Disneyland

Two days after Eli's birthday (April 24), we embarked on the family adventure known as Disneyland. We didn't tell our kids the destination of our "special trip" until the morning we left. Chaos ensued. We left on Saturday, returned on Wednesday. 5-day park hopper passes. 5 days is too long. At least for me. Ben's parents came. So did his brother Matt and fam. And his sister, Shell, and her special friend, David, joined us on Saturday. My kids call him"Shell's David" like she owns him, which she will in July. Very cute. Splash Mountain was fantastic and one of our favorites. Blake was tall enough to ride this year and loved it until the third time when he received the majority of the water in his lap. Eli loved Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and Grizzly River Run. I rode California Screaming. Twice. And never lost my lunch, or any other meal. That is quite a feat for me. Griffin chilled in the stroller 90% of the time. The trip would have been less wonderful with a naggy baby, luckily we don't have one. He is perfect. Soarin' over California, Small World, Indiana Jones (Coop was not a fan), Pirates, Bug's life, Aladdin, Tower of Terror, Muppet Movie, Autopia, Mulholland Madness, Jedi training, and swimming (a lot of swimming . . . this is what the kids begged to do every day). Eli had his face painted and met some princesses, thanks to Aunt Erica and Gma Ellie. Ben and I had a date night with Matt, Erica and the babies, we contemplated leaving the other 5 kids with gma and gpa for the rest of the trip. It was a fun, exciting and fantastic vacation. The Happiest Place on Earth, indeed.

Pictures to be continued . . . just be glad I'm not posting all 171.

(now that i am finished i realize this is sideways, but i am too lazy to fix it)

always happy for the camera

(this one too)

on the way to the airport. happiness is exhausting.