Ketchup, Catsup, Catch Up!

Any way you say it, I've been way behind in my blogging.

After wrapping up Toy Story 3, David wanted an escape from Salt Lake and the studio.  (Hurray for completing the game, by the way!)  So we headed west, again, to Disneyland!  I'm not sure if he counted on running into so many other co-workers and their families who had the same idea!  But the place was crawling with DIS employees.  It was especially great to play with the Giles at the Park.

We laughed our way through the Parks with the Bleaks.  (sidenote: Teishi and Angela rediscovered a common love for really terrible 1990s music.  Come on, Surface and Mint Condition?  Has anyone but the two of us even heard of them?)

Natalie and Emme spent a day and, let me tell you, there is nothing sweeter than these two girls playing together in Disneyland.  The boogied down in the Enchanted Tiki Room and giggled the day away.  And, as two little girls who both have mommies with big cameras, knew exactly how to ham it up right on cue!

My cousin, Kirstin, and her family met up with us, too.  But this active family moves way faster than our snail's pace.  They crisscrossed the Park and we met now and then to watch Brett devour a [grody] turkey leg and let Cambria teach Amelia how to pose for the camera.  So fun!

Every trip to SoCal we hope to catch a glimpse of the Hatch family and this time we actually spent some quality time in the Parks.  I think they have the most beautiful sun-kissed family around.

And... drumroll, please... we lunched at Club 33!  It was beyond amazing and might just deserve its own blog entry.  So glad that we were able to share the experience with family.  A thousand thanks to Katherine and her connections for the hookup!  I have every intention of making this an annual adventure.

(From here on out - the photos that should be seen are being held captive on our other Mac.  I can see them, I can copy them, but they refuse to transfer and work as photos should.  As soon as we fix this, I'll insert the photos into the blog.   I am super mad about this.)

Allen and his friend, Cecily, came to play, too.  (Did I mention this was a crazy trip?)  Somehow the day they visited was "Bat Day" - a day when goth enthusiasts gather at Disneyland.  Let me tell you, it was a very odd to see - goth parasols, six-inch soled boots, steampunk style, gas masks, walking canes, black eyeliner for miles, etc. set against a "Happiest Place on Earth" backdrop.  And the Haunted Mansion turned into some kind of rave when the sun when down!

We even spent time with the FitzRandolfs.  (Tim worked with David until a recent move back to the Glendale studio.)  Amelia and Sarah had a language all their own!

As an anniversary treat to ourselves we spent the tail end of our trip at DIsney's Grand Californian. Now that we've done it, we're convinced that there's no other way to do Disney!  It was spectacular and the best part was having grandma Lorla join us for a night.  Amelia and Lorla spent quality time on the balcony having a tea party and counting/cleaning the coins in her new sock coin purse.  (Grandma Lorla's nickname is now "Money Bags".)

Tagged onto the Disneyland trip was an escape to Oceanside for Gracey, Beckham, and Justin's birthday party.  What fun to play with the Mays for the afternoon.