Cali Trip - Day 3 - DISNEYLAND!!!!

Monday morning we checked out of our hotel in Escondido and headed North to Anaheim.  We dropped our luggage off at our new hotel, returned our rental car and got dropped off in Downtown Disney.  After getting our free AAA lanyards and pins, we went straight to Disneyland!!  We first went to Tomorrowland, where the ride wait times were less than 20 minutes, even for Space Mountain!  We then went over to Frontierland, Adventureland and New Orleans Square, where the lines were again amazing.  We ended the day with a parade down Main Street. 

Too bad he isn't excited at all!

I see it!!

Outside the Lego Store in Downtown Disney

Outside the front gates!

We're THERE!!

Main Street, USA

First ride - Buzz Lightyear Astroblasters!!

 Second ride - Star Tours! (We did this ride 5 times during the week, it was definitely the favorite!!)

 The Jedi Training Academy is totally cool.  Zack was bummed that he wasn't chosen to fight.  

Maybe next time...

My Autopia partner!

 On the Disney train

 Tarzan's Treehouse

Arrrrgh!!

The fam in line for Splash Mountain

 Mickey's Soundsational Parade!

Now THAT was a fun day!!

Cali Trip - Day 2 - LEGOLAND!!

On Sunday morning we picked up Aunt Jeanie and off we went to Legoland!  We have heard many mixed reviews about it, so weren't sure what to expect.  But we ended up having a great day and really enjoyed it!

Here we are!

Everything is made of Legos.  Amazing!!

Knights!

Zack thought this Coke machine was really cool

They made some new friends

Tony did too!

 The kids got to drive for real!  Awesome!

 Miniland, USA has a bunch of cities built out of Legos.  It was seriously amazing!

New York

Las Vegas

The Ladies

The guys

Mt. Rushmore.  Notice the giant Q-tip??  Ha!

 The kids LOVED Star Wars Miniland!  It is mind blowing how these sets were put together and how much they look like scenes from the movies!!

What a fun day!  And we were so happy to have spent it with Aunt Jeanie!  When we were finished at Legoland, we headed back to Escondido, picked up Kellen and ate dinner at one of their favorite Mexican restaurants, Anejo. Yum!

California Trip - Day 1

It had been 4 years since we took an actual family vacation, so this year, we decided it was a must.  We planned, booked and I worked extra to pay for a trip to San Diego and Disneyland!  It was SO much fun, and I know we will all remember this trip forever!

It's 5:30AM.  Who wants to go to California??

Having a delicious, healthy Wendy's breakfast at the airport!

That's our plane!!

Daddy and Drew

Sadie and Zack

As soon as we landed in San Diego, we got our rental car and headed off.  First stop?  In-N-Out for lunch!

Then we drove up to Escondido, where my Aunt Jeanie and cousin Kellen live.  Sammy lives there, too. :)

Enjoying the WARM sun on Aunt Jeanie's patio

She had the whole patio redone, it is beautiful and so relaxing!

Awwwww :)

Kellen got his old Transformers out.  He had a captive audience for a long time!

Dinner!

Sweet doggie and sweet girl

Then off we went for some sleep at our hotel to gear up for our next day's trip... LEGOLAND!!

Easter

Since my dad's passing two years ago, Easter lilies have taken on a new, special meaning for me.  Growing up, on Easter Sunday there would be Easter lilies all over the front of church, donated by family members in memory of those who had passed away.   It was always meaningful, but now so much closer to home.  Because Jesus died on the cross and rose again from the dead, and because my dad committed his life to Christ, I have full assurance that I will see him again one day.  And that means the world to me.  This year, I bought an Easter lily and had it at home.  The morning of Good Friday (the day we remember Jesus' death on the cross), I was shocked to see that my lily was weeping!!  I guess this is not uncommon, but I had never seen it before.  It was amazingly beautiful and a very powerful reminder to me of God's love for us that He would send His son to Earth, to live among us and then to die for our sins so that we may have relationship with Him.

That night, at the Good Friday service, we nailed out sins to the cross.  Just as Jesus was nailed with the weight of the world on His shoulders.

Easter Sunday we dressed up and headed to church.  I had to take a few pictures of my sweeties first!

 

The kids sang some special songs for us.

And then a family picture in front of the cross.  :)