The Happiest Place on Earth

At the last minute this summer we decided to take advantage of Ryan Fitzgibbons' generous offer to get us into Disneyland while he was still working there.  We told the kids only 6 days before we left and they were so excited!  I really wish we'd gotten a video of their reaction... especially Lydia's!

We left first thing on Saturday morning and headed to Elise and Austin's house. We were sad that we didn't get to see them because they were in Alaska.  They left a nice welcome for us at the house.

We headed over to the pool and had a great time swimming together.

We attended church on Sunday in a crazy double chapel--super confusing! In the afternoon we spent some time in the park near Elise's house.

Monday morning we woke up bright and early so that we could enter Disneyland right around opening.  We met Ryan at his hotel and walked over to the park.

There were so many fun moments during the day! I'm going to let the pictures tell some of the story though.

The only ride that Lydia wasn't tall enough for was Indiana Jones.  She and I walked through Tarzan's treehouse while we waited.

Lydia reminds me so much of James with her fearlessness!  She went on every single "scary" ride without batting an eye!

(You can't see Lydia but she's on Splash Mountain... I love the look of horror on Alex's face.  He ended up completely soaked!)

Lydia was pretty prepared for all the fast rides... but we forgot to warn her that the Guardians of the Galaxy ride was a drop ride.  After the first drop it gets light and Lydia's expression was that of terror.  After the initial shock she thought it was great fun though.  I think Rich was the only one that hated that ride!

Ryan got us a reservation for lunch at the Blue Bayou (the restaurant in Pirates of the Caribbean).  We actually just had a snack there.  William later claimed that "the monte cristo was so good that it ruined all other food for me."  All the kids said that they like my creme brulee better too! (Not that the one we had was bad... it was delicious!)


In the evening, Rich left us because he had to be at work the next day.  We missed him but we were so glad that he got to spend most of the day with us!

We grabbed some dinner and just happened to be there for Minnie's dance party.  Lydia thought it was awesome (once she had food in her belly).  She told us for days afterward, "I partied with Minnie at Disneyland!"

We grabbed the chance to ride Space Mountain one more time and caught the end of the fireworks show.  Then we headed across the park for a dole whip.  We tried several different flavors.

William really wanted to ride the new Millenium Falcon ride.  We had been watching ride times all day and decided to go.  By the time we got over there Lydia had fallen asleep. (It was around 11:00 by this time.) The boys were so good to help me hold her in line.

 

By the time we got off the ride we had 15 minutes until the park closed.  We decided to make a run for Thunder Mountain.  We got there in time to ride it two times!  We were the very last guests of the night to ride it.  The boys thought that was awesome.

We had such fun! I loved that throughout the day each of the kids came up to us individually and thanked us for bringing them.  That night we all slept well with sore feet and lots of wonderful memories!

July 2019

The rest of July we just settled back to being home and soaking up the rest of the summer.

We went to the library and James found this movie called "End Game"... he thought it was really funny since Avengers:EndGame came out this summer.  We decided that some mom was going to bring it home thinking this was the movie her kids had been talking about.  (A few nights before this we were actually trying to decide what movies like this should be called--some unknown, obscure movie that has the same title as a well-known movie so it was really funny to find this!)

As part of the requirements for Crane University this summer the kids had to complete a vision board.  Some of them like it more than others.

We ran to Dunkin' Donuts for our "Glazed for A's".

Old Mormon Fort was holding a Pioneer Day celebration so we decided to check it out!  There was a free train ride.

They milked a cow, made butter, and Lydia made some dolls.

It was so hot that day so they especially loved playing in the stream.

We drank some rootbeer floats to cool off at the end.

The kids had fun making their own fun with water and legos outside.  I love when they come up with ways to entertain themselves.

We also made sure to do some artwork.  Some of the kids painted canvas and some painted rocks. 

Alaska pt 2

After Rich left we had many more adventures even though we missed having him with us!

Day #9

I took the kids to Jewel Lake and met up with Rachelle's family.

Peter and Thomas weren't loving the sand... but we finally convinced them to come play on the shore with us.

In the evening we took advantage of free admission at the museum.

I think everyone had a fun time exploring the different exhibits!

Day #10

We headed out to Eagle River to hike with Grandpa.  We met up with the Taylor's there!

The last time we went on this hike was when Alex was a toddler!

Grandpa showed us the public use cabin out there and we saw some bear scat (but no bears thankfully!)  William saw a moose again!

The weather was so pleasant that we ate outside again!  My mom said that this was the most use they've gotten out of their deck in all the years they've lived in Alaska!

Day #11

Sunday was restful after all the running around we had been doing!  I loved going out in the hammock (at 11PM!) to read for a little while.

Day #12


My dad had to run down to the television station to record a commercial for his sleep clinic.  He invited William and James to come along with him.   They got a grand tour and even got to sit down on the couch for a little interview!  What a cool experience!

While they were gone the little boys went to the Randall's to play and then the big boys came home and threw tomahawks in the backyard.  In the evening we had dinner with the cousins and the kids played together for hours!

Alex discovered the joys of reading in the hammock.

In the evening James, William and I stayed up playing games on the deck until far too late.  That darn sun tricks you every time!

Day #13


We headed to the zoo since we don't have one in Las Vegas.  We spotted animal life before we even entered the zoo when the kids all found a ladybug in the parking lot.

We brought Peter and Thomas with us while Rachelle went to a doctor's appointment.  Unfortunately the animals were all hiding since it was so hot.... which made the kids grumpy.

Alex really liked this hawk.

We did spot the tiger though!

The bears really put on a show for us.  It looked as if the mom was teaching the baby how to fight.

When we got home James was telling Peter that he was so hungry that he was going to eat his glass (and pretended to take a bite).  He set his glass down on the counter and then went to grab the chocolate milk powder and the milk.  In the meantime, Peter picked up the glass and actually bit it!  I heard a *crunch* and looked over to see a broken glass.

It was too funny!  He spit out some glass and while I was cleaning it up he ran away and hid.  Thankfully he wasn't hurt!

Lydia wanted to make sure I got a picture of her in the hammock!

Day #14

We met up with the Taylor's at the sand dunes.  We wanted to visit the sand dunes the last time we were in Alaska but William had a broken arm and we didn't think it would be a good idea.  (We were right... it would have been no fun for him!)

At one point James climbed up a tree and told us he had spotted a moose!  I was especially excited because I hadn't seen a moose the entire trip (everyone else had!)

We watched the moose for at least 20 minutes!    James freaked me out a little bit when he decided to climb down from the tree after the moose had moved closer to him.  Eventually the moose moved on a little ways... but we were still watching it.  We decided to head back home and let a lady near the trailhead know that just beyond her sight the moose was there in the woods.  She immediately started packing up her stuff and calling to her children.  It was a good thing too... but cause not more than a minute passed when that moose ran from the woods (right behind James!)--right through the area that the lady had been sitting in--and down to the water.

In the afternoon we headed to Potters Marsh to see the salmon swimming upstream.

The boys shot sodas in the backyard (leftover Dr. Pepper from Austin's last visit) with Grandpa.

They attempted to throw some tomahawks as well.

Rachelle and I snuck away for a little treat together at Wild Scoops.  It was delicious and fun to spend time with Rachelle.

Day #15

We all headed downtown for a free ride on the ulu trolley and then watched some fishermen at Shipp Creek. 

In the evening we celebrated Scott's birthday with homemade fish n chips and carrot cake!  Then we hopped a red eye back to Las Vegas.

The kids were great travelers and we were really lucky that the flight was nearly empty (that never happens when we are traveling to or from Alaska!) so we were able to spread out.  It made sleeping much more enjoyable.

We had such a fun, memorable trip to Alaska!