The Gunn Family: California 2010 (Warning this is a LONG post sorry)

Well our trip to California was a blast!!! Our boys had no clue about the trip at all. We woke up on June 5th and packed the car and then proceeded to wake the boys. It was 5am when we left. We stopped at McDonalds and got breakfast and headed out of town. The boys didn't stay awake long so that made it a little easier. However once Ry woke up all he kept asking about was when we were going home so he could go to his baseball game. lol Just outside Filmore we gave the boys their first clue. This made it really fun and exciting for them. Every hr or so we would give them a clue. We thought Logan would read the road signs like he usually does, but he didn't. So when we got just outside St. George Brandon said he couldn't read the sign and asked Logan what it said. Instantly the boys thought we were going to Beaver Dam to be with my dad. They were so excited we drove past St. George and through the canyon. As we came up to the Beaver Dam exit the boys were getting very excited to see Grandma and Grandpa. We never said a thing, Brandon took the exit and stopped at the bottom and then preceeded to get right back on the freeway. The boys were absolutely devastated. They both started crying and Brandon and I tried not to laugh. Once they had calmed down they started to ask where we were really going. We said they had to figure it out from the clues. Logan noticed the road sign that said Las Vegas, he instantly thought thats where we were going. When we got to Vegas we drove the strip so the boys could see the different hotels/casinos. We decided to stop at the Excaliber because our boys love knights and castles. They thought it was so cool we took them to the kid area and let them play some games then we had lunch. After lunch we told them it was time to go. They were upset yet again. Logan even asked us "What can be more fun then Vegas!" I couldn't help but laugh.

The Boys inside The Excaliber

Once we were back in the car we gave them clue #4, which was a beach towel with Mickey Mouse on it. Clue #1 was a blue shirt for each of them, Clue #2 was sunglasses, Clue #3 was sunscreen. Ry instantly said were going to the beach! We didn't say a thing and just kept driving. I fell asleep for a bit and the boys watched movies and bugged Brandon. I woke up about 15 mins. outside Barstow. We decided to give the boys their next clue. It was a tin of Toy Story 3 card games. It had rummy, go fish, war, and snap. They didn't pick up on anything with this clue. So we stopped in Barstow to fill up on gas. Once we were back on the road we decided to give them another clue. Clue # 6 was a book for each of them. Logan's book was called Kingdom Keepers which is about kids that are in Disneyland after hours. It had a picture of the castle right on the front!!! Riley's book was a Finding Nemo book. Logan opened his and didn't say anything, Ry on the other hand started yelling "We'er going to Disneyland!" Logan still didn't say anything, he just kept reading what his book was about. So we gave them clue #7 Toy Story 3 coloring books and crayons. Still nothing. So we tried clue #8 which I was sure Logan would finally get it. On the outside of the paper it said "Here is something to help you with where your going." It was a Disney CD of songs from various Disney Movies. Logan still didn't get it and Ry was going nuts saying we'er going to Disneyland. So we finally gave them the last and final clue. Clue #9 was a gift card for each of them to Disneyland to spend. Logan opened his and read what it said and looked at us and said "Are we really going to Disneyland?" LOL He finally got it!!! They were so excited and started calling their Grandma and Grandpa's. I am so glad we did the whole surprise thing for them. It really started our trip off great!!!

An hour later we reached Oceanside where we were staying. The drive in was absolutely beautiful. It was so cool to see the vineyards and avacado fields. The boys couldn't wait to see the beach.

An Avacado Field

A Vineyard
Even though Ry has been to Disneyland and California before he was to little to remember any of it. The place we were staying was right on the beach in Oceanside Harbor. Brandon's parents were not back yet so we parked at the beach so the kids could see the ocean. Ry went nuts, he couldn't get his shoes off soon enough. I went with him as he ran down to the water first thing. It was a great experience to see him all excited about the ocean.

Ry, Logan, and I in the ocean

Us playing in the Ocean for the first time

We spent about 15 mins. just wading in the ocean before Brandon's parents got back. We then went to the timeshare to unload. Our room was on the 4th floor with an amazing ocean view. We got all unpacked and went down to the Harbor and had dinner. After the boys wanted to go to the pool and swim. It was a great way to end our long day.

Brandon and the boys in the pool

View from our balcony
So on day 2 we woke up and had breakfast and then we were off to the beach for the day. The weather was great not too hot not too cold. Logan and Ry learned how to boogie board for the first time. We all had a great time of fun in the sun and ocean.

The Boys Learning to Boogie Board

Logan's First Wave

Ry's First Wave

Brandon and His Brother Jeremy

First Sand Castle
After the day at the beach it was on to dinner. Of course after dinner we headed to the pool to end the day. Ry was our little dare devil in the pool. He let Brandon throw him up in the air and land in the water. Then he started doing front and back flips in the water. He is our crazy boy for sure.

Travis hot tub side Logan, Hailey, and Riley in the hot tub

Ry mid flip in the air
After the pool it was off to bed early for Disneyland the next day. We got up early Mon. morning and drove the hour to Anahiem. Everyone was so excited to get there. It was my niece Hailey's first time to Disneyland. We got there right after it opened. I think I was as excited as the kids were. It was a long day of fun, rides and more. We all had so much fun the first day. One of the highlights of day 1 was the Jedi Training. I dressed the boys in matching shirts in hopes they would get picked. Sure enough they were. They got to wear real jedi robes and have light sabers. If that wasn't enough after they were taught some fighting techniques Darth Vader himself showed up along with Darth Maul. Ry was the first kid to go and actually fight Darth Vader. It was so funny I wish I had a video camera. Logan got to fight Darth Maul instead. I have to say it made the boys day. We spent all of day 1 in Disneyland. We stayed until just before 11pm. Instead of driving an hour back we got a hotel across from Disneyland so we could do it all again on Tuesday.

The Boys First Thing in the Morning

Darth Vader Rising Up Out of the Stage

Darth Maul

Riley Fighting Darth Vader

Logan Fighting Darth Maul

Us with Winnie the Pooh

The Kids at Pirates Lair

Ry, Logan, Hailey, and Me on the Tea cups

Waiting for the Fireworks to Start

Tinkerbell Flying Over the Castle

The Fireworks

Fireworks Over The Castle
Day 2 of Disneyland was kind of a special day. It was exactly 12 years to the day that Brandon proposed to me in Disneyland. I couldn't believe where we are now 12 years later. It was a fun day to remember and share with our kids. We spent half of the day in Disneyland and half of the day in California Adventure. That night at 5:30 we had dinner reservations at Goofy's Kitchen, to have dinner with 7 different Disney Characters. It was so much fun for the kids and even us adults. The food was fantastic besides. I am so glad we ended up doing a character dinner. After dinner we rode a few more rides, but with it being Hailey's first time and Travis's first visit in over 13 years they were ready to leave. We took the kids and let them spend their gift certificates and get souvieners. Then we were on the rode back to Oceanside.

Almost the Exact Spot Brandon Proposed 12 years ago

This was the cutest, the one bear was obssessed with fixing Ry's Faux Hawk

Trapped in a Toy Box

The Boys with Chef Goofy

The Boys and I with Dale
The rest of the trip we spent doing various things, shopping, sight seeing, feeding the squirrels and chipmunks, and playing at the beach or pool. All in all it was a great vacation. We all had so much fun and enjoyed everything. One of the funest things we we able to do while we were there is Friday was our last day. We went down to the beach and ran into some people we met at the time share. They had rented surf boards for the entire day. After awhile they took a break and we asked if we could try. They gladly said yes, so Brandon and I got to surf for the first time ever!!! It was so much fun, I absolutely loved it. I can't tell you just how much sea water I swallowed however, but it was worth it. After spending the majority of our last day at the beach we showered and got all packed. Then we headed to the actual Oceanside pier. We walked the pier just the four of us and ended up having a late lunch at Ruby's, which was right on the end of the pier. We were sat right by the window looking out to sea. I had to stop myself at one point because I started to get sea sick. The food was great and the boys got a kick out of it. After the pier we went back so the kids could swim one last time. After hours of playing in the pool we went to dinner at Joe's Crab Shack in the harbor. Let me tell you what an experience that almost was. We let Ry order a virgin Pina Colada. Well the waitress brought it and left it on the table. Ry took a sip and asked Brandon if he wanted a taste. Well it's a good thing he did, it had ALCOHOL in it !!!!! We had to take it to the bar and have them make a new one while we watched to make sure no alcohol came near it. After all that Ry barely made it through dinner. We looked over and all of a sudden he was sound asleep at the table. It was so cute and sad all at the sametime. I was super sad to leave the following morning, but once we were home it felt good. It's nice to have vacations, but it's nice to come home too!!!