Before we left the granite company met with us again to finalize the measurements, sink, etc. Then they said, "oh, and we can install on Monday" - this is the day we get back from Disney. We said okay, after making sure they could come after our flight arrived, but this meant all of the kitchen contents had to be cleared from the kitchen again. If you know my type A personality I HATE to leave my house a mess when going on vacation - but I had to get over it. The house was a hot mess when we left since it had to be ready the minute we got back!
Disney World was nothing short of amazing. We seriously had the best time ever and it was so wonderful because of seeing through the eyes of your children. This has been my fourth trip to Disney and I believe each time memories have been implanted in my brain that last a lifetime, but this time.....I mean I cannot tell you how many times I teared up, which is something that really never happened in the previous trips. So prepare yourself.......this post is a long one - more because I personally do not want to forget the details of this trip.
I worked half a day on Thursday and immediately went home to the kids. My mom and Bo were already there and I had told the girls that we were going to do something fun when I got home. So, of course when I came through the door, they were ready. "What's the surprise???" they said. I had an old Disney picture that hung on my wall of my playroom when I was little. The picture was passed down to my little cousin and I was able to get it back after she outgrew it. I had it reframed about a year ago and had just held onto it since then. So, I had the girls open up my old picture. Hannah was happy about it. Emma was like, "this is the surprise?" They kept saying "it's Disney World!" I said, "well, would you like to go see those characters at Disney World?" They were like, "sure, yeah" (but in normal voices). Then we said, "well, would you like to go today, like right now?" The look in their eyes was priceless. It was like they really did not believe us. Emma's first thing she said was, "I don't have to be 4?" Bo had always told her we would go when she turned 4! We told them we had to go to the airport and that the airplane would take us there. They asked about our suitcases, and I told them they were already packed. I told them all they had to do was pack their book bag of their stuffed animals and a few things for the airplane. Then the excitement really started - they started laughing, getting up, ready to get their stuff! It was adorable. Then, we told them mom, pop pop, lindsay, steve and Andy were going too. Their eyes and faces were just in awe. So, we threw some last minute things together, took Lilly to the boarder and went off to the airport. Security was pretty hilarious with three children, three strollers, adults with multiple bags, juice boxes, Hannah's medicine bag, etc. We ate an early dinner, boarded the plane and had a wonderful flight directly to Orlando. The girls were great the entire time. The gummy bears helped with their ears but they never complained. Emma like listening to my iPod and her Mary Poppins music. Hannah played IPad the entire time. They were just so excited.
opening the picture
waiting at the airport
seeing the plane
Magical Express
We arrived at Old Key West and Hannah cracked everyone up by dancing and repeating, "we're here, we're here, we're here, we're here" over and over and over. It was getting to be around 9:30 at night and they were still wide awake. We got into our condo and the kids had Mickey/Minnie ears with their names on them and their autograph books already there (props to the Disney florist for that organization). They also had buttons set out for the kids that said, "First Visit" for all of the kids and then the girls had one that said, "special occasion," which I learned why they had that later. We all got a good night sleep and it was a good thing, because our first day at Disney was going to be packed.
Our first big adventure was the Supercalafragalistic breakfast with Mary Poppins at the Grand Floridian (beautiful place). When we checked in with the hostess they knew that Emma was there to see Mary Poppins (our main reason for going). It was all saved in their computer from booking the trip! So, we were pulled aside and the staff asked the girls to be part of the breakfast opening - they could help say the "magic words" to open the doors and they said Mary Poppins would be there and escort the girls to our table! This was all part of a "Magical Moment" that Disney does - I had no idea about it. It was all planned by the Disney staff. It was adorable. You can see the E and H were both so overwhelmed at first. You can tell they just did not know it was so over the top. After getting seated another staff member approached me and said Mary Poppins would take the girls outside to her garden and have some special one and one time with the girls! All of this was again part of this "magical moment." It was adorable. She just talked and talked to them and was teaching them poses and all sorts of things. Emma had made a card for Mary Poppins around Valentines Day and I saved it and brought it with us. A staff member was even taking pictures with Mary Poppins's personal cell phone. It was overwhelming to me, so I cannot imagine what the girls were thinking. That was one of the first times I teared up. After returning to the dining area the staff brought me certificates for the girls and other "magical moment" souvenirs that were signed by the staff. I just couldn't believe it. Right there the trip was worth it - and it was just the beginning. Pooh Bear, Alice in Wonderland, Tigger, Mad Hatter were also there so the girls quickly learned to use their autograph books and get the hang of this Disney World thing.
