California Beach and Disneyland 2016

We splurged on a Disneyland trip in February, and it was a total success. Reasons for this: 1. we went the week before Disney jacked up their prices yet again and 2. everything on the trip was perfect. How often does that happen?

At home, prepping for our trip.

We drove, and, thanks to books-on-tape and other CD songs, it was actually a fun roadtrip. 

Like our naptime blanket tents?

Our first afternoon we spent at the beach. Both girls' first beach experience. I think I was the most excited (I haven't been to a beach in five years—too long!!! Curse the desert!)

Dustin's mom came with us and the girls loved having Grandma around! We spent Friday in California Adventure. 

And it so happened that no one at Disneyland wore yellow the day I dressed my girls in their matching shirts, which made it so much easier to keep track of my sprinters.

We ran home after lunch and took naps (the kids were wiped out!). I worried beforehand that once we left the park we would never make it back, but after naps we jumped back on the bus and headed back for more fun--our little girls kept going strong through World of Color and fireworks.

The next day was solely for the Disneyland half of the park--Fantasyland, Adventureland, the whole shebang. We brought an Elsa and a Cinderella to the parks.

And we got some classic cameos of our little blondies:

I attribute a lot of the magic of Disney and the enchanting atmosphere, but really, the trip was wonderful because it was me and my family, spending time away from our day-to-day duties, making memories and reveling in the magic of a family made of best friends. 

P.S.—Sara can't wait until the next Disneyland trip...which will probably be in a decade or so :)

California Beach time

Sara's first time at the beach! And the first time Rosie really remembers. This is from our awesome Disneyland trip in February. I LOVE the beach!

Disneyland!

Well, it's been a while since we've traveled anywhere notable enough to deem mentioning here, but our friends make sure we spend a sufficient amount of time outside of our hometown each year. We made a goal together to meet up at the happiest place on earth with some of our dear high school/college friends, and we did it! 

So epic. And the girls loved it! (Um, we did too. For the record, if you go to Disneyland with young kids, always go with another young family! That way, between a combination of Fast Passes and Kid-Swap Passes you and your spouse get to go on all the cool rides together while the other couple watches all the kids and then you switch, allowing maximum amount of enjoyable-ness for each couple in the parks).

Rosie was so excited, all the time--dancing in the street, begging to go on the "Mickey wheel" one more time, and watching the parades in fascination. Sara just watched...everything. She is more subdued than her older sister, but her eyes were constantly looking at everything around her, and everyone in line seemed drawn to our cute little chubster (a fact she liked very much).

We even had a dress up day and wandered the park with a mini Cinderella and larger-than-life Tinkerbell.

 Rosie's favorite rides were Dumbo's flying elephants and, classic, the spinning teacups--definitely a big hit with all of us, since the line was short and fast moving--we rode it three time in thirty minutes and many more times besides.

By the end, Rosie was exhausted, and Sara wanted to stay forever.

We are already planning a return trip--anyone want to come along?