So excited for a day with the mouse!

Waiting in line for Luigi’s Flying Tires. Abby was super excited to ride this one.

Hanging with Auntie Jillian while we wait for our turn on Luigi’s Flying Tires

Abby and Daddy flying along!

Lots of fun on Luigis Flying Tires!

Ellie and Auntie Jillian having a great time!

Grandma and Grandpa embracing their inner child. It’s Disneyland, its allowed!

A “Pit Stop” at Flo’s before moving on to the next exciting ride.

“No pictures while I am eating, please.”

Grandma at Radiator Springs Racers… They loved it!

I love Cars Land. Disney did such an amazing job recreating Radiator Springs!

All ready to spin on Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree!

Grandma and Auntie Jillian well… embracing that inner child again!

Finished up with Monsters now we are waiting on Auntie Jillian!

Enjoying the Mad Tea Party chairs… Anything Alice is worthy of Auntie Jillian’s attention!

“Welcome to Hollywood!!”

Jake from Jake and the Neverland Pirates loved Ellie’s glasses.

Can you tell that Ellie really loves Jake. Such a big smile!

We never get to see the Incredibles! This was so awesome to get a picture with them. More so for Abby than Ellie.

After California Adventure, we made our way over to Disneyland. On our way Ellie fell asleep and missed out on the one character that we wanted to see before leaving. Donald Duck. Every time we go to Disneyland she wants to see him and take a picture but we never find him. This time he was there in all his cranky glory with a small line and Ellie was too passed out to wake up. Oh well, another time I guess! Instead we continued on our way over to New Orleans Square for a birthday lunch at Blue Bayou, how exciting!

A special pirate chest cake just for Ellie. It was yummy!

After lunch it was time for more fun and rides. First up was Pirates of the Caribbean. Abby was not so thrilled about this but we gave her a cotton candy incentive. She hopped right on. Both girls were very brave and once we were off, wanted to go again! After Pirates it was on to Winnie the Pooh and then Jillian, Grandpa and myself used out Fast Passes for Splash Mountain. I am so glad our pass was for the afternoon. It gave us time to dry off in the warm weather and not in the cool of the evening. After our soak we headed over to Big Thunder Ranch to rest and dry off. We were even serenaded by a rather lovely singing cowboy. Too cute! After our visit to big thunder it was off to Fantasyland for some more fun!

Our brave girls in line for Pirates of the Caribbean. It took bribing Abby with cotton candy to get her to go one, but she did and had a blast!

Auntie Jillian and I just as we were taking off. Nice and dry at this moment.

This is Auntie Jillian and myself after several good soakings on big and a few not so big drops. Soaked from head to toe.

Visiting the animals at Big Thunder Ranch… This beautiful horse named Belle was quite the love bug and wanted lots of loves and scratches.

Checking out the goats with Grandpa Jerry. Abby wasn’t too keen on this one. One day she wont be so afraid anymore.

Let’s climb Rapunzel’s tower!

Lots and laughs and giggles while we wait in line to see a few of the lovely princesses.

The girls were so excited to meet Snow White for the very first time. Ellie and Abby showed her how to dance and Snow White tried very hard. It was very cute. She was a great Snow White.

Ellie always gets a bit shy when she meets her favorite Princess Ariel.

Luckily she is never to shy to stop and take a picture.

Auntie Jillian, Abby and Ellie stop for a quick dip in the tea cup!

After some time spent roaming around Fantasyland, it was off to Toon Town. That was Abby’s request. We spent some time in Minnie’s house and also had the chance to see Mickey! Ellie kept telling Mickey she was turning three. I think she is excited for her upcoming birthday! After a good tour around Toon Town we took a ride on Its A Small World and then made plans for dinner. The girls were starting to wind down, the fireworks were close to starting and everyone was hungry. Luckily we snagged a good table at the Plaza Inn and had the chance to eat dinner and watch the fireworks too.

Tea time at Minnie’s house!

It’s Mickey’s laundry room! Lets all strike a pose!

Ellie was blown away by the fact that Mickey was in the mirror! Such a cute moment!

Showing Mickey and anyone who will look that she is turning three!

So happy to see Mickey and loving every minute of the day.

Sometimes a day at Disneyland makes you sleep at the dinner table, under your blanket, during the fireworks.

I couldn’t help it but the fire works had me emotional. OK, I cried. It was surreal knowing that this was the last time we would go to Disneyland for a while. I know we will come back again but it wouldn’t at our leisure. We would see it in a new light, as a vacation not just a day trip. It made me realize that we would be moving very soon and it made me a bit sad and nostalgic. Trust me, our move to Seattle has me very excited and I cannot wait to go but we are still leaving a lot of things that are familiar to me, to us. I think what had me the most was watching the girls, their excitement and the way their eyes light up any time we walked through those gates. I guess it wont happen as often but when it does their excitement and the light in their eyes will be ten fold. 

There a lot of changes and new things coming our way, its scary and exciting at the same time but it was wonderful to make one last memory here. Now its time to take on the future and see where the next path will take us. All I know is that I couldn’t have asked for better people to take that path with.