A Daddy-Daughter Adventure TR - Sep'10@AKV - UPDATED 3/31 Post #130

[BigEeyore]

I always enjoy your TR's - glad to see another one! It really is wonderful that you are able to give each kid their own one-on-one trip - so special!

 

[RysMomma]

I am definitely in for this trip report! I think it's so sweet that you take each of your kids with you individually! And there's nothing like a daddy/daughter trip! We just had a girl over the summer-I can only hope we buy into DVC soon and my DH does the same thing when she's older! Can't wait to read more!

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

I LOVED your ending. Wow. I've said it before and I'll say it again... you are so cool Mark. What a crazy, fun-filled report you created. And yeah, it kept me in stitches many times.

Thanks, buddy. Seems like the ending struck a chord with a lot of people, which is funny. I figured I'd have to go back and apologize for it because there weren't any jokes or movie quotes. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I miss it now that it's over--it was a lot of fun.

Me too. It really is cool. Designed by the same architect as Wilderness Lodge... did you know that? I'll bet you did. Well the original Jambo House part was, not Kidani Village, but yeah.

I did know that! Sadly, I read he just past away in the last year or two.

Ding, ding, ding… Mark, you’re half right. We did end up going to the Magic Kingdom, but she had two things in mind specifically to do, and neither involved Princesses or Fairies. Both where things that she did for the very first time on our family trip in January and just loved… Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Goofy’s Barnstormer.

Her choices are much better, anyway.

It was kind of comical to watch, and oh yeah, through the window I watched as people poured in to the shop across the way, and quickly poured out again in those nice, nearly $10 ponchos that always just conveniently appear at a register near you when the skies open up.

It's Disney magic!

There was a little line, but the posted wait time only said 10 minutes, so that wasn’t bad, and of course, the Mansion is a “people eater” cycling thousands through an hour, so the line keeps moving. I love those attractions so much more than the low capacity, “slow loaders” (i.e. Dumbo, etc).

But then it happened. Her worst nightmare came true. The ride had broken down. So we waited, and waited, and waited. Til finally they started to announce over the PA that the ride was broken down and might take an hour or more to come back up. They then proceeded to turn everyone on the ramp and higher backwards and send them out. Those of us on the loading platform were asked to move to a single lane and cross over the train to the exit. A very dejected 6 year old, who wanted to cry, complied – but not very happily. We received our “We’re Sorry” FP good for any attraction and went on our way. Months of waiting and no Big Thunder. Sigh.

Oh, that stinks. Poor kid. I hope she got another shot later.

It was now 8:45, just moments before the parade was to begin, and she started to lay her head down on my lap and tell me that she was tired and wanted to go back to the hotel. “But” I started in. “It’s the Electrical Parade sweetpea…don’t you want to see it?” “No. Not anymore. I want to go back to the hotel”, she replied. “But” I said, you wanted to just 10 minutes ago. “I don’t now” she said. “May we please go back to the hotel?” she asked. SIGH. I REALLY wanted to pull the dad card here and hold my ground, BUT, this was not the time to do that. I’ve done that ample times in the past but not on this trip.

That's some admirable restraint. I think I would have been awfully tempted to pull the dad card out. Or I might have stalled and pretended I had lost something back in the Emporium.

 

[stopher1]

I always enjoy your TR's - glad to see another one! It really is wonderful that you are able to give each kid their own one-on-one trip - so special!

Welcome! Thanks for joining in the fun! And thanks for the compliment. Each kid is special in their own unique way, and it's fun to make them feel special too! After being a husband, being a dad is my #1 job, and the time with them really is so short in the scheme of things, so I want to make the most of it while I can. Hopefully some day they'll do the same for any kids of their own that they might have.

I am definitely in for this trip report! I think it's so sweet that you take each of your kids with you individually! And there's nothing like a daddy/daughter trip! We just had a girl over the summer-I can only hope we buy into DVC soon and my DH does the same thing when she's older! Can't wait to read more!

Ok thank you, and WELCOME!! Congrats on your new addition. That's great. There's just nothing quite like the bond between a daddy and his little girl (I've definitely been learning that each and every day for the past nearly 7 years).

