The Happiest Place on Earth . . .

Tommy opened his last gift . . . the one with the surprise. Notice the lack of excitement - - EXCEPT FOR ANNA! She was thrilled! At least one of them was! Sheesh!So, off we go into the wild blue yonder - still a strange lack of enthusiasm. EXCEPT FOR ANNA! After arriving in L.A. (I was determined to see a celebrity while there . . .) T.R. decided he really wanted to go to Sea World! After being in a plane for two hours, we then drove in a fancy rental car for two hours. By the time we got there, the kiddos (even Anna) were even LESS thrilled than before! But, Sea World was pretty cool! We only got to stay for two hours because it closed at 5:00 - but there were VERY FEW people there and NO lines, so the two hours was just about enough! (I highly suggest taking your next California vacation on a random weekday/end in March. No crowds, the weather was great . . . not too hot, not freezing cold. PERFECT.)

The next day, Friday the 6th, we INTENDED to go to Disneyland, but ended up spending the entire day at the CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE! Anna and I ate lunch with the princesses AND my friend Torrey and her little girlies. So fun. Anna was in awe the ENTIRE time (and well she should be for what that lunch cost! Man, those folks at Disney sure know what they're doing.) Tommy, Joey, and T.R. hit the rollercoasters and other "scary" rides while we were at lunch. Then we met up and saw ALMOST all there was to see! (I'm pretty sure we could've spent a week there and not done anything twice!)

Finally, on Saturday, we made it to DISNEYLAND! (Along with tens of thousands of other people!) After riding Small World first, we decided to divide and conquer! That way Tommy and Joey wouldn't have to suffer through princesses and teacups. . . and we wouldn't have to hear Anna whine 'cause she was waiting in line for a very manly jungle safari. So, most of the pictures are of Anna and the princesses again. But then, we met up at about 4 p.m. on the Finding Nemo ride, and spent the rest of the day waiting in lines together! The last ride we rode was Pirates of the Carribean, and I do believe it was my favorite! Last is always best, right?!

We had so much fun! But, the highlight for ME. . . was seeing some of my roomates from my first year at Ricks! Sharon (far right) lives in So.Cal. and Torrey's (far left) husband and Dawna's (center by me!) husband had work stuff going on the same weekend. Thank heaven's for Facebook, or we might have missed each other 'cause really, what are the odds?!! The best part was that Dawna surprised us by coming! Only Torrey knew she'd be there, and when I turned and saw her and her cute family standing there - I cried! It was SO great to see my friends at The Happiest Place on Earth! So what that we paid an arm and a leg to be there! Memories like this - - PRICELESS

Sunday morning, TR's Aunt Lori made us Mickey shaped pancakes (thanks again to Uncle Loy and Aunt Lori for letting us stay at their house! It was so fun to see them!) then we hit the beach, just to say we did! Then back home to see Sara who'd been with my mom and dad. THANK GOODNESS! She would've been misserable with us! It was SO fun, and I'm so glad we went! Now maybe next time the kiddos will be a LITTLE more enthusiastic when they find out we're going to Disneyland!

P.S. I promise T.R. came too - - he just wanted to TAKE the pictures, not be IN them!