Surprised the kids, wife, and my readers w/ a 2 week trip to AoA!(*NEW* 11-7)

[cheekypoppins]

My 7 year old doesnt like rainforrest cafe either,but that might be because she's terrified of gorillas or monkeys or anything like that really

 

[glennbo123]

he would def. hit her now, he has grown alot since then, i looked at him the other day and said hey wait a minute your head is well above the kitchen counter tops when did that happen...i remember when he barely was able to see what was on the counter last year...

That is so funny that you say that because one of our favorite family stories is a time back when Lauren was about 4 or 5 and she said something to me from the other side of a kitchen counter and I turned, looked at her and said, "Lauren, come down from there!" I really thought that she was standing on a stool or something, but she wasn't standing on anything!

Aw, that's a shame that dinosaur-theme in the restaurant was a little too much for Parker. And I'm sure you were frustrated that the meal didn't turn out quite the way you had pictured it, but kudos to you for apologizing to Parker for your reaction. That is worthy of consideration for parent-of-the-year. (You won't win it, 'cause I've got it all sewn-up, but it's worthy of consideration )

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

sorry for the brief replys back have a short amount of time right now.

Whew!! Finally made it through all your updates!!

Looks like the trip is turning out to be a really great trip. So many people decide not to go with a little toddler in tow, I'm glad to see you didn't wait, I don't think I'd be able to wait either. My DS20 use to do the same thing as Noelle when he got tired, well into his grade school years even!
No joke! The first time he went to sleep regardless of his surroundings it was a Monster Truck Rally show. Yes, I actually went to one, and no I'm not a red-neck, far from it honestly.
Tyler-my boy saw a commercial for the show and any excuse for my husband to be around loud souped up cars he was all over it.
It came 9 o'clock and Ty turned himself around in dad's lap (when he was about 5 years old), laid his head against daddy's chest and went to sleep.
AT A MONSTER TRUCK RALLY!! We of course put ear plugs in his ears when we got there, but still!! I would have never been able to do that.

The second time was in Calif. when he was about 8, we were there for his Aunt's law school graduation. We were in a room full of very loud mouthed family members (half of them Italian-need I say more ) from both sides going, he found an empty table pushed a couple of chairs up to the baquet table and went to sleep.

We had a mini panic attack at first when we couldn't find him, but then we realized the time and the time difference for us and knew he was asleep somewhere, we eventually found him.

The kids interaction with the characters is so awesome, especially the looks Noelle gives to them. I know it's not very Disney of me to say this, but I swore in the first couple of pictures of Sleeping Beauty I thought it was a man. No joke! Go back and look at them with that in mind and then tell me what you think. As you go further through the pics you realize it's not, but seriously go look.

You ninja posted on me!! Now i'm not caught up any more!

thanks glad you see it our way, sure we could wait till they get bigger, but the little kid innocent at this age is priceless and seeing there reactions both good and bad to things are something we would never change.

those stories you shared are pretty funny.

yep im a secret ninja with my posting for sure.

Poor Parker That restaurant is REALLY loud. We got sat by baby dinosaurs and by the end of the meal I couldn't wait to get out of there because the thing wouldn't shut up. Maybe he'll enjoy more in a year or two.

i hope so, but then noelle might not like it, we will just have to judge it and try it again. you are right that so much going on can get over the top.

and it is loud...wonder if other rooms would have been different.

Poor little guy. I can't imagine how impressive those dino's were to him. Everything is literal in their little worlds at that age, something we parents easily forget, I know I have.
And no beating yourself up over it, it happens.

All of parents win the parent of the year award from time to time, and I hate to break it to you.....but it will probably happen again from time to time over the years.
It's all apart of parenting kiddos, we are sometimes sleep deprived, hungry, or they are or we all are at the same time and the key is to not allow yourself into the situations if possible.
This one creeped up on y'all, you did what needed to be done to rectify it. The best a parent can do is to show your kiddos you aren't perfect, apologize, ask forgiveness when we mess up. Then we get the privilege of raising kids who know that life isn't always fair, but it's still a good place, with people who are flawed and who can own their own stuff when they let us down, or we let them down, even the one's we love the most. In turn, they grow up and do the same for their kids, and hopefully for their co-workers, church members, and so on.
To me, that really does earn you Parent of the Year. Good job, Daddy Dan and Mama Candi.

thanks for the kind words,
it does stink when you build it up in your mind but then you forget that they are little and are not grown up yet and you should not grow them up before they are ready and not get upset when they get scared of stuff.

thanks for still awarding me hte award.

Aw. Poor Parker and poor Parents

We have all been there and had our moments

No worries.

Maybe try it again in couple years when he is older

thanks we plan on it, but maybe when both kids are a little older and will aprreciate it.

