Our Cali Trip in a Nutshell

This morning we woke up about 9 and started packing up all our stuff to head back to Tucson. The kids are still exhausted and kinda cranky, but I can't really blame them. So we get everything loaded and situated and head to Mc Donalds for some breakfast which of course I don't get to enjoy. LOL This was by far the coolest Mc Donalds I have ever been in. They actually had a train track that went above the tables and chairs and another train track inside a glass window with a whole scene. So as your enjoying your Mcmuffin you get to watch these little trains go over tracks and then above you head. Justin was loving it. Every time the train would come in front of him he would yell "train! train! choo choo!" he was so excited. He loves trains. After about ten minutes of watching them and saying choo choo he started saying mine and claimed them all for himself. Kailee liked it too don't get me wrong, but she was just super tired and not into anything. I wish my Casio wasn't broke so you could see what the set up was but it's broke so I wasn't able to get any pictures of the train track. Pretty neat idea and design though.The kids did very well on the way home. We stopped for gas and some KFC for dinner and they ya know just got back in and no complaints or fighting. It was pretty uneventful on the way back. We made it home about 8pm and Kailee couldn't have said it better. We pull in the driveway and she says ahhhh home sweet home. :) Needless to say Paul and I realize we attempted too much in too little time and alot of the kids acting up was the result of our poor planning and lack of consideration of their schedules. They are wonderful kids and for the most part are really well behaved. I know after reading this post it sounds like we have devil children, but just wanted to put it out there honestly how the trip went. I will say the kids enjoyed themselves and I for one enjoyed spending time together as a family. There were just quite a few hiccups along the way.

Tonight we are meeting up with Justin for some TGI Fridays. I've only been a few times so not too sure if they will have anything I can eat or the kids for that matter. At this point all I care about is relaxing and having my happy kiddos back. Justin is a blast and the kids LOVE him. Poor guy came to see his buddy Paul and meet JP and ends up attacked by kids. Kailee is straight super glued to him anytime he is around. I didn't think we were ever going to be able to leave the hotel because she was so excited to see him. So we head out to dinner which ends up being a very short walk across the street and pick outside seating. After today I want to make sure if meltdowns arise we aren't in a crowded group of people. I order a salad of course, Paul orders some super yummy looking pasta(jerk), and the kids find their usual on the menu and order mac n cheese. They got a special treat from Paul and got to have slushies as their drink. They were so happy. They had a blast at TGI Fridays. Since we were the only ones outside after they finished eating they got to run all over the outside area while the adults chit chatted some more. We pay and head back to the hotel and once again poor Justin has to carry Kailee. LOL He was already complaining of his arms hurting from yesterday so it was quite funny. I tell you she is really attached to him. We make it to the lobby just in time to catch Snoopy in his pj's standing there. Quick photo op and back up to our room we go. The kids are so hyper. They start jumping on the beds, playing with Justin, jumping from one bed to the other and running around like crazy people. I felt so bad for Justin. He decided to come up just to say a quick bye which ended up causing him to stay another 45 minutes. Neither of the kids could simply say bye. They kept hugging all over him and jumping to him. I finally had to say bath time and literally put them in the tub and close the door. I know the kids are really going to miss him. Especially Kailee. At least she calls him Justin now and not the big man LOL


Well we survived... Happiest place on earth, I certainly think not. As a matter of fact if I never hear or see about Disneyland I will be a very happy person. What was supposed to be an enjoyable family day at Disney turned into probably one of the worst days yet as a mother. More to come later. We wake up at 8 after a super long night with Paul's Uncle and cousins to be ready for the shuttle service to take us to Disney. I should have known it was going to be a trying day when the kids woke up grumpy and crying at the drop of a hat. But we got ready and headed downstairs. And, who do we see. SNOOPY!. I've never seen Justin run so fast LOL He ran right up to him in front of all the others waiting and gave Snoopy the biggest hug. We hadn't at this point managed to catch him. It was so cute. We board the bus after a huge deal was made over the fact that we had a stroller. I mean HELLO we have two kids and we're going to Disney. I dang sure am not about to carry them. Anyways Kailee looked out the window the entire time asking where the princesses were. I had to keep explaining to her that they were waiting for her at the park LOL I thought for sure JP was going to go back to sleep. He didn't lift his head up once the entire ride. So we get there, go through security, I answer a million times to Kailee where the princesses might be, settle two arguments about who was sitting where in the stroller, and head over to meet Paul's