{Staycation}

I recently had the wonderful chance to bring the 3 kids on a staycation.

We were supposed to try to make it up to Seattle this month for a fun little getaway
but things happen and plans change. Funny how that happens.
Since we had to postpone that trip, this one became more and more appealing...

It's not really a secret that we're big fans of Disneyland.
To make things even more fun, it was Disneyland's birthday weekend!

Why not spend a lazy Sunday there, leisurely swims in the pool, early evening

dinners with Goofy, a midnight run to Disneyland for a ride on the carousel

and Snow White (3 times!)...and to top it off, a sleepover at the Disneyland Hotel!

Our arrival...Goofy's messing around with Charlie

A beautiful wood-carved headboard with the Sleeping Beauty Castle
on it and when you push a button it lights up to this and plays
"A Dream is a wish your heart makes..."

Kate was in HEAVEN!

She was so excited to get to sleep there.

Checking out the view

Kate sharing a dance with Chef Goofy

 

J and the girls.

The Gosselin kids dancing together 

A rare moment of peace between them

Our new little walker explored every bit of her new found freedom...
We were on our way to do some rides at Disneyland before going to bed.
It was nearing 10:30 so we jammied the girls up in case they fell asleep.

A sweet moment captured

Ella's first carousel ride at Disneyland.

 { She does this new little thing when she gets excited.
She opens her mouth really big and looks at whoever's attention
she can get and stays in that position until the look is imitated.
She then crumbles into a fit of giggles that make
your heart just sing and laugh at the same time.
I really should capture it on film.
It seriously isn't possible to love her more. }

The turn down service

 

Good morning... all rested and ready to go.

 

This was the highlight of Kate's entire trip... she met them both

at the same time, in the same place...

 

They love nothing more than running around and gettin' wet... CA Adventure

She was apprehensive at first, like she is with just

about everything in her life. Just a little bit of coaxing

and time and she was all over it!

This is probably my favorite moment of the whole trip;

sitting in the shade with Ella and Jaclyne and watching

the kids playing here so carefree and joyously.

My favorite shot...

And the last hurrah before we came home was a dip in the Neverland Pool at Dusk.

The kids were especially excited about this prospect because their precious

Daddy came to swim with us along with Grandma and Grandpa...

Charlie was a little afraid to go down this slide because

it lets out into a 5 foot pool and he is a relatively new swimmer...

But he rocked it out, my boy, like the rock star that he is.

(And so did daddy.)

Miss Kate opted for the baby slide and

she was perfectly happy with that, thankyouverymuch.

Learning to swim...

Man, does this girl love her daddy...

It was a lot of work, getting away with

3 little kids and all the stuff they require.

It's not exactly a "vacation" going to Disneyland but it is fun.
I am so grateful to be able to do these things with the babies.

They won't be babies for long and soon

they won't want to do things like this anymore.

It was time spent.

Memories made.

Princesses met.

Tower of Terror conquered.

Babies kissed and hugged.

It was a beautiful weekend

and a great start to the week ahead.

Thanks JB, and ONCE AGAIN, we let another

experience go by without a photo of us to commemorate it.

We are really bad at that. Really. 

 But I love you. And thank you.