Finding Joy in the Journey: Week 10 - Building Memories & Making Plans

I have been planning for years to take Owen to Disneyland when he turned 5. I procrastinated going 'til he was 5. I would have loved, loved, loved to taken him before, but knew he would get as much out of it as if he were 5 and would remember the rides and what fun it is to go.

So, we went. We went for our prison break......er, spring break out of here. It felt so good to not be on any type of schedule, to sleep in late, stay up even later and just be - dare I say it - lazy. It was fab-u-lous!!! Don't get me wrong, we were busy the whole week of spring break, but it wasn't a "scheduled busy" it was a "nothing-to-do-today-busy".

Tuesday we left my parents' house bright and early to get to Disneyland at a reasonable hour of, say, 840 am, 40 minutes AFTER the park opened. We left to check into our hotel around 330, grabbed some dinner, changed into slightly warmer clothes, and headed back to the park. We got back to our hotel room and into bed at 1245AM! All the while kids were squealing with delight about being at Disneyland.

Howie kept saying, "Mickey!' "Mickey!" "Mickey!" Caroline was anxious to see the princesses (I wasn't so happy about waiting an hour plus in line for the 45 seconds combined to see the two lovely ladies) - she thought it was a little slice of heaven. Owen couldn't get enough of getting onto every ride he was tall enough to get onto - and there were plenty of those around.

Adam and I sucked up every ounce of wanting to sit and catch a break, not push a stroller, carry a backpack and not wait in long 50 minute lines for a 45 second ride. We did it all....every last ride we could possibly go on...we did it.

Tower of Terror...check.

Soarin over California...check

California Screamin...check

Mr. Toad's Wild Ride...check

Tea Cups...check

Mickey Ferris Wheel...check (which I'm deathly afraid of ferris wheels, but did it anyway!)

World of Color show...check

Buzz Lightyear...check

Autotopia...check

It's a Small World...check

Pirates...check

And the list goes on.

We covered just about every square inch of that park that was remotely humanly possible in two days with three small kids. Owen walked and walked and walked and never complained about not getting a ride in a stroller. We strollered Caroline for a majority of the time at the park, just because it made getting around easier and faster. Howie wanted to be out of the stroller and walking around. No way. No how. He rode most of the time, except when he was standing in line waiting to go on a ride that was his size.

One meltdown from Caroline on the second day, 3 tired kids, 2 worn out parents, 1 worn out grandma (she walked the entire second day pushing strollers, standing in lines, going on rides, she did it all - thanks Mom!!!) and so many memories made.

Owen and Caroline are still talking about Disneyland and asking when we can go back, what their favorite ride was, if I can go on a certain ride with them next time. They are making big plans.

But, without the memories of the fun we had, there would be no big plans to be made. I'm grateful we were able to take our kids to Disneyland and have them build these memories and make these plans. It was seeing the three kiddos with their arms wrapped around their souvenirs that spoke volumes to me. I'd do it again .... in a heartbeat!