cousin. He was so awesome to get us in for free. We literally wait probably 30 minutes for him and by this point the kids are already putting in how hot they are. This is going to be fun! Well we meet up with him get our tickets he explains where all to go and what's best for the kids and off we go into Disney. The first side of the park was kinda disappointing. Nothing at all kid friendly for our kid's ages. I mean lots of cool little shops to walk into but not my thing considering I'm pushing two kids in a double stroller. They have sorts of little movie type shows you can go into and watch but mainly just a ton of walking with nothing to see. So we head over to the more kid friendly area. SUPER PACKED! I mean kids and people everywhere. And, have I mentioned it's so hot I'm melting? So we were told it shouldn't be too crowded since school was in and it was a weekday. Wrong. Oh so very wrong. We take the kids over to Mickey's toon town to check it out. It was pretty neat. They had little cars you could get into, houses you could walk through, and the best part...Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Pluto were all standing around. So were the lines of people waiting to have their pictures taken. Have I also mentioned just how much walking we have done by this point and now I get to go stand in line. So Justin isn't wanting me to leave his side and of course Kailee only wants me to go with her to see all the characters. Of course JP starts crying and pitching a fit. Poor Paul. The line's not getting and shorter or moving any quicker and now he gets to sit with a screaming two year old in the scourching heat. First we attempt Mickey. I'm thinking no big deal stand in line move forward take picture done. Of course it couldn't be that simple. We literally had to walk all the way through Mickey's house through all these passage ways to a movie of Mickey. We had to watch the short film and then head to the screening room where what do you know...more people, more waiting. So we wait and wait and wait and finally it's Kailee's turn! How exciting! She's actually going to meet Mickey. She wouldn't budge. Not an inch. She looks up at me and says mommy he's kinda creepy in person. For real? Did you just say that after we waited and walked all the way through this crowded twisty turny house? She sure did. So guess what I got to do? Stand with her and take a picture with Mickey. How fun! Moving on...Next we see Minnie standing outside her house. The line is absolutely unbelievable. Not joke. I've never seen that many people in a line ever. Not only that but it's not moving. I suggest getting some food which prompts another tantrum. You would have thought I had suggested she jump in a river. She freaked out. She was so upset at the thought of not seeing Minnie. After all she's a girl just like me she tells me. So to the line we go. I can still hear Justin crying mommy as we land right at the end of the line. So I'm standing there listening to the endless why's it taking so long? When will I get to see her? When I notice the reason it's taking so long is not only are people having her sign their autograph book, have their pic taken by the professional, but then they hand over their own camera for another pic. Nice. Kailee finally gets to the front of the line and again won't budge. Grrr. Um mommy you have to be in the picture too ya know. Perfect can't think of anything I would rather do LOL. So we see Minnie walk through her house since it was the only way out and head over to Paul. Justin is no longer crying, but grabbing onto me for dear life and won't let me move. No biggie I'll just carry him a while. I see Goofy standing across the street and Paul looks at me like don't even think about it LOL So we skip Goofy, but Kailee does however get to go through his fun house. While Kailee and Paul are in the fun house Justin notices all these cars set up that you can get in. He was in heaven. Quite possibly his first smile of the day. He loved getting in and out and poising and going to the next car. Then he sees a fire truck and all heck breaks loose. He literally takes off running with me desparately trying to grab the double stroller to catch up dodging a million people and yelling stop in hopes some stranger doesn't take my son. I catch up to him to see him seated properly in front steering the wheel with the biggest smile saying woo woo mommy woo woo. Oh boy! So we decide we've been walking to o much, it's too hot and time for lunch. What just happens to be on our way to the eating area. A face painting stand. Talk about side tracked. Kailee begged and begged. She wanted this huge elaborate design all over her face. I was like honey it's a million degrees out here you're going to hate it in five minutes. She begs and begs and we finally talk her into butterfly's. Naturally she starts telling the lady now they have to be pink cause it's my favorite color and there has to be purple too cause that's my mommy's favorite. I bet the lady was like um ok let me do my job LOL So she starts painting her face and Kailee's like hello I need a mirror I can't see how pretty I am. I swear she gets that from Paul. So now beautiful and sparkly she was. Now where was that food court again? Because, I'm dying of heat and my son is slowly melting down by the second. It's time to recharge. We find a place don't even bother looking elsewhere find a table in the shade and off Paul goes to order. The kids got chicken nuggets and apples and I swear