Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Our Vacation Recap part I

Let me just start this whole post out by giving a big THANK YOU to the makers of Tylenol and Motrin because without them, this trip would have been a bust. We went through 2 bottles of Motrin and finished off a bottle of Tylenol. Needless to say we were all sick, very sick, for our trip. We drugged up and made the best of what we could, but it was a rough week. Let's just start at the very beginning shall we?

First stop, Jarom's sister's home in Utah. We spent the night having fun with cousins and Payson taught Alyssa how to shoot his bow. I was actually pretty impressed with her aim. We loved seeing the Murdochs and are grateful to them for letting us break up the trip. At this point only Halle and Kate were slightly sick with coughs and runny noses, but during the night I came down with a fever.

We continued on to Vegas where we enjoyed the Mirage's Secret Garden with white tigers and dolphins.



The kids loved watching the dolphins swim and play.

We also took the kids to the Popovich Pet Theatre and Comedy Show. Oh my goodness, was that lame! The kids enjoyed it, but Jarom and I kept thinking that a junior high could have put together a better show. After this we strolled down the strip and enjoyed the Bellagio's fountains. That never gets old to us. We could watch it for hours.

Eating lunch at Taco Bell in Vegas. Can't beat 39 cent tacos!

I was still feeling really lousy, so after doping up with more meds, we were on our way to LA. Sixty miles outside of Los Angeles we hit snow. We couldn't believe that we had brought snow with us to Southern California. Again, we were determined to make the best of it. And thankfully we only had one chilly/rainy day.

We visited with Jarom's Aunt Janice and family, where Chase and Kayla wore the kids out and Janice served us homemade soup. A BIG thank you to them for that! It was so fun to get to see them. And even more fun to see them at their own home.

Left to right: Chase, Grandma Freidenberger, Kayla, Janice, Alyssa, Kate, Halle, Me, Jarom, Carter

That night my fever broke, but I woke up feeling like the left side of my face had been slugged. I've never had a sinus infection before, but I'm pretty sure that's what I was dealing with. Jarom also woke up that morning with a cough and a fever. So we all doped up again and headed in to Disneyland for our first day of real fun.

It was a rainy day and there were practically no lines, which was wonderful. The very first thing we hit was this rocket spinner ride. BAD idea for me. I get sick on spinney rides anyway, but with the sinus thing I had going on, it set me off for a day of nausea. I even got sick on It's a Small World. Unfortunately I had to skip out on most of the rides that day. Thank goodness Jarom was feeling okay enough to take the kids.

Carter was ultra whiny this day, which could only mean he was starting to feel yucky, and cried about almost every ride. We tried to take him on Snow White but he wigged out as soon as we started to enter the dark castle so he and I had to sit it out. We also went to the Honey I Shrunk the Audience 3D show where Jarom had to take Carter out early because he was literally screaming he was so scared. Kate did fine in that one until a giant snake popped out of the screen and then we all had to leave.



The highlight of the trip for Kate was meeting some of the princesses. This was the longest line we had to wait in. It was a full hour, but Kate loved it so it made it worth it.

Carter wasn't going to have ANYTHING to do with talking to the princesses, but they were all so cute to try to talk to him and even convinced him to come get his picture with them.

The kids LOVED wearing their Disney Ears and wore them faithfully every day. I love that they were all young enough still to enjoy this. It was so cute to see my four little mice walking around.

We're all in there; it was a tight fit, but Dumbo held us all.

Trying to get a family shot on It's a Small World. Carter was just a tad too short to get in the picture.

We all loved Toon Town and it was practically empty when we went. The kids loved the Roger Rabbit ride, and wanted to do it several times. We couldn't convince Carter to do it twice (he refused to do any ride twice except Peter Pan) so while everyone else enjoyed the ride, Carter and I explored Toon Town.

Mickey's house was empty and we had such fun playing around and taking our time looking at everything.

We were SO surprised when we got to the back of the house and found Mickey there. No lines or anything. A bonus for us!

This concludes our first day there. I'll think I'll stop here and finish the rest tomorrow. Sorry if this sounds like the most depressing Disney post you've ever read. Disney really is a great place and we tried out best to enjoy it, but it's difficult to do when you don't feel well.

