The Happiest Place on Earth

While in California, we met up with Dave's family in Disneyland! Now you haven't really experienced Disneyland if you haven't gone with Todd and Allyson Bushman. Todd majored in statistics, so let's just say he knows how to work it. We were on about 50 rides a day, with no wait time longer than 10 minutes. We had 4 non-stop, action-packed, fun-filled days. Here's an average day in the life of a Disneyland Fan...

6:45 am- cut in line with Todd who has already been there for 30 minutes. Receive "Honorary Citizen of Disneyland" pins. Open the park with the workers by jumping up and down, counting down 10..9..8.. and shouting "Let the magic begin!"
7:01-9:58: Peter Pan, Dumbo, Small World, Matterhorn, Space Mountain, Storybook Land, Teacups, Alice in Wonderland, Buzz Lightyear. No bathroom breaks. Todd gets fast-passes to big-ticket rides.9:59-11:17: Breakfast in the Park for Tanner's 5th birthday. See such stars as Minnie, Chip and Dale, Tigger, Alice and the Mad Hatter, and Captain Hook. All the girls are in their matching Minnie shirts, of course. Enjoy mickey-shaped waffles and all-you-can-drink chocolate milk.

11:17-1:42: Catch rides on Splash Mountain, Indiana Jones, Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Listen to all the birds in the Tiki Room.
1:43-3:08: Head back to the Grand Californian Hotel to catch a nap and get our second wind.

3:09-5:51: Explore California Adventure. Jump on Soarin' Over California, Tower of Terror, California Screamin', Toy Story Mania, Orange Swingers, Mali-boomer, and Bear River Rapids. Tour the Mission Tortilla Factory and the Boudin Sourdough Bread Factory.
5:52-6:01: Get a churro (or two.) Catch your breath.
6:02-8:44: Catch our second round of rides in Disneyland.

8:45-9:24: Wait for the sun to set so that fireworks can start. Contemplate the awesome day we've had and tell Todd and Allyson thank you a million times over for making this possible! Look at Sleeping Beauty's castle and wonder if Mr. Walt Disney himself ever knew what an impact he would have on kids and adults around the world.

9:25-9:47: Enjoy the firework show, complete with a flying Dumbo and soaring Tinkerbell.

9:48: Head back to the hotel. Order pizza to the room, zonk out, and dream of another magical day in store for tomorrow!

H&D with L&B in CAf

Absence makes the heart grow fonder... that's what we discovered after visiting Lauren and Bridger at their new home in Pasadena. We had probably our best weekend of 2009 hanging out with our friends whom we've missed so much!! We made up for lost time by going to Zuma Beach, taking in the smells and tastes of South Pasadena's Farmer's Market, touring the Getty Villa Museum, shopping along 3rd Street Promenade, feasting on Yogurtland, and indulging in hour-long foot massages. How sweet it is to laugh, talk, and relax with such great friends.
All our activities deserve a blog-post of their own, but I'll try to restrain myself. There is something about a good vacation that rejuvenates the soul. Maybe it's the cool ocean breeze. Maybe it's partaking of delicious food with no guilt involved. Maybe it's catching up on sleep and spending time together. Whatever it is, it was just what the doctor ordered! Thanks to the Jensen's for an all-out amazing weekend!