Our second day in Disneyland started early once again. As we waited for the shuttle, we chatted with a family that we had met the previous morning and compared notes. They were adorable, visiting from Ohio for their first time, and just silly with happiness. A nice bonus (for me) of going to Disneyland as an 'experienced' guest was the ability to 'offer suggestions' and 'give directions' to other, less experienced guests. Man, I love to 'inform' people. I get all puffed up and my voice takes on this bossy authority.

"Oh, yeah. You want to get your fast pass for Indiana Jones first, because they will be gone by 3 in the afternoon. I believe it's a two hour delay before you can get another fast pass. Right. We find the kids loved the Haunted Mansion. Oh, yes, and the main street train station is a great place to watch the parade. Sure, 1:00 and 2:15. Uh-huh."

See? Obnoxious. I just love to hear myself talk, apparently.

*ahem*

I also have this thing I do when I'm with a group going from one place to another. I am compelled to walk in front of the group, at a smart clip, and bustle around importantly, pointing out things and providing trivia and relating ancedotes. My parents used to joke that I need to get myself a flag and a whistle, and maybe a hat that says "guide" in big letters on the front. Ooh! And a bullhorn!

Again, it's obnoxious, but I honestly can't help it.

My hubs, bless his heart, has learned to just nod and say "really?" when I take a breath, and generally allows me to choose our path through the park.

Once we arrived, we made our way through the lines and towards the brand new Buzz Lightyear ride. We got fast passes, and then noticed the wait was only 15 minutes, so we got into line.

Okay, this ride was hilarious! It was a ride-through shooting gallery, with each passenger clutching an 'astro blaster' while trying to 'defeat Zurg' by hitting targets. The kids all enjoyed it (even the baby - thank goodness for rides the whole family can do together) and the hubs, once he saw his score climbing on the console, got super into-it. After exiting the ride, we were able to email a photo from the ride to ourselves. (My hubs wants me to note that this score was his first attempt, and not indicative of his actual mad skillz. When we rode the ride again, he was in the 100,000 something range. To which I say, WHATEVAH, Space Ranger. My inital score was 5100, and my kids all kicked my hiney.)

Then we took the kids on the drive-your-own-car ride. My oldest was ALL ABOUT the driving. My son, after his experience behind the wheel on Mr. Toad's Wild Ride, was convinced that he shouldn't ever "drive" again. I drove him around the track, and hooted and hollered as I am wont to do.

Next up? Toontown. I hate Toon Town. HATE. Along with the restaurants, this is the spot where parents get rude beyond belief. They push and shove and drag their kids around by the scruff of their necks. It's like Disney pumps a chemical into the air that creates mania. Perhaps they were going for euphoria, and missed the mark. Don't even get me started on the seizure-inducing Roger Rabbit ride. HATE. We did get the chance to have the kids practice blowing things up, which really warms a parent's heart. Note the other children looking on in awe as my little demolition experts demonstrate teamwork.

We did find a shady spot to enjoy some sorbet, and let the kids work out some pre-nap wiggles.

Once my son started in on his Target tangent, we made a break for the hotel. Naptime was successfully achieved! (Woooooo!)

We decided after naps that we would visit the California Adventure park to see the Playhouse Disney show and explore a bit. We got there just after the second to last show began, so we ate dinner. While waiting for the hubs to score some grub, I waited at a table with the kids. My youngest was all keyed up and ready to run, and waiting patiently was not part of her agenda. I popped her into the sling and as she kicked and flailed, trying to get free, she threw her head back and wailed "Now I'll never make an alligator!"

Indeed.

Mercifully, we ate and left without any further alligator manufacturing fueled benders. The Playhouse Disney show was really fun. Before the first character hit the stage, my youngest was chanting "Jo-jo Circus! Jo-jo Circus!" while shaking her fist at the stage. It was a little eerie. I kept waiting for her to bust out the "ears open, mouth shut"

Anyway, the kids boogied and really enjoyed themselves, even as their parents squirmed around trying to find a comfortable position on the floor.

After the show, we rode some of the 'kiddy rides' in the park, which was fun, at least for the 30 seconds the rides lasted.

We had reserved seats for Fantasmic, so we headed back to Disneyland clutching our whirling light-thingies, which the kids used to whack other people waiting in line. We had an hour or so to kill before we could take our seats, so we walked through the treehouse (for the 900th time) and did the haunted house again. "Muwahahaha! Boo! Yo ho ho!"

Finally we were able to sit down, where we were treated to hot chocolate and a divine all-you-can-eat dessert buffet. The kids gorged on cookies and brownies and the hubs and I fed each other chocolate covered strawberries and chocolate dipped macaroons. We joked that the show may be Fantasmic, but the desserts were orgasmic. Mmmmm.

We managed to poke the kids sufficiently to keep them awake for the show, and the fireworks that followed immediately after. It was really wonderful, and all three kids were asleep within minutes of our return to the hotel. This has me thinking that perhaps I need to rig a sugar-filled buffet and pyrotechnics display following dinner to thoroughly overstimulate my children so that bedtime is a sweet relief.