Disneyland!!

We are all so thankful Daddy did a great job with his sales that he earned a travel voucher to go anywhere. We debated back and forth to go on a trip with just the two of us or a family trip. Keep in mind we had to book this by Dec 1st and travel before July. Kind of crazy planning a trip before a baby is born and not knowing what that unborn child would be like. We realized we had never gone on a trip with just our immediate family that wasn't to visit other family or go with other family. So we decided it might be easier to go as a family than leave a little baby behind. So.....the planning began. We talked Disney but since we had to use the travel agent we could use a Disney hotel and I could never do Disney not on property once you do it that way. We talked a ski trip, but I felt like I would be trapped inside all day with a baby in a hotel room. So we finally decided on Disneyland! I have never been there and Brad just once. To keep within our voucher budget it helped to use grandma's Disney Vacation points for 2 days of a hotel and then 2 days at the Marriott. 

On our way to the airport Brad and I looked at ALL of our stuff and said- "what are we doing going to Disney with a 3 month (almost 4 month old). But boy oh boy did Garrett do well! Better than we could have imagined!

Boys ready for the first of 2 flights!

Here we go buddy! He didn't even make a PEEP just 2 poopy diapers on one flight. 

No messing around with our snacks! Biggest bag of sour gummy worms ever. Don't laugh they never made it back home to MN! YIKES! 

We arrived Sunday around 4 and took a Lyft to the Disney Paradise Pier Hotel- just in time for some swimming. Luke was really looking forward to the waterslide! The long travel day and the 2 hour time change kicked it and we were in bed by 8- so we could take advantage of extra magic hours! 

Day 1: California Adventure 

The hotel said it would be a 20 min walk to the park- well we got there in about 10 so we were actually at the park BEFORE it opened at 7am! 

 

Away we go! 

 First ride was Pixar Cars! Short wait and then back on as Garrett allowed the boys to go on every ride back to back- once with dad and then with mom! 

 Decided to face him outward on the carrier- he LOVED it- and made it nice for him to just spit up on the ground instead of all over me- haha

Gaurdians of the Galaxy- remake of Tower of Terror. It was great! 

  

Finding Mickey on Day 1- #winning!

 

Then it was the Incredicoaster- the height was 48 and Luke was SOOOO nervous he wouldn't make the height requirement. He went on with me no problem and then when Brad tried they said no. He cried and cried. All you can see is the top of his head. We ended up going on this ride 6 times and he made it every other time. 

We had sooo much done by noon that we actually headed back to the hotel to rest and swim. We returned later to hit up some more rides we had fast passes for. 

A great day! 

 Day 2: Disneyland- Extra Magic Hours again. 

We hit up Space Mountain first as Luke was extra for his first time! 

  

Back in the carrier!

My favorite - Big Thunder  Mountain

We hit up lots of rides before out BREAKFAST time back at the hotel! Including Splash Mountain for Luke and Brad. Luke was SOAKED!!! I have never seen anyone so wet on Splash as I did him! 

Character Breakfast: 

 We had to switch hotels after our breakfast. Brad and the boys took a Lyft with all the boys and Garrett and I walked. That is how small this place is compared to Disneyworld! 

Ready for round 2!

 

Another great day! 

Day 3: Disneyland 

We decided not to pay for fastpasses this day and I forgot that would mean no photo pass either. I was so pumped for Garrett to meet Mickey while the bigs were on a ride and I waited for 30 min. Then to be reminded later I didn't have access to the photos- had to pay 15 bucks for each one...so we will just leave the photomark on there. haha

 

Mom redeemed herself by finding the perfect spot for the parade. I was nursing Garrett in the shade and saw the ropes and poles coming out and realized I was right on the parade route so Garrett took a nap in the shade while I held the great seats! 

Garrett was so enthralled in the parade! 

We went back to the hotel to swim- they had even better water slides at the new hotel. 

Brad and Ethan went back to the park at 9pm! Yes, 9. Luke, Garrett and I went to be at 9! 

Day 4: California Adventures

This guy was up at 8- 2 hours before his brothers! So we hung out in the lobby getting coffee. 

We did the fastpass option the last day as it was SUPER crowded. Which I said- let's take advantage of the Photopass and get some family photos from those photographers! And that we did! Got some great ones! 

 

 

This water ride was supposed to be closed until the next day (had been closed since Jan) but we saw some action there and workers said they may do a "soft opening" later in the day. So, I stalked it and went to nurse Garrett in front of it as it had some nice shade. We totally lucked out and it opened when I was there. I called the guys and they ran on- one of the first couple of rafts to go! So, we officially went on EVERY single ride the boys wanted to get on! 

Luke's favorite- the Incredicoaster! 

We started and ended our trip with Cars! Totally different ride in the dark at night. 

 Garrett rocked the flight home by falling asleep during the first one, sleeping through the layover and slept the entire second flight! Honestly this trip was more than I expected! The big boys had a blast and we all came home TIRED! I felt like I needed a vacation from our vacation, but so glad we decided to take our first FAMILY vacation with the 5 of us!