California or Bust 2015

Monday, Nov 2-Sunday, Nov 8


We originally weren't going to leave til Tuesday morning, but my Dad booked a hotel room in Vegas so we figured we would break up that long drive. We left Monday at 6:30, met up with my parents in Chick-Fil-A in Provo and then got on the road at about 8:00 PM. We stopped only once for a potty break before reaching Vegas. We pulled in around 2 ish. And we were so tired. Jake had woke up extra early so he could get off work a couple hours early. And we weren't really prepared with snacks and food like I wished because of my broken ankle. And having a broken ankle meant that packing/doing any preparation for this trip either took a long time, or had to be done with/by someone else.  So our house was a huge disaster when we left :(

Tuesday.
We woke up around 9 am Vegas time, and got ready. Re-packed the car. And since Jake was in a hurry to get on the road and we didn't bring a lot of "food" with us, we stopped by star bucks to get Jake a coffee for the road and us some breakfast sandwiches. We also stopped to make sure that the car tire hadn't gone flat and deflated a little. (We had to put air in it before the long drive and wanted to make sure we didn't have a leak.) We were on the road by 11 ish (Vegas time). So we left before my parents. In fact by the time we hit Primm, NV the last town leaving NV my parents were just barely leaving Las Vegas. We stopped in Barstow, CA for lunch and to stretch our legs and use the bathroom, that stop took an hour. I don't think we made any more stops til we got into town. We pulled into our rental house around 6:30 PM (California time). And traffic was just horrible. Stop and go for a lot of it. I'm so glad Jake was driving. Anyway, we we're hungry, and after waiting an hour for my parents headed to Walmart to pick up some groceries. Walmart was like a ten minute drive, so it was convenient. We picked up some items to eat for the week, and a lasagna for dinner (which didn't end up being ready til like 11 PM). Lydia and Scott got in around 12:30 am. Getting everyone situated with the sleeping arrangements was a little difficult, because no one wanted to follow my plan. So Jake and I ended up sleeping in the upstairs master bedroom, my parents slept in the next bedroom, and Spencer took the last one (which had a bunch of bunk beds). Sydney had her own big bed out in the loft and Sarah and Shayla shared the other big bed in the loft. Lydia and Scott and Josh took the only downstairs bedroom. It took Lizzy a little while to fall asleep and since she was in our room we had to listen to the crys. Thank goodness it didn't last long. Also, going upstairs with crutches suck! Not being able to carry your baby upstairs because you need the crutches sucks!

Wednesday
We woke up around 8 ish. We had breakfast Reservations with the Disney Characters at ten so we needed to hurry. We got ready, and left, and headed for Disneyland. Which was only about 20 minutes away. We ended up parking the handicap parking area, which left our family to park in another parking area. Getting on the tram was a little stressful. My dad had to bring the stroller because it wouldn't fit in our car, and so they had the stroller and we had everything else. They ended up getting in line first and so we had to look for them so we could ride with them. We made it in time for our breakfast reservation, but because we were in a hurry, we never got a group photo in front of the mickey face flower bed. :( Also, we rented a wheel chair so I wouldn't have to crutch around Disneyland. That was nice. Unfortunately, it meant someone always had to be pushing me. The ticket lines were really short as well.
Breakfast with the characters was a buffet, and they had lots of delicious food. Around this time Lizzy was ready for a nap, and Sydney said she was tired. So we wanted to get started in the park before it got to busy. So since Lydia and Scott didn't join us at the breakfast, we met up with them for a ride while my parents and siblings finished breakfast.

Sydney was so excited to see Josh.

She saw Minnie Mouse and just started walking up to her while Minnie was chatting with some other kids.

Sydney was terrified of Captain Hook and ducked her head into me.

While Sydney went on her first ride, my mom and I went to ask some people about rides where I could go on since I had a wheel chair. And then we stayed in the park riding rides, until closing. Our group split into two, and sometimes it was Lydia and Me and the girls with Jake, or Scott and Josh, but sometimes Jake, Scott, and/or Josh would go with my parents and siblings. I don't remember all the rides we went on. And since I was pregnant there wasn't many rides I could go on. Jake tried to be the one to take Sydney on all rides, but there were some where he went with my family and Sydney couldn't go because she wasn't big enough. Honestly, it was exhausting trying to keep track of my family (extended), especially when we were trying to meet up or go on a ride as a whole group. It really stunk that I couldn't get up and move around and take pictures from all angles.

