California Weekend!

This past weekend we drove over to California

with some friends of ours.

Ryan participated in the Ragnar Relay L.A. with

11 other friends from our ward.

So I decided to come along with the kids and make a 

vacation out of it!

We drove over Wed. night and Thursday we

took the kids to Disneyland with our

friends the Galovich's!

~

We first went on one of Blake's favorite rides,

Buzz Lightyear!

McKenzie didn't like as much as Blake!

Blake always seems to do really well with his 

score... he ALMOST beat my score this trip!

We then headed over to Fantasy Land!

Kenzie had a lot of "firsts" at this trip...

Her first time on Dumbo,

her first time on the Tea Cups...

and she was tall enough for the Matterhorn!

(That was NOT one of her favorite rides!)

They re-did Small World...

and I LOVED it! They added different Disney

characters to the ride, and they made it longer!

(yep LONGER!)

~

McKenzie was a little worried to go on the 

ride after going on Pirates!

Blake LOVED this ride and had fun

pointing out all the Disney characters!

He also learned the song real quick and is still

singing Small World!

Next the kids were So excited to ride the tea cups

(right after eating corn dogs!)

So Jeremy was nice enough to take all the

kids in one Tea Cup 

(the SPINNING Tea Cup!)

While Ryan, Kenzie, and Jeremy's

brother took it easy in the 

"non"- spinning tea cup!

They let Kenzie do all the spinning

After the guys took the older kids on Splash Mountain,

Britany and I got a Fast Pass for Indiana Jones!

Then while the guys went on Space Mountain

we took the kids BACK to Small World!

~

Here are all the kids in their new COOL Disney

T-shirts! (aka new pajamas) 

Blake, Maya, Kenzie, Kenyon, and Kai (Maya's cousin)

The guys had to leave early to meet the 

"team" at the airport. 

So Britany and I were brave and

stayed with the kids till after the parade!

~

Normally the parade is always at 

5 o'clock but this one didn't start

till 7:15! So while we waited we

ate dinner and TRIED to 

entertain the kids!

We had bought them these light up 

toys that were definitely a big hit with the kids!

Then, FINALLY the parade started!

They did it a little different this time...

they stop the parade and perform different dances for

about 10-15 min's.

They pull kids out of the audience to come dance with

them and all the characters!

Blake and Maya both got to go and join 

in on the dance!

(even though they didn't pick Kenzie, she decided

to go out and dance anyways!)

~Friday~

The dad's were in Santa Barbara running so 

we decided to stay "busy" with the kids.

Britany introduced me to H&M

(I know, I know I've NEVER been there!)

we drove a GOOD 20 mins to get to the mall

went to H&M and then the kids were DONE!

So we picked up lunch and ate it at some

random park with ducks!

~Saturday~

Britany and I met up with her sister in law and

friend at a really neat park!

While the kids played, us moms sat and 

ate Panera Bread (another place Britany got

me hooked on!)

When then took a little train around the park

They also had pony rides!

Blake decided he wanted to ride one of the BIG

horses! He had so much fun... Kenzie on the other hand

did not want to ride one.

(not even the pony's!)

He was SO excited to ride the black horse

because its just like Sugar!

(Sugar is the name of one of my dad's horses

that is the same color!)

Here are most of the kids minus two!

Blake, Kai, Kenyon, Maya, and Claire!

We then got a call from the dad's saying the race

was almost over so we piled in the car and HOPED 

the babies would take nap!

(here is what we looked like driving around CA!)

~Ragnar Relay~

Here is the team before the race

back row: Billy McGonagill, Travis Williams, Jeremy Galovich,

Wayne Bond, Ryan, Jeff Lee, and Tim Martin

front row: Rebecca McGonagill, Manami Rowley, Kaye Ashby,

Melissa Lee, and Amy Alexander

Here is Ryan's van members!

Ryan running one of his legs down the 

Pacific Coast Highway!

I can't get over the beautiful view they had

while running! So pretty!

We then met up with them at the finish line!

The race is 150+ miles and everyone runs 

their share of miles.

Ryan ended up running 12.5 miles!

The race started in Santa Barbara and ended

in Dana Pointe! They ran all along the Pacific 

Coast Highway! 

Their team finished 55th out of 108 teams!

Ryan and our sister- in -law Amy

both ran in it!

The finish line was in the parking lot of 

Salt Creek Beach so after the race we walked with

the kids down to the beach to play!

Of course we didn't plan on going to the beach so the kids 

didn't have their swim suits!

That didn't stop them from getting in the water! 

After the race the Galovich's and us went out

to eat with four wet kids!

Blake's shorts were SO wet he wore his

boxer briefs and a sweat shirt! ;)

~

Sunday morning the guys were too tired to 

wake up so Britany and I went shopping

at Orange County Swap Meet! 

We woke up at 6:30 and got there right

when they opened. (literally)

We had a few "scary" expeirences 

but all in all we had a nice break

from the kids after a long two days

of being a "single" mom!

We had such a fun weekend in Califorina

and I'm already to go back and spend more

time at the beach (with swimsuits)

this time! :)