"Dad! Dad, look! We can see the roller coaster out our window!" Tess shouts as she pushes back the curtains and looks excitedly out the window of their hotel room.

"Look! It's the bear mountain!" Kate says, looking to the right, where the peak is just visible through the trees. "Oh, this is so cool!"

"Mommy! Mommy, Look! It's Mickey Mouse!" Addison shouts from the bathroom. Everyone comes running and laughs out loud at the towel on the counter that had been rolled to look like the famous mouse.

"This place is awesome! Tess remarks, going back into the main room again and flopping down on the bed.

The girls' reactions were the ultimate payoff to this surprise trip over their Thanksgiving break. They had picked all three girls up from school early, bags already packed, and whisked off to the airport, the whole time the girl asking where they were going. It wasn't until they had checked their bags in, and made it past security did Doug and Carol reveal where they were headed. And from the shrieks that attracted the looks of passers-by, it was clear the girls' were excited.

It would be all three girls first plane ride, and through the democratic process of Rock, Paper Scissors, it was decided Kate and Carol would get the two window seats (though Carol did trade at the last minute to Tess) while the others would get it on the way home. They sat across one row, split at the aisle, with Kate at one window, Addy in the middle, and their dad on the end, a businessman named Michael on the aisle next to them, Carol in the middle and Tess at the other window. And for three hours, the girls watched out the window and read books and watched movies. They didn't fight (for a change), and Michael told Doug and Carol that their girls were the best-behaved kids on any flight he had been on, and he had been on a lot of them.

LAX was a bustle of activity, especially for a Friday night, but somehow the family found their bags and the rental car counter and forty minutes later they were shuffling through the last of rush hour traffic to their hotel. They spent Saturday exploring Los Angeles, visiting all the usual tourist attractions- Chinese Theater, Walk of Fame, Hollywood sign- and eating their weight in In-N-Out burgers and shakes. They managed to get into a studio tour, and Tess got to see where her favorite TV show was filmed.

On Sunday, while Doug packed a cooler with drinks and snacks, Carol helped the kids up on their swimsuits.

"The beach? In November?" Kate asked, skeptical.

But they weren't the only family there. The sand was crowded with people enjoying the low-ninety degree heat. Tess and Kate squealed as they raced over the dune and down into the waves. The water was frigid, but that didn't stop the girls from jumping the waves that came in and getting soaking wet. The rest of the day was spent playing in the water, building sand castles, collecting shells and lounging in the sun. As sunset fell, the family, having changed into warmer clothes, ate fresh seafood at a tiny restaurant just off the boardwalk, and licked off ice cream cones as they people watched. They all went to bed that night tired, sun-kissed, and happy.

They spend Monday at their hotel, playing in the pool and having a relaxing day. They eat more In-N-Out, which they haven't grown tired of yet, and spend the evening playing games at Dave and Busters, where Kate hits the jackpot on a spinning wheel game and ends up with enough tickets to buy herself her own Nintendo DS. The girl gleefully spends the rest of the night playing on her new video game system, even sharing it with her sister for a while.

Tuesday morning dawned bright and sunny again. After sleeping in and one last breakfast at the buffet, the Ross family packed up their things, loaded the car, with a mad dash back into the room to collect Addy's forgotten prized kitty stuffed animal, and got onto the freeway for their next destination. The signs heralded their arrival, the girls cheered and called out every time they passed one, and by the time they turned into the parking lot of their hotel, everyone was buzzing with excitement. The hotel was indeed 'Grand', starting at the front door with the bell-hop that collected their bags.

"Hello, princess," the man said to Addison as she climbed down from her booster seat and grabbed her mom's hand.

"Hi," Addy replies, suddenly shy.

As the rest of the family appeared, the man commented on their "family full of princesses," which made them all giggle. He instructed them to where to find the check-in counter and wished them all a wonderful visit. Again, the woman who helped Carol check-in was very kind and get them all squared away very quickly. She handed her their park tickets and a folder full of information on the parks, with maps and show times, as well as a stack of buttons declaring not only their first visit but also birthday ones for Tess and Kate. Carol thanked her and headed off to a corner where the girls were watching cartoons, and Doug was 'keeping an eye on them' from the nearby bar. After a few minutes, the family found the elevators and rode up to their room.

"So, you girls ready to go play in the park?" Doug asks, grabbing his cell phone, room key, and his wallet, sliding both into the pocket of his jeans.

