I wish we all could be California girls. And one boy.

I thought mobile devices were supposed to make our lives easier?  Not when it comes to blogging, I guess.  Instead of a huge diatribe about my technical difficulties in adding pictures to my blog since "upgrading" to an iPhone and iPad, I'll just present the last three months (in segments, that is):

We went to Disneyland, for starters.  We waited (and waited) until all the Southern California schools were back in session and hopped a plane to the "happiest place on earth".  Was it the happiest place on earth?  The first day, our inclination to get our money's worth sort of did us in.  We marched our kids around the park from sun up to sun down (and then some), which naturally culminated in a miserable hike back to the IHOP across the street for a 9 p.m. dinner.  Two of the four kids were on our backs.  The other two would have gladly ridden there, too, if we'd only had the space and the stamina.  Rachel completely fell apart, Eve fell asleep, Lily fell into my lap, and Anna - well, Anna was the silent champ who was just grateful we'd forked out the money to be there.  Thank you Anna, for giving us at least one reason to go back the next day.  And the next.  And then for a fourth and final day. 

Disneyland is magical, isn't it?  Our longest line was 45 minutes.  The rest were less than 20.  We also lucked out with fantastic weather.  75 to 80 degress the entire week, baby.  Sorry about your drought, California, but it really worked in our favor in January.

We got wise and rented a stroller for the last three days.  It was a life-saver for these two.  And gave them something else to fight over. 

This might be my very favorite picture of the entire trip.  Rachel, working it on the teacups while Lily sits back to relax and smile for the camera.  Oh so typical.

We had a bit of cousin time before heading to Anaheim, though, and spent much of it at the beach, of course.

I could've stayed forever.

These two spent most of their time together - marching from thrill ride to thrill ride with Dad while I kept it on the low down with the younger two in Fantasyland and Toontown.  They were awesome.

Overall experience was great.  We planned it in the hopes that all of our kids would be at the right ages and heights to enjoy the best Disneyland has to offer.  We might have missed the mark, a little bit, considering that Rachel has serious anxiety issues with rollercoasters and Eve is still young enough that taking her on the Tower of Terror was probably not one of our brightest ideas.  Still we have fabulous memories of our time there.  In fact, the kids are still talking about it.

We opened Eve's presents and celebrated with a cake a week after getting home.  Because Disneyland just wasn't enough.  :)