Disneyland 2024

 Someone at work asked me about Disneyland tips. I think I'll attack this post from that perspective.

Tip #1: Fly if you can. With the new Provo airport, and both Breeze and Allegiant flying down to the John Wayne airport, flying for us has become an affordable option. Lori and I flew down a few days early to enjoy some couple time. When it was time to fly back, we traded our luggage and carry-ons for Bella, a car seat and a stroller. What a win! Flying back with her was amazing!

Tip #2: Purchase Genie Plus service. I worked the Disneyland app like a boss. We constantly had an attraction booked via the Genie service. When our times were hours out, the service would let us hold multiple bookings. And when attractions such as Indiana Jones and Roger Rabbit crashed, those passes converted to "wild cards" which we could use on any attraction available via Genie. We rarely waited in line.

Tip #3: Work against the flow. Let me explain. We rope dropped every day. It's a fact that morning crowds are lower than afternoons and evenings. But we came in towards the end of the rope drop madness. That way, we didn't spend hours waiting for the park to open. When we did go in, we would head to rides that typically don't experience rope drop madness. While hundreds of people flocked to Rise of the Resistance, we headed to Pirates. With an insane amount of people migrating to Radiator Springs, we did Soarin'. 

Tip #4: Accept the fact that Peter Pan permanently has a 40 minute wait.

Tip #5: Use mobile order for food and merchandise.

Tip #6: Don't be afraid to split up your group. Braden, Jason, Mason and Parker left us for a bit to build light sabers. Bella needed naps. Honestly, one of my favorite moments was walking Bella until she fell asleep, then hanging out with her in a quiet place. It's good to slow down and just appreciate how lucky you are to be where you are!

Tip #7: This one saddens me, but accept the fact that you might have some in your party that are a pain point. When someone gets moody, just give them space. I suppose this applies to any family vacation. Don't let one fool ruin things for you.

Tip #8: Mix things up. You don't have to ride with the same person each time. Everybody brings something new to each experience. Build core memories with every one you can.

Tip #9: Enjoy your time in line. Share stories. Make plans. Order food. Plot your next Genie plus reservation.

Tip #10: Be water. Things will change. Problems will come up. Just go with the flow, and adjust as needed.

Tip #11: Jungle Cruise and Tiki Room are freaking awesome. Don't let anyone convince you otherwise! And the Disneyland Railroad. I might have taken multiple laps on it.

Tip #12: Mickey Pretzel with jalapeño and cream cheese is a snack that must be enjoyed often. 

Tip #13: This is a reminder for me, and it's outside of the park, but Coco's restaurant has taken a serious nose dive. Don't go back!

Tip #14: The local Walmart has a ton of Disney and California merchandise.

Tip #15: A vacation rental is superior to a hotel room(s). We played card games, ate together on down days, did laundry, etc. 

Tip #16: RunDisney puts on some amazing races. We LOVED running through the parks. I highly recommend experiencing this at least once.

Tip #17: Create a shared photo album and go crazy! We had so much fun sharing photos, and now have a large bank of them to fall back on for memories and stories.

Colorado 2023

 In what has become somewhat of a family tradition, we picked a random city and vacationed there. After the heat of 2022, Kaylee suggested / demanded a cooler location, so this year, off we went to Denver. Rather than give you a day by day recap, let me share with you my top 10 favorite things about this trip.

1. The drive. I70, as it climbs from Utah into the Denver area, is probably one of the most scenic areas I've driven through. Breathtaking vistas, dramatic climbs and even some incredibly long tunnels all make for spectacular views. Add in the fact that the Eagle and Colorado rivers follow the course, and it all adds up to awesome. We even "enjoyed" a few minutes of completely stopped traffic.

2. Traven. We needed a break from each other. While we were in Colorado, he was in Costa Rica playing soccer. He knows it. We even talked about it before hand. My hope is that our break helps me to reengage and be a better father for him.

3. The Immersive Disney experience did not disappoint. You sit in a giant warehouse sized room, with Disney clips playing on all sides. Mix in images dancing on the floor, Disney music and even some bubbles, and you have MAGIC.

4. My grandchildren. Honestly, they are incredible. From Mason seeking every Roley Poley in Denver, to Bella just being happy about everything, to Parker's sense of adventure and lack of fear, there are not many dull moments. And getting Bella to nap at the top of Pike's Peak was icing on the cake.

