Hike to Hidden Falls (shhh....)

When Zoe was about 3 months old, we took a hike to a place called Hidden Falls.  Waterfalls aren't super easy to come by here in the Sacramento area, but I have a husband who is very determined and he found one that we could hike to.  I think what spawned the whole idea was that we had just watched  "Up" and a waterfall plays a pretty important part in that movie.  If you haven't seen it yet, please do.  Such a cute movie.  Anyway, Ryan got us all set up on this hike a couple years ago, and now well, I think it's a family tradition.  After we got back from our Disneyland trip, we decided to get a mini-van.  The whole sedan thing just wasn't cutting it anymore as far as family trips go.  Thus, this was kind of our first real family outing in our new van.  Oh, I'm so glad we got a van.  It makes everything (except saving money), so much easier.

 The last time we used this hiking backpack (which we absolutely love), Zoe was about the same age as Benson is now.  Except that that outing ended up with all getting soaked and Zoe with purple lips.  I think I blogged about that a long time ago when we were living in Idaho.

 Family in the foliage.

 The same bridge we stopped at when we hiked this a couple years ago.

 I'm so glad Zoe looks so happy here, because, truth be told, she was quite whiny a bit of the way and dragged her feet, literally, as we were going along.  I think she was glad to finally be at the waterfall after she heard us repeatedly say, "We're almost there."

 It really is quite a pretty waterfall.

 Lunch time!

 Beautiful Auburn, CA.

I got to carry the pack on the way out.  Both the kids were out by the time we got back to the van.  It was nice to just get them in their seats and throw everything else in the back.

Disneyland 2012

The last time we went to Disneyland, Zoe was only 8 months old.  We were due for another trip.  To make a long story short, we were able to get a time share exchange in San Diego.  We arrived on a Saturday and stayed until the following Saturday.  Because we were strapped for room in our little Corolla, we had to do without on some items, like a pack-n-play for example.  So what you see below is our attempt at a safe sleep area for Benson.  Our resort room had two bedrooms so Ryan and I were in one room and Zoe and my mother-in-law were in the other room.  This little arrangement below worked out quite well.  But thankfully I was able to meet up with one of my old roommates and she was able to lend us a pack-n-play for the week.  It was much better than our little get up.  Besides, I was a little worried Benson was going to find that he had easy access to the electrical sockets and would give us a vacation we'd never forget.  We decided to spend two days at Disneyland, recover the following day, go to the San Diego Zoo, recover again the day after that and then leave on Saturday.  Everything went so well and we had such a great time.  I think we'll do it again next year.

 Despite the non-expression on her face, she really was excited to go to Disneyland.

 We rode one "big kid" ride: Tower of Terror.  So much fun!  Thanks to my MIL for watching the kids while we stood in the line that never moved.

 Ok, it moved eventually because there we are.  We're in the middle row on the left.

 I love the Ferris Wheel.  Or, if you're Zoe, it's the "parents wheel."

 I was tempted to not even wait in line to see Jasmine and Aladdin since Zoe was sawing logs, but I think this picture turned out kinda cute.

 This is us with my old roommate Violet and her family.  Violet and I were roommates at both Ricks and BYU-Hawaii.

 What would vacation be without a little swimming?

 Or a burrito baby?

 This is on the air tram at the San Diego Zoo.  I think I could have ridden that all day long.

 My little bugs.

 Another old roommate, Jaime.  She loaned us the pack-n-play.  Thanks Jaime!

 A chilly day at Oceanside.  

 Going to go get a little wet with Daddy.

 Waiting..... waiting....

 All wet!

 My little Benster!

 More water!  Yay!

 My two favorite guys.

 The little princess on her steed.

And then there were the princesses.  I think Zoe was in heaven  meeting all her favorite princesses.

 Rapunzel.

 Snow White.

 Cinderella.

 Zoe's big sister Sleeping Beauty.  Zoe wore her Sleeping Beauty dress too.

 On the train around the park.  I'd never been on the train before.  What a cool way to relax and get from place to place!

 He was a little excited about it too!

 The lovely Ariel.

 Zoe dwarfed by two beautiful princesses, Ariel and Belle.

 Princess Tiana.

While the line to wait and see the princesses is torturously long, it was so worth it to see Zoe see her princesses in real life.  The Disney princesses were so awesome too.  They were so sweet to each little girl (and strange random grown men) that came through.  I felt a little guilty too because I think we spent a little too long at each princess and were kind of holding up the line, but in the end, I didn't really care.  It was a special day for my little princess.

Zoe ended up being my chauffeur at Autopia.  That was so much fun!