Angels and Mice

We decided to throw some things in the car and just take a drive.  When we were done driving, it turns out we were in California.  Funny how that works huh?  Our trips to California always include a stop at the Las Vegas In-N-Out Burger for lunch.  Since we had driven all that way, we decided to make a vacation out of it.  Coincidentally, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim were in town playing the Seattle Mariners, so I took Eli to his first Major League Baseball Game.  I finally made it to Angel Stadium.  My favorite team, despite the fact that they have such a long unnecessary name.  (They use to be the California Angels, then the Anaheim Angels.  Either of these would be more preferable for me.)  It was a good game.  The Rally Monkey almost helped them pull off a win, but they lost 9-8.  Eli had a blast.  Our seats were in the front row of the second section, and right in front of us was a walkway.  About halfway through the game Eli decided to ask every single person who walked by for a "high five."  About half complied.  The picture makes us look farther away than we were.  There were only about 15 rows of people in front of us.  They also launched fireworks each time an Angel batter went yard, and Eli loved that also. 

The rest of our road trip was all Disneyland.  This trip was a little different for us.  What I mean is that we have been so much that we have it down to a science.  Our trips are all very similar, even once inside the park.  We have our certain traditions that we like to do (Eat at Blue Bayou, see the parade at least once, watch the fireworks, get character autographs, etc), and we have our time plotted to get all the things in that we have made habits.  This trip seemed different in that our time seemed so limited.  We are not sure why.  We still had a blast, and got to do everything we wanted to, but it just seemed to pass by much faster than past trips.  

This was Eli's first trip since he has reached the 40 inches in height milestone, and therefore he was able to go on all the cool rides.  (i.e.- Space, Thunder, Splash Mountains, Tower of Terror, etc).  

He had a blast on each of them.  His favorite ride is still the Matterhorn. He sat on Pluto's bed forever in Mickey Mouse's house. 

Regular readers know how much we love Disneyland, and that many of these blog posts are about Disneyland, so for this post I am going to add some commentary about different Disney/California things that may entertain some of you.  And it will be laced with pictures so if you get bored, just look at the pictures.  

Throughout all our trips to Disneyland, I have always craved a turkey leg that they sell at many of the goody stands.  Until this last trip I have never forked over the 7 bucks to eat one.  It has never been an issue with the price, I just always end up eating something else.  Well, I finally broke down and bought the huge Turkey leg.  

I was utterly disappointed.  It tasted just like smoked ham, was hard to eat, and didn't fill me up.  The huge leg was laced with tendons, which made getting to the meat that tasted like ham difficult, it was messy, and did I mention no dark meat like most turkey legs have?  I opened it up and it looked so good and I was so excited to finally get to sink my teeth in, but the first bite should have been the last.   

My brother Spencer, his wife Jessica, and their kids came on this trip with us, as well as my Mom and my Grandmama Ames.  My mom is as much a Disney nut as we are.  She comes with us at least once a year.  We have plans to go again in September 

and are trying to talk her into 

that trip as well.  

With a little trickery and some pilfered pixie dust, we were able to finagle being all alone in the Haunted Mansion gathering room.  It was much cooler than I can make it sound like, to be in there all alone, just the 5 of us, no workers, no other guests, etc.  The proof is in the picture.  It only lasted a few minutes, and we got some strange looks from workers when they realized we were in there, but it provided us with a unique photo op.  

And that about sums it all up.  As far as we know, we are Bacon Flu free.  Ok, that reminds me of another little tidbit I want to discuss... maybe it should be saved for our He Says She Says post, but I am airing it here...  I read in the news that we are no longer calling it the Swine Flu because of fear it gives off the wrong message?  WHAT THE HECK?  What has happened to our Country when we are worried about offending pigs now?  Call a spade a spade.  More about this coming on the other blog.  

We are home now and getting back into the regular side of life.  Dance recitals, little league baseball, Scout service projects, work, etc.  What about you all?