Adamson Family Antics: California

After such a long winter and cold spring, we were anxious to get out of the house and go somewhere with the kids. So we thought it would be fun to take them to Disneyland. I love surprises so we decided that we wouldn't tell them until we were on our way there. And because I grew up only an hour away from Disneyland, we couldn't pass up the chance to make a trip of it and see my sister, Sena, brother-in-law Chris, get together with some of my high school friends and spend some time playing at the beach. Of course, I knew Elle would be in heaven if we stopped at the American Girl Doll store on our way to Disneyland too. We had planned to go in May but it didn't work out until the week before school got out in June. We told the kids we were going to St. George for the week and they were so thrilled that we almost thought maybe we should really just stay there. We drove to St. George and planned to drive the rest of the way the next morning. Before putting them to bed that night, we told them that we had been tricking them and that we were actually on our way to California. At first they didn't know what to think. When it actually sunk in, they were so excited--jumping up and down screaming! Easton couldn't wait to dig for crabs at the beach and go to Disneyland and Elle was ecstatic about going to the American Girl Doll store. Jayne just clapped her hands and said "Yay!" It was so fun to surprise them!

On our way there, we stopped in Las Vegas to see my dad. He is such a great grandpa! They were excited to see him and to get yummy chocolate custard from Nielsens!

We drove to Oxnard and stayed at the Mandalay Beach Resort, just a few minutes from my sister's house and about 10 minutes from, Camarillo, where I am from. Elle and Easton were so excited to be right on the beach and to see Sena and Chris.

Our first morning there, we walked out of our hotel room to an outdoor hallway and almost blew away. It was so windy!!! And the hallways acted like a wind tunnel. We still had a really fun day though--exploring at Rincon beach, seeing all the seals, a stop for ice cream cones and then a visit with some of my high school friends that night.

Our family at Rincon beach

Easton and Uncle Chris looking for cool rocks and shells

Easton with Aunt Sena (The black on Easton's face is tar. Not really sure how you get tar on your mouth. Funny Easton!)

Cute Elle

Jayne loved playing in the sand with her fingers but didn't know how she felt about it on her feet at first

Overlooking the Seal Sanctuary by Rincon

HOTEL BEACH
The next day, the wind died down and the sun came out and we actually got to put on our swimsuits. Our kids loved being able to play on the beach and then go swimming in the pool. It was so much fun!

One of my best friends from high school, Melanie, met us at the beach and brought her cute little girl, Ashley. Elle And Ashley had a lot of fun together!

Digging for sand crabs

Our two girls!

At the hotel pool

Dinner at one of my favorite places in California--The Wood Ranch Grill! Yum! They have the BEST tri-tip salads! It was so fun being with Sena, Chris and my brother, Josh came into town too!

AMERICAN GIRL DOLL PLACE
Elle couldn't wait to go to the American Girl Doll store in Los Angeles. She didn't stop talking about it from the minute we told her we were going. I loved seeing her so excited!

We got to have lunch at the Cafe and it was so much fun! They brought out friendship cinnamon rolls and a box of fun questions to ask each other. Then we had fruit kabobs, vegetables and dip, and the most delicious salmon for lunch.

Elle loved that her doll, Hannah, got to have lunch with us

They let Jayne borrow a doll to have lunch with. It was adorable! She kept "talking" to the baby and feeding him.

After lunch, Don and Easton had a little boy time and went and saw a movie while Elle, Jayne and I walked around the store. The first thing we did was get her doll's hair done at the doll hair salon.

Then we got Jayne her own doll. She was so cute! She loves her babies.

Elle got to pick something from the store and picked out a bed for her doll that she has wanted for a long time

It was so fun to share that experience with Elle. I loved walking around the store with her going back and forth to find the one perfect thing she wanted to get. I love my sweet girls!

DISNEYLAND!!!
I love Disneyland! Who doesn't? It is the happiest place on earth! Sena, Chris and my brother, Josh met us there one of the days. We had the best time! Elle, Easton and Jayne all got spoiled by their aunt and uncles.

