The Orams take Disneyland

Nothing says a So Cal trip like Bob's Big Boy! I couldn't believe they actually still had these around. I used to eat at one of these when I was little so of course I made Ben pull over so we could eat there. The food was, well, not really that great. But how can you resist being able to take a picture with the giant boy?

I love how Addison is pointing like, you want me to stand over there?

The surprise: Just as a side note, we have been planning this trip for months. It was a surprise for the kids and we did a great job of keeping it...or so we thought...
Leading up to that week we had started randomly asking them if they wanted to drop everything and just go to Disneyland, only to say haha just kidding!  Well Bailey was especially irritated at that joke.  Apparently once we finally revealed to them we were going Thursday night, he let us know he had known for months.  How?! Well, good old researching Mommy had accidentally left stuff up on the computer when she thought she closed it and he saw.  He told us he just x'd it out and kept it a secret that he knew.  He just didn't know WHEN, so when we would tease them he would get frustrated because he knew we were going.  So much for a surprise!  Although we did surprise them that Grandma and Boppa were meeting us there at the gate!

Nathan loved this ride, well...Nathan loved every ride.

Waiting in line. Because I have children with sensory issues (part of some developmental delays) we got special passes that allowed us to use the handicap line which is extremely short.  Many times we practically just walked on the ride.  Since we went during Spring Break, this was awesome!

 Having grandparents to help makes things better too.  The girls convinced Grandma and Boppa they needed to walk everywhere and not have to ride in their stroller.  I am shocked at how much those girls did walk, all over the park and would have kept right on walking. 

Grandma herding little kitties...

 G &B took the three little ones back to their room for a nap (well, Nathan napped, but the girls thought their catnaps in the stroller and on Haunted Mansion counted!)  We took the two older ones around to experience Disney as big kids.

 waiting in line for Soaring over California... I LOVE this ride and would have done it all day if I could. 

The three of us waiting for B on Tower of Terror.  Monday, these two decided to brave it and went on it too!  I wouldn't go near it, but they thought it was awesome.  They both (especially Emma) LOVED any roller coaster and went on anything they could.

 G & B bought everyone Mickey ears...Emma picked the Pirate Princess hat

 Bailey opted for classic black ears

 Oh, Nathan...or Narthan as the disney worker embroidered by accident (we just left it as it is kind of funny)  He really looked like this the entire time.  Disneyland was made for kids like him and Walt Disney would be happy to see the crazy joy it brought to this little four year old.  He even pooped better on the toilet this trip than at home!  Guess we have to live there...

 Kate wore her ears all day

Addy pointing at the fire works.

Nathan did NOT like fire work time.  He covered his ears and had to be held.  But this is also the kid who makes the same pose near a public toilet because he can't handle the flushing sound.  

Day One: We made it until ten o'clock at night, 12 hours in Disneyland with 5 kids during one of the busiest times there.  We expected it to be hard and about ready to die at the end, but it was actually so much better.  The kids did really well and the girls had minor meltdowns that were short lived.  

 Relaxing on Sunday, our in between day for Disneyland part two.  We rented a condo in Corona del Mar for five days.  It was a nice little place with t.v.s in every room, a wii, board games, beach toys and chairs (and even a wagon to pull them in!).  It had a full kitchen so we ate quite a few meals at home instead of going out.

Me relaxing:)

On to Day 2: This day we had to brave alone without grandparents.  So we planned to mostly do things all of us could do together.  We started in California Adventure and immediately saw Goofy.

 Nathan wouldn't go near him.  This is also our only pose with a character.  My kids wanted to ride more than see the characters.

 CA Adventure has a cute little Bug's life area with rides for little kids all themed with the movie.

 Yup, he loved this too.

 Disneyland even made him love his sisters more:)

 Another satisfied Nathan.  The caterpillar train.

 I don't think she was that impressed.  Addison actually did better than Kate on most things and wasn't scared with anything.  She was usually smiling all day.

Kate liked this ride the best.

This is the picnic area outside the entrance.  We packed a lunch both days and ate here.  It was shaded and had a little place for them to run around and relax.  And it saved us 100 for lunch (yikes!)  We only ever got snacks at Dinseyland.  It is the happiest place on earth, but not for your wallet:)

 Trying to pull out the Sword in the Stone

 Addison thought she should help everyone

I think it made her mad, haha.

At one point, the well mannered twins really lost it.  It was seriously past nap time and mean mommy and daddy made them ride more than walk.  So, we put the sun cover over them, strapped in and screaming and just started walking.  It wasn't long before they were OUT.  And this was some serious sleep as we pushed them around everywhere and there were loud noises and people everywhere.  They stayed asleep for over an hour.

B and I took turns taking the older ones on rides while the girls slept.  It worked out well and they woke up in much better moods and ready to party!

For dinner, we had to go to the Rain Forest Cafe in Downtown Disney (well, I had to!)   The kids had fun while we waited for our table.

 He actually is having fun...he's just my mellow child

Emma entertaining Addy

And Nathan put on a show for all the crowds outside the restaurant.  There was a band playing and Nathan told me he could do "tricks" to the music

It was hilarious and I am sure others enjoyed the free show as well.  Maybe I should have put out a tip jar.

 still looking gorgeous even after a long day!

Addy was trying to copy Nathan

Once we got in to eat, everyone felt better 

Addy and Daddy

Nathan was terrified of this Panda.  Ben told him that it was going to get him and then Bailey grabbed him from behind and freaked him out.  He was practically climbing over Bailey to get away from this thing.  How mean!  But we had to do it to him a few more times, haha.

Disneyland Day 2: Another success.  We made it to fire works again and then went home.  Everyone was so quiet on the ride back we thought we forgot a kid or two for a minute.  The next morning, the twins slept in until 10 a.m.!

We contemplated going back to Dland again (our passes are good for three days) but decided to stick with the original beach plan. 

 Addy took one look (or feel) of the sand when we got there and wasn't about to set foot on the sand.  That was over quickly and she was the sandiest one before long.

 The girls enjoyed the beach toys and dug and poured and rolled and threw

 Bailey spent the entire time wave jumping.  He had the best time, just crashing into waves for hours.

 Emma got wet here and there but preferred to be on the beach

 Apparently the beach has the same effect on Nathan that Dland does!

 Emma wanted to be buried in the sand

 Nathan did too, but didn't want the towel off his head

 We decided to leave bright and early Wednesday morning to miss LA traffic.  This meant out the door at 6:30 a.m.  The kids promptly fell right back asleep.

We made it back in time to pick up Ben's new motorcycle...but that is another post in itself.  Our Disney tickets have one more day good through October, so hmmmmm? Maybe we will visit again soon:)