A Week In The Life 2K11 {2000 Miles to Seattle ~ Days 3 & 4}

Day 3~ Disneyland....Again

10:44 a.m.

Riding Dumbo.

I didn't really care to ride Dumbo,

but I couldn't get anyone else in line to ride with them

so I could stay down and take pics.

People.  Sheesh!

 

10:54 a.m.

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride

I loved it.

My son loved it.

Prince Charming loved it.

Grandma loved it.

My daughter hated it.

"Don't ever make me go on that again!"

11:11 a.m.

Pirates.

Of the Carribean.

I love Jack Sparrow.

Jack Sparrow rules all.

Jack Sparrow for President.

Some little chica behind us told her friend that 

the beginning boat ride through the marsh, 

before you go down that first big hill, was  

"totally based on the movie".

Kids.  Sheesh!

1:37 p.m.

Despite the Mr. Toad freak out earlier in the day,

my daughter ventured through Indiana Jones with Dad and Grandma, 

while my son and I cruised Main Street and Frontier Land searching for

hidden Mickeys.

3:18 p.m.

Churros!

"Can we get a churro?  When are we getting a churro?  Look!  There are the churros!  

I want one, I want one, I want one, I want one, I want one."

3:21 p.m.

Balloons!

"Can I get a balloon?  When can I get a balloon?  Look!  There are the balloons!  

I want one, I want one, I want one, I want one, I want one."

Then it was just a bunch of standing in line, 

then ice cream, 

then shuttle bus, 

then laundry and packing.

Day 4 ~ From Anaheim to Santa Cruz

7:55 a.m. 

Good Morning from Anaheim RV Park.

This is not our RV, by the way, but it was too awesome not to photograph.

9:34 a.m.

Officially in L.A.

I know because the sign told me.

So did the traffic.

And the smog.

12:40 p.m.

Oil fields as we cross the 41 between 1-5 and the 1.

No Clue What Time It Was Because My Eyes Were Welded Shut

Someone thought it was a wonderful idea to take a 35' fifth wheel 

and a diesel pick up truck up the coast on Highway 1.  

Clearly that person was insane.  

Or drunk.  

Or on drugs.  

Or certifiable.  

Or has no concept of what constitutes a wonderful idea.

Because it wasn't.

It was completely TERRIFYING!!!!

"Mom...just don't look at this part.  I'll look for you.

Whoa!  Look at how high we are.  Wow, that's steep!  Cool!"

We're all going to die.

5:15 p.m.

Stuck on the 1 for an hour after a motorcycle got sideswiped by a car 

and the coast guard had to fly them out to a local hospital.

We were slightly above sea level at this point, so I felt safe opening my eyes.

7:02 p.m.

KOA in Santa Cruz as seen through the rain and mist on the truck window.

We're not in LA anymore.

A Week In The Life 2K11 {2000 Miles to Seattle ~ Day 2}

Day 2 ~ Disney's California Adventure

8:57 a.m.

Playing with our shadows while we wait for Daddy and Grandma

(and the rest of the known world) to make their way into the park for the day.

9:05 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Loooooooooooooooooooooooooooong periods of waiting in line for

Soarin' Over California

Grizzley River Run

Which actually broke down while we were waiting 

and caused us to be briefly horrified by the fact that we'd already 

spent 70 minutes in line and didn't want to have done it all for nothing.  

Not to worry, though.  They got it running again.  

Ended up spending about 100 minutes in line for a 6 minute ride.   

Totally worth it.

Ariel's Grotto

Cute little clam shell ride through the movie, 

during which I completely humiliated and annoyed my son 

by singing every song at the top of my lungs. 

"Oh, Eric!"

"MOM!  Stop!"

2:13 p.m.

Riding King Triton's Carousel

3:30 p.m.

McDonald's

'Cause we deserved a break today....

and

We were lovin' it.

But no one really needs to see a picture of my Grilled McChicken and Pineapple Mango smoothie.

So, just insert your own picture here.....

4:20 p.m.

Arguing with my son over the Lego Store

"MOM!  You got Tina those Minnie ears.  Why can't I have this Lego plane set!?"

I feel I should mention that the box for the Lego plane set was bigger than his entire bedroom, 

and cost more than our house.

Grandma finally talked him in from the ledge with a smaller set....which she bought,
and agreed to help carry around the park with him.

Gotta' have love for Grandmas....

6:29 p.m.

Having some fun with the 3D glasses at Midway Mania.

6:38 p.m.

On the ride and ready to go.

7:06 p.m.

CALIFORNIA 

SCREEEEEEAAAAAMMMMMMMMMMIN'!

7:36 p.m.

Enjoying the light of that Golden Hour as it washes over the park.

7:58 p.m.

Okay...enough shmultz.  Gimme' a drink.

Did you know they don't serve alcohol in Disneyland?

But they do in California Adventure.

God Bless Ariel's Grotto 'Under the Sea' Character Dining

and their $6.50 beers.

8:18 p.m.

Ahhhhhhhh.....Refreshed and good to go.

Dusk in the park.

8:34 p.m.

Fast Passes turned in.

Section found.

Waiting.

8:35 p.m.

Still waiting.

Some people play clapping games while they wait....

.....I play with shutter speeds.

8:47 p.m.

"Mom, I have to go to the bathroom."

"Excuse me....Sorry....Pardon us...Excuse me."

Fast passes out.  

Run to the bathroom.

Run back.

Sneak in without turning in fast passes again.

Gotta' have a souvenir, you know.

