January Vacation

We have wanted to take a trip to Disneyland and San Diego for over a year, and just kept putting it off and putting it off. Well Alex was changing employments and didn't know when he would have leave again so we jumped and went. We went at the perfect time of year for such a trip. We started in San Diego where we took a nature cruise out to the Coronado Islands. It was an amazing start to our trip. Soon after leaving the Harbor we watched several dolphins, then as we continued we watched several dolphins play with a whale. The tour then took us out to the island where we saw sea lions, seals, and more birds than you can count. The tour was relaxing and so much fun to see the animals in their natural homes. It was a six hour ride, and so worth it. We saw more whale on the trip back in, but the tour was running late so we couldn't stop to watch. The next few days we spent checking out different sights along the harbor. We visited Legoland, then headed up to Disneyland. At Disneyland we had two days of almost walk on rides, and two of the days we had some rain, but compared to the snow at home it was awsome. Saturday was more crouded, but by then we had seen everything and were just repeating the things we liked most.

Alex had fun feeding pelicans popcorn off the back of the ship. While we were in San Diego we found the neatest hole in the wall resturants to eat at, it was fun to get off the beaten path and enjoy the city the non tourist way.

If you can see the white spot in the water it is a whale spouting water.

The anilmals posed for pictures.

These are a lot of Black Booby Birds and a single Pelican. All said and done we had a wonderful vacation.

San Diego

You can't make it all the way to San Diego without stopping to see the temple. It is so beautiful.

We enjoyed a boat tour all through the harbor. We were able to learn about all the amazing ships that call that harbor home. We also got to see what they use to work on the ships and how and where they assemble these amazing vessels.

On our journey we made a stop at lego land. It is a glamorized lagoon, but the kids enjoyed it a lot. The best part were all the different cities made out of legos. It was impressive to see the details they put into building such a place. Of course the boys loved it.....they do love legos.

While we were visiting the harbor we were lucky enough to see several large Navy ships come and go and we also were lucky to watch a submarine be escorted into the harbor.

Bridger and Grandpa enjoying a boat tour.

Disneyland 2

Alex had to force Bridger to stay for the picture, Mickey Mouse was too close for comfort for him

We went to Disney California and got to check out all the cool Bugs Life stuff. It was one of Rilynn and Bridger's favorite places.

We all had to where are official bug eyes to see the bug movie.

Rilynn loved that tinkerbell told her she looks just like her. She even got brave enough to tell tinkerbell goodbye.

After enduring the line to meet tinkerbell the boys were able to go to Jedi training. They got to wear robes and learned how to use a light saber, and after their training they each had to fight DarthMaul. Rilynn didn't care for the bad guys, but she liked watching the boys fight them.

Disneyland

Bridger loved Disneyland, but not the rides. He liked looking at everything, but if the ride was very fast he wasn't too thrilled. He liked the slower little kid rides, but he was tall enough to go on all but one ride but he didn't like most of them. He way way cute, he went on Star Tours with Alex and I waited with Rilynn, then when I wanted to go he wouldn't go with me so as I walked toward the ride he yelled out at me, "I don't want to go mom, but it was amazing."

Where all the characters are cool to Maclain, Bridger is just not into anyone in a costume. But the one character he wanted to see was Lightning. I think this was the best part of Disneyland to him.

Rilynn's favorite princess has always been Ariel, so we were really lucky her dad gave her legs the day we went. The Princess line was the longest line we had to stand in, but Rilynn loved it because they talked to her and asked her questions. She loved it, even if she didn't smile.

Malcain was the best age to take to Disneyland. He is young enough to find everything magical, and yet old enough to do everything. He had fun sighting the different characters throughout the park. He loved it. Bridger is totally not into characters, he is almost afraid of them. Bridger and Rilynn both were not fans of that tickle your tummy feeling you get on the rides, so they had fun, and stress at the same time.

Seeing the Star Wars characters was the highlight for Maclain. Bridger liked seeing them, but wasn't a fan of being close to them.

Bridger and the Birds

Bridger and I were walking down from the bathrooms, and I was a few steps ahead of him, and he said "mom do you see all those birds? Don't scare them, cuz I want to." I wish Alex would have had the camera because he had a way better view, but it was still so fun to watch Bridger run after all the birds.

Hermit Crabs on the run

When we were at the beach Bridger was collecting little sea shells off the top of rocks, then he found out they were tiny hermit crabs. They were so small, but we found quite a few. The kids had lots of fun playing with them. We learned that when they are under the water they open and run, they also run in your hand, but if you lay them just on dry sand they don't like to come out.

Sand and Hermy Crabs

Rilynn and Grandma playing on the beach. Rilynn really loved the water.

Bridger's favorite part of our whole trip was the beach. As you can see Alex and I both wore sweat shirts, but the kids refused, good thing because they were all soaked. I was surprised that none of them complained at all that they were cold.

Rilynn and her sand castle.

Bridger and his Hermy Crabs.