I am safely in Kauai, after an eventful flight over the Pacific. The plane "dropped" a piece of metal before we left, but the captain claimed that the metal was from the tow car on the tarmac...not our plane. I am still skeptical (nervous flier). To the parents in seat 13C and 13D (two rows behind me), I'm so sorry your kid was screaming for 2 hours...must have been a long flight for you, too. I was really happy that I remembered to bring my noise-canceling headphones. I wanted to leave you with a photo from the SFO long-term parking lot where my car is sitting right now. I rolled up to the stop sign, and then had a second thought. Did I really see that right? I just had to reverse and take a photo for you all.

Holly has been at Disneyland for four days. She's watched a lot of parades and cheerleaders. Combined that with new sparkly pink shoes and a pink ballet outfit...here's what you get. Yes. I will torture her with this later in life. (note: she's saying random words about objects she sees...carpet, painting, couches, pillows, jammies, etc.)

Yesterday was equally as hot. We all went back to some water rides, saw the Pixar parade, and tried to stay cool. Loads of great people watching as usual at Disneyland. If you ever get tired and just want to sit, you can be entertained just by the people walking by. Holly FINALLY figured out how to enjoy Thunder Mountain. She still hasn't felt the love for Space Mountain or Tower of Terror. All the girls have been so well behaved that we've considered moving into Disneyland. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNA!!! Today is her 6th birthday! Matt's face right before we took off 180 feet up into the air instantaneously. Marcelle likes the rockets just about as much as I do. Her face sums it all up.

Grandma and Grandpa also came to visit for the last two days. Holly was a big clinger to my mom on the Thunder Mountain ride.

The weather has been nice and warm. Warm enough for a ride on the soaking boat rides. We did the rapids and Splash Mountain. Matt and Payton (of Beasley Family fame) and Anna took the worst of it in the rapids ride. We also got to ride the new Toy Story ride, I LOVE IT!!! It's a 3D carnival games ride. Super cool. It fosters my competitive nature and sensory overload. There's also a (half)self-portrait from the loop-to-loop on California Screaming Roller Coaster. So, from the love of the point-and-shoot, here's Disneyland day 2.

The DiSimones are back at Disneyland this week. We're doing this trip in celebration of Anna's Birthday. She turns 6 years old on Thursday! And, because school is back in session which means the lines at Disneyland are manageable again. This time we made the trip with our super awesome neighbors, the Beasley Family (minus one year old Sloane). Payton and the girls have been inseparable. Anna and Payton love the fast scary rides. Holly...not so much, but we're working on it. Today's activities include a trip to Ariel's Grotto for lunch with the princesses. (As I type this, I am in disbelief. I never thought my life would include excitement over anything Disney, much less a lunch with princesses...but alas, I am a sucker for anything that my kids love.)

Here's me with my whole-lotta-gums smile on Dumbo, but you can see the new SHORT haircut in this one. Posh Spice has nothing on my trendy haircut. And, that's Jason in the front of our Splash Mountain mobile. He really took it for the team on that ride and got soaked.