I started a tradition with Megan where I take my kindergartener to Disneyland for the day with just Mom. It's kind of like a last hurrah with mom before they are gone all day to school. Last week was Nathan's turn. The weather was great! 65-70 degrees. We could walk on each ride! Disneyland was starting to put up their Christmas decorations so we got to see half Halloween decorations and half Christmas decorations.
Eating cinnamon rolls and flying to Orange County. We woke up at 5:00am and took a 7:30 flight to Orange county and then took a shuttle bus to Disneyland. Kaleigh stayed with Heather for 3 or 4 hours after Dale helped get the kids to school and went to work for less than a half day.
When I got back from Disneyland, Kaleigh turned into a daddy's girl and preferred him over me for the next 3 days. I was a little sad but got used to it. I'm sure Dale liked it.
N-for Nathan's special day!
Before Disneyland opened, Nathan would not hold my hand and kept running away from me. I wanted him to hold my hand because there was a large crowd and I didn't want him to get lost. He was being a little stinker! Once we got on a ride, I showed him this picture and he held my hand the rest of the trip!
Adventure land first! The first ride we went to was Jungle Cruise, then Tarzan's tree house and then Indiana Jones.
Climbing up the Tarzan rope at Tarzan's Tree house.
Indiana Jones Ride.
After every ride, I would always ask him, "Did you like it?" He would always say, "yes". Then I would ask, "Do you want to go on it again?" Then he would say either yes or no or maybe later. This was the only ride where he didn't quite say he liked it. He paused for a long time before half heartedly shaking his head yes. When asked if he wanted to do it again, he said, "no." I thought it was way too bumpy anyways! He was barely 46". He was probably 45.5", but they still let him go on.
Next we went to New Orleans Square to go on Pirates of the Carribean and The Haunted Mansion.
Haunted Mansion
The Nightmare before Christmas was the Haunted Mansion theme. I loved it! Nathan didn't want to go on it again. I loved Pirates of the Carribean too, but he thought it was too scary. He spent most of the ride hunched over with his head in his lap.
Next we went to Critter County to see Winnie the Pooh and Splash Mountain. Winnie the Pooh was the first ride he wanted to ride twice in a row. In fact I think we went on it 3 times in a row.
When it was Jesse's turn to sign the autograph book, she took the book and used Nathan's head as a table and then hid the book on top of her hat and made Nathan jump for it. He jumped but couldn't reach and I could see his cute cheeks turn red. It was funny though.
This picture cracks me up! He didn't want to go on this ride because he saw the drop. After some convincing, I told him the drop is at the very end, that it is a slow ride, and that they sing Zippity do da! After I told him that I would cover his eyes when we got to the drop, he said ok. Who knew it would be so hard to find his eyes! It looks like I am trying to stop him from screaming.
Getting Tigger's autograph.
Getting Pooh's autograph. This was the first year I didn't mind getting autographs. Usually there is a long line and you waste about 30 minutes to an hour of time waitng for the character to sign the autograph book.
Nathan 2009
Zach 3 years ago in 2006 when he was almost 5. Zach actually got to go when he was 4. He went to pre-kindergarten when he was 4 and 9 months in Tempe and was told he was ready for first grade the following year, but when we moved to Gilbert, they wouldn't let him go into first grade because of his age so he went to kindergarten with kids his age. I should have taken him to Disneyland again! Doh. Why didn't I think of that? Any excuse to go to Disneyland!
Next we went to Mickey's Toon Town
Inside Minnie Mouse's house. You could turn a knob and see all the dishes floating around.
Donald Duck's Boat
Inside Goofy's house.
Nathan 2009
Zach 2006 when I took Zach on his kindergarten/mom trip.
Roger Rabbit Ride. The ride shut down in the middle of it and we had to walk through the remainder of the ride with the lights on. They let us be first in line to ride the second time and it was cool to see difference.
Toon Town jail
Toon town fire truck
Mickey's was signing autographs in his backyard of his house.
Mickey's garage.
Mickey signing autograph.
Nathan's favorite ride the go-go coaster in toon town.
Buzz Lightyear Ride. The second time we went on this ride, the ride stopped in the middle of it. We stayed put for 10 minutes and then it started back up again, but our laser wouldn't work.
Star Tours. Nathan enthusiastically said, "R2D2 and C3PO!"
Space mountain was the last ride we had time for.
The next day at school he drew this cool picture of Indiana Jones and was asking for an Indiana Jones hat for Christmas. I thought he didn't like this ride???
We had so much fun! My little Nathan thinks he is such a big guy. Too big to hold my hand, too big to give me hugs, but now he has been giving me spontaneous hugs and I don't have to initiate them!
