We dropped the kids off with Colin's sister, hopped in our Mustang and headed up the coast. It was overcast, a little rainy and pretty cold, but that didn't stop us from putting the top down!! The drive was gorgeous and it was so nice to have the whole day to ourselves.
This is where we ate lunch. I had a picture in my mind of where I wanted to eat and this was place was perfect!! The food was really good too!
I forgot something major that happened on Day 5.
A few weeks before we left Colin told me he had a surprise for me, but he wouldn't tell me what it was. About every other day he would give me a little gift and a clue to help me figure out what the surprise was. Finally I figured out that he had planned for him and I to rent a convertible and drive up the coast to Santa Barbara. He had asked his sister to watch our kids for us and then we got back we were going to pack up and drive to Vegas. I was so excited, it has always been a dream of mine to drive the coast in a convertible!!! Plis it is out of character for Colin to do something like this, so it really meant a lot for him to think, plan and carry out something this big!!
So back to Day 5...we were at lunch at the House of Blues and Colin said "so do you want to know what your birthday present is?" I just said "I already know what it is" and he said "no you don't." He then proceeded to tell me that instead of doing our drive and going home tomorrow we were going to drive up to Santa Maria, stay at a hotel on the beach for two nights, drive up the coast to Monterrey and not go home until Saturday. I couldn't believe it, I was so surprised and excited!!
So we spent day six driving up to Santa Maria/Pismo Beach. We stopped at a town called Solvang. It is a cute little Danish touristy town with shops, bakeries and art gallery's. It was a nice break!
Colin's Aunt, uncle and cousins live in Santa Maria, so after we checked into our awesome hotel we met up with them at a pizza place and had dinner. It was a lot of fun and really good to see them all.
Eating ice cream in Solvang.
Part of our hotel...Cottage Inn by the Sea.
We spent the next two days at Disneyland.
Monday was mine and Hayden's birthday...is there a better way to celebrate your birthday??
Also on Monday Mindy, Tony and girls joined us. So now all of Colin's family was there except Audrey & fam and Lee & Leah! It was really nice having so many people there; Colin and I were able to sneak away and ride some of the bigger rides.
We had a early morning pass to Toon Town, which was really fun because a lot of the characters are out & about and it is not as crowded!
All the characters put on a little show. It was really cute.
Eating brunch at Minnie's house.
Taking a snooze on Minnie's bed.
Carson just wanted to attack every character.
Monday was Hayden's actual birthday, so we had to take a picture by the cake & balloons.
Crawling around on Pluto's bed.
Colin and I were off riding "Sorin and Scream'n" when they met Minnie the Pilot. I was sad, she is so cute!!
Hayden's ketchup covered face and her $18 mouse ears!!
These guys look like statues but they were real. The army guy was hilarious!!
Trying on a Woody hat and showing off his chompers!
This is the Toy Story ride, it was a lot of fun!!
These two took SO many naps in the strollers, they were such troopers!!
Waiting for the Aladin show to start. This was one of my favorite things. They put on an amazing show. They tell the whole story in about 45 minutes. It really was an impressive as a Broadway show.
They are making a huge new Cars attraction that is opening in 2012, I bet it will be really cool!! Good thing we have another trip planned for 2013!
We were wondering around New Orleans square when Tiana and her Jazz band came marching past us. We followed them and eventually they stopped so we could get a picture.
I know all the princesses are paid to be nice, but "Tiana" was really sweet and friendly! I will never forget how Hayden looked at her, like she had never seen anything as beautiful as her. Hayden also told her that she saw her movie, I think Tiana was very flattered! :)
That night we saw the World of Color show, which is amazing. But we didn't really like how they do it. They cram a million people into a small area and make you stand for 30 minutes or however long it is...we left early because we were too tuckered out. Plus kids really cant see unless you are holding them, so that made it even harder. 
Tuesday
Good ol' Tuesday!! It basically rained the whole day, so I don't have many pictures. We were able to see the princesses and Tinkerbell.
Waiting in her beautiful Belle dress to meet the Princesses...Belle wasn't even there. :(
Hayden asked all of them where the Prince was?
I was not very impressed with Snow White. She wouldn't even bend down to talk to her or take a picture.
Cinderella was super sweet. I think she and Tiana were our favorites.
Visiting Tinkerbell at Pixie Hollow. There was also a boy fairy, I am not sure who is he was, but Hayden did not want anything to do with him.
Outside of the Indiana Jones ride...definitely our favorite ride!! I could go on that one over and over again!!
The second half of the the day we were supposed to go trick-or-treating and see some of the villians in the Halloween special they had going on, but we got rained out! So we went back to the hotel got warm and then Colin took the kids and met up with everybody to eat at Rain Forest Cafe. I was not feeling too well so I stayed at the hotel by myself(which was a much needed break), I found out on this trip that caffeine makes me nauseous.
Overall Disneyland was amazing!!!!! We dealt with Crowds and rain, but it was still so much fun!! Now we have a much better idea what to do and not not do next time...2013!!!
I am interrupting my California post to tell about our Halloween. Tradition is to go up to Colin's parents and trick-or-treat in their neighborhood. Colin's mom always makes tasty soup and rolls for the family and then hands out donuts and hot chocolate/cider to the trick-or-treaters.
It was pretty cold and rainy this year so we only went to a couple of houses, but Hayden really didn't care because all she could think about was sleeping over at Grandma and Grandpa's!!
I did feel bad for Leah because at one point she was the only outside passing out donuts and the rest of us (9 grown) adults were inside watching 'PeeWee's Playhouse'.:) Pretty sad huh?
After that we came home put the little monkey to bed and Colin and I watched 'The Burbs.'
This was the day before, I took her to my mom's work. While she was dressed up she insisted I call her Dorothy, not Hayden!!
Little monkey boy!
