We have returned safely from our WONDERFUL southern California vacation! We really needed that vacation and it was all we hoped for and more. I took 200 pictures and hours of video. I am so excited to put our trip video together!

Before we left though, two tragic events occurred.

First, Darin and Jodi and Karsyn were not able to attend the full 7 day vacation with us because Jodi’s 8 year old cousin, Jaydie Lynn King, died due to a malignant brain tumor the day before Thanksgiving. Please pray for the King family as their grief is so heavy right now. Darin and Jodi caught up with us on Tuesday night after the funeral.

Second, our family celebrated Thanksgiving day on Friday instead of Thursday this year. Ty escaped into Sweetie’s kitchen and decided to check on her roast. He opened the oven door and got several first degree burns on both hands (at least 8 blisters). He screamed for about an hour and a half and mommy cried too. There is just nothing you can do for burn pain. I called the burn center and got tips from them and ultimately we had to clean and wrap Ty’s hands everyday of our trip to keep them from getting infected. They healed beautifully and he didn’t seem to experience anymore pain after the first evening.

Through this experience I learned though that my baby has transitioned into a serious daddy’s boy. He cried and cried for Daddy. Both my boys think Jim’s arms are the safest place on earth. I agree whole heartedly.

On Saturday, Nov 26th we headed out at 4:30 AM. We were so excited to be off! We drove to San Diego and stayed at the Dana on Mission Bay. Great place to stay! On Sunday, Nov 27th we spent the day at Sea World. On Monday, Nov 28th, we were at the San Diego Zoo. On Tuesday, Nov 29th we were at Knotts Berry Farm. On Wednesday Nov 30th we were at Disney. On Thursday Dec 1st we were at CA Adventure Park and Disney. On Friday we were at Disney again and on Saturday Dec 3rd we spent the day at Huntington Beach and then drove back to Phoenix.

We decided to drive late so the kids would sleep. We were all so tired though and I thought Jim would fall asleep. At about midnight I decided to occupy my mind to keep awake and started writing “Remember When” lists. My intent is to incorporate a bonus section on my vacation video with these fun lists. I got Jim, Darin and Jodi involved in the task as well and together we documented a long list of trip memories. For fun, I am going to post my list. This will probably be meaningless and uninteresting to most but just in case you were curious….;)

REMEMBER WHEN

Favorite Attractions

Tinker Bell???s cable swing and we didn???t get to ride it! (Darin)
Soaring Over California (Jodi for Mom)
Splash Mountain and Soaring Over CA (Jim)
Pirates of the Carribean (Karsyn)
It???s a Small World (Ty)
Tower of Terror (Jodi)
???I don???t know??????but mom thinks Thunder Mountain Rail Road(Tanner)
CA Screaming (Doni)

Least Favorite Attractions

Wild Toad (Jodi)
Haunted House (Karsyn)
Ghost Rider at Knott???s Berry (Doni)
Tikki Tikki Room (Jim and Darin and Jodi)
Atlantis at Seaworld (Tanner)
The elevator ride at Ruby???s (Ty)
It???s A Small World (Darin)
Montezuma???s Revenge at Knott???s Berry (Jim)
Airpline ride to CA where they waited an hour and a half on the ground with no air with a screaming baby (Jodi)

Favorite Songs

White Christmas at the end of the fireworks (Doni and Jodi )
Zippity Do Dah (Darin)
???I hate everything about You??? by Twisted Sister (This wasn???t actually playing in the park but Darin said it was going round and round in his head in the Tiki Tiki room)
Pirates of the Carribbean Song (Jim) Sidenote???Aunt Karen can sing it.
God Help the Mister sung by Sweetie and Aunt Karen (Doni)
Tigger Song sung by Aunt Karen (Doni)

Favorite Theme Park

Disney of course!

Rides Most Ridden

1. Tanner road the carousel 6 times
2. Splash Mountain ??? 3 times
3. Small World ??? 3 times
4. Pirates of the Caribbean ??? 3 times
5. Jodi said she only went to the Enchanted Tiki Tiki room once but it felt like forever.

