Disneyland 2017

We were so happy and lucky to spend 4 days at Disneyland and California Adventure (the first and last days were half-days) this year. When I was in the depths of my very consuming project for work, all I could think about was how I wanted to take the kids to Disneyland once it was all over. I couldn't wait to see it through their eyes, to witness Bennett's first real visit. We invited the family to join us, and Judy and my brother's family were able to join!

I've never seen Disneyland all decorated for Halloween so it was so fun to see all the pumpkins and fall decor! The weather hadn't gotten the fall memo, however, and it was very warm in the parks on the days we were there!

Bennett got his wish and was able to ride the carousel for his first ride! Not only that, but he rode on the bench of the carousel! He is so funny - he just loves the bench/sleigh!

I loved these pictures from the Autopia ride, where Bennett could hardly see over the steering wheel!

This was the Buzz Lightyear ride where you shoot lasers at targets and bad guys. This is the one that June got scared in when she first came to Disney, so I was a little hesitant. She ran off to ride with Kai and had a blast. I had warned Bennett about the ride and showed him a video of it on YouTube, and he did great too. He shot his laser gun and shouted and laughed and was so fun in it!

We rode the Jungle Cruise a couple times - it's just so pleasant and fun!

I loved getting to see the whole park through the eyes of the kids. They LOVED having their cousin Kai there. These two would argue over who got to sit next to Kai on just about every ride.

Kai was so sweet with Bennett, too. He kept picking him up and holding him, and I was impressed because Bennett is a full half of Kai's weight!

We ate dinner at a Mexican restaurant outside under some twinkle lights. It was so pleasant and beautiful, and I was just so happy to be there with the family!

One day the kids wore their Star Wars costumes and Michael and I wore our Start Wars shirts. Kai happened to wear his Star Wars shirt that day too!

That was the day we went to California Adventure.

We managed to sneak Bennett onto the Cars Land ride! He hadn't passed the 40" marker for a different ride, but he wanted to go on this ride so bad! So we might have added some *supplements* to his sneakers to get him that extra boost and he passed his way onto the ride! :)

One of my favorite rides was Grizzly River Run, which was like a white water rapids type ride. Bennett was too little to go on it, so he went with Michael and Alison while the rest of us took to the rapids. We all agreed that it might be nice to get a little wet on that hot day, but Judy said she just didn't want her pants to be fully wet. Well we got on our little boat and on the first big dip and poor Judy just got soaked. And then again, and then again. And - I couldn't help it - I was almost in tears laughing at just the terrible luck of poor Judy, and how JP and I just kept yelling "NO GRAMMY NO" each time she got soaked. But I got my comeuppance from laughing so hard because my hat flew off my head at the last big drop and it was lost to the rapids! So long, wide brimmed hat! I hope you enjoy your freedom in the rapids.

We split up for a little bit after that. JP's family went on some bigger rides while we took our little kids to the Disney Jr. dance party. We wanted to get out of the sun for a bit. June was decidedly NOT happy to be leaving Kai and didn't want to go to the show, but even she couldn't resist the beats of the dance party. We picked up some ice cream and hung out in the Animation Studio to watch the videos about animation on all the big screens.

June's first ever roller coaster was Big Thunder Mountain. Poor Bennett didn't make it past the height requirement, so Grammy took him on the Mark Twain river boat. June was so excited, but nervous in the moment we stepped on the ride. I love this picture of her giving the thumbs up because we didn't prompt her to do it, and the expression on her face is like the opposite of a thumbs up.

But as soon as we got off the ride, she asked if we could ride it again. JP, Kai and Alison walked up right as it happened, so we all rode it again! While we were on it, June was shouting "I LOVE THIS RIDE" and she ultimately said it was her favorite of the trip.

 We got Dole Whips! My first one ever!

The other ride we were able to get Bennett onto even though he might not have passed the height requirement under natural circumstances was Splash Mountain. It was so fun because, with two people sitting together in the back, the seven of us on the ride were able to fit on one log plume together!