instantly my kids were back. Smiles and giggles and talking up a storm. No screaming or fighting or crying. Just my happy kiddos. I was loving it. Plus I was in the shade, off my feet, and drinking some cold water. We stayed there a good while and then decided to venture out again. Afterall we still have Princesses to find. Kailee sees a carousel and cons Paul into letting her get on. This was the biggest carousel ever. She talked about it until she saw the next ride. Dumbo over water. Time to divert her attention elsewhere. That line is crazy! So we walk and look and walk some more when we came to the tea cups. Kailee's big thing is tea parties so I knew we were in trouble once she saw them. :) So off her and Paul go to ride the tea cups. I'm sure Justin is big enough for the rides, but he's so weird sometimes. He'll get all excited. You'll wait in line get on the ride and he freaks out. So I wasn't even attempting it here at Disney. We waiting by the gate while Justin nosily looked in other people's strollers and I watched every person like a hawk making sure they came no where near my child. Paranoid much? Then we continue walking and see the pink castle as Kailee called it and realized you couldn't bring your stroller through. It was a pretty good walk ahead so we decided to pass. We went through a tiki type area which was neat, the Pirates of the Carribian ship, another pretty ship and what do you know? Justin is asleep. Peace and quiet. Not for long though as I made the mistake of moving him from the front part of the stroller to the back. At least he wasn't screaming just kinda wore out and taking everything in. We went pass Winnie the Pooh but again I got the don't even think about it look from Paul. So we just kinda kept walking around and looking at stuff. No Princesses in sight and the tantrums were starting again. Even from Kailee which is very rare. Only one reason possible overload and exhaustion. The kids still hadn't got the traditional Mickie ears so we found a store attempted to bring them in and let them pick theirs out but of course JP wanted nothing to do with it and starts screaming in the middle of a pretty small but overly crowded store. Thankfully Kailee managed to get him to stop by showing him Mickie Ears with the Cars theme. He was fine once he saw the car. Kailee picked out pink Disney Princess themed ears with a vail type thing in the back. Very pink and very girly. We had their names stitched on the back and before we could walk out JP starts crying more and Kailee now starts in that shes tired. Oh man here we go. We decided to get the kids huge lollipops in hopes of the sugar jump starting them back up. Justin falls asleep with his in his hand while we are walking around. So all is well and peaceful and we decide now would be a good time to sit somewhere and take another break since we had pretty much walked and seen everything. At this point its 2:00 and Paul and I say lets just go. Guess what? We can't. We are literally stuck with all the people, kids and have I mentioned the it's a small world and other various Disney songs playing over the loudspeaker? Just great. Justin wakes up the kids starts playijng and keeping themselves occupied while Paul attempts napping. A while goes by when we see Alice and Wonderland walk by. I wasn't moving off the bench and Kailee was like who's that so I didn't even bother. Plus she never stopped just kept walking. Oh well back to tending to my kids who are now fighting over who gets to clean the stroller and where are all the antibacterial wipes. So I'm sitting there wishing I was anywhere but Disneyland when I hear "Why hello beautiful princess?" I seriously thought the sun had got to me. I look over and a lady is standing in front of Kailee talking princess talk which oddly enough Kailee understands and asks if she would like a princess wish. Kailee's face lit up like a Christmas tree. So she tells Kailee to close her eyes...Wait really close your eyes no peaking and says some princess mumbo jumbo while sprinkling glitter all in her hair. Kailee ate it up and couldn't stop telling everyone she was a real princess. Then we have little man standing next to Kailee saying my turn my turn. I'm telling you this boy needs a new play mate LOL So the lady says why of course handsome prince. All princes need prince wishes. JP just flashes his smile and eats it up. He closes his eye and she says some prince mumbo jumbo and he got a ton of glitter in his hand. He was so excited! He kept showing me and Paul and Kailee over and over. Are you wondering where all the glitter ends up? All over me. He kept rubbing it all on my arms. Nothing like some glitter to add to the sweat. We get up and walk around some more trying to kill some time. I mean we walk a ton more. We look at each other and realize it's super quiet and everone walking by is staring at the stroller and making comments. Weook down and both kids are out cold. It was bothering me so much the way people would walk by and leterally stop and make comments about the kids being asleep. I mean sure they were like awe how cute, or poor babies, look how aweet nothing bad, but still. It's like people this isn't one of the shows it's my children your oggling. So we decide lets get a family picture before we forget. So we get the picture, leave the park and head to the wait area for the bus. We still have a hour and a half wait. :( The kids thankfully napped the entire time and stayed asleep all the way back up to the room.

