Wednesday, January 24, 2024: Late start because of me, James blow dries my hair but he can't curl it, California Adventure, Yesterday a perfect day, today it's overcast,

Idaho Falls, Idaho

8th operating temple

Dedicated: 23-25 Sep 1945

By: George Albert Smith

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 13:20-42

16 -And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld that the Gentiles who had gone forth out of captivity did humble themselves before the Lord and the power of the Lord was with them.

Come Follow Me

1 Nephi 12-14 "I can be 'armed with righteousness' and power."

October General Conference

"Jesus Christ is the Treasure" by Elder Dale G. Renlund

Today is California Adventure day. We feel like we've already been on a California Adventure navigating the freeways. We slept in and I was moving slow and couldn't lift my right arm to wash my hair or do my hair. 

James took the girls down to breakfast and brought me back a bacon, cheese omelet. After I was finished eating I asked James to blow dry my hair, using the brush and blow dryer. He did a good job but when I asked him to curl my hair, that was a different story. He "bent" my hair so I had to take over. Luckily my arm was feeling better and I could lift it, somewhat.

Finally, I am ready. Everyone else was waiting for me. We parked in the main "Donald Duck" parking lot today.

We headed for California Adventure and got behind a group of school kids all carry "see-thru" backpacks. They stopped and we kept going. 

The first ride we headed for was "Soarin' Over the World" which use to be "Soarin' Over California." The line wasn't too long, but even though this is my favorite ride, I just couldn't stand in another line. We tried to get me a scooter but we would have had to go back out and over to Disneyland to get it. 

I sat outside the ride and enjoyed watching people while Lola, Ruby, and James enjoyed the ride. It is James's favorite and he was sad I didn't go with him. I'm sorry honey, I just wasn't up to it.

James and the girls went on ahead of me. They went on the Little Mermaid ride while I got one of Disney's famous corndogs. Brian and Kim highly recommend them. Brian told James if he got one, Brian would pay for it because he loves them so much. 

James tried my corndog and said it was too greasy for him and why was there so much cornmeal? I told him that was what made it so good. The girls went on the Zepplin ride and then the swings. Lola loved the swings so much that they went again. 

As we were walking Sully and Mike came out. They are the main characters for the movie, "Monsters, Inc." There was a little girl there with her parents and she had on a Boo costume. Here are some pictures.

We didn't want to wait in line so James took

these pictures

Lola and I went on the big ferris wheel while James and Ruby rode the roller coaster. I told Lola we had to get in the line where the cages didn't rock because I would get dizzy if we got in a rocking cage. The line wasn't too long in the non-rocking line, not nearly as long as the rocking line.

We were put in a "cage" with two women from Australia, a mother and a daughter. They were from Sydney and the younger woman was here with her kids on summer break. It is 104 degrees in Sydney right now. They were very nice to visit with and I am glad we met them, although I looked at Lola and she seemed a little bored.

As we were making our way to Cars Land Ruby stopped at the Abominable Snowman ice cream stand to get a "Dole Whip." She got a mango and so did Lola. James and I shared a lemon one. They didn't have any pineapple. At first the lemon was too tart but after awhile I got used to it and it tasted better.

Ruby and Lola and their "Dole Whips"

I told James and the girls go ahead over to the Cars ride and I would follow at my own pace. As I was walking along I saw a familiar face, Michelle Skinner. Michelle was with her husband. I don't know his name. They live in the valley and they have a summer home in Vernon and come up from time to time. When Michelle saw me she immediately came over and gave me a hug. They have family coming but had the opportunity to come alone today. I told her what I was doing and we talked a few minutes before going our separate ways. This made my day, especially since Michelle, someone I barely know, seemed so happy to see me.

Lola loved the Cars ride so much she and Ruby went on it again. James and I waited at Flo's V8 Diner for them. When they arrived we ordered lunch. It was rather disappointing. The chicken tenders were tough and the mac and cheese was dry. The fries were good. Lola and Ruby went on the Maynard's Junkyard ride and seemed to have a lot of fun.

Lola really wanted to go on the Monsters Inc. ride so we headed in that direction. Again, I waited outside while the three musketeers went on the ride. I sat by a fountain outside the ride and next to a stage where a band called "Galaxy" performed. Lola had to make a trip to the bathroom while she was in line so I was glad I was out here to take her. 

