Friday, May 29, 2009

Disneyland/ Family Reunion

Wow. Has this been a CRAZY week! Friday (the 22nd) we left our house at 2:30 am to drive to the airport. Well, actually we drove to the park and fly place. As we are dropping off our car and waiting for the shuttle we notice cops surrounding the area and a police helicopter circling over head. We get to the airport and go and eat breakfast at Wendy's. By this time it was around 4am. At 5:30am they started boarding the plane. That plane ride went pretty fast. We had a 2 hour layover in Salt Lake City. We arrived in San Diego at around 12:30 and then had some drama with our car rental. We were able to finally leave the airport at around 2:30. Traffic was HORRIBLE to Oceanside. A 30 mile ride took almost 90 minutes. Shortly after we got there my sister in law and I had to drive back to the airport to pick up my little brother. Traffic was horrible to the airport and it took almost 2hrs to get there. We finally got back to her house around 8.

Saturday we got up at 5:30 to go to our first day of Disneyland. We had 15 people to get ready and we ended up leaving a little late. Then when we got there half of our group had to park elsewhere and they had to wait like 30 minutes for the tram to the park. I don't know what time it was by the time we finally got into the park but it seemed to take forever. First we got a fast pass for the Buzz Lightyear ride. That was pretty cute. Then we went on Space Mountain. Sierra was scared. But by the end of our trip she was begging to go back on it. After that we had lunch and then everyone else went on Autopia while Carady and I went and got fast passes for Indiana Jones. While we were waiting on those to be ripe we went on Pirates of the Carribbean and the train ride. After Indiana jones we went on the haunted mansion. I remembered that ride be better than it was. After that we went to toon town to take some pics. The park was VERY busy that day so by then everyone was tired and ready to go back to my sister in law & brother in laws house. On the way we stopped at a Chineese buffet. It was very good. We all crashed pretty early that night.

Sunday we hung around the house in the morning and then went to see the tanks on the base. They had a museum that had old tank and old military vehicles. After that we went to the beach to have a BBQ on the beach.

Monday almost everyone left on Monday. Except for us (and obviously my sister in law and brother in law who live there). We relaxed this day. It had been a long weekend.

Tuesday we left bright and early to go back to Disneyland and to check into our hotel that was down the street. We stayed at the super 8 that was 1/2 a mile away. We parked at the hotel and walked to the park. We made it to the park before they opened. That day we got a lot done. We bought Sierra an autograph/photo album. She got a lot of Autographs that day. The first ride we went on that day was Thunder Mountain. Then we went to get a fast pass for space mountain. While we were waiting for our fast pass time we went on the matterhorn bobsleds, the teacups, the alice in the wonderland ride and it's a small world. We had lunch and then went on space mountain. After lunch we went over to Disney's California Adventure. First ride we went on was the tower of terror. This ride... hands down is the BEST ride there. Sierra loved it. You go up on an elevator and then drop 13 stories.... three times! It also has a cute story that goes along with it that makes it seem even more real. After that we went over to California Screamin but just our luck the ride breaks down 30 minutes into waiting to ride it. After that we went back to Disneyland. After we got back we got fast passes for Splash mountain. While we were waiting for that we went to the Pirates of the Carribbean ride. Then we went on the raft to Tom Sawyer Island. We didnt stay on there long. Then we went on the winnie the pooh ride. That was a cute ride and an easy way to kill time. Then we got in line to meet some winnie the pooh characters. Finally around 5pm we were able to ride Spash mountian. I sat in the front row. BIG MISTAKE. I got soaked. Not just a little soaked. So wet that over 2 hours later i was still soaked and had to search disneyland for clothes to buy (its hard to find pants/shorts at disneyland). After splash mountain we went to eat dinner in toon town. After that we got fast passes for space mountain and then watched the parade (while james, jonathan and Sierra were finding a spot to watch it i was searching for clothes). The parade was cute. After the parade we went on the Star tours ride and then space mountian before heading back to the hotel. We watched the fireworks from the hotel.

Wednesday morning we woke up and checked out of the hotel. We were running a little late because we were so worn out from the day before. We went to Denny's for breakfast then made the big mistake of going to the lot that requires you to ride the tram. It takes forever to get to a parking spot in that lot and then forever to actually get to the park. I actually prefer the Pumbaa parking lot which is a short walk to the park and you dont have to go through a maze to get to a spot. It litterly took us 45minutes just to park. Wednesday is really a blurr. We went on a lot of the same rides... Did indiana jones again, space mountain, thunder mountian... headed over to Cali Adventure to do Tower of terror then we went on Cali Screamin. Sierra LOVED that ride. We got to ride quite a bit of rides that day. We left the park at around 5 beacuse we didnt want to eat dinner in the park and by this time we were ready to eat and get back on the road since we had an hour long drive to my inlaws. We ate dinner at the Kidd Buffet across the street from disney. It was pretty cheap... 7.99 per person... but I was not impressed. We wont go back there during future vists. We got to my sister in laws just before seven. We hang around with them and watched the movie Taken. That was actually a good movie.

Thursday we just relaxed and then headed to the airport around 1:30pm. We got there around 2:30 and we were supposed to fly out at 4:30 but our flight was delayed till 5:46. We had another lay over in SLC and of course that flight was delayed too. We got to Seatac at around 10:30 and then had to pick up our bags and wait for the shuttle to the park and fly place. On the way back to the park and fly place the driver tells us we arrived just in time because someone had stolen a car (from somewhere else) and there had been a police chase.. he got out on foot and the car ran into a pole. The police had the area surrounded trying to find the guy. We got home atound 1am.

Below are some pics. To see more go to my Webshots album. The link is on the right side of this blog.




Saturday, May 16, 2009

James is home!

James got back yesterday. It's so nice having him home again. We miss him so much when he is gone... even if it's only for a short time. Last night we went to Old Navy because they were having a sale on all of their beach wear. We managed to get James and Sierra some summer clothes. We have to go to Target today to get 2 pairs of shorts but that will have to be later on today since James is at work right now. Then we will be done shopping and done spending money until after our trip! Speaking of the trip.. we are at less than a week. Sierra is super excited. I am sure I will have tons of pictures when we get back.

Sunday, May 10, 2009

12 days...

Twelve days till we leave for vactation! Yay!!!!!!!! The puppies are all gone. The last two went to the same home. I think they will be really happy there. I am working for now at the Navy Exchange gas station. Its very part time.. only about 15-18hrs a week. But it gives me something to do until I get licensed to sell insurance. It is a very long process of classes, testing, finger printing and a bunch of other things. I am signed up for my classes and they are paid for. I can't wait! Sierra is doing well in Soccer. This is the first year she has played. Normally she plays baseball in the spring but James wanted something different and if you know James at all you know how much he loves Soccer. The other day Sierra was goalie and blocked 3 balls and only let the other team score one point. Usually Sierra plays forward but they rotate out the goalie each game.

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Horrible blogger

I am a horrible blogger... i know! UGH! Anyway... we are just 19 days away from our trip! Yay! Sierra is excited, we are excited. We seriously need a vacation! The puppies are getting so big! We just have two left to find homes for. We have someone coming to look at them today so hopefully!!