Disney.

I love Disneyland. Love it. Who doesn't? It's like my Twilight or Harry Potter or Hobby Lobby or anything that I am entirely indifferent to. Everybody loves it (Dinneyland), including me, and I don't know why anyone--ANYONE--wouldn't. And don't say Asians. Or children. Or long lines. I have responses for each of those reasons. Disneyland is a science. A system that, with the right plan, can be worked. And we worked it. Last Friday, I quite possibly had the best day there I have ever had in my dozen plus trips to the magic mecca (and it's more than the fact that I finally took Elliott, who hadn't been since 1997... apparently). We went with our dental school friends, Kyndall and Brian and had a heyday. The weather was overcast, meaning we were dry but many people stayed home for fear of the rain coming.

Let me better illustrate what I mean by retelling the experience we had on a little ride called "Splash Mountain":

Ride Operator: Would you like to go again?

Us: Yes. 

Ride Operator: *Pushes button* 

Us: Wee!

...10 minutes later...

Different Ride Operator: Would you like to go again?

Us: Nah. Twice was good. Too cold. Too wet. 

Ride Operator: *Raises Eyebrows* Ooooohhhhkayy..?

Not to worry, we walked on every ride with the exception of *maybe* 3 or 4.

I think Elliott would even admit that he was converted.

By the way, planning a trip soon?

Get a fastpass at California Adventure for the "World of Color" light and water show. Amazing. Blows the Bellagio's show out of the water... No pun intended.

 Moving on.

 Day two was equally amazing as THAT was the day the real downpour came. However, it cleared up for several hours giving us just enough time to be a little merry and fly a kite on Huntington Beach.

Do you love our frog kite? Because we did.

 Elliott has his Free WIlly on. 

 Kyndall, the natural kite flier.

Brian, the natural bag holder. 

Lastly.

Have you eaten here?

(Scottsdale and Phoenix)

How about here?

(Old Town Scottsdale)

And how about here?

 (Newport and LA)

These restaurants are part of the Hillstone Restaurant Group. 

They are officially my favorite restaurants. Very similar, but each with it's own specialty items that set it apart from the other restaurants in the group. 

Houston's: French Dip made with prime rib, fresh ahi, tortilla soup

Bandera's: The cheeseburger, meatloaf sammy, and Carnita's sammy

Gulfstream: Mustard Barbecue Beef Ribs, and a house-made hot fudge sundae that will addict you so fast, before you know it, you're eating more than half of your friends' and embarrassing your husband because you were too stupid to order one yourself and will have to wait until the next time you go to California to get it and this makes you sad.

But motivated. 
We are so lucky to have such great friends who will let us stay with them at their aunt and uncle's amazing home!! It definitely made this trip much more affordable and possible! Thanks Kyndall and Brian. Until next adventure.