Las Vegas/Los Angeles Trip!!! (Part Three: Disneyland)

Disneyland!!!  And California Adventure.  We got a 3-day hopper pass.  We spent the first day in Disneyland, the 2nd in Cal. Adventure, and the 3rd day we did the last few things we hadn't done yet in both parks.  

We weren't really planning on meeting any characters, but we ran into a lot of them without trying, and with the exception of Mickey Mouse, we never had to wait in line very long.  (It might be like, disrespectful to Disneyland to say this, but is Mickey Mouse really such a big deal?  Do kids even know who he is anymore?  I feel like he's kind of a thing of the past, and the only reason he's still so popular is because they make a big deal out of him and give him his own house and everything.  The line wasn't really worth it, but we had to do it since it was Shaun's first visit). 

Our feet hurt SO BAD by the third day.  And my neck was hurting so bad I didn't even go on the big rides. :(  Shaun went in the single rider line and got through really fast.  I really really love Disneyland, and I didn't realize how family friendly it is.  I want to take our kids there when they're like, 1 year old!  Haha, it is pretty expensive though, so we'll see.

The new Cars land is awesome.  The ride that everyone is gushing over - Radiator Springs Racers - was crazy busy.  And it was broken down half the time we were there.  The fast passes would run out by noon.  We went early one day, before the park opened, because we had "Magical Morning" passes.  We waited in line for about half an hour just for a fast pass!  And our return time was like, 5 hours later.  It was a cool ride, and I'm glad we went, but it's definitely overrated this year, just because it's new.  (Speaking of new rides - the Finding Nemo one at Disneyland is pretty lame.  Maybe not for kids, but I wasn't excited about it).

We like to call it the "Jolley Trolley"

A Bug's Life 3D show

We were lucky enough to meet Mater without waiting in line too long!

The new Cars town was so cool!  It feels like you're right in the movie.

We met Lightning too - the line was short while there was a show going on down the street.

At the top of the GIGANTIC ferris wheel.

Shaun got a free "1st visit" pin

I wish the whole castle was in the background - come on "professional" Disneyland photographers!

Las Vegas/Los Angeles Trip!!! (Part Two: Universal Studios)

We only spent one day in Universal Studios, and it ended up being plenty.  We did buy the Front of the Line Pass, which was really nice.  Our favorite rides were the studio tour, and Simpsons.

Desperate Housewives house!

Whoville

Bates Motel

Apparently Bates Motel and Whoville are in the same neighborhood

There were so many escalators - and they were SOOOO long and steep - to get from one part of the park to another.

Las Vegas/Los Angeles Trip!!! (Part One: Vegas)

Shaun and I were lucky enough to take a two week vacation in August!  It was jammed packed!  It was basically 4 vacations in one.  Part one: Vegas.  It was both my and Shaun's first trip to Vegas.  We arrived after midnight, and it was pretty cool to drive in and see the whole city all lit up.  We stayed at the Stratosphere.  We ended up there during a heat wave.  The historical average high for the week we were there is 103 degrees.  While we were there the highs were between 108 and 112 every day!  We ended up taking naps every afternoon during the hottest part of the day.

We didn't go to any big shows, but we went to a couple of cheaper magic shows.  If we go again, I would probably splurge on one big show.  I would also stay in a hotel in the middle of the strip.  We were at the far north end, and it was too far to walk to anything.  Thankfully, most hotels have free parking, so we would just go park at another hotel and then walk.

Stratosphere

Fountains at the Bellagio

A guy offered to take our picture together, then said, "Don't worry - I won't run away with your camera," and then started to run off!  He was just kidding, and stopped right away, but it definitely made my heart jump!

Penny slots

We actually won like 75 or 80 credits sometimes, but since that is 75 cents in penny slots, it was never worth keeping.  So we always kept going till we lost our money.  Haha.  I think we gambled like $10 total.

Fremont Street Experience.  Bon Jovi!

View at night from the top of the Stratosphere.

M&Ms store!

The Coke store:  Soda from around the world.  Pretty much none of them were good!  Plus neither of us has had soda since January, so they kinda made us sick on both accounts.

Bass Pro Shops at the Silverton

 Vegas was fun, and we didn't get done everything we wanted to.  We visited a lot of the famous hotels, but not all of them.  We didn't see a big show, and we didn't make it to the temple.  That being said, we aren't planning on going back any time soon.  

There are many more places we need to go first!

August

Making Applesauce!

 

The stuff that comes out the back end of the food strainer looks so horrible!

Oopsie!  Lost a pint of applesauce.

Shaun got a couple of duck calls for his birthday!

My beautiful sister Brooke, dancing in the Box Elder County Fair parade.

Go Dance Factory!

Shaun, Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Carly   watching the parade!

McKinley Cougars!  Woo hoo!

Mack's Drive In.  Yummy!

At the rodeo

My dad is a handsome cowboy!

Shaun and his dad - every year for 3 or 4 years our families end up sitting by each other.  Even when Shaun and I aren't there.  It's never planned.  They don't always go on the same night of the week, or sit in the same place.  It's so so weird.

Photo bombed!  x3!

Randy Munns, the elderly but spry rodeo clown.  :)

Shaun's birthday!

I made these treats off Pinterest, and they are AMAZING!  Reese's Peanut Butter Cup S'more cookie bars.

Tour of the Brigham City temple with my fam.

ANOTHER birthday treat - key lime cheesecake!!!

Shaun and his sisters.  We had them over for a thank you dinner/Shaun's birthday.  We were thanking them for taking care of our fish, garden, newspaper, and mail while we were on vacation.  (Vacation post to follow!)