December - Our Visit to Wonderland Comes to an End

We stopped at Epcot one last time and got to meet...... ALICE!

She signed Adrienne's book first and the pen wasn't cooperating - it ripped the page a little bit.
Nick handed her his signature book and gave her a stern warning, "Now don't rip my book!" She totally lost it....!

Bye Figment! We'll see you next time!

Soooo let's dance, the last dance....
Let's dance, the last dance
Let's dance, this last dance to NNIIIIIIII-HIIIIIGHT

By the time we got to dinner everyone had lost their minds.
Pop Pop turned coasters and straws into body parts and we came up with a whole new cast of characters.







Then we all took turns with Nick's teeth. Gross, yes. But it had to be done.




I can't remember what I was yelling at him to do (not do?) but he just kept laughing at me!! But I mean REALLY.... how can you get mad at this face?!!?

Slightly less adorable.... half-removed-makeup.
He looks like Adam Lambert after a rough night on Idol.

Hey... it's the strung out club-kid from the plane ride down!
Oh wait... nope. Just Nick with his running makeup and candy. Easy to confuse the two.

Disney Day 5 - DONE!

Our last morning in the hotel.... before we hop on the plane let's hit that world famous sand-bottom pool!!
Yeah. It didn't open for another 2 hours.

doh!
So we went in the smaller 'adult' pool which was ICE COLD! My plan to stand on top of the heaters that had just kicked on was foiled by the fact that I had 2 children hanging off of me who insisted on getting dragged / thrown in the water. Whose idea was it to go swimming this morning anyway?!?!

The day we checked INTO the hotel the kids spotted these lollipops in the commissary. EVERY DAY thereafter they asked if they could have one. We used our last 2 dining meal 'snacks' for these ridiculous things. But then again... ask me what I remember about the trip to Disney when *I* was 4... it isn't Mickey or any rides... it was the giant ball & jacks set in a display case in the lobby of the hotel. So if this is what is going to make them happy.... they deserve it. They were super-troopers the ENTIRE time.
"You wanna lick?"

*pucker*

*lick*

*CHOMP*

After a 45min delay (ugh) we finally went airborn.

And my final *clutch* plane ride activity - the DVD player!
I busted out a never-before-seen movie 'A Bug's Life' which they had just experienced the day before at Animal Kingdom!
It did the trick.... even though Nick's eyes are open I'm pretty sure he was already asleep.

And the last 'ride' of the week.... heading home in style.
(well, except for Adrienne's hair! good heavens! what socket did she stick her hand in?!?!)

Thank You Thank You Thank You Thank You
Mima & Pop Pop for an amazing trip that will be treasured for years to come!

December - The Grand Finale

We had a few surprises saved up for our last day...

Back in MK we took the kids on their first 'real' roller coaster - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.
The second the ride started Adrienne started screaming - and she did NOT stop the entire time. Literally. She would stop for a second, catch her breath and just..... scream.

"Hhhhh Hhhhh. Ummmm, I like it. Ummmm, no it's scary. Ummm, I don't know. AHHHHHHHHHHH"
Then I caught her digging it!
(even though she was still screaming)

Did you like it?!?
"THAT WAS OUR FAVORITE RIDE............... EVER!!!"
And it is! They're STILL talking about it!! (3mos later!!)

We headed back over to Adventureland and bumped into Aladdin! Unfortunately he was just heading out and we missed the cutoff to meet him. He felt terrible about it & kept talking to Adrienne & Nick even as the 'palace guard' was ushering him away!! Such a sweetie....

As for the grand finale surprises.... we planned a one-on-one afternoon for the kids with my parents - Boys Only & Girls Only....

Today, Nick starts off a boy.... but ends as an Admiral of the Black at The Pirates League!!

After almost an hour wait (!! WHY do they insist on appointments?! jeez - worse than going to the doc's!) Nick was called up to the helm to begin the transformation.

Getting signed into the official Pirate Record Book.

And so it begins...




I think the photographer is the scariest (if not creepiest) pirate of them all.

Shiver me timbers, matey! That be the the most fearsome scallywag of the American Main!!

And by order of Captain Jack Sparrow, the newest scourge of the seven seas shall now be referred to as Captain Solomon Goodwater!!

Now for the land-lubber-lassies, we had quite a different afternoon in the works. Adrienne and Mima had an invitation to.............. Cinderella's Castle for lunch!!!

Greg and I stayed with them as they waited to be called... The second they announced their names, Adrienne hopped off the bench, threw her head back and with both hands, flicked her hair off her shoulders a few times, gave her head a Breck-girl shake and marched through the castle gate like she owned the joint.
It was BEYOND hysterical and of course.... one of those if-only-I-caught-THAT-on-film moments.... *sigh*

Ummm, you want me to hold HIS hand???

Their formal portrait!!
(And oh..... Pretty Girl I am so SO sorry!! I forgot to bring her strappy gold sandles to the park... AND I forgot to take off her layering tank & leggings that I put on just to keep her warm during the cooler morning.)

3 martinis later the room was spinning... (kidding!!!). But it's the only picture of the dining room so I wanted to post it...

They managed to get a window-side table overlooking the courtyard!

The cutest little princess in town!




She's saying she wants to be Belle-in-the-blue-dress for Halloween. And since Corinne's play (January post to come) Nick has been stomping around singing Gaston's song.... How fun would that be!?

They were given wands and wishing stars and taught HOW to make a wish....

.... close your eyes and tap your wand on the wishing star!

Out in the courtyard Scallywag Solomon met up with us as we got to see him for the first time!
Those teeth! The makeup! The eye patch, medallion, sash, earring, bandana & sword! I don't know where to look first!
(and Adrienne's fashion faux pas wasn't the only of the day - I had forgotten to bring Nick's pirate boots as well.... ugh... my brain was fried at this point....)



Showing off his sword skills.
"Nick!? Did they teach you how to fight with a sword?!"
"YEAH!!!! FIVE of them!"
OK........ so maybe we need to do a little work on his counting skills before he finesses his sword skills.....





Adrienne & Mima emerge.... and the pictures speak for themselves. She was just a *little* excited!






A princess, a pirate & 2 exhausted parents.

"Mommy! We want YOU to bring us back to Disney!!"