Tuesday, March 5, 2024: Donna Peeler passes away, Church buys Kirtland Temple, California Adventure, Soarin' Over California, Cars, Swings, Ferris Wheel, Monsters Inc., Toy Story, World of Disney store - "Wish" action figures, Charlie's Castle, room service & happy hour

 

Mt. Timpanogas, Utah

49th operating temple

Dedicated: 13 Oct 1996

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 21

Come Follow Me

2 Nephi 21-22

I can find peace in Jesus Christ. 

"The Peace of Christ Abolishes Enmity" by Elder Dale G. Renlund

October General Conference

"Love Thy Neighbor" by Elder Ian S. Ardern

Donna Peeler passed away sometime either last night or early this morning. James had called Owen yesterday and Owen asked James if he would dedicate the grave. James said it would be an honor. The funeral will be on Saturday, March 16th.

Again, we met Jared, Kacey, and Charlie at breakfast. I sat by Charlie. She was having cereal and muffins. I think she had three muffins. 

Again, I rented a scooter and drove it over to California Adventure where everyone else was in line at "Soarin' Over California." When we were here in January it was "Soarin' Over the World." We didn't know that they change it back and forth.

The big news of the day is that the Church bought the Kirtland temple and other property and artifacts. They paid $192 million dollars. Some people think that is outrageous but most Church members understand the value of the Kirtland temple and all that happened there. I would love to serve a mission in Kirtland.

After Soarin' Kacey, Jared, and Charlie went over to Cars Land to ride Cars. They bought lightning lane passes and didn't have to wait long in line. We got our picture taken by the Cars Land sign. That comes with the lightning lane pass.

Charlie loved the Cars ride.

She said they got a red car.

While we were waiting for Cars I bought Charlie her Minnie "ears."

Here is what she picked out:

Jared said the veil would just 

get in the way, but I think it

made Charlie feel more beautiful,

and princess like.

Charlie and Jared rode the swings, and the big, "swinging" ferris wheel. Jared is a good sport. Both Jared and Kacey went on the Toy Story ride with Charlie. Jared also rode the merry-go-round with her.

The big roller coaster was closed. I think Charlie probably would have gone on it if it had been open.

Kacey and I had lunch at the Corn Dog Castle. Jared and James found a place that had sliders and pizza flavored chicken wings. They brought back drinks with flowers in them. I was not a fan but James enjoyed his. 

While Kacey, Jared, and Charlie went on Monsters, Inc. James and I went looking for soft serve ice cream. We ended up back at the Abominable/Adorable Snowman for soft serve mango for me and lemon for James. At first the lemon is so tart, but once you get used to it, it is quite delicious. The mango is my favorite though.

Jared seemed to think that Monsters Inc. was a waste of time. They had lightning lane passes for Spiderman at 4:30, but they were ready to leave and didn't want to wait. They wanted to do some shopping at the World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney. James came with me to return my scooter and then we met them at the store. 

Charlie was overwhelmed with all of the good things in this store. She said, "How can anyone choose, everything is so good." Kacey found the "Wish" display and then Charlie was able to make her choice. She picked the set of "Wish" action figures. She carried it on the tram back to the car and kept asking if she could open it. Jared said no, she needed to wait until she got back to the hotel room. It was so hard for her to wait, but she did.

We talked about where to eat on the way back to the room but didn't make a decision. I knew if I got back to the room I probably wouldn't go out again. James and I ended up getting room service and Jared, Kacey, and Charlie went down and ordered some food during Happy Hour. Kacey got street tacos, Charlie got pizza, and I'm not sure about Jared. 

I got veggie ravioli with pesto sauce and James got seafood pasta with shrimp, clams, and scallops. He said it was very good. Mine was good too.

Charlie came over to our room to visit us and then I went over to see her. She set up a "castle" for her "Wish" action figures. It looked something like this:

The characters in this scene are tied together with 

rubberbands. Asha is with her mom, etc.  The king is tied to no one

because he turned out to be wicked. 

I love Charlie's imagination and her ability

to entertain herself. 

She knows the songs from this movie and can

sing them.

Baby pig is part of the castle, kind of like

we have animal heads in our house.

Charlie is leaving in the morning to go home before I get up so I hugged her goodbye tonight. The same with Jared and Kacey. We had such a great time, even though I did not go on one single ride, I am so grateful I came. 

'Til we meet again.

Something else of importance happened today. Well, at least some of our family members think it's sad news. The original Serrano's, the one on Arizona Avenue in Chandler, our Serrano's, is closing on June 1st. Downtown Chandler has changed so much over the years and there is just too much competition to keep them busy. One of our Christmas traditions is to go to Serrano's the first Saturday of December and then go out to look at Christmas lights at the temple and other places. Adam thinks we need to go one more time as a family. Serrano's is where I had my 75th birthday party. Serrano's, you will be missed by the James Lambson family who live in Arizona. Jared lives in Texas and he will miss the bean dip.

