(LONG POST WARNING)
Girls Trip 2022 was definitely a success.
We didn't have ALL of the Wegener girls... and we missed those who couldn't make it, but we definitely made some incredible memories with those who did come.
My girls and I had talked on and off about how fun it would be to do a girls trip with a big group.
+
My mama's 80th birthday was coming up, so we combined them both for one big party!
It took some planning and coordinating, but we made it!
The flight to LAX was uneventful... just how I like it. haha
I had rented a 15 passenger van... this became a source of contention because there were 18 of us... and no van was going to fit ALL 18 of us. I was already a little nervous about driving said van in LA... but I couldn't drive a bus.
In the end it all worked out and we got where we needed to be.
I needed a "right wing" and a "left wing" to help me change lanes haha
And the $6.59 per gallon gas was disgusting... but thankfully we all survived.
A word of advice... when renting a 15 passenger van... be aware that it will accommodate 15 passengers... NOT 15 passengers + their luggage. We had to play some serious tetris to get it all in!!
(This picture is arriving back at the airport to head home.)
We didn't all arrive on the same flight, so we had a to kill a little time and then go back to pick up Kimi and her girls at the airport. Our first stop was Randy's Donuts, Grandma treated us to donuts for the next morning.
Then we stopped at "Woody's Bar B Que" for dinner.
It was yummy and messy. And we definitely looked like tourists cuz we didn't know what to order. haha
After picking up Kimi we made in to the Anaheim Clarion and checked in.
The next morning we loaded up the van and headed to Newport Beach for the day.
My mom had decided she wouldn't love a day in the sun... riding bikes etc. so she stayed at the hotel.
I still feel bad that the plans for food didn't work out for her this day. Basically we left Grandma starving at the hotel while we were off playing.
Happy Birthday Trip Mom (insert sad face here.)
It was a perfect over cast morning and we had such a fun time riding bikes and admiring all the beautiful homes along the beach.
(I'd totally ride bikes more often if it was completely flat like that. haha)
After a few hours of riding we stopped for lunch at "Tacos Cancun".
It was yummy and we all ate, rested and relaxed in this pavillion.
The sun was out, a totally perfect day!
The kids LOVED playing in the waves and we loved watching them.
An overall great day at the beach!
Mango "beach" vendors are our favorite!
I take that back... beach Mia is my favorite.
We hurried back to get my starving mom to take her to dinner.
We tried the Anaheim Packing District and WOW what a gem!
There were enough restaurants and delicious looking food to go there every night in Anaheim.
I would HIGHLY recommend.
My poor mom had something stuck in her throat (it keeps happening). So she didn't want to eat anything :( All she would "eat" was a little cup of "melted butter" because I had read that it might push whatever was in her throat down... She must have been starving by now!!
Also... Raegan was having the time of her life as you can see. hahaha
Bright and early the next morning we walked to California Adventure.
My mom got set up on the Anaheim Resort Tram which worked out great.
We all got there (minus Grandma) and got in line... once everyone was in the park and waiting for rope drop my mom rode the tram over. I waited for her at the front gate, put her in the wheelchair that we had rented for her and they let me rush her to the front (down the side) with our family just in time!!!
We had planned on running to Cars... but heard it was closed so we made the last second decision to hit Web Slingers.
We had such a fun day at California Adventure!!
A big thanks to Kayce for our cute matching shirts!
Mirabel was adorable!
YAY for being able to have character greetings again!
We had lots and lots and lots of yummy treats and food throughout both days of course.
(too many pictures to post ;))
My girls know and plan out all their eats for the day!! hahaha
We waited in line for about 50 minutes for Luigi's...
And close to an hour for Cars... it could have been MUCH longer if we hadn't seen it reopen and ran for it.
But... basically both of those lines we could have pushed my mama in the wheelchair through... then her legs wouldn't have been as tired... and she probably would have lasted longer that day. :(
Lesson learned.
We did much better the next day at Disneyland!
What a great ride!!
Mac n cheese cones.
Kenna's favorite sandwich...
and my favorite girls!
I was lucky enough to catch a reservation for 2 a couple days before we left (I'd been looking everyday for the last month).
I took my mom for lobster nachos.
