Disneyland 2009

So it is yet another trip to the Happiest Place on Earth.
Actually, in our defense, it has been almost 2 years since we were there last, and a lot has changed since then.... (which was wonderful). Meaning, Tyler is finally tall enough to go on all of the "major" rides. Space Mtn., Splash Mtn., Thunder Mtn. Etc. There was no more sitting off with the little guy. They were all able to enjoy all of these rides with us. The only ones he and Chase couldn't ride were the ones Steve did not want to ride (the ones that would make him sick). So, it worked out sooooo well.

This trip was actually a bribe attempt. I told Chase back in September, that if he would stop sucking his thumb, we would go to Disneyland. But we wouldn't go again until the sucking stopped. Well, at first he didn't take me too seriously. But in January, something amazing happened. He stopped! We gave him several weeks, peeking on him when he was sleeping, watching out for him when he was watching television...and nothing. He just stopped, cold turkey. So the planning began about March (after we were very confident that this wasn't just a fluke). I played with many different dates, but didn't really commit to anything. Until I realized that both Chase and Alex had a birthday in April, and it would really be fun to celebrate one of their days, there. Chase's birthday ended up being a bad weekend for traveling, plus it was the weekend of the SLC 5k. So Alex's 12th Birthday won out. It seemed like a fitting day to really celebrate.

We all had a great time, and Chase never let us forget that he was the reason that we were there. He would remind us frequently to thank him for the trip.


Alex's birthday ended up a smashing success also. My parents took us to a Character Breakfast to kick off the day, and everywhere Alex went, people were wishing him a Happy Birthday (mainly because of the button he wore all day). My Mom's birthday was 2 days before his, but we couldn't get her to keep her button on. So, she didn't get many birthday wishes.
We ended his day, at the ESPN Zone for dinner. (his choice) It was a great day.


Like any other trip, it was nice to get home. We took a long time getting here. We stopped in St. George for an extra day, and just let the boys swim and play all day on friday. I think we calculated that they spent 6 hours in the swimming pool (talk about puckered). They didn't get much swimming time in in California, because it was a bit cool in the evenings, and because as they told me...the pool there was "Weak". Meaning it was only 3 1/2 feet deep. How sad!!!

All of us were in great need of a vacation. It seems like life has been going full speed ahead lately, and we are not keeping up very well. With school, work, and trek looming in the not so distant future, we are stressed out. Because St. George was such a welcome calm, we may spend future vacations just sitting around a pool at a local hotel. That was really fun.