Dizzilyland!

Morgan calls it Dizzilyland and it kind of caught on with everyone in our family. She is funny how she has names for certain things even though we tell her the correct name many times. Despite the fact that she KNOWS Robin Hood is Robin Hood, she calls him Ribison Robison. She has a number of quirky but cute things like that.

Morgan was like Brer Rabbit on this trip, only her begging and pleading not to get thrown in the briar patch was anything but an act. Her fear was real, which made it tough to prod her along, but once she finally took the leap she'd find herself in the laughing place!

Clayton was quite pleased to be tall enough for ALL rides this trip. Morgan didn't really care that she was too short, but it made for a cute picture! Last trip we stuffed socks in Clayton's shoes so he could go on the Indiana Jones ride; he'd BEGGED to go on it. Why is it that we often so desperately want what we can't have? The shoe-stuffing worked, but he ended up being so flipped out by the ride that he had no interest in going on it this trip. He says, "California Screamin' and Hollywood Tower of Terror are TOTALLY AWESOME . . . but please don't make me go on Indiana Jones!"

This trip marked the beginning of a new era: Madison and Mackenzie had no interest in princesses; they mostly just liked fast roller coasters such as Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, and California Screamin' (which they probably went on 20 times). Morgan was still very interested, though, so Melissa took her to Ariel's Grotto for lunch and to meet the princesses. Morgan has always liked Snow White, but she discovered on this trip that she also likes Jane; she was quite excited to visit Jane's treehouse, and since we've been home she's watched Tarzan quite a few times.

I'll never forget one trip to Disneyland when Madison and Mackenzie's favorite ride was Splash Mountain, and we went on it again and again and again. I think I loved it every bit as much as they did. The image impressed upon my mind of that trip, though, is one of their itty-bitty hands raised in the air for the whole ride as they just laughed, giggled, and sang Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah; meanwhile I stressed and fretted over the possibility that they would tumble out of their seats because they were not holding on for dear life as I was!

I don't think Disneyland is really the happiest place on earth, but it is definitely a lot of fun; we love Splash Mountain! What a great ride.

We spent three days at Disneyland this time, which was just the right amount of time for us. We stayed for the fireworks one evening, but the other nights we left early and went swimming in the hotel pool where we had a great view of the fireworks. The kids seemed to enjoy that part of the trip every bit as much as the thrilling rides; they love to swim. Another fun ride, though, was the new Toy Story Mania ride. The yellow glasses enable you to see things that you shoot as part of the ride. We spent more time in Disney's California Adventure this trip than we did in Disneyland.

Clayton and Morgan did an impromptu version of their own monster mash while waiting to go on the Monsters, Inc. ride. We discovered on this trip that the Monsters, Inc. ride is pretty cool because there's never a line, it's fun, and it's air conditioned! Perhaps the funniest part about the ride, though, is the part at the end where the character, Roz, seems to have a personal message for you. She addressed the kids each time we rode, and to this day they all think there must be someone hiding inside her who talks to you.

Every time I have gone on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride I have been most intrigued that people were eating at a restaurant where the ride begins . . . and it always smells SO good. Yes, I have been quite jealous about that. So this time, we ate at The Blue Bayou; it was fabulous, and other people had to smell MY food! Ha-ha!

So I'll always remember trips with those cute little redheads and their hands in the air, but Clayton screaming his little lungs out on every roller coaster ride is what will stick with me from this trip.