Okay...for the SECOND time...
QUACK!
picking up where we left off...
-------------------------------------------------------
We made it out of Canadia with a few minutes to spare! We had time to make a costume change so we could look all spiffy for our dinner reservation at Coral Reef!!!
We went to our locker to get the little outfits that I'd ordered MONTHS before...in like...February! Normally I'm not one for the matchy matchy "Mommy and Me" or "Dad and Lad" looks. I like everyone to coordinate, but I don't go crazy with it. Except when it comes to Disney. I admit it. I plan outfits...I really think about them...what the kids are going to wear for which day and/or meal...sometimes, like with Coral Reef, they wear one thing during the day and change for the meal. I think it ADDS to the magic...
or I'm crazy and obsessive...
which is true...
but I'm SO not the only one who does this!
I blame my need to plan outfits on the Disboards actually...more specifically on the Disboutique/ Custom Kids Clothes thread on the Disney for Families board. This group of women...and at least ONE dad...make the most AMAZING outfits for their children...these kids are DECKED out for Disney...themed outfits for each park...from hand curled ribbons to custom painted shoes...they are Disney-fied from head to foot. And the kids don't look over done...they look well loved and well dressed. After looking at page after page of pictures...you start to get a little addicted. The talent and creativity is really phenomenal...we are talking Project Runway for Kids talent. It gets a girl to thinking...maybe I can sew...maybe I should get a sewing machine and start whipping out some darling custom made little outfits for MY kids...
of course I'm not THAT delusional...I can't sew. At all. The one time I HAD to take home ec in sixth grade, my sewing machine partner ended up doing all my sewing for me b/c I kept getting stuck with needles...and sewing the seams all crooked...and the MEAN teacher took such delight in telling me I had to rip it all out and start again! My partner felt sorry for me and she was a world class sewer! (Oddly enough...*ahem* I ended up getting an A on my little blue duffle bag...much to MEAN teacher's surprise...I guess it was MAGIC! thanks Anne!) It was pretty shameful for me that I couldn't sew b/c my mom is a phenomenal sewer and quilter, as was my grandmother. My mom used to sew our Easter dresses every year...she also has a custom quilt business with a two year waiting list. I didn't inherit one iota of talent...not one shred of know how...
I CAN however, use my credit card!!!
So I cover my shame of not being able to sew by purchasing matching outfits for my step children! The kids completely indulge me on this issue. They wear matching clothes b/c they love me and they know that even if I can't sew, I'm really trying to make their Disney vacation as magical as it can be...
and I'm bossy and controlling and if they don't wear what I tell them to then everybody will be unhappy!
*ahem*
SO...where were we?
Oh yes...costume change!!!
Sally and I headed towards the women's bathroom to change...which was unfortunately on the other side of a designated smoking area.
This baffles me...isn't the whole point of a smoking area to corral the smoke in an area that is NOT a main thoroughfare?
I took a hit off my wheezer as Sally caught wind of the smoke.
Immediately she pinched her little nose shut.
"MissCammie it STINKS over here by all these smokers! Let's go to a different bathroom...that doesn't STINK...because of gross SMOKING!"
*sigh*
"Sweetpea, we do not have time to find another bathroom. Let's just take a deep breath and run okay?!"
"But MissCammie, then we'll STINK like smoke and it will get into our HAIR and we'll STINK...like SMOKE!"
I arched an eyebrow at her.
she wrinkled up her little face in annoyance, made a big to-do about STOMPING over to another area to find some fresh air so she could take a CLEAN breathe of air...and stomped back over to me with her cheeks bulging like a chipmunk!
I gave her my best smile and said,
"Oh good! You're ready...and since you got SO much air perhaps I'll take this opportunity to streeeeetch my arms and do some neck rolls..."
This is my job people...I must take every opportunity to be wicked.
have to.
I'm sure Sally was cussing a blue streak in her head...
teasing over, I grabbed her hand and we ran into the bathroom!
we actually managed to get changed pretty quickly. Sally looked so darling in her dress. It was a cobalt blue dress with a Mickey and Gang "Postcard" print all over it...sort of a surfer/Hawaiian motif. Very cute against her dark brown skin.
I whipped out my "For Sally's Hair only" brush...(we don't share brushes...head lice) and tried to get her hair in place. Humidity is NOT our friend.
Then I reapplied my heavy coverage make-up to the green and yellow colors that were starting to show through around my eye. As I fiddled with my make up a bit Sally commented,
"You do make up good MissCammie. You look pretty!"
awwwww...
Thanks SallyRally!!!
I told Sally that SHE was pretty. Then I put a TEENSY bit of lipstick on her...teeny bit...b/c it was a special occasion...
Sally LOVES it when I let her wear my lipstick. This doesn't have happen very often...but when it does she is on
!!
She preened a bit and made kissy faces in the mirror and pronounced herself ready to eat!!!
We took our deep breaths...which is sort of gross in a bathroom...and RAN through the cloud of smoke.
*COUGH*
Teddy and Jay were waiting for us way on the other side.
Goodness GRACIOUS my boys clean up nice!
I gave them both a once over and declared them both "Tall drinks of water"!! (this is a Southern phrase I've heard all my life! It means "WooHOO is he good lookin!!!" in case you were wondering...)
Jay looked rather dashing in the polo shirt I had gotten for him for our anniversary...it complemented the children's outfits nicely! Which is SO not the reason I bought that color...at all...