Awards and Titles

Doni = Vacation Natzi

Mom = Cowgirl Up Award

Dad = Official Bird Watcher, ???The Wanderer???, Best Problem Solver (He often tried to solve problems we didn???t know we had).

Darin ??? Problem Solver Runner Up. His solution? Just buy two.

Ty = Jack Jack

Tanner = Michael Flatly (During moments of temper we witnessed plenty of creative dancing). Also ???Smallest GPS Unit???. He has an amazing sense of direction.

Darin = Peace Maker, Baby Rocker, and Disfunctional GPS Unit

Jodi = Bow Natzi (she primped Karsyn continually)

Karsyn = Overall Best Baby

Jim = The Man with a Plan and Best Packer Award

Kristy ??? Best personal shopper

Tanner = Captain Random (named by Darin)

Uncle Dale ??? Tour Guide Extraordinairre and Pro Bargain Shopper

Kelly ??? Best Customer Service Award (Just call 1-800-Call-Kelly)

Most Popular Phrases

Pizza Pizza (Ty)
Daddy!!!!!! (Ty)
Ty No!!! (Everyone)
We gotta make a U turn
The clam chowder IS good (Mom)
I love the Tikki Tikki room
I hate the Tikki Tikki room
Where is the bathroom?
I want Mac and Cheese (Tanner)
Ty signing eat (Ty)
Ty get down (Everyone)
This ride is experiencing technical difficulties.
This ride is experiencing technical difficulties (said in Spanish)
Uppy Uppy (Ty)
What time is it? Is that AZ time or CA?
I do (Ty)
How much? No way!
Due to the unexpected weather ???blank??? may be cancelled.
Repeated in Spanish
Do not sit on the railing
I really need sunglasses (Jim)
Tanner! Watch where you are walking! (Everyone)
Tanner what???s the matter?
Where is Dad?
Where is Dad now?
Where is the leash for Dad?
Tanner! Just keep walking. Your fine.
How long is the wait?
Where are the birds??????????

Scariest Moments

In the haunted house while in the elevator someone took Karsyn out of Papa???s hands. Papa grabbed the shoulder with a death grib and held on until the lights came back on. It was Jodi. (Jodi for Papa)

When the bugs crawled under my seat at the 3 D Bugs Landing Attraction (Doni)

When the gingerbread man stopped to talk (Tanner)

The look on Ty???s face while on the tea cups

Tanner???s potty dance when Uncle Darin couldn???t find a bathroom.

Jodi???s list of ???what if???s??? while on the pier (Doni)

Fear of failing the vacation Natzi by showing up at the park late (Jodi)

When Karsyn thought her mommy and daddy left her (repeat this 5 times).

Most Painful Moments

When Ty poked Karsyn in the eye.

When Ty head bumped his mommy and left a mark on her eye.

When our legs and hips got cramps from sitting waiting for shows.

Feet aching from all the walking!

Tanner running into the trash can (and falling off the curb)

Riding the wooden coaster Ghost Rider at Knott. We got instant and long lasting headaches (Jim and Doni)

Most Interesting Moments

Corn Dogs were $5.50

Lockers were $6.00

The garbage can that tracked Jodi in Tommorwland

The 13 nuns that were with us on the Roger Rabbit Ride (Darin)

The fact that Jodi had to ask which religion nuns are in (Doni)

How Ty can touch 10 things he is not allowed to touch in a room with only 7 items.

How long the ballerina could continue to dance on the music box when the parade got stalled. (Doni)

Most Useful Items

Plastic Food Tray and a $1.00 poncho

Least Useful Items

Quarters LOL. (Dollars are the most minimal currency to carry in So. CA)

Most Disappointing

Did the Matterhorn get smaller or did I get bigger? (Darin)

When the Tower of Terror broke down right before we got to the fun part (Jodi and Doni)

When we waited in line for Splash Mountain and it broke down right before we got on.

