Disneyland 2019

My kids insisted if we go to California, we had to go to Disneyland.  I was too excited about it (the lines, the money, the rides that make me sick), but it turned out to be such a great day--that's right, I only let them do ONE DAY!  Here's some of the highlights:

We started off the day with Summer and I doing the little kid rides, while Mike went with the big kids to do the most popular rides.  I was a little nervous about how Summer would do on the rides, but she just loved every ride.  Peter Pan, Dumbo (the longest line we stood in--about 35min), and Nemo were her favorites (we did them all twice).

 

Then we stopped for a Dole Whip before meeting up with Dad.

Summer wanted to show Dad all her favorite rides and he took her on the spinny rides that make me sick (like the tea cups)

 Summer's new friend baby Bolt:)

 Finally met up with the big kids and did some family rides, the parade, and the fireworks.  Such a fun (and expensive) day.

Being tourists in California

When trying to decide where to go during our week trip to California, it was a little tricky.  There were places that we knew we wanted to go back to...like Randy's Donuts and then places that the kids couldn't remember but were great, like Hollywood, places that we frequented while living there, and then places we had never been before.  We tried to mix in a little of everything.

Santa Monica 

(SO crowded...we definitely could have skipped this one after seeing the crowds_yikes)

Oh, and everyone got sunburned...well, except me and Summer

(pat myself on the back for great sunscreen application skillz)

Randy's Donuts...just as amazing as I remembered!!

Beverly Hills

 We found the tree where we carved our names years ago.

Kya during the initial carving...

The big kids wanted to check out Rodeo drive

We hiked kind of close to the Hollywood Sign

(closer than we ever got when we lived there)

And since we were kind of nearby...Jordan wanted to check out the lamp post exhibit...didn't quite time it right since we wanted to get there at night but it was still kind of cool (and super windy)

Oh and Mike kind of got to see his precious tar pits:)

It only took SIX YEARS!!!

We FINALLY decided it was time to go back to California!!  I am not sure how it didn't happen sooner, but boy are we glad we finally made it happen.  I didn't realize until we walked out onto the sand at sunset, how much I had missed my California!  It was kind of an emotional trip for me...surreal to be back to a place where my big kids grew up and with Summer who I longed for while we lived there. 

And, of course, we had to stop at Tumby's!