A Family Visit

Last week we had our first California Visit from the Walk family and from Aunt Mare. It's an understatement to say that we had a blast. The girls were wasted the day after everyone went home because they didn't want to miss a minute of the party. In basically 4 days we hit Sea World, Disneyland, the beach, the Promenade and we still found time to eat.



The girls were first-timers at Sea World and they really loved it! Especially Ava. She loved Shamu, the Turtles and the Star Fisheys. But, she LOVED LOVED LOVED a tank in one of the restaurants that was full of Nemos! It's so funny that you bust it to Sea World and pay half of your life savings to see a tank of clown fish. I could've driven 2 blocks to the local pet store for that! No, really though, she loved the whole experience. She's obsessed with Shamu and touching star fish now. She dreams about it at night.

It was so fun to do Sea World with the Walks! We were all so excited that we forgot to put on sunscreen and we all got fried. Really sweet farmer tans. Thanks to Tom's busted leg in a boot, we were able to get Handicap parking and seating at all of the shows. Way to take one for the team, Tom!

So then we went to the beach on Saturday. We were really glad to have a day of relaxation after the madness that was Sea World. We took some sweet action shots of Will and Dave catching the football, which I'm hoping they'll send to me so I can immortalize them on my blog. Also on Saturday, Mare flew in! Hooray! And she came bearing gifts... one of which is tucked under Ava's sleeping arm right now.



Sunday was Easter and it'll get a post all to itself.

Monday we went Disneyland CRAZY!!! We left a little later than planned, but don't worry.... we made up for it! Thanks to our park-hopper passes, we were able to fill an entire day up to and including the midnight fireworks. It worked out perfectly because Sally, Emily, Ava, Elsa and I all stuck together and did smaller rides and parades. (Not to mention many, many potty stops.) Meanwhile, Tom and his broken leg too Will, Annie and Dave to do the fast and furious rides. Mare was kind enough to split her time between the two groups. Highlights of the day, I would say, were

1) Ava screaming like crazy on the train ride that goes slower than she walks...
2) Tom getting everyone to the front of every line with his broken leg and wheelchair.
3) The girls watching the Parade of Dreams and having every princess wave straight at them. (Even though Ava would only wave to Ursula)
4) Flotsam and Jetsam stopping to treat Sally and me to their intense interpretive dance.
5) Emmy being named Queen of the Carousel and getting a free crown.
6) Tom pushing Mare in the wheelchair because her feet hurt.
7) After shopping the Princess Store to death and wanting the Jasmine Polly Pocket so bad she could die, Emmy asked her mom, "Is this Jasmine my size?"
8) Elsa staying awake to party clear until the fireworks show at midnight. She's got some great firework sound effects to supplement Ooooooo and Aaaaahhhh.

In closing, I would just like to say we had a fabulous time and the Walks are welcome back to party with us any time!