So our adventure for the rest of the day is Hunnington Beach to meet up with Justin, Paul's best friend and person our son is named after. Who by the way hasn't even met JP yet. I'm excited to see Justin and meet his brother and his family but must admit I'm a bit biased about the beach. Mind you the kids and I have been to the beach. Padre and Ft Walton oh and Jacksonville. Padre is ok. But Florida beaches are the best. You can't get any better with clear bright blue water and white sands. I'm interested to see how Hunnington compares. We do the whole meet and greet and Justin meets Justin and Kailee sees Justin and we just kind of chill for a bit. Kailee after about five minutes remembers Justin and will not leave his side. All of us head to the beach by foot I might add. Kailee cons Justin into carrying her. Sucka! And Paul gets stuck carrying JP. Not a long walk but definitely a lot for the kids. The beach...well I wouldn't say I'm disappointed just kinda indifferent. The sand's not white. Its kinda brown and not soft either. The water is murky and not blue at all. But it's not super hot and the kids love playing in the sand. Which they do for the longest. Justin of course ventures into the water. He LOVES the ocean. Kailee stays back, not impressed with the big waves. So she entertains herself with the sand and toys. We stay for about two hours and then head back to Justin's brother's house for some food. The kids play in their awesome shaded grassy area and just have a good time. Yes they are super wore out and tired, but they manage to eat some dinner and watermelon. Of course JP cries over the littlest fall or thing b/c he's so tired but at least we know for sure they will sleep tonight. And after a bath to remove the sand and a few more meltdown over being woke up in the first place they did.

Well up we are and it's about 9am. Not too bad. better than 6 or 7. No real plans today but the beach so we were just kinda chillin in the room and taking it easy. Paul calls an old neighborhood friend and lunch plans are made. Awesome cause I could eat a horse. We head to a Italian restaurant with Mike and his wife where no sooner than we walked in the door did the crying, whining and fighting start. Are you kidding me? Justin cries and cries putting up a fight about not wanting to go to our table. We finally get to the table and the fighting starts over the pink crayon. I manage to beg and plead Kailee into letting Justin have it when the fighting and crying starts again over a yellow crayon. At this point I am so embarrassed I just want to run away screaming or announce to the entire lunch crowd these are his kids not mine. Super embarrassing and it went on the entire lunch. If one wasn't crying the other was or they were fighting over who's going to touch me, or not being close enough to me, or my favorite she's my mommy not yours. After hearing the griping about the yellow crayon and who was going to have it Paul breaks it half. Not cool. Both of my kids freak out when anything breaks. Rather it be a granola bar, piece of bread, pencil, whatever. And, he just broke the crayon they both so desperately wanted in half. OMG here we go with the screaming and crying and there is no reasoning with them. They are both devastated that the crayon is broke. Paul's looking at me like what the heck did I do. I of course snap at him Why in the world did you do that?" His response "I was trying to give them both what they wanted." I apologize of course and explain I just cannot handle all the stares from the other people eating. I apologized ten minutes straight to Mike and his wife and assured them these aren't our kids. Aliens took our real ones away. They were awesome people and very understanding. The kids settle down and manage to eat some lunch and after they ate were pretty decent. That is until we get to the car. The arguing starts all over again about what movie they are going to watch, Justin's looking at me, it's mine I hear from JP. CALGON take me away PLEASE...

