Happiest Place On Earth!

Disneyland!
We had a fantastic, magical time. I loved it, maybe as much as Naomi!
I took Naomi with me to St. George on Friday, Saturday I ran my race and had a great time hanging out with Talia, Wes and company. Dylan and Trey are awesome:)
Erica and her two "big" boys met us in St. George Saturday night. Sunday we made it to church. Early too. I was very proud of myself. Something about just one child to get ready must be the trick. Note, Erica still had two. By herself. After church we scarfed down some healthy mac 'n cheese, hot dogs, etc. and made for the state line! We had to make potty breaks more than is normal I think. Naomi probably drank way too much the first half hour of the car ride. And she was just plain excited.
We rolled in to Anaheim at a decent hour and rendezvoused with Jesse, Brooke and their strapping boys, Matthew and Drew. Lots of boys on this trip.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday we were at Disneyland and California Adventure non stop. Naomi was tall enough to hop on almost any ride. Dawson and Drew were sporting their heeled cowboy boots so they could board Space Mountain and other not to miss rides. They were good sports about standing up "straight and tall!" for so many height checks!
We saw princesses and lots of other fun characters. We went on every ride we could. Fantasy land has some kid favorites. Naomi loved Pirates of the Caribbean best. So she says. She liked Dumbo a lot, and Mr. Toads Wild Ride, the Matterhorn, the roller coaster in Toon Town was really fun too. We went on that as many times as we could before the park closed Monday night. There were no lines, there hardly ever were. That made for happy kids and even happier parents! We went on Space Mountain at least twice each morning, and got fast passes for later. Naomi and Dawson were not so sure about that ride. In fact, Naomi complained every time I "made" her go on it. It's my favorite and we decided that it was fair to go on Mommy's favorite ride and then we could go on her favorite ride(s). She wouldn't scream, she would just death-grip my arm and hold on for dear life. The dark makes her nervous, she likes to see where she's going. She talks about it now like it was no big deal. Funny girl.
She wanted to go on the big roller coaster at California Adventure, California Screamin' but she was much too short. She made it on Mulholland Madness though, I took Naomi and Isaac and Matthew a handful of times, they all laughed their heads off on that ride. Tower of Terror was fun too, Naomi was totally scared but informed me afterward that the ghosts are fake. Ok. She didn't have much desire to go on that one again:) She did really like the Haunted Mansion though. You just never know what she's going to love. Usually she's a little morbid. I mean, Pirates? as her Favorite?
Tuesday Naomi and I ran (really, I did, and I was so tired at that point, she was in the stroller.) to Ariel's Grotto for a lunch date with the Princesses. Naomi was honored to help introduce the first princess, Snow White. My silly girl was shy but did stand as they welcomed her in. She's got a stage fright thing going on lately. Or maybe always. Not wanting to be center of attention in big groups. Especially strangers. So much for my Broadway plans. Kidding.
Naomi met Snow White, Ariel, Aurora, Belle, and Cinderella. The food was fantastic, the dessert was especially heavenly. The princesses stopped at each table and met everyone, signed autographs, took photos and chatted with the little princesses. It was darling. Naomi loved it, but she had a hard time eating anything it was all so exciting. Afterward we rushed back out to the rides. I'm not sure which Noami loved best.
We had some rain Tuesday afternoon but it didn't stop us. Well, not at first. Naomi and I gave up and got our wet selves back to the hotel and the hot tub by about 6:30. Jesse came too, with a sleeping Drew. He was covered in a rain poncho asleep in an umbrella stroller. It was so cute!
Erica and Brooke decided that as long as they were wet they would go on Splash Mountain, several times. I think they must have been totally soaked by the time they were through.
Naomi decided to practice her swimming skills she's been honing at preschool swim lessons all year. I have to say I was impressed. I knew she was comfortable with the water now, but she was awesome! She jumped in the deep end and swam (doggy paddled) back to the edge and pulled herself out. She doggy paddled across the deep parts of the hot tub over and over. I was so proud:) I am excited to take her swimming teach her more. Yay for loving the water, finally.
Wednesday the weather was so nice, really except for the rain later Tuesday, we could not have asked for nicer weather. We played all day and squeezed in a few last rides before it was time for me and Erica and our respective children to load up the suburban and head for home. We left California after 8 and made it to St. George in under 6 hours. Not bad. Erica was great driving and I just blabbed in the front seat. The next morning we all headed back up to snowy Cache Valley.
It was a fantastic trip. I missed my baby and felt guilty a few times when I knew he would have loved seeing and riding the toy story rides. But it was a great trip with the "big kids". I'm so glad I could go and take Naomi, it was just magical. She insists the Princesses were real. I think I'll go again when James is just about 4 also, so in two years. I already miss Jesse and Brooke and their boys. It's too long between visits. And Alaska is just really far away! Maybe we'll meet in California again:)
So, how to end an incredibly long post about Disneyland. I don't know, but I'm sure I'll be there again soon enough.