California trip part 2: LA and Disneyland

I'm being really lazy with these posts, this one should be broken up in at least two more. So be prepared for lots of photos. And if you're wondering why there are so many of me and so few of Dan, it's because he was on photog duty with the nice camera. 

Tuesday after the beach we headed south through Los Angeles. I'd never been to the tourists spots in LA so we made a detour through Hollywood. In retrospect...it was not a great place for kids. We lasted about an hour. But the walk of fame was pretty awesome. 

Eli was not amused when I set this animal hat on his head. 

Then I found this guy. 

We spent the night with Mariah and Jered and Luke. They have the coolest place in Yorba Linda. There's even a little horse on the property! My kids were in heaven. 

We made it to the park! This was the night before we went to Disneyland, eating dinner at Goofy's Kitchen. The kids loved it, although Sammy was super scared of all the characters. 

Dan stocked up on the desserts. It is a buffet after all. 

Eli LOVES Chip and Dale. Loves loves loves. He was dying when this one came by. 

Sammy was more interested in the jello. He ate a lot of it. 

Eli and Minnie. 

While we were checking into the hotel, Sammy did a dive over a little chair in the lobby and cut his head. It was not a good week for heads. 

DISNEYLAND! Oh we had so much fun. 

Eli was not happy I made him stop and take a picture. 

Eeek. 

Another one of Sleeping Sammy. 

Jedi Eli. 

Gate fam!

Eli meets Vader!

Love love love this place. It's my favorite place I've ever been. 

California trip part 1: Ojai

As was to be expected, we had a marvelous time with Brad, Crystal, and our favorite Ojai people. The weather is always perfect, the food is always delectable and the company is second to none. 

Our first outing was Soule Park, a place I frequented often as a kid when we lived in Ojai. Pretty much nothing had changed. 

Picnic people enjoying a delicious Ruben's burrito

A studious Brad

Crystal broke out the tempura paints and we had a little art party on the deck. The kids loved it and I brought home a few masterpieces that might just need to be framed. 

 

Eli smashed his nose into a picnic table at the park. He looked so so sad. Things are looking better, but he went through most of our trip looking like he'd been in a fight. 

The beach! It was slightly cooler but that didn't stop Eli from throwing off his pants and jumping in. 

 Beachy fam!

 No Pants Eli. It should make for a nice Christmas card. 

 About 5 seconds later Sammy decided he wanted to go no-pants as well. I was too busy laughing at them to snap any pics. 

Labor Day hike and trip to the cabin!

Labor Day was glorious. We spend the weekend up in Bountiful with my folks and had the most wonderful time. Monday morning we woke up early and went hiking with our little family up Mueller Park Canyon. The kids are getting so good at trucking it in the mountains. 

Love this picture of Dan. 

Eli climbs up. 

Sammy wants to follow, like always. 

My boys in the woods. 

Finn did a good job on the mountain too.

Sweet Sammy. 

Little hiking family. 

Eli and I shoot the breeze.

Now on the to cabin! My dad's cabin is up near Huntsville. It is a magical place and my kids LOVE it. 

Sammy on an ATV. He loves this thing. 

We played a lot of horseshoes!

I was not very good at them. 

Daddy takes the guys around on the tractor. 

I set Sammy up on a rock and took a lot of pics. No apologies. 

Greg plays the harmonica. 

Finn listens. 

Margaret cooked up the yummiest lunch.