Thanks, buddy. Seems like the ending struck a chord with a lot of people, which is funny. I figured I'd have to go back and apologize for it because there weren't any jokes or movie quotes. Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I miss it now that it's over--it was a lot of fun.

Mark - I just couldn't emphasize it enough. It really was great.... and then I received your Christmas card & letter... ho ho, was that another riot. You literally had me in tears, and almost (not quite) but ALMOST on the floor rolling. You definitely have a gift there buddy for wit, which I clearly lack. You can crack me up anytime! I can't wait for the day to finally arrive sometime in that vast unknown called the future when we can sit across a table from each other and you can entertain in person. Won't that just be a hoot?!? (for me, anyway!!!)

Her choices are much better, anyway.

Ummm, YEAH!!!

It's Disney magic!

That... or they have quite a few MBA's working backstage crunching numbers just sitting there monitoring the weather cams and doppler radar, ready and waiting to push the special button that zaps all of the stock clerks with a special zapper to say "put them out NOW!!!!!!!" Maybe, just maybe, if the numbers are down some days they have some agreement with the rainmaking planes to fly overhead and bring on a storm early so that they can cook the books a bit and add something to the bottom line even... I'm just sayin... you never know, now, really... do you? Perhaps that whole, daily rain in the afternoon thing isn't truly real, but all part of some grand profit making scheme dreamed up by the profiteers - oops, I meant to say imagineers?!? .

Oh, that stinks. Poor kid. I hope she got another shot later.

I .... just.... don't..... know. I guess that means you'll have to check back in later to see. Maybe. Maybe not.

That's some admirable restraint. I think I would have been awfully tempted to pull the dad card out. Or I might have stalled and pretended I had lost something back in the Emporium.

It.



Was.





NOT.





Easy!!!!



(Never mind that I've seen that parade hundreds and hundreds of times, probably over a thousand times in my life... it's my FAVORITE... and I was right there ) Sigh.


Wow - it's been a little while since my last entry. I guess I'd better get crackin' and add-some more. Ding, ding... ordering! Be back soon....

 

[stopher1]

In the last episode, DD Annie was up watching Peter Pan on the in-room DVD player; but after only about 20 minutes turned it off; Daddy (aka Christopher) walked away from the Main Street Electrical Parade without watching it; and both Annie & Christopher had fun together. Will Annie ever finish Peter Pan? Will Christopher get to watch the Main Street Electrical Parade? Will the fun continue or will it subside? The answers to these questions and many more will be revealed in this newest episode of Daddy-Daughter Adventure 2010!

It’s now Monday morning, and the alarm clock is sounding at 6:15 am. We needed to get up and get ready to go, even though she did not yet know why or where we were headed, just that the alarm would get me up, and when I was ready, I would wake her. I got myself ready, and woke Annie around 6:45 so that she too could start getting ready. Even now, at just 6 years old, she has started to resemble her eldest brother (and dare I say it publically… my DW) by not wanting to get out of bed – and did not actually crawl out from under the covers until about 7:15 or 7:20. Making rope-drop is NOT something of high importance to 3 out of 5 of us in this family, let me just say it now. It is the rare occasion (i.e. when we have an early breakfast ADR) that we will make it to a park at or near park opening. My wife is a night owl through and through. My eldest son is not really a night owl nor a morning person – he’s a teenager and covets his sleep. My middle son and I are the early risers in our house, and would happily capitalize on Morning EMH’s… or to go out and talk a walk together and enjoy the early morning air, sunshine and surroundings, which we have done together several times. It is quite nice. I’m thinking on our next trip to even take him down and enjoy the hot tub as my friends DiznyDi and DiznyDad like to do – he loves sitting in it with me, so why not combine each of the things we enjoy for those early morning hours while the rest of the clan remains in bed? But I’m digressing here… back to business. Our breakfast that morning was an in-room affair… oatmeal and some left-over yogurt from The Mara the day before. Gourmet it was not, but it was quick and easy. By 8:15 we were out of the room and headed down the hallway to the lobby. We needed to get on a bus

This was our destination

Upon arrival at the Marketplace, we took a momentary pit stop to take a non-traditional, traditional photo.

