Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving

These make me particularly happy--green, yellow and red, all close together. 

This time of year, always near Thanksgiving, I'm so thankful for the beautiful trees all around town. We do get fall color--it just takes us a bit longer.

We saw this car the other day--entire covered in pennies!


Our sister-in-law has been traveling in Egypt. I love this photo of her.

I don't think we have ever decorated for Christmas before Thanksgiving, but that's what happened this year.

Levi and Mark (this year, mostly Levi) hang the outside lights.
Gabe and Ella help decorate the tree.

I had these cute snowflakes in a box and Gabe had the great idea of hanging them from our new light fixture.


Truth!

Charlotte and I painted her room for the third time, but at least this time it was a different room. This one used to belong to Gabe and Levi, then Gabe and Ella. Now everyone has their own room. 

Before:
It's hard to accurately photograph, but it's a really nice shade of gray.
We are a great team. She had already taped everything off (the worst part, in my opinion). Then I cut everything in while she does all the roller work. We completed the entire room in under three hours!

I am feeling very thankful for family and friends. I hope wherever you are, you have a lovely weekend.

Saturday, November 19, 2022

Milestone Birthday: Day 2


 We started Day 2 at California Adventure, all on our own. We took a ride in the Red Car Trolley, something I had never ridden in all my times at California Adventure. We went straight to Guardians of the Galaxy. Yes, I rode it again. This time I kept my eyes open! 

And this time we were all in the front row.
Mark was probably on his favorite ride, the park bench, and Aaron and Ella were riding Luigi.

We rode Midway Mania again, Aaron and Ella rode Inside Out, Mark and I waited for them, then some of us did Goofy's Sky School (a few rode this three times in a row).
I love Jumping Jellyfish, the kids' version of Guardians of the Galaxy. Charlotte and Gabe indulged me.


It was such a beautiful morning.


Here is our private deck from dinner the night before.
Next up was Soarin' over California. Ella and I did some window shopping during this time. 

For lunch, Mark and Ella had corndogs, while the rest of us enjoyed the sip and savor pass. You paid for a pass which entitled you to a choice of eight different samples from different food booths. 
I had thought the sample sizes would be small, but they were actually quite generous.

After lunch, Charlotte, Levi and Gabe did  River Run (twice).
Aaron, Christa and Ella went through Redwood Creek.


Then we headed over to Animation Academy, where a Pixar artist teaches you how to draw a character.






On our way out of California Adventure, we stopped for some fun photos.




Oops...


On a side note: I have been going to Disneyland since I was little. This is the very first time I have had my own Mickey ears--a birthday present from Aaron, Christa and the kids. :)

Back in Disneyland, we started with Astro Blasters, and ran into some friends on our way out, John and Denae Samson.
While Mark and I watched a short performance of Lion King, everyone else rode Autopia and Finding Nemo.



It was late afternoon, and we stood in line for Peter Pan (always such a long line for a ride that takes like 45 seconds).
A few of us rode Big Thunder Mountain again (my favorite at night), and then we had dinner at the French Market. 

Most of us rode Pirates of the Caribbean (Ella still refuses to go on this ride), so she and Christa rode on Winnie the Pooh. 


Then we all rode on the Jungle Cruise. There was not a line, so in honor of my mother, we did the Tiki Room, which was her very favorite.

I love Charlotte's ears--she made them herself!!

We did the Haunted Mansion one more time. Mark, Ella and I decided to head back to the room, but we took some more photos before heading out.







After the three of us went back to the hotel, Aaron, Christa and the older three partied on til the park closed. This included the Matterhorn, which is quite a bumpy ride.

Small World, Autopia, and then Space Mountain three times in a row.



I think we walked 20 miles over two days. but I can honestly say this was the best birthday celebration, one of my favorite places, with all of my favorite people. 

Here's to a new decade with new adventures!