California Vacation: Day 7 - Last One

We made it to Wednesday! Our last day we all took our time waking up and getting to breakfast in the hotel. After eating, we asked for a late check-out because I knew we weren't going to get everything picked up and packed in time. I got everything picked up in the hotel while Dave played Tetris in the suitcase: we had to figure out how to get all our purchases AND everything else we brought, to fit in the large suitcase. Once we had it all packed, we laid down for about an hour and watched The Amazing World of Gumball one last time. 

We checked out and headed down to Huntington Beach to meet up with Ruth, her kids, and Mom, at The Corner Bakery for lunch. It was nice to see them one last time before leaving. And fun to hold the babies too. They're just so adorable and sweet. 

We said goodbye and headed down to San Diego. I didn't get a picture of the temple when we arrived there on Thursday, so I wanted to be sure to snap a photo on the way down to the airport. I had no idea it was so close to the freeway! Such a beautiful temple! 

We arrived in San Diego and had time to kill. We headed to Balboa Park, had a potty break, and quickly learned that the aerospace museum was closed for a private event. Everything else was closing as well, so we got this lovely picture right here outside of the automotive museum which was also closed. Cruise was having a really bad day. 

After talking to my sister Charlotte on the phone, we headed toward another part of the park that she had suggested, but we saw a play area first, so we decided to just do that instead. The kids needed to run around before heading to the airport anyway, so it was a good spot. 

We then drove to the car rental place where we turned in our car and took the shuttle to the airport.

 We checked our bag, the stroller and the car seat, went through security, and then found our terminal.

 We had about an hour to kill and the kids were hungry again. Unfortunately the only place to eat was a hot dog and burger place. Each hot dog was $13 dollars. Yep. For a plain hot dog. So we bought two, some fries, and a bottle of water to share. We let the boys eat most of it, we figured we could go without until we got back to Utah. While we waited, I used the airport Wifi to download Minions from Netflix so the kids could watch it on the plane. Technology is awesome.

We landed around 11:00pm. We were all exhausted. We found our car, paid an obscene amount of money for them to let us out, and finally made it home to our own beds.

And that was the 7th and final day.

Honestly, we spent more money than we wanted to and there were moments where I was kind of questioning whether or not it was all worth it, but I do have to admit, it was one of the funnest vacations we've ever been on. And I'm pretty sure it's because we flew. So much time and restraint to not choke someone goes into driving for hours and hours on end with three boys who find entertainment in trying to irritate the hell out of one another. So yeah, it was good.

California Vacation: Day 6 - Disneyland

Tuesday was Disneyland day, and even though we got there a little later than opening, it seemed like it wouldn't be too badly crowded. I quickly realized after a couple hours, however, that it was so crowded we could barely walk. It really was insane. Luckily, the weather was still super nice. Everyone had to use the restroom as soon as we entered, so Dave ran ahead and got Fast Pass tickets for Space Mountain.

Tomorrowland was first, of course. Dave and Miles got in the line for the Rockets and Cruise, Jett & I got in line for Star Tours, which actually had a pretty short line. I was able to get Stroller Passes for that one so Dave could go on after.

 We met up after that and went on the Buzz ride. Everyone loves the Buzz ride.

While Miles and I looked in the gift shop, Dave took Cruise and Jett on Star Tours again. Then I took the older two to wait in line for the Matterhorn, which ended up taking forever, and once again I got a Stroller Pass for Dave.

 While we did that, Dave took Miles on the Nemo Submarines.

 And then we finally were able to go on Space Mountain. Cruise was a little apprehensive, but they both ended up loving it. I was surprised that it really wasn't any different than a few years ago before they spent so long updating it. It was exactly as I remembered it.

 I honestly don't remember when we ate lunch, I just remember we had BBQ kabobs and it wasn't enough and there were people everywhere, and I was trying my best to not completely lose it on everyone.

Anyway, we got Fast Passes for Thunder Mountain Railroad. Cruise and I went together (and got Stroller Passes for later) and then Dave and Jett went together (and got more Stroller Passes for later...we know how to work the system, okay?).

 Then we headed over to Critter Country to get Fast Passes for Splash Mountain. While we waited for our hour, we rode the Pooh ride...a few times.

 Finally we got onto Splash Mountain and the boys made me sit in the front.

 When we got out, Dave and Miles were just getting their picture taken with Pooh. They had also gotten pictures with Eeyore as well. Super cute.

 Then Dave went on the Splash Mountain and was also forced to sit in the front.

 While they went on Splash, we rode Pooh...again. Only this time I was wet from head to toe. Wet jeans are really not comfortable.

 Then we headed to Adventureland. Dave had gotten Fast Pass tickets for Indiana Jones, so he and the older boys went on that while I took Miles on the Jungle Cruise next door. He really enjoyed that.

 So then Dave took him on it again while I used the Stroller Pass for Indiana Jones with the older two.

 From there, we used Fast Passes for the Haunted Mansion...I really don't remember how we were getting all these Fast Passes, but we really did work the system. The mansion got stuck a few times, so I snapped some pics.

 I'm loving Miles' face in this.

 Then we returned to Tomorrowland for dinner at Pizza Portal. We were all so hungry from not eating enough for lunch. But we did eat EVERYTHING we bought. So it was fine.

