California Trip March 2012!

So I haven't made an entry on this blog for 2 years, but I have been inspired by my sister Brie to start blogging again.  She has made awesome books from her blogs, and it's a great way to journal our family life.  My girls are growing up so fast, and I'm already forgetting all the funny things that happen along the way.  So here goes...
We just returned from our family vacation to California.  We normally wouldn't have gone, with money so tight, but I babysit 2 little girls for a single mom who also works for Jet Blue, and I traded training her in Quickbooks for her company for 4 buddy passes.  Also, we had $400 credit on our Disney card, which paid for our Disneyland day, and then we had points on our company AMEX to pay for card and hotel...SCORE! 
We flew down to Long Beach and got there at 8:00 am Wednesday morning.  We then drove down to San Diego and surprised my niece Whitney, who is serving a mission at the Mormon Battalion Center.  It was awesome...she was so excited to meet Emery for her first time, and Danielle and Avery were thrilled to see Whitney again...she used to babysit them a lot before she left.

Thursday we went to Disneyland!  It was so much fun, even Emery had a good time.  Her favorite ride was It's a Small World...she danced around the whole ride.  Dani and Avery went on Space Mountain for their first time and Dani LOVED it...Avery tolerated it..haha.  Avery's favorite ride was Buzz Lightyear...of course.

Friday we went to Huntington Beach.  Dan wouldn't even stick his feet in the water (and he calls himself a California boy!) so Dani, Avery and I frolicked in the water, while Dan walked the beach with Emery.
Saturday we visited our friends Tom and Cindy Tucker.  Their kids are right around our kids' ages, so we always have fun.  We also had to make a stop to get garlic bread at The Smokeouse in Burbank...tradition.  Unfortunately on Sunday, when we got to the airport at 7 am, we were told we probably wouldn't get a flight out until Monday, possibly Tuesday. So we ended up renting a mini-van and driving the 10 hours back home.  The kids were really good considering.  All in all it was a great vacation, though Dan and I were EXHAUSTED when we got home!