we went to disneyland!

This was one of the hardest secrets I've ever had to keep!  We decided not to tell the kids we were going to Disneyland to save our sanity, and because it would be a really fun surprise.  Grammy and Grampa Coury took the whole family!

These are just a few of the pictures and stories...there were many more!  Here are my favorites.

The night before our trip we slept at the Coury's because we had to get up at 5:15 AM to get ready to go.  (That's EARLY folks).  Somehow the kids had no idea what was going on.  We just told them Grammy and Grampa needed a ride to the airport in the morning.  Their suitcases were in the garage in hopes they wouldn't suspect anything.  Worked like a charm.  Much to my surprise both kids got up cheerful, and were dressed and ready to go on time.  When Grampa told them what was happening I don't think either one quite got it.  We met Bill, Diane, and Vera at the airport which I think helped them understand we really were getting on a plane and going!  Right now!!!!

We couldn't have asked for better weather.  It was in the mid-70's to 80 degrees each day, and to our Seattle bodies that felt pretty amazing.

STAR TOURS
This was the first ride we found. Can you imagine how excited Noah was? We went on this ride again later, and Ava was found to be the "rebel spy". She thought that was pretty great, her face was on the big screen!

AUTOPIA
Remember that ride??? It was exactly as I remembered it as a kid. Ava found the ride a little intense. That makes me laugh just thinking about Autopia being "intense."

JEDI TRAINING
In my imagination Noah was overcome with joy at visiting Radiator Springs, and loved it so much we had to drag him away. In reality, he really enjoyed Cars but can you guess what other attraction at Disneyland captured his heart? Jedi Training. While we were looking around the first day the kids discovered young people training with a Jedi Master to battle Darth Vader and Darth Maul. They. Were. Hooked. What we didn't know was the trainees were selected at random using "the force." Really Disneyland? Isn't it against their policy to feel such anxiety at the happiest place on earth? Noah had his little heart set on Jedi Training, and we would spend the entire day there waiting if that's what it took! During the first class selection we attended the kids weren't sitting together and neither was selected. The kids sat through the entire training and fully enjoyed themselves. Not being selected didn't dampen their spirits one bit. We'll just try at the next one....grrrrreat. Now Brian and I had to come up with a strategy to get these two selected. Full credit goes to Brian here...we were there plenty early because we never left the area, and he strategically placed the kids wearing their matching white shirts/sunglasses and holding hands on the front left side. How can he not pick the cute "twins?" Enough people already think they're twins, might as well use that for all it's worth! And it worked! I'm not sure the master Jedi in charge of selection was really all the impressed with our plan..."yes, yes the brother and sister holding hands." But who cares? It worked and absolutely MADE my son's trip. We are now the proud parents of two Jedi Training graduates.


PIXIE HOLLOW
Nearly as much as Noah wanted to do Jedi Training, Ava wanted to visit Pixie Hollow and meet Tinkerbell. I'm beyond grateful that both of these wishes came true. And who is Noah kidding, he loved meeting Tink too....little ladies man.

CALIFORNIA SCREAMIN!
I couldn't believe it but both kids were tall enough to go on this ride! We couldn't get Ava to go, but Noah went not once but twice! Not sure he really loved it but I was very proud of him for going.

Poor Diane and Bill ended up with a stomach flu which kept them down for some of the trip. When we were together it was a fun time! Vera's face in the last one still cracks me up.

GOOFY'S KITCHEN
In the package Annette purchased for all of us was a character breakfast at Goofy's Kitchen. I have to say, this was one of my favorites. The kids had a great time and really loved having Suzie (mouse from Cinderella), Jasmine, Alice (in Wonderland), Chip & Dale, Pluto, and Goofy autograph their books!

Just some pictures I love....

RADIATOR SPRINGS
We got to see the Cars movie come to life in Radiator Springs! To be perfectly honest I think I enjoyed this more than either of the kids. It was so cool! They did an amazing job of bringing the movie to life. We rode Luigi's Tires with Grampa, stopped at Flo's V8 Cafe for some fuel, visited Sarge's Supply store, had ice-cream at the Cozy Cone Motel, etc. The one ride I really, really wanted Noah to experience was the "Radiator Springs Racers." As it turns out, so did everyone else. The average wait time was pushing two hours...for a two minute ride. BUT, I love my son and I thought he would love this ride. It was our last night there and we thought being a Monday night we would have a better chance. Not so. When we arrived one of the cars was broken on the track. They wouldn't tell us how long the repairs would take, nor if the ride would re-open. We went to have a little dinner and then checked back afterward. After waiting about 10 minutes the ride re-opened and we made our way down into what I had hoped would be a short line. Yeah. It wasn't. There were SO many people in there! The wait was still 90 minutes! Short consult with Brian, we've gotta do it. Okay. I'm in. After about 15 or 20 minutes of waiting in a line that moved about a foot a nice gentleman came on over the speaker announcing the ride was broken again. Aaaaaaaand I'm done. We wiggled out way out of the massive line and headed for any other ride! I was disappointed but both kids were very tired and completely okay with not waiting for that ride. Instead, we decided to head back to a favorite, Goofy's Flying School roller coaster.

GOOFY'S FLYING SCHOOL
I love a good roller coaster. The faster the better. This "little kids" coaster scared the you know what out of me. Perhaps it was because I am a mother now and my two children were sitting in front of me in this death trap. It's the very jerky kind of coaster that takes you to the edge, making you feel like you are going to fly off, then jerking to the left or right. Guess what ride the kids wanted to do (FOUR times in a row) the night we couldn't do Cars? Yup. This one. I was terrified. As you can see...they are having the time of their lives.


This was a vacation to remember! Thanks Disneyland and Grammy & Grampa Coury!!!!