When April was Parkers age I took her to the Rainforest Cafe in Massachusetrs and we sat right in front of these larger then life gorillas that would howl and beat their chest like every five minutes. Let me tell you she was freaked! She's eight now and I took her to T-Rex on our last trip and she loved it! I bet Parker will too in a few years!

thanks for the tip and words of encouragement, will def. look into it again for the future.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

sorry for short replies short on time right now.

I've heard that a lot of kids are scared in that restaurant because of the loudness. My kids were older than Parker when we took them to Rainforest Cafe, but I remember Markie didn't like it at all and sat in my lap the entire time and wouldn't eat his food. It happens to the best of us. And with us wanting our kids to have a great experience and it doesn't go that way, we tend to get a little upset when it doesn't go that way. But in the long run, you guys did great with getting the food to go.

you hit the nail right on the head, we all mess up from time to time just have to learn from it and move on and love them more.

Poor Parker. It's so hard to know how a child is going to react to scary situations. My oldest son scared very easily and I have a much better parent of the year story than yours. It's so bad I don't think I can even tell it.

I don't blame you for being frustrated because you thought it was going to be so great for him. And in a couple years it will be.

well if yo udont want it out there for everyone you can just PM it to me...or not its up to you.

thanks for the words of encouragment for the next time.

Oh how awfule for Parker and you both!!!Have never been in there so no idea how loud it is !!!

thanks rosie, hoping for a better time there next visit whenhe is bigger.

Aw poor Parker scared of the dinos!!!

I think you guys are great parents! You seem like you are doing a great job!

thank you very much, it is greatly appreciated...we try sometimes we fail but always try and just not repeat the same mistakes.

Aw, poor Parker and poor Dan and Candi! It happens to ALL of us. Well, most normal people anyway. I had a co worker telling me she's never been mad at her son. And well, I'm not sure that's a good thing for either of them.

But I digress. You rebounded, made amends and moved on and most importantly, didn't let hurts and disappointments fester. That's huge in my book.
And you didn't penalize him by not letting him build a Dino which I think a number of folks may have done. It is so hard when we build up something in our mind that our kids are going to go nuts over...and it just doesn't play that way. We take it harder than they do I think!

I LOVE Parkers poncho and rain hat. Classic!

we try the same thing to make up quickly doesnt always work, but just have to try. and will get to the dino story tomorrow sometime hopefully to see how that turned out.

that is a smart invention isnt it.

My 7 year old doesnt like rainforrest cafe either,but that might be because she's terrified of gorillas or monkeys or anything like that really

i have never been in that one so not sure how big and scary those things would be to a kid, i can see how if they are big and animated alot they would be though.

That is so funny that you say that because one of our favorite family stories is a time back when Lauren was about 4 or 5 and she said something to me from the other side of a kitchen counter and I turned, looked at her and said, "Lauren, come down from there!" I really thought that she was standing on a stool or something, but she wasn't standing on anything!

Aw, that's a shame that dinosaur-theme in the restaurant was a little too much for Parker. And I'm sure you were frustrated that the meal didn't turn out quite the way you had pictured it, but kudos to you for apologizing to Parker for your reaction. That is worthy of consideration for parent-of-the-year. (You won't win it, 'cause I've got it all sewn-up, but it's worthy of consideration )

i do double takes on the size growth as well seeing them each day you dont notice it as much as like all of sudden they seem huge.

thanks for your nomination glenn, even though you think you have me edged out.

 

[jenny105]

i hope so, but then noelle might not like it, we will just have to judge it and try it again. you are right that so much going on can get over the top.

and it is loud...wonder if other rooms would have been different.
.

The first time I was there I sat in the ice room. There are no dinosaurs in there other than fossils and they don't make noise! The only thing that happens is that the 'ice' changes colors every so often. Maybe you can sit in there next time?

 

[katt789]

All the AoA pictures are making me miss the resort so much, it’s so awesome!!

Thanks for the themeing pictures of TL, having never been to the waterparks I like to know what they look like haha!

That looks like a pretty awesome mini trip/hike! That’s awesome!

I love that the AoA food court has so many different options of food, stuff you don’t really see otherwise, like, YUM!

Yay! TRex! Love that place! Oh no, looks like Parker didn’t really enjoy it! Though I can definitely imagine it being kinda scary for smaller kids, or really scary, I know over at Rainforest Café I thought the effects were just a bit too loud or annoying, or too often, TRex wasn’t as bad for us, but at least you guys got a food, (and hopefully a new dino!)

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

The first time I was there I sat in the ice room. There are no dinosaurs in there other than fossils and they don't make noise! The only thing that happens is that the 'ice' changes colors every so often. Maybe you can sit in there next time?

hmm, that is a good point, might have to do that next time. i really liked the look of that room when we went by it, and know that you said it isnt as loud with the dinos in there might have to try that one.

