3rd birthday at the most magical place on earth.

We spent Matthew's third birthday at the most magical place on earth, Disney Land!  We hadn't planned it that way but it worked out really well.  My sister Amy goes with her dance studio every year in October and this year it happened to be over Matthew's birthday.  It was a blast.  I am so happy we went.  We traveled in Great Grandma Anderson's car and stoped in Vegas for the night on the way out and back. We stayed at Dolphin's Cove Condos (our time share) that is just a few blocks away from Disney.  We had a big group.  Along with us and Grandma Anderson my parents came, my brother Ben, Amy and her family, and Jake and his family.  My favorite part was seeing Matthew's face during the rides and meeting the Cars characters. He had a blast.  The picture above is us in front of the castle.  It was dark so you can't see it well.  Matthew called it his birthday castle because before we left when we would see the castle at the beginning of a Disney movie we would say that is where we are going for your birthday.  I will always remember this vacation as one of the best ever.

I like this picture.  It is just cute of Matthew.  He wore his monkey backpack the whole time there.  It is a "leash" that kept him from getting lost.

Me waiting for a ride.

Jamie enjoyed taking these pics of me.

Jamie and Dad on the bugs life hot air balloon ride.

Mommy and Matthew on the bugs life hot air balloon ride.

Matthew and Zack LOVED meeting lightning McQueen.  Matthew was a little more star struck than Zack.  He was really nervous when he met him but he wouldn't stop talking about it afterwards.

Matthew had to learn to stand in lines while there.  It was a challenge but it taught him a good lesson.

I went with Matthew on the Autopia ride and let him drive.  He LOVED it (a little more than I did, it was BUMPY with him driving)

Being 7 months pregnant I really didn't want to be standing in lines and walking a ton so I rented a scooter. I looked a little ridiculous but really enjoyed it. So did Matthew.  He also loved his Buzz Lightyear toy that Grandma Anderson got him for his birthday.

He got to wear a Happy Birthday pin while he was there. He even got a special Happy Birthday song sung to him by goofy.

Mommy and Matthew on the space ship ride.

This trip was fun but exhausting.  When this picture was taken it was almost 10 at night without a nap.  He was TIRED!

Matthew knocking on the door of his "Birthday Castle".

My little poser.  At our Dolphin's cove condo there were four of these benches and he had me take a picture of him on each one.  He is such a cheeser.

Our condo.  It was quite comfortable.

The table at the condo.

The patio

We also went to the beach (Matthew's first time).  It was a lot of fun and Matthew loved it.

He would run in and out of the water laughing his head off.  He was a little leery of the waves at first then he lost his fear and was all over the place.

Matthew and mommy in the breaking waves.

He loved to let the waves hit him as long as I was close by.

The day we went to the beach was his birthday.  We invited everyone over for dinner and cupcakes.  It was a lot of fun.  Of course we had Cars themed cupcakes.

In the little treehouse at Disney.

Pirate booty on Pirate Island.

In the train.

In toon land.

Over all it was an awesome vacation.  I would do it again in a heartbeat!