This idea of this trip all started back when Carter was a baby. We had been talking about wanting to do Disneyland together but that it would be quite a ways off because of having a baby. We also knew that we would be wanting another baby in the near future and would not be doing Disneyland with babies, toddlers, or while I was pregnant. I wanted to be able to ride every single ride! So in our Disneyland conversation we decided that when our second baby was done needing mommy for their source of food, we would go without our kids. Fast forward quite a bit, Madelynn comes into our family. When she was probably six months or so we started thinking about this vacation again. Then we were blessed with a Christmas present from my dad and stepmom for a week at the Worldmark right by Disneyland. So right about Madelynn's first birthday we bought plane tickets. We were originally planning on going in May (just two months after she turned one) for my 30th birthday but I was just not feeling great about that. I was afraid she wouldn't be done nursing yet and that I might miss her very first steps. So we bought plane tickets for October instead and planned it to celebrate my 30th, our five year anniversary in December, and Jay's 30th birthday in January. The other reason this trip was talked about is because I wanted a big 30th birthday. I love birthday's and the two previous to my 30th were not great. One of them I was miscarrying and one of them Jay had the flu. I told Jay he had to go big for my 30th :) So that's how this all began.
We flew out on October 19th, 2013 and flew home the 25th. We had six nights away. We spent three days at Disneyland, one day visiting Hollywood and San Diego, and one day at Universal Studios. The first day at Disney was extra special because Jay's brother was able to join us. He was in the area (from Iowa) on business and extended his trip one day to spend the day with us at Disneyland. Sadly, on our second day at Disneyland I accidentally deleted every single picture on our camera. Because of that monumental mistake we have no pictures of Wade with us. He did send us his pictures, I just haven't figured out how to retrieve them yet to get them on here. The picture above is actually our first picture we took after I deleted everything. You can't really tell but I was crying in the picture. Thank goodness for sunglasses.
With all of our pictures gone we spent the next couple hours trying to recapture some of the pictures we lost. We went back around and took some at our favorite places and with our favorite people. I was pretty devastated!
Since we were there in October they had the place all decked out in cute pumpkins. That was very fun. The only downside to going in October is that they have Halloween parties a few nights a week that you have to pay extra to attend. They shut down the entire park early for the party. We were planning on being there till late again and then heard over the speaker that the park would be closed at six. That was disappointing. The night before we were there from open to midnight and planned on doing that again. We did get to enjoy a nice dinner though and the hot tub that night at our resort.
Oh, Cars Land! This place was amazing. We can't wait to take Carter there someday soon! Amazing place!
Everything was so realistic and straight from the movie.
Oops, forgot to flip this picture. We had a new little camera for the trip and for some reason it didn't flip the pictures on its own when we uploaded the pictures to the computer.
Finally got our picture with Lightening McQueen! I was very sad at that moment that Carter wasn't with us. He would have been amazed!
I'm not a big roller coaster ride girl so Jay did the one big one, California Screemin', on his own. Maybe the next time we go I will build up enough courage to go. Carter says he will go on it!
Even the shuttle buses are made just for Carter.
This was the view from our room. Our room was on the 11th floor and faced right out to Disneyland. We were able to watch the firework show right from our balcony eating cheesecake from the Cheesecake factory that was right next door.
After two days of Disneyland, we took a break and spent the next day touring a little. We got up early and drove to Hollywood. We were planning on spending most of the day in San Diego and then going to the America's Got Talent concert that evening. We thought we would add Hollywood to that too since neither of us had been there. We were NOT impressed.
These guys begged us to take a picture with them and then of course expected money in return. They got $3 from us and were extremely disappointed. Kind of funny.
After we walked around for a few minutes we headed back to the freeway and back toward San Diego. I have family in Vista so we spent a little time with them. We went and visited with my Aunt Ronda first and then the three of us went and visited with my Grandma. I haven't seen her since Carter was about three months old. Sadly, we were not thinking and didn't get a single picture with them. After visiting with them we stopped by my friend Jess' house to visit with her and her two boys. We met at MOPS a couple of years ago, became fast friends, and then they moved down to San Diego. We miss them! These are her two boys, Jack and Wyatt, who were Carter's good buddies.
