When you Wish upon a Star...........

We finally went to Disneyland!! And it was AWESOME! I don't know who loves it more - me or the kids??? It really is the happiest place on earth. We took Addie when she was 2 -- and it has taken me 5 years to get us back there. And now I hope to make it an annual trip. :)

It ALMOST didn't happen. The weekend before we were supposed to start our trip down to California -- both Gwen and Jackson had a stomach bug. Then the day before we were supposed to leave -- Jackson got pink eye. But I started him on medicine right away and the doc. said he wouldn't be contagious by the time we were around anyone else (but that will be a story for another blog)

So first we stayed with Sam's family in Manteca for a couple of days and saw both his family and some of mine. Then drove down to our beloved San Luis Obispo and saw old friends, ate at all of our favorite places and played at the beach for a few days. We stayed with my awesome friend Carley -- who I adore and miss even more.

Then came the night before the BIG morning. We kept it a secret from the kids. We also kept it a secret that for the first day of Disneyland my sister - Amber's family and my mom would go with us. They had driven 8 hours down just to spend the first day with us -- and my mom had bought a plane ticket to fly out the day after our first day. SO there was A LOT riding on this first day. And of course........ Addie was up until 3:30 am throwing up. I couldn't tell her to suck it up -- we are going to Disneyland tomorrow -- or suck it up - everyone came all this way to spend only tomorrow with us -- you can't be sick!!!

So I prayed. I prayed and prayed and prayed. I was pretty sure -- that it wasn't really a stomach bug -- I was pretty sure that she was sick because of the heat and no water. Yes - I am a good mother. :) She had been on the beach the last 3 days -- and that last day -- she really didn't drink much .

Well when morning came -- my prayers were answered. She was guzzling water - and asking for breakfast. I was so happy.

So we told the kids that we were going to go find a park and play. It just happened to be that the park we "found" was Disneyland!!

They were so cute. Addie - kinda guessed it when we got close. But the look on Gwenny's face was so guarded. It was like she didn't want to really think that was where we were going because she didn't want to be disappointed. So when she really finally believed us -- it was very cute. There were lots of squeals.

Then we entered the park -- well we entered into the middle place where you could either go one way to Disneyland or the other way and go to California Adventure. Well the timing couldn't have been more perfect because the same time we entered from one end -- my mom and sister's family entered from the other end -- the girls saw each other -- ran to each other - hugged, squealed and jumped. Then as we walked into Disneyland -- Mickey Mouse was leading a parade down main street right as we walked up --- it really couldn't have been a more perfect entrance for us. :)

I am a wisher. I wish on stars. I wish on my birthday candles. I hold my breathe thru tunnels and make a wish. And every time my wish has always been the same -- Disneyland. Well -- my wish came true. I will keep wishing -- because it really is a magical place. The kids are in awe the whole time - and I love it. I love you Disneyland!!

*****I apologize for the amount of pictures -- but I had to post them all.

Yay Disneyland!!!

The Characters.................






















The rides.........................





Some exploring................


Mickey Mouse............