Disneyland 003

Let's talk a moment about fanny packs. My kids teased Matt and I endlessly about rocking the ever useful fanny pack at Disney. It made the trip so much easier. Thanks mom and Ken for holding onto these gems! And for the record we saw a few hipster teens wearing them at the park. We've still got it, babe.

 We made a mad dash for Pirates of the Caribbean (love me some Jack Sparrow) and then Splash Mountain first thing. The cool morning weather meant the line wasn't stacked up yet. Each of us compiled a list of our 5 can't miss attractions and Splash Mountain was on it for Parker. I have the pictures the park takes of all the rides we rode for another post.
Aden picked Haunted Mansion as one of his five. We had just watched Nightmare Before Christmas so it was fitting. No pictures because it's a super dark creepfest.

 Frontier Shooting Expedition was on Kaleb's list, of course. No line, gotta love that. 

 

Matt spotted another no line attraction, a raft ride to Pirate's Lair. It was essentially an island playground for the boys to explore while the park was packed midday.

 

 I had no idea my huge Michael Jackson fan hubby had never experienced Captain EO! That obviously needed to be remedied. Another no wait attraction.

 Note:deluxe fanny pack with water bottle holder, modeled in reverse. Werk.

DIsney can really take it's toll on a girl.

This was just the first half of the first day! Glad you all are interested in this vacation slide show.

Disneyland 002

 Where did we leave off? Collin creeping in the palm trees at In and Out, sounds about right.

 After all that driving, the break down and nearly a speeding ticket, we arrived in sunny Annaheim just after lunch.

 

Downtown Disney is fun to explore. They have shopping and dining with some of that Disney magic but you don't have to pay to get in. It was a great way to let the boys spend some of the cash they'd saved for the trip and stretch our legs.

 Because it was New Years Day the place was packed. Collin was so excited by all the giant Lego creations in the store, he kept running around photo-bombing everyone in the place. I thought it was hilarious. Mostly you could just find me swooning at the organized Lego wall. OCD-ers unite!

I had heard great reviews for Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen in Downtown Disney, so off to a creole dinner we went.

  Here's a snap of my shrimp and grits for the foodies. Parker ordered some excellent fried chicken as well. I just count myself so lucky that my boys (Matt included!) will venture out to try new things. I knew the next days would be all corn dogs and churros, this was the best eatin' we did on the trip.

  We opted to stay in a hotel about 1 mile away from Disneyland instead of the Disney hotels. The half day we spent getting oriented and checking out Downtown Disney was super helpful for making the most of the parks on the days we paid for. And we walked to and from our hotel so we could eat more Disney delicacies. Can you tell where my head is at? mmm...churros... ;)

Disneyland 001

Awhile back Matt and I decided the Disney window for our family was fast approaching. The time when our oldest is still engaged but the youngest isn't still in diapers. With Matt's extended winter break the timing just worked out. The countdown was on for our big family Disney vacation.

 The car ride started out fine but we broke down just a couple hours out of town. A tow, a new fuel pump, and five hours later we were back on the road.

Buffalo Wild Wings was a pretty great place to pass the time while the car was worked on.

 As the New Year's Eve fireworks exploded over Vegas, we drove into our hotel in Henderson, NV. And we awoke to sunshine in the desert. Kaleb is my early bird so we explored while Dad and brothers slept in.

 The boys do so well on the road, only a few (dozen) "are we there yet?" and some spilled hot cocoa.

Collin was living it up for the few hours we were in our hotel near Vegas. Sometimes you just live life on the edge and enjoy chocolate milk in a huge bubble bath.

 Now for the first food highlight of the trip: In and Out!!

 I think our work is done here.

I am hoping to cover the trip on this blog in under 10 posts ;)
 It turned out to be an amazing time with this wildly beautiful family o' mine.

boyz in the hood

Hide your daughters ;)

good hair

As promised, more of the family photo session. I love that Martin took some of Matt and I, the one with the blanket is my favorite from the entire day. Although we joked that it was a little transient inspired, just need a trash can fire and we're good! It is so awkward to have your photo taken alone yet I don't want to be lost behind the camera lens either. Most importantly, my hair looked nice that day. Priorities. More coming of the boys, don't know why I am dragging it out but I am.

Sometimes you don't get what you pay for

 Sometimes your friend meets you on a chilly day to take your family pictures for free. Thanks Martin! Getting all six of us coordinated is the ultimate circus and you did it with style. (More to share later, I am being the laziest blogger ever.)

the haps

Life lately; This fall was rich with reunions. We met up with family and friends we had missed while in Seattle. That cute blonde with Matt? That's Julie, she was the reason he graduated high school. Always lending him her notes or filling in him on the days he missed, I think it was like 54 days or something ridiculous.

 Also, it appears we have been reuniting with a lot of food. The Boise Fry Company along with friends and family giving us their eggs and potatoes and grapes for juicing. Hooray for the Idaho harvest! And the donuts! My fantastic friend Ruth brought them over in the midst of a homeschool disaster and saved the day. 

One last thing, I am reuniting with getting dressed. I joke that the reason I homeschool is that I don't have to put on pants. Yoga pants forever! But I found that maxi skirt pictured (twice!) and it may be the perfect solution.

After some very social months, this introvert has been doing a bit of hibernating. I have painted the living room and bathroom, it makes the hermittude kind of functional. Painting away and catching up on The Vampire Diaries and The Originals while the boys obsess over Minecraft and Matt watches the NFL. Tis the season for technology!

 I am already missing fall. Winter hit hard for me this year. I have been super anxious. Working through all that and listening to the lyrics,"oh for grace to trust Him more," on repeat. It is pretty fitting then that the view from our front porch is the cross.