Bridging over THE bridge!

As a 5th grade Junior Girl Scout going on to becoming a 6th grade Cadet Girl Scout, Natalie and her troop were able to "bridge" across the Golden Gate Bridge this year. We met early in the morning at school, carpooled to the Presidio, boarded buses that dropped us off on the Sausalito side and then walked the 1.7 miles across the bridge, ending at a Girl Scouts festival at Chrissy Field. It was not easy keeping track of 15 girls in such a crowd (about seven thousand girls participated) but it sure was exciting to be a part of it.

 It doesn't get cooler than bridging over THIS bridge.

Lucky girls!

We have another winner!

Audrey won a character award for having a great sense of humor. I can't think of a character trait that will come in handier in her lifetime. So awesome!

Brooks bees!

We got honeybees! Corey has been researching and collecting supplies for months and months and it was finally time to go collect the colony last weekend. He painted and decorated the boxes and set up the hive in the backyard and then he and the girls drove to Sebastopol to collect the queen bee and her court! It has been fascinating watching them settle in and we can already taste the honey to come!

 Here kids...hold the swarm of bees!

 And then ride in the backseat with them.

Disneyland!!!

After waiting four long years, it was finally time to head back to Disneyland. What a FANTASTIC trip it was! The girls are the perfect age for Disneyland because they can just go and go and we can maximize our day there. We stayed in a hotel with a great pool and we never even saw it. Not once. We spent all of our time at the park! We arrived at the park as it opened and we left near closing every night. I think we managed to see everything we wanted to and more. It was very packed with people but we didn't really wait in super long lines which was such a pleasant surprise. Can't wait to go back!

 I think both girls, especially Audrey, would say that Autopia was their favorite ride (maybe tied with Pirates of the Caribbean!). I remember LOVING driving those Autopia cars as a kid and they loved it, too. The theme has changed but the course hasn't and the girls had so much fun driving over and under and through on all the winding roads! Audrey couldn't reach the gas pedal so she just steered but she'd get so mad at me when I wasn't pressing hard enough to make us go fast! I'm terrified of this one getting her learner's permit in seven short years!

 Even though we love most of the park, Adventure Land and Frontier Land are our favorites. So many things to see. I think we did the Indiana Jones ride three times and Pirates at least four.

 While Audrey and I started craving our daily churro the moment we woke up, Natalie's favorite was the giant $4 pickle. I have a feeling even if she didn't have a nut allergy she still would have chosen the pickle over the sweet treat. 

 We spotted this little family of ducks all over the park. First at the Matterhorn and later at Autopia. This mother duck somehow corralled her little flock among all the human feet!

 Audrey fell in love with Chip and Dale this trip (and the tradition of pin trading!)

 And Natalie, after a heart stopping ride on Guardians of the Galaxy in California Adventure, fell in love with Groot. After she and Corey finished the ride he was waiting outside on the street and they got some cool photos with him.

 And if Disneyland by day is amazing, Disneyland by night is even better. Such a pretty place to be when it's all lit up. It almost takes your mind of your aching feet!

 The Teacups at night. The best!

  And last but not least we had to visit Pixie Hollow. During our last visit the girls were at the height of their fairy mania around here. It's such a sweet little spot at Disneyland that I never would have known existed years ago if the girls hadn't have been so crazy for all things Tinkerbelle!

Until next time, Disneyland...