Cars Land and Disneyland 2012

We have some pretty big Cars fans at our house, so we were excited to check out the new Cars Land.  There really are full sized Cars characters driving up and down the streets!

After breakfast at Flo's Cafe.

For some reason, whenever we would tell Lydia to smile for the camera during the first couple of hours, this was the face that we got.  I have no idea where it came from, but it kind of cracks me up.  :-)

See!  There she is doing it again!  And Tyler apparently wants to show off his backpack while posing with Red the firetruck.

If we weren't making Lydia pose, she was either twirling...

...or climbing.  Everything and anything within reach.

This was Tyler and Opa's favorite ride.  Can you tell?  :-)

This was my favorite part of the ride, hehe!  The floor was windy to lift the hovercraft tires.

Happy Tyler holding cars in Cars Land.

There were a lot of characters out in Disneyland today.  Right as we walked in the gates, we saw Snow White, the Naughty Queen (from Snow White), Chip and Dale, some others, and...

"Cinderella?  Look Lydia!"  

:: push through the crowds :: 

(It's her current favorite princess.)  

::plop Lydia down right next to Cinderella and a bunch of other kids::

  And bless that Cinderella's heart, she noticed little Lydia standing there adoringly.  She hugged and chatted with Lydia and when we said thank you and went to move on, Cinderella said, "Wait!  Where are you going?  I wanted to walk with you."  Tyler was not about to miss this, so he grabbed a hand and away they went, down Main Street of Disneyland.

If I could find an address to her kingdom, I would write that Cinderella a thank you note for making our day.

Did you know that right as you walk through the castle, on the left there is a store full of princesses dresses?  Yeah, Lydia used her spending money well.  (Since we've been home about a month now, I think there have been maybe 2 days that she hasn't worn this dress for at least part of the day).

People all around Disneyland kept pointing and saying, "Look at the little princess!"  And workers would bow and curtsy.

Glass slippers, er, Allstars.

We made it on most of our favorite rides before the park seemed to double in attendance in the evening.

Here's a fun one - 10 month old Lydia and Mama posed on Dumbo a year and a half ago.

  And then now.

Because it's December, Disneyland was lit up and decorated for Christmas.

One tired princess.  She conked out after our last ride, It's a Small World.  Firework noise and shopping amidst packed crowds didn't rouse her at all.  Tyler was a trooper.  So was Opa (we're so glad you were able to come last minute!).

Early the next morning, Opa headed south to meet Baby Asher and our little family got on our flight and headed home.  It was a short, but fun and memorable family vacation.

"What does this button do?"