James and I were ready to head back to the hotel but Ruby wanted to go on Guardians of the Galaxy which used to be Tower of Terror until Disney bought Marvel. Ruby talked Lola in to going with her. Lola was feeling brave and since it wasn't a roller coaster she said she would go.

James and I found a place to sit on main street and watched a Mulan parade. Ruby and Lola were in line for over an hour. When they found us, Lola was crying and said she hated the ride. She was made at Ruby. I told her that Ruby didn't do it to be mean to her, but she thought she would like the ride. I told her about the time I went skiing with Grandpa and he made me climb clear to the top to go down the run. I told her I fell all the way down the hill and was so made at Grandpa until I realized that he loved me and really thought I could ski better than I did. After a few hugs and trying to comfort her, Lola calmed down. She and Ruby went shopping in the nearby Five & Dime. Ruby bought herself a little Stitch to sit on her shoulder, Lola a photo album and Addy and Rowan both key chains. 

Ruby always thinks of others.

Before going back to the hotel we stopped at the Taco Bell on Harbor for dinner. I had a soft taco supreme and loved it. It was just as much as I needed.

Back at the hotel we got ready for bed, made hot chocolate, read scriptures and had family prayer before going to bed.

 

Tuesday, January 23, 2024: Happy 76th Birthday James! Breakfast w/ girls is fun, On to Disneyland, Lola & I go to Pirates, J & R To Rise of the Resistance, busy, crowded day, exhausted

Mesa, Arizona

7th operating temple

Dedicated: 23-26 Oct 1927

By: Heber J. Grant

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 13:1-19

Come Follow Me

1 Nephi 11 God sent Jesus Christ as an expression of His love.

October General Conference

"Our Constant Companion" by President Henry B. Eyring

Happy 76th Birthday!

Such a privilege to spend the day with

such great people!

We all went down to breakfast together. James and I both had made-to-order omelets. Mine had bacon and cheese. James's had lots of greens. He thought one of those greens was bell pepper but it was actually jalapeno so it was a little warm.

The girls had waffles and Lola also had sausage and bacon. I had strawberry-kiwi flavored water. Lola had apple juice and Ruby and James had guava-passion fruit. 

Back in the room we brushed our teeth and got ready to leave for Disneyland. I said the family prayer. 

We drove up Harbor Blvd. and we were directed to park in a parking lot on Convention Way. We were in the Woody 9A section and after having our bags searched and James "wanded down" we rode the bus over to the Disney plaza between Disneyland and California Adventure.

James and Ruby headed for the Star Wars ride "The Rise of the Resistance". Lola did not want to go. We were in Adventureland so we went on "Pirates of the Caribbean." 

"Haunted Mansion" and "Splash Mountain" were both close for refurbishment so we went on the "Winnie-the-Pooh" ride. It was better than I remembered. The hard part for me was folding myself into the seat where there was very little leg room and then getting out again. 

We were waiting for Ruby and James and so we walked back towards the entrance of Adventureland where we parted ways. Lola climbed up to the tree house as seen in the movie "Swiss Family Robinson." She was supposed to climb to the top but I never saw her make it. I got this picture:

Where is Lola?

When Ruby and James finally finished their ride and caught up with us, they opened the Jungle Book ride and we decided to go on it. Lola was disappointed that the Indiana Jones ride was closed. I was relieved. I do not like that ride. 

After Jungle Book we walked over to Tomorrowland. Lola, Ruby, and James all went on the Star Tours ride. While I was waiting I got a churro. Churros, in my opinion, are the best food at Disneyland.

Next Ruby wanted to go on Space Mountain. Since it's a roller coaster Lola didn't want to go. James went with her while Lola and I rode the Buzz Lightyear ride and then Autotopia. Lola drove our blue car. She kept hitting the bumper and moving the car back and forth and laughing. I think she had a fun time.

We were hungry so we ate at the Pizza Planet restaurant in Tomorrowland. We got three pieces of pizza, James said it was too expensive so he didn't a piece. The pieces were $9 each. Everything in Disneyland is so expensive!

After lunch we decided to walk down to ToonTown.  There is a new ride and Ruby and Trina both thought we, especially Lola and I, would like it. When we first arrived, the ride, called Runaway Railway was closed. We walked around and took some pictures and a few minutes later they opened the ride.  James, Ruby and Lola got in line after James bought me a drink and settled me in a chair to wait for them. I do enjoy watching people and there are plenty here to watch. I have never seen so many strollers in all of my life. All lined up in the underpass as you come down into ToonTown.

