Family Photos

A couple of weekends ago we had some family pictures taken.  We had some around the same time last year and thought it would be nice to get some of the three of us before we become four and also document my pregnancy which sometimes gets a bit forgotten in the blur of everyday life with a toddler.

Our Crazy Kid

Mummy, Noah and Bump

The Boys

The Whole Gang

If you're in Perth and you want a fun relaxed photo session with a wonderful photographer - check Michelle out at Dainty Stills Photography

San Francisco

From the start San Francisco was a much needed change of pace.  We packed up and left the Disney Hotel nice and early on Monday morning (August 1st) and headed for the AMTRAK station.  In my husband's infinite wisdom the decision had been made to travel from Anaheim to San Fran via train.  It was something he really wanted to do and he assured me the scenery would be amazing.  I was ambivalent to the idea of 12 hours on a train with a 3 year old but I was so wrong - it was a perfect day.  

However before we got on the train things got way too hectic and stressful for my liking.  After the short trip from Anaheim to Union Station in LA we realised we had about 2 hours to kill before the long train ride started.  One flippant comment from Rob and we were in a cab whizzing around the sights of LA (not a planned part of this trip).  We almost missed our train to San Francisco and it took about half an hour for my heart to stop racing.

Here's the evidence that we have been to LA!!

Once we were on the train the relaxation really began.  Rob was right the scenery was beautiful - farmland, beaches, bird-filled wetlands, old mining towns and quaint stations.  We were blown away by our day on the train.  We had booked a sleeper cabin so we all napped and relaxed and we were also fed a really nice hot lunch and dinner - all included for only just over $200 for all of us.  It was a great way to recharge plus see some sights we would never see had we flown up the coast.

Our hotel was situated right in Fisherman's wharf with views of the Golden Gate Bridge and Alcatraz.  All of these pictures were taken within a 10 minute walk of our hotel.

One of the highlights of San Francisco was time spent with our wonderful friends who had left Australia about two months earlier to start a new life living in Cupertino (about an hour from SF).   These are friends who trusted me with their children for four years so they mean a lot to me and especially I love those kids like they were mine.  Noah has very close bonds with the kids and especially with the Ivy who is only 9 days older. It was like a reunion from a teary rom-com and then they were inseparable for those couple of days.

  

We all cruised under the bridge together and visited the famous Pier 41 sea lions

Noah loved the public art - we had to take at photo at every one

Riding the famous Cable Cars

Views up and down Lombard Street - Famous for being a very long steep road that includes a section that is supposed to be the windiest in the world

Some of Noah's Photography 

Noah having a nap on a bench in Muir Woods

Muir Woods and the famous California Redwood Trees

Next Stop Vegas and then New York City.  

Disneyland

I got in trouble yesterday from a friend eagerly awaiting the rest of my holiday posts - there are always excuses and apparently 'good bloggers' don't make them.  

When we got back from our holiday things certainly didn't slow down we were immediately thrust into Daddy De Roach's birthday and of course Father's Day so we have spent our days in a flurry of planning, shopping, crafting, cake baking and hosting.  Life is definitely never boring around this house. 

It's only 8 weeks until this new baby boy will be joining us (possibly earlier if he follows in his big brother's footsteps!) and then before we know it Christmas will be here.  Scary but true -  Christmas is only 15 weeks away.  On that note I have been trying to be Mrs Organised and getting my shopping done before baby arrives so I can just relax and enjoy those first weeks without any extra stress.

Anyway here it is - Disneyland in all it's colourful, magical glory.

Our very first visit on Day 1 - just hours after getting off a plane from Sydney

Main Street USA

If you were to ask Noah the best bit of his whole holiday he would say the Dumbo ride

Disney Castle during the nightly fireworks

The Rocket Ride

Alice in Wonderland Teacup Ride

The start of a new love affair

Chip or is it Dale?

Ta-Da

More sly photo ops instead of waiting in the HUGE lines

A picture from the famous dancing display

Noah's True Love

Oops watch out Mickey he looks cute but he's trying to steal your girlfriend!!

Getting ready to go on the Toy Story ride

The 'Real' Buzz Lightyear

I have been to Disneyland several times before (the first time I went for 5 days straight!).  I loved it then and it was even more amazing to be there and share it with Noah.  Words and pictures really can't do it justice.  There's an indescribable atmosphere of joy and happiness in the air.  It's immaculately clean.  The staff are beyond friendly and every kid and adult is wide eyed.  The kids rides are fun and there are some ridiculously cool grown up rides but the best part of Disney is the characters.  Everyone loves Disney movies and as Noah kept saying Disneyland is 'The Real Movie'.  We especially loved the rides that took you through those classic movies - Peter Pan, Pinocchio, Snow White and the newer ones - Finding Nemo, Toy Story and Pirates of the Caribbean.  The special effects are mind blowing.  The Nemo ride was under water in a moving submarine and the scenes of the film were holographic and laser images viewed underwater.  The Toy Story ride was like being inside a giant video game and we had laser guns to battle Zurg and play in Andy's Room.

We could easily have stayed in Disney a week or more but we only had 3 days which we definitely made the most of.  I have a feeling we'll be heading back before too many more years pass.