Give a Day, Get a Day!

Love Disney. Love everything about it. Never got to visit Disneyland as a child and now I think I'm trying to make up for lost time or something. We just went in October, but when we heard about the Give a Day, Get a Day program this year, we were all over it! Thanks to Stacey who forwarded on the link to help make blankets, we made 4 fleece blankets and in return . . . got 4 free 1-day passes to the park! We got the passes on Monday, and by Tuesday, decided we needed to make a quick trip to California that weekend! Love spontaneous trips (we also wanted to beat the spring break crowds!). The passes were good for either a day at Disneyland, or a day at California Adventure. Surprisingly, the kids chose C.A.! I think it's because last time we went there, we didn't get to spend too much time at that park, and there were more rides they wanted to try out. We thought they might be bored at C.A. after 1/2 a day and then our plan was to upgrade to a park hopper pass and head over to Disneyland. But we ended up being at the park from opening to closing just to fit everything in!

Love this pic of Blake - - doesn't it just say CHILDHOOD?

Chloe loved that she actually was tall enough to go on Soarin Over California. But then she tried to go on so many other rides, but was just a few inches too short. We discovered she was tall enough for Tower of Terror and she wanted to try it out!! But as we entered the ride, she said, "I wish I was small!" How come? "So that I wouldn't have to go on this." By that time it was too late. Everyone in line with us was anxious to see what her reaction would be. She was by far the smallest in line. She definitely got a little scared and told me after that her bum kept coming out of her seat. And when I asked if she wanted to go on it again, she said NO WAY! But at least she tried it. My little brave 4-year old!

The new Toy Story ride was one of our favorites!

For some reason, Blake & Hayley kept making gangster signs for pictures. Seriously - where did they come up with that?

Ok, but Screamin had to be our top favorite ride. I think we rode it 4 times that day!

The swinging ferris wheel was Chloe's favorite. Just wish the line didn't take so long to get through!

The kids were able to get so many autographs!

Ever since we went last fall and I opted to NOT go on the Grizzly River water ride, Hayley kept telling me I had no option this time. So I gave in and went with her. Why is it that I ALWAYS pick the seat that gets the wettest. She thought that was hilarious. Here I am soaked.

We always love the parade. Love how Kate waved the entire time and there's nothing more magical than when the characters would look straight at her and wave back!

This is Crush the turtle and we'd never done the Talk With Crush activity.You go into an auditorium and you see the animated Crush on the screen but it's all interactive. He points out different people in the audience to talk to and you can ask him questions. The first person he spotted was the "cute little girl in pigtails" and he was wanting to talk to Chloe! So the helper brought the mic over to her and they had a conversation about where she was from and if she liked to swim. So cute. And Brent and I are still wondering . . . how does that whole show work? Magical, I tell you!

Here's the last picture of the night. They each got to pick out a treat in the gift shop before we left. Blake bought the penguin webkinz, Hayley brought a Mickey bracelet, Chloe of course chose candy - big lollipops, and Kate of course chose the little princess figurines. The perfect end to a perfect day.