Downtown Disney.

After our Disney adventure we decided to briefly hit the pool to wear Elena out even more for her nap. Let's just say that worked like a charm! She took at 3 hour nap and we even had to wake her up so we could head to dinner!

We decided to head to Downtown Disney to check out the restaurants and shops. The path on the way was lined with an unbelievable amount of palm trees! It was absolutely gorgeous!

Then we reached Downtown Disney and imagine that -- more lines!! We had to wait in line for dinner. But there was some cool scenery to keep Elena distracted while we waited.
I forgot to take any pictures in the restaurant we ate in (must have been the margaritas!). It was called Tortilla Joe's and decorated really neat - complete with a wandering Mariachi band (we had one at our wedding!). After dinner we decided to walk around and check out some shops. We were going to head back to Disneyland but it was already getting pretty late and we knew we could see the fireworks from where we were at so we just hung around. This whole area is so pretty and fun!

Elena picked out a new friend - Pluto! She also got another lollipop - imagine that!

I picked up a couple fun things - an ornament with the year on it so we will always remember the year 1st brought Elena, and what I am most excited about - a Mickey shaped cookie cutter and pancake mold!! I will have to share some pics when I get to use them! (I searched high and low for this for Elena's Minnie Party last year!) Then it was firework time~

A perfect way to end our day!

The Happiest Place on Earth.

On Saturday morning we got up, ate breakfast and headed to the Happiest Place on Earth! :) Elena was fascinated by the castle and was so excited that we got to walk through it!

One of the first things we did was make sure to get Elena her own set of ears - she picked out an adorable pink hat and we got her name embroidered on the back!

Our first ride was the Carousel. I wish I would've got a picture of the entire thing! It was huge, and so beautiful!

Next we rode the tea cups. Elena insisted that we sit in a yellow cup!

She enjoyed them and as soon as we got off she wanted to go right back! She looks like Daddy may have been spinning a little too fast in the picture below though!

The lines were ridiculous, even for the little kiddie rides! Needless to say we didn't get to ride many more rides because a high-energy 2 year old can only last so long waiting in line! The Alice in Wonderland ride was one that we did wait in line for. Elena was getting pretty anxious throughout the wait but absolutely loved it! (At least we think so - most of the ride was glow-in-the-dark, so we couldn't really see her face!)

Then we headed to Toon Town to see Mickey and Minnie. Elena kept looking for the clubhouse like on the cartoon so we had to explain that it wasn't here but Mickey and Minnie's houses were!

First we waited in line for Minnie, we got in line right before they cut it off for her break so we got very lucky!! I am so glad too because Elena absolutely adored Minnie!! She ran up and gave her a huge hug!

Then she giggled and laughed with her and acted like they had been best friends forever! It was the sweetest thing!


Then we got to go through Minnie's house. I think this was possibly the highlight of Elena's day. She did not want to leave! We practically had to drag her out of there! When we walked in she turned back to Minnie and asked her to come inside and play with her!

Minnie's kitchen was the coolest!

When we finally got her out of there we decided to jump over to Mickey's house.

At Mickey's you go through his house first and then you walk into this huge room that is showing old cartoons, then before you know it it is time to meet Mickey. Smart, very smart.

Giggling with Mickey~

When we left she leaned over and kissed him on the nose! Too adorable!!!

Then we checked out Daisy's boat~

and Goofy's car and house~

Goofy had a really awesome playground in front of his house that Elena loved. She played and played and played. And since it was enclosed, Mommy and Daddy got to take a rest for a minute too!

Of course we had to get Elena one of the cool lollipops they had in all the little shops. This made her an even happier little girl! When we asked her later what her favorite part of the day was she replied - the wolli-pop! Really girl? Pretty sure we didn't need to come all the way to California to get you one of those!!

Believe it or not that is about all we had time for before she was worn out and ready for a nap! I was disappointed we didn't get to do more rides with her but there was no way we could wait for 45 minutes in line at each ride! That would have made one cranky little girl! She got to see Mickey and Minnie and that seemed to be all that mattered to her! :) We will definitely be going back when she is a little older!! We were going to head back later in the day but ended up hanging at the pool and going to Downtown Disney for dinner instead...