Solvang to Anaheim

Solvang to Anaheim

We started the morning by buying SGK a new pair of shoes, at a store with a western theme, prepping the kids for the miniature horse ranch before proceeding down 101 to 405 to 22 and Harbour Blvd to Disneyland! The kids had no idea where we were going...

Solvang Shoe Store

It's got a boring name; and despite being in Danish themed Solvang it has a Dutch wooden shoe for a logo; but the kids had fun playing on the cowboy stuff in the showroom.

Cowgirl!
While SaraGrace tried on shoes; the kids tried on the saddle


Howdy Partner!

Quicksilver Ranch

The Quicksilver Ranch breeds miniature horses.

Up close with the ponies

I want one!

No Isabella; no pony for Christmas!




But they are so cute!


Tomfoolery at the Quicksilver ranch

Disneyland

The kids had no idea where we were headed. It was dark, and cold, but as soon as Michelangelo could read the sign spirits soared! They were ecstatic.
We had an issue with the tickets; we had purchased the wrong ones on line and they were not good until 09-Jan. They did let us exchange them, but we had to go back and forth between the gates and the ticket office and it cost us $20 and about an hour of waiting time. I bet it cost Disney more than the $20 just to do the exchange!
It was worth the wait though, as the kids were in heaven!

The Disney Christmas tree
This was just after Santa's parade, so it was packed!

Merry Christmas!
Michelangelo in front of the big tree on Disney's Main Street
Cinderella's castle at night


Michelangelo looking at Rémy
With the reflection of the flash on the window, it may not be clear; but Rémy the rat from Ratatouilleis cooking up a storm in the window at Disney's Café Orleans; Begging the question on when the would be renaming the restaurant "Gusteau's"

Getting ready to face Captain Jack Sparrow!
The kid's menus at Cafe Orleans morphed into little pirate hats


It's getting late

Daddy and Bella fly on Elephants!
The kids and I have never actually seen Dumbo(or if I have I was so young that I do not remember it)


Mommy and Boo-Boo on Dumbo




The Carousel
We were actually headed for Peter Pan's Adventurebut they had already begun to block the street off for the fireworks show


Smiles on the carousel


Michelangelo and Bella back on the elephants
They have a special Dumbo set up for photo ops

I get to hold hands with the prettiest girl in the world!


Mom and the kids in front of "It's A Small World"
It's A Small World was lit up fantastically for the season

Snow!
In Anaheim? No, not really; just a bit of Disney magic; They let loose a storm of soap suds to look like snow.
They time it to start at the end of the fireworks show.

"It's the best day ever!"
Real quote

Too pooped to pop
But not to tired to marvel at the faux snow storm!

Mother and child

Hojo's

We stayed at the Anaheim Howard Johnson's. It's right across from the park, and has an awesome kids pool with a pirate ship and water slide (Which, this being December, we probably won't use; but we did see others doing so)

Our 3-eyed backward footed Santa
SaraGrace had bought this Santa that you get to put together. We love him for his goofiness.

It really is Christmas time


We decorated as best we could

Dead soldier
Michelangelo made it back to the room - but only just. Isabella gave up the ghost at the end of the snow storm