"Yes!" all three girls shout. And after grabbing sweatshirts, the family head down to start their adventure.

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Disney's California Adventure Park sits adjacent to Disneyland Park and treats guests staying in the Grand Californian Hotel a private entrance directly into the park. And that is exactly where the Ross family head, the girls racing ahead of their parents.

"Hey, guys!" the girl manning the gate calls to them when they get close enough. "Are you having a good day?"

"Yes!" they reply, smiling.

"Great! And it's your first time? Wow! Well, then I hope you have a great time today. If you see me when you get back, you'll have to tell me all about it." She scans their tickets one by one, the high pitched squeaking ensuring they are indeed, in. "And happy birthday!"

"Thank you!" Tess and Kate call in unison.

When their parents catch up, Tess, Kate, and Addison are standing at a fence watching the river ride below. Riders whizz by screaming and laughing as the rapids splash them. The twins turn to their parents, smiles wide.

"I want to go on that!" they say.

"I don't know, girls," Carol starts. "You're gonna get wet, you know that, right?"

"Yes, we know," Kate nods. "Please?"

"Alright," Carol agrees, nodding towards the line.

"Mommy, I don't wanna get wet," Addison says, lower lip puffed out.

"Come on, Addy! It's will be fun!" Tess encourages, not wanting her sister to ruin their fun.

"No! I don't wanna!" Addison shouts, stomping her foot, on the verge of a meltdown.

"Okay, okay, you don't have to go," Doug says, scooping up the girl. He hugs her close, smoothing out the skirt of her pink dress.

"But Dad! We wanted you to go with us!" Kate whines.

"We're here all week, Bean. I think I'm going to be able to go with you again."

"Okay," Kate mopes, following her twin and mom into line.

Given the time of year, the line for the ride was relatively short, and soon the girls are boarding their raft and headed off on their adventure.

Doug and Addy are watching at the fence again, and see their girls come by, screaming and waving at them.

The girls came back, laughing and smiling, not as wet as Doug thought they would be, but still not dry as he had left them.

"Dad! There was this girl who rode with us and she got soaked!" Kate cheers.

"There's this huge drop at the end and she went down backwards and then this huge wave came over us and soaked her!" Tess finishes. "We got some of it too, but not as bad as her." They had started walking as she talked and came to the Redwoods area of the park.

"I wanna go on that!" Addy shouts, pointing to the large climbing structure before her. Doug sets her down, and the girl races off, her sisters not far behind.

"Watch your sister!" Doug calls to them.

They let the girls play, finding a bench to sit on, for a while, watching them climb and run and slide and explore the tunnels and race each other on the zip lines. Eventually, Doug and Carol find their kids and continue through the park, ending up on the boardwalk area. They ride the Jellyfish Jumper and the swings and the giant Ferris wheel, though they pick the car that doesn't move, as it freaks everyone out when they see it up close, even Tess who loves thrill rides.

Their last ride of the day is 'Toy Story Mania'; it's a fairly new ride, so the line is long, but thanks to the FastPass Doug had run and got, their wait is shorter than the regular line. Kate and Tess are paired up, with Carol and Addy on the other side of their car. Doug, being the odd man out, gets placed with another single rider in another car. The twins unleash their competitive nature on each other, battling it out during the games. In the end, Tess wins with two thousand more points than her sister, and Addison beats her mom, scoring a thousand more points than the adult.

"Mine was broken!" Doug claims as they head back to the hotel. It was barely after nightfall, but already the park was starting to close for the night, sending everyone over to Disneyland proper for their nighttime activities.

"Sure, sure," Carol says, shaking her head, holding hands with her husband.

"It was," he pouts.

"Well? How was it?" the girl manning the gate to their hotel asks when she sees them again.

"It was awesome!" the twins say.

"Glad to hear it," she smiles. "Have a nice night."

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Wednesday is spent making use of their 'Extra Magic Hour' that day and finishing what they missed in California Adventure. Instead of going right when they first enter from their hotel, they turn left and end up in the aviation area. They all head into the makeshift plane hangar, one of the first people in line that day, and end up getting into the second row. After clipping into the seat belt, the lights are turned off and they are sent on a simulated hang-gliding adventure through the landmarks of the Golden State that ends with an aerial view of the fireworks over Disneyland.