All the AoA pictures are making me miss the resort so much, it’s so awesome!!

Thanks for the themeing pictures of TL, having never been to the waterparks I like to know what they look like haha!

That looks like a pretty awesome mini trip/hike! That’s awesome!

I love that the AoA food court has so many different options of food, stuff you don’t really see otherwise, like, YUM!

Yay! TRex! Love that place! Oh no, looks like Parker didn’t really enjoy it! Though I can definitely imagine it being kinda scary for smaller kids, or really scary, I know over at Rainforest Café I thought the effects were just a bit too loud or annoying, or too often, TRex wasn’t as bad for us, but at least you guys got a food, (and hopefully a new dino!)

your welcome, glad you liked the TL ones, does help show it to people that have never been there before.

we also loved the AoA food court many good options, even though i loved the burrito bar at Pop when we went there one day overall i liked the AoA one best.

i have never been to rain forest just walking in the lobby once, might have to try that one sometime.

next chapter will reveal the dino happenings.

 

[khertz]

Wow, poor Parker!! And I know as parents, we all do things we regret. At least you were able to cool down and let him know you weren't really mad at him.

 

[Poolrat]

hmm afterhours party? work thing? you would love the crush in gusher ride, that is a ton of fun.

Yup we would get teh beach at TL with a DJ and food set up near Leaning Palms.

No water time for us but the big waves were going so we could see. I am really surprised that no one "went swimming" With Pool people usually someone ends up in the pool.


Some of the cool things is we get to see the mechanics of it all. Behind the scenes for all the pool geeks.



I remember hearing about the TRex experience. Too bad Parker was so scared. I am sure at some time you can try it again, hopefully after Noelle get over that stage too.

I will tell you, you did better than I would have. YOu do get thtat nomination for Parents of the year.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Parker's improvised rain gear had me

Poor guy. I know exactly how you feel. We tried eating there a few years ago because of my daughter's love of dinosaurs, but my son was so freaked out he refused to even enter the building. We ended up at the McDonalds that used to be there.

That's such a hard position to be in as a parent. You go through all this effort to make your kids happy that you sometimes want to shout, "This is for you! Now start enjoying it!"

I'm sure he was back to loving Mommy and Daddy soon after you guys made up.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

Wow, poor Parker!! And I know as parents, we all do things we regret. At least you were able to cool down and let him know you weren't really mad at him.

very true, just have to learn to not keep doing the same boneheaded moves over and over again.

Yup we would get teh beach at TL with a DJ and food set up near Leaning Palms.

No water time for us but the big waves were going so we could see. I am really surprised that no one "went swimming" With Pool people usually someone ends up in the pool.


Some of the cool things is we get to see the mechanics of it all. Behind the scenes for all the pool geeks.



I remember hearing about the TRex experience. Too bad Parker was so scared. I am sure at some time you can try it again, hopefully after Noelle get over that stage too.

I will tell you, you did better than I would have. YOu do get thtat nomination for Parents of the year.

hmm no one ended up in hte pool, then i guess it was a non alcoholic party

thta would be neat to see the behind the scenes of those things, are you allowed to take pictures when yo ugo to those?

hopefully noelle wont be scared of those things, she is pretty fearless right now. doing stuff parker would never attempt when he was little.

Parker's improvised rain gear had me

Poor guy. I know exactly how you feel. We tried eating there a few years ago because of my daughter's love of dinosaurs, but my son was so freaked out he refused to even enter the building. We ended up at the McDonalds that used to be there.

That's such a hard position to be in as a parent. You go through all this effort to make your kids happy that you sometimes want to shout, "This is for you! Now start enjoying it!"

I'm sure he was back to loving Mommy and Daddy soon after you guys made up.

i thought that rain gear was awesome as well, thanks.

there were a few times we said things like that when he acted up on the trip but then had to realize that being scared is part of growing up and we needed to explain why things are what they are and they are and so forth.

as you will see in hte next chapter going shopping and dinos love was back on the table.

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

Chapter 32. Time to Redeem Ourselves.

After we finished up our meal we still wanted to take parker to the build a dino, he was really looking forward to it. Since he knew his destination he had no trouble walking straight to the shop and checking out all the had to offer.

I mean walking to your table and going right past this guy could have no affect or scare a little kid now could it.

we looked over all the animals and despite the t-rex as his favorite, he chose a lovable friendly plant eater for the build a dino

checking out all that stuffing that is going to go into his new best friend.

he already knew his name at this point so we will from this point forward call dino friend
Bronty, get it brontosaurus.
Seeing bronty come to life caused him to jump up and down with excitment.

Time to pick out the perfect heart for bronty.

Give him a big squeeze to make sure he is the perfect squishyness.

Then make sure he is really smart like parker and rub his heart on his head.

Have some muscle bulging bicepts to scare away other dinos.

