California Fun

We just got back from a family vacation that I don't think any of us wanted to leave.  We had such a wonderful time with a mix of fun and relaxing.  The kids are already planning the next trip, and I'm with them.  So many fun memories made!
The trip started with a 6:30 flight to Burbank.  We took a quick trip around Hollywood showing the kids some sights.  They were bummed we couldn't do a studio tour, but Finley and Atticus were too young.  We did drive by Disney's studios that was built with the money he made from Snow White.  We loved the dwarfs as pillars out front. We drove by a few other studios, and then took them down to see the Hollywood sign, walk of fame, and the iconic theaters.  It took all of about 30 minutes, and then we made our way to Anaheim. 
We checked into our hotel and took the kids to the pool for a little bit.  We had a great view of the park from our room, and we weren't ever there for the fireworks, but you could easily watch them from our room. 
After swimming, we got them dressed and went to the Disney Hotel for Goofy's Dinner.  They of course love buffets, and meeting the characters.  Atticus got a birthday button there, and a cupcake celebration. 
After dinner, we headed to Disneyland for our Sweethearts Party.  The party started at 9:00, but you could get in at 6:00 so we made our way in, and began riding.  We were able to hop on and off of several rides with low crowds for the most part.  We got about 10 rides checked off our list before our kids crashed around 10:30.  We were shocked they lasted that long since we had them up at 4:00am and the two hour time change. 
The next day we got up and went to California Adventure for the day.  We were there before the park opened, and went straight to Radiator Springs.  Atticus thought the ride was scary, but we went on it two more times that day.  We then hit the other two rides in that area before going over to Paradise Pier to ride Toy Story Mania, and some of the other rides while Andy and Briley did the Incredicoaster. The park was really empty through out the day which was nice because it meant we got to ride rides more than once.  We did Soarin, and then moved on to Guardians of the Galaxy.  I had really hoped someone would back out, but they all went on oblivious to what was going to happen.  We had Burning Love as our song, and that ride wore me out.  I knew it was more intense than Tower of Terror, but I really didn't think it was going to end.  Baylor looked pretty pale after the ride so we took a break and went to lunch before heading back to the hotel for a bit.  Finley and Baylor chose to get baby Groots as their souvenirs that day.
Once we got to the hotel, we rested, and then hit the pool.  As we were walking to the pool, we ran into one of Baylor's classmates who was staying there,  Andy and I chatted with their parents as the kids all played.  So random to see someone from home.
That night we went back to California Adventure to eat dinner at Flo's and then it was off to ride the rides again.  We hit every ride in the park, and our favorites were ridden more than once.  We ran into another friend of Baylor's who was leaving as we were coming. We were on opposite sides of the road so we just yelled hello as we passed.  Baylor knew she was going to be there.  That night we stayed for the World of Color show before going back to bed.
The next day was our Disneyland day.  We arrived at the park a little after 7:00, and there was already huge lines waiting to get in.  Everyone was there for the new ride Rise of the Resistance.  Andy kept saying it didn't matter whether we got it or not because that isn't what we were there for, but we both really wanted to try.  Once we got in, we saw a VIP group so we stuck with them until I looked up, and they had disappeared.  Andy went one direction and I went up to the train depot since I had read you get a better signal up there while Briley watched the kids. At 8:00 exactly everyone in the park was on their phones trying to get a fast pass for the ride.  Cheers erupted as people got their boarding passes.  We got boarding pass 12 so near the beginning.  After we celebrated we went off to Fantasyland and began riding.  As we were standing in line for Dumbo, we ran into Baylor's good friend Watson who's family was there for the break.  So funny to run into three families, but that wasn't the best surprise.  As we were waiting for another ride, the Cleaver crew showed up.  Tab and I realized in January that we were going to be there at the same time, and I promised to keep it a secret although it was hard.  He kept sending them pictures of us enjoying the trip when they too were there.  It was great! 
We ended up riding a few rides with them before they went over to California Adventure for the rest of their day.  The best ride we shared with them was Rise of the Resistance.  I can't describe how great this ride is other than to say it is more than a ride, it is an experience.  AMAZING!  Disney stepped up their game, and I don't know how they will outdo it, but I have no doubt they will.
The park was much more crowded today, and we kept waiting for it to slow down, but it never really did.  The kids hit a wall about 9:00, and we decided to go ahead and leave.  Our valet at the hotel loaded our car so we walked up and it was ready to go.  We drove down to San Diego while the kids snoozed .  We were all exhausted and luckily the house was not too hard to find.  We got everyone inside, and off to bed.  A long day, but so much fun.
The next morning we woke up to panoramic views of the ocean.  That is something I could wake up to every day.  Andy went for a run, and then we went to our favorite breakfast stop, Breakfast Republic.  Just as yummy as I remember it.  Next, we went to meet the Cleaver crew for a tour of the USS Abraham Lincoln.  This is a Nimitz class aircraft carrier that just finished a 10 month deployment to the Persian Gulf.  From what we hear it is unheard of for a civilian to get a private tour of an active aircraft carrier, but Lloyd pulled some strings and we got it.  Such a cool tour that was first led by a captain on ship, but the Executive Officer took over, and we got to go to a few places that people aren't typically taken to.  We were allowed out on the deck, which honestly gave me a heart attack because there were no rails.  I was scared to death that a kid would go off the side of the boat, but we made it.  We also were taken down to the hospital area since Jonathan and Lloyd were doctors.  Such an amazing experience that I hope the kids will always remember. 
After the tour we went to eat at a country club on base before heading back to our place for a few hours before dinner.  That night we ate at Liberty Station with the Cleavers at a yummy Italian restaurant.  We celebrated Macy and Atticus's birthday while we were there. 
The next day we spent the day in La Jolla.  We went to Sunny Jim's sea cave which of course we walked the 145 steps down for Atticus to say he needed to go to the bathroom.  Andy took him back up while the rest of us took a few pictures.  Next we walked down to see the sea lions and seals.  Again the cliffs made me a little nervous with Atticus and Finley but they were good. 
After we finished, we went to eat at Harry's Coffee Diner.  Cute little place with really yummy food. 
The rest of the day was spent at our beach playing in the sand, collecting seashells, and playing football.  That night we ordered pizza, and watched the sun go down.  I think we needed a low key night to get some rest after all the running we had done.
On the last day, we went back to Breakfast Republic that morning and then walked over to the pier to watch the surfers.  That afternoon it was off to Coronado for a day at the beach, and Briley's surfing class.  She said the water was cold, but she seemed to do really well.  Cleavers met us there, and we spent the whole day relaxing on the beach.  It was the perfect ending to our last day. 
After the beach we went to Old Town for dinner before going back to pack.  It's a fun little area that we didn't really explore much because it was getting late, but it is the birthplace of California, and has that old west feeling.  After dinner, we went back to our place to pack up for our early flight the next day.  It was such a great trip, and I hated for it to end.  So much fun, and it was really hard to come back to snow and cold again.