The Happiest Place On Earth

The trip we'd been saving for all year took place in November (I know, this post has been too long in draft mode).  We hadn't been to see "the mouse" in 15 years (since grad night...ahem), and our littles hadn't been yet.  It was the perfect vacation after a long Big Red Heart year and a great way to celebrate their October birthdays.

And it was a HUGE surprise.

As in, we didn't tell them until we got there.  We're crazy like that...we packed the bags and the car on the stealth and constantly reminded family and friends who were "in the know" that, yes, it was still, in fact, a big surprise (and aside from a few little slip-ups, it remained that way).

I'm not really sure who was more giddy about the surprise...me....or me.  It was like "could barely contain my excitement" giddy.  Oh, how I just LOVE surprises.  And I love making surprises happen even more than I love being the recipient.  

Honestly, I've never been a huge "Disney" person...you won't see me sporting a Tigger t-shirt, by any means.  But Disneyland is magical...and eons moreso when you're taking your littles!  The best part was just seeing their little faces light up, the little hopping and skipping dance they do when they're excited about something, the way their attention span is way short because there's so much to see that they might as well be little butterflies flitting about.

So we told them we wanted to go somewhere for the day and that we were just going to "drive towards the beach and see where we ended up."  Camdyn certainly would've noticed the drive looking different from our usual day trips...and this wasn't actually untruthful.  Win-win.  We armed ourselves with the portable DVD player (to keep their attention and distract a certain first-grader from reading any important signs - surprises are so much harder when they can read).  We stopped for lunch on the way (have you ever tried to make a two- and six-year-old eat fast...really fast?  It DOESN'T WORK.  The more your hurry, the slower they go).

The "unknowing suspects."

When we finally pulled into the parking garage, Max started seeing Mickey's face on all the support columns.  To keep Camdyn from noticing, I had to act fast...so I shoved the DVD player in her lap and kept asking her if the movie was still working, while Max kept saying "Mickey!  I see Mickey!  Donald!  It's Donald!"  Once we were getting out of the car to get the stroller out, Camdyn saw our luggage in the back and exclaimed, "We're staying in a hotel?!?!?!" and we got this face:

Excitement...just for the hotel.

Knowing that wasn't the entire surprise was the best part.  The secret was finally out once we got to the elevator at the parking garage and made her read the sign (which she refused until Phil read it with her).  They didn't quite understand what we were saying and had no frame of reference for Disneyland at all, but once we got through the gate and saw Disney characters hanging out for pictures, it began to sink in.  The further we walked, the more excited they became!

One of our first "character stops!"  Hugs all around.

Minnie and "Mini Me"

When we took a little break to check in at our hotel before going back for dinner, the kids laid on the beds in our hotel room, totally hyped, and kept saying, "Oh yeah...Disneyland..." which, in Max's words was more like "Oh yeah, Oh Dissey-wand, Oh yeah..."  And once they were in bed and settled down...BOY, did they sleep hard.

Angel boy

Angel girl

One night of okayish sleep and they were all ready to go the next day!

The castle was getting ready for Christmas!

A Princess in Fantasyland!

When Max first saw the Winnie the Pooh characters (especially Eeyore), he was incredibly difficult to keep contained.  He wanted nothing but to run to each of them, and kept on saying, "I WANT TO HUG HIM!!!!" over and over again (in his "annunciate everything perfectly" way of speaking).  It may have been the cutest thing ever.  And the fact that Camdyn was still so excited to see them at age 6 was pretty fantastic in my book.

Camdyn, Max, and Tigger, too!

Camdyn had her heart set on some cotton candy, and happily devoured much of it and shared the rest with her little brother.  One or both of them may have said it was like eating cotton.  LOL.

Sweets for the sweet

First cotton candy.

Camdyn received a wonderful gift for an appointment at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique...and after all my little princess had been through, I was excited to watch her be pampered.

Getting ready for her "makeover," as she calls it...until I remind her that she's just getting pampered and fancy.

Hair styling.

The final fancy touches.

My doll, all dolled up (look at that posture!).

She may not totally look like "Camdyn," but she was so sweet and grateful the whole time, which made this mommy's heart swell with gratitude that she could be here to enjoy this.  Eventually, she did ask if we were going to wash her hair before bed that night to wash out the "hair glue" as we called it.  I may have chuckled...while thinking to myself "atta girl."  ;)

We enjoyed our dinner with royalty....

My sweet princess.

.....AND a naughty pirate.

Oh, this kid.

Another night of heavy sleep.

Clean hair and ready to go!

The expressions on my kiddos' faces every time I turned around was completely priceless.  Excitement.  Surprise.  I could've gobbled them right up.

Camdyn and Daisy

Family Picture...fun that Disneyland was decked out for Christmas!

Max definitely enjoyed all the Cars characters in California Adventure.

"Hey, tractor!"

Camdyn totally enjoyed the Mad Hatter...he was so goofy and she kept listening to him, trying to keep up with what he was saying (and processing it in her mind).  Of course, much of what he said didn't make any sense.  It was adorable.

One of my favorite pictures.

No first Disneyland trip is complete without riding on Small World.....

#photobomb

.....OR driving in Autopia!

Yeah....she couldn't steer, LOL.  Or reach the pedal.

Before leaving for home on our fourth day (after pushing back our "hit the road" time a few times), we stopped for ice cream, of course.

Ice cream....#asbigasherface

Tuckered kid (he might have missed a couple bites) eventually awoke to devour his ice cream in true Maxwell form.

Such a wonderful, fun family vacation.

Alas, it was time to head for home.

Disneyland Sky

The kiddos were tired and so happy they had been able to see and do so much...and fell asleep pretty quickly once we hit the car.  Reminiscing began on the way home.  For a week after the trip (or more), Max kept saying, "Let's go to Disneyland today!!!!"  It was such fun...the time of their lives.  And we can't wait to do it again.