*ahem*
Teddy looked SO handsome in his little button up shirt. The two kids together were just too darling for words!!
We were READY to eat! Finally!!!
But just a few seconds later Jay stopped short.
"My Anninversary button! I left it in the bathroom!"
He said this with such dismay that I had to love him even more!
He dashed off in search of it and the kids and I waited.
He was gone a lot longer than I would have thought he would have been.
He finally reappeared with quite a scowl on his face.
"Couldn't find it huh?
His scowl deepend.
"NO...jeez, who STEALS an anniversary button? What a STUPID thing to steal...I mean, obviously someone left it by accident...what would be the point of stealing an anniversary button?!
wow...clearly Jay was STARVING...b/c normally an oversized button with Mickey and Minnie on the front would not cause such a response.
Always one to back up her family, Sally jumped up and said,
"YEAH, this is DISNEY! People shouldn't STEAL things that aren't THEIRS!"
not to be outdone, Teddy chimed in with,
"People should only steal things that are THEIRS...not other people's!"
I pointed out that we could certainly get another button...
but Jay wasn't going to be comforted. He was annoyed.
Poor Jay.
He remained annoyed all the way to Coral Reef!
Sally told a story of commiseration about a girl in her After Care program that STOLE Sally's Littlest Pet...she said it was HERS but it wasn't hers and Sally had to tell the teacher that there was a CRIME in progress!
I was a little bummed that this was happening NOW...I had been looking forward to this reservation for the last 180 days!!! I'd heard pretty good things about the food...but mostly it was for the aquarium. I knew that the kids would LOVE that. I had also arranged for a diver to hold a sign up to the glass wishing Sally and Teddy a Magical vacation!!! He was then to turn the sign over to wish Jay and MissCammie a Happy anniversary!!
THIS was the reason I couldn't waste time on a breathing treatment...I did NOT want to miss this. It wasn't a huge deal...but I knew that the whole thing would make the kids feel special...and Jay would know that I was trying my best. I wanted him to see that my passion for Disney meant something real to me and I wanted to draw them all in. I wanted them to have those special thrills that were MAGIC...that were Disney!
so having a grumpity grump husband beforehand was sort of raining on the excitement parade!
As we parked the Kid Transporter, I told Jay that I was sorry about his button and we'd get another one ASAP! He gave me half a smile and muttered "What a ridiculous thing to STEAL..." (Jay gets STUCK on things sometimes...)
We then turned to the adorably dressed munchkins and went over the manners expectation level for nice restaurant eating! Teddy repeated back to us what was expected of him...twice...we made a couple of threats about the dire consequences of NOT behaving appropriately...and were ready to go in!
*ahem*
Here's the Sign!!!
Wow...the waiting area at Coral Reef is SMALL...we walked in and saw people PACKED in like sardines...along the seating area AND along the wall opposite the seating area...sitting on the floor!!
I checked in and was told we'd be seated shortly.
Jay went off to powder his nose, so the kids and I found an empty patch of wall and headed towards it.
Sally wrinkled her little nose.
"MissCammie...I'm wearing a dress...and LIPSTICK...I can't sit on the floor...it's DIRTY...and I'm wearing LIPSTICK!"
Teddy plopped right down. He rubbed his hand on the floor, held it up to Sally and said "It's clean, LOOK!"
Sally rolled her little eyes and huffed a bit.
I didn't blame her. I was ready for a sit down too.
and since I'm ALWAYS prepared...*ahem* I reached into my magic park bag and produced a little "changing pad" thingie. My bag was originally intended to be a diaper bag for men...and it came with this impossibly small,for what it was supposed to be, changing pad. Seriously...if a guy tried to change a baby on this "changing pad" and that baby had an ounce of will and the ability to wriggle...there'd be no point in the changing pad all!
But it sure did work as a bum protector from floor dirt!! I plunked it down ...and in the most lady like manner possible, sat myself on it, and then pulled Sally down on to me.
She was happy. Two levels of separation from the dirty floor was MORE than enough...when she was tired.
and we waited for our name to be called.
and we waited some more...
and waited and waited...
it appears that Coral Reef had stopped seating people completely! The crowd in the small waiting area wasn't thinning AT ALL!
Rather suddenly we heard an urgent voice from the entrance to the dining room. It was a CM and she was saying,
"HURRY KIDS!!! MICKEY IS DIVING IN THE TANK!!! HURRY!!! COME SEE!!!"
pandemonium ensued.
Seriously...all 84,000 kids in the small waiting area took off running...along with some adults...towards that impossibly narrow opening to the dining room. Sally was pressing her small body against mine as feet thundered passed us. It was all I could do to hang on to Teddy who had jumped up in an attempt to join the crowd.
Jay finally rejoined us and asked us what on EARTH was going on. I gave a short explanation. He grabbed Teddy and hoisted him up on to his shoulders and they went to investigate.
Sally looked at the now deserted waiting room and said,
"MissCammie...do you think people would get mad if we took their seats?!"
She then heard Teddy's voice exclaiming over Mickey and went to see what she could see.
I peeked my head around the corner too.
I was rather surprised that the CM had called a waiting room full of people into the dining room. There isn't really any EXTRA room to accommodate large groups of people...who aren't seated. I don't think she realized just how FULL the waiting area had been!
Some of the waiters were having to wait to get back to the kitchