Disneyland (last one for at least a few years so its really long)

Neither Ben or I had ever been to Disneyland when they had all of their Christmas decorations up.  I really wanted to see the most magical place on Earth go all out for the most magical holiday.  We decided to go the week after new years in hope that the park would be slightly less busy (we figured most people would be back in school that week).  It wasn't as bad as when we went for spring break but it was still pretty busy.  We had lots of fun though.  The last day we were there we even got to meet up with Ben's sister and hang out with their family.  Because in our past trips we had hit every ride, we were far more relaxed this time.  We did rides that the kids really wanted to do again, saw shows, and even stopped to see characters.  The boys wanted to see the Princess show since Brynna went without them last time.  I don't think Big Ben liked that his boys wanted to go to the princess show. ;)  We also went to see the Disney Jr Show.  I wasn't too impressed with it but the kids (you know, the target audience) liked it.  We also watched the firework show, the lighting of the castle, Fantasmic, and the parade.  We checked out the holiday version of small world and haunted mansion.  The Christmas lights everywhere were really pretty.  We loved the fireworks and the "snow" at the end (only little Ben noticed that something was different about it) but I was rather disappointed that "Christmas" was never mentioned.  It was all "holiday" or believing in snow and such.  Not sure if that is because we were there after Christmas or if it so that they don't offend anyone.  Either way, we had lots of fun and really enjoyed our las Disneyland trip for a long time.  (We are not renewing our passes and we are not going at spring break.)
Here is some pics from our trip

Day 1
We headed strait for CA adventure and the Farris Wheel that the boys have been wanting to go on since the moment they found out that we were going to Disneyland again.

Up on the farris wheel.  Ben really was excited but started talking when I was taking the picture.

Daddy hates this ride

fun view

in line for toy story.  He wanted to show off his hat

look at my hat

and mine

for kicks, let's make dad pose in a hat

on the zepher

waiting for the bug show (which ethan HATED!!! he screamed the whole time)

Dad and Ben on the bumper cars

the beautiful castle all lit up

Brynna and Ethan got bored waiting for the fireworks so they started dancing.   It amused everyone around us

After the fireworks and fantasmic, we went to the pirate ride.  These are the boys' pirate faces.  Brynna was too tired to participate

After Pirates we went to the Haunted Mansion ride but had to carry Brynna the whole time because she was too tired to even stand in line.  I think she stayed awake durring the ride but was asleep again before we found the stroller.  We decided it was time to call it a night.
Day 2
Ben took the kids to start waiting in the Splash Mountain line while I got fast passes for Thunder Mountain.

Waiting in line.  Brynna was really sad she couldn't go on

While Ben took the boys on Splash Mountain, I took Brynna to meet Pooh and friends

She was hesitant with Tigger at first but then she had a jumping contest with him.

She hugged eeyore right away (must have reminded her of grandpa)

and she ran as fast as she could up to pooh the moment she saw him.  she was soooooo excited

and right as we were getting ready to take the pic, the boys got off splash mountain and joined us

After Thunder Mtn and lunch we went to visit Santa at his house in Disneyland

The kids with Santa and reindeer pluto

And we found Mrs. Clause wondering around the outside of the house

Brynna waiting for the parade

Before the parade we went to the princess show, but we didn't get any pics (ben was supposed to be in charge of that.  he claims he didn't know I wanted pics, but I think he didn't want evidence)  After the parade we went out of the park to get dinner and then I took the kids to the hotel and Ben went back to ride some of those rides that he loves.

Day 3
This day we met up with Ben's sister Rachel.  It was fun because we were tuckered out but they were fresh and ready to go.  They went to the park earlier that us that morning (we decided to sleep in and then packed up the car).  We first went on the train that goes around the park (the other favorite of the kids) and then took the kids to the gadget go coster in toon town.  We realized that Brynna was big enough to go on the ride.  She was really excited to finally get to go on a roller coaster.  Little Ben didn't want to go but we told him that sometimes there were rides that we just had to go on because everyone else wanted to (the farris wheel might have been mentioned)  but we got him on by letting him sit next to dad.  That left Ethan next to no one.  I just about had a heart attack when the coaster went around the first turn and he slid to the other side of his seat.  I spent the ride with one arm around brynna and the other behind me holding ethan's arm.  Good thing it a very short ride.
After that we went to fantasy land to meet with Rachel but found that the line for Repunzel had just opened so we jumped in and were like 4th in line.

While waiting for Repunzel, we found Peter Pan 

Brynna couldn't keep her eyes off her idol

on the carousel (i got very motion sick)

Going on Thunder Mountain again

Ben took Ethan and I took Brynna (little Ben wouldn't go near) the Matterhorn.  The moment we got into the bobsled, Brynna put her hands up.  Everyone in line started laughing and cooing at her.  It was funny!  (ignore the icky rash on my face)

Waiting in line with the cousins for Pirates.  They were supposed to be making a pirate face again.

After pirates we did Tarzan's treehouse and then dinner and then we took Rachel's girls and went back home (they were just staying for the day).  There were some other rides which I didn't take pics of.  For how busy it was, we did a good job of not standing in too many long lines.  We had lots of fun and the kids are still asking when we get to go again.