Embassy Suites outside our rooms

and in the elevator.

In front of California Adventure

Princess Charlie and 'Mater

Jared, Kacey, and Charlie also road the

Rapids ride and got a little wet.

Back in Arizona

Addy with either Brandon or Crockett

Addy has a reputation for going fast when 

she snowboards.

Monday, March 4, 2024:Omelet, Disneyland scooter, J & I see Minnie, JKCH Peter Pan, Dumbo, Pirates, Dolewhip, Tomorrowland, Little Red Wagon corndog, Mexican food lunch, Thunder Mtn, Smugglers Run, Parade, Space Mtn,

Hong Kong, China

48th operating temple

Dedicated: 26 May 1996

By: Gordon B. Hinckley

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 20:20-34

Come Follow Me

2 Nephi 20-25

"We Rejoice in Christ"

October General Conference

"The Sealing Power" by Elder D. Todd Christofferson

We all went down to breakfast at 7:00. It was busy, but not too busy. This time I ordered a bacon and cheese omelet. I had lots of bacon just dumped in the middle of the eggs. Tomorrow I'm going to ask them to spread it throughout.

We parked in the Mickey and Friends parking structure, in the Pixar tower, level 4, Monsters Inc. You have to go through security before getting on the tram. James was taken aside and "frisked". Probably because of the metal in his leg.

Once we got to the entry plaza, we all went in. I had to go back out to get to where the scooters were rented. I rented a scooter for the day. They charged $80 on my credit card but I will get $20 back when I turn it in this evening. It seems like a lot of money but I think it will be worth it.

James waited for me just inside the entrance to Disneyland while Jared, Kacey and Charlie headed for Fantasyland to ride Peter Pan. The line was very long. James and I saw Minnie Mouse signing autographs just as we got inside of Main Street. 

Jared and I both said that we had never seen Disneyland this busy. We found out two things that could have contributed to the big crowd. 1.) This is spring break in California and probably other places too. 2.) This is the last week for the 9 year old and under $50 tickets. I said if I ever came again to ride rides, I would get the Lightning Lane passes. 

After the Dumbo ride we all went to Adventureland. Jared wanted a Dolewhip ice cream and then they went on Pirates (I think). Kacey, James, Charlie and I did some window shopping in the Bazaar store. Charlie liked the baby animals wrapped in blankets. 

Pig-in-a-blanket

We were right across from Jungle Cruise, but it was closed, so everyone decided to go over to Tomorrowland. Everyone else went on Star Tours while I waited in the ever growing crowd. I got a churro and rode my scooter around. While they were waiting in line and riding Buzz Lightyear I went over to the Little Red Wagon and got a corndog and  a strawberry lemonade. These corndogs really are better than the ones at the Corndog Castle in California Adventure. 

A cute thing happened while we were in Tomorrowland and sitting on the patio at the Plaza Restaurant.

Mamma duck took her babies over to the patio

at the Plaza Restaurant.

While the little ducklings were running around under

the tables looking for scraps of food, Charlie said:

"Look, there's the Daddy."

There he was, sitting on the roof looking down

at his family.

We didn't want to eat at the Plaza so we walked over to Frontierland

to the Mexican restaurant. I got a child's plate with a chicken taco and rice. The chicken was dry and pretty tasteless so I put some salsa on it. The salsa was in little packets and was hard to open. Let's just say it wasn't my finest meal. I wasn't that hungry because I had just had a corndog and before that a churro. So much for my diet.

Jared, Kacey, Charlie, and James went on Thunder Mountain. James said Charlie was giggling the entire time. She loved it!

Jared wanted to go on The Rise of the Resistance so we walked and scooted over to Star Wars Land. The ride was closed when we got there. It said temporarily, but who knows how long that means and we didn't want to wait. They all went on Smuggler's Run instead. I went back to Main Street and got caught in a crowd waiting for a parade to start. I bought some popcorn because Charlie had asked for some earlier. I did not have a good spot for the parade but James and Jared put Charlie on their shoulders so she could see. I think she enjoyed it and the music that went with it.

After the parade, Jared, Kacey, and Charlie went to get in line at Space Mountain. James and I went back to the car to wait. It was getting a little chilly and we were tired. 

After riding on Space Mountain, which Charlie loved, they went souvenir shopping. Charlie got a Little Mermaid bubble blower, and the baby pig in the blanket. They got a pig in the blanket for Scarlett too.

As soon as we got back to our room, I took a shower and went to bed. We both were so tired we skipped dinner. Kacey said that as they put Charlie to bed she said, "We didn't have dinner." Charlie likes routine and having three meals a day is a part of that.

Today's photos, in no particular order.

In front of Smuggler's Run

Asha from the movie "Wish"

One of Charlie's favorite experiences of the day.

She loves Asha!

Watching the parade with Grampa

Space Mountain

Back in Vernon Addy and friends 

spent the night.

Brandon, Addy, Kilee, Crockett

Jared needs sunglasses

Asleep with her baby pig and Pinky the hedgehog

under the quilt grandmother gave her.

In the elevator at Embassy Suites

 

Sunday, March 3, 2024: Denver omelet, Church @ 11:30 late for stake conference, Newport Temple and Corona Del Mar beach, Cheesecake Factory, Charlie: "We aren't supposed to eat out on Sunday"

 

Bountiful, Utah

47th operating temple

Dedicated: 8 Jan 1995

By: Howard W. Hunter

Book of Mormon

2 Nephi 20:1-19

Come Follow Me

Review 2 Nephi 20-25

"We Rejoice in Christ"

October General Conference

"Sir, We Would Like to See Jesus" by Elder Robert M. Daines

"For the Sake of Your Posterity" by Elder Carlos A. Godoy

James, Kacey and I went down to breakfast together. Jared stayed with Charlie who was still asleep. They came down just as James and I were leaving. I ordered a Denver omelet but didn't really care for it. Too much of the ingredients were just dumped in the middle of the eggs and didn't really get cooked. Tomorrow I'm going back to bacon and cheese. Charlie's favorite things to eat were cereal and muffins.

I think I know why they took out the rocks and the pond. They can set up many more chairs for guests eating breakfast.

Jared looked up the time for a ward nearby. The start time was 11:30 so we left the hotel a little after 11. When we walked in the building it looked like the meeting had been going on for sometime. We realized they were having stake conference and they probably started at 10:00. 

Elder Gordon L. Treadway was the speaker we listened to. He spoke about the disciples of Jesus Christ as they gathered in the Carrizon Plateau for the Sermon on the Mount. Elder Treadway said Jesus healed all of those who needed healing before he preached to them, similar to what he did in Bountiful in the Book of Mormon. 

Some of the disciples came 100's of miles to hear Jesus speak. Others made excuses why they couldn't come. 

The blessings will come. He will heal you but you have to come to Him.

Elder Treadway is from San Diego and the San Diego temple is closed right now for renovations. Some people say the Newport temple or the Redlands temple are too far away. 

He quoted from one of Lawrence B. Corbridges talks, "Jesus Christ is the Way", from the October 2008 conference. This is the talk I almost used when I spoke at Easter time last year. Elder Corbridge says: "Life is hard, not the gospel."

I need to ask the Lord what changes I need to make to come closer to Him. 

Jesus lives! Russell M. Nelson receives revelation. He is the greatest leader of my time.

The closing song was, "How Firm a Foundation."

After church we went to the Newport temple grounds and walked around. Charlie loved the water fountain.

And a little child shall lead them.

  After we were finished at the Newport Beach temple, Jared told James to go to Corona del Mar beach. I put it in my MapQuest and away we went. Let's just say that Charlie loved the beach and could have stayed there the rest of the day. She was sad when we had to leave but did not murmur or complain.

Same beach where we took a picture of

Grampa James holding James Hayden's hand.

Toes in the sand!

We left the beach and headed back to the hotel to freshen up before finding a place for dinner. We decided to try Cheesecake Factory. It was early enough, around 4 p.m., that we only had to wait about 15 minutes for a table. Charlie made the comment; "We aren't supposed to go out to eat on Sundays." Yes, Charlie you are right, and normally we do not. But sometimes when you are traveling it is okay. Charlie didn't say anything but I am impressed she knew about keeping the Sabbath day holy. I felt guilty too Charlie. I hope Heavenly Father understands.

We used our $134 worth of gift cards and then Jared paid the rest of the bill and the tip. The total bill was around $166, which means our total bill with tip was almost $200. We had crab cakes for an appetizer and strawberry shortcake to share for dessert. Poor choice on my part because I didn't like the shortcake. I should have gotten the strawberry cheesecake. James and Kacey both had salmon, Charlie had pizza, Jared had Jambalaya chicken and pasta and I had ginger soy chicken with quinoa. The food was all delicious.

When we left the line waiting to get seated was as long or longer than it was yesterday.

Back to the hotel to relax and get ready for bed. We went to bed early. We are meeting at breakfast at 7 a.m. and leaving for Disneyland at 7:30.

Sunday best for church