Earlier in the day when we had gotten Fast Passes for Space Mountain, the ride had shut down during the time we were supposed to use them. Once it was open again, I had gone with the boys but Dave never got to use his. So after dinner, he finally got to use his Fast Pass. Poor guy had to ride alone.

 The boys and I looked around in the gift shops and at this point my feet were on fire and I was all Disney-ed out. I really wanted to go home. Cruise used his money to buy a couple things, Miles picked out a little wind-up BB-8, but Jett couldn't decide on anything. So while he looked around with Dave, Cruise and Miles and I hung out at the giant water ball thing to rest our feet. And by our I mean my because no one else seemed to be in a ton of foot pain.

 After Jett couldn't decide on anything, I was willing to go on one more ride. The ride that seemed to have a ridiculously long line the entire day: Pirates of the Caribbean. Just as I thought my feet were going to fall off, we finally made it to the end of the line and onto the ride! Everyone loved it, Miles cried for more, and then Jett had to visit every gift shop he could see.

Cruise bought a sword, Miles bought a sword, and Jett...bought nothing. We left the shops to leave the park and realized we had a bunch of Stroller Passes we didn't use, so we found a family and handed them off. We walked behind the shops on Main Street because the sidewalk was full of people for the parade. Jett was crying and had to look in more shops, so we went into the last shop on Main where he bought...nothing.

I had had enough. I was done. Miles was exhausted, it was 10:30 and I wanted to be done with this Disney nonsense. We walked out of the gates of Disney with Jett crying and shaking as if he were going to die. And of course, feeling bad because that was once me, I said he could look in the big Disney store in Downtown Disney before we boarded the tram back to the car. I gave him 15 minutes. He and Dave went in and came out with...nothing.

It was a long ride back to the hotel.

We had to stop by Target to grab batteries for a toy and Abreva for the coldsore I had developed earlier in the day (yay!). We finally got to the hotel at 11:30. I went to bed happy, knowing we could sleep in the next morning.

And that was day 6. 

California Vacation: Day 5 - California Adventure

On Monday we went to California Adventure and met my parents there. They were awesome and got there before us; one of them waited in the Fast Pass line for the new Guardians of the Galaxy Ride and the other waited in the actual ride line. Once we got there, Dave, Jett and I got in the line and my parents took Cruise and Miles to Cars Land. The three of us waited in the line for about 50 minutes until we finally got on. And I will have to say, it was totally worth it! Such a good ride and even more intense than the previous Tower of Terror ride. 

We got to the end of line right before we were to get on the actual ride, when Jett says to me, "Mom, I gotta go poop!" I looked at him and in my most serious voice said, "And you're going to wait." There was no way I was going to wait in that line again. Plus, I knew I had a change of clothes for him. LOL! Nah, he was fine. It was just the nervous poops.

My parents took Cruise and Jett on a couple rides in Cars Land while they waited for us. They went on the new Luigi's ride.

And then on Mater's tractor ride.

After meeting up, we grabbed some lunch.

And then Dave, Cruise, Jett and I went on the Cars ride (I had grabbed some Fast Pass tickets on our way into the park), and my parents took Miles to A Bug's Land. 

We got to see Mater and Red.

Here are Miles and Papa at Bug's Land.

Dave, Cruise, Jett and Dad waited in line for Grizzly Rapids and got a stroller pass so I could go on it later with the boys.

While they were on that, Mom and I took Miles on the Little Mermaid ride. He loved the bubble maker my parents got him. He stood in line, blowing bubbles and letting other kids pop them. 

Then I took Miles on the Zeppelin and we saw the army men from Toy Story playing their drums. 

We met up with everyone else in Hollywood Land. My dad took Jett on the Guardians of the Galaxy ride (Fast Pass) while the rest of us went to the cartooning class and learned how to draw Eeyore. 

Dave took Miles on Monsters, Inc. while the rest of us waited for Dad and Jett to get off the ride. Then I went on the Monsters, Inc. ride with Miles.

We then headed over to Toy Story Midway Mania and waited in the long line. Luckily it was in the shade so it was bearable.

I got to go on Grizzly Rapids with the older two and get nice and wet.

And then met up with everyone after that. While we waited for them to get off a ride, Cruise and Jett did an impromptu contemporary dance. 

Next up was Screamin' California, which ended up being Cruise and Jett's favorite ride. It took some convincing to get Cruise to go, but once he did, he wanted to go over and over and over again. I think they ended up going about 4 times. 

Miles and Jett went on the carousel.

For dinner, we left the park to Downtown Disney and ate at a restaurant where we got some amazing food. I had some delicious salmon and Dave got short ribs. They were amazing.

 After dinner, we went to the Ghiradelli shop and got dessert. Dave and the boys tried to get on Guardians of the Galaxy again, but the wait was over 2 hours, so that didn't happen. Finally we all headed over to Flying Over the World ride to cash in our Fast Passes. Unfortunately, Miles was just a couple inches too short, so he stayed outside with my parents. The ride was really relaxing and fun and a good way to end the day!

The boys loved having Grandma & Papa there to play with us. And it was really nice having a few extra hands. They definitely spoiled us, and the kids got some fun toys. It was a very busy day but a lot of fun too!

And that was day 5!