"Excuse me....Sorry....Pardon us...Excuse me." 

Back to our spots.

8:59 p.m.

Stuck behind a group of really tall teenagers.  

Pretty sure I can't see anything.

Camera up over my head.  

Tilting screen in place.

Ready.

9:05 p.m.

WORLD OF COLOR!

9:06 p.m.

Out of the sea.

Wish I could be,

Part of youuuuurrrr WORLD!

"Mom!  Stop!"

9:12 p.m.

They are a trillium-carbonic alloy and I CAN fly.

9:13 p.m.

UP!

9:29 p.m.

Drink up me hearties. Yo ho.

Jack Sparrow for President!

9:31 p.m.

Over.  

Walking out.

9:36 p.m.

Fighting crowds.

Elbowing and pushing.

"Wait!  Where are the kids?  Do you have them?"

"DAD!  Slow down.  You're walking too fast!"

"....but, I'm sooooooo thirsty....!!!"

"....but, I'm sooooooo tired....!!!"

ALLLLLLL the way back around the park because there's no train in this God forsaken section,
(Friggin' California Adventure...)

and, the quick way is blocked with the construction of the new Cars Land.

Ohhhh!  We'll have to come back next spring to see that!

10:15 p.m.

Back on the shuttle bus.

Day 2.

Disney Done.

A Week In The Life 2K11 {2000 Miles to Seattle ~ Day 1}

So, I did this project last year.  Photographed the activities of my daily life for one week to capture what our lives were like.  I wanted to do it again this year, and I've thought about it a number of times, but then I remembered how much WORK it was, and I always thought of other things I'd rather be doing....

Like drinking Sangria and stuff.  You know...

Anywayyyyyy.....It occurred to me, that since I would of course be taking a bajillion pictures on our road trip from Arizona to Washington, I could just catalog them as I go, and use that as my Week In The Life for 2K11.  I mean, I don't need more pictures of me folding laundry and washing windows.  As much as I know you'd love to see them.  I know, I know....

So, without further smart mouth and ado, I present  

A Week In The Life, Day 1 {Disneyland}

8:34 a.m. 
On the shuttle bus to Disneyland.  Everyone's sooooo excited!!!!

9:06 a.m.  

Tickets in hand.  We're ready to enter the park.

9:13 a.m. 
Aaaannnnndddd....WE'RE HERE!!!

9:46 a.m.
The older kids went off to visit Indiana Jones.  My son refuses to discuss that ride,
so we hung out in Toon Town for a while.  My daughter got to meet her idol, Minnie Mouse.

9:48 a.m.
Exploring Minnie's House....Well, she is.  He really could have cared less.
He was all, "It's a pink house.  Come on, let's go to that store and buy a toy."
And she was all, "No.  I'm not leaving.  Look!  It's Minnie's light switch!  Take my picture!!"

9:58 a.m.
Still exploring Minnie's House

10:00 a.m. 
Recreating a picture I took of him 4 years ago when we visited Disneyland for his birthday.
I actually didn't have to do much recreation here.  He just walked up and did the same exact thing.
Click.  Recreated.

10:24 a.m.
Ohhhhh yeahhhhh!
Big Thunder come to Mama.  Now, we're in Disneyland!

11:24 a.m. 
We found Nemo.

1:22 p.m.
Negotiating our way across New Orleans Square.
Juuuussst a teeny bit crowded.

2:32 p.m. 
Star Tours.
In 3D.
Enough said.

4:54 p.m.
Autopia!
My dad took a classic picture of my brother on this ride once,
and I've been trying to get one like it every since. 
Can't do it, though.
His remains the definitive Autopia shot.

5:59 p.m.
Riding the carousel in Fantasyland.

6:05 p.m.
Admiring Prince Charming while riding the carousel in Fantasyland.

6:21 p.m. 
Mickey Mouse Rice Krispy Treats for dinner.
Yeah?  So?
You wanna' make something of it?
We had chips and dip later, so it was fine.

8:21 p.m.
Riding the Disneyland Railroad back around the park at dusk. 
At this point, I would have rather pulled up a sleeping bag in the middle of Main Street,
and risk being crapped on by the Clydesdales that pull the trolleys, than walk back through the park.
Disney Done.
Pretty, though.

 

9:42 p.m.
Fireworks over the castle as seen from the front of our motor home 0.81 miles away.

9:56 p.m.
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

Would What You Do?

If you knew this was the last time,

Would you do it different?

Would words mean more?

Would feelings feel deeper?

Would you make time pass slower?

If you knew this was the last birthday,

Would your gift be bigger?

The candles burn brighter?

If you knew this was the last Thanksgiving,

Would you make the stuffing from scratch?

Would you use the good china and iron the fancy linens?

Would you pay more attention?

Would you be at peace?

Would you wish you did more?

Said more?

Offered more?

Accepted more?

Appreciated more?

If you knew this was the last vacation,

Would you have more fun?

Would you take more pictures?

Would you drive slower and take your time?

Make more stops?

See more sights?

Watch more sunsets?

Would you inhale deeper?

Would you open your eyes wider?

Would you hear more and listen harder?

Would you dance more?

Laugh more?

Forgive more?

If you knew this was the last Christmas,

Would you the lights sparkle brighter?

Would the carols sound sweeter?

Would the stockings get filled,

No matter how old you are?

If you knew this was the last kiss,

Would you linger longer?

Hold tighter?

Would you let go?

Ever?

If you knew this was how it would end,

Would you rewrite the story?

Or would you follow the same path?

What would you do,

If you knew this was the last time?