Thursday, April 12, 2012

Spring Break

After Easter dinner we got packed up and ready to leave on our Spring Break trip the following morning. Our original plan, and the one we told the boys, was to go to St. George and play in the pool at a hotel. This seriously was so exciting to them. They love hotels and they love pools. Then we'd drive the 1.5 hours to Las Vegas the next day and have a day trip there finding some family friendly things we could do. But, as it happens, we got on the road to St. George on Monday and almost got there when we decided we wanted to do something a little bit grander. Speaking in grown up code in front of the boys we decided to do this Spring Break right and keep on going to California. We just had to dig deep into our vocabulary to talk to each other with the kids listening. It was pretty funny, actually. Try it sometime. Try to have a conversation using really big words or phrases to mean every day things in front of kids and see if they understand. Anyway, we had to call and cancel our hotel reservations in St. George. And as we cruised right on past in the car, Andrew kept saying "Mom! Mom! I see St. George. I see the signs. You're supposed to turn off the freeway!" He was distressed. But we got to Las Vegas and stopped for some dinner. It was at this point we told the boys we were headed to Disneyland. Oh what whooping and yelling we had in the car. Greg and I are planners and it was unlike us to just decide on a whim to drive all dang day to California. But we did it. We tried getting a room at the Disneyland Hotel but found it was $1,000 a night (day of prices). We decided our "On a Whim" Vacation budget didn't quite stretch that far. But we found a hotel within walking distance to the park.
And what a day we had. It started off pretty slow in the park and we got in all the big rides we wanted to do. We walked right on to Indiana Jones and Splash Mountain without having to wait in line at all. That's NEVER happened before. So we had a great morning. It picked up quite a bit after lunch time and lines got longer. But it was still a fabulous day. I love how family friendly Disneyland is. Other than big rides like Space Mountain, Indiana Jones, and Splash Mountain we took the baby on everything. Greg and I took turns taking the boys on bigger rides. When we went to Disneyland the last time, Andrew begged and begged for a "double-bladed light saber that you build yourself." After going on the newly designed Star Tours ride, he finally got his wish.
It's such a magical place and we love Disneyland so much. We drove home so Greg could be back to work on Thursday, after staying at the hotel in St. George that we had originally planned on. The kids finally got to go swimming. Elizabeth hates the car and is not a good traveler. That was the only flaw of the trip. We all are a little deaf because of her incessant screaming in the car seat.



So long in the car!

Didn't even bring a port a crib. Poor baby had to sleep in a nest on the floor.




8




St. George pool at last!


We stopped in Ontario, CA on our way back home. It was on the way and we couldn't resist. This is the apartment where Greg and I lived for 3 1/2 years while he did his Pharmacy schooling. Nathan was born while we lived here. It kind of felt like coming home. We had such a great ward there and good friends.
Anyway, we're home now. Fast, quick trip. I didn't even pack enough clothes for us since we changed our plans after we'd left home. Crazy! Hooray for spontaneity!

5 comments:

Joy said...

Wow!! I'm very impressed with the spontaneity here. Coolest parents ever!!!

Tara said...

Oh goodness! So thrilling! And to think you missed out on going to Burley.... we were there (before Easter).

Sounds like a dream. I'm so torn - want to go but not with two in diapers... and now that I'm no longer working should probably wait until our house sells... but I still really want to go as much logic as I run through...

Now your kids are going to second guess when you're running errands... hopeful that you'll do something super fun.

Crystal said...

That is so fun Karen! You guys are by far the coolest parents ever!

Sarah said...

Holy Cow. I don't think Gabe and I could ever pull that off. You're kids are so lucky. You're welcome to do China on a whim as well. We only charge $999 a night, so it's a way better deal than Disneyland. : )

You're kids are so stinkin' cute!

Lindy said...

Yeah, I've never done Disneyland on a whim! Way to go. And I'm impressed that baby would sleep in a nest on the floor. . . not sure my kids would do that!