I say it as such simply because this has been one of several traditional photo spots that we have enjoyed taking pictures of our children on each visit we’ve made to Walt Disney World since our very first family trip back in 2004 (back when the banner hanging behind Goofy and next to the Christmas Tree read “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays”). So since my sons were not with us on this trip, it became a non-traditional, traditional photo (I have three other non-traditional, traditional pictures like this one… one with each of my sons on their individual Daddy-Son trip, and then one last year with both of my sons on our Father-Sons Star Wars Weekends trip).


Next up, she wanted to have some fun outside the Hanes t-shirt store and see her old friends from the Hundred Acre Wood

We love wandering around Downtown Disney. It has, of course, lots of neat shops, nooks and crannies to explore. But our time was limited,




since we had an appointment at

My DD still did not know that she was going to receive a makeover, and a new outfit to wear on Halloween for her trick or treating fun back at home. Sneaky daddy.



We worked our way on over to the

where of course she wanted yet another photo with the princess in pink… Sleeping Beauty.

Once the photo was snapped, I said we would explore this shop and see what we saw. As we got closer to the BBB, she started to talk about the last time she was able to do that (2008), and how much she wished she could do it again. To which I casually said, “OK – let’s go.” She just looked at me speechless and dumbfounded, as her jaw slowly dropped open. Normally her mom and I are NOT so quick to agree to anything, and tend to be more on the cheapskate side of life – as my sons (most especially my eldest) would be very, VERY quick to point out if ever you were to ask them - so her surprise and awe were totally justifiable. But she is growing up quickly, and won’t be into this whole princess thing forever, so sometimes you do spoil them a bit. And this WAS a Daddy-Daughter Adventure that I wanted to be special for her in numerous ways. So I had made the reservation and voila, got the nice surprise reaction I was hoping for. In 2008 she was made-over as Belle, gown and all (thanks to a good friend of ours who provided it for us). This time, if you’ve read along and seen any of the pictures previously, you can guess already – she chose Ariel for her gown… though it was Ariel as the mermaid, not Ariel with legs in her wedding gown.

Here is my little mermaid getting transformed. (In 2008 the appointment was set later in the afternoon, and she practically fell asleep getting transformed… it was quite comical, actually. The video is pretty funny, and the photos… a hoot!) This time she was wide awake, and had a nice time doing it and having it done to her. She's ALL girl, through and through.

And finally – the big reveal…

She even got to sign her name to their Guest Book. I don’t remember this from the Castle location inside the Magic Kingdom from 2008… perhaps it’s new?!? I don’t know.

And before anyone get's too sad that my DD got to do this without her dear mother present... she encouraged me to go through with it while we were there, and wanted to make sure that her DD got to have the experience even though she wasn't present.


Once the Guest Book was signed, and we had tipped our Fairy Godmother-in-Training, we were off to the Photopass location there near Guest Relations (behind Ghirardelli’s) for her photo shoot. Here’s my favorite of that shoot… but let me just say, she doesn’t look 6 years old!

All through that photo shoot, I kept hearing, “Daddy, I’m hungry”. I was getting a bit hungry myself. It was already nearly 11 by this point. So what’s any good, spoiling kind of daddy going to do about it?

One word.



Ghirardelli’s!!!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Hot Fudge Sundaes for lunch.


Shhhhhhhh, don’t tell her mother. ;-)



Up next… a boat ride, a bus ride, and much, much more

 

[that's nice]

After changing out of our swimwear, we were ready to go… but where? I asked her where she’d like to go, and she simply said, “you’ll see”. Oh dear, years of daddy’s vague responses had worn off on her, and now she was giving it right back to me. Ugh.

I guess I have this to look forward to in a few years.

Both where things that she did for the very first time on our family trip in January and just loved… Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, and Goofy’s Barnstormer.

Sounds like good choices to me!