All of us--Josh, Don, Sum, Sena, Chris, Elle, Jayne and Easton

Flying Dumbo ride

Jayne kept trying to run in front of people to see the princesses but when it was finally her turn, she became very shy. It was pretty cute.

JEDI TRAINING
As soon as Elle and Easton found out there was something Star Wars in Disneyland, they were determined to find out where it was. We found it! Tomorrowland has "Jedi Training" and they pick kids out of the audience to be trained. My cute sister, Sena, knew how much they wanted to be picked and did everything she could to help make it possible. She sat and saved a spot right in front until the next training was going to start, got a sign from someone from the previous training that had gotten picked and yelled and clapped her heart out when they were choosing kids. Something worked because out of all the kids that were there, Elle got chosen very first. She was ecstatic. I was so happy for her. But then I started hoping and praying that Easton would somehow get chosen too, knowing it would mean the world to him. I doubted they would choose two kids right by each other though. They chose about 15 kids total and Easton was one of the last to be chosen, but he got picked! How lucky is that! We couldn't believe it! They both were glowing with excitement and took being trained very seriously.

Elle was so happy she got picked!

Easton getting trained

Then Darth Vader, some storm troopers and Darth Maul all came up out of the ground and tried to convince all the newly trained Jedis to join the dark side. They all chose wisely and then had to fight either Darth Vader or Darth Maul.

Elle and Easton both fought Darth Mal

Getting their Jedi Training Certificates

Sena and Chris were so sweet to get Easton and Elle the coolest Star Wars souvenirs to remember it all by. I mean who doesn't want a stuffed Yoda or Yoda backpack?

Elle and Easton got more Star Wars souvenirs from Uncle Josh

We were feeling pretty lucky that both Elle and Easton got to do the Jedi training. It must have been our lucky day because it didn't stop there. As we were walking into Disneyland, we saw this poster.

Of course, Elle and Easton were bummed that the new Star Wars ride was going to open the day after we left. Then, as we left the Jedi training, a lady came up to us and said that she had won some tickets online to try out the new Star Tours ride early and they had extras. She wondered if we wanted them. Um, YES!!! Did the Yoda backpack give it away? We couldn't believe it! I stayed with Jayne while everyone went and then Elle and Easton went again with me when they were done. Elle and Easton were feeling pretty special that they got to go on it before it opened to the public.

Then, we decided to check out Space Mountain. Easton said he wanted to go with the boys so Don, Easton, Chris and Josh all went. I was really nervous. Easton loves roller coasters but he's never been on a big roller coaster like that. I thought for sure he would come out crying. Nope! He loved it and was smiling ear to ear! Sena and I wanted to go and thought Elle would like it if Easton did. She was so brave to come with us even though she was a little unsure about it all. Unfortunately, she did not enjoy it at all. When we got off the ride, she said she felt sick and she was crying. I felt bad. A Disneyland worker saw her crying and asked why. I told him what had happened and he said, "Oh no, she can't be sad at the happiest place on earth. Would a magic moment help? I'm just headed to my shift at the Nemo ride. What if I take you all over to the front of the line to cheer her up?" Really? I was really impressed. How nice of that man to notice her crying and then try to make her happy! Disneyland really is a magical place. We walked right over to the Nemo ride with him, which had a 45 minute wait, and got right on. He was the one guiding us in the submarine and kept making comments to Elle and Easton. So cute! It was definitely our lucky day!

Easton on the Buzz Lightyear ride with Uncle Josh

The Jellyfish ride

Soarin' Over California ride

One of our kids' favorite rides was "It's a Small World"

Chris and Jayne have this cute little bond. He loves her and she loves him too. He is always so concerned about her and will just sit and play with her on his own and make her laugh. He is always asking jokingly if he and Sena can have her. Chris says that he loves to be around her because she makes him happy. So true. It is the cutest thing! Tough looking Chris is really a big Teddy Bear.

Jayne's favorite part of Disneyland was definitely Toontown. She loved wandering around knocking on all the little doors and exploring in the houses. It is like one big play house. She was so cute having a tea party in Minnie's house and pretending to drive Goofy's car.