Lola loved the ride so much she wanted to go in again. Ruby wanted to go on the Toon Town roller coaster. Just as Lola and I got in line she decided she wanted to join Ruby on the roller coaster. My phone was dead so we couldn't text her and we didn't see her in line. I told Lola I didn't want to go on the roller coaster so we went back and got in the Runaway Railway line. James was sitting at a table watching my purse. I forgot to bring my Clutch charger so my phone was useless.

I have never waited in a line as long as we waited in the Runaway Railway line. It was well over an hour. The ride was fun and Lola deemed it her favorite. I was trying to decided if it was worth the wait. I really don't think so.

We were all pretty exhausted so we decided to head home for the day. It's a long walk from ToonTown to the entrance. 

I stopped at the Emporium to do some shopping. I brought some hot chocolate to drink at night in our hotel room. I picked out a mug for myself and for James and then had Ruby and Lola each pick out a mug of their own. Here is what we got:

Grandpa's on the left

Grandma's on the right

Lola's 100 years with the ears

Ruby's Alice in Wonderland

One the way back to the hotel it took awhile because we got caught in traffic and also stopped for gas. Ruby had a churro before leaving Disneyland and she and Lola ate chips in the backseat of the car as we were driving around. I asked Lola what kind of chips they had: Ruffles, Lay's regular, and all of the itoes. Itoes? You know blue and red Doritoes, Tostitoes, and Fritos. 

In honor of James's birthday I asked if he wanted to go to Cheesecake Factory or order room service at the hotel. He picked room service and ordered chicken marsala. Ruby ordered a Caesar salad, I ordered a chicken, strawberry, spinach salad, and Lola ordered Kraft mac & cheese. While we were waiting for our food to be delivered James went to Target to get some water. Ruby got a little sick to her stomach. Lola took a bath. She sings when she is in the bathroom. When she was finished she and Ruby went outside on the balcony and sang until our food came. 

The food was quite pricey but it was delicious. Ruby only ate about half of her salad. She said she will eat the rest tomorrow.

We made our hot chocolate with marshmallows and drank it.

My new pajamas have cartoon sheep all over the bottoms. There is lazy sheep, singing sheep, geek sheep, hungry sheep, and happy sheep.

I showed the girls my pajamas and they read the names of the sheep. I told them to make up their own sheep, and they went to work. Each one of them made three different sheep, I made one. I picked Ruby and Lola's best and here is what we came up with:

Mine:

Ruby's:

Super Sheep

Ninja Sheep

Lola's:

Workout Sheep

We had family prayer and scriptures before bed. Ruby offered the prayer.

Our ward RS President

In the Adventureland Store

Toon Town Jail

I love the flowers and plants at Disneyland

 

Monday, January 22, 2024: Left Vernon @ 7am, Globe way, Sheri, Ben, Michael, Infusion, Elmer's, Barbershop, Armando, Lois & Dawn, Stacy's, Costco, Pickup Ruby & Lola @ 3:30 on to California

 

Cardston, Alberta

6th operating temple

Dedicated: 26-29 Aug 1923

By: Heber J. Grant

Book of Mormon

1 Nephi 12

10 And these twelve ministers whom thou beholdest shall judge thy seed. And, behold, they are righteous forever; for because of their faith in the Lamb of God their garments are made white in his blood.

Come Follow Me

1 Nephi 11-15 "Armed with Righteousness and with the Power of God"

October General Conference

"More Than a Hero" Bishop W. Christopher Waddell

We left Vernon at 7 a.m., going the Salt River Canyon way. No rocks fell upon us which was a relief to me. 

When we arrived in the valley the first place we went to was Chandler Eye Care. I took Sheri her puzzle. She came out to the car to say hi to James and to give him his birthday card. Ben gave me a hug and while in the parking lot we saw Michael who works across the parking lot from Sheri and Ben. 

