Disney FUN!

I said I had pictures, and I wasn't kidding! I think I'll separate the pictures and post in three installments, according to what it's about!

So, installment 1, Disneyland:

We arrived Tuesday morning at 7:30 am, rented a car, and drove straight to the hotel and walked to the Magic Kingdom. That morning was a killer! We left our house at 4:15, that's AM folks, to catch our flight to CA. The kids loved the flight, it was Nicole and Jared's first airplane ride, but I was so tired I forgot to take any pictures on the plane...oops!

Disneyland was fun, but very crowded dang it! The park workers told us they were having record crowds for this time of year, and even extended the hours a couple nights. Perfect. We were there with half the state of Utah (I'm serious), and the rest of the people there were from AZ!

Riley liked all the big rides, Tower of Terror, California Screamin', etc.


Nicole was again the bravest 5 year old I know and went on EVERYTHING she could! She did Tower of Terror twice, and California Screamin', and all the roller coasters at Disneyland.


Jared was tall enough this year to start going on some of the bigger rides and roller coasters. He didn't like Space Mountain or the Matterhorn, but loved Thunder Mountain, Splash Mountain, Grizzly Rapids, and Star Tours. Both he and Nicole loved the "play area" in California Adventure, but the name escapes me....Something redwood?!?

Ellie loved Pirates of the Carribean, Small World, and was barely tall enough to go on the little roller coaster in Toon Town....so being the abusive parents we are, we took all 21+ months of her on it! I couldn't help but laugh at her face as we went down the first hill! Absolute terror! But by the end of the ride, she was laughing and having a grand time, so I guess she forgave us.

Ron and I did most of them. I hate Tower of Terror, so Ron did that, and Ron didn't want to get wet, so I went on Grizzly Rapids and got soaked....I even got wet the next day on Splash Mountain. I went on California Screamin' and thought I was going to die....I didn't feel the need to repeat that one! We were both sad that Indiana Jones was broken the whole time we were there...it's been 7 years since I've done that ride since the last 2 times I've been at Disneyland I've been pregnant. The Haunted Mansion was all done up for Halloween in a "Nightmare Before Christmas" theme, and it was fun.

All in all, a great trip! Although there are no pictures of Ron....he was there! He was behind the camera in all these.

Installment 2: Our Kids, the JEDI'S!!

I'd heard about this new show at Disneyland, "Jedi Training Academy," and since Nicole and Jared are addicted to the Lego Star Wars game, and the Star Wars movies (old and new), I thought we'd check it out.

It's a really interactive show, where they start out by picking about 30 kids out of the audience to come receive "Jedi training" and then get to test out their skills.

We arrived at the last show of the day about 30 minutes early and got almost the last spaces right up front. So we sat and waited, and I thought how funny it would be if either got chosen. The show started up, and once the "Jedi Master" moved to our side to start picking recruits, the kids were all screaming and jumping excitedly up and down. Nicole was the 2nd kid he chose! (I think they picked almost all the girls there!)
So then I was hoping, hoping Jared could go out too. He picked a bunch more kids, then moved back to where we were. By now Riley and I are standing behind Jared pointing at him with pleading looks on our faces, and sure enough, he got picked TOO!
They dressed all the kids in Jedi robes and gave them light sabers, then taught them a combination of moves to use with their light sabers.

At this point some storm troopers run out, and the stage rises up, smoke and music and all, and out comes Darth Vader and Darth Maul. Jared was SO into it! Vader tries to convince the recruits to (insert Darth Vader voice here!) "join him on the Dark Side," and then the Jedi says their force is too strong, and Darth will have to fight them!





Nicole got put in the group to fight Darth Maul, and Jared in the group to go against Vader. Each kid took their own separate turn with the help of the Jedi masters.








Nicole got a bit freaked out because right as she went up to fight Darth Maul, he backed up and then did a spinning jump in the air right in front of her so she backed WAY up! But then she timidly did her moves.


Jared just marched right up to Vader on his turn, activated his light saber, and did his moves! He was great!
I think I was more excited they got chosen to participate than they were, but they had fun!