So we just checked into the hotel and I'm a bit disappointed. The pictures looked nice and it got pretty good reviews, but not the nicest. At least it's in prime location and right next to Knotts berry Farm. They did have Snoopy themed rooms and the kids could even meet and have Snoopy read them a bedtime story. But, for 140 a night I'll buy them a stuffed Snoopy and read them a book myself LOL. UGH I am off to bed. The kids are exhausted and we have a busy trip planned.

Off we go to meet Paul's Uncle Andre and two of his cousins for dinner. We get to their house and the kids are in love with it. Why you ask? Because there are stairs. LOL So we talk a little catch up some and head to an Italian restaurant down the road. The pizza looked amazing. I was probably drooling, but stuck with my chicken salad. JP wolfed down two pieces while Kailee complained there was peperoni and she was not eating that. So she eats all the croutons off my salad while JP takes all the black olives. Ewwww was so glad he wasn't in the kisssy mood. So Paul's Uncle Andre shows Kailee and cheese slice b/c I made sure and ordered half cheese only. Her response...Well it was cooked with the peperoni side you know. I swear four feels like 15 sometimes. LOL He then talks her into putting raisins on it which basically just amuses her but still doesn't get her to eat. Luckily she likes salad and no peperoni in sight so she ate. We go back to their house and the kids run up and down the stairs and have a blast while Paul chit chatted with his uncle and cousins. The best part...Looks like we're going to Disney! I am sooooo EXCITED! The kids are going to have so much fun plus I've never been. How awesome of his cousin to hook us up. Looks like Knotts Berry Farm will have to wait til another time. Thursday cannot come soon enough.

We're officially in California. Justin's first time and Kailee's second. Nothing like drama to start the trip off. We woke the kids up and basically through them in the car and took off. I look back at Kailee and notice a red bumb on her face. Ok guess she got bit. No biggie. I look again and see another red dot of her arm. WTH? So I tell Paul we need to pull over. So we pull over and I evaluate Kailee and see that she is covered in red dots. One on her cheek, three on her arm, two on her leg. And everytime I look it's like I keep finding more. I'm freaking out. Could this be chicken pox? I mean surely not but is it? So I send pics to my mom she's not sure. Send pics to my friend she's not sure either. Send out a text to all the girls here asking if their kids have come into contact? All say no. Still panicking. Not only does she have all these dots but she has a runny nose and cough. Symptoms that can also be a associated with chicken pox. I'm really freaking out now. Start looking up the nearest ER since by this time we are 3 hours away. Are you kidding me this can't be happening. So we wait the standard four hours to see if they start jewling over and they don't. Yet I still can't get it off my mind and I'm worried sick. We decide to carry on to his grandma's and give it a day. So now we are at Paul's grandma's house visiting her and I just want to steal her. She in the sweetest most beautiful woman ever. Kailee is in love with her and wants to be wherever she is and Justin ran right up to her and hugged her. I love seeing her and wish we could see her more often. For 85 she looks amazing! I mean absolutely amazing. I wish I was lucky enough to have a grandma as sweet and lovely as her. The kids played in her beautifully landscaped backyard and even tried figs from her fig tree. Shes pretty taken by the kids. She cannot believe how much JP looks like Paul and I knew I loved this woman for a reason...She couldn't get over how much Kailee looked like him too. She even commented that Kailee has exotic eyes. Very cool. Shes so good with the kids. Giving them bananas and trying to sneak them cookies. I already caught Paul sneaking some LOL Wish we could have stayed longer but this time we only got to stay about a hour. I already miss her and we barely left. It was so hard getting Kailee to say bye. She really didn't want to leave her. Me either Kailee, me either.