A couple of weeks ago, an incredibly generous family from TJ's school gifted us Disneyland tickets. To be perfectly honest we were wondering how we were going to make a Disney day possible this summer, and clearly God put it on another family's heart to bless us. How awesome is that?! We felt so undeserving yet so excited at the same time. We chose to take the kids last Friday {after Caleb's adorable kindergarten performance} for the afternoon/evening and all day Sunday.
These are Friday's photos.
Per usual we told Caleb and Lilly a few days before about our plans to go. It's still too early in the game to spring surprises on them. Lilly didn't quite understand why we weren't going right after we told her, but a little help from a homemade calendar fixed that.
Caleb wanted to head straight to California Screamin', so that's what we did. I will say I wasn't expecting it to be so hot. I always forget there's almost a ten degree difference in temperature from the coast to inland Orange County. Heat or not, we were ready for fun.
He watched the coaster track go by over and over and shouted the "THREE-TWO-ONE-SCREAM" script each time. We had previously told him that he was technically tall enough to ride it, and he could do it if he wanted to, but he just wanted to watch. He kept nervously saying "we're just watching it, mom!"
Lilly sat in the stroller with her ears plugged the whole time {earthquakes have really scared her into cowering when there's a loud noise}, so I took her over to King Triton's Carousel.
She really needs to warm up to pictures, but she loved it and even let me ride one too.
While I was on the carousel with Lilly, TJ asked Caleb if he'd be up for going on Toy Story Midway Mania. And he said yes. YOU GUYS. This does not just happen. Ever. Lilly has watched it on YouTube a couple of times {much to his detest}, but when he says yes, you roll with it!
The line was about thirty minutes long and we went for it. Caleb spent the majority of the time on TJ's shoulders, and rotating between a few times in my arms and walking. It's hard for him to wait in line, but he's getting better at it. He's always bonking into the person in front of/behind him.
Plugging his ears when there are new loud sounds to take in.
Lilly was incredibly excited. If you know her at all, you know of her love of glasses, so she was very happy. I've been on this ride before, but never with a little three-year-old next to me. It whipped around pretty fast, and although she had her lap bar, my arm went across her lap for that extra bit of comfort/safety.
I'm only posting this because I never win these things...except when playing my kids. Should I have let her win...?
After Toy Story we were already sweaty and in need of some cooling off, so we headed to Flick's Fun Fair to play in the splash pad.
God bless Disney for putting this in. I knew being wet would be a possibility, so I brought extra outfits and shoes {but seem to forgot Lil's...we were scolded by a cast member}.
After running themselves tired, they were ready to head to It's A Small World.
To our serendipitous surprise, we walked onto Main Street just as the Soundsational Parade was making its way down. We found a second row spot to watch that wasn't occupied because of the hot sun, right in front of the train station.
TJ went to go move the car with Caleb {like we always do; park at DTD for free}. so I got to have some sweet time alone with Lilly. We headed to It's A Small World.
Lucky little LC got to ride it twice in a row when TJ and CC came back from moving the car. It worked out pretty well; TJ texted me a picture of Caleb napping under a tree by the ESPN Zone. He said he fell asleep while he was up on TJ's shoulders.
The picture of Caleb passing by Jessie from Toy Story had me all sentimental from last year's Disney day when I posted this video on my Instagram of Caleb when he saw her. He was just repeating "Woody Bullseye Jessie!!" It's really amazing to see how much growth has happened in just one year.
After Small World, Caleb said he was hungry and then wanted to go home {you can't go home, kid...you just can't...this is Disney...just a little longer, please}. We headed to Pizza Port.
Now. I'm a huge fan of Pizza Port. Huge. And the kids were too. My only problem? That pizza made a swift exit through both of the kids the next morning {if ya know what I mean}.
I stuck with my chicken fusilli pasta and had no such issue. My one critique is that I think they've altered their recipe slightly. Crazy, yes. But I just know these things.
After dinner, TJ took Lilly on a round trip ride on the Monorail while I attempted to take Caleb to see Rapunzel and Flinn {his request}.
But blast it all, we were stuck at the evening parade! I know all the ins and outs of how to get around it, but we would've had to have sprinted all the way back up to Small World and waited to cross. So we just parked it on the ground and Caleb enjoyed the ice from my Diet Coke.
After that, they were both done. Seriously done. We decided to let the kids lead the way and they were both pointing toward their nice warm beds. We made it home by 8:30 and they were both asleep by 9pm.
It really was a beautiful day, we are so incredibly thankful.
Tune in tomorrow when I talk about Sunday's day...
Full of princesses, conquering fears, new rides, and our use of the Disability Access Service.
Hugs.
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