We changed their clothes and then we caught the Disney bus to meet Lindsay, Steve and Andy at Hollywood Studios! Hollywood Studios was a blast! We did all that was on our list: Little Mermaid Adventure, Disney Junior show -(ADORABLE) - it is new and the kids just sing, dance and interact with the show on the floor - it had Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins and Jake and the Neverland Pirates - it had bubbles float down from the ceiling, gold come down on the kids and confetti string come down at the end - so precious. We met Handy Mandy, Woody and Buzz. (35 Minute wait to meet Woody and Buzz, however the line went in "Andy's House" and they all of these little stops to take pictures at and the kids could play, so it entertained them the whole time - very smart.) We ate lunch, saw the Beauty and the Beast show (amazing - like Broadway - seriously). I teared up again watching Emma see this show. She loves Belle and to see her watch that show with her mouth wide open was priceless. Hannah missed a bit of the show because she fell asleep in my mom's arms. She woke up about halfway through it - cried a bit when she saw the Beast, but then she was fine after realizing it was the show and Belle was there to teach the Beast to be nice! The guys split up and went to see some of the action/movie ride things. The girls did some of their first shopping where they got Belle stuffed animals, Hannah got an Arial dress up/makeup thing and Emma got a Belle pillow. Emma had picked out quite a few other times to buy and I told her she may want to wait and keep looking around at other places. She said, "okay, I'll just get it later." She is such a shopper like her mama. We had a snack and then headed out because we needed to get ready for Chef Mickey! Being here was bittersweet - the last time I was here I was with my cousin 9 years ago and she was killed two weeks after returning from the trip. We did not do the "kid things" when I was here before -it was all about the rides - so I had not seen the "kid" type things before. I really wanted to ride Tower of Terror in memory of my cousin, so Bo said he would take me back after dinner.
Disney Junior show
even mommy and daddy were having fun waiting in line!
poor children - they were not having any fun at all
strapping on to the Toy Story rocket!
Woody liked "Andy" and had him write his name on this shoe like in the movie!
ride home on the bus - Emma fell asleep
After a brief rest we took the monorail to the Contemporary for Chef Mickey. This dinner was adorable. They had the napkin swirling dance that everyone participated in. The desserts were soooo good. The characters kept circulating the tables and spending time with the kids.
on our way!
andy and hannah - one of my favorite pictures! pure joy!
Mom, dad Lindsay, Steve and the girls went back to the resort while Bo and I went back to Hollywood Studios. Bo would not ride the Tower of Terror with me - nobody else in our group was there. My sister would have rode with me, but can't because she's prego. So, I was not going to leave there without remembering my cousin and the fun we had on that ride - we rode that ride probably 20 times together and it was our favorite. If she were here - she would want me to ride it - she would be mad at me for not riding it - so I went solo. That ride is still as fun as I remember it being. It is the best ride I have ever rode. That first drop gets you every time and the effects and theme are just fantastic. I missed my cousins and especially Mandy sitting next to me, but it was a great feeling to be there remembering how much fun we had together. Bo and I then saw Fantasmic - I love this show. It makes me tear up every time. In Disney fashion - it is just spectacular - the entire show is done on a wall of water with a good vs. evil theme. All of the characters are involved and the music and magic just make you think of your childhood and how much those characters meant to you. We met a lady walking near us on the way back and she said that she cries everytime she sees it too - I am not alone! Our first day was busy, busy! Day 2: brunch with the princesses and Magic Kingdom!
I am going to continue the Magic Kingdom posts on a new page!
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