Disneyland!!

 Amen to the happiest place on earth. Ben has been so so so excited to go. He loved seeing Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Minnie, and Cluto (Pluto) right when we walked into the park. All he wanted to see was Mickey. Wish granted. Shortly after we entered the park we realized we had to go back and get strollers. So while Grandma and Grandpa went back to get strollers, we bought Ben his first set of ears. I thought they would be a fun way to remember his first trip to Disneyland. What I didn't anticipate was that Ben would want to wear them all day both days we were there. Of course you have to wear ears at Disneyland!

 My Grandpa and Grandma Richens came with us on the trip. Somehow, my grandpa has never ever been to Disneyland! Crazy! At first he wasn't sure about the whole thing. But by the end he was thoroughly impressed and I think he wants to come back! My grandparents both rode Space Mountain and Indiana Jones! My grandpa loved Space Mountain. He was yelling just as loud as the teenagers! Grandma wasn't feeling so great after Space Mountain, but she rallied the next day for Indiana Jones! What cool great grandparents Ben has!

 Ben sat up on Grandpa's shoulders for Mickey's big song and dance with the band in front of the castle. He liked all the characters from a distance, but wasn't too sure about them up close. The first time he saw the castle was the moment I think he realized that he really was at Disneyland. He was so excited to "go in."

 As always Cole smiled through everything, even after clawing his face to pieces and spitting up all over his shirt. We discovered that Cole adores pickles. Unreal. Scott gave him one at lunch thinking Cole would flip but he sucked/ate the whole stinkin thing! Maybe that explains why I suddenly liked pickles when I was pregnant with him.

 Ben went on his first roller coaster in Toon Town. Ben, Grandpa Richens and Scott waited in line for 45 min for a 20 second ride. Ouch. At least Ben thought it was the coolest thing ever. I thought he would freak out and be scared! He loved it. Go figure.

 Disneyland was crazytown the first day we were there because it was the first sunny day after a long stretch of rainy miserable days. I have never ever seen Disneyland so crammed with people. Literally, you couldn't even move, and the lines were insane. Day two was much calmer.

I wasn't kidding when I say he didn't take the mouse ears off the entire time. 

 This was one of my very favorite Disneyland moments. Ben eating Mickey Mouse ice cream in his Mickey ears. How adorable!

 The funniest part was that everyone who was in line with us for Peter Pan was cracking up watching him eat his ice cream. Everyone kept saying, "He makes that look like the best ice cream in the world! I have to go get one after this ride!" He was eating it so slowing and clearly enjoying every second. Sadly for me he wasn't up for sharing.

 

 Andrew was kind enough to wait in line to see the real Buzz Lightyear while we rode on Autotopia. What did Ben do when he came face to face with his idol?

 Freak out of course. It was hilarious. He pulled his ears over his eyes and kept screaming until we got in line for the Buzz Lightyear ride for the third time. He loved shooting the "awee-ins" (aliens).

 Classic Ben face when I am trying to take a picture. Can you tell he was a bit attached to Chic while we were there? Can't blame him really. She is pretty awesome.

 Hooray for Disneyland.

 It was so hard to go home. We had so much fun. At least we got to ride home in an airplane. Ben adores airplane trips. He loves everything about them: taking off, the drinks and snacks, the window, the landing. Sometimes it is hard to get him off. We have to reassure him we will ride another one someday.