I can't remember if I have mentioned this before, but Sheri's surgery has been postponed. It had been scheduled for February 28th but now the doctor is saying because of the complications of Sheri's case he wants a specific assistant who is not available on that day. Sheri told them that she has to be healed by June because she is going to Europe. She said she just spent $11,000 buying tickets. They, Ian, Sheri, Alex, Ben, Max, and Evan are going with Ian's mom Betty who grew up in Scotland. I am sure Betty is paying for most of the trip as she told Alex he could go to England, Scotland, Germany, Prague and Vienna.

James dropped me off at my infusion a little before 10:45 for my 11:00 infusion. Frances took me back and Amanda put my infusion in. I asked if she was going to draw blood but she said she did not have any orders. That's funny because my doctor wanted my blood to be drawn again because my liver count was low. Oh well. 

James needed to go by the job he has on Ray and Alma School. He met Armando there and Armando and I had a little chat while James was on the phone. This is the barbershop job for a man with the first name of Daryl. We are still waiting for payment from Daryl. If payment is not received by tomorrow, the job will come to a screeching halt. I told him I did not want him to do this job and Armando told him he thinks the guy is a little shady.

We went to Elmer's Tacos for lunch. We both ordered a machaca burro, two drinks, they serve Coke now instead of Pepsi, and a large order of strips. James finished his burro but I could only eat about half of mine and we left half the strips. What a waste. Next time it's going to be a taco instead of a burro. Elmer's is celebrating 50 years of business. James had an office just a few doors down from them when they opened and he remembers walking over for lunch most days before the high school crowd hit.

Our next stop was in Tempe at Lois & Dawn's. Dawn called and made sure we were coming by our next trip down and was happy to learn it was today. They have birthday gifts for James.

These are the gifts James came away with: Amazon gift card, a plaid shirt, and one with writing on the front, and some socks like he really likes. From Sheri's family a card for Cheesecake Factory.

We had some orange cheesecake and had a nice visit and then we were on our way. Stacy texted earlier and said that she and Joshua were sick and would not be able to take us to lunch. She left a big package of batteries at our house. We dropped them off and left them on her door knob. 

Next stop the Gilbert Costco. My friend Sue told me that Costco has Disney gift cards worth $50 on sale for $35. We looked through all of the gift cards and there were none for Disney. I guess they are all gone. We didn't even do any other shopping because we were due at Darrel & Trina's at 3:30 to pick up Lola and Ruby and it was after 3.

When we ring the doorbell, Lola lets out a yell. I guess she is excited. 

Addy and Trina were also home. I told Addy that I had found an LDS tour of some of the Christmas marketplaces in Europe. She asked me how much it was. $3795. She said, wow, that seems like a lot. Trina asked her how much she thought it was going to be. I told her that I really couldn't afford it either since we were making two trips to Disneyland this year. She says she only works one day a week. I suggested that we wait until she graduates and celebrate by going to Europe. She loved the idea. That gives us at least 2 1/2 more years. 

We loaded Ruby and Lola's things in the car, including a case of Gatorade and a box of assorted chips. I said a prayer before we left. James took the 202 south behind South Mountain to avoid the traffic in central Phoenix. 

We stopped in Quartzite at McDonald's for dinner. We told the girls that people come here in their travel trailers and motorhomes to spend the winter looking for rocks and playing with their ATV's in the desert.  We couldn't believe our bill was over $43 for McDonald's. From Quartzite to Orange we played a podcast game called Family Trivia. The girls loved it. Some of our categories were grocery shopping, Disney movies, and kinds of candy. 

We got in to some rain around Palm Springs and it rained pretty hard until we go to Riverside. James hydroplaned a couple of times but nothing too serious.

We checked in to the Embassy Suites in Orange around 9:30 California time, 10:30 Arizona time. I thought this was a newer hotel but the popcorn ceiling and no exhaust fan in the bathroom tells me otherwise. 

The two room suite is smaller than the ones at the Embassy Suites on Harbor. I'm now regretting cancelling my room there. It is so much nicer. 

Some perks are the small balcony off the room where Lola goes to sing and watch the traffic. Our room number is 406, our PO Box number, I told the girls. This motel is within walking distance of the Block at Orange, the outlet mall in Orange.

Lola was concerned because there was a pink stain on the floor and the lampshade was crooked and broken.

Lola says we were in the car for seven hours. So be it.

Both girls slept on the hideaway bed in the couch in the first room. The second bed in our room was never used. I paid an extra $20 a room for the extra bed. Oh well.

Scarlett & Charlie, best friends forever!

Room 406