Disneyland 2012

We just returned from a fantastic family vacation to Disneyland. We invited my parents to come along with us as well and everyone had a fantastic time. Here are some pictures and highlights.

We left on the morning of Valentine's Day and the kids woke up to Valentine's gift bags filled with treats for the trip. They were fantastic in the car and we were able to curtain Max's car sickness with some medicine.

Poor little Max got really sick with a stomach flu the night of our first day at Disneyland. The next morning he rested up and then joined us for the afternoon. This was his first ride feeling better.

Max driving Mr. Toad's car.

The boys were thrilled to meet one of their favorite characters: Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates.

Watching the fireworks our last night there.

The first morning we had breakfast with Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, and Stitch, and I thought Max was going to die of excitement right then. He absolutely loves Mickey and he couldn't believe he was meeting him in person.

Practicing surfing with Mickey.

Max was so excited when Pluto came out. I couldn't even get him to turn around for a picture.

Max getting a big hug from Stitch.

Max on his daddy's shoulders watching the Disneyland parade.

Grandma and Grandpa Goates were troopers. We walked and walked and walked and walked, and they kept up! They were a great help with the kids, and the kids loved having them there.

On our last day in California we went to the beach. Max had never been and Myles didn't remember it.

With all this fair skin I don't think we will ever be beach-bums.

Mason loved collecting shells at the beach, and stood up grinning when he accidentally did a face plant into the water.

Climbing to the top of Tarzan's Tree House.

One of the things the kids looked forward to the most was Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island. Fortunately it did not dissapoint.

They even found the pirate's treasure.

Grandpa Goates with the boys on the boat to the island.

Myles was a little nervous about the characters and kept saying to himself over and over "Disney is fake." It was his way of keeping himself from being scared. But after the first day he got into it and wasn't scared.

Mason loving his interaction with Minnie.

Max thought it was absolutely hilarious that Stitch kept trying to drink his chocolate milk.

Myles getting his moment with Mickey.

Mason is really into Robots, so he loved meetin ASIMO, Honda's Robot at Disneyland.

Myles trying on a Dumbo hat.

Myles' favorite ride was the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. He went on it 6 times!

Mason was a total trooper and never got tired! He just kept going and going and going and loved every second of it.

Once Max started feeling better my mom and I took him to Fantasyland while the other boys did "big boy" things so he could get all his rides in. The cutie-pie has no fear.

Max meeting his hero.

Myles and I on Astro Blasters. By the time we were done riding it SIX TIMES I was getting pretty good at it!

This was a highlight. It is called Turtle Talk with Crush and the turtle animation talks to people in the audience. The first person he asked to talk to was Mason and Mason was so cute with him.

The days at Disneyland wore Max out and he would come into the hotel room, change into his Mickey pajamas, and cuddle up on his Mickey couch with his Mickey doll, under piles of Mickey blankets, and fall right to sleep. Dreaming of Mickey no doubt.

When Max saw Buzz Lightyear he started waving enthusiastically yelling "Hi Buzz! Hi Buzz!"

The kids enjoyed swimming in the hotel pool with Grandpa and Daddy.

Max meeting Donald.

Max loved this "fishy" carrosel at California Adventure. Fortunately there was no line, so when it stopped Max would yell "again! Push the button!" and the ride operator would oblige.

Marshall had to try one of the turkey legs he saw people walking around with.  That is a big chunk of meat.

Mason had a great time with grandma and grandpa.

The boys with their glasses on to go on the Star Tours ride. Marshall would have just done that ride over and over if the kids would go along with it. Mason went on it with him probably 5 times, and Myles 2 times. Myles found it much too scary. But we decided that Mason was probably old enough to watch Star Wars to tonight when we got home we let him watch it, and of course he LOVED IT. But. . .when he went to bed tonight he came out and said he was too scared to sleep because Myles' breathing sounded like Darth Vader. Geesh.

We had a fantastic time and feel like our kids were just such a great age for it. It was still magical for them and they loved it all. I'm already looking forward to the next trip!