We were armed with her newest autograph album and her pin lanyard, really hoping to be able to catch some characters for signatures and find some cool new pin – but sadly neither happened while we were there. We had arrived in the MK at about 5:15, and according to the Times Guide, all of the characters you could meet (with the exception of the Fairies & the Princesses up in Mickey’s Toontown Fair) pretty much disappeared by 5pm. So even though the park was open until 11pm that day, all of the characters were on “banker’s hours”. Maybe they all had some big special character pot-luck to go to?!? I don’t really know, but to her mind, it just kind of stunk. This is something that I personally have an issue with and the way that WDW handles the characters overall anyway. Personally I think they’re way too oversimplified in the limited variety that they bring out, and way too structured in the how, the when and the where – and entirely too limited in the when part… but I suppose it’s just me. So I digress, and we move on.

I can understand why they don't want them walking around, but it is hard to fit more than a few in each day or you are waiting in lines for hours.

When we came out of the Mansion, the rain had stopped, and the clouds had begun to break up and move west. Which we did as well… around the Rivers of America and on over to Frontierland and Big Thunder Mountain!

Glad the rain didn't last for too long.

We rounded the various switchbacks, and enjoyed talking about all kinds of silly things while we waited. Finally, after what was beginning to seem an eternity, down the ramp we went. The CM asked how many, and assigned us to row 4. Just 2 more trains and we’d be on it once more! She was so excited!! Just 1 more train and it would be our turn. The anticipation was just killing her. She couldn’t wait. But then it happened. Her worst nightmare came true. The ride had broken down. So we waited, and waited, and waited. Til finally they started to announce over the PA that the ride was broken down and might take an hour or more to come back up. They then proceeded to turn everyone on the ramp and higher backwards and send them out. Those of us on the loading platform were asked to move to a single lane and cross over the train to the exit. A very dejected 6 year old, who wanted to cry, complied – but not very happily. We received our “We’re Sorry” FP good for any attraction and went on our way. Months of waiting and no Big Thunder. Sigh.

OH NO!!!!! That is the worst.

We tried to ride it in December but it was BROKEN DOWN. I don't know which one is worse with being broken down- BTMRR or SM?

Great pic!!!!!!

It was now 8:45, just moments before the parade was to begin, and she started to lay her head down on my lap and tell me that she was tired and wanted to go back to the hotel. “But” I started in. “It’s the Electrical Parade sweetpea…don’t you want to see it?” “No. Not anymore. I want to go back to the hotel”, she replied. “But” I said, you wanted to just 10 minutes ago. “I don’t now” she said. “May we please go back to the hotel?” she asked. SIGH. I REALLY wanted to pull the dad card here and hold my ground, BUT, this was not the time to do that. I’ve done that ample times in the past but not on this trip. She was driving. So we got up, and headed out of the Magic Kingdom for the bus. (Let me just stop and say... thank goodness for AP's, or a visit like this just really wouldn't make any financial sense. So there's my little disclaimer for the day).

Awww bummer. I don't know if I would have given in to her wish to leave, but I totally respect that. This trip was about your DD and I think you might win the dad of the year award for this move.

 

[that's nice]

Next up, she wanted to have some fun outside the Hanes t-shirt store and see her old friends from the Hundred Acre Wood

I've never seen this before. What is the Hanes store next to?

But she is growing up quickly, and won’t be into this whole princess thing forever, so sometimes you do spoil them a bit. And this WAS a Daddy-Daughter Adventure that I wanted to be special for her in numerous ways. So I had made the reservation and voila, got the nice surprise reaction I was hoping for.

AWWWWW. I really need to have my DW dust more often in this room, my eye is tearing up.

So glad she gave you the reaction you were looking for!

Once the Guest Book was signed, and we had tipped our Fairy Godmother-in-Training, we were off to the Photopass location there near Guest Relations (behind Ghirardelli’s) for her photo shoot. Here’s my favorite of that shoot… but let me just say, she doesn’t look 6 years old!

Wow... she doesn't even look like a girl anymore- more like a little lady. Beautiful, just beautiful!

All through that photo shoot, I kept hearing, “Daddy, I’m hungry”. I was getting a bit hungry myself. It was already nearly 11 by this point. So what’s any good, spoiling kind of daddy going to do about it?

One word.



Ghirardelli’s!!!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Hot Fudge Sundaes for lunch.