I am so glad and amazed we didn't lose anything. (Well Sarah lost a shirt that she bought and put in our stroller, but it somehow fell out. Most likely when we were getting on the tram).

Lizzy was asleep during this interaction

 

 

She wanted this pink "wedding" hat as she called it, but we ended up getting the Minnie one. It looks exactly like this, but not pink. It is red with white polka dots. This also happens to be one of the only pictures of just Syd and I in Disneyland.

Minnies house

Minnies house

Minnies house

Minnies house

Mickeys house

Add caption

Mickeys house

Minnies house

While we were in Toon Town, there was a gift shop that we went into and someone handed Lizzy this Minnie Mouse. She refused to let go of it. Just snuggled it right up. And cried if we tried to take it away. Her grip on it was strong. So my dad ended up buying it for her. (not pictured, we got the girls these mini Mickey and Minnie Mouse dolls. They are only like 5 inches tall and had magnetic hands and feet.)

We got to see the Dineyland Parade. I wanted to leave before it so we missed the crowds, but I'm glad Jake convinced me to stay. It wasn't anything like other parades. Sydney actually fell asleep in my lap in the wheel chair earlier so we were doing a little shopping while waiting for the parade to start and then Jake woke her up. After a few minutes she was completely awake and really enjoyed it.

My friend Bindy wanted a Disney Hat, so this is a series of pictures we took trying on different hats for her.

Thursday.
Lydia left way way way early in the morning to go visit Ashley in the hospital in San Diego. 
We left later than we wanted to because we had no scheduled activities. And the previous day wore us all out, so we slept in. California Adventure. Takes up more space, but less rides. And since this was more child friendly, I was able to go on a few more rides then at Disneyland. The day started off rough, but as it progressed, smoothed out some. (While we were at California Adventure, Rhian and Nicole arrived-they took the room previously occupied by Lydia and Scott).

Hollywood Tower of Terror

Cars Ride

Standing in line for Tower of Terror

One of the most exciting moments for her during our whole trip. Meeting Elsa and Anna, was the highlight for many hours. She still talks about it to this day.

Disney Jr Live

The parade

The parade

The parade

The parade

Monsters Inc ride. Turned out to be one of our favorites. And as a bonus, everyone, including Lizzy and I could go on it.

all of our souvenirs.

Friday.
We didn't do anything. Stayed at the house, relaxed, watched a couple movies. My parents took Sydney on a walk. Jake left earlier that morning with Rhian and Nicole for Blizzcon. He didn't get back to late in the evening.

Saturday.
Jake left for Blizzcon. And later in the afternoon, we packed and headed for the beach. We got there later in the day so it wasn't as hot as it would have been. We were able to see the sunset.
Sydney had so much fun playing in the sand. She was covered, head to toe in it. (And at this point in our vacation, while it might have still been too early, I was walking around with out crutches for little snipit's of time). Lizzy loved the waves. I wish I could have been the one to take the girls out into the ocean, but I didn't want to get my boot wet. So I stayed right on the edge of the water. Also: it was Lizzy's first time to the beach. Big moment since she really enjoyed it. I had a real hard mom moment though because at some point while we were at the ocean, Lizzy took a nap in the stroller-let me tell you changing a freezing cold babe was a little difficult. Her diaper was completely soaked (obviously), and so I just put Sydney's jacket on her and wrapped her in a blanket while she slept in the stroller; which because we had snacks kept getting attacked by seagulls. (At some point I really should have put on my telephoto lens, but I was trying to keep sand out of the camera so Jake wouldn't be furious that I brought our DSLR camera to the beach, so I didn't dare switch lens-also the camera was inside a ziplock baggie.)

I think this is one of my favorite pics from the whole trip. Her face while running away from the waves is just absolute excitement.

Saturday night we did some cleaning, and then Sunday morning we finished the cleaning. We were out of the house and on the road by 10 am (ish). The drove home, without having a place to stop and stay at and break up the drive took almost 13 hours. With a stop about every 3 hours on average. Sydney played games on my phone for a lot of the drive. Which had us realizing we needed a portable game device.
Anyway, We had a lot of fun on that vacation. But coming home to a filthy house was kind of disappointing. Also that trip ended up causing Jake a lot of back problems, and we ended up having to do an MRI in December to learn that Jake had a bulging disk in his spine. Oddly enough, on the way home from California, Rhian had to stop for an MRI in St George because his leg went numb-only to find out he had a slipped disk with a pinched nerve. The girls were really glad to get home and be able to move around. We spent a lot on food on the drive home.