Our yearly ventures to Disney was amped up this year! Celebrating our 10 year anniversary and my 30th birthday gave us an extra reason to live it up. We kept it a secret from the boys, until Thanksgiving day when Buzz and Woody called the boys on the phone and told them "We'll see you real soon!" Dawson put the clues together and before they knew it we were on a plane to California!
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| The entry way inside the Disneyland Hotel |
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The light up headboard that plays music
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We opted to stay at a Disney property this year and it was AMAZING. In years past we've just stayed at a less expensive hotel across the street, which is totally what the plan is in the future, but for this special trip- it was so fun! They greeted us with celebration pins, a photo souvenir package and more goodies. The boys also LOVED the heated swimming pool...okay, so did Daddy. The first day in the park was indeed a magical one. Since I was in high school, I've wanted to dine in the private and exclusive Club 33 inside the park. As luck would have it, a connection was made with a member and she was able to get us reservations! We spent the morning riding some rides and visiting our favorite characters...then the magic began!
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| Just outside the famous door, 33 Royal Street |
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| In front of the famous glass elevator |
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| Carter picking his lunch, he decided on Mickey Shaped pasta |
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| His fancy fruit bowl |
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| The harpsichord Walt Disney bought for his wife |
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| Sparkly, delicious desserts! |
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| Overlooking New Orleans Square |
Needless to say, it was an amazing meal and I was so grateful to Jason for funding the endeavor and having as much fun as I did! After the club, we finished out our day with a visit with the mouse himself! Classic Mickey this year, never gets old watching the boys high five this cute guy!
The next morning, we were able to visit the park an hour early for their "magic hour" so we were up bright and early with room service for breakfast. A first time room service experience for the boys- they were in shock that people just bring food up to your room! Carter LOVED his Mickey waffle (hence the declaration "MOM, TAKE A PICTURE!"
As part of our extra magic hour, we were able to get in line for the Radiator Springs Racers- the new favorite ride of the Rasmussen crew. It was so cool to see it finished- we saw Cars Land in construction, but haven't been to California Adventure since it's completion. The boys loved seeing the movie come to life- Carburetor County did not disappoint!
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Yes, I believe we are the only park goers who let their 8 and 6 year
old children ride in strollers. |
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| Happy Jason with his turkey leg! |
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| Keeping in tradition- Daddy takes the pictures, mommy rides the teacups! |
Who says cookies aren't a part of happy (maybe not balanced) breakfast? They were certainly spoiled with churros, toys and treats for 5 days! On the second to last day, we all woke up with terrible colds! YUCK! It didn't dampen our Disney spirit though! We watched the Christmas parade and hit all our favorite rides a few more times. Carter was super brave and went on everything this year! Dawson hit a Disney milestone, being tall enough to ride every ride in both parks...he has waited to ride Indiana Jones forever, it seems. It was pretty fun to watch his reaction. On the last day in the park, just on a whim, we decided to attend the Jedi Academy. Its a cute show where kids are picked out of the audience to go through a Jedi training, with the chance to fight Darth Vader and Darth Maul. Dawson has been old enough and lucky enough to be selected before, so we were crossing our fingers that Carter would have a chance. And as it happen- BOTH boys got picked!
It was an exciting and perfect ending to our amazing vacation. Even though we missed having Beckett with us, it got us all the more excited to bring him next year. He was spoiled by grandma's, aunts and cousins back home so we were okay letting him sit this one out. Not a day went by that we didn't thank our Heavenly Father for the means to take such a trip and for the blessings and freedoms we enjoy to travel with our children. Hopefully they understand that we love them and will always work hard to provide them with opportunities like this. Some of mine and Jason's fondest memories and children, were on family vacations. Big or small, exotic or remote- we both valued our time in our parents' homes and cherish those memories. Our hope remains that our boys will appreciate the value of hard work and will work hard in their futures to make their family dreams come true, too! It was truly a magical trip and I'm so grateful we came home to a safe Beckett and a home decorated for Christmas! It was a perfect segway into the Holidays!