When the Blue Bayou was booked

When Fantasmic was cancelled due to the weather

When Doni???s camara battery died while trying to film the fireworks

No fish biting off the pier (Darin)

When it rained

Best Surprise

Hotel on the Bay was beautiful

When the Snow fell on Main Street

The lack of lines for all parks

When Sweetie rode the log ride at Knotts

When Sweetie slid down the tunnel slide at CA Adventure

When Aunt Karen agreed to ride Space Mountain

When Tanner agreed to sing Quando Quando on camara!

Darin could get Karsyn to sleep the quickest.

Karsyn sleeping through the night for the first time ever!

The rain! What started out disappointing turned out beautiful.

Best Thing to Have

Cell Phones

Worst Thing to Have
Cell Phones with dead batteries (thanks Jodi)

Best Tip

Child Swap Pass (Thank you Kathy Smith)

Worst Tip

Weather.com who predicted a less than 10% chance of rain on Friday

Best Idea

The multi functional rain parkas we purchased

The laminated stroller tags we made

The “If I Am Lost” tag for Tanner

Worst Idea

The Lost Tag I made for Tanner kept falling off. If the lost tag gets lost, it isn???t real effective (Doni).

The two silly stuffed birds that Darin won for the boy???s were definitely uninvited guests. No one wants to carry overstuffed park animals around HOWEVER this could also show up under most surprising moments because they made our strollers much easier to locate.

Waiting an hour and a half to be right in front of the Castle for the fireworks only to later discover that we were too close.

Darin waiting until the streets were blocked for the fireworks before making his trek back to our group.

Buying towels at the beach is like buying food at Disney ??? way over priced.

Best Kept Secret

There was free Xbox in Tomorrowland that allowed up to 8 gamers at at a time. Jodi, Sweetie and Doni did not tell a soul.

City pass earned you up to 10 bucks in free arcade. Jodi, Sweetie and Doni convinced Papa not to let that cat out of the bag.

Worst Kept Secret

Fewer people go to Disney when it rains (apparently everyone thought that so everyone came)

Best Resource

Grandparents! They had the patience of saints and watched small busy children so their parents could enjoy some child unfriendly rides.

2nd place award goes to Kelly for 1-800-Call-Kelly service

List of Must Have’s

Dole Pineapple Whip from the Tiki Room (Jodi for Mom)

Clam Chowder (Jodi for Mom)

Butterfly Cush Pillow (Ty)

Grammy???s Special Pain Cream (Doni for Dad)

Toy Guns from Frontier Land (Tanner)

Park Maps (Tanner)

Whatever Tanner had (Ty)

Coffee (Jim)

Churros, Mac and Cheese, and anything Aunt Jodi had including but not limited to her ice cream sandwich, her cokes, her cherries, and her shake (Tanner)

Hot cocoa and peppermint ice cream in a chocolate dipped cone (Doni)

Tink shirts (Doni)

Rain parkas and Rice Crispy Treats (Jodi)

Gortex jacket (Jodi for Dad)

List of Would Not’s

Ride the Tea Cups (Jim and Darin)

Go on spinning or upside down rides (Jim)

Get a picture with a character (Tanner)

Give into peer pressure and walk all the way back to CA Adventure to go back to the Tower of Terror. I don???t like to revisit rides that break (Doni)

Go back to Tiki Tiki Room (Jodi)

Be still (Ty)

Things We Loved to Hear

Ty saying ???Daddy??? (Doni)

Ty???s deep belly laughs at night when he got slap happy (Doni)

Tanner???s precious giggles on the roller coasters (Doni)

Tanner saying “Mommy did it make your tummy tickle?” (Doni)

Tanner saying “Are you READY Aunt Jodi?” – right before going down a steep hill on mullholland. (Jodi)

Ty???s falling asleep process. Stage 1: Screaming Stage (not so fun) Stage 2: Kicking the sides of the playpen (also not so fun) Stage 3: Going from crawl position to flat on belly over and over trying to find the most comfortable spot while fighting sleep. Stage 4: Singing (best ever)

On time

Short wait

Close by

Things Did Not Want to Hear

Where is Tanner?

