December Cali Visit Part 3

Some of my favorite photos from the trip:

Dad, Kat, Kendra, Tyson and Molly by the Teacups. Molly LOVED the Teacups. She didn't ride them (only Katherine and Ranee did) but she LOVED the lanterns above the ride.

Tara and family in front of Haunted Mansion, all decked out for the Holidays. Haunted Mansion and Small World were the two "must do" rides for almost everyone at Disneyland, both having Christmas decorations incorporated into the rides.

While Tara, Jon and Corryn were riding Haunted Mansion, Ethan found a ramp and started running up and down it. Of course, he didn't mind all of the other people on the ramp at all, he just weaved in and out of them wherever he found an opening until he got to the bottom of the ramp, stopped and looked around for Ranee...who was apologizing to all of the people he was cutting off and she was running into trying to keep tabs on him. Half the people looked at her with disdain - who lets their kid run around in a crowd? (he's not my kid...that's how...I'm just concerned with making sure he doesn't bleed while in my care) and the other half just laughed and smiled that Ethan was having such a great time at the Happiest Place on Earth - jealous that he didn't have to wait in a long line for a ride to have fun...he was pleased as punch just to keep running up and down the ramp.

Above Ethan kindly points out the water he found...that kid loves water...and wheels (see above). The wheels above did not belong to his stroller, nor to the stoller of anyone we knew. Of course, that didn't stop him from playing with them - thanks, Random Stranger, for parking your stroller so Ethan could play with it.

December Cali Visit Part 2

So it wasn't a complete and total surprise that Tyson and Kendra joined us in Disneyland. I believe they had decided to make the quick trip down while Grandpa Bob was still there visiting them. We sure are glad they joined us! We rode TONS of rides (lots with Miss Molly who enjoyed every one).

Molly got her first set of ears...of the Minnie variety.

She (and Ethan) both found ramps around Disneyland and just kept walking up and down them. Ethan stopped only when he saw wheels or water. Molly? She was like the Energizer bunny...she kept going and going and going. Couldn't blame her though. She'd spent most of the previous 3 hours either in her stroller waiting for World of Color to start or in Ranee's arms watching World of Color. She didn't complain once, but I can imagine she was super excited to walk around undeterred. A Disney cast member sat and watched Molly and kept commenting on how gorgeous she is...which is is absolutely true. Molly is just about the most adorable little girl ever what with her perpetual smile and cute little voice and Princess shaped eyes.

She fell asleep for just a few minutes while waiting for World of Color...everyone around us thought it was super cute how she covered her eyes. Once World of Color started, she was wide-eyed and pointing at all of the lights. I think she enjoyed it.

December Cali Visit Part 1

Turns out that Ethan is infatuated with wheels. Ranee, Grandpa Bob and Grandma Katherine visited Tara and Jon and family earlier this month. Grandpa Bob on a trek of the Southwestern US, having spent a few days with Tyson, Kendra and Molly just prior, is apparently travelling the country visiting his great grandchildren. Lucky them!

Corryn chilling...but just seconds later she lost it (see Tara's blog for the photo taken 2 seconds after this one).

A neighborhood in Torrance goes ALL OUT with the Christmas lights. We spent several hours walking around, admiring them all and taking out of focus photos.

Ethan is not a fan of the Grinch. At such a young age even he knows that the guy is trying to steal Christmas.

Grandma Katherine meeting little Corryn for the first time.

Next up: Tyson and Kendra surprise us all and join us in Disneyland.