Happy Thanksgiving

Today started a little earlier than anticipated as we were awakened by the blasts of our fire alarms. We had the fire station come out, although we could see no flames and smell no smoke. We didn't know what was going on. In the end we think it was the basement construction work that affected the smoke detectors downstairs.

Since we were already up, we got ready for our trip to the zoo for Feast with the Beasts. I made Kent donate his pumpkin this year. In return we got in for free today plus tickets to come back again sometime next year.
It was bitterly cold up there, but we still enjoyed seeing the animals, especially the elephants. Our pumpkin went to the elephant stomp. The little elephant, Zuri, played around with and ate our pumpkin while we watched. It was fun!

There's our pumpkin in the front with the hole cut in the side.

After the zoo the older kids and I went to my parents house for Thanksgiving. Kent stayed home with Josh who has had a fever for the past couple days. At my parents house we had a delicious turkey dinner and then played some Dicecapades (a game Sawyer got for his birthday from his friend this year).

We ended the evening watching "The Chipmunks" movie, and Kent's parents brought over some lemon meringue pie for those who like it (Kent).

It was a fun Thanksgiving!

Firehouse field trip

Josh went on his preschool field trip to the fire station today. He acted very shy and nervous while we were there, but claims he had fun. His favorite part was the "ambeelance" and the fire truck.

Family night soccer

For FHE tonight we went to the Soccer Plus store to get these two REAL players autographs. Abdoulie Mansally and Tony Beltran. They were very nice to the kids. Mansally was very sweet to Josh. It's nice to meet good people. Tomorrow is back to school for the boys after a nice long (1 month) off-track time.

Corona Del Mar and back home

I planned to take family pictures (kids only of course) on the beach yesterday, but I let them play all day instead of trying to pull them out and get them ready.  So this morning they put on their clean picture clothes and we headed to the beach.  I liked the online images I saw of Corona Del Mar beach.  Specifically, Little Corona.  We turned off the Coast Highway down Poppy Avenue to a little turn in the road where we found free street parking.  We headed down a trailway to the rocky beach below.  There are tidepool areas here, but I think the tide was too high to really see much.  But I did get some pictures!

Huntington Beach

We spent the whole day at Huntington Beach.  Parking cost $15 for the day. The waves were surfing waves out farther, but closer in to the shore they were great for body boarding.  Kent's boss let us borrow his two boards while we were here.  Josh finally got brave late in the afternoon and started enjoying himself.

I didn't take any pictures today because I was in the water and in the sand all day.  We stayed until the sun set and then got some dinner and showered back at the hotel and relaxed.

California Adventure

Oh boy, it was hard to get out of bed this morning, but we did it!  We got to the parking lot around 7:30 am and over to the park and in line waiting by Carsland before 8:00.  Our next plan of attack began with Carsland and getting a fastpass to come back to it again later.  The Radiator Springs Racers was one of our favorites!  The rides we rode in California Adventure were: Radiator Springs Racers, Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, California Screamin', Carousel, Mickey's Fun Wheel, The Little Mermaid, Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, Grizzly River Run (a few times), Soarin' over California, Ladybug Boogie, Buggies, Chew Chew Train, Tower of Terror.  We took a midday break to watch the Aladdin Musical.  We also hopped back over to Disney for some pictures we missed, and for McKinley to use her money to buy stuff.  That evening we ate dinner and then waited for the World of Color show.  We left after that.  It was a much less crowded park than Disneyland was when we were there.  I think I liked California Adventure better!

Happy Halloween!!!

Disneyland

Friday was our Disneyland day.  We started bright and early with our plan of attack in hand.  The first part of the morning was nice and less crowded.  We got some fast passes and got straight on a bunch of the rides that later on had loooong waits.

The rides we rode in Disneyland were: Jungle Cruise, Indiana Jones (a couple times), Tarzan's Treehouse, Pirates of the Carribean, Haunted Mansion, Splash Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Finding Nemo, the Monorail, Disneyland Railroad, Autopia, Space Mountain, Star Tours (a few times) Buzz Lightyear (a few times).  Josh and I also watched Mickey's Magical Map show.  We stayed for the fireworks.  The evening was crazy crowded!  After the fireworks we tried to leave.  We finally got back to the hotel around midnight.  Our feet were killing and we were all exhausted.  But we have another early  morning wake-up tomorrow!