Maybe We DO Love Disneyland!!!

We haven't been back to Disneyland for 12 years...since Kristy graduated from high school and wanted it included in our California trip family vacation that summer.  I wasn't particularly drawn to crowds, standing in long lines and paying lots of money to do so...and then Rod and I were enticed to go with Hans, Amelia, Dezmond Cayman and Mila.  The enticings started on the beach in California in August.  Dezmond and I were sitting on the blanket after some pretty great boogie boarding when he asked, "Grandma, when are we going to Disneyland?"  I quickly replied, "We're not!  This grandma only goes to the beach!  That's why you have Grandma Penny...she likes to go to Disneyland!"  But a couple of months later, Amelia mentioned that they'd be going in October (they a year pass) and did Dad and I want to come.  Nope, that's when all of my hefty music stuff up north is going on!!  Another month later she asked, "What about December?  The kids really want you to come..."   How do you say no to that?!?!  So, Rod and I said yes, got a flight from St. George to LA so no long drive times, and made our plans!!  He even took off 2 days of teaching so we could go!!  And it couldn't have been more fun!!!  From the incredible greeting after we got through security and the grandkids spotted us. . . 

To the BEST tour guides (Hans and Amelia) directing where to go for this ride and that, the Fast Passes they had us purchase prior, and no waiting in lines hardly ever!! 

GREAT!!  Got our hair wet on the second ride of the day!  Our hair's going to be beautiful for all the other pictures!!  *_*  

We went on the Incredi-Coaster (thankfully, I took some Dramamine before arriving at Disneyland!) and LOVED it!  And all of the other really cool rides!!  Dezmond wasn't terribly thrilled with Guardians, but he did it and was glad, after the fact!!

 

 

The longest wait was 20 minutes for Dumbo!!  *_*

 

MILA LOVED BEING WITH GRANDPA!!

 

We always managed to be in the right place for the street performances...the Tin Soldiers were great!  So was the Jalopy Swing/Jazz group that stopped and played several songs right in front of us!!!

So much fun...all day long...

And even all night long...

. . . the grandkids crashed sooner than the adults . . . but it was good timing! 
The adults were ready to go home, too!!

DISNEYLAND WAS GREAT!!!

Cancun and the Yucatan Peninsula!!

Flying out of the country for the first time since our marriage in December 1979...nearly 40 years ago!!  The trip started out in the planning stages in March of this year, when Kristy was going to be the only one home for Thanksgiving since all the other kids would be at the in-laws for Thanksgiving.  Well, things really changed!!  Kristy got MARRIED the week before our trip...her then-friend was now her husband...and we had tickets for THREE!!   We ended up getting a 4th ticket, but Nate's flight was a day behind ours...so we had our flight and first day in Cancun with Kristy.  

 We went to church in Cancun (I even got to play the piano since the chorister looked around and couldn't see anyone to accompany...so I stood up, our eyes met and lots of communication took place without any words!)  After the meeting, we took some lunch fixings and found a beautiful beach...everything was picture perfect, except it was Sunday and we wouldn't be going swimming...

 

 

An the beach in Tulum...water wasn't like Cancun...more muddy looking... Went to some ruins in Tulum...


 Xel-ha was a lot of fun...little zip line, lots of snorkling, and buffet took the whole day!

 On Wednesday, we met up with Kristy and Nate at the Temple in Merida, Yucatan Peninsula.

   

Went to lunch together then headed our separate ways...

 
 Interesting sites on the way to Valladolid...

Some great looking pastries, but not sure what much of anything was...so opted for some things we knew...

Then a snorkeling trip in Puerto Morales...on Thanksgiving Day... with turkey slices sandwiches and Mexican Cheetos for our Thanksgiving Dinner...definitely memorable!

 Our last two nights of our trip were spent in Cancun at a beautiful Airbnb.  Great way to top off our memorable trip!

DELICIOUS pizza on the Hotelera Zona...and dancing by ourselves to some Jack Johnson music...delightful!

 Our final day was spent doing a tour of Ek Balam...some impressive ruins

 

 The cat who thought she was a dog...*_*

Flying home...at last...with Kristy AND Nate!!!

 

 Ahhhh, HOME, at last!!

FINALLY!!!  Clean water I can drink from a fountain!!

Glad we went, but more glad to be home!!