Celebrating Abbey's 10th at The Happiest Place on Earth

Abigail Lyn Reid turned 10 (yes, T-E-N!) on September 19...can't believe my oldest niece has been with us 10 years already! This year, my big brother Bill (her dad) and her mom, Cathy, have taken each of their three girls to Disneyland for their birthdays! So a couple weekends ago, it was Abbey's turn. She got to go to The Happiest Place on Earth with her mom and dad, and more importantly, without her little sisters. They were there all day Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. We're talking major Disney overload!

Perhaps most exciting to Abbey, though, was the fact that I was there with her, too, on Saturday! Ok, maybe that wasn't the highlight for her, but it was for me. Bill and his family are Disney junkies, and though I like Disneyland, I go about every, oh, 10 years or so. They would go each weekend if they could, I think, and they know EVERYTHING about the place...so I got to experience what it's like to be a Disney fanatic. I drove down after work on Friday night, arrived just as Abbey was drifting off to sleep after spending her first day with Mickey and friends, and I then spent the day Saturday before driving back to Fresno on Saturday night. Exhausting? Yes. Worth it? Of course! After all, it's so close to Halloween that all the spooky decorations are already up.

Before we even made it into the park, we spotted this big A...for Abbey, of course. The birthday girl posed with her proud papa and mama...

...and with her proud aunt.

We then headed to Goofy's Kitchen to have breakfast with all the Disney characters. They take a professional picture of you as you enter the restaurant; no, this isn't Goofy (it's Pluto), and this isn't the professional pic. They took this with my camera, and obviously were trying to get us to buy the professional one. We didn't.

They gave Abbey a birthday card that all the characters had signed -- how cool is that?!! (Well, when you're 10...)

THIS is what I thought was cool...my pickin's from the buffet. I'm not much of a pancake eater, but I am pretty sure it's against some Disney law to go to Goofy's Kitchen and NOT get a Mickey pancake. I got one just to be safe, as I didn't want to miss any of the rides.

Characters came by the table periodically, and Abbey loved all the princesses -- she's always been a princess-girl.

Her dad liked Snow White and Mulan, too...is it just me, or is he blushing here? Yeesh.

Just before we left, the chef came out to wish Abbey a happy birthday, too. You the man, Goofy!

Of course, there were many picture opportunities, and we captured Abbey posing with a variety of Mickeys...this bronze one...

...this colorful one...

...oops! Too late!

Abbey also posed under this star, and if you look closely, you'll see her first purchase of the day -- a baby Donald Duck. She's just recently decided she likes Donald, so she was on the alert for him all day.

We had to go on the Pirates of the Caribbean, of course...while waiting in line, Abbey and I tried on our pirate faces -- and pirate gun fingers.

We spent a lot of time in stores, as Abbey was very thoughtful about how she'd spend her money. This was her biggest purchase while I was there, and she adored it.

Of course, sometimes she couldn't see anything while wearing it, but she still adored it.

Mid-afternoon, we needed some good healthy food to keep us going the rest of the day, so we got -- what else? -- big, deep-fried, homemade corn dogs!!! They take awhile, so this is Bill and Abbey waiting...

...while Cathy stood in line to purchase them for us. Seriously...these were the best corn dogs EVER. That's why I don't have any pictures of them...we ate 'em too quickly!

After the corn dogs, Abbey and Bill traded hats for a bit. I think Abbey's gonna stick with her Jack-hat.

And what's a trip to Disneyland without going on the Jungle Cruise? WATCH OUT!!!

I hadn't been to Disney in so long that there were quite a few things I had never seen, and a Dia De Los Muertos display was one of them.



Abbey loves Autopia, and I was happy to let her drive me, which is what she's doing here. I've had one too many bad bumper car experiences to take any chances behind the toy wheel.

Bill and Cathy were all snuggled up in the car behind us. I was afraid they'd park somewhere and embarrass us.

Abbey's 10! And it was awesome spending a day at Disneyland with her!

Of course, I don't know how they spent FOUR days there, as I felt like I had a Disneyland hangover for two days after I got back...I wonder what you're supposed to take for a Disneyland hangover?....