So this is how we told Grace! What an amazing feeling to have - to be able to surprise a 6 year old with a trip to Disneyland! We had been secretly telling Olivia - knowing that she would not be able to repeat to her sister. :) In the video Grace is sitting at the computer because we were skyping with my parents who were in Ontario for a wedding/holiday - so you can hear them and see Grace looking at the computer. I think that Grace was so excited, but also in shock - you can't see it but she did have tears in her eyes. So after the video - we finished getting ready and we were off.
The second part of the surprise was that our neighbors - Jewely and Nadir - were joining up with us Friday night and going to come to Disneyland/California Adventure with us. I didn't video that surprise, but Grace was equally excited!
When we arrived, we rented a car - Nadir hooked us up with an amazing deal - he works at Westjet, and we got a steal of a deal at Alamo! We headed straight to San Diego to experience Sea World! It was dead - note to self - go to Sea World Thursday Afternoons in September, and there will be no line ups for rides, and no problems getting seats for the shows!
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| Grace waiting ever so patiently to board the plane |
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| Olivia and I off on the flying Elmo fish |
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| Olivia meeting Big Bird and Elmo |
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| Grace and Mike waiting for the Dolphin show to start |
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| Grace and Mike are on this ride - got a little wet! |
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| Olivia running away from the splash zone! |
We did some rides - they were kinda "babyish" according to Miss Dare Devil herself - Grace! But Olivia sure enjoyed them - they were all Sesame Street Characters - and she even got to meet Elmo and Big Bird!
Day 2 - Universal Studios
We were up and ready to head North to Hollywood! The traffic wasn't too bad going through L.A., it only took just over an hour to get there. We brought the portable DVD players for the girls, so we had them all strapped in, bellies full of cold pizza and Mcdonald's breakfast burritos and we were on our way. It wasn't that busy - but a bit busier then Sea World the day before. Number 1 ride to get on - Transformers! When we arrived, we found out that the ride was down, and they were unsure if it would come back up that day. We shook it off and continued with the day - Grace was hot and wanted to get wet - what better way to get wet then go on Jurassic Park? Off Mike and Grace went - Olivia and I found some shade and hung out till they came back. After Jurassic Park, came the Simpsons, Curious George waterpark, Shrek 4D, Lunch and then Transformers was open again! We had a great day - but it was only a taste of what was to come!
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| Mike and Grace at Universal Studios |
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| Optimus Prime, Mike and Grace |
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| Olivia, Marge, and Mike |
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| It was SOOOO Hot! |
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| Marge taking Olivia for a walk |
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| Splash Zone from Jurassic Park |
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| The girls with Scooby Doo |
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| Curious George Splash Park |
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| Sponge Bob |
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| Grace and George |
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| Olivia and George |
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| Olivia and Chip |
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| The Lorax |
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| Olivia wanted to stand close to Dora! |
After we left Universal Studios we headed back to Anaheim - just missing the fire on the 405 - good thing we left when we did - we could have been stuck for a VERY LONG time! Once we got back to Anaheim we headed over to the the Outlets at Orange and met up with Jewely and Nadir - they had been shopping a little before, but were still up for dinner and more shopping!
Day 3 - California Adventure
Started off the day right - Denny's breakfast - this would keep us going throughout the day, we were planning on snacking and then saving up our appetites for dinner at Goofy's Kitchen! We had so much fun, both the girls LOVED meeting the characters, getting their pictures taken with them and getting them to sign their special autograph books. It was a hot one at Disney - 110F - I now think that the F stands for FREAKIN' HOT!! We hit up every ride in California, except California Screamin', Grace wasn't quite tall enough and she was devastated! This kid loves the rides - when she got off Hollywood Tower of Terror - she was all like, "that was SOOO not scary!" Meanwhile, Jewely and I were busy holding onto the wall, cause we were a little shaken after that ride! Mike and I are worried that she will be the kid that jumps out of planes, just because! :) Anyways - I will let the pics explain the day!
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| Girls meeting Pluto |
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| This is how hot it was - we dipped Olivia in a fountain! |
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| Woody!!! |
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| The New Carsland - Really Cool - the Radiator Springs Race car ride was AWESOME! |
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| Nadir and Olivia |
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| Lulu could not keep her eyes open and missed the begining of dinner |
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| Grace with Chef Goofy |
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| Our picture at Goofy's kitchen - sleeping Lulu |
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| Lulu beyond excited to meet Snow White |
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| When you ask Olivia who she loves, she answers "Dale" |
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| Olivia was Star Struck when Minnie came to our table! |
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| Lulu and Princess Jasmine - looks like Mike was pretty excited to meet the princess too! :) |
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| Princess Jasmine teaching Grace how to pose like a princess |
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| Goofy's Kitchen - when we left, Grace announced that she LOVES Buffets! |
Day 4 - Disneyland!
This morning we slept in a bit and hit the pool before having lunch at Denny's then heading over to the park for our last full day! Disneyland has a lot more rides for Olivia - but still some cool ones for Grace. We hit up the usual, Dumbo, teacups, Carousel, Alice and Wonderland, etc, etc! Grace was excited to go on the Matterhorn, Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain - but she was happy to keep her sister entertained by going on the "baby" rides as well. More pictures of our final day.
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| Grace with her Minnie Ears |
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| Halloween Time at Disneyland |
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| Family pic with Pumpkin Mickey |
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| Olivia LOVED the Castle |
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| Grace and Mike |
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| The Girls and Pinocchio |
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| On the Carousel |
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| Olivia pointed and screamed at almost everything! |
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| Teacups |
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| Going on "It's a small World" - Olivia LOVED it! |
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| Family pic with Minnie |
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| My FAV Pic! |
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| Missed the Fireworks |
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| Ready to head back to the hotel! |
So all in all it was the most fantastic trip! Wish we could have been there longer! The absolute best part of the trip - seeing Disneyland through Grace and Olivia's eyes - it was truly magical. On the way out of the park, on the last night - Grace looked up at me, as she was hugging my arm and said, "Mommy, I wish we had a time machine", I asked her why? Her reply "So we could do this whole trip over again!" Now if that wasn't worth it - I don't know what is!
