Happy Birthday Amy!

Today is Amy's birthday! So TJ, Kaylin and I are wishing her a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

When she got up, her gift and cards drawn by Kaylin were waiting for her. We got her a floating lounge chair so that she can just "kick it" in the pool.

Then, since mommy loves eating breakfast out, we went to IHOP...


Then, since mommy loves eating breakfast out, we went to IHOP...


...on our way to Disneyland!


Amy even got a birthday button that caused every Disney employee that saw her to wish her a Happy Birthday!

Valentine Dinner @ Blue Bayou

As a belated Valentine's Day celebration, we went to Disneyland last night and had a very nice dinner at the Blue Bayou Restaurant. Blue Bayou overlooks the "swamp" at the beginning of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride... the atmosphere was great! Note: You can see a boat full of riders behind us below.

This was also our first time we used our Disney passes for just the two of us to go and have a date. We had a great time going on various rides after dinner, including our first time ever on the huge rollercoaster at California Adventure called "California Screamin'." We both loved the rollercoaster... but Amy wasn't doing so well afterward... she was white as a ghost and felt nauseous. However, the most important thing was that her icky feelings wore off just in time for us to share a dessert treat before heading home. It would take a lot more than a rollercoaster to force Amy to miss dessert! =)

More Disneyland Pictures... Finally!

I know, I know... in the previous post, I said I'd post more pictures soon. Well, it wan't "soon" but here they are. Kaylin got her one, big souvenir for the year... an autograph photo album. Each character that she gets to meet signs her book and then later we'll put these pictures in there too.

TIGGER



POCAHONTAS



WINNIE THE POOH



SNOW WHITE



ARIEL (The Little Mermaid)



Just before we "met" Mickey (see picture in previous post), TJ ran right up to him and gave him a big hug and a kiss on the nose! CLASSIC!



Mommy and Kaylin on the train



Daddy and TJ saying "cheese"



Dumbo! That's the name of the elephant, not the guy in the black sweatshirt.

Disneyland!

We went to Disneyland today! This is just a "teaser" post... more pictures will be posted in the next few days.

We bought annual passes and will be able to go to Disneyland for occasional family fun days and date nights. We had been saving up gift money and then we received a couple of generous gifts specifically for the passes or for "doing something fun for the family." What a blessing and what fun!

Here we are after meeting Mickey!

Kaylin had a nice chat with Cinderella and then posed for a picture!

Downtown Disney!

Our friends Scott & Amanda and their kids were down in SoCal recently to go to Disneyland. We got to see them and our friends Gus & Cami (Scott & Gus are brothers)! These pictures were taken in Downtown Disney after we'd all just eaten together at the Rainforest Cafe.



It was great to catch up with Gus & Cami!



Hmmm... we're all in this one... so who took the picture? =)

Kaylin & T.J.'s First Trip to Disneyland!

To celebrate Kaylin's 3rd birthday (a bit early), we went to Disneyland yesterday! We also got to see some of the other theme park, California Adventure. We were very blessed with an opportunity to get in to both parks free through a friend's connection with a Disney employee. (Thanks very much to those people who helped get us in!)

The Olsons at Disneyland! Kaylin enjoyed the day even though this picture of her doesn't seem to indicate that. =)
Disneyland is celebrating it's 50th anniversary.

Aunt Bev, Justin, DeeDee & Danny, Dylan,

Amy & Trevor, Kaylin, & Derek (Steve N. & Ryan joined us later)

Kaylin enjoyed a couple of rides but was not sure what to think of a couple others. However, her favorite part of the day was getting to meet two Disney characters! One of the characters she met was Ariel the mermaid whose likeness is on Kaylin's new purse. She was very excited, saying to Mommy while in line, "How lucky that Ariel is here AND on my purse!"

Kaylin with Ariel (from The Little Mermaid)

Kaylin with Jasmine (from Aladdin)

When it came time for the parade, Kaylin was excited to see some of those Disney princesses again! She enjoyed the first few minutes, especially when a couple of Disney characters made eye contact, waved and blew kissed RIGHT at Kaylin! However, as the parade progressed, sightings of the wolf from Pinochio and the Ariel's enemy, the sea witch named Ursula, were not so fun for Kaylin. She asked me to put her down so she could stand behind Amy and I, peering around our legs. Amy suggested to Kaylin that she cover her eyes... but Kaylin's actions indicated "I don't want to watch... but maybe I do."

Kaylin semi-watching the Disney Parade