Disneyland really happened!!

We have been wanting to take the girls to Disneyland. Obviously. It's the thing to do when you have kids and you hear it's a magical place. We started making plans last year and then it fell through. We started making plans for this year and were hopeful it would actually happen, come November. Then we got word that we have to move and Disneyland was once again in question. 

Then my friend, Randi, invited us to come stay with her and the girls and have a weekend in Disneyland!! I jumped on the chance and fortunately Brian was on board. He was totally fine missing the girls first Disneyland experience. First, it saved him money since he wouldn't be going. Second, he knew how badly I have wanted to go.

We were going to be there Thursday-Monday and fortunately Bria didn't have school Thursday or Friday so she only missed one day.

I started packing Sunday.

And packed right up until we left on Thursday morning. I didn't want to forget anything and I wanted to make it as easy on myself as possible while I was there since it would just be me wrangling our two girls. 

 Each girl had a ziploc bag for each day that included their clothes and a back up in case someone spilled or something.

We didn't tell the girls until Wednesday night, I was nearly bursting at the seams and couldn't wait to tell them.

Their reaction was priceless, made me tear up a little.

Thursday morning Brian dropped us off at the airport and when the girls saw each other they were ecstatic.

 YAY DISNEYLAND!!!!

Flight went well and when we arrived at our hotel, Goofy was there to greet us. 

 After we checked in and dumped our bags in the room we raced out to the park to enjoy some magic :)

 Obligatory picture at the entrance

 Sweet sisters

 Randi and me with our four girls! As Randi stated, it was the bravest and craziest thing we did to take all the kiddos to Disneyland sans husbands. But man did we make some awesome memories!

 The first characters we saw were the Mad Hatter and Alice, let the autographs and picture taking begin!

And the first ride was the teacups, wahoo!!!

 Daisy Duck

 At Mickey's house

We pushed our double jogging strollers all over the park that Thursday afternoon and into the evening. We went on a few rides and saw some characters and just took it all in. 

 On the Goofy roller coaster

 Reese was a wee bit tired at this point, I can't blame her considering it was a long day of traveling and pretty jam packed with action

 Some Olaf cotton candy perked her up for a bit though :)

 Randi and I in a sea of balloons...we didn't buy all those, we just asked to hold them for an extra cool selfie picture :)

 As you might have guessed, the girls crashed that evening....

 ...and although Randi and I were equally as tired, we took the time to have a glass of wine and chat about our extraordinary day.
Then made plans for our first full day at the park...
Friday the weather was pretty darn great, not too hot, not too cold. We managed to do tons of rides in the morning, saw a few characters, basically did the disneyland thing. We also made it over to California Adventure which I loved. I haven't been to Disneyland in 20 years so California Adventure didn't even exist yet.
I'm glad it does now because it was pretty darn cool.

 Reese and Presleigh proclaimed to be best friends the whole trip :)

 3D glasses for the Woody ride!

 Mater ride!

 Bugs land ride

 In front of Boo's door (that's the little girls' name in Monsters Inc right?)

 Chip and Dale proved to be pretty fun and gosh darn adorable, we saw them a few times throughout our trip and the girls loved them.

 We even saw some villians...

 It always amazed me how the characters were truly IN character. They became the person and it made it so much fun to talk with them. Also, I loved the fact that we were never rushed by them. They took the time to sign autograph books, take pictures, talk with the kids, and generally make it special for the kids. Yes, the lines would sometimes take a little while, but it was totally worth it. They provided 100% attention and focus on your child when it was our turn. Can't say enough good things about the characters, they just make it that much more of a magical place.

My girls loved going into the Lego store. Who knew? I guess I should buy them more Legos! I told the girls to make a mean face here, Charleigh and Reese did a fabulous job :) Bria just stuck her tongue out at the mean guy and Presleigh wanted to touch him, haha.

 Each day we would head back to the hotel room around noon for naps. It really helped to give the girls (and us Moms) some rest so we could last until at least dark, since it's so pretty there at night. We got to see the parade 2 of the nights we were there and all the girls were mesmerized by it. I am still singing the song in my head from the parade, it's very catchy.

 A parade and ice cream at Disneyland, these girls are living the dream

 All.Over.Her.Face. 

All.Over.

 They see the princess float!!!

 Randi and her Charleigh girl

 I love Mary Poppins, her dress is gorgeous!

 On the Ferris wheel with my girls

 Once again, Reese was tired

 Mommies got some fun drinks while the kids danced at the Frozen area

 All ready for bed in their matching Cinderella PJ's

 Out for the count, with her Elsa doll

Saturday morning we woke up super early to get into Disneyland by 7 am for the Magic Morning, and it paid off because it was so bare and we were the first ones on the Dumbo ride!

 Look, no crowd!

 We also did Minnie's breakfast and got to meet some fun characters:

 Fairy Godmother 

 Max, Goofy's nephew

 Minnie herself!!!!

 Dale

 Rafiki (Reese was dipping her watermelon in her ketchup and eating it...what?!)

We also got to go in Pixie Hollow and see Silvermist and Tinkerbell!

 Silvermist

 Tinkerbell!!!

And one of my favorite characters, Peter Pan. 

 Not because I like the movie, but because this guy was such a fun Peter Pan and incredibly sweet to the kids. And Reese says she is going to marry him. Yes, Reese. Oy vei.

 At the Lego store again

We made it to Goofy's kitchen for dinner one night and the food was fantastic. Reese was being difficult that particular evening...which means mama had a drink with dinner.

 But after some food in our tummy's we were able to go back out and have ourselves a grand old time.

 Sunday proved to be our most successful day there, we once again got up early and made it to California Adventure by 7 am and did some serious speed walking (you aren't suppose to run) straight to the Frozen area where we were second in line to meet Anna and Elsa!!!!

 Normally there is at least a 90 minute wait, so we were thrilled to get there nearly first and meet them.

 We went on a bunch of rides then headed over to Disneyland, met some characters, did more rides.

 Pluto

 In front of the castle

 Then we got to meet 3 princesses'! Cinderella, Ariel, and Snow White. Once again, this is very hard to do considering the line is typically hours long, but we stumbled upon it at just the right time and were one of the first people inside.

 Cinderella

 Snow White

Ariel

We felt we had done a pretty good amount for the first half of the day...yep, that was all before noon. So we headed back for naps and then got ready and went out for round 2 of our last day in Disneyland!

What we came back to for nap time :)

 I didn't want to go too crazy on souvenirs, but I couldn't pass up one more thing for each of us...

 ...I mean come on, it might be illegal to leave Disneyland without your very own Mouse ears. At least that's what I told Brian.

 Mater, in Cars Land

 Flick in Bugs Land...he was so cute with Reese and started dancing with her!

 We did Toon Town for awhile...

 Lock 'em up!

 And on the way back to the Hotel that night we said goodbye to Disneyland. We weren't happy to say goodbye, but we did soak it all up and do everything we could've possibly imagined.
I'm grateful to Randi for letting us stay with them...all the girls had so much fun being there together. Yes, there was some occasional fighting, but I figured there would be with all the sugar we were feeding them ;)

 I am looking forward to going back and taking Brian so he can see the pure joy in their faces when they experience Disneyland and all the happiness it brings.

Monday morning we headed to the airport and it was a little chaotic...everyone was still tired, especially my 3 year old...

 Not my most favorite plane ride, but we survived and I think some of the other passengers did as well. Although the lady behind my ordered 2 gin and tonics...at 10 am. Not judging though, I don't blame her.

Thanks for the memories Disneyland, can't wait to go back!