Disneyland Day Two:

On day two we went to California Adventure! On our way into the park, Ruby noticed the big "R" and wanted a picture with it.
We went to this random show, "Draw the Magic" and we didn't have any expectations, but Mickey Mouse made a magical appearance.

Alice, who hasn't ever wanted to ride even the little "rides" at the mall that cost $.50, didn't hesitate to ride the carousel on day two. She really surprised me by going on all the little rides and having fun!At Ariel's Grotto, we paid a lot of money for dinner, but we got a lot of bang for our buck...we met five princesses! We got to be the "royal family" for the first princess introduction Mattie and Ruby with Ariel

Zoe and Pam with Sleeping Beauty

Ruby and Mattie with Snow White

Mattie and Ruby with Belle

Mattie and Ruby with Cinderella

Grandpa and Grandma Pierce

This was one of my favorite rides at California Adventure. We all took turn using ponchos that Pam and Matt were prepared with, but Chris chanced it and boy was he soaked! That's what he gets for being a tough guy, I guess.

Mattie and Grandma

At Alice's age, there isn't usually much of an interest in others, but she took an interest in Zoe a few times. Here she is playing peek-a-boo with her. I was surprised because no one else did it first, she just went over and initiated the game. It was sweet.

Disneyland Day One:

Ruby and her cousin Mattie saw Pluto right when we walked into Disney for the first time!

We had a great time on our whirlwind Disneyland trip! It really is a place of uncommon magic, and any parent will have the time of their life seeing their little ones in awe over the creativity and fun Disney has to offer. Even after only a few days, it was somewhat of a shocker to exist outside Disney and deal with rude, more normal people. We met up with Chris' sister Pam and her husband Matt and their three kids, Mattie, Pierce and Zoe. Mattie is a year older than Ruby and Pierce is a year younger, so our kids all get along really well. Mattie and Ruby held hands and talked incessantly for the two days we were together, it was adorable. Pierce was really excited to see both Ruby and Alice because he just loves cousins. He wasn't very interested in posing for pictures with the characters, so he isn't in all of them. We were really lucky to have Chris' parents, "Gooma and Goopa" as Alice says, come as well. It was a nice group with all the right company for everyone.

The first ride we went on was the Buzz Lightyear. I turned out to be a little too scary for Ruby who doesn't even like finger guns pointing at her, and it was dark and eerie. Alice was just fine, and after that it was smooth sailing. Ruby is more of a roller coaster girl, and Alice is game for anything as long as big people she trusts are going too. I feel the same way.
So it turns out that some of the best opportunities for the kids to see Disney characters are at the little shows that they have throughout the day. We went to one, some kind of "Princess Faire" and at first it was a little lesson by people dressed up as royal types, but then, Mulan, Cinderella and Snow White all came onto the stage and did a dance! As a mother of a little girl who loves the princesses, it was really exciting to see them all appear.

Chris, Alice, Ruby and Mattie with Pooh...YIPEE!

That is day one. We had a great time! No complaints other than that Alice wanted Chris to carry her everywhere. I pushed around an empty stroller, but he was a trooper.