Disneyland!!!

Today we spent the day at Disney.  I've been wanting to go during the holidays for a while and we finally had an excuse today.   Carmen's friend Bard and his family were going this weekend and we were invited to tag along.  So when we were (finally - it took something like 30 minutes this morning) done with breakfast this morning, we packed up the car and took off for Disneyland.  Because we're so lucky, about 20 minutes later we were parked and waiting for the shuttle bus from the parking lot to the park.

We had a great time today and Jayden was amazing.  Both Carmen and I were expecting at least one meltdown, maybe more.  But no, I think he almost got fussy once.  We went on a couple "rides" and then he passed out in the carrier and stayed asleep through the entire Pirates of the Caribbean ride.  We met up with Bard, Jody and family after that, he woke up and we went on more adventures.

As Carmen and I repeated over and over, it was so fun to experience Disney with a child.  All of us went in to Toon Town for the first time in our lives (and saw Jessica Alba, in case anyone cares), we learned Pirates can be quite scary, the Tiki room has never been better and two Saturdays before Christmas is a crazy time to be at Disneyland with a stroller, five adults, an infant, two toddlers and a four year old.

I took a rather large amount of pictures - and we accidentally got one video, so here goes.  Enjoy!

As soon as we walked in the park, there were a number of characters available to take pictures.  The first one, and luckily my favorite, was MICKEY!!!  The line actually wasn't crazy so we waited.  Note to self: next time check the settings on the camera before handing it to your husband to get a rushed picture.  Although sometimes it works out for the better.  This was supposed to be a still picture, but the camera was on video, we only had a second or two to take the picture (Disney doesn't mess around, they push you through these things) and Carmen didn't realize it was on video.  The best part about it is that at the end, the video caught Jayden actually reaching out to touch Mickey's nose.  Awesome.

The first challenge was surviving the shuttle ride to the park from the parking lot.  Turns out buses can be scary too!  As soon as we turned him around so that he could see outside he was fine.  

Cinderella's castle had snow!  LOVE Disneyland at the holidays.

In line for the Jungle Cruise.  This was after we'd gone to the Tiki Room.  Jayden was jamming in the Tiki Room.  He wanted to move around and was "dancing" and pointing at everything he noticed.  It really was so fun.

Asleep on Mama's chest.  We were walking around New Orleans Square and Jayden was awfully quiet.  I looked down, turned his face toward Carmen and asked if his eyes were open.  Carmen said "barely.  Actually no."  Jayden had fallen asleep in the middle of Disneyland in the boba carrier - he'd never slept in that carrier before.  He stayed that way while we waited in line for Pirates, while we rode Pirates, which includes two little drops, canonballs, gunshots, etc. and while I lugged him and myself out of the boat and walked out of the dark ride.  This kid can sleep through anything.

Waiting in line for It's a Small World.  We wanted to let him down so he could move around a little and get his legs moving.  He took a few steps, which was great.

In Daddy's arms while waiting for It's A Small World.

He loved It's a Small World.  He was pointing at the lights and going "da!" throughout the whole ride.

Ho Ho Holidays!  Carmen said "this is for your grandma," so Mom, imagine country-themed holiday music!

Driving a car in Toon Town.

Santa in the parade.

Jayden's first visit to Disneyland.  He got a pin.  That blurry thing in the bottom of the picture is the  one souvenir Jayden got, which was a stuffed Mater the Tow Truck.  We "vroomed" the tow truck all over the stroller and him and he thought it was amazing.  Until he got tired, he was "vrooming" it himself too.

Tired boys on the shuttle back to the car.  Once we got into the car, Jayden was asleep within a few minutes and continued to sleep once we got home.  He ate dinner, took a bath and went back to bed.  Such a wonderful day with the family.