Disney vacation part four April 20, 2009

"What is it"...
we asked the night before,...
" that your hearts wish for most? For this is our last day at the Park."
"What do you each desire out of the day."

Dove wanted more than anything to get Areal autograph
Dash agreed that he really wanted autographs too.

He also had a few rids in mind he longed to do.
Daddy man want to do a ride alone.

Again the day began at the breakfast table then the shuttle.

When we first entered the park I saw we still had enough cash to easily get them each an autograph book and a pen.

We were so BLESSED!
We walked right up to this

We walked to see if the POO was going to be out , and if so what time.
I worked with the fellow at the Poo ride some time getting the locations and schedule of characters.
We all went on the ride.
Then the three of them went off to do there own thing.
Then the Daddy Man took the kids and I walked around on my own for a while.
It was nice to be alone a moment or two. I was going to ride the train over to them but it was out of service so I took a leisurely stroll through the glass shops and saw some Russian crystal. Dash was born where the major crystal producer was. I recognized the stuff in an instant and struck up a conversation with a lovely woman.
The heat was already miserable.
That day it was to rise over 100*!

While they were with him ...

They saw this fellow!
Oh JOY!

but still...He snapped this...This is what I saw a lot of

She had been turned down the night before at the other park for a dinner with areal for the cost was $$$$40 per adult and $20 a kid, now mind you 11 years old there is an adult!
Now as much as our tender hearts would want to give this child a gift we were not willing to disrespect our hard earn income like that.
We had all gathered hands the night before and asked for a way.

WAY!!!!!!!!!!!

Well that was the last of that unhappy face for the day!
That was also a lesson in faith for Dove.

We all gathered at the tinker bell spot and got these
It was so hot!She was so happy now!

Tinker Bell asked her if her brother was one of those shy boys?...

attitude
The photographer was setting him up for a picture against the mushroom and Tinker Bell slipped over!
Oh I just love this shot!

so the boys set off to ride the Indy ride one more time and we again waited in line.
We were almost the last one to the front before she left...
The day before that had happened to Dove several time.
I begged not, mercy given!

This is for her best friend, It was very important to her to get a picture of Jasmin.
Oh she was just jumping up and down!!!

We took a hike back over to poo...
While the boys were on the ride (in line) we were able to do all of this!

JOY!

JOY!

JOY!

Joy!!!!!!!!!!!

look at that happy child!
This was the moment of the trip that I cherish most with Dove.
Look at her joy!

Her face...she relaxed.
Well we all met up again and decided to exit the park until night fall...
We had ice in our bandannas.
It was dangerously hot.
I saw two stretchers with paramedics.

On the way out

Steve stood in line for the duck and I stood for the Minny Mouse.
I let one person ahead and then they ran over they were the second from the last to get the autograph before she left.

We turned around to leave and
BEHOLD!!!!!!!!!!
Utter giddy glee
Their mutual favorite dude!

Too hot!
We took this shot and went back to the hotel.
The children swam, I fixed us all lunch out of the hotel refrigerator and the microwave.
I fell asleep hard for a good 45 minutes and then they all came back from the pool.
We all showered and then dressed.
We watched some TV
after the sun was almost down we loaded up with water and snacks and headed back over.
rest time

We decided to ride the train until the sun went down.
It made it to the "tomorrow land" side we got off and drove the cars.
How fun!
Dash drove me and Dove drove Steve.

It was a blast!
We hung out in tomorrow land they rode the star tours ride a few times while I sat and watched the popcorn maker till he had a new batch and purchased the kids a souvenir bucket each of corn.
That corn lasted until the next days car ride home.
Dash was so thankful for the corn, he asked twice for it and waited for the right time.

Dash and I watched a "Hunny I shrunk the kids " think. It was alright. He was once again stuck with mom because I can NOT do the ride "star tours" Amazed that Dove let her hair down and wanted to go alone with Daddy Man one more time.
His jaw dropped!
She felt so proud to overcome and show her daddy she could do it.
Look at that face!
Happy child.

We enjoyed our time and stood in our last line.
It's a small world ride.
Now Dove was scared again, it took half the ride for her to relax.

When we were in the line, I went and purchased some sorbet cones.
They had been on dry ice and were just solid.
By the end of the ride we all walked the park and ate the cold pops.

It was perfect ending.
Being so hot we decided to say good by to Disneyland.
We went back to the hotel and played in the room some, then went to sleep.

Many other things occurred throughout the day...
My mind will recall.
I will visit this post again to add things.

It is my hope to show this to the kids one day.

Disney vacation part three April 19, 2009

Oh please let him pick me
He was not like the other kids no jumping up and down or waiving of the hands...
He just stood there and held his breath.
I waved my hand behind him, for him:)

The Padawan's Jedi Oath
I promise to uphold the Jedi Code.
I promise to respect all life and to help those weaker than myself.
I promise to use the Force only for good; never in anger; only to defend those who cannot defend themselves; to find new ways to improve myself so that I may be an example to others.