Shhhhhhhh, don’t tell her mother. ;-)

AWESOME LUNCH!!!!!! I promise, I won't tell your DW. (Not that I have the means to tell her... )

 

[BigEeyore]

Great to see an update! Looks like your DD had a blast at the BBB. You are so right, they grow up so fast, and even though the BBB is a splurge, the time is so brief that they want to do something like that so why not enjoy it?

 

[stopher1]

I guess I have this to look forward to in a few years.

Yes, you will.

OH NO!!!!! That is the worst.

It was a great big bummer, to say the least.

We tried to ride it in December but it was BROKEN DOWN. I don't know which one is worse with being broken down- BTMRR or SM?

I would say in December BTMRR is worse. In the summer, SM - well, I'm saying Splash... not sure actually if you are saying Splash or Space. Hmmm

Great pic!!!!!!

Well thank you. While I love my daughter's cute face in this one, I actually kinda like the range of motion behind us too. The dude taking a picture up MS, the stroller to my left side with the kid who looks like he might just try to bolt soon, the balloon seller's balloons, in the background. It's just so kinetic. Plus the multi colored effect on the castle is kind of fun too. When I saw this one, I had to edit it into each possible border option available. I actually have like 12 different versions of it on the PhotoPass CD.

Awww bummer. I don't know if I would have given in to her wish to leave, but I totally respect that. This trip was about your DD and I think you might win the dad of the year award for this move.

I've never seen this before. What is the Hanes store next to?

It's still relatively new. I can't remember exactly WHEN it opened, but it was sometime in mid-2009 I believe. It's next to the ART OF DISNEY store, across from the DAYS OF CHRISTMAS, north of RAINFOREST CAFE, and right near the Marketplace bus stop entrance. It's a "design it yourself" store, and they'll print up the t-shirts for you right there. There are little computer kiosks inside where you can customize your shirt in lots of different ways, with lots of different characters, fonts, colors, etc to choose from. It's a nice concept, but a bit pricey to this cheapskate. But it has this fun photo spot right outside. We played with it a bunch in January when the entire family was there. Lots of silly photos came that morning.

AWWWWW. I really need to have my DW dust more often in this room, my eye is tearing up.

So glad she gave you the reaction you were looking for!

Me too.

Wow... she doesn't even look like a girl anymore- more like a little lady. Beautiful, just beautiful!

Tell me about it. When I first sent the pics to my DW (she was out in CA at the time - but I'll share more about that later) - she phoned me up and said I sent the wrong pictures - this is some little lady, not our little girl. It's just like any time my daughter or sons get a haircut, suddenly they look older. This photo certainly makes my daughter look different! Thanks for the compliment too (I tend to agree with you, but I am a bit biased).

AWESOME LUNCH!!!!!!

And that was just hers! I didn't think to get a picture of my sundae selection. I guess it was just the cute little sprinkles on hers that made me document it, I don't know. I'll take tons of pics of all kinds of stuff, but usually not very many of food.

 

[stopher1]

Great to see an update! Looks like your DD had a blast at the BBB. You are so right, they grow up so fast, and even though the BBB is a splurge, the time is so brief that they want to do something like that so why not enjoy it?

Ok thank you.

She did. It was fun. Plus she got another nice outfit from it, and definitely wore it as her Halloween costume this year too. She also recently was invited to a "Princess" birthday party, and wore it there as well, let alone all the other times she's just chosen to wear it around the house. And she just loves putting on the make-up that they send home in the little goodie bag afterwards too. She's my only girl, so yeah, she gets a little bit of spoiling here and there.

 

[dvczerfs]

great update stopher!!! love all the pics of dtd!!! (dont see that often and in fact, i dont think i have many myself.) you had a great day planned with the bip.bout. and the best lunch lunch ever! dw and i like going over to dtd around 7:30- 8am and just walk around. we walk through the old p.i. and all over. theres nobody around and the view of sar.spr. resort and the water is great. we started something new this year, we have breakfast over at earl of sand.than around 9:30 - 10 people start piling in and we head out.glad you guys are having a great time.

 

[Muushka]

Hey Stoph, it is probably a good thing you didn't watch the MSEP with your daughter!!!

