USA Trip. Part 1. Disneyland LA.
Friday, September 2, 2011 at 8:35PM Two weeks ago today, Ella & I stepped off of our 10th flight in 3 weeks, back onto Australian soil. Wearing the same clothes we were wearing 2 days prior & unshowered in the past 72hours, we gathered our luggage, breezed through customs & kept our sleepy eyes WIDE OPEN looking for our Prince :) And there he was.....Chris was waiting for his 2 girls to arrive back home after a long & eventful overseas holiday!!! I didn't know if I should cry, laugh or apologize for my appearance.....but it was SWEET....Oh So Sweet to be back safely HOME....with our Number 1 Man! Seeing Ella's face as it locked eyes with Chris's & watching them embrace was the icing on the cake :) In a nutshell....we missed him! And secretly.....I think he missed us too :)
Our trip begun on August 1st :) The evening before was the first time that a little bit of "Sh*t, what am I doing?" entered my mind. The trip had been so 'last minute' & too amazing for me even to believe was true that it hadn't even sunk in til the last moment, that, I was traveling SOLO-PARENT style across the world...with a toddler....AND; HEAVILY pregnant!
Chris dropped us off at the Brisbane International Airport. I cried! Ella {not truly knowing what we were about to embark on} skipped off with a smile & a wave. I started the journey through the airport, figuring out how I was going to make this 'carrying 2 suitcases, 2 backpacks & a stroller...as well as an oversized tummy....and keeping constant eyes on the 3yr old' was going to work! I somehow got rolling....got it sussed! We checked in, exchanged money & sat down to enjoy a chocolate milk & doughnut whilst I let it all set in. "Oh My God, I'm doing this! This is real! YIKES!!!"
{That's our plane in the background! The 1st of 10! Ella's first ever plane ride!}
We boarded...I think I prayed somewhere in there too {that we didn't crash & die...positive I know!}. And as the plane took off......Ella looked out her window & said "Wow Mummy....Look at beautiful planet Earth!!" And just like that.....I TOOK A BREATH & RELAXED!!!
3 hours later we landed in Auckland, New Zealand, where we had 4 hours to fill. We showered {why don't all airports have showers? Best.Thing.Ever!}, we browsed the shops, we ate Burger King & we jumped on a 'pay by the minute' computer to quickly shoot Chris an email to say Hi. Ella befriended another 3yr old girl....named Ellie....and they hand-in-hand, played as if they'd known each other for life! Then, at 9:30pm that night....we boarded the Flight to LOS ANGELES!
The flight was long but easy! Ella slept for 4 hours. I slept for 3. We hit some turbulence that had me working up a sweat & quietly freaking out, but thank goodness that didn't last too long! Ella was so well behaved. She watched movies, read books, played computer games, chatted to random people on board & basically filled the time with lots of fun & joy ;o)
The next afternoon, but it was still only the 1st of Aug {hmmm....the whole time difference thing still really confuses me LOL}, we landed at LA & started the long process of customs, security & baggage retrieval. As we walked out of the LAX Airport, it hit me that we were in AMERICA.....and I was alone with a heap of responsibilities....AND.... I needed to find a particular shuttle bus amongst 4 million other buses & fast moving cars!! {This 3 days in LA was to be the only leg of the trip where I truly was doing it solo. No husband, no family, no friends, no help. JUST ELLA & I! I wasn't scared....but I knew I had to be on my game!...which is hard after only 3 hours sleep in 2 days} But then....as we scoured & scampered through the busy airport I saw someone...someone very familiar!! "Hey Ella, that man looks just like Uncle Spencer!" I say, whilst steering my way through the crowd. "Oh.My.Goodness. THAT IS UNCLE SPENCER!!" I yell as we run towards him. It took me a few hugs & him repeating himself & getting on the Shuttle Bus with us....for it to sink in....he wasn't there by co-incidence {which I had thought}, he made the trip especially from Kansas to LA to spend the 3 days with Ella & I! OMG....I truly have the most amazing family! And for that, I'm grateful!
{Uncle Spencer (my Brother) and Ella!}
Once we got checked in at the hotel, I could simply RELAX! In a way that I would not have been able to do if Spen wasn't there! Coz he'd organised a hire car for the next day to get us to Disneyland so we didn't have to rely on bus times, he had pre-bought our Disneyland tickets....and with him living in America, he helped me out with the whole overwhelming factor of tipping & driving on the right side & what certain foods are called on the menu etc! I could go to bed early that night & truly sleep well knowing everything was taken care of! And....seeing Chris's face of relief when I skyped him to tell him we had a 'surprise man' chauffeuring us for the whole LA leg was priceless! He knew his girls were in safe hands & that made him breathe a little easier!
August 2nd....we slept in :) Enjoyed a breakfast out & then headed into DISNEYLAND for the rest of the day!!
WOW!!! I don't even think I have the right words for Disneyland. Nothing I can say or type on this keyboard will do it justice or truly explain how MAGICALLY AMAZING that place is!
It was a HOT day....high 30's, low 40's....but the heat was kind of nice, considering we'd just left in the middle of the Australian winter! Ella's excitement that morning was pure BLISS to watch. And as we entered the gates & walked up the street, she saw it.....THE DISNEY CASTLE! The Castle that she sees at the start of all her "Disney" movies & asks "Can we go there someday?" We were there! My girl & I! And it was COOL!!
We spent the day exploring & watching 'eagle eyed', trying to take it ALL in. Everywhere you looked, everywhere you went there was PURE MAGIC! We did quite a few rides....it was FUN;
{Alice in Wonderland's Teacup Ride}
{Roger Rabbit Ride ~ Ella spent most of the ride in sheer terror...covering her eyes. But as soon as it stopped & we got off, she said in the most excitable voice "That was AWESOME! Can we do it again!" haaaa}
{I saw this sign during the "It's A Small World" Ride....and it stood out at me!! There sure is a BRIGHT WORLD out there WAITING....and we're here experiencing it!}
One thing Ella really wanted to do {and so did I.... heee} was meet TINKERBELL! So we braved the 1 hour wait in the hot, hot sun to have a personal one-on-one meeting with The Miss Tinkerbell in Pixie Hollow :) It was worth the wait :)
And then....the PARADE!! Hmmm, don't even get me started on the Parade!! Magic! Awesome, real MAGIC!
As we walked out of the gates that evening, I felt complete & full & HAPPY!
And so did Ella:
{yep....that face shows pure CONTENTMENT...and EXHAUSTION after the most-amazing fun-filled day in the sun! I've waited 29years to come here....and we DID IT!! Bucket List....TICK!} {Oh...and the Minnie Mouse Toy; Ella's purchase using her $30!} She was asleep within seconds of getting in the car :) However, we had to wake her 20mins later for dinner at Applebees! OhMyGoodness....the size of the meals....and the 'cheapness' {I think I made that word up} of the meals...was SHOCKING! I enjoyed a half rack of BBQ Ribs....So So So GOOD!
We slept well that night...all snugged up in our comfy hotel beds! And at 5am, the alarm clock rung....as a flight to NEW YORK awaited us :) I will blog all about NY and the love affair I had with this city asap! But for now....I have heavy heavy eyes & a warm bed with Chris awaiting me :) {It's also good to be home!}
Thank you Spencer for being there for us & for everything you did to make my first stop in America easy & memorable! How I got so blessed with all the good people & opportunities in my life, I don't know! But I'm grateful.....very grateful!
Night Y'All :)
Disneyland, Ella, Los Angeles, USA, flight, holiday, joy, magic, overseas, plane, pregnant, trip in {Memories}, {My Life}, {Real Life}
Reader Comments (5)
what an amazing time you guys had!!! can't wait to read about the rest of it!!! And how wonderful of your brother to meet you at the airport!amazing!!
oxoxo
Welcome home Claire and Ella!! What gorgeous photos, I can only imagine how fantastic Disneyland must have been for you both. How great your brother could meet you and lend a hand. Can't wait to see some NY pics!!! Hope all is going well pregnancy wise xx
Thanks for letting us share the excitement with you 2 girls on your trip of a lifetime! I want to meet Tinkerbelle too!
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