After our visit with Jess and the boys, we headed up the street for our first meal at In n Out. Then drove on down the rest of the way to San Diego. We were a little early for the concert so we drove down to the water and saw all of these massive ships. It was pretty cool.
And then it was time for the show! My cousin Eric's wife Cami made it to sixth place on America's Got Talent and got to go on tour with them. It was awesome that we got to go while we were down there. They weren't playing anywhere near home so we didn't think we would get to go. She got us great VIP tickets. We had amazing seats and then got to stay after the show for the meet and greet and meet everyone in the show and see Cami. Super fun!
The next day we spent at Universal Studios. We had a great day there!
The studio tour was amazing! We got to see where they actually film a bunch of movies and shows. This spot was where they filmed the dog peeing from the movie Bruce Almighty.
And this set was from Back to the Future. The clock tower scene was right here.
Part way through the tour you go into this building on the tour bus and that is where they do the amazing King Kong part of the tour. It was crazy!
Different cars from movies.
We were just sitting here listening to the tour guide tell us stuff about this spot when all of a sudden a flash flood happens and water comes crashing down the hill right to the tour bus. It was very cool!
This was crazy too. I don't even know how to explain it but this semi truck comes crashing down toward us. It felt like it was going to just crash right into us. Amazing stuff.
Scene from War of the Worlds with Tom Cruise. The plane crash was filmed right here.
This water show was called Water World. It was pretty amazing.
The Jurassic Park Ride. Again, crazy! The drop at the end of this was unreal. Crazy scary...but I did it and even went back a second time!
The transformers ride right after we got wet on the Jurassic Park ride. This was an amazing ride!
We made it back in time for the fire work show again :)
We ended our trip at Disneyland. Great way to end an amazing trip.
The Indiana Jones ride...probably my favorite ride at Disneyland.
Finally got our picture with Minnie.
Space Mountain...
And finally a picture with Mater! I had to beg for this picture. They were literally shutting it down with the final people getting their picture with the people right in front of us. I was begging him to let us go and that our son was back at home in Oregon and would just love to see us with Mater and we would be super fast. He finally let us go quick and then Mater drove off so Lightening could come in. It was a close one!
Our favorite ride at California Adventure...Cars Racers. We rode it seven times! Amazing ride! Can't wait to take Carter on this one!
On the Ferris wheel. Seriously tall Ferris wheel! Some of the cages rock back and forth and some stay still. The first time we did the rocking ones and I can promise you that I will NEVER do that again! Scariest thing I have ever done. We did the other one too and that I was fine with.
This would be right up there with the rocking cages on the Ferris wheel...I HATED Tower of Terror! I like rides but this was crazy! I'm not sure I will ever do that one again either.
Our final time on Cars Racers ride. We kept getting back in line for the single rider line. We literally walked right on each time instead of waiting for 90 minutes in the regular line.
Goodbye California Adventure...you will be missed!
Goodbye Disneyland...you will also be missed!
Our final dinner at Disneyland on our last night in California. We ate at one of the little restaurants on Main Street. It was amazing food!
Final time on Indiana Jones...as the park was closing! We almost didn't get on because the ride shut down right before it was our turn. Thankfully they fixed it quick and we were able to get on.
The view straight down from our balcony.
Our view of Disneyland.
Leaving our resort to fly back home. Sad to be leaving...
But very excited to be seeing our kids in just a few hours...
Our car for the week.
Amazing view of Crater Lake from the airplane.
Our little plane.
And finally home with our kids! We missed them so much! They had a great week at home with Grandma though! My mom stayed with them the whole week and they got to spend some time with Jay's mom too. It was so nice knowing they were safe and happy while we were gone. It made our trip so much better for us. I knew they missed us but that they were happy being with their Grandma!
All of us in our Mickey and Minnie shirts. Home sweet home! Amazing vacation!
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