Have a good heart like parker to love others, that is apparently in parker stomache.

Then kiss the heart and stuff it in.

while bronty was sewed up, parker continued to jump around like a very excited nut. so we knew that all was forgiven and we were off the hook.

noelle was not impressed with his dino or his showing off dancing. dont worry about her though she has plenty of stuffed animals and will build her own dino when she gets older if she chooses.

now that the dino was all his he could hug away all he wanted.

bronty was due for a good air wash.

and a srub down.

we then named him officially on the computer had his birth certificate printed out and made our way out.

I still dont see what is so scary about this restaurant.

i really liked there boxes here, they had room for the heads and tails to pop out of the box so they were not squished in to the little house.

we then made our way to the side of the world of disney store, after checking out the legos that were new to us. im sure you have all seen them plenty so ill just bore you with two of our pictures.

and here was a window on the side of world of disney i have never noticed before that had a great bathroom location just down the way that was nice and quite and good spot to stop.

we planned on letting parker pick out a pillow pet this trip, and since he knew that he wanted a mickey one and was not going to change his mind despite there being alot of other characters to choose from, we let him use some of his souvenir money to pick on up so he could use it that night in bed.

Anytime we are a store noelle sees a stuffed animals she pretty much wants one. Now at home she is allowed to hold it in the store then it is sneakly taken away and put down before we leave, but disney has its own rules and she had some money to spend so she saw a tramp puppy she loved so needless to say it came home with us.

and what better way to end the day with a ride back to the resort than to sit on your brothers head on that ride back to the resort.

that pretty much summed up the rest of the evening, we got back to the room, relaxed and got ready for bed, kids bathed up, i headed to fill drinks, and we all crashed down in bed around 10:00 for our next park day.



Just a little update on my Head Shaving Event, I had some more good donations come in today and I am 30% toward my goal amount. If anyone wants to donate or view my participate webpage, please let me know and I will send you a PM for it.

 

[jedijill]

Have a good heart like parker to love others, that is apparently in parker stomache.

Well, you know they say the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

Parker is too cute...love his reaction to building Bronty! Noelle is a sweetie with her Tramp baby too!

Jill in CO

 

[KatMark]

I'm so glad that Parket went back and built Bronty and all was well in his world again. Love the excitement on his face. And Noelle does look totally bored with the whole thing.

and here was a window on the side of world of disney i have never noticed before that had a great bathroom location just down the way that was nice and quite and good spot to stop.

Someone has been skimming my TR's in the past!!!! I have a picture of this window with Mark sitting in front of it!

 

[Trentmom]

Glad parker was okay with going back to make his own dino.

he picked a very cute one

Yay on Mickey Pillow pet. I got my friend's daughter a Pluto one and that thing was so soft, I wanted to keep it

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Nice updates!!!! At first glance the kiddie area at TL looks a little underwhelming, but it looks like it was just perfect for your crew! I tried to snorkel there, and the water was so cold I jumped back out - the CMs were not happy with me.

Parker's water skills are pretty good - he looks totally at home on the water slides! I love Noelle's little shoulder flirts - just keep her locked up for a long time! Like Rapunzel.

PARENTS OF THE YEAR!!! DGS reacted the same way at Rainforest Cafe - We took him out to the gift shop in shifts and then got his food to go.

Parker was really brave to go back in and make a dino of his own!

 

[Poolrat]

hmm no one ended up in the pool, then i guess it was a non alcoholic party

that would be neat to see the behind the scenes of those things, are you allowed to take pictures when yo ugo to those?

Plenty of alcohol flowing but everyone being pool people we "know" not to get in the pool after we are drinking....

No really somehow I am surprised there is not one wet person after we have these parties. Kind of baffling really...



I think we are told "no pictures" while in teh pump rooms and such. I never seem to have any pictures of them so that must be it.

Disney is pretty secretive. We are not even told what the water temp is kept at and how they chill it down because you know during the summer it must get pretty yucky but it always feels cool and refreshing.

I think BB is kept a bit cooler to fit in with the melting snow theme.

 

[Poolrat]

Way to redeem yourselves.


Parker sure is loving that Dino and I LOVE the box with the head and tail sticking out.

A much better end to the evening....

 

[cheekypoppins]

I didnt even know about the build a dino,thats so cool n I think the pillow pals are so awesome my 10 yr old has a lotso one n I love it so much I wanna pick one out the next time,of course I'll also be picking up a PLuto for my 7 yr old

 

[emilyindisney]

Even though the restaurant experience didn't turn out quite like you hoped, I'm glad everything was forgiven in the end. There's nothing more comforting than a brand new build-a-bear (dino) to cheer him up!

Noelle seems like she's pretty darn hard to impress!

Glad both the kids found something nice to snuggle with. There's something pretty irresistible about those bright, soft Disney plushes!