This part was not spoken

I promise to give guidance to those that seek it; while not seeking to lead or rule them. As a Jedi I must always oppose those who revel in evil and seek power for the sake of power. They are the plague on society that the Jedi seek to cure. In the absence of the Jedi, evil will thrive. In the presence of just one Jedi, evil will evaporate.

Then they were dressed in the cloak and given a light saber and taught to use it.

He paid close attention.
He did not have his hearing aides on so he was VERY focused.

Then the stage raised and the music began the intensity

Darth Vader tried to coax the little Jedi's over to his side and they gave him a tongue lashing
On stage Darth Vader set to battle
The kids were then split into groups.

off stage the villain was set to battle

Dash awaited his turn with intensity!
He really did well making good contact.
It was so cool to see him get this opportunity.

They thought better of hanging around with all these Jedi's

So they high tailed it right by me.
Walking tall, with great confidence the new Jedi recruit was on cloud nine.

He received his official Jedi Certificate
How happy he was
Just look at that happy child!


At the end of the training was when Steve and Dove showed up.
I had radioed him over the walkie talkie and told him Dash was chosen to train.
He was not able to get there in time.
He and Dove was off on an adventure.
A roller coaster I think?


California Adventure Land
Just in time to have our lunch
We all gathered our selves together and headed over to the other park
via the lockers to grab the lunch I had packed.
We ate there in the shade, yet with the heat wave topping at some 95* we were melting!

It was Doves big treat
High School Musical 3
Picture over a 100 people in a huge circle sitting on egg frying cement trying to shade themselves and the young ones.
The event crowd controller came over by us to tell all of us that the dancers may not be able to do much of a performance due to the heat.

She sat in suspended animation.
Frozen in the moment.

We sat and melted until we just could take no more.

We went over into a forest like area where I sat and Steve took the kids on a climb in a huge netted climbing gym.

Dove and Dash were chosen to do rubber duck races.
Dove's duck won!!!!!!!!!

Dash came in third!!!

They were given badges.

Well while Daddy Man and the Dash went to ride the "tower of terror"...
they waited over an hour in line for a 3 minute ride.

Dove and I tried to view a performance to get out of the sweltering heat.
We stumbled upon a street performance that took Dove out of her utter Panic.
Those were some hard moments let me tell ya!
I prayed a lot and pleaded with God for help.
We went inside the animation center.
She was instantly in a trance.
Large projected video of all of the old Disney movies on 20 foot screens all around us and all over the ceiling, perhaps 30 of them or more.
Whew she calmed down, sat down and eventually let her death grip go.
After a half an hour or so, I convinced her to attend an animation class.
We drew Winnie the Poo, it was real nice.
Being an artist it was a real pleasure to share my love of art with her.
They had a cool set up to see how the 16 frames per second caused the motion.
She was smiling.
We went into a little shop.
She was calm and enjoying the trinkets.
The boys met up with us there as her and I enjoyed some cotton candy together.

We all went back inside to cool our bodies down.
It was HOT!!!!!!!

I thought to go ask what this other presentation was about, I explained my situation with the fellow.
I was almost in tears just trying to find something to bring her more pleasure.
He explained it all and assured me of it's content.
We were able all 4 of us to go into a thing together.
It was so cute.
After the Finding Nemo movie the turtle talked to the audience live through a aquarium type glass projection. It really was real looking and sounding as he answered questions real time.

She was enthralled!

After the performance the man came up to me and asked If I though she might be up to a private audience. I was so excited and said YES! She began to freak out a little and rallied.
We alone in this huge studio went up to the front and spoke to the huge turtle through the glass (?) He called Dash "Dutiful Dash"
Dove "bodacious"
Steve "surfin' Steve
and Me "Dutiful Donetta"
Dove asked him what it was like under water?
He said "wet"

Dash asked him...a question that skips my mind at the moment.
It was so wonderful to see the Glee they both had
The whole family smiling at the same time!

The nice man "Maynard" then gave us private rendition of a talk radio show he did in his home state. He then so lovingly took three pictures until he felt it was just right.
Favor
we were given favor

With light hearts we were all off to the rest of the adventure

We found ourselves at the pier
Dash got his cotton candy
Then Oh BABY!!!!!!!
It was my turn to go have some fun!
Watch out world!

Screaming California coaster!
It does a full loop!
so fast that you get glued to the head rest...and guess what?
Dove wanted to join me.

Well we went in and the elevator access (I often used) helped me care for my dear knee.
It also set us up ahead in line.
Then we were asked to go back and wait.
We finally got in...IN THE VERY FRONT ROW!!!!!!!!!!
I had no voice at the end and Oh I felt so good to let all that pent up stress out!
I whooped and hollered at top of my lung!
Lost my voice a bit for a good 48 hours.
But I sure was relaxed
:)
Mommy stress buster
fast roller coasters!
:)

We had our only Disney dinner out in the great burger joint on that side $$$$$$$
it was very good though with a big fixings bar of lettuce and tomato and such.

tired hot and ready to go back to the hotel we left.
We swam and showered

Steve and the kids played with the new toys we bought them
while I made a light supper in the room.

It was an awesome day!