California Adventure

This week we made our first trip to California Adventure since the summer opening of Cars Land. 

The new area was as cool as we had heard, and you really feel as though you're walking through Radiator Springs. We missed getting a "fast pass" for the main ride, Radiator Springs Racers, but Stace and I managed to ride it in the evening after a 30-minute wait. Such fun!

I'm holding a "Best Wife" trophy in the store where Stace bought a "Cars" flat cap - he'd been looking for a proper hat for a while.

Then it was on to the Little Mermaid ride, which the girls enjoyed, though Violet was a little nervous about the darkness. No photos were good enough to publish, but here is happy Violet and big sister after Daddy bought Violet a Flounder plush toy.

Cora especially enjoyed the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail - here, she's learning to master the rock-climbing wall. She also played on the zip line and bouncy bridges, and collected all the stamps she needed to complete her "Wilderness Explorer Badge" (from the movie Up).

Here, Russell (from Up) and Cora hunt for a bird character as the children get their badges in the badge ceremony.

Then we headed into A Bugs Land, where we rode a few rides before dividing up. Stace, Cora and I went into the Bug's Life show, mainly to cool down. It was nearly 100 degrees, and poor Stace was really feeling the heat. The air-conditioned show was the perfect way to cool off, while my parents took Violet into another inside, air-conditioned attraction. Then, we three headed off to ride the Grizzly River Run rapids, where getting soaked further cooled us off.

We met back up with Violet and Grandma and Grandpa, and Cora went to the candy shop to spend some of her spending money. She chose caramel corn, and was very proud to pay for it herself.

At this point, Violet was well passed naptime, but I forgot her pacifier in the car. I told her that as she gets bigger, she won't use a night-night anymore - that Cora doesn't use a night-night, and we don't use night-nights. "Violet uses a night-night," she replied. She never did drop off during the day, though Flounder got use as a pillow.

This is after a quick dinner, while my mom, Cora and I went on the jellyfish up-and-down ride.

At that point, we split up again, my dad taking Violet onto the carousel, Stace and I going for the Cars ride, and Mom and Cora doing a few other rides.

We all had a fantastic day, and thanks to my parents for giving Stace the ticket for his birthday. I'm glad we were able to go together and enjoy ourselves.

The only downside of our day was the fact that in the tired haze of getting packed back into the car after our very long day, I left the diaper bag in the parking lot. No one turned it in, so we've lost our little camera, my driver's license, some makeup, medicine and snacks (including the rest of Cora's popcorn). Thankfully we didn't have any money in the bag, and the big camera and video camera were in a different bag. I only wish I'd checked my normal wallet (which I'd left in the car) before canceling my debit card, which I thought I'd taken along with my license. I canceled it, and then found it safe and sound a few days later.