All kidding aside, you are a great dad. If only parents would actually listen when their child says they are tired and want to go!

 

[prattpak]

Let me just say that Im jealous Christoper! I look forward to the day my DD and I get to do a trip like this. Very lucky Princess. Lovin it so far sir keep it coming.

 

[BigTex71]

Another DisDad checking in. Great TR and great photos. I am taking notes to help with my first TR (PTR in progress.)

Reading about you leaving MK just before MSEP for your daughter - now that really emphasizes the DAD in DisDad. Kudos to you!

And it is great that you realize they don't stay in the Princess mode for too much longer - way to go with the BBB reservation.

Looking forward to reading about what happens next.

 

[stopher1]

great update stopher!!! love all the pics of dtd!!! (dont see that often and in fact, i dont think i have many myself.)

Thanks Dave. I always take pictures. Sometimes of the same old things, sometimes I mix them up. Usually while there I always try to get at least one of Once Upon a Toy... but - we didn't even walk over by it. Instead, we turned before the Pin Traders and headed down by the water. Probably because we were cutting the time close to make the BBB reservation. But I just love the whole look of that store.

you had a great day planned with the bip.bout. and the best lunch lunch ever!

It was a very yummy lunch, indeed!

dw and i like going over to dtd around 7:30- 8am and just walk around. we walk through the old p.i. and all over. theres nobody around and the view of sar.spr. resort and the water is great. we started something new this year, we have breakfast over at earl of sand.than around 9:30 - 10 people start piling in and we head out.glad you guys are having a great time.

Yeah, we love to get over to DTD before it gets too crowded too. Haven't been able to get over there as early as you guys do yet, but it's a goal. Maybe the next time we stay at SSR we'll do that. I didn't realize EOS served breakfast...guess that goes from not getting over to DTD early enough, huh?

Hey Stoph, it is probably a good thing you didn't watch the MSEP with your daughter!!!

You know Muush, she probably wouldn't have even noticed anything anyway!

All kidding aside, you are a great dad. If only parents would actually listen when their child says they are tired and want to go!

Thanks. I try, and do my best. Fail miserably at times, but I do try. Hopefully someday they themselves will say the same thing. Perhaps when I'm old and grey

 

[stopher1]

Let me just say that Im jealous Christoper! I look forward to the day my DD and I get to do a trip like this. Very lucky Princess. Lovin it so far sir keep it coming.

Hey welcome! Thanks for stopping by.

I hope you can do something special with your DD someday too. It really is neat and a lot of fun.

Another DisDad checking in. Great TR and great photos. I am taking notes to help with my first TR (PTR in progress.)

Welcome to you too! Thanks for reading along. But oh wow... taking notes to help with your own report... I don't know about that... I hope it helps in some way.

Reading about you leaving MK just before MSEP for your daughter - now that really emphasizes the DAD in DisDad. Kudos to you!

Thanks.

And it is great that you realize they don't stay in the Princess mode for too much longer - way to go with the BBB reservation.

No they don't. Nor do the boys stay in their action figure mode forever either. It all goes so quickly. My eldest is interviewing for his first summer job this weekend (wants to work at Summer Camp with the Scouts). My middle who used to be super into Star Wars and all of the toys could really care less any more. The phases come and they go. I know that this princess obsession she's currently in will be replaced by something else in just a few more years...or less - so I am enjoying it all as it is here. Then soon enough the toys and souvenirs become momentos of years gone by.

Looking forward to reading about what happens next.

I hope to have another installment soon... perhaps even tonight.

 

[Disney Princess]

Yay for surprise #1 being a hit!! I'm so happy she reacted the way you wanted her to - I hate surprises that end up not being as great as you envisioned. She looks so lady-like in her picture. What a wonderful moment. I am definitely jealous of your DD's eyelashes in the picture where she is checking out her sundae. I don't know if she is blessed naturally or if that is the magic of BBB, but they are long and beautiful. Maybe I should visit the BBB next trip.

