We Survived, had a great time, and are now back to reality!! Our long awaited vacation is over,

and although I as glad to be home, I am a little sad that I don't have anything to look forward too...
We flew out bright and early last Saturday and after lugging 6 suitcases, 7 carry-ons, 2 car seats and a double stroller we landed in San Diego!! We decided that because we got there so early and couldn't check into our hotel for a while we headed to San Diego zoo.

We have been there before ( okay so 4 times before) It was a little less exciting than it has been in the past but we still had fun!! It was hot, and after a bus tour

and a few animals sightings

we called it a day and left.
That night at the hotel eating dinner Karden crunched down on his corndog and he happened to lose one of his bottom teeth.

He was so excited to put his tooth under his pillow and get some money. We had to reassure him that the tooth fairy knew he was on vacation and would still come. He got 2.00 and thought he had died and gone to heaven. He was so excited to tell his kindergarten teacher so he could have his name on the tooth board at school.
The next day we headed to Sea world!!

I love sea world, Ryan on the other hand is what I call a "S.H" or in other words a SHAMU HATER! He has never had fun at sea world before and was just going to make me happy!!-Thanks Ry- We got there early enough to see all the shows, we seen the Elmo show, the sea lion and otter show and or course the shamu show

It was so fun to see Whitley stand up and chant "shamu" with the rest of the crowd while he splashed all of the suckers that sit at the bottom of the stadium. It was even funnier to hear her add in " Shamu, Shamu, Daddy hates shamu!!" I guess I have teased Ryan to much about not wanting to go to sea world! We were even at the right spot at the right time and got to feed the dolphins..

It was awesome!!! Even though it was $6.00 for 4 fish. It was worth it !! After that we checked out the sesame street section or sea world

and rode on the rides and the kids got to burn off some energy on the huge playground!!

We checked out the sharks, polar bears and by then we were exhausted and on our way for a 1 1/2 hour drive up to Anaheim on the California freeways!! Wow- lets just say I'm glad the kids were sleeping so they didn't pick up all the "daddy" words that were said on the drive.
The next 3 days we did Disney!

We got there bright and early and hit a few rides before it was time for the "only" thing Karden wanted to do in disneyland- Jedi Training Academy-

Believe me this has caused me major anxiety over the last few months!! Trying to explain to a star wars crazed 5 year old that he may not get picked for the show, and having to prepare him for disappointment if that happened. As well as having to prepare myself, a non star wars crazed mom, for sitting in show after show waiting for him to get picked. I have done a gazillion Internet searches for hints on how to get picked,so with jedi clothes and with sign in hand,

we waited and low and behold he got picked second!! I don't know who was happier, me or karden!! He had a spot on stage instead of the floor and loved every minute of it.

He did awesome and got to fight Darth Maul!<

We could of left right that second and I would of been happy!!
The second day we did the princess breakfast, It was as good for whitley as star wars was for Karden. We got to see Ariel (in a dress, instead of fins, which confused the heck out of Whitley)

Snow White

Belle

Cinderella

and Sleeping Beauty

The look of Whitleys face was priceless, she just stood on her chair awestruck, While she waited for her turn with the princesses!

We got to go on all the rides we wanted to. Ryan loved Pirates and Matterhorn. Karden loved all the rides except Tower of terror were I scared the crap out of him. OOPS!He had a ball and was tall enough to go on all the rest of the rides.

Whitley on the other hand LOVED the teacups,

I have a much greater respect for my parents who went on small world with me over and over because I was too Chicken to go on anything else. Small world is still my favorite!

We got to meet most of the characters as well. Mickey Mouse

Goofy

Army Man from Toy Story

One neat thing we found in California adventures was a "Whitley Jewerly store"

Now no one can say my kids names are too "weird" to have anything personilized with there name on it (ex. pencils, cups, bike license plates, etc)
On our final night at disneyland we got to go trick or treating with Mickey Mouse.

The kids had a great time getting candy, dancing with the incredibles

and meeting some neat characters.


It was a fun but late night. We decided to stay for the parade before making the "death March" back to our hotel and while waiting the kids became really quiet, When we checked on them we found this.

and this

Well at least Ryan and I enjoyed the parade :)

Thursday was Universal Studios.

It was a fun place to visit. But A place I would go back to with older kids, Karden was either too short to ride the rides, or the ones he could go on scared him. Although the shows were really good! But we still got to meet some fun people.
Dora

Curious George

Shrek

and spongebob

After another fun filled drive on the freeway we ended up at Pirate Dinner adventure! It was ok food and ok entertainment and A+ eye candy!! :)

Karden really enjoyed it and even got to be part of the show and shoot muskets at the bad pirate captain. He thought he was Neat!! Whitley well she slept through most of this too!

Friday morning was Whale Watching. It was quite neat and we actually got to see 3 fin whales, 1 minke whale, and a whole bunch of sealions and dolphins that swam around our boat. What wasn't fun was that I get seasick!! I got seasick on the cruise, Why I thought I would be fine on a boat 20 times smaller bobbing up and down on the ocean is beyond me, I guess I didn't want to be a party pooper. So I load up on the dramamine and low and behold- Seasick!!!
Happy Megan- still on shore

"Starting to get seasick"-

"Get me off this Damn Boat"

Although the kids and Grandma and Grandpa had a great time

We then trudged all the luggage back to the airport to find that our already late night flight has been delayed a hour. Darnit! I apoligize to anyone on the flight out of Long Beach to Salt Lake City because it was MY 2 year crying for the first 15 minutes of the flight because she wanted a Sprite! Someone just give the girl a sprite!! We got home a little after 1:00 am and today we are trying to tackle the mounds of laundry and sort out our fun souvenirs. I'm glad to be home!!