Rose Parade, Part 2

Let's continue on with the southern California adventures...

Day 3, Friday, December 30, 2022

We learned our Disney lessons on Thursday, so I knew that we needed to get to Disneyland early on Friday morning, to ensure that we were able to purchase Genie+. We got there 20 minutes before the gate opened, and we couldn't figure out why we couldn't get in. We certainly had our patience tested with waiting in lines on this trip!

But once we made it in, we secured Genie+ and then we were off to the rides! It made it so much easier to be able to book the lightning lanes. We were able to go on so many more rides!

The RHSMB was supposed to play in the parade at Disneyland on Friday, but due to the rainy weather, it got cancelled. The kids were able to use their park hopper passes for the full day/night, so they still had fun.

Waiting to get into the park

Pirates of the Caribbean

Haunted Mansion - two times!

Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage

Autopia

Monorail (G was so excited about this...he loves trains!)

Millennium Falcon - Smugglers Run

it's a small world

Star Tours - The Adventure Continues

So proud of his trashcan keychain that matches the trashcans in the park...haha!

Taking a Dole Whip break in the Enchanted Tiki Room

Wrapping it up with a presentation about Abraham Lincoln (G was also really excited about this)

See ya later, Disneyland!

We were so tired...room service and sleep made up the rest of our night!

Ava only took two pics from her time at the Disney parks...

Day 4, Saturday, December 31, 2022

G and I went on a group tour of Hollywood and Beverly Hills. We were able to meet up again with my friend Kristin for a very short time (she lives in the city right next to Hollywood.) Due to the weather we weren't able to see the Hollywood sign, which was a bit of a bummer, but G was able to find a magnet of the sign, so we made our own pic (see below, lol.)

Dolby Theater with the Academy Award winners for best picture, for each year since the awards started

Ava's year

G's year

Off to Beverly Hills!

We spent the afternoon at Bandfest, which is where the marching bands in the Rose Parade have the opportunity to play their field show. Again, due to the weather, things were modified a bit...no props, no pit, and the band played at a standstill. But, they still had a great turnout and much support from the crowd!

We were so tired and didn't have any fancy plans for New Year's Eve. We ordered some more room service and were sleeping by 8pm. What a way to welcome 2023!

This week was...weird. I was really busy at the end of last week (like 3 nights out in a row, all with wine) and didn't get much sleep. I woke up on Sunday feeling off, and by Monday, I tested positive for COVID. 

I won't lie...it was a bit nice being isolated in the evenings away from everyone (except Pria, she stayed with me.) Since everyone was out of the house during the day, my work location didn't change, but at night, I turned over all responsibility for everything to Scott, and enjoyed the room service deliveries to my room. 

More importantly, I'm feeling much better. All of the symptoms have eased up...headache, fever, body aches, cough, and congestion. The only thing left is a slight cough. I just need to get more sleep and I think we could knock that away, too. No one else in the house picked it up from me, so I'm very grateful for that!

This is the face of an exhausted person...who has COVID and doesn't know it yet. Yay.

Ava had the end of season marching band banquet on Monday night. I am really disappointed that I wasn't able to go, but mingling with 700+ (!!!) people would have been really irresponsible (since I had COVID.) And exhausting. Ava looked great and had fun seeing her marching band buddies again.

This upcoming week should be a little more normal, and less hectic. And hopefully filled with more sleep!