I started off the day discovering the most amazing thing about Minecraft – you can build a roller coaster!!!
Then I found some toothpicks and used them to make letters.
And then I went on the High Roller again! It’s kind of like a huge ferris wheel and was one of my favorite things to do when I visited Nana and Papa last year.
On my first morning in Henderson, Papa told me about his days as a fingerprint analyst and showed me fingerprints on the computer.
Then we looked at my fingerprints through a magnifying loupe.
Afterwards, we got to do the thing I was super excited for – The Adventuredome at Circus Circus. I LOVED IT.
Here’s a little video of me having the time of my life.
On the morning before heading home, we had breakfast at HomeState with Crystal & Chris and Veronica and her family.
The little boy is Veronica’s brother, Lex.
I talked to Veronica’s daddy, Kenny, about airplanes and Route 110.
I also took pictures of Daddy, Mommy, and Veronica.
Then Veronica and I climbed the fence that kept us from Figueroa Street.
Goodbye for now, LA. I had fun!
On my last full day in Los Angeles, I was worn out from a very full week.
But it was the day I invited three old friends to come play with me at Shane’s Inspiration playground.
The first to arrive was Sebastian!
We got right to juice drinking and cupcake decorating.
The little boy behind Sebastian is his new brother, Charles.
Then Veronica came and joined us at the decorating table.
Last but not least, Andy arrived and we compared sandy hands.
Andy’s sister, Nicholena, was just a baby when we left three years ago.
After decorating our cupcakes, it was time for me to blow out the candles on my self-decorated cake. It was fun seeing all of my old buddies again!
After hanging out with my friends, I went out to ice cream with Uncle Mike and Aunt Sarah. For some reason, I wrote numbers on their palms.
And drew airplanes and amusement parks before having to say goodbye.
It was a day later than planned, but we made it to Disney’s other park, California Adventure. I was a little bit excited.
Of course, I consulted the map and devised a plan.
My very favorite ride was the Silly Symphony Swings.
My second favorite ride was Jumpin’ Jellyfish.
I also got to see the Green Army Men Parade…
…and this cool fancy bridge that goes from Paradise Gardens Park to Pacific Wharf.
Before the day was through, I also rode on Pixar Pal-A-Round, Goofy’s Sky School, Golden Zephyr, Radiator Springs Racers, and Soarin’ Around the World.
By mid-afternoon, I was pooped and ready to close the books on my wonderful two days at Disney.
Here are my FastPasses for Radiator Springs Racers at California Adventure and Space Mountain at Disneyland:
The morning after Disneyland, I went to The Grand Californian Hotel to have breakfast with Nana & Papa and a bunch of Disney characters.
As soon as I walked in to the Storytellers Cafe, I saw Chip and gave him a high five and a hug!
After I sat down at my table, Mickey came by!
I told him a bunch of cities and asked if he’d ever been to them. Mickey has been EVERYWHERE. Even North River, North Dakota, population 55.
I also asked Pluto where he’s been and he hasn’t really been anywhere.
Dale has been to lots of national and state parks, but he seems to avoid big cities. When I asked if he’d ever been to London, he indicated that he’s afraid of airplanes.
And I got to see Minnie again. She was just hanging out at her house yesterday!
Dale and Pluto really liked the horn on my rhino hoodie.
Even though it was time to go, I just couldn’t stop giving the characters a list of places and asking if they’d ever been there. They answered dozens of my questions.
I originally planned to go to California Adventure after breakfast, but it was so rainy and windy, we had to resort to Plan B. So I basically played with the hotel curtains and hung out with Nana and Papa. It was a nice rest day!
I went to Disneyland for the very first time and it was the best thing ever!
It’s a Small World was my first ride. I’m the one in the red raincoat, my uniform for the day.
Then it was time to run through the rain to the next ride…
…Dumbo the Flying Elephant. One of my favorites, I rode it three times.
Then it was off to Mickey’s Toontown to ride my very first roller coaster, Gadget’s Go Coaster.
I was very excited.
But then…they closed it for technical difficulties right before I could get on. My first roller coaster would have to wait.
So I went to Minnie’s house to meet Minnie Mouse!
I asked her if she remembered my friend, Elle, from school. And she said yes!
Then it was off to Finding Nemo’s Submarine Voyage…
…and Star Tours, where I got to wear cool 3D glasses.
I was still waiting to ride my first roller coaster. So I just took the plunge and made it Space Mountain! I took it like a champ.
Then dreams came true when the ride I was most excited about finally opened up after being temporarily closed because of the rain – Mad Tea Party!
Before the night was done, I also rode on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, Peter Pan’s Flight, Snow White’s Scary Adventures, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and The Many Adventures of Winnie The Pooh.
Then I finally said goodnight, soaked and tired.
Here’s the ticket to my first trip to Disneyland!
On the day after my birthday, I was feeling a bit better – well enough to visit Tongva Park and its awesome roller slide!
It also had this cool rock climbing thing.
And another great set of slides.
There was also this spinny thing where I practiced for the Mad Tea Party ride I want to go on at Disneyland.
Mommy and I climbed up this yellow thing.
And Aunt Sarah took a picture of us so that we’d have an actual family photo!
For Labor Day, we went on a boat!
But first, I was distracted by this cool bench made from a bathtub.
Then we went on a boat – the Portland Spirit!
First, we had lunch and I had to save my Smiley Potato from jumping off the bread.
But enough of lunch, it was time to get outside and see some bridges!
The Marquam!
Tilikum Crossing!
The USS Blueback parked in front of OMSI! (Not a bridge, but cool anyway!)
After some fun, though, it was time for me to get to the wheelhouse and captain the ship for a while.
Then it was time to say goodbye to the seas (actually, the Willamette River)…
…and head back to port.
We said goodbye to Chubs on Monday, August 27th. He was a gentle and patient brother.
He was a world class sunbather and I’m happy he got to enjoy the hot summer weather.
One of Chubs’ favorite things was taking a rest in the periwinkle in front of our house. He would lie down there, smelling the air, while I played with my ball.
Here are some pictures of Chubs and I through the years. He was the very best. We love you, Chubs.
