Disneyland! (The Family Affair)

M-I-C-K-E-Y......M-O-U-S-E



Hip Hip Hooray! We finally had our family Disney spectacular. This was our family's celebration of Gucci's 60th Birthday and Great's 80th Birthday and we celebrated all of the September and October Birthday's as well. It was also the last time our family will be together for.....well, we don't know how long? Tyler and his family are in Texas, Missy and her family are in New York, and we are off to London. Who knows if Sheldon will go away for Grad school? Guess we'll see. We had such an awesome time, which can be a challenge with 18 people maneuvering around Disneyland. Here is the photo recap of our wild and crazy trip. We managed to lose only 2 people, Mae Mae (2yrs.) in Disneyland, and Great (80yrs.) in the airport. Not too shabby eh? Okay picture recap:

Leaving the Salt Lake Airport. Yes, that is a giant box of "Cinnabuns" all for myself. John had been dieting and was eating granola :)

Great, John, Willie, and me with Shammy

Getting geared up for day1. We had some problems with the Disneyland hotel which looked more like the Bates motel, so Gucci and Birdo who claims that she "has the gift of manipulation" were at the hotel negotiating a change. Apparently she does in fact have this gift because we ended up staying at the Grand Californian instead (paying the same amount as at the Disneyland hotel). Note to all: Do not stay in the Disneyland hotel, unless you want to hear a remodel pounding while you stay in a ghetto room that is as clean as an airplane lavatory :) Gucci gave Great the room key instead of her park pass so I had to run back down downtown Disney and get her key so she could enter the park. I was beat. Totally out of shape.

"Nightmare Before Christmas" is a favorite in the Talbot house. Big shock, I know. Yes we are Halloween people.

Willie John finally enjoying a meal in the Park.

What would a Disney trip be without giving Mickey a little pinch? This was Saucey's Birthday, and he was in his height of glory.
The piggies got to come on stage at the all you can eat BBQ place over near Frontier Land. They loved it, and we loved eating ribs, chicken, sausage, and corn bread like ravenous beasts.

We decided to arrive early for a good seat at the Jedi training academy in Tomorrow Land. As you can see, the kids didn't think that arriving early was that great of an idea. They eventually began to horse around and we got some good smiles.
The people at the NICU were very perceptive when they named Willie "Wild Bill." He is crazy! He did enjoy toddling around. Sitting in a stroller all day is not his idea of a good time. As you can see, we are still waiting.

Ha! it was well worth the wait because all 3 of our boys were picked out of the crowd to participate in the Jedi training and fight either Darth Vader or Darth Maul. Darth Maul was super scary, but I must admit, a little hot too ;)

The guy working at the "Pirates of the Caribbean" ride seemed surprised when I asked to see his pirate face? How can you operate that ride and not have a pirate face? He did his best.
Today was our early entry into "Toon Town" day. The best part was that we got to see all of the characters out and about and snap a few quick photo's with them.
Willie was a little less enamored with the characters, in fact here is a series of pictures of him whacking each character we tried to photograph him with. Notice the hand cocked back ready to strike. The thing about Wild Bill is that he is frighteningly fast. Watch out characters! Some pictures he's cocking back and others he is making contact. The little stinker.

Kissing fish, Goofy's Gas, Willie whacking a fish, and our very own......Chip n' Dales! Woo hoo, work it fellars.


The poor little thing really was giving it her all. King Arthur's sword. Some macho kid came up after Addie destined to get the thing out. Ha, it was priceless watching him tuck his tail between his legs and scurry off defeated.

One of my favorite rides and probably Johns least. So what if he gets motion sickness, he was going to ride that ride anyway ;)

Addie and Mae Mae driving Mr. Toads car.

King Arthur's Carousel. Addie loved the carousel. I know, it is sooo Hogle Zoo, but she loved it.


After day 1, this became Great's mode of transportation. Worked out great for us, between stroller passes, fast passes, and the wheel chair, we had it made! Plus, the kids loved to ride on Great's lap which Great loved! Win Win Win.

This was in the newly redesigned house of the future. Ty, jammed out on "Rock Band," and I morphed myself to see how I would look heavier with sun damage and smoking. Ugh, not pretty.

Addie also loved the caterpillar ride in Bug Land. Mae Mae loved it too.

I have discovered a new love. Beignets! Holy Crap!!!! These things are like a party in your mouth. It is a good thing that I don't live in New Orleans or I would weigh 1,000 lbs. Imagine a scone only it isn't hollow, but thick and soft covered in powdered sugar. Aaaah, I am drooling right now!

Siblings!

This was at the "World of Color" show. It was a pretty snazzy show, but Addie fell asleep. I had to get up early and book it to get fast pass tickets to the show. Alan was in the park so he gave me his tickets to get them a fast pass too. Alan and John let Great and Gucci take their tickets. Had I known Addie was going to fall asleep I would have left her with John and Given her ticket to Sherri. However, I thought she was going to love it. Wrong. She slept on the ground through the whole thing. Can you even believe that I am my mother's daughter? Seriously, look at her gorgeous brown eyes.

This was probably the best day for the girls. We went to "Ariel's Grotto" character dining where the girls got to meet a number of the Princess'. We had the girls wear their costumes to the lunch. I bought Adessa the new Rapunzel costume for obvious reasons of her fabulous long hair. The new Disney film "Tangled" which is the Rapunzel comes out in November. I was told that I was smart to get the costume now, I guess that when the movie hits they will be flying off the shelf. The thing is, you can only get the costume in a Disney store, they don't have a single Rapunzel thing in Disneyland until the movie comes out. We didn't have a costume for Lydia so I dyed a onesie green and made her a Tinkerbell tutu.

Rapunzel

3 of the 4 little Princess' Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel, Snow White

Grandma Gucci with her Princess'

All four Princess'

Woody bowed to Adessa, Kissed her hand, posed with her, and gave her a hug. She beamed! I think she is going to be very shy with boys.


Lady bug ride in Bug Land on our family Tie Dye day. This would be the day we lost Mae Mae :) We also celebrated Addie and Claire's Birthdays today.


The Talbot clan sporting our tie dye. I just HAD to have a family picture in front of the Castle, even if it includes some random person. On this note, I have often wondered how many people out there have pictures of me randomly getting in their photo's? Something to think about.

More of Willie whacking and characters to pose with. Addie showing off her Birthday badge.

The Birthday girls had their faces painted. Their choice? A unicorn mask, no big surprise there. Poor Claire cried when she wasn't big enough to go on Soaring Over California and ruined her mask. $17.00 down the toilet. At least I got pictures before it was ruined.

Our last Character breakfast at the "Story Teller Cafe." This is a super yummy breakfast buffet with a lot of "woods" characters.

And as we know, all good things must come to an end. Leaving the airport all together for the last time.

Ipson and Talbot clans, with a bonus of Tyler and Shammy

The Pearson clan


We flew to Arizona witht he Pearsons where they then switched to a flight to Texas. Sad to see them go, but happy to have life as normal as it gets.



A great trip with the most wonderful people in the whole entire world! Gucci thank you for planning, preparing, and saving for this trip for years. I have heard Gucci talk about wanting to take her whole family on a Disney spectaular for at least 5 years. I am glad that this happy day has finally come. We love you Gucci.