DISNEYLAND!!!!

Okay, so the highlight of the trip to Southern California was our day in D-Land, of course.  I mean, I was planning that day for weeks, no lie.  It being the first time there with both kids and Isla's first time going old enough to understand what everything is, I wanted to make sure we did it right.  I was super excited to go and see it from her perspective and really do Disneyland in a new way that I hadn't ever done before.  We hardly went on any adult rides (we didn't even go on Space Mountain!) partially because we were so busy doing the kids rides and also because it was pretty crowded and the fast passes to all the adult rides sold out like hot cakes.  It really didn't bother me though, because I feel like I've done those parks now so many times that I needed to see it from a fresh perspective.  The view from an almost 3 year old makes it that much more new and exciting.

I'd have to say that the best time of the whole day was the lunch at Ariel's Grotto in California Adventure.  I reserved a lunch there about a month ahead so that we could do the whole princess thing for Isla in one convenient place while being served yummy food.  It sounded A LOT better than waiting in lines for 2+ hours to see 1 or 2 princesses.  AND IT WAS!! Oh my gosh, it was fantastic.  I mean, go in with realistic expectations of course, it's no Ruth's Chris.  It is like a kid friendly Olive Garden where your kids get to meet FIVE princesses without even having to leave the table.

Isla about died when they brought the princesses out and it took all of her restraint to wait for them patiently at our table.  And boy was she patient and utterly beside herself with joy waiting for each to come and visit her.  She wouldn't eat anything until the very end when all the ladies left the room. It was hilarious and possibly the sweetest thing I have ever seen.

 Sleeping Beauty - or as Isla refers to her - Blue/Pink. (because her dress changes color at the end)

We didn't get a pick with Snow White. Isla's less than impressed with her as a princess.  She likes the dwarves better.

Cinderella's pretty cute, but Isla's never seen the movie so she wasn't too into her as well.

Words cannot describe how unbelievably excited Isla was to see Belle.  She ran up to her, gave her a huge hug, and whispered to her (which Belle told me after), "You're here!"

We all cried.  Literally my mom, my mother-in-law, and myself.  It was so sweet to see how happy Isla was talking to Belle and having such a sweet moment with her.  And may I say that Belle is a major babe? Geez, could she be any prettier?

Disney knows how to do it right too.  The ladies get down at the girls level and really close so they can have little intimate conversations with even the shyest of girls.  It's so adorable and so personal.  I know she's only 2.5+ years old and she won't remember much, if anything, of this age, but I promise you, she will remember those moments.  It was unreal how happy she was.

The rest of the day, before and after lunch, was so great too.  The mom's were amazing, taking turns watching the girls while we rode on rides.  The best ride(s) of the day was Tower of Terror with my mom and then again later with Kim.  We all about peed our pants on that ride.  Uh-mazing.

Thanks to my wonderful mothers for coming with us and helping make it such a wonderful day.  I can't wait to do it again next time with Daddy.