The Happiest Place on Earth

We decided to take the kids on a surprise trip to Disneyland.

 

After the Buddy Walk we all went home took a nap, loaded the kids in the car and drove to Disneyland. We planned it well so the kids would all be sleeping by the time we got there. We woke them up to get them into the hotel and they immediately passed out again. We woke up in the morning and told them we had to get back in the car to start driving again. Once the shuttle got to the hotel we said would take that to breakfast but instead we were dropped off at Disneyland. They were so happy and surprised when we got there. Last year when we went we left Karly home with Grandma and Pop, this time we left Hope home with Grandma and Pop.

The Mertz Family
Disneyland 2012

The kids are only going to know what Disneyland looks like decorated for Halloween because every time we have gone it's been during their school break in October. It's the perfect time to go because the park isn't busy at all.

 

With the surprise of going to Disneyland also came the surprise of a visit with

 Auntie Julie, Tyler and Kate.

 

 

When we got to the hotel after the first day, it took about 10 minutes for this to happen.

 

 

Our second day we went to California Adventure. Thomas and Noelle were thrilled to go able to go through Cars Land

 

Thomas even talked Noelle into going on the Tower of Terror. Auntie volunteered to take Karly over to Bugs Land while they did that. Then they met us there to do the rides all over again which made Karly was pretty happy. I think "do it again" were her favorite words the entire vacation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seeing the kids this happy and spending time together as family is the best feeling. I'm so glad that I get to join them to make memories that will last a lifetime.

 

 

 

 

Road Trip to the happiest place on Earth

In October Kelly, Dave and I took a road trip with Thomas and Noelle to Disneyland.  The trip was a complete surprise to them.  Kelly and I had planned this vacation for months and thought for sure the kids would think that going to Disneyland would be fantastic.  What we forgot about in all of our excitement of going to Disneyland is that we were planning for Thomas and Noelle.  This is a little bit about how our Road Trip started. 

I went and picked up Noelle and Karly at day care and brought them back to my house.  My Mom met me here and we told Noelle that Karly was going out to dinner with Grandma and Pop (Karly was spending the week with them) and Kelly and Dave would be there in a few minutes to pick her up.  Of course the minute she walked in the house she noticed my luggage.  I told her that I was leaving to go on vacation by myself.  Once Kelly and Dave got here I started putting my luggage in the car and Kelly finally told Noelle that we were going on vacation and that we were going to take a long car ride and stay in a hotel.  Noelle started jumping up and down with excitement to go stay in the hotel.  We stopped and got gas, drove to the hospital so Dave could drop off some paperwork and then headed to pick up Thomas at his Dad’s house.  The entire time we were doing all of that Noelle talked about what she was going to do at the hotel.  As soon as Thomas got into the car Noelle told him that we were going to take a ride so we could go stay in a hotel.  Now she didn’t know we were going to Disneyland she just thought we were going to go stay in a hotel and hang out there.  She wanted to go swimming.  Thomas was ecstatic to go stay in the hotel.  The both of them were going on and on about going to the hotel.  I’ll remember that next time I need to find something to do or need to find a place to go on vacation.  I’m just going to find a hotel to go stay in. 

Dave decided that we would stop at a truck stop to have dinner.  Kelly had wrote letters to the kids and had their Mickey Mouse hats in a separate bag.  So I took the kids to the bathroom while she put the letters and hats on the tables.  This is what happens next.

Not exactly the response that we had anticipated. I should also say that the waitress was standing there talking to the kids and they were embarrassed so I think that could have led to part of the reaction that we got.   I actually stopped the video a little to early.  Right after I turned it off both of the kids had minor meltdowns when they figured out that we weren’t going to go stay at the hotel and hangout.  We attempted to tell them that we were staying at a place similar to a hotel (a timeshare) but we were going to be spending so much time at Disneyland that we didn’t need to hangout at the hotel.  They didn’t really get that.  A few minutes later our food came.  That’s also when the real trouble started.  Thomas went to go sit with Dave to watch a BINGO game on the TV screen.  Noelle leans over on Kelly and says that she doesn’t feel very well and then she starts throwing up in Kelly’s plate. Dave jumps up out of his seat and bounces Thomas out of his seat right onto the floor!!! Kelly, Dave and I all look at each other and Dave responds with “That’s it we’re leaving. We’ll just EAT TOMORROW!” He gets up to pay and Kelly takes at look at her uneaten food and starts to take a bite of her dinner.  I quickly reminded her that Noelle had just thrown up in her food.  Then we both laughed pretty hard.  We got the kids to the car, put their pajamas on and they were out in about 10 minutes. 

Our first Road Trip pit stop….. a complete failure. 

    

Disneyland day #1

 

Here are a few of our pictures from our first day at Disneyland.  The kids were so happy when Tyler and Auntie Julie met us at the gate when we got off our first ride.  Noelle couldn’t get enough of Tyler.  She had to hug him over and over and of course hold his hand so he wouldn’t get lost. She is such a mommy.

On the bus on the way to Disneyland.

cousins

Noelle and Tyler having to much fun!

The fam

 

It’s a small world…. my favorite.

Done… after a long day.

A little time in the bath before bed. The adults were hoping this would help them to calm down a little.

Noelle thought she would get some exercises done while watching a movie before bed.

Day one was a huge success!

Disneyland day #2

The weather was not our friend on day #2! It poured rain all day.  Julie was confident that it was going to be sunny by noon. Kelly wasn’t so sure.  None of us could make up our minds as to whether we should stay in and let the kids play in the room or whether we should go and just deal with the rain.  Troy was coming up from San Diego so either way we were going to be heading out late anyways.  We were lucky that we were staying in my Aunt’s timeshare so we had a fabulous room that was more like an apartment.  The kids had tons of room to play and we had cooking facilities so we just waited it out awhile made breakfast and lunch and let the kids play awhile.  Once Troy got there we packed everyone up and headed on to Disneyland in the rain.  It was actually perfect because park was pretty empty.  We got on a ton of rides and waited in very few lines.  By early evening the rain had stopped and the sun came out for awhile.

The gang in the rain.

 

Day #2 a soggy success!!!

Disneyland day #3

Day #3 was a much much better day.  Unfortunately Troy and Julie had to go home on Wednesday evening however we were blessed with perfect weather!  The kids were excited to be able to see more of the characters and the adults were happy not to have to walk around in wet clothes. Thomas had a great time trying on hats in the shops.

I was pleasantly surprised to hear from an old friend while we were at the park and was able to make arrangements to meet him and his kids for dinner and a few rides that evening.

 

                     Day #3 a HUGE success.