5. My kids. Going for runs with Braden and Alyssa was so much fun. Getting to know Michelle and Dallin better is always a treat. Watching with amazement as Alyssa informs the waiter we will NOT be paying for her Mom's undercooked steak was a shocking moment. Jason's willingness to drive all that way alone to be with us was heartwarming. Kaylee's patience as she battled some health problems and still kept a positive attitude was inspiring.

6. Rain. So. Much. Rain.

7. G-pizzle on a Jazzie. To say he enjoyed his time at the zoo would be an understatement.

8. Lori's commitment to get us to Valley of the Gods. Probably should have spent more time there, but at least we can say we went.

9. The world's least busy, most random location for a Costco, Gypsum Colorado.

10. Taking a scenic byway to see Buffalo Bill's burial site. Meeting a random stranger who shared all sorts of BB facts with us.

So much more, but I'll limit it to a top 10. Honorable mention to:

- Grandpa's insulin monitor continually setting new high scores.

- Spending time with Eric and Sally.

- Playing games.

- Enjoying some carbs, as the vacation quickly turned into a ketocation as well.

- The Columbia and Asics outlet stores.

- Glenwood Springs.

- The cog train ride to the top of Pike's Peak.

- Bella talking to the taxidermy on the wall.

Signs of Goodness

 Is there good in the world? Have you ever wondered this, with so much bad news around us. Wars, droughts, viruses, mass shootings - it's all a bit overwhelming at times.

My daughter Alyssa is currently on a vacation with her husband and his family. It was originally going to be a Mediterranean cruise, but with Alyssa entering her 3rd trimester of pregnancy, that was off the table. Airfare was already paid for, so they went ahead with their vacation, minus cruise ships. Most recently, they found themselves on the island of Mykonos. I'll give you a minute to Google that.

I woke around 5 am, to a Facebook message from Alyssa, basically saying, "Don't panic, but can you send me some insurance information?". Ok, I'm up. Wide awake even. I say yes, but why? She asks if she can call, and I say sure. Our conversation goes something like this:

"Dad, I fell down the stairs and want to make sure the baby is OK. Oh wait, my doctor's office is calling....". And that's it. No more word. I start to get some pieces of information from Alyssa's mother in law. First off, here are the stairs.

Ok, I'm a bit less worried, but not much. We text back and forth, trying to find somewhere that's open with an ultrasound machine. Their driver, Nick, keeps telling mother in law not to worry. I'm pretty sure at one point she probably wanted to choke him out! They drove to one place, no dice. We keep striking out. They finally find a doctor who agrees to come in on her day off and do an ultrasound. She is very kind, and even tells them that she would like a picture of the beautiful baby when she is born. I was left humbled, not being able to help Alyssa, but knowing that kind doctor had been placed in a spot where she could provide the care Alyssa needed. Baby is fine, and Alyssa is a bit bruised but will be fine as well. Shout out to her kind husband, his family and even the driver Nick, who dared try to tell a mama bear to calm down.

One other brief example. I have a coworker who is on a family vacation back east. On Tuesday, he posted this cryptic message to Teams:

"So my family church history trip great! Saw lots of good stuff in Palmyra, Harmony, and Kirtland.

However, that small tickling cough I had been ignoring flared up and I'm now staying in the hospital in Rochester New York. They aren't certain what is wrong so we'll see how long I'll be here."

And that's it. No word. By Friday, we are all a bit worried. Our director tracks down the wife of this guy, and finds out he is now in ICU, struggling to get enough oxygen. His wife was attempting to drive the family home, and their car broke down in Iowa. Director and team sprung into action. A team member that lives in Indiana was willing to drive to Iowa if needed. Another team member has connections for dirt cheap hotels. And I think our director was ready to fly them all home. By Sunday, the team members family was back in Utah, and his wife was leaving to go back and be with him. In the mean time, our director had contacted the local congregation of our church, who were ready to take care of the children and help however they can. And the congregation in Rochester was aware of the situation and was ready to help on their end. I was again humbled, as I saw each and every team member willing to drive to Iowa, fly to New York, help out here in Utah and just so willing to serve. 

Turns out there is still goodness in the world.

I'd be remiss if I didn't mention my own good neighbors who brought in food after Lori's surgery. It's amazing how just knowing dinner is taken care of can really simplify the day. It allowed me to catch up on work and take care of Lori, while not giving a 2nd thought to dinner for two nights. 

Tampa Bay 2022

 Once upon a time, Alyssa received a notification about travel deals, flying out of Provo. We looked at the list, and opted for Tampa, a location we knew nothing about. It turns out Tampa has a lot to offer. We chose to do most things through CityPass, which honestly has never disappointed me. I always feel like I get such a good deal going with them.

The current Provo airport is small. Well, it honestly feels abandoned at some times. We arrived 2 hours early, only to find out they really don't even think about security or boarding until what felt like moments before the plane took off.  The parking is vastly in a dirt field. Thankfully, the new airport opens next month!

Waiting for our flight was the scene of one of my favorite moments. You see, there are no food options there, and Alyssa was HUNGRY (pregnant) and knew that flying with Allegiant there would be no inflight food either. Braden had thought to pack some sandwiches, and Michelle offered hers to Alyssa. It was a touching moment, as Alyssa cried over that meal! And Parker taught us how to properly chill at the airport terminal.

We arrived in Tampa with no problems. Actually, our flights were pretty flawless. And we were soon driving our matching minivans on the Florida highways. No regrets on our matching shirts, either.

Sunday was Father's Day. We hit up Costco, Walmart and just enjoyed our time together. One of my favorite things was game time at the house! Some of us went to the beach. I was amazed how quickly Mason and Parker took to beach life. It was a great day.

Monday was the zoo and the aquarium. My goodness, my boy Dallin loves the aquarium! I feel like most of us had a wonderful time at both locations. And I have to tell you, Michelle is one of the most patient, loving Mother I've seen in action. There's a lot of energy between her 3 boys (I'm lumping Braden in there), but she manages them all so well and keeps their family running like a champ!

Tuesday was beach day in Clearwater. We rented a cabana with a couple of lounge chairs, and I was set. I could have napped there all day! It was a much better beach than the first one we had tried. And on the way back, some of us had Nicaraguan food!

Busch Gardens was amazing. I was not impressed with the price add-ons for the front of line passes, but we bought a few anyway. The meal plan worked out. My favorite was their bbq / smokehouse. Wonderful food. And they have so many rides for kids. Parker and Mason had a blast. And this day, Traven was such a great uncle, taking them on rides, through the treehouse, etc.

Man, it's kind of blur already. What did we do Thursday? We went to Ford Garage, a diner based on Ford Motors. I hope Eric liked it.

Friday we did a boat tour, and it was HOT. We also did another aquarium, but at this point we were pretty tired.

Here are some top 10 moments from some family members:

Mike:

Top 10 vacation moments for me, in no particular order:

1. Alyssa crying over a sandwich.

2. Wendys when we arrived in Florida. I was so hungry!

3. The storm, where the lightning was exploding all around us.

4. Relaxing under the cabana at the beach.

5. Not getting a speeding ticket.

6. Ford's garage.

7. Nicaraguan food.

8. Mason and Parker just enjoying everything.

9. Playing cards.

10. Kaylee's semi circle sunburn.

Kaylee:

No particular order.

1. Ice Show at Busch Gardens

2. Ice cream at the zoo

3. Braden finally winning Five Crowns

4. Mason and Parker

5. Seeing the Scientology Center and seeing real life members going in and out

6. Seeing Bucs Stadium and a giant picture of TB12.

7. Traven being a great uncle with the boys

8. Watching Dallin at the aquarium

9. Deep talks with Lyss while seeking shade at Busch Gardens

10. The fan Dad bought be for sleeping

Alyssa:

1. Nicaraguan food

2. Mason and Parker everywhere 

3. Beach

4. Hanging out with Kaylee while surviving the heat

5. Ice cream

6. Braden hitting the minivan and trying to say he didn't....

7. Cards

8. Watching Dallin enjoy the aquarium 

9. Bathroom doors getting locked several times (sorry Mason)

10. Mason singing primary songs on the airplane. 

Jason:

1) mason and Parker enjoying everything. 

1.5)Alyssa crying over the sandwich. 

2) spending time with the family 

3) Nicaraguan food

4) the beach 

5) mason singing primary songs everyday. 

6) mason and Parker telling me jokes. 

7) seeing dolphins at the aquarium

8) the smoke house at Busch garden. 

9) sharing a room with Kaylee. 

10) The heat and humidity, really enjoy that. (I was not the only one sweating from doing nothing). 

Lots of memories and stories. Despite our house deciding it missed us and having a number of things go wrong, it was a successful trip. Also, Jeremy, Lauren, Lucy and Max are the best house sitters!