Disneyland 2010!!!

Maama, Momo, Nonnie and Pa invited us to go to Disneyland with them in April. The group ended up being Doug, Lauri, Ronnie, Maama, Momo and Nonnie - because Pa was unable to attend due to a back injury he sustained going down the slide at Lainey and Vinny's house. We still managed to have a GREAT time! We spent 3 days touring Disneyland and California Adventures and went on the following rides: Star Wars - the Star Tours (2 times), Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters (2 times), Autopia, Captain EO, Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage, Matterhorn, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tarzan's Tree House, Jungle Safari, Story Land Canal Boats, Small World (2 times), Astro Orbitor, and in California Adventures - Soaring California, Tuck & Roll's Drive 'Em Buggies, Mickey's Ferris Wheel, Heimlich's Chew Chew Train, and Flik's Flyers. We also saw the musical "Aladdin" - Ronnie LOVED the blue genie! The 3 days were filled with non-stop fun - starting with breakfast at Denny's at 8:30 - and ending back at the hotel around 7:00'ish each night. A suprise came to us on our 2nd day, when we were checking out our stroller for the day and heard "LAURI P!!!"... it was Amy Heidemann - all the way from Boise, ID. She and her fabulous family were there with some friends from southern CA. We couldn't have planned the meeting and had it work out as perfectly as it did. We ran in to the Heidemann's again at California Adventures (really - what are the odds of that happening), and were able to have fun watching the kids go on the bumper cars together.

The trip was everything Disneyland should be - magical! Thanks to Maama, Momo, Nonni and Pa for such a memorable vacation.


Ronnie with his Mickey Mouse ears - there were about 100 different types of ears to choose from - he picked the plainest ones there!!

On Autopia with Daddy.

At Tarzan's Treehouse, there is a leopard - he's pretty fun to look at, until he lets out a snarl - which scared the crap out of Ronnie!

Getting measured for the Matterhorn... Ronnie was tall enough and wanted to go on the ride. When it was over, we asked him if he wanted to go on it again. He said "well - no - that was a little scary"

Riding in the bumper cars with Nick Heidemann.

At California Adventures - they had a group singing and dancing to songs from High School Musical. We had to see it twice (because Ronnie wanted to - not because Mommy was forcing him to) :)

The Star Wars - Star Tours ride was a ton of fun. Ronnie loved it so much the first time that we had to go back a second time. You sit in a space car, and it simulates flying through space - chasing after and being chased by Darth Vader's fleet. Ronnie squeezed my hand so tight that I thought he hated it. When the lights came on, he said "That was - AWESOME!" and threw his hands up in the air.

Ronnie LOVED the Buzz Lightyear Astro Blaster ride so much we had to go on it twice too! The first time, he went through with Daddy - then he went through with Maama. In the ride, you shoot at Zurg and his minions - at the end, you get your score and a picture of you shooting.

Ronnie had a lot of fun in Toon Town with Maama. They played in Goofy's play house, rode in Goofy's car, broke free from the Dog Pound, and tried to lift a barbell at the gym. This part of Disneyland was fun - but PACKED with little kids.

Family photo - on Pirates of the Caribbean.

Ronnie really liked It's a Small World. We went on it twice - and each time, when we were coming out of the area where they were singing, Ronnie would tear up. We asked him what was wrong, and he said "I just love that song". He makes me sing it to him at least once a week. Inside of the ride, there was a doll that Auntie Lizzy told Maama looked JUST like Ronnie. I about died when I saw it... it really does look like him!!

Ronnie and Nonnie on the Story Land Canal ride.

Mommy, Ronnie, Maama and Daddy on Flik's Flyers.

Momo spent all day every day pushing Nonnie in her wheelchair. They waited patiently at each of the rides - and joined us for several of them. They were real troopers!

Family photo at Soarin' California. It was such a cool ride!!!

Having fun taking pictures in the "R" and "A" of CALIFORNIA.

When we told Ronnie he was going to Disneyland - all he wanted to do was meet Mickey Mouse and Buzz Lightyear. Within 2 minutes of walking in to Disneyland, he met Mickey. About an hour before we left on the 3rd day, he met Buzz! SUCCESS!!! He also met Jessie and Woody, Donald Duck and Pluto. He saw Cruella DeVille, but she freaked him out a little too much - so he wouldn't take his picture with her.

We woke up at the hotel on Easter morning, and the Easter Bunny had come! Maama hid Easter eggs throughout the hotel room - they had chocolate and quarters in them. Ronnie was in heaven!

Ronnie at the airport - time to head home.