A couple of weeks ago we took a trip to California with my family. We have been waiting a long time for this vacation. My parents bought a time share in Newport Beach through Marriott almost 2 years ago and we got to use it for the first time in October. This vacation was our Christmas present from last Christmas. It was all worth the wait...we had such a good time! Ty and I decided to start driving a day ahead of when everyone was leaving and stay in Las Vegas overnight. So that's where our trip began. We stayed at the Tahiti Village Resort. Our girls' favorite part was the pool. It had a beach sand entry on one side, and a lazy river across from the pool. Here are a few photos in Las Vegas.
The next morning we got up, swam some more and then headed on to California. When we got there we stopped off at Fashion Island to have lunch and shop around and then on to the resort. We stayed at the Marriott Coast Villas Vacation Club Resort. It was really nice. Here's the view off of our balcony.
After we all gathered on Saturday, we had dinner and just hung out. We were all pretty tired from traveling. Then Sunday we went to church, Kim and Abe's old ward from when they lived in Newport Beach when they were first married. Then that afternoon we walked around the resort and enjoyed some of the ammenities...the kiddie park, the putting green, the sandbox, and the coy fish pond. The kids had a great time!
Bright and early Monday morning we headed to Disneyland. We went hard and fast all day long. We rode a lot of rides that day in both parks, visited Toon Towne, watched the Pixar parade and the fireworks. The kids had a blast. Here are the photos from that day.
Tuesday, it rained off and on all morning, so finally when it cleared up a little, we headed to the beach. Audrey loved the ocean, Madelyn slept through most of the beach trip, so we didn't last very long because it was so windy and cold. We went back to the resort and got in the hot tubs, which were much more enjoyable.
Wednesday morning we headed back out for another day of Disneyland. It rained most of the day, unfortunately. However, it made for an opportunity to ride a lot of rides because there were not a lot of people there. After lunch we met up with our good friends, the Petersons for a few rides and then headed on our own ways, but it was fun to see them for a short moment. Overall, it was a wet, fun, and full day.
Thursday, was a nice day so we went swimming, took naps, and headed to one of our family's favorite beaches, Balboa Beach in Newport. The kids had a great time digging in the sand, and we even built a slide with a plastic tarp that we had from the rainy day at Disneyland. Ty and I won the couples' paddle ball tournament by a long shot, we were pretty proud! Then we had a shake at Ruby's Diner and ended up going back to the condo for a bbq and more hot tubbing...another fun day!
Friday, was our last day at Disneyland, so we got up early and arrived there as the gates were opening. We decided to split up and do what each individual family wanted to do first. So Ty and I ran through the gates and headed to Fantasy Land, we rode several of the little kiddie rides and then went on It's A Small World. We then ran to California Adventures when it opened to do Toy Story and then stayed there and did several rides until lunchtime, including the Muppets in 3D show and the Crush show. We played in Bear Country and went back to Bug's Land (Madelyn's favorite in California Adventures). After naps in the stroller we headed back to Disneyland and didn't get much accomplished, because it was Friday and 92 degrees, it was packed. We watched the parade, rode just a couple of rides, ate dinner, and finished off the evening with the Matterhorn, which was Madelyn's request each night before leaving the park. It was her favorite ride in Disneyland. She couldn't stop talking about how she didn't close her eyes and she was so brave. We rode that ride about 10 times when we were there, thank heavens for the speedy lines and the rider switch pass. Overall, we had a great time in Disneyland, both the girls had so much fun! We packed up the next morning and headed home. The girls did great on the way home, and we made really good time, even with a pit stop in Cedar City at Cafe Rio. Thank you Mom and Dad for another memorable family vacation!
The next morning we got up, swam some more and then headed on to California. When we got there we stopped off at Fashion Island to have lunch and shop around and then on to the resort. We stayed at the Marriott Coast Villas Vacation Club Resort. It was really nice. Here's the view off of our balcony. After we all gathered on Saturday, we had dinner and just hung out. We were all pretty tired from traveling. Then Sunday we went to church, Kim and Abe's old ward from when they lived in Newport Beach when they were first married. Then that afternoon we walked around the resort and enjoyed some of the ammenities...the kiddie park, the putting green, the sandbox, and the coy fish pond. The kids had a great time! Bright and early Monday morning we headed to Disneyland. We went hard and fast all day long. We rode a lot of rides that day in both parks, visited Toon Towne, watched the Pixar parade and the fireworks. The kids had a blast. Here are the photos from that day. Tuesday, it rained off and on all morning, so finally when it cleared up a little, we headed to the beach. Audrey loved the ocean, Madelyn slept through most of the beach trip, so we didn't last very long because it was so windy and cold. We went back to the resort and got in the hot tubs, which were much more enjoyable.Wednesday morning we headed back out for another day of Disneyland. It rained most of the day, unfortunately. However, it made for an opportunity to ride a lot of rides because there were not a lot of people there. After lunch we met up with our good friends, the Petersons for a few rides and then headed on our own ways, but it was fun to see them for a short moment. Overall, it was a wet, fun, and full day. Thursday, was a nice day so we went swimming, took naps, and headed to one of our family's favorite beaches, Balboa Beach in Newport. The kids had a great time digging in the sand, and we even built a slide with a plastic tarp that we had from the rainy day at Disneyland. Ty and I won the couples' paddle ball tournament by a long shot, we were pretty proud! Then we had a shake at Ruby's Diner and ended up going back to the condo for a bbq and more hot tubbing...another fun day!Friday, was our last day at Disneyland, so we got up early and arrived there as the gates were opening. We decided to split up and do what each individual family wanted to do first. So Ty and I ran through the gates and headed to Fantasy Land, we rode several of the little kiddie rides and then went on It's A Small World. We then ran to California Adventures when it opened to do Toy Story and then stayed there and did several rides until lunchtime, including the Muppets in 3D show and the Crush show. We played in Bear Country and went back to Bug's Land (Madelyn's favorite in California Adventures). After naps in the stroller we headed back to Disneyland and didn't get much accomplished, because it was Friday and 92 degrees, it was packed. We watched the parade, rode just a couple of rides, ate dinner, and finished off the evening with the Matterhorn, which was Madelyn's request each night before leaving the park. It was her favorite ride in Disneyland. She couldn't stop talking about how she didn't close her eyes and she was so brave. We rode that ride about 10 times when we were there, thank heavens for the speedy lines and the rider switch pass. Overall, we had a great time in Disneyland, both the girls had so much fun! We packed up the next morning and headed home. The girls did great on the way home, and we made really good time, even with a pit stop in Cedar City at Cafe Rio. Thank you Mom and Dad for another memorable family vacation!
Madelyn and Miss Dawn
