Here are some of our top quotes of the trip:
"Nice work pal!" with the thumbs up sign. Staley apparently watched the little movie they show before going on Soarin' over California, where the guy says that to the little boy and the little boy gives him the thumbs up sign. Jimmy just randomly said to staley, "Nice work pal" after he buckled his own seat belt. Staley responded by giving Jimmy the thumbs up sign. It looked scripted it was so right on. We laughed forever.
"Mom,I'm having a meltdown!" Staley Wilson, Day 4 at Disneyland
"Mom, I very very bad want....I don't know what I want," Noah Rex at World of Color.
"Well honey, why didn't you keep your Disneyland ticket in an Oreo box?" Claren Baier to Aaron, my team boy who lost his ticket and wallet on separate days at the park. Thank heavens he had his passport!!(I'm joking by the way). Anyway, as Amy, Claren and I were rifiling through the boys' luggage looking for the missing articles, we found tons of empty Oreo boxes. The boys informed us that Aaron was obsessed with them and ate them constantly. Claren's response to this had me rolling.
Staley wasn't too sure of meeting Mickey Mouse. We waited in line for half an hour. Jimmy's comment: "all of this because of a mouse!" I think this comment extended to this event and Disneyland as a whole.
Okay, I know that there are a ton of pictures of Staley and Noah playing on the beach, but they are all sooo cute! The beach was not very warm that day, but everyone had a blast! I can't believe the kids got in the water, but they loved it. They were running constantly and making sand castles with my team kids. Jimmy played football with the boys, and some of my brave girls. And Dylan's friend who lives in California met us there to play. The chaperone moms got darling halloween stuff to decorate the castles with, making our 2nd annual sand castle contest lots of fun.
Jimmy playing football with my Team boys. BYU against UofU. Take a wild guess at who won?
Staley turfed it and had sand caked EVERYWHERE. And I mean, everywhere! He was so sad. It was at the end of the day when we were ready to leave gratefully.
My awesome Core Team with my amazing chaperones. The Three Amigos: Claren, Amber and Tamra. What would Amy and I have done without them??? We want them to come next year, no matter if they have graduating seniors this year or not:)
Core Team with Natalia and Michael (aka Alex!) We have been travelling to LA for 5 yeas now taking classes from these amazing professional dancers who are great teachers. Unfortunately, Jay and I have been calling the man Alex, when his name is Michael. In our defense he always answered to Alex. We are dorks!
Yepp...this picture pretty much sums up our experience eating at the Blue Bayou. Staley was just a treat!! I had a hard time enjoying my once a year Monte Cristo...but somehow I persevered and savored every last bite.
We took pictures in New Orleans Square. It was so pretty back in this little corner that I had never noticed before. We love this part of Disneyland. We actually found a new indulgence. A french pastry called a Mickey Beniet. It tops the funnel cakes for sure. They were mickey mouse sugar donuts. Worth every calorie, and penny!
Staley loved the Jungle Cruise, we rode this ride a few times as well. He freaked out when the tour guide shot his gun. He jumped from his bench into my lap as fast as he could. It was hilarious
Staley LOVED the Monorail. We rode it all of the time, (and the train..very relaxing ride by the way). We got to sit in the front with the conductor on one of the trips. Staley thought it was pretty cool.
Staley and Jimmy on Toy Story Mania
Noah, Dylan and Staley on Pirates of the Caribbean. Staley thought he was the biggest boy riding with his friends in front of us. Of course, this ride is one of Staley's favorites as well.
We decided to go to Story Tellers Cafe in the Grand Californian Hotel this year. (Someday we'll stay there!) It was a fun character breakfast. The characters were all more obscure. There was the wolf from Splash Mountain, and Bears and Chip and Dale. More of woodland creatures. Very fun and different. It wasn't busy so the characters hung out with us more and played with the kids quite a bit. I recommend this if your tired of the princesses and they have awesome caramel french toast!
Staley took this picture of us. I think he did a pretty good job.
Staley and Dylan..very cute picture of the two of them.
I have to explain this picture. Staley was very nervous of the characters at first. Especially Brother Bear. He knew this and kept teasing Staley by trying to get him to take a picture with him. The character was very nice, basically trying for me, (and probably his own amusement). So Brother Bear went up to Staley..Staley freaked out and ran to the bench I was sitting on and knocked me down, pinning himself on top of me while the Bear was reaching over me tickling Staley. Amy is in the picture laughing her head off, as I was trying to unsuccessfully take a pic while laughing my head off as well.
Staley's first and possibly last time riding Space Mountain. He had the grip of death on me and told me very vehemently that he never wanted to ride that ride again. Of course, at Halloween they make it kind of scary with a space ghost chasing you. Ugly little guy! I told him, just close your eyes, which he did the whole time.
Staley and Jimmy after a long hard day playing at Disneyland.
Me and bug on Toy Story, his favorite ride. We rode Toy Story Mania 4 times, more than any other ride.
Oh..the carousel in California Adventures. Staley kept climbing on the railing while waiting for this ride. I warned him that if he didn't stop, he wouldn't be allowed to ride the ride. Well..he tested me, so I handed him over to Jimmy while I rode the ride with Noah. Staley cried and cried, but eventually he was able to ride it.
Me and Noah on the Carousel
The castle as we were leaving the park for the airport. I always have a hard time when we leave. It was a beautiful day and I thought the castle looked pretty with the sunset on it.
Staley on Main Street. It was crazy busy as we were leaving for some reason! But still sad to leave.
