California Trip Day 9

After such a long, hot day yesterday, and after having stayed up till midnight, we all slept in this morning until after 9 (with some not even getting out of bed until 10am).  Needless to say, we missed the free hotel hot breakfast so we went out to a late breakfast in the area.  We realized that driving 1 1/2 hours + to Aunt Neetsie's was just not feesible today, especially with the LA traffic today and with a big fire along one of the highways near her house. 

So, we decided to go to do our 'shopping'.  Rather than try and do a little shopping at the end of a long day of attractions, we made this our day.  We went to Downtown Disney and spent a few enjoyable hours together just looking at the shops and such.  Each of the kids picked out something. 

Miles had been really interested in Disney Pin Trading.  So, he was able to get a few deals of some starter pins and lanyards.  Then in talking to people, he scored two more free lanywards, tons of advice and a bunch of cool free pins!  (which he graciously shared with his brothers).  He is exited about trading pins.  Apparently if you ask a Disney Cast member to trade a pin, they have to trade with you as long as what you are giving them is a Disney Pin.  We will see what happens.

Pay already had a love of pins.  He had been collecting several of the free buttons you get in the Park.  In fact, he proudly wore 5 of them today all over his shirt.  So, to get a lanyward and some other pins was just perfect for him too. 

Owen was mesmerized by the lego store (well all of them really were).  Floor to ceiling legos!  Not to mention the huge characters they have built all out of legos.  It's pretty cool.  He decided that lego guys was his thing today! 

Ella went straight for the Princess set and never looked back,  You know how kids see one thing right away and then change their minds 25 times?  Not Ella.  Princess set was her's from the first moment.  A little package with a Sleeping Beauty figurine and several dresses and shoes etc..  to change her into.  Lots of little parts, perfect for Ella :)  She was quiet as can be the rest of the shopping time holding her Princess set.  Everyone here has been calling her Princess so it was quiet fitting.

Mom got some great books of course, Walt DIsney's Bio, and "Unleashing your creative self".  :)
Dad?  Not sure what he got, in fact, not sure if he ended up getting anything other than a really happy satisfied family (which is probably all he really cares about anyway).

We headed over to David Gordon's for dinner.  He grilled us up some fantastic salmon.  It felt so good to eat some real food / healthy food after so many days of not so healthy food.  It was delightful.  The kids all swam in the pool.  They are so gracious and so much fun to be around!  We warned them that this will not be the last they see of us this summer. (as we need a close place to escape the heat :)

We left David's a little later, so we just drove by the LA temple in the dark.  It was just beautiful!  So fun to see God's house in the middle of a big city!  A perfect end to a perfect day.

 This is just a classic picture.  This is the shot from our 7th floor suite.  It's atrium style so it's a pretty big drop.  Miles hugs the wall furthest away from the railing every time we walk to the elvator.  Ella is usually in between holding someones hand.  Pay is always looking over the edge.  And dear Owen, is always standing on the railing.  :)  Matches their personalities exactly.  Hopefully it isnt a precurser for they way they will live in adulthood.  :)