A Quick Trip to Kansas

A few weeks ago we went to Kansas with Erik's parents + Makayla.  Well, they came for a visit first.  We all had fun eating donuts, getting a garage door opener, going to the hospital (just kidding--I'm sure that was NOT fun for poor Rick!!), shopping at the mall, and going to the beach.  I think the most fun part about visiting with family is that the kids love it!  And I get a break from them and their clingy selves. 

The babies and Makayla at the beach.  I forgot to bring Elisa's swimsuit.  Whoops.  She had a great time chasing the birds though!

Me, the kids, and Makayla flew while Erik and his parents drove.  Elisa was NOT as good on this flight as she was the last.  Oh, and just after the plane had landed she found some guy's hairy, HAIRY legs and proceeded to rub them.  All the way up his thigh.  Her taste in men needs adjustment. 

We finally got to Kansas, and Mary (Erik's aunt) kindly took us to our nice hotel.  The next day was spent at the train park.  Gabe's dream come true! He sure had fun.

We also rode a carousole and the kids put their cute little faces through these:

So the main point of going to Kansas was to visit with Erik's Grandpa Raper.  He is 91 years old and as cute as can be! He hadn't seen the kids before this trip, so we wanted to make sure the kids got to meet him.  Gabe sure took a liking to his Great-grandpa and gave him lots of sweet Gabie hugs (those are the best hugs ever!)

Family photo after eating at Boss Hogs

We went back to the train park and Gabe got some train money (a coin with a train on it--it's a token to ride the train) and he held it in his hand almost the whole car ride home!  Then we went to a burger joint called Spangler's with Aunt Mary.  The kids at a month's worth of ice cream there.

P.S. Our anniversary was the 28th of July, the day we left Kansas.  We got to spend our anniversary night in a boring, small hotel room in Oklahoma with two wired but tired kids.  Jealous??  Didn't think so. 

CA Trip-Part III

The 3rd day we went to the Swap Meet.  I really like going even though Erik doesn't.  I like looking at all the stuff and finding good deals.  I didn't buy too much-just a few hair bows for Elisa and some silver sparkly MaryJane shoes that squeak when she walks, and a couple of pairs of sunglasses, $10 for both!  Sorry, no pics of that.   Then we went to the Crab Cooker, a seafood restaurant that we always go to when we are down there:

 A literal tree-huger!!

Next we drove up to Hollywood.  Not nearly as glamorous as I thought it would be:

We actually stopped a bit short of where the "action" was going on.  We missed it, but I'm not that sad because it to me looked like a bunch of teen-age party-ers. 

It was more entertaining to watch Elisa giggle as we played peak-a-boo:

Then we stopped by Farmer's Market, just a little ways past Hollywood.  It was fun to try some treats and just look around.  Elisa got to practice being a star:

Gabe had fun too.  He loved the trolley train that drove by a few times:

The next day we drove home.  But before we left we made sure to go to Newport beach.  Gabe absolutely LOVED the beach and still talks about it.  Even Elisa had fun. The water was pretty chilly but the kids enjoyed it nonetheless. 

 

We stopped by McDonald's for lunch and then left for the 5 1/2 hour drive back home.  I don't remember the drive too well so the kids must not have been that bad!

CA Trip-Part II

Our next day was spent at California Adventure.  It doesn't have as many worthy attractions as Disneyland, but it has a few that make it worth going to.  The first being Soarin' Over California.  Gabe got to ride it, I think he liked it I know I sure did.  

Gabe absolutely LOVED the Redwood Creek Trail playground area.  He liked the Bug's land too:

The past 3 times we've gone to CA we took Gabe to Playhouse Disney (currently known as Disney Jr.).  Elisa really liked the bubbles that can from the ceiling and Gabe liked the "money":

The highlight of going to CA was taking Gabe on the Tower of Terror!! I was afraid he would freakout but he kindof liked it.  I think he is too young to understand the scary-ness behind it all.  The video following the ToT ride is too cute!  One of my fav videos of Gabe!

One of my other favorite rides is California Screamin'.  Gabe missed the height requirement by a long shot, but I got to ride it 3 times! Gabe got to ride the carousal with his Grandparents while he waited for us:

 

 After we were done with CA we went over to Downtown Disney.  I really wanted to buy Gabe a remote control train for $25 but no one would let me :(  So I bought Gabe a trolley train toy (he liked it almost as much) for an inflated price of $7.  *Sigh*

Just a note:  Unless YOU really want to go, it's honestly not worth it to take kids under 5 if you're JUST going for them.  Not that they won't have fun--they will--but seriously Gabe had just as much fun if not more, going down the slides and playing at the little parks, something that can be done for free at home and closer too.  Disney Land tickets are just too expensive!  Just go to have fun yourself and the kids will get out of it what they will. Just some friendly advice :)