 

[stopher1]

Yay for surprise #1 being a hit!! I'm so happy she reacted the way you wanted her to - I hate surprises that end up not being as great as you envisioned. She looks so lady-like in her picture. What a wonderful moment. I am definitely jealous of your DD's eyelashes in the picture where she is checking out her sundae. I don't know if she is blessed naturally or if that is the magic of BBB, but they are long and beautiful. Maybe I should visit the BBB next trip.

Thanks.

Oh - and btw - those are her lashes naturally. Wouldn't that just so something though to sit and watch 3-8 (or whatever age they go to) girls squirming while someone tries to add something to their eyes. The older ones might be ok, but the youngest ones... that would be pretty funny, now that I think about it. Sad, but funny.

 

[Captain_Oblivious]

Mark - I just couldn't emphasize it enough. It really was great.... and then I received your Christmas card & letter... ho ho, was that another riot. You literally had me in tears, and almost (not quite) but ALMOST on the floor rolling. You definitely have a gift there buddy for wit, which I clearly lack. You can crack me up anytime! I can't wait for the day to finally arrive sometime in that vast unknown called the future when we can sit across a table from each other and you can entertain in person. Won't that just be a hoot?!? (for me, anyway!!!)

You're too kind! I'm glad you enjoyed the Christmas card/letter as well. We try not to do the "typical" perfect family letter thing.

Anyway, I appreciate all of the kind words. I hope I don't disappoint you when at last we meet. I usually take 48 hours to come up with good lines.

By the way, what would have pushed you over to rolling on the floor? Vomit jokes? I needed more vomit jokes, didn't I?

I say it as such simply because this has been one of several traditional photo spots that we have enjoyed taking pictures of our children on each visit we’ve made to Walt Disney World since our very first family trip back in 2004 (back when the banner hanging behind Goofy and next to the Christmas Tree read “Merry Christmas” instead of “Happy Holidays”).

My DD still did not know that she was going to receive a makeover, and a new outfit to wear on Halloween for her trick or treating fun back at home. Sneaky daddy.

Nicely done! With more planning like this, soon you'll be able to take over the TRI-STATE AREA!

Normally her mom and I are NOT so quick to agree to anything, and tend to be more on the cheapskate side of life – as my sons (most especially my eldest) would be very, VERY quick to point out if ever you were to ask them - so her surprise and awe were totally justifiable. But she is growing up quickly, and won’t be into this whole princess thing forever, so sometimes you do spoil them a bit.

Plus she's a girl, and daddy's little girl tends to have him wrapped around her little finger. Trust me, I know. I'm there too.

Sorry, boys. Them's the breaks.

Is that you ever-so-subtly edging the Photopass guy out of the way with a well-timed elbow?

And before anyone get's too sad that my DD got to do this without her dear mother present... she encouraged me to go through with it while we were there, and wanted to make sure that her DD got to have the experience even though she wasn't present.

That's a quality wife, right there.

All through that photo shoot, I kept hearing, “Daddy, I’m hungry”. I was getting a bit hungry myself. It was already nearly 11 by this point. So what’s any good, spoiling kind of daddy going to do about it?

One word.

Ghirardelli’s!!!

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Hot Fudge Sundaes for lunch.


Shhhhhhhh, don’t tell her mother. ;-)

This is what's known as a WIN.

 

[stopher1]

By the way, what would have pushed you over to rolling on the floor? Vomit jokes? I needed more vomit jokes, didn't I?

Sure Mark... that would've done it ( ) I'm sure that Julie would have bopped you one if you had though.

Nicely done! With more planning like this, soon you'll be able to take over the TRI-STATE AREA!

Thanks.

Oh, and shhh, that is my goal you know, how ever did you guess?

Plus she's a girl, and daddy's little girl tends to have him wrapped around her little finger. Trust me, I know. I'm there too.

Yes you are... but your's is first. You have to come up with the stuff right away... I've been able to come up with it a bit more slowly, over time.

That's a quality wife, right there.

I like to think so.

This is what's known as a WIN.

Even moreso for me (though not really my seemingly ever expanding gut), when you realize that she didn't finish hers, so suddenly daddy had more ice cream! It was quite good too, though I wasn't all that impressed with the chocolate covered graham crackers. She got those back.