Knotts Berry Farm 2011

Friday after the kids got off of school we loaded up and stopped at the store for some lunch and snacks before hitting the road. But at exactly 4pm we were getting on the freeway and heading towards California!


The sky looked like this:


And 30 mins into our trip is starting raining and pretty much rained on use the entire rest of the trip.


We only made one stop and that was 2 hours in... just to potty, gas up, and switch Arielle's seat to the middle next to Atalie so that the 3 older kids could all be together in the back. Oh yes... we my nephew Ducky too. I don't have 5 kids... although it wouldn't really matter because I practically own the kid now anyway.

The next morning we were up bright and early... and when I say bright and early... I mean Jr had me up at 5:50am to shower. We still didn't end up leaving the house until 9:30am but for us that is record time! We usually don't roll into Knott's until almost Noon.


We made a quick stop at the McDonalds across the street from the amusement park because although we made sure that the kids were very well fed before we left, us adults needed some nourishment too.


Once we got inside the picture spree began... would you expect anything less from me?




We were standing around when I hear a voice from behind me say, "Tia, turn around and take a picture!" And when I turned I found Diego and Ducky JUST like this! (They MUST be my kids! I am so proud!)


Then first stop was Camp Snoopy!


The kids got to meet characters right away




But getting on rides was what they were excited for!








What I love the most about Knott's is how much fun the kids have. And Atalie was a perfect angel the entire day too. But she is perfect every single day so this was nothing different. I love how easy she is!




In Camp Snoopy they always have something fun for the kids to do to win prizes. Last time we went it was a safari themed scavenger hunt where at each checkpoint the kids got a safari themed prize. This time it was sports themed. And each checkpoint they had to complete a different sports related task. At the end they got a free Snoopy water bottle and coupon for a $6 Tshirt. So we all ended up buying the kids their shirts and of course they all had to wear them right away.




We spent a couple hours in there and then my Dad and the rest of the family arrived. Which meant more pictures duh!














And then it was decided that the adults needed some fun too so we started to ride the bigger rides. Good thing all the older kids (Brianna, Tallynna, Diego, Noe, and Anthony) are daredevils and ride all the roller coasters too. There is not a ride they won't get on as long as they are tall enough!

So we had the guys stay off with the babies and little kids...


And we had fun getting on our favorite coasters and some new ones we hadn't tried too




But all that fun makes us hungry... lunchtime!








After lunch it was decided that we ride Ghostrider... that has to be my favorite ride. I had two brave boys waiting with me in line.


After the ride we took a little break and my cousin Crystal snapped a whole bunch of awesome pictures of my little Atalie.








Then my cousins Thalia and Crystal watched my 3 girls so that Jr and I could ride the Silver Bullet...








The rest of time was spent sitting on benches in Camp Snoopy while the kids rode more rides


Fantastic day... but we were pooped!

Sea World Day 2

Fourth of July! Everyone was decked out in their shirts my mother-in-law bought us for our trip. We all matched.


Even my Dad matched on accident. He had bought the same shirt but in black... whereas my mother-in-law bought us all red.


My nephew Ducky, Arielle, Diego, and my niece Mia


We were all in for a surprise when Jr decided he wanted to meet us in San Diego. So he flew down and we picked him up from the airport on the way to Sea World for our 2nd day. The girls were so surprised and excited. Especially Miss Arielle... who looked at him amazed and with a big smile on her face.

After another good breakfast we got in line for a show.






This little girl was sure glad to have her Daddy


And I was sure glad to have my honey back


Our first show of the day was Cirque de la Mer. That was funny too. The kids again didn't care for it.


After the show we got seperated from the group and Ducky had been asking to see Shamu since we had gotten there. So off we went. Him and Layna, the identical DNA babies, were so happy. They walked skipped hand in hand and people kept telling me how cute my twins were. LOL




Shamu was awesome. I guess I never realized you could see him from his tank. When he kept swimming right up to us I was so blown away I forgot to take pictures for a while. But then I got some shots since he kept coming right back to us.


Ducky was very happy


After about an our of watching Shamu... we met back up with the group for lunch. Where Arie decided that drinking ranch would be a meal enough.


She quite enjoyed it...


And my baby posed with her favorite thing in the entire world... milk! Man this girl cannot function without milk. She can drink a gallon a day if I let her.


My little firecrackers


Alayna and Mia


As you can tell the day stayed gloomy and it was very cold. Cold enough that I had to buy Jr a Sea World sweater (that is actually mine now of course) for $25 so he could be warm.

(At the Atlantis ride they have this machine where for 25 cents you can set off a cannon of water to splash people after they come down. Jr had fun doing that for a while. Evil I tell ya.)

And cold as it was that didn't stop any of us from riding Atlantis a million more times.


But I ain't no dummy... I bought us ponchos so we could at least stay a bit dry. It totally helped.


Crazy boys... they went just the Ducky is. And weren't even complaining about being cold. I think I was more worried about them than they were about themselves.


When it finally got dark we took all the kids to change them into their warm clothes and have some dinner. We also rode the Artic ride. It's like a virtual reality type thing. It simulates a helicopter ride in the Artic. Alayna's face was priceless throughout the whole thing. I could NOT stop laughing. Jr had to tell me to be quiet a few times but neither of us could hold in our loaughter. All she could say was "whoa, whoa" as her face went from calm to on the verge of tears. Hilarious!

While we were having dinner the fireworks show started and the kids loved watching them. My Layna was mesmerized.


And the skytower got all lit up pretty


And when we were all done for the night we got to do our souvenier shopping. Everyone got necklaces. We bought Diego a shark necklace.

Alayna got this pretty dolphin... in pink of course.


Arielle wanted a dolphin too so I gave her a few choices different from Alayna's and she chose this one. And in pink too.


And Mommy got a starfish... I had eyed it since the first day there and I just had to have it.