"I wanna do that again!" Addison cheers as they come off the ride. A smile hadn't left her face the entire time; it was her first official 'Big Kid' ride, and her parents were glad she loved it.

And so, because they could, they got back in line and did it again.

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The family munches on popcorn and sips from slushies that turn tongues blue as they explore the front area of the park; looking through shop windows and the scenery of the main street.

"Look! Minnie is here!" Tess shouts, pointing to the character. She runs into line, knowing her family will follow, and soon enough, the Cast Member is waving her forward. "Hi, Minnie! I love your dress," Tess says, making the character 'blush'. Minnie says she likes Tess' outfit (a flowy grey tank top, (Capri jeans and flip-flops) too, and that makes the girl smile. They talk for a few more moments, before posing for a picture. The other two Ross girls follow, Addison gives Minnie a huge hug, and Kate tells Minnie about the club volleyball team she was going to try out for.

After getting their picture card from the photographer, they continue on into the Hollywood area.

Doug takes the big girl on Tower of Terror (Addison was both too small and too scared), and come off twenty minutes later with one twin smiling happily, and another wiping away tears and gripping her dad's hand.

"Hey, Bean," Carol sighs upon seeing her daughter. "Didn't like it?"

"I don't want to do it again," Kate declares, hugging her mom.

"Okay, you don't have too," Carol agrees.

"It was kind of scary," Tess says, trying to make her twin feel better.

"It was," Doug agrees.

"Come on, let's go do something we all can do," Carol says, standing from the bench she had occupied, and grabbing Addy's hand.

The Animation Building is where they find the more family-friendly activities. They learn to draw Chip in the Animator's Academy; "his nose looks like a chocolate chip; that's how you can tell the difference," their teacher explains how to tell him and his brother apart; and meet the famous sea turtle, Crush, from the movie Finding Nemo.

Finally, Addison gets her turn to go on rides. The Bug's Life area is just her size and she drags her whole family on them, giggling and smiling the whole time. They spin in ladybug's (which makes them all laugh as it's Addison's nickname), crash and bump in the Roly Poly cars, and fly through the air in Flik's spinner ride. Addy plays a bit on the splash pad, but at the mention of the Aladdin show starting soon, is quick to put her shoes back on and head off to the theater.

The Broadway-style show marvel's every member of the family. They sing along to all the songs, and absolutely freak out when they see Aladdin and Jasmine fly over their heads as they discover 'A Whole New World'. In the end, the show gets a standing ovation and every audience member leaves happy.

Wednesday afternoon is spent getting in some retail therapy in Downtown Disney. Doug makes camp in the ESPN store with a beer and a view of the wall of TV's and watches the many bags his girls bring back to him. The girls come back hours later with new stuffed animals they had made, dressed as beloved Disney characters, and with their hair and makeup done; Tess and Kate's hair was braided with colorful streaks woven in and thick stage makeup, both twins loving their 'Rockstar' looks, and Princess Addy comes to him covered in glitter with a shiny gold tiara stuck into her tight bun.

They spend the rest of the night eating dinner and ice cream and watching the liver performers around the shopping district, even managing to catch the end of the fireworks over the trees.

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Of their entire Disney trip, Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, is the least crowded they had seen the park. This day they spent in Disneyland proper and were surprised at how low the wait time for rides were. The longest they waited, for the Indiana Jones ride, was fifteen minutes; when, on a normal day, it would have taken them an hour or more to get onto the popular ride.

The Ross family tear through the park, going on all the rides they want.

They laugh at the bad jokes on the jungle cruise and laugh at Jack Skellington's adventures on the Nightmare Before Christmas theme of the Haunted Mansion. They zoom down Splash Mountain and go on a quest for gold with the Pirates of the Caribbean. Addison faces her fears and sits tucked firmly into her dad's side on Thunder Mountain Railroad, declaring at the end that she liked it, but didn't want to do it again.

Toontown is where they spin with Roger Rabbit and meet Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and Donald.