Where is Papa?

Where is Darin?

Mommy I have to go to the bathroom (was especially inconvenient while on rides)

More Steps

Long wait

Long walk

All out

All over

Most Aggravating

Ty screaming in the Tikki Room (Doni)

Being in the Tikki Room (Jim ??? and Jodi seconded that motion)

When Doni demagnetized every hotel key she touched (Doni)

When every San Diego restaurant wouldn???t serve lunch until 12:00 or 12:30 and we were on Phoenix time and starving.

When Ty learned to get out of the play pen.

Most Ironic

We bought the kid leash for Ty but we needed it for Papa. (Doni)

Twilight Zones Tower of Terror broke down while we were on the elevator. This is ironic as the ride is about an elevator on the fritz. I got off thinking being kicked off the ride was part of their act.

Hotel keys always worked for Jim (also most aggravating)

Funniest Moments

The armadillo running the figure 8 track at the San Diego Zoo

Jodi, Doni, Tanner and Ty on the tea cups

Tanner running into the trash can (and the poles and the benches and the curbs???.sheeeshhh)

Most Predicatable Moment

Someone would be missing when we were ready to move on to the next attraction.

Tanner needing to go potty at the worst possible times

Darin and Kelly couldn???t sit and wait for the parades ??? ADD issues

Ty would scream loudest when we needed him the quietest

Jodi would be ???primping??? Karsyn everytime I tried to catch video

Tanner would hide everytime he saw the video camara

Helpful Hints

For Mom???
3D is not real. It is an illusion.
Next time buy the clam chowder

Things That Would Have Been Helpful to Know

It doesn???t pay to use early entry ??? every has an early entry pass. (Doni)

Inventory all items necessary for stroller storage ahead of time.

Things We Did Not Want to Know

All the uses for plastic (trash bag for Tanner, dinner tray for rain, rain parkas for everything)

All the injuries ever to have occurred on park rides.

How late Ty can stay up

How many rolls of bandages it takes to wrap one babies hands twice per day.

When Tanner doesn???t want to wear something it ???itches???

If We Had More Time…

We would have broken the trip over more days so that we could have rested more.

If We Had More Money…

Jodi would have bought the Princess Castle and Doni wanted the rock crystals with engraved pictures of the boy???s.

If We Had More Brains…

We would have scheduled the Blue Bayou ahead of time!

We would have brought a second set of clothing for the kids at the beach. As a result, I had to use an oversized trash bag to transport Tanner back to the hotel in. Another good use of plastic though???

Outstanding Questions

Why were the headhunters on the jungle cruise black when everyone knows that head hunters in the deep jungle are actually Indian?

Who was the artist that sang “White Christmas” at the end of the fireworks display? I really want to know this! Anyone know the answer?

Where were the birds?

What Disney Could Learn from Us

Vendors should not sneeze into their hands before serving food (Jodi)

Don???t stamp our hand to allow for park hopping if you are going to check our ticket everytime anyhow. (Doni)

Christmas changes in the Haunted House earned a 2 star rating

One can only listen to ???It???s a Small World??? so many times

We speak English in the good ole??? US of A. Attractions need not be bilanguil!

Kids need a menu longer than chicken nuggets, corn dogs and peanut butter and jelly. Tanner really wanted mac n cheese.

Consider posting a sign about where the birds are. Where exactly are they? No seriously???.where are the birds?

Most Moving

When Tanner sang Quando Quando (Web video of this coming soon)

When Tanner said ???Thank You Mommy??? after I brushed his teeth (Doni)

When Ty thought the answer to all life???s problems was Daddy.

When Tanner and Ty were hugging and kissing waiting for early entry

When it snowed on Main Street. Jodi, Sweetie and Doni all cried.

Most Memorable

Spending play time with our precious family (Doni)

Spa time with Tanner (Doni)

Listening to Tanner sing Quando Quando in the car as loud as he could (Doni)

Last time I was at Disney I was dreaming of my babies yet unborn. This time I experienced them! (Doni)