We're still recovering at our house, but more on that later.

14 comments:

The Manwarings said...

Oh, I feel so bad for you guys but I'm so glad you made the best of it. What good sports! I hope Jarom's feeling better. And all those pictures of your kids are so cute. I love the one of all of them in their mouse ears!

Tamie said...

bummer that you guys were all so sicky and the kids cranky---but what a perfect time to be a D-land! no lines and it truly is the best time of the year to be there.....(plus you don't have to deal with the heat and the sun and everything that goes with that end of the spectrum!)
looks soooo much fun!

Allisyn said...

Welcome back to blog world.. It just was not the same without going to your blog to see what you and your family had been up to. What cute pictures of the kids at Dinsey Land..

The Shep's Herd said...

I'm so sorry that you had to be sick to go the "happiest place on earth". You guys look like you had fun anyway. A couple years ago we went and I too was so sick I didnt Think I could make it. I remember waking up in our hotel after the long car journey and wishing we could just stay in and sleep or die which ever came first. But you know what the minute I passed through those gates into the park I swear they sprayed we with happy gas or something beacuse I just went all day and had a blast. The minute we left I was ready to die again.Our whole family believes that it is a magical place. Beacuse I did that every day for 3 days while we were there. Magic I tell you its magic!! I hoped they got you all with the magic happy gas too. Can't wait to see the rest of the pictures.

becky ward said...

i can't believe that is chase! i hardley recognize him. so jealous you got to see them.

i love the picture of kate holding the princesses hand. and the picture of carter and jarom with the princess. CUTE! glad you were still able to make the best of it. i feel so sad that you all got sick. SUCH a BUMMER!

hope you all get well soon! can't wait to see more pictures.

Mama Williams said...

What rotten timing! I hope you are planning on going back again next year...I would hate for your family to only remember Disneyland as the family sickness vacation.
Get well and give me a call when you are up to it. I'm home in the early afternoons now. :)

Deidra Smith said...

I love the picture of Carter looking skeptically at the princesses. It's a classic. Sorry you guys had a bummer trip.

Miki said...

"We couldn't believe that we had brought snow with us to Southern California!"

LOL!! best sentence...

Awwwww.....bummer colds and sickness. Truly bummer and you can read it in your typing..."well...we did this, and then this" forced chuckle from you...

My poor friend! lol....in a nice way. You guys are troopers...I tell ya. Good job keeping everyone's spirits up through the disappointments. It sounds like you still had a blast and made some memories through it all.

Seriously, good job.

Unknown said...

SO sorry about the bad timing of your trip! It looks like you still had fun. The kids look so cute and I'm sure they loved it even if they didn't feel good! Look at this way, you'll NEVER forget it!

Wendy said...

I didn't find your Disneyland post depressing at all -- your words and especially your pictures captured your family enjoying themselves (Love the one of you with your daughter on the rocket ride -- you must have been feeling like crap, but your eyes are sparkly and you're making a memory with your sweet girl -- way to go, Mom!)

If I were looking at just the pictures, I wouldn't even know you guys were so sick. Way to make the best of a situation.

Fave picture? Your son and the princesses!

Hope everyone is starting to feel better. Welcome back. :-)

Lula! said...

Girl...I've missed you. Loved the recap...loved the pictures. Loved the $.39 tacos at Vegas' Taco Bell! But I have to be honest with you...

...my draw dropped when I read this sentence: "I've never had a sinus infection..."

Seriously? I mean...for real? I cannot fathom a winter without at least one sinus infection.

This blows my mind, Elena. Literally! Bless your heart!

The CEO said...

I'm so glad that you are home safe and sound. Bummer that you were sick, but it sounds like you were able to sneak in a little fun. :)

Anonymous said...

Well, of course Kate was outta there when a stupid snake jumped out. For heaven's sakes, what were they thinking! She IS a kid after her grammy's own heart.

Jennifer P. said...

Disneyland will be even more memorable because of the sick memories that accompany it :)! You guys sure know how to make a memory :-D.

My favorite was all of you jammed on the Dumbo ride--too cute!