Disneyland

Two weeks ago my sister-in-laws Linda and Christine planned a random trip to Disneyland for us. My sister Brooke and I were very happy to come along! We had all our kids and Christine's little sister Katie W. and our friend Katie R.

I decided we were going to go on Sunday...
Hayes, Kamri and I drove down to Cedar on Tuesday, Wednesday we drove down to Anaheim. We went to trick or treat on the street in California Adventure that night, Disneyland Thursday, CA adventure Friday and arrived back in Cedar at 3am Saturday. I drove home Saturday and got home at 8.

Total time driving = 26 hours (wow...I didn't realize it was that much!)

Total number of kids 4 and under = 6

They did great in the car. The drive there we stopped twice. Once for gas and Once for food (and obviously to let the kids run around and feed the babies)

We knew we would get a lot of funny looks but I think pulling up to valet parking was hilarious...15 passenger van, BYU license plate, and a whole bunch of girls and kids from utah jump out. The guy was asking us how we were related...oh sister, sister-in-laws, blah blah. Then asked us where all the dad's were. I'm sure he was thinking we were polygamists! Oh yeah and the extra money for valet was soo worth it.



This was the first thing we did when we went to trick or treat on the street. They had a bunch of music and characters dancing. They handed Hayes a maraca but I think he was a little worried about what was going on.

So Back row (L to R)...Hayes (in stroller), Me, Katie R., Brooke, Linda (holding Kamri)
Front row Katie W. Christine (holding Rachel), Xander, Kaylee, & Audrey.

Lunch Break

I know a lot of people thought we were crazy (including our husbands!) and I'll admit there were many times it really was but it was so much fun! Watching all the kids reactions to the rides, having fun on the rides myself (I loved California Screamin, Soarin CA and the "It's tough to be a bug" movie), and chatting with the girls. I'll admit the thing I said the most was "Where's Hayes?!?" but luckily he was never to far away (once even in my arms) and at least one of us had our eye on him at all times. Hayes loved being with his cousins and I loved being able to chat with all my girls. (I only wish Heather could have come!!)

Some of my memories from the trip:

« Brooke's amazing driving skills
« Group Help lane changes
« Me saying 'GO!" and confusing her with "No"
« Valet Parking the Beast
« Xander saying "I'm NOT in the MOOD to sleep!.....zzzz"
« Christine's amazing running skills...although we missed the shuttle :(
« Katie W. and my discussion on what "I don't know" means (hour 2 of the ride home)
« Katie R. chasing down Captain Jack Sparrow and getting hit on by the kid in line for Indiana Jones.
« Kaylee crying when she got off every ride because she wanted to keep going!
« Linda getting a free bus pass from some nice ladies at the bus stop.
« Linda being soo polite to the random stranger blabbing on and on at the parade.
« Kaylee, Audrey & Hayes taking turns chasing eachother.
« Brooke, Linda and my embarrassing moment trying to get on the bus..trying to go through the exit, crazy kids everywhere and Hayes stuck to me on the leash.
« Hayes laughing and running down disneyland, the night of the first whole day we spent there.
« Xander and Hayes having a "picnic" of pizza and fruit on their towels...sitting in their diaper and underwear.
« Christine being asked if all of those kids were hers?!
« Audrey rocking out on Trick or Treat on the street...and any music she heard really. And her being amazingly happy in the stroller!
« Our Stack of PB & J's
« me constantly saying...Where's Hayes?! even when I was holding him in my arms
« Kamri & Rachel being good sleepers!
« Xander singing Lullaby to Kamri
« Changing 6 poopy diapers the last day we were there.
« Katie R & I carrying a bunch of luggage in the elevator and trying to catch the shuttle.
« The shuttle waiting for us....AGAIN.
« Waiting in line for toy story...bloody nose, smashed fingers...craziness
« All the kids asleep for the ride home!