As you can see, June was very excited! But as we got closer to the big drop, she got pretty nervous. She asked me to hold her, but it was a little hard since I was already holding onto Bennett. So this picture shows all three of us back there. June looks terrified but I assure you that she enjoyed it, laughed with us about getting sprayed and said she'd ride it again. JP is a downright professional at posing for this pictures. 

 JP and Bennett in line for Pirates of the Caribbean, which we rode a couple of times.

On the last day we only had a few hours in the park, so we were really chill about getting in a few last rides. JP, Alison and Kai broke off to ride the Haunted Mansion (too spooky for the kids) so we went back over to California Adventure so June could ride the swings, which she had her heart set on.

I was really proud of June. She rode on everything (except for some that I didn't think she should - a la Haunted Mansion). Last time we went she had gotten scared on some rides, but this time she conquered all her fears. I heard her whisper to Bennett - but maybe more to herself - on Pirates that, "They aren't real. They're just statues that have batteries."

There were definitely challenging moments! The first two days were pretty crowded, and definitely warmer that I would have preferred. We didn't take Bennett back to the hotel for naps (he wouldn't have gone without June) so the evenings tended to get a little testy. It was mostly dinner time where he would get really squirrely and be set off at the slightest provocation. He was so tired by the end of the trip that he fell asleep on the plane - I couldn't believe it.

But we got some real treasured memories. I'm so glad we could go on this trip with JP's family and Judy. My mouth is watering thinking of all those churros, ice creams, beignets, Dole Whips and other treats we had. I loved this trip and love this family of mine!

Hiking the Narrows with the Kiwi Crew

Maybe the most well-known and highly recommended hike in Zion is the Narrows, a gorgeous, surreal hike up a canyon by way of walking the river that cut through it. We knew we wanted to hike it, so we saved it for our second full day to be able to start early. We woke up early enough to have coffee and gorgeous views at sunrise.

Made the drive into town and hopped on the shuttle. We rode to the final stop on the shuttle, and even the views just from the bus were some of the most beautiful ones I've seen.

We were ready! Some of us had rented special river hiking boots (Annie and I wore Keens with rented neoprene socks), our packs, rented walking sticks and some warm sweatshirts. We had been warned that Zion could be hot in September, but we started our hike so early, and the shade and breeze in the Narrows kept us comfortably wearing sweatshirts most of the way!

There was a one-mile paved walk to get to the spot where you start in on the river. We were so excited! I'm so glad that we started so early because, while there were plenty of other people there, there were also lots of times when there was hardly a soul around - especially the further we got. On our way back, the crowds were getting big!

It was gorgeous. Of course pictures don't truly capture it. There were times where the canyon walls were only about 20 feet across. There were areas where water dripped down the walls, allowing hanging gardens of ferns and moss to grow. I wanted to take a thousand pictures just of the shadows that formed from the waves of rock in the walls that were a thousand feet high.

Walking in the river was challenging sometimes - the water was opaque so you couldn't see most of the large stones at the bottom. I read somewhere that "hiking the Narrows is like walking on slippery bowling balls" and I found that comparison pretty apt. 

It was more difficult to walk in the water, but I found myself doing it even when there was a shore, just because it was so cool and unique. 

We hiked all the way up to an area called Wall Street, which is supposed to be one of the most narrow areas. It was a few hours up and a few hours back. The water was so chilly, and the breezy shade in the Narrows made it so we were comfortable in sweatshirts for most of the way. (This was a nice change from the day before when we all baked on a normal hike.)

Anyway, I felt like it was one of the coolest things I've ever done. Absolutely an incredible hike and a wonderful adventure with these girls.

After a shuttle back into town, we picked up some groceries at a store and headed back to our house. This is our driveway... so remote, not a soul to be seen!

You can see two little rectangles near the middle of the far right of this picture. That is our house (on the right) and the one right next to it (which was empty).

We made tacos and had dinner on the porch, stopping to take some great photos. We all put on our flannel shirts that we coincidentally brought, but since Emily didn't have one she had to wear a flannel place mat.

And of course jumping photos.

Then it was time for wine and board games and laughs, and all piling into the one huge room with 3 bunk beds in it.

These girls are the best.