofy's Kitchen with Summer and her family. Cohen loves the characters so much. I feel bad I didn't let him spend more time meeting characters, but he did get a little fix while at the dinner.

We spent a little time at the pool at the hotel. The boys loved the slide. We just couldn't get enough in each day. They were so torn about where to go. We just had an aMaZInG time!

After 3 days at Disneyland we headed down to Newport beach to spend 6 days at the pool and beach. We were so lazy for the most part and didn't even leave the hotel one day we were so tired from all the activity. The boys loved the ocean, playing in the waves, digging for sand crabs, building sand castles, swimming with Steve in the ocean, riding the boogie board, playing at grandmas "house" and just being together. Everyone was amazing in the car on the way there and home. Landon and Cohen LOVED the iTouch's that Steve got them loaded with games and movies. I swear all they did the whole way home was play with them. It is so cute because Cohen is way better with them than Landon is and so he was helping Landon get his movies on and games started. Too funny. Amazing how they each have their things that they are good at.

While we were in Newport we were able to eat at Houston's, get Balboa bars, catch up with a friend from growing up, lots of beach time, some pool time, and hang out with my parents. My parents seem to enjoy this trip so much with the kids, and it reminds me of great memories I have from the annual vacation we took to San Diego when I was a kid. I hope we continue the tradition.

Here we are getting ready to head to the pool the last day at Disneyland. It was hot, we were SO tired and right as we were headed out, Grey had a blowout and I had no outfit for him. We always take the picture in front of the Mickey the first thing when we get there, but this tells a better story.

He was happy being pushed all over the park. I am so glad he was taking his binky then, because he would have been so hard if not!

The boys waiting to ride Space Mountain. We brough the iTouch in for the boys to play while they waited for rides. My hubby is genious!

I can't believe my dad can hold these heavy thugs on his shoulders. They are both smitten for my dad, but especially Co.

Goofy's Kitchen.

We brought our pop up shade tent for Grey. It weighed a ton hauling it to and from the beach, but Grey enjoyed the beach so much better with it. He loves the breeze and being outside watching his brothers play.

Daddy loved building sand castles with the boys, but he usually ended up doing most of it by himself.

Digging for sand crabs was by far the favorite beach activity. We would get 50-100 of them in a bucket and the boys thought they were so cool.

Grandma Didi in one of her short lived moments of enjoying Grey when he wasn't crying.

Landon and Grey have an amazing bond. He loves his big brother! They loved snuggling him in bed every morning. There is something special about having a baby around.

Man I can't believe how big my boys are getting.

Grey was really a dream. He slept in that car seat so much. This is at the beach.

The smiles never ceased. (Except when it was naptime or time to leave the beach!)

Being buried in the sand doesn't sound fun to me, but they had so much fun trying to break out!

Balboa Bars! I'll have to remind myself to try the Balboa banana next trip.

This kid is SO FuNnY! HE just doesn't even know it!

Man I love these boys. I am so blessed to have had such an amazing time with my family. I love creating memories that will last a lifetime!

And here's to the LoNgEsT blog post EvEr!!