Disney Vacation day 1

What a day getting here. Even though our first day was really just travel, it was a long day. We flew into DIA about noon and didn't leave again until about 8PM! About 20 minutes after we landed there was a tornado warning, so they moved everyone into the tornado shelters, which was crazy, lots of people, little space and not much direction.

Once we got out we found out that our plan got diverted to CO Springs, due to fuel needs and couldn't get back out until later that afternoon. We continued to watch as our flight time got bumped back later and later. Finally we boarded about 7PM, only to find out once we were ready to take off, there were lighting strikes so we had to wait again this time on the plan, of course we needed to be ready to make an emergency exit if the tornado's came back our way. Great I am thinking this is a wonderful start to our vacation. Finally we were cleared for take off and we all cheered once we were in the air! Once we got to CA, we got our car and headed to our hotel, across the street from the Park, it was great! By this time it was almost 11PM, and everyone was tired, so we all crashed pretty hard.

So our first day one, is now upon us. I would have to recommend the The Unofficial guide to Disney Land it was a great help for us to know when, what and how to do the park. The most important thing was to get there right at opening, which we did, a little tired, but I think the excitement took over and we were on our way.


Abby outside the front gates, I think she is giving some attitude here...
One of our first rides was the Winnie the Pooh, which we ended up doing a lot because Tori loved it. Abby was more than willing to do a pose for the camera.

Then onto the Jungle Tour, the girls thought it was very cool. It has been redone since I last remember it, the tour guide, was very funny too.

More Jungle Tour...

Next it was Toon Town and Mickey's house. After walking through Mickey's you finally got 10 seconds with him at the end.

Then we went over to meet Minnie at her house.

After this we went and had lunch and back to the hotel for naps. We all were really tired, so it was perfect. We changed into our princess dresses and headed back to meet some of them at the royal palace. First we meet Jasmine.

Next was Snow White. She was my favorite, she was very much in charter, from her voice to her jesters.

Lastly was Sleeping Beauty.

We went and did some other rides, sorry no pictures. After that we found some dinner and ended the night picking our our Minnie Mouse to take home.

I made them all pick out a hat to try on, ah don't they look cute...yes Chris too!

Overall a great first day, and only a few melt downs! Tomorrow onto Space Mountain, yea!!

What is that??

I decided to pick up a cantaloupe from the farmers market on the corner, well they only had the large ones left. I wanted to take a picture of this huge things so I asked Abby to hold it...which she did but it was so heavy she almost dropped it!

Then of course Tori had to hold it too, wow that is huge!! It was really good to, I am definitely going back for another one!

July 4th Celebration

We decided to go down to Rosenblat for the final 4th of July celebration. We found a good parking spot (on someone's lawn a tradition for the old stadium) and then headed to the field. We found a great spot and headed off to get some of the famous ice cream at Zesto's. Since it was just a big night, you could see why they would only have TWO people working %*(#). After waiting in line for 30 minutes, we got to the window just in time to see the fireworks start!
So we stood at the table for a few minutes and watch, and then walked back to our seats, except we sat right behind some trees that blocked most of the view. Then the ice cream melted all over the girls hands. In the end the kids had a great time and after all who am I to say it was a disaster, they had fun, so it was a great night!

Some video of the girls enjoying the night!

One more thing as we walked back to our car, it was kinda scary to see people lighting off fireworks right next to their home, and by right next, I mean the were on the porch!!

Ballet Proformance

Abby's big ballet day was today, she and her friend Andi were really excited to get dressed up, put on their costumes and dance!

Abby sporting a move for the camera!Another pose...

The practice video, the final will come later...warning it is a bit long, so watch if you want, of course she is cute! She is the pink flower in the right hand corner (first on the right).

The practice for the finale, she is very cute here as well.

Overall a fun and exciting day, I think for Abby and me, she was just too cute!

Tori was so upset at the end and started crying because she wanted to see the show again, I guess it was a hit.

Tulip Time in Pella

The girls and I went to Pella for the Tulip Festive and meet Grandma there for a fun filled day. Of course we had to take the picture with the kids by one of the many tulip gardens!


Abby thought they were beautiful!


Tori had to keep reminding herself not to pick the flowers, a trait she is well know for!

This was an old cannon was fun to climb on for the kids and good time waster until the parade started!

This little boy was in Jaasma's Bakery, the best bakery in town, as demonstrated by the long line, but well worth the wait.

Ah the joy the wait...a dutch letter, if you like pastry and almond this is the perfect treat for you...the girls were quite happy with their treat.

More tulips and Abby

The crowning of the Queen of Pella time, Abby thought this was awesome!

Before the parade stated, there was a large cleaning of the streets, they dumped water and and swept all along the street in their true dutch gear!

The tractors, my favorite part...so here was my thought as they were having the tractor parade...so when people get older, we don't give them licences any longer and are concerned about them driving in traffic, however we put a large number of older men on tractors and send them to drive through streets with crowds of people around them...makes you say hum!
There were a large number of floats and the parade took about 1.5 hours to complete, this was just one of the fun things that came down the street.

The girls and I took a tour of the old firehouse and jail while Grandma stopped in the quilt store

The next day we did some touring in the morning and the girls to play, here Abby put the pails on to carry the water to clean the streets.

The girls posing as some traditional dutch people...

This is the great grand nephew of Wyatt Erp? He was sitting in the one the rooms of this old house.

This machine was amazing, it is a koliapie and it plays music based upon books of music, it was one of my favorite things to listen to!

I think we wore the girls out based upon that sleeping little girl in the back seat, thanks Grandma for coming with us!

We went home for a trip to see the family and for Logan and Lila's first birthday party. Day one Tori managed to color on herself with the markers, isn't that great?

We went to the history museum the girls enjoyed their time with the dinosaurs, and Abby even posed for us! Tori thought that the people fixing the ones were really cool...

Abby dressed up as a astronaut, she was very cute...

We also got to go to the birthday party for the Cheathams, it was a fun time in the pool, the girls love the water and do great in it.

A little video footage of the fun...

Ellie's pink dress we got for her...

Josh got a fun game and beans, isn't it nice that Abby poses with everyone?

Tori finally got her dogie blanket from Grandma, she was jazzed as as all get out and loves it, thanks Grandma, it is great!

Our ride back home after a fun time with family, we loved it and can't wait to do it again! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for letting us invade your house!

Easter

Because we are so smart, the Easter bunny at our house looks for the pre-stuffed egg's done by our kids and then hides them and replaces them with some treats...Tori is sporting the new glasses and Abby her new glasses and flip flops below...

A little video of the mayhem here. It was weird to be without my family this year, however I think we managed okay. Church was great and it was a nice family day.