California: Part I

So since I took something like 300 pictures over the 6 days we were in California, I have narrowed it down (a little) to share what our week was like. This is going to be in two posts though. This post is about all the adventures we went on.

Veteran's Park

As soon as nap was over on Monday we headed to the park to meet up with Katie and Kelsea. Jamie was telling Jacob to hold on tight but Jacob was more concerned with placing his feet on the inner plate...

One of the few pictures that I am in. I did manage to play a bit instead of snap all the pictures...

This is one of the only pictures that I was able to get of Mazie not showing her attitude...

Jamie decided to start a new thing. All the kids after her tried this too...

You will see in this post that birds are a thing for Jacob. He just loves them and is completely in awe of them...

Jamie was so worried that Kelsea would fall off so she was trying to keep it still for her. Kelsea, by the way, was laughing so hard that I thought she would fall off just because of laughing.

Long Beach Aquarium

The aquarium is one of our favorite places. It is close and easy to entertain the kids. Jacob was all about the "ish"...

and Jamie did actually touch the little sting rays. She just needed a little help reaching...

I love this picture. First, because of how similar Jamie and Jeremiah are. I know Jamie favors Jeremiah but it is when they are thinking and doing something together that they really look the same. Second, because of the attitude on the 6 year old. She was full of it on this day...

Again with the birds. The sign specifically said to not touch the birds. If we wouldn't have had a hand on Jacob he would have turned into Lenny in Of Mice and Men and grabbed one of those beautiful birds and pet it to death! We are working on gentle.

See? More attitude...

Jacob was having a blast but it wasn't until we let him get out of the stroller that he was really happy. He thought he was a pretty big man walking around all by himself to see the fish...

Disneyland

Anyone who knows me knows that this was really the highlight of the trip for me. I love Disneyland. I have to say that aside from our wonderful friends, Disneyland is what I miss the most. We had annual passes when we lived there and used them at least once a month. This time, Jacob was able to interact since he was only 2 months old the last time he was there...

We didn't waste one minute. We had our tickets ahead of time, were on the tram, and in line when they opened the gates! First thing we did was get in line for the Finding Nemo ride. It opened right after we moved. Then we hit the rockets in Tomorrowland...

We headed to Fantasyland to see the princesses and met up with the Killins and Laughreys. These three caught up from seeing each other in June while waiting in line. Like they didn't even miss a beat...

First was Cinderbella (according to Kelsea). I love all the cheesy smiles and Kelsea looking at Cinderella in wonder...

Second was Sleeping Beauty. And just in case, you don't know the girls, Kelsea is on the left with Alla, Mazie (in sunglasses), Sleeping Beauty, and Jamie...

Then it was Pocahontas who asked if they were all sisters. Mazie set her straight by pointing to herself and Jamie and said, "We're the sisters" and pointing at Kelsea and Alla and saying, "They're the friends". It was funny to hear...

Then onto more rides. Dumbo with me and Jamie...

Jeremiah sat in the stationary one with the kids...

Such a sweetie carrying Jacob around in the heat for a nap and not complaining...

Our last thing we went to was the Tiki Room. Again with the birds. Jacob just kept signing "more" and "bird" the entire time the birds were singing...

I think he could have stayed there. He was in heaven with all those birds...

In addition to the Killins and Laughreys joining us for a full day of Disneyland, we also met up with Cyndi and Mia (thank Goodness you found us) and we saw Mazie's teacher who spent some of her Fall break in California too. Funny how everyone ended up in California with us.

More to come on the rest of our trip...