Now ours didn't look like this picture I found haha Cuz luckily we put the jalapenos and sauce on the side or my mama wouldn't have liked it quite as much (too spicey!)
It was a nice, relaxing, cool place for lunch.
+ amazingly delicious. I crave these nachos!!
Kenna requested I bring her the french toast donuts that you can only get there.
We did great with the rider swap and had it down pretty good.
Combining those with Genie Plus meant 6 got to go twice on each big ride.
But on the incredicoaster... the rider swap passes didn't get put on Tay and Paige's account.
The lady letting us on wasn't very nice... and we weren't nice back.
Poor Syd was bawling because they wouldn't let her go... she was MAYBE 1/8" too short.
The first time they even let her through and then kicked her out right before she got on.
Obviously Kimi didn't get to go that first time so she lost her lightening lane entrance.
Since the lady was already bugged about us being bugged about Sydney... then she thought we were lying about not already using passes and some not getting put on etc.
Brawls at California Adventure! JK JK
Also we are missing lots of ride pictures... I think we waited too long to download them?? :(
It was a fantastic day at California Adventure!!
After a quick sleep (haha) we were back for rope drop @ Disneyland.
I was waiting for my mama at the front gate. Unfortunately the tram was full so she was late getting there
We caught up pretty fast to the rest of the group... after running all over the park trying to find out where they had actually gone, because their plans kept changing due to closures.
We started out the day @ Big Thunder.
Such a fun ride!
Somehow we didn't get one picture of my mom in the wheelchair??? but there she is to the right of us. haha
An expensive Diet Coke to start out the day was a must for Kenna.
Mickey Beignets
The Jolly Holiday Cafe for lunch was fabulous. That birria sandwich is FANTASTIC!
My mom had the fried green tomato sandwich from the Hungry Bear Restaurant.
We didn't think we'd be able to make it on "Rise of the Resistance". Since it was closed for rope drop and the wait times were really long throughout the day. We ended up only waiting 45 minutes for it though and it was totally worth it!
There were a few times that we cheated the system A LITTLE. Jungle cruise was one of them. Because you can't push a wheelchair through the jungle cruise ride or Indiana Jones... you can sign up for a return time with the wheelchair and 6 other guests. Skye also had a wheelchair for a stress fracture in her shin, but she could have walked. ANYWAY... we signed them both up and came right back at our times to get on.
(We also learned that you can take a wheelchair to the exit of rides like snow white and 6 guests can get on with you through the exit... I don't think Kimi liked that we were teaching her kids to cheat... but she let them ride hahaha)
Mia loved this ride and would "trumpet" like an elephant whenever she saw one without any coaching from us!
Such a good time!!
Mia did not understand the need for taking a picture of food... before eating the food. hahaha
Splash is such a good ride! I brought disposable rain ponchos for this ride.
Even with the ponchos.
Jadyn still hates it. hahahaha
Why is this our only picture??
But it's the best picture! There's Jadyn in the front... hiding from the water + the picture. haha
She was furious about having to ride in the front!
We made sure to get a group picture before Grandma headed home for the day!!
I hope she had as much fun as we had having her there!
Mia LOVES Mickey.
Mia's favorite show is Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.
Mia was "fangirling" over Mickey from afar.
But Mia was a pretty leery of her idol up close.
haha
Kate got to stay til' close with us!
I think she thinks we're all a little crazy, but she had fun anyway. haha
The next morning we checked out and headed to Downtown Disney before our flight that evening.
We did some shopping and exploring, then ate at Naples.
Grandma treated us to lunch which included a couple pizzas like this...
And Birthday desserts for both of us.
Mine was this day (the 18th) and my mom's is the 22nd.
An all around fun exhausting trip!
We were anxious to get home.
So the 3 hour delay sitting on the tarmac wasn't that much fun.
Nor was the guy in front of me puking those 3 hours + the flight.
Nor was getting to church 4 hours after making it home.
+ it wasn't that great that I ended up with COVID 2 days later + Becky who was SUPER sick with it.
But minus THAT... it was FABULOUS.
I'm so grateful that we got to go altogether.
I hope it was a birthday present that my mama remembers fondly because we sure will!!
