Happiest Place: Last Day

Damian and I decided we'd have more fun at Disneyland if we just spent our last day with our two little ones. We pawned Emma, Josh and Rachel off on Eric and Hillary and went to do "Little Kid" Rides and Shows. I love seeing Disneyland through the eyes of a 4 and 6 year old! If you can't take your kids before 8 years old, forget it. But that's just my opinion.

Ben loved the ropes course but SOMEONE loved it just as much . . .

What you can't see in this picture is Damian's high stepping, cartoonish running moves. He was cracking me up.

Now he's acting like a monkey, with a drooling problem. I was laughing so hard.

My friend Kari asked about photos of Disneyland itself, but I really didn't take any. So feast your eyes on this little sweetheart. She's cute enough to be on Disney Channel someday.

Damian and I really enjoyed our day with 2 little ones. They were so fun to be with and enjoyed all the sights and shows so much more than the older kids. It was a real treat.

Our next stop was to the Illustrator Show and we really enjoyed it. A Disney Animator taught us how to draw Goofy. This is Damian's attempt. I think he did a pretty good job!

Katrina was a little shy about her skills. She didn't want me to photograph her "During" her lesson. It was hard for her to see how each little step would become the final product, but she stuck with it and created THIS:

In the end, she was really pleased with her work . . . signing AND DATING it!

Ben enjoyed the whole process. He has a high enough self esteem, his "Goofy" was perfect from the first initial circle! He loved it all.

I love his little signature, too. Figuring this drawing out is a little like looking at an ultrasound . . . can you make out the little hat, the big cheeks and long droopy ears? I guess you had to be there!

I tried to show the tree as a DUNCE CAP for Ben. I think it works well. He's such a clown.

We went to watch the Disney Christmas Parade and parked right in front of the Huge Tree across from City Hall. It was the Best Parade Spot, EVER! The PIXAR Parade was much better than the Christmas Parade, unless you like a lot of No-Name Elves and Gingerbread Men dancing around. I videoed the parade for my other kids that missed it. Kari, if you want to watch the whole boring 15 minutes, come on over!

I just had to include this shot of Ben. He spent more time holding himself RIGHT AFTER we took potty breaks! Our last ride at Disneyland was Autotopia.

I personally think it's the lamest ride, with the longest wait, EVEN with Fast Passes. I kept my opinion to myself because Ben and Nina were so excited to DRIVE. They loved it. They loved the "Drivers License" they were given at the start. They really thought they were steering (the cars were on a track).

Once again, I think Damian enjoyed it as much as the kids! Or he liked flirting with the driver in front of him (ME!)

Pretty good form, hu? I need to teach her the "10 and 2" positions on the wheel, she's a little off, with "9 and 3" but close enough. She still talks about this ride and what a good driver she is. Jared, if you ask Nina to tell you about Autotopia, she might speak more than 2 sentences to you. And Ben thinks as soon as I put a photo of him on his little paper Drivers License, he'll be able to drive my car. Don't encourage him, it's gonna be a real let down for him.

Josh and Eric practiced their Lightsaber moves the hour we were waiting for Autotopia (that was WITH a fast pass, please someone, tell me why the line is so long for that stupid ride!?)

Josh REALLY wanted to build his own special two blade lightsaber in the Star Wars Store. He also wanted a backpack that looked like Yoda was riding his back. The lightsaber cost $20, the backpack $40, so he got the weapon. It lights up, makes noise and can poke someone's eye out. What more could you ask for?

My beautiful little Princess in the shadow of the Disneyland Castle, all decorated for Christmas!

We ate dinner on the Mock SF Fisherman's Warf to see if it tasted like home (San Fran home) and it did! Then the kids threw the remaining bread bowls to the ducks. They almost had as much fun doing this as going on rides. I had to pull them away saying, "C'MON YOU LITTLE SQUIRTS! I didn't pay fifteen hundred bucks in passes to have you feed some Dumb Disney Ducks!"

For those of you that know Benny, this is a TERRIFIED but I-don't-want- anyone-to- know-I'm-scared look!

Rachel and Ben enjoyed climbing the San Francisco Golden Gate Bridge replica . . .

Until the guards told them to get off!!

Bug's Life bumper cars were pretty excting for Ben. These two clowns tried to hit me and Katrina HARD. Good thing the bugs only meander at less than one foot an hour. I never saw such a slow moving bunch of stinkbugs!

I passed on the Teacups and then got suckered into riding the ladybugs. Wow, I thought I was going to CHUNDER after this ride. The kids went again and again and then couldn't walk straight.

All tuckered out and no more Disneyland to see.

That's the end of our Disney Adventure, folks! Damian and I sure had fun and hope to go again, in about 15 years to bring Ben and some of our GRANDCHILDREN!! Christine and Allison . . . when you take your kids, I'm sure a few of mine would love to go along as babysitters for you. I'll pay their way, just get me out of taking them all again for 15 years, OK?!