Disneyland Adventure

Yes, we just got back from Disneyland and yes, Jamie, We do need a vacation from our vacation.  I have been trying to catch up on things, pictures, mail, email, all the duties in 3 days, but I am obviously tired as I left my groceries in the trunk one hour before I remembered I didn't take them out.  I had some nice meat in there and now I am worried about that...always something.  Maybe I am getting senile.  So it would seem anyways...

Well, we spent 3 days at Disneyland, two days Spencer's sister Erin and 3 daughters were able to spend with us.  She knows the ropes better than us since she lives in Anaheim and has Disneyland passes for the family.  We spent a fortune, but didn't I know that would happen??  There was even a Lego store there and Brian, Logan and Ty did a little shoppin'.  It was fun, exhausting and I truly wonder how I kept on going.  Must have been all that walking I do everyday. 

Before we drove to Anaheim, though, my special request was to make a pit-stop in Indio and buy dates.  I like to make date shakes and you can buy date sugar in Indio and make the nummiest shakes.  The kids love them and it's "our little thing".  I am the "date-shake grandma"!  I was running out of supplies and it was time to restock.  Since it wasn't very far, I insisted to Spence we stop there.  He grumbled a lot, but finally conceded.  I would have liked to stop by some old "stomping grounds" but I didn't want to push my luck.  It was really hot, the hottest of the whole vacation time at 113.  Las Vegas was 109. 

By the way at the hotel in Las Vegas, we managed to go at a time when there was a "3 day Rave party" going on and many of the attendees of the Electric Daisy Concert were located at our hotel...they were dressed most strangely and scantily--if you can call it "dressed", really "undressed" is more like it.  It was embarrassing to open an elevator door with a grandchild and see them...We would usually pass for the next elevator.

In honor of Tyson's school play, Alice in Wonderland and the Mad Hatter pose for a shot.

A second honeymoon?

Jedi training.  That's Logan in the center facing right.  He was so excited for the "training" but then was a little unhappy with the actual "battle".  But it was fun to have him be chosen!

 

Lightning McQueen action for little Logan...

Grandma Sonja gets lots of one on one with Grayson.  He Actually didn't seem to mind.  And of course, I was lovin' every minute!

The Lego store is always a hit, both for the kids and grandma and grandpa's AMEX card....Oh well, you can never have tooooo many Legos, right?

Cars 2 was a hit with the grands...

The big princess gives the little Princess a hug.  Ariel's Grotto was a must-do for Brecklyn.  She loved it and hardly could eat, she was so excited to be there.  The food was good, the company was great and the 3 princesses had a wonderful time together.  (except for the part about paying)  Poor Jamie had to run through nearly all of Disneyland to get verification that she had paid.  But we always have to make the best of these situations, too.

Cousins, one generation removed having a great time!

The gangs all here.  This is our little Disneyland entourage for the 2 days that Erin spent with us.  This was the last day.  Some of us a little tired, to say the least.

Erin was so nice and thoughful that she got a cake for Logan and Grayson.  Our last day of Disneyland was Grayson's first birthday.

All in all, we had a great time.  Even Logan kept his sense of humor active.  He asked, "Grandma, do you know who made the Characters?"  Thinking Walt Disney and associates, I responded, " No, who made them?"  Logan said, "Jesus!"  And now you know!

Vacation 2011 -- I Actually Survived It!

Well, Friday evening we returned from our vacation with Jamie and her family.  So there were 9 of us, traveling in 2 vans, first to Las Vegas for a Nishimoto family reunion/65th anniversary celebration.  Most all the family was there, all the children, grandchildren and great-grandchilden were there.  It was fun there and I had one unfortunate incident.  I lost the smart key for our new van.  It will be a fortune to replace.  I looked everywhere.  And quite frankly, we had only been in the hotel and at the home of Spencer's parents.  There really could not have been many places that it could have gotten lost...We scoured the place, still no luck...  Well, such is life. 

Here are some of the pictures of the reunion:

Here are the original 5 children in the family.

Here is a shot of grandpa and grandma and their 14 of 15 grandchildren.

Here are the 9 great-grandchildren in the family.

My daughter, son-in-law and their sweet kids.

Grandpa and grandma with Grandpa's sister Marion.

A game of "monkey in the middle" in grandpa's house.  I worried about them breaking something while there.  But all went well...thank goodness.

 Grandpa and his little performance.

 After the food was eaten, this is how things looked.

The senior generation enjoys the festivities.

Girls just want to have fun!

and lots of it!

 Jamie and Logan looking at the book that Erin compiled with letters and

photos from all the family members.

Eating leftovers from the reunion on Sunday.