Second Fall Break - Arches National Park

It all started with an email we received about a month ago from the boys' school (a wonderful school, but not always completely together on the details if you know what I mean) explaining that there was a mixup in the school calendar and Fall Break was actually the week after the dates published in the calendar. This was problematic for the Morningstar family, since we already had our Disneyland reservations for the incorrectly published earlier dates. So, this year, the Morningstars enjoyed two consecutive long weekends away!

Unfortunately, having already been gone the week before, another few days away from work wasn't going to work out for lame-o breadwinner Mommy, so super-intrepid Daddy took our pack down to Moab for a few days!

I think that they really mourned my absence, as evidenced by this conversation upon their return:

Mommy: Did you miss me while you were in Arches, Sam?
Sam: Umm... uuuhhh... I better not answer that

Ah, that Sam, always the charmer.

My pack was well cared for by several other church families who all met up at our favorite Moab campground and, judging by the pictures, they did limp along fairly well without me :)

They did all of the requisite favorite Arches family activities:

Leaping from high heights

Running down sand hills

Looking adorable

And lots of hiking (we always get more hiking photos of the little ones since they're generally tethered to us)

And, best of all, they all returned home safe and sound and reasonably sane.

We should do this two fall break thing more often...

Legoland

Despite (or perhaps because of) the lack of photographic evidence, the boys really did have a great time at Disneyland. And "on the way" home, we stopped in Legoland California for a little more fun, this time with (rightful) emphasis on magical hunks of plastic rather than frilly princesses.

This was actually my second trip to Legoland. In 2007, my darling friend Cindy and I took a long-weekend roadtrip with our boys out to Cali to hit Legoland. It was fantastic! The boys have changed a lot in those 4 years, but their love for Legos still burns bright.

One thing that hasn't changed is Sam's insatiable appetite for Miniland. This is the part of Legoland where they make miniature cityscapes out of Legos. For most of us, it's interesting for about 45 seconds. Sam could stay there for hours.

I remember during our first visit four years ago, after what seemed like 20 or 30 hours in Miniland (and time moves slowly in there), Ben blurted out, "Sam, why do you gotta like that boring stuff?" Not much has changed... except now they have Star Wars scenes in Miniland which is interesting... for about 45 seconds.

Sam is thrilled

Sam is thrilled.  Ben (unsuccessfully) feigns enthusiasm

Sam is thrilled (are you detecting a pattern?)

Finally the kids find something they can all enjoy (these are their fierce faces)

The big winner of the trip was undoubtedly driving the little Lego cars.  The irony of driving 12 hours in a real car only to drive little cars around for 2 minutes does not escape me, but the kids liked it, so who am I to judge?

Ben's driving is... terrifying.  He never really got the hang of the whole turning radius concept and had to be rescued several times by the handlers.  I'm still not sure whether or not he crashed on purpose jut for the fun of it, but regardless I'm grateful that he's only halfway to his driver's license.

Ben prefers trial and error to taking the sign's word for it that the road isn't wide enough for a u-turn

Collision #2

Sam, on the other hand, puttered happily around the course with nary a bump to the other children's cars

Sasha matched Ben accident-for-accident.  No surprises there, those two are peas in a pod!

WanYing was the happiest of all of our drivers, which is kind of funny considering her car didn't move.

Sasha and Sam proudly display their licenses.  Well done, kiddos!

We had a great day at Legoland, and it was a perfect capstone to a fantastic family getaway.

Assorted Disneyland Adorableness

This is my last post filled with gratuitous Disneyland cuteness, I promise... but I just couldn't resist sharing these! I recognize that the boys are rather conspicuously absent from the majority of our Disneyland shots. I blame this on a few factors:

1. They don't really like having their photos taken, especially with princesses or large stuffed animals.  Note that in this particular "family" picture, Sam is missing and Ben is wearing a helmet and sticking a sword into his eye.  Charming.
2. They are fleet of foot when cameras come out
3. They spend most of their time on rides, which are hard to photograph

But, never you fear, our Legoland shots figure the male Morningstars prominently!

I totally love this progression of shots on the California Adventure Precariously Swinging Ferris Wheel (it probably has another name, but darned if I know what it is):

Step 1 - WanYing isn't so sure about this but pretends to enjoy it

Step 2 - WanYing braces herself

Step 3 - Hold me, Mom!

Step 4 - Sasha and Sam can't get enough.  Ever.

Rock hard ice cream sandwiches are really hard to eat when you're missing all of your front teeth

A study in differences:

The girls eagerly anticipate It's a Small World.  Daddy pretends to, but I see fear in those eyes.

The boys unashamedly display their terror

Pin trading was a big theme for Ben this trip and he even had one that the big time traders were interested in (although he wisely decided to keep it)

Daddy's Halloween costume

Mommy clearly loves the teacups

Now that's a loving grandfather!

WanYing may not have liked the fuzzy characters (who can blame her?) but she loved the princesses!

Sigh.  I love these girls!

Another set of giant princess smiles

It was a wonderful trip... although I think maybe it's time to take a little Disney hiatus and maybe visit some place real next...