Staycation 2009

Devon's b-day is exactly 1 week before the Valentine's Day/holiday weekend and we rarely celebrate just for dad. Well, this year we took advantage of our Disneyland annual pass + a free stay at a swanky local hotel = Fancy Birthday Celebration Extravaganza for Daddy!! Disneyland doesn't seem like a "real" trip for Devon you say? Well, Dad just sacrifices for the family.

Details: First we dropped off the kids at our friends house for a first overnight stay. We checked into our hotel and were immediately wow'd by the newly renovated room, a free upgrade to a mini-suite that my husband fanagled (see pictures below, it felt like our private 2nd home and truthfully, I didn't want to leave... ever. That's always the sign of a good vacation). So newly renovated that the hotel was literally tossing furniture and mattresses into the neighboring rooms as we pulled in suitcases. It was gorgeous. Well, only a picture will tell:

Can you say... SWANKY????

I mean, look at the dining table for 6????

The Birthday Boy~!

Plenty of space for the kids to romp.

We bundled up for a stormy night out with the roller coasters!!! Our first night was just us, so we could enjoy the big kid rides for once. I mean all the screamer rides, and no snacks, strollers, or backpacks.


Dorky couple in the glasses is us. Notice the wet coat.

Ok - umbrella time. Once the crowds left, we got in about 10 rides within 3 hours. It was awesome. Then Saturday we slept in until 8:30!!!! Then, picked up the kids (thanks BK!, but overnight stays mean they are growing up to fast. Mommy moment of sadness). Then headed off to introduce swanky hotel to kids.

Hope the table is sturdy. What is she doing, you ask? Why, hanging under the dining table of course. Furniture is officially kid-tested.

Devon forgot to tell me that I was in the picture too.

Celebrated birthday dinner with Jim and Fran. Once we saw the room, the location was moved from Downtown Disney resturant to our swanky hotel dining table. Fun for all, and we didn't have to keep the kids quiet.


They even had a kids playroom below the lobby level. We had fun checking out all the toys and enjoying the space.

Playing well together. Mom is proud.

They fit about 3 things this size in the play room - it was huge. OK, after playtime, we had to get the kids to sleep in the new room. Interesting, but it worked somehow.


Breakfast in the morning was



Breakfast in the room. What a treat!

"I don't even need a high chair"

"now I can run around and its fun"

Ok, so it was time to rally after a lazy breakfast. We packed up the car and said good bye to swanky hotel with the Starbucks in the lobby. sniff sniff.

But, we had better plans for the day. Off to Disneyland with the kids. We started at California Adventure for the Toy Story ride.

A little carousel, anyone?



Oops, after lunch mom is putting coats on. The rain began a bit, but Ethan LOVES his Alaska coat, so its fun.


After naps, someone is a little pouty before the Dumbo ride.

We're happy again. Flying elephants make everyone smile.


Ok - back to California Adventure for bumper cars, dinner, and caterpillar rides. Fun, fun, fun..... and in order to avoid the inevitable meltdown, we leave about 7pm to head home. A great vacation all in all. I am not a huge Disneyland fan, but we had a really good family weekend staycation.

We love Daddy's Birthday!!!