DISNEYLAND!

All I can say is OH MY MAGIC, we went to Disneyland.  We talked to Missy a lot about Disneyland, but seriously how do you explain something as magical and amazing as Disneyland to someone whose life experiences include Walmart and Grammie's house.  We tried to explain that Disneyland is a place where Cinderella and Snow White live and meet little girls like her all day and there are these humongous things called rides that you can sit on and go fast or slow and look at things.  But as expected we were unsuccessful at explaining what this thing called Disneyland actually was.  I think she started to get some sort of idea that it was special because she started saying things like "at Disneyland there are beautiful princesses and giant ice cream cones" and "When we go to Disneyland, Belle will love me and give me beautiful kisses". We knew that she at least knew something was happening. 

We went to California with our good friends the Records.  They have a little girl just older than Marilyn named Haven.  Marilyn is OBSESSED with all things Haven, she has been heard saying these things. "Mom, Haven has BEAUTIFUL feet, when I am big like Haven my feet will be so beautiful too" and often at bed time we hear these words "Mom, tomorrow we can go to Haven's house!" or "Remember, Haven? She is my friend" It is cute to hear Marilyn talk so highly of someone, she seriously loves Haven and Haven is a seriously good sport having Marilyn follow her around and want to do EVERYTHING she does. 

We left St George on a Tuesday night and drove to my parents house.  The plan was to go to Disneyland Wednesday and Thursday and then go to California Adventure Friday, then relax Saturday and drive home Saturday.  We arrived in California and then we got the kids to bed and started getting ready for the amazingness that was to insue in the morn. 

We woke up early and got our selves ready and drove our little buns to DISNEYLAND.  We walked in the park and Marilyn was screaming "MOM, I'M EXCITED".  She couldn't even sit in the stroller there were too many things to look at.  We walked down Main Street and I couldn't help but feel just so so so excited for Marilyn.  This is what we have been talking about FOREVER, this is the happiest place on earth, this is Disneyland. 

(Quick pause from Disneyland's greatness, how amazing is my green stroller?

Best yard sale find EVER!)

Quick little family picture at the most amazing place ever, Sleeping Beauty's castle! Marilyn couldn't believe it was real!

The first ride we went on was the carousel (but seriously? we have one of those at home so I didn't freak out on the pictures on that one)  The teacups were next, and did not disappoint.  Once she realized what this thing called a "ride" was, she was completely into it and she was fully ready to experience the mania. 

She also went on the Alice and Wonderland ride...which she thought was a little scary because it was a little dark, but she was so brave and made it!

After all this excitement we decided to put Mar in the stroller and take a little break from the amazingness.  We found a very special person and we didn't tell Mar but we were waiting in line to meet Princess Aurora.  She was having a snack and drinking some juice and talking about Haven and then the person in front of her moved and she got her first peak of Sleeping Beauty herself! She said "Mom- She is so so so beautiful! Sleeping Beauty lives here! Look look look!"

(here she is waiting aimlessly for something)

If you know Marilyn at all, you know she is OBSESSED with all things princess.  This literally meant the world to her.  She would wait all day to meet these princesses and they absolutely did not disappoint. 

We also met Snow White which was equally wonderful. She was DARLING with Marilyn and asked her questions and Marilyn was almost too amazed to speak.  She tried to tell her about her beautiful friend Haven and how princesses were her favorite thing ever, but all she could say was "You have beautiful beautiful hair" It was adorable, she was adorable...I loved watching (ok I cried, I am "mom-enough" to admit it)

Who knew there was a petting zoo at Disneyland?

Marilyn had to stop to color Grammie a picture...obviously a complete and total necessity!

Jeff came too, and was amazing the whole time.  I mean how can you have a face like this and have anyone do anything but fuss over you.  He was PERFECT!

Then we waited in a ridiculously long line to meet Tinkerbell.  She was cute...but it seemed the line was about 9000 times longer than necessary.

We also met Tinkerbell's friend, this fairy (who is she?) She was nice, Marilyn liked her wings and makes sure everyone knows that she didnt' have any shoes on but she did have an owie on her foot...I didn't notice it but she might or might not have had a cast on!

Marilyn LOVED Tarzans Tree house! She loved running as fast as she could across the bridge and finding all the cool things inside! She went up and through that thing about 20 times. 

(Surprise! These are not from Tarzan! Silly Disneyland!)

We went on the Jungle Cruise and Marilyn saw this REAL elephant! Craziness right!? It is amazing that they could put a real elephant inside Disneyland...but alas, here it is! (haha) This is Tom's favorite ride! (who knew) Our tour guide was hilarious as ever and we LOVED it!

Jeff perked up and smiled for these particularly adorable shots! He was so good all day long, I couldn't believe how great he was!

This is the whale ride, you know? The one where you are swallowed by the whale and end up in the darling miniature land of all the Disney stories? Marilyn was convinced we were seeing the real Aladdin's palace and the real Sleeping Beauty just shrunk down to this adorable little size. She also spotted the lamp from Aladdin!

Her favorite ride (by a long shot) was the "Singing kids ride" aka Small World.  We went on it a bunch of times and every time she spotted all the characters inside! She still talks about how she saw Jesse and Woody and Wendy and Peter Pan and Mulan the warrior princess and Cinderella and tons of others in the ride! And how crazy adorable is it that she calls it the singing kids ride? We could not figure out what she was talking about for half of the first day, but once we got it we got it and we will forever know it as the singing kids ride!

 Here we are waiting for the parade, kinda sickening that she is laying on the floor, but mostly adorable and I was tired so we took a good bath after. 

This is a camera (can you see it?) She was taking pictures while waiting for the parade!

I am positive I missed a few pictures and memories, so I am SURE there will be a follow up post because that's the way I roll.  We will definitely remember this week for a long time, it was special to do this for our little family.  It was our first official family vacation and it will be remembered for sure! Thanks Records for coming with us...because it wouldnt' have been as fun without you! Loved this!