Thirty-Eight Weeks Together = Disneyland!

     I know what you are thinking.  Isn't the traditional thirty-eight-weeks-together-as-a-family-post-adoption-celebratory-trip kids eat free at Olive Garden or something?  Yeah...probably. But when you've got a work conference literally across the street from the Happiest Place on Earth AND Gramma is available to come help out AND you've just read a blog about giving kids an 'epic childhood'...the kid is going to Disneyland! 

     The epic-childhood thing has kind of stuck with me (the Eicher family brought their son home from Bulgaria last year, also with Down syndrome and have kept a fascinating blog as 'a journey to an epic childhood...and motherhood'). The reality is, I don't know what life is going to be like for Isaac and I. I know we are trusting our Heavenly Father for the bread of each day and believing that we are in the safety of His hand. I have proof that we are! Just look at His faithfulness through adoption attachment, four ear infections, the stomach flu, heart surgery, and an 11-day hospital stay, just in our first nine months together. Already, it's been a big year for us! And as we continue to follow the Lord's leading, I want to make the parenting decisions that I can that will lead to our own epic life together. I don't want him to look back and remember "the year of the terrible hospital stay". I want him to look back & say "oh my gosh, that was the year we went to Disneyland with Gramma!" Or..."we have pancake breakfast dance parties in our pjs every Saturday morning!" (we haven't done that yet...but doesn't it sound awesome?!) Everyday won't be Disneyland, but I think when there is opportunity to capture some EPIC...we are going to grab it!

     Here are some photos from our trip. Isaac did AWESOME by the way. He was pretty leery of any giant 3-d cartoon-people trying to get in on his space...as he should be. The look on his face on the Small World ride is classic to most of what he was probably thinking the whole time we were there: "what are you people smoking?!" :)  The heat got to us all, and we figured out quickly that Isaac didn't like any jerking movements on rides, especially if they were in the dark, so we spent most of our time on flat-water rides and had a great time.  

 

Disneyland 2013

He tolerated at best the obligatory Mickey ears.

Yeah for family trips! 

Look at Isaac's face!!
(Costco Travel has AWESOME Disney deals if anyone is looking. It includes dinner with all the characters at Goofy's Kitchen)

There is a CHIPMUNK at our table

Um...what the??

Just trying to eat my chicken nuggets lady.
Don't care about your spindle-picking-finger or a dragon-fighting-prince.
And back off the corn.

The park was actually pretty empty; we didn't have to wait more than 10minutes for any attraction, which was awesome. This cracked me up though...the stroller brigade.

This picture cracks me up!

You have to admit, Small World is pretty overwhelming.

The temperature had just his 97 and we were feeling it!
Giant sleepy and/or drunk bear?  Yeah, I don't know either.

Woody!

We stumbled upon the live animal section and let Isaac run free with the goats for a while.
He proceeded to honk the nose of every goat in the corral and nearly got us kicked out!

Seriously, people...what is going on?!

Yeah for water cruises!

Somebody is all-done

This I loved...strolling along Main Street holding hands.

Blending right in

Rocking the shades

Cars Land

Snack time!

Getting ready for his first parade

This was a big hit!
  The rest of the trip became Isaac's personal parade...everyone got a wave and a smile.

Cooling off in Bugs Land. 
We skipped the hot part of the day...100 degrees!

Wet hug!!

Staying up late for the World of Color (Isaac is asleep in the exowomb)

California Adventure at night...BEAUTIFUL.

 Isaac's all-time MOST favorite ride at Disneyland....the hotel pool!
This kid is a NATURAL and would have swam off on his own if I'd let him. Looks like swim lessons are in our future!

A great trip.