Weekend Getaways

Disneyland

As most of you know, this year we have been Disneyland fanatics (don't worry, we don't all have matching mickey ears with our names embroidered on them or anything, but the thought has crossed our minds!). We got season passes last summer and have definitely gotten our money's worth. We headed over on New Years Day with Chad and Michelle's family. According to TJ's great research, the day after New Years is dead and is the best time to go. Well, I don't think we will trust TJ's judgement anymore, because I have never seen it so crowed before! In fact, we overheard a worker even say that she had never seen it so busy! Oh, well...the kids still had such a blast and we took in all the Christmas festivities. I love Disneyland during the holidays...if you have never been during Christmas, it is a must!

Isn't Minnie Mouse the cutest little elf?

All the cousins...they have this Disneyland thing down to a science!

Cali was a little unsure about Mickey getting so fresh with her!

We also headed over to Disneyland again with TJ's parents and Chad and Michelle's family at the beginning of March for another weekend adventure.
It was quite amusing because Jim rented us a wheelchair so we could use the wheelchair entrance and walk right on all the rides (he always knows how to work the system!)...it was kind of legit though because Candace did just have surgery a few weeks prior. We got some questioning looks when we pushed her up and asked if all 11 of us could get on! It worked like a charm though and we got so many rides in that we had never even tried before.
She was a trooper and played the part well!
Madison had to go on every ride with her daddy...he always says he feels like they are dating and are definitely a couple! I didn't mind too much because Cali is such a mommy's girl still.
Thumbs up while waiting for the High School Musical parade to start!
The weather was beautiful during the day but we had to bundle up at night...just waiting to ride King Arthur's carousel.
We finally made it to Pixie Hollow to see Cali's favorite...TINKERBELL!
Cali was full of smiles as we took a spin in the teacups...not a good idea while pregnant. I almost lost it!
Madison and Julia...future movie stars, just waiting to be discovered!
Justin and Cali loving their Jido (that is Lebanese for "grandpa")
All the girls got to go have dinner with the princesses at Ariel's grotto. They loved dancing with their favorites and got time to talk to all of them...a dream come true for any little girl. Thanks Grandma and Jido!

Chicago

In January, we snuck away, kidfree, on our first ever trip to Chicago with TJ's parents. I must say we were a little crazy to go at the coldest time of the year, but we got a taste of what an amazing city it truly is. We came back with a new found appreciation for AZ weather and vowed to never move away! I came to the conclusion that I would NEVER survive in true winter weather and can't really fathom how I even lasted during my college days in Utah!

TJ and I in front of the WICKED theater...we tried for two days to get tickets by entering their lottery, but had no luck. It was the last weekend it was playing in the city so it was the hot ticket!

We did get tickets to see Jersey Boys one night, which was really a fun show with great music. It tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and if I hadn't been so cold, I would have even gotten up and danced to the music!

Here we are in front of the famous bean sculpture in Millennium Park, which shows the reflection of the city in it. I know I look like I live in Alaska, but I absolutely could not get enough clothes on me. I put on everything I could fit and was still freezing. I think with the windchill, it was like -15 below O! Who lives like that???!

We made it to the top of the Hancock Building, which is 100 stories high (the Sears tower has 108 floors) and had drinks (hot coco) and enjoyed watching the sun set over the city. Even parts of Lake Michigan were completely frozen over!

We still enjoyed shopping on the miracle mile and dining at all the amazing restaurants. Hopefully, we can make it back there someday, preferably in the summertime, so we can get the full Chicago experience!