The Happiest Place On Earth

Since we live about 30 minutes from Disneyland, we have season passes. We usually try to go once or twice a month and even more at Christmas time because it is decorated so well. If anyone is planning on coming to Disneyland I totally suggest going anytime after Thanksgiving thru Christmas. It is so beautiful and I just love being around all the decorations. We went on Friday since Eric didn't have to work and we had a really enjoyable, relaxing time. Also since we have season passes Eric made a goal to ride every ride and go through every store before we move. He only has a few more rides before he reaches his goal. We got to the park early hoping to get in line for the Finding Nemo ride. For those of you who don't know it is a "new" ride that opened in June and the line has been 3 hours long ever since, and we refuse to stand in that kind of ride. But when we got there it was already over an hour long. So we headed over to Pirates of the Caribbean (Lexie's favorite ride) and rode that.

After we got off that one the Mark Twain Ferry was in dock and Eric needed to ride it for his goal and since it has been in shut down for the last 6 months he hasn't been able too. It was pretty good. Just a leisurely ride around their little river.

They now also have a Pirate's Lair on Mark Twain Island that has pirate shows so we took the kids over there. On the ferry ride over Lexie sprawled out on the floor looking at the map makring where we had to go. She loves the maps they give her at Disneyland.

It is a great place to let them just run around and climb onto things. We went through caves, and climbed stairs galore. They had treehouses and bridges. Lexie and Eric climbed through the treehouses and Lexie didn't want to come out.

Joshua especially loved pumping water. He saw Lexie doing it and he just had to do it too. He was so proud of himself.

There was also a wheel that the kids could turn and as they turned it a treasure chest rose out of the water. Lexie was so excited to do it and once again when Joshua saw her doing it he had to too.

After the Pirates Lair it was almost time for the Parade. Lexie loves the parade, though I must admit so do I. I saved a bench, while Eric took Lexie on some of the little rides, and it ended up being in the best spot. We watch the parade almost every time we go and I have never got such good pictures. Where we were sitting there was no one in front of us so Lexie had free reign and she was so excited. She waves at everyone passing by, and this time she got special attention. Alice in Wonderland came over and talked to her, and then kept waving at her. And then Goofy came over and gave her five. No one else around us got that treatment and let me tell you Lexie was thrilled, she could barely contain herself.

After the parade we dashed over to Finding Nemo and the line was only 45 min. long and so we got in it. It was actually a pretty neat ride. The line moves fast so you don't realize that you have been standing in it for a long time. Riding this ride also got Eric closer to his goal. All he has left is a canoe ride and a toon town ride. Everyone should be so proud of him for being so close to accomplishing such a worthwhile goal.

There is also a car ride that lets the kids steer. I didn't think that Joshua would understand it but once the car started moving he wanted to steer. He would get so mad if I tried to do it. The major problem was that he kept crashing, sending him flying backward and me sideways. But he would be laughing the whole time. Who knew that at 13 months he would get such enjoyment out of crashing the cars. Shortly after riding the cars we left and the kids crashed in the car. What a great way to start a weekend. And I get to take the kids back on tomorrow with some friends.