California Vacation

We spent the past week in California for Jackson's 3rd Birthday. We had so much fun... it all started on Saturday morning at 5 o'clock. We thought that Jackson would sleep in the car but he was way too excited. We have been telling him that he is going to Disneyland for his 3rd birthday since just after his 2nd birthday so I think that he didn't want to go to sleep in fear that it wasn't actually time yet. He was awake and excited the whole way to the airport, and on the plane, and even at the rental car place. Both he and Benton did really great on the flight.

Boarding the plane... Jackson loves Bagels.

I was really happy that Benton was asleep.

Waiting for the rental car shuttle and still happy.

When we got to San Diego we checked into our hotel and spent our first day of vacation at the beach. It was a really nice day- a little bit too windy for Benton but for Jackson it was great. He loved playing in the waves, having mud throwing wars with his grandpa, and building sand castles.

Jackson thought it was so fun to run from the waves.

Jackson chasing his grandpa with mud... you can see how happy that makes him.

Splashing in the waves.

Just me and the two boys enjoying the ocean together.

We ate at Chevy's that night(my choice and my favorite) and went to Sea Port Village where Jackson and I rode the funnest Carousel I have ever been on. It was really so much fun that I wanted to ride it again. Sunday was Jackson's birthday and the first thing we did was open presents. He loves opening presents- what kid doesn't.

Happy Birthday Jackson.

After breakfast we spent the rest of the day at Sea World. Jackson loved the shows... especially the pets rule show. He liked looking at the Dolphins but he didn't want to get too close. He liked petting the Manta Rays but his favorite exhibit was probably the star fish pool. He loved looking at them and pulling them out of the water to pet even though that is against the rules.

Jackson made friends everywhere we went. The new killer whale exhibit is great!

The star fish exhibit.

At the end of the day he was exhausted. He fell asleep in the car before we even left the parking lot. Monday was our first Disneyland day. Both of our boys gave Mo and I a 5'clock wake up call every morning of the trip because of the time difference and the time change. So, we were ready to go in plenty of time because the park didn't open until 10 o'clock.

Waiting for the shuttle to Disneyland.

Disneyland really is the happiest place on earth.

Our first ride at Disneyland was the Jungle cruise. Jackson sat really close at first because he thought that all of the animals were real.

Our next ride was the Pirates of the Caribean (a family favorite). Jackson didn't like it- I had forgotten how dark it was, he actually covered his eyes for most of it. Then it was on to the Haunted Mansion which he really liked. For some reason he really likes Ghosts. Some of his favorite Disneyland rides were the Buzz Lightyear ride(Mo wouldn't admit it but I think it was one of his favorite rides too, he wanted to be a Level 7 and unfortunately he only made it to a Level 4... better luck next time), the carousel, the peter pan ride, and Mr. Toads wild ride. The ride he really didn't like was the Matterhorn. When he got done he said he only wanted to go on rides for small kids.

The Davy Crocket Island.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters- we definitely rode this the most.

Jackson made sure to keep and eye on Buzz.

We spent Tuesday at Disneyland too. Our favorite thing Tuesday was the parade.

Jackson enjoying the parade.

T

The carousel ride was one of Jackson's favorites.

Benton just hanging out-it wasn't a very exciting trip for him... he would have rather been sleeping.
They were both very busy days and it was nice to relax in the evening in the hotels hot tub. Benton even really enjoyed that- in fact, that was probably one of his favorite things. Wednesday we headed to Hunington Beach for some shopping and lunch and then to the airport for our flight home. The flight home was not as exciting as the flight there but that is how it always is. We were glad that Grandma and Grandpa Vogt and Aunt Sha could come with us. It was fun to have them and they were a lot of help. We have already decided that the next time we go to Disneyland will be for Benton's 3rd birthday. I think we will wait to tell Jackson this time 2 and 1/2 years is way too long to wait.

This is what we all wanted to do by the end of the trip.