DISNEYLAND!!!!!

For a couple years we've said we'd go to Disneyland this summer. Mary would barely be young enough to still get in free but old enough that both her and Lydia would be able to enjoy it. But then this summer filled up so quick with trips that we figured we would be too busy and it would be a little out of our budget. But a couple weeks ago my friend Kris Hewitt texted me and said that they were going and their hotel room was big enough to share with us if we wanted to join. We looked over our budget, decided to do this instead of some other things we were planning on, Robert moved his schedule around a little bit, and before we knew it we were on our way. I got back from Utah on Tuesday, Wednesday afternoon we drove down to Anaheim, and Thursday we headed to the park.

Walking to Disneyland from the hotel. Mary is a goof!

One of the things Lydia was most excited for was seeing the Mickey flowers.

Flashback to 5 years ago when Robert and I went for our honeymoon. Oh how young and naive we were :)

Several people recommended making a list of "musts" and to do those first. After talking to the girls our "musts" were the Peter Pan ride, the carousel, the Dumbo ride, and waiting in line to see some of the princesses. Peter Pan was the first thing we did. Lydia was AMAZED. She got off and went on and on, "That was the best ride in the WHOLE WORLD! We flew, and we were in the stars, and then there was a rainbow! That. Was. AMAZING!!" She has kind of a passionate personality ;)

Then it was off to the carousel.

James was a total trooper all day. He spent most of it in the carrier with me, and when he'd get hungry I'd feed him like this. And for the most part he napped in the carrier too. Such an easy baby!!

Then the Dumbo ride.

Instead of any of the forever long individual lines for the princesses, we went to The Royal Hall where it's one line for 3 princesses. We had the girls' princess outfits in our backpack, and the girls were so excited to put them on when we pulled them out.

James charmed everyone in the princess line too.

The 3 princesses we got to see were Snow White, Ariel, and Sleeping Beauty and the girls were completely starstruck by each one.

Since the lines for the Peter Pan ride and the princesses can be really long, we weren't sure we'd get much more than our "musts" done. So when we got all of that done and had only been at the park for 2 hours, we were pretty stoked and considered everything we did the rest of the day "bonus."
First, it was off to Autopia. By the way, the Switch Pass -- if you're going to Disneyland with a baby it's the best thing EVER!

If you ask Mary what her favorite ride was, she says this every time.

They were so excited to hug Tigger, there was an audible, "Awww!" by the crowd around us from the cuteness of them.

Tarzan's Treehouse

In line for Buzz Astro Blasters, another favorite of the girls.

Feeding James as he dozed off... again :)

Classic picture of Robert and the girls hiding behind their fingers.
It's a Grandpa Johnston thing.

We owe it all to these guys! It wouldn't have happened if the Hewitts hadn't offered to share their hotel with us. They are the best!!

This picture perfectly illustrates the craziness of Disneyland with 6 kids 4 and under

We went on Small World and then I went to save a spot for us for the parade while Robert took the girls on Casey Jr.

Lydia takes after her Dad ;)

I shaded the girls while they ate their dinner before the parade. Lydia snatched this picture.

The girls waited anxiously for each float and then would squeal with excitement when they figured out who was on it. I started getting emotional just loving how much they were loving it.

The best part of this video - Mary's subconscious dancing through the whole thing :)

This is my favorite picture of the whole trip! Look at all
the excitement in that little face!! :)

By about 8:30pm the kids (and parents) were beat, so we went back to the hotel to watch the fireworks from our balcony. I prefer to watch them from in the park, but we wanted to be sure we left the park on a high note AKA without screaming kids.

The girls fell asleep cuddling their Mickey and Minnie dolls. The perfect end to the perfect day.

And then Friday we headed back up to Santa Cruz. It was such an amazing trip! It was the first family vacation we've ever done that didn't include a family reunion or going to Arizona to see family. This was just about our little family having fun as our little family, and I LOVE my little family. For a first family trip to Disneyland, it could not have gone better. It wasn't without the occasional meltdown, but you have to expect that. I love Disneyland, and I LOVE my family :)

MDB 2014

Well, Memorial Day Weekend arrived and that means, as always, it was my family's annual Memorial Day Breakfast (MDB) in Oak City, Utah. I missed it last year and I did NOT want to miss it again, especially with this year being a reunion year. So when we realized Robert's work schedule wouldn't allow him to come, I booked the flight, rental car, and hotel and off I went. Since James flies free, he got to be my traveling buddy.

James' first flight. He wasn't sure what exactly to think of it.

Fell asleep before we took off and slept the whole flight.

A did a little driving around Provo before heading down to Oak City.

Provo City Center Temple Under Construction - We were living in Provo when the fire happened in the tabernacle.

Got to the hotel and found this little note when I unpacked my bag. Robert loves me :)

Oak City Band at the Country Store

We got buttons to go with our shirts this reunion. The number above their name represents the number of great-great grandchild they are. That means in just over 2 years 50 babies were born in this family! The adults are being overrun!

Great Grandma and Grandpa Angie and Willis made it to the reunion ;)

The 3 Grandma Millie clan November babies! Born with 11 days of each other. In Aunt Millie's words, "Uncle Willie is up there kicking them out of heaven, down to us."

Saturday night dance!! James didn't last long at this. The Quadrille caller was too loud for his little ears, so we had to cut out early. It's too bad though since this is one of my favorite parts of the weekend.

Sunday Bunco - What's the most you've seen play Bunco at once?? It's epic :)

Rocking our reunion shirts. Aunt Mary's family did a great job with them.

My little buddy :)

Memorial Day Breakfast

Pure Deliciousness!!

Many hands make light work

...and more hands

...and more hands :) We fed nearly 1200 people this year.

The program at the cemetery. I love how it looks with all the flags.

James basking in the sun and spirit of his Great Grandma Millie's grave site.

Then after spending a night with Preston and Sharon in Provo, I flew home. I had a layover in LA with a plane change. While I waited for my next leg, I watched and silently giggled at this adorable, old couple.

She's showing him features on the iPhone their daughter that they were visiting just gave to her. Their conversation went something like this -
Lady: Look here. This F, it's called a Facebook app.
Man: Well what's that for?
Lady: People keep in touch with each other with it. You know that picture we took at dinner last night? Here it is! Donna put it on Facebook, and then look at this. My grade school friend has already commented on it! Can you believe it??
Man: Would you look at that? How did Donna get that on there?
Lady: I don't know, but it's amazing!!

See... Adorable! :)

And to close out this post, one more picture of James sleeping on the last leg. He was the perfect little traveler. Sleeping the whole flight every flight. Then when he would wake up he'd be so smiley and charming. I'm pretty sure he brightened everyone's day on every flight. That's my boy ;)

It was such a GREAT weekend. And so fun to be all independent and adventurous like I pretend to be sometimes. ;) I love my family!