Disneyland - Day One

February 18, 2009 Day One- Disneyland!

We left the twins at home which was a good thing because a majority of the 'fun' rides were a minimum 40 inches tall. They were missed but we had such a great time without them!

The really cool thing about this trip was it was pretty much free (except for lodging) we got a free Chase Disney Rewards Visa a couple years ago and thats pretty much all we have been using. It isnt the greatest 'reward' for every $100 you get $1 but a lot of times they specials where if you use it you get a better rate like $5. So after 2 years of using the card we got something like $850...enough to get 3 adults and a child to get in and eat for three days with a few gifts too! Yay! Now we are racking up the points for a trip to DisneyWorld in 2012!

The A in CaliforniA

AlyssA

Princess Samantha waiting for Daddy to buy the tickets so we can get into the Magic Kingdom!

Mickey Mouse, Alyssa and Samantha

Princess Samantha getting a kiss from Mickey Mouse!

A lot of waiting in lines. We are about to go on our first ride 'Snow White'

Flying Dumbo!

the dumbo ride: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hL1cuE3-a9g

teacup- Alyssa took Sam on this ride on Day 3 while I waited in line at the Princess Fantasy Faire (again)

waiting in line at Princess Fantasy Faire

It was probably the longest line we waited in the whole trip. But oh so worth it...Samantha is soo into Princesses and you get one on one time with 3 different princesses. The first time through it was Belle, Aurora (Sleeping Beauty) and Mulan

Princess Lyss

Belle

the Belle video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eugfRmDj_Vg

Aurora

the Sleeping Beauty video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K04DlbQeYjg

Mulan

the Mulan video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATkZkCWj0Jg

Alyssa and Jon spent a lot of time carrying Samantha the first Day...I refused (bad mom) we got a stroller the next two days...another benefit of being a Disney reward card member- a free rental stroller!

Samantha loved the pretty flowers in front of 'Its a Small World"

Her first rollercoaster at Disneyland in toontown. She is a Rollercoaster jinkie. I think we road Thunder Mountain Railroad 5 times. They have this feature there on a few rides where you can 'fastpass' the line. every hour and half you can can put your ticket into a machine by the line and it will let you 'fastpass' the line in an hour or so afterwards. So we would fast pass a ride while we waited in a line that was short. We fastpassed Thunder Mountain Railroad everytime so we never had to wait more then 10 minutes. (Didnt take one picture though of her on her favoriteride) This ride was also Jons fav ride as a kid but Samantha never rode with him on the ride...she only wanted to ride with Alyssa on pretty much every ride!

Here Sam is in 'Minnies' living room

Minnies bedroom

the wishing well between Minnie and Mickeys house

Sam drove me around in Autopia.

the 3 d show "Honey I shrunk the Audience"

Daddy carrying his little princess!

the paddleboat

Sam met these girls in line at the rollercoaster in toon town. They were fast friends on the paddleboat.

1 2 3 whee


Sam chewed her very first piece of gum without swallowing it.

Waiting in line at Space Mountain (we fast passed it so the wait wasnt too bad)

Jon went on this ride when he was a little bit older then Sam and passed out at the very beginning. His mom spent the whole time trying to wake him up. Sam loved it!

It's a small world after all!

The whole ride: the video is over 10 minutes long...too long for YouTube

fun light necklaces!

outside of the winnie the pooh ride!

when we were leaving at the end of the day we saw this lady with these boots on...my feet were aching wearing tennis shoes and these boots were at least 3 inches tall...

Samantha Turns 4

On Tuesday Feb 17 Samantha Kay turned 4 years old! I cant believe we have a four old. She is getting to be so big! We left the twins at home with Namy and Papa and headed to Anaheim, CA (the home of the happiest place on earth - DISNEYLAND) for 4 nights. We picked up Alyssa at LAX and headed to the Cheesecake Factory in Marina Del Ray for Samanthas birthday dinner!

The waiterstaff sang to her!

Bike

Samanthas fourth B'day party

After the snow trip we had a little party for Sams birthday with Namy, Papa, Jim, Jill and the Laguardias. Mike and Kim brought over some pulled pork for yummy sandwiches and the kids ate cheese pizza. And of course we all ate cake and ice cream.

Sam didnt want Sydney to blow out her candles yet

Sam loved it when we sang Happy Birthday to her




What great sisters!


She LOVES cake.


Namy and Papa bought the cake and when they called they asked her if she wanted white or chocolate...she said "why cant I have strawberry?" she had to settle for strawberry ice cream!

Jim and Jill got her some cash for our trip to Disneyland next week! (and a fun book with a heart shape locket necklace that she loves!)

Namy and Papa got her her first bike !
She was so happy she had to hug Namy!

But i think there is going to be a problem because the little ones love the bike too!

The Laguardias got a fance new dress. She asked me if she could wear her new dress when she rides her bike to the mailbox tomorrow!

All she asked for was an alarm clock for her birthday so Uncle Lex and Auntie Leah got her a princess one. It plays princess songs and shines stars on the ceiling!

Auntie Rhonda and her family sent Sam Dora jammies which she promptly put on after the opening of her presents. They also bought her a dress and a dollar tree gift card (her fav store)

What a great fun little party!