In Fantasyland, they fly over London with Peter Pan, fall down a rabbit hole with Alice and the White Rabbit and spin so fast in teacups at the Mad Hatter's tea party; the girls love it, the ride makes Doug and Carol sick. They're in line for It's a Small World with Carol calls her mom to wish her a happy Thanksgiving; all three girls take turns talking to their grandmother, telling her all about what they did and wishing she was there with them. Helen promises she will see her granddaughter's soon and ends the call wishing the twins a happy birthday and telling them their presents are in the mail and should be there by the time they get home. The calming boat ride puts Addison to sleep and Doug carries her out and lays her in the stroller they had rented. Taking that a cue for a break, the family finds a spot on the curb and enjoys a snack; Kate even sneaks in some time to play with her new video game system.

When the announcement for the afternoon parade echoes through the park, Carol realizes they spot they had claimed was perfect and keeps them there, with a quick rush to the bathroom, until the parade starts. Addy wakes up right as it starts, and jumps up to sing and dance along to the music and wave excitedly to her favorite characters, cheering when they wave back. The twins love all the happy birthday wishes they get from the parade performers because of the buttons they wear and are just as excited as their little sister to see the floats go by.

After the parade, they finish the dark rides in Fantasyland and go on the famous carousel. They meet the princesses, which Addison, still covered in glitter with her bun and tiara, absolutely loves.

In Tomorrowland, Tess and Kate face off once again on Buzz Lightyear's Astro Blasters. They are neck and neck almost the entire time, but Kate manages to hit a target with a high point value and beats her sister by three thousand points. They tear through the galaxy on a rogue transport ship on Star Tours and pilot their own rocket ship on the Astro Orbitor. Tess, Kate and Addy get their 'driver's license on Autopia and have a chance encounter with Buzz Lightyear himself.

They are headed to get in line for the Matterhorn, when a show attracts their attention. A man and woman, holding lightsabers and dressed in tan robes, are up on stage looking for young Padawans to enroll in the Jedi Training Academy. Kate, eager to get picked, starts jumping up and down and yelling and waving her hands, trying to attract the attention of the leaders.

"Ah! Three sisters; the Force is strong in your family, all of you: come up, come up," the man says, noticing Kate and her sisters. Kate grabs her sister's hands and drags them to the stage where they are presented with their own robe and 'training' lightsaber. Doug and Carol excitedly watch as their daughters learn the combination and battle against the Sith lords. The girls come back waving their diplomas of completion of the academy, begging to go back to the Star Wars store so they can get their own robes and lightsabers to keep. Of course, their dad obliges and comes out of the store two hundred dollars cheaper, but with three happy daughters wearing robes and waving green, purple and blue lightsabers, reenacting what they had just learned.

One of the landmarks of the park is the Matterhorn Mountain, modeled after the real mountain in Europe, with a high-speed roller coaster hidden inside. The popular attraction usually had a line three miles long, but on Thanksgiving, the line is much shorter and soon, the family is loaded into bobsleds, climbing the mountain to hunt for the Yeti, only to go zooming down the mountain in a twisting, turning path. They splash down at the bottom, full of smiles and adrenaline.

As night falls over the park, the family enjoys dinner-turkey and all the fixings-at a restaurant on Main Street. Doug sits back and marvels at his family; how amazing they were. Carol, who left her job as a nurse to become a Transplant coordinator, took on the challenge and showed true passion and aptitude for it. She was always good with people, after all. Tess, their oldest, with her light and fire, led her youth theater program's production of Seussical the Musical as Amazing Mazie. Kate, laid-back and driven, was about to start her first season of club volleyball, a sport she had fallen in love with. And Addison, their baby Buggy, started kindergarten that year and was already in the highest reading and math group. She was small, smart and girly; already loving Ballet. He couldn't believe how lucky he was for the life he had.

Fireworks light up the sky, accompanied by the soothing voice of Julie Andrews as she narrates the story of Disneyland and its magic. The music of full of well-known music and everyone around them, including their family, sing along. He hugs his daughter's close as Tinker Bell flies across the sky and the show reaches its crescendo.

The family ends the night the same as they had every night of their trip: brushing teeth and getting tucked into bed, happy and tired. It's their last night and everyone is sad about that but glad for the trip they had and all of the memories they made.

They fly home Friday afternoon, after one last In-N-Out burger trip, Arriving home late. They eat a quick, simple dinner and fall into their own beds and sleep until almost noon the next day. Unfortunately, Addison winds up with strep throat and an ear infection and spends the weekend miserably cuddling her prized kitty and new pink bear stuffed animals with her tiara close by.

Tess and Kate return to school the following Monday full of stories to tell and pictures to show off, declaring it the best birthday ever.