Family Reunion - Disneyland Etc.

In June we had the Hutchings Family Reunion in Southern California. I was a little nervous before the trip because Grant was only 6-weeks old. Going to visit family is one thing, but we were going to travel on an airplane, visit Disneyland and the beach. That's a lot for a 6-week-old! But he really did great and we were able to enjoy a wonderful trip.

The Seattle-Tacoma airport has huge windows that look over the tarmac where you can watch the planes coming and going. It was a dream come true for a curious 2 1/2 year-old. The first day we went to Disneyland. Disney did a promotion where you give a day of service and get a free ticket to one of the Disney parks. Seth and I both spent a day bagging frozen carrots at a food bank cannery, so we both got free tickets to Disneyland. And our kids are young enough that they get in free. So we got the whole family in for a day at Disneyland, absolutely free! You can't beat that!

I wanted Kayla to appreciate her day at Disneyland so we looked up which movies had corresponding rides and checked them out from our local library. We did most of this movie watching in the first few weeks after we brought the baby home from the hospital. It helped with that initial adjustment period.

The first ride of the day was Peter PanThe whole family on the Storybook Land Canal Boats. (There are certain rides that I normally would consider a waste of precious Disney time, but then you go to Disneyland with a 2 year old and they are the best rides in the park!)

Kayla on Jungle Cruise
One of Kayla's favorites, Dumbo Fly

And Kayla's very favorite, Small WorldKayla was most excited to meet the different characters. The one she was most excited to meet was Tinkerbell. We waited in line for half an hour to meet her, but it was well worth it.Kayla and cousins meet Winnie the Pooh.Kayla was very excited to tell Tigger that she had a Tigger toothbrush. Tigger gave her the thumbs up.Despite her facial expressions, Kayla was very excited to meet Snow White and Sleeping Beauty.After we put the kiddos to bed, Grandma and Grandpa stayed at the hotel to watch them while the Aunts and Uncles went back to ride some of the big rides.

It was a pretty awesome day. Grant did amazingly well, happy to hang out in the sling and snooze most of the day. What a trooper.

A day at the beach.

Playing in the sandBurying Uncle Devin

Grant mostly hung out in his strollerThe rest of the week was spent bonding with family
The Family PortraitsGrandpa with the girl cousinsGrandpa with the boy cousins
It was a wonderful trip. A special thank you to two wonderful people who made it all possible. Thank you for everything Maga and Paki. I have the best in-laws a girl could ever ask for.