Disneyland

I've always wanted to go to Disneyland in the fall to see the Halloween decorations. We loved seeing our old favorites with a Halloween twist.

Memorable Quote: "We don't sell THAT here!!" The semi-shocked reaction of the lady in the Disney health clinic when I inquired about the possibility of buying Sudafed for my developing cold. Yes, I know it's used to make meth, but I only wanted two pills!

Yo, ho, yo, ho a pirate's life for me!

Memorable moment: Realizing the true message behind the story. Pinocchio turns into a donkey after too much acting and video games. Oh the irony Disney!

None of my girls would pose with the princess, so I have a picture of this random child instead.

Iron Men

The other thing I've always wanted to do at Disneyland was eat at the Blue Bayou. Riding in the pirate boats, I'd look over at the diners and want to join them. As a kid we never went because it was too expensive. As an adult we never went because it was too expensive and our children wouldn't have eaten anything there anyway. But this was the year. So fun to finally go inside and sit down. This trip made me a fan of having a nice sit down meal in the park. Having time to sit and eat a good meal in the middle of a big day with lots of walking is a good way to recharge, relax and be ready for the rest of the day.

The Haunted Mansion!

I could never get a good picture of these two, but I loved their costumes!

Memorable Quote:  "Last time to take pictures of Disneyland. Yeeaah!" Our tram driver on the way back to the parking structure.

Normally I'm not a big fan of man-made places, but Disneyland is the exception. Can't wait to come back someday--maybe to see the Christmas decorations!

California Dreamin'

It seems like a dream now, but in October we went to California and Disneyland.  We collected some memorable quotes along the way. 

Here are two:

"A bum!!" Krysta after seeing someone change out of a wet suit in the beach parking lot.

"No shame in that. These are awesome!" A surfer beach dude named Kevin who was our cashier at Trader Joe's commenting on our cheese puff purchase.

We love road trips!

Bonnie and Clyde's last car with the actual bullet holes. It's displayed just south of Vegas at Whiskey Pete's. It's kind of creepy and fascinating. There was an entire display about their lives and the history of the time. As much education (of the good kind) as you can get in a casino.

Newport Beach Marriott

 We made it to the coast just in time to enjoy the evening on the beach.

Best Deer Camp!

BEST DEER HUNT EVER! And this is the reason:

O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'

  We chortled in our joy.

An actual bathroom with walls and everything! And inspite of it being a pit toilet and at the end of the season, it DID NOT SMELL! Graf girls have waited almost 30 years to witness such a deer hunt miracle.

And, has thou slain the Jabberwock? No. No, we did not slay a deer. But we saw some on the far hill, so good enough. Did I mention the Bathroom?  Like I said--BEST DEER CAMP EVER! (Even being woken up at 4:00 in the morning did not dampen our joy.) `Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
  Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
  And the mome raths outgrabe. And here's a few pictures to prove it.

Look! An actual veritable freeway. We finally get a good 4-wheel drive vehicle and the camp is up a road that we could actually take a car. As opposed to some of the places where we HAVE taken a car!

And one more glimpse of our favorite part of camp.

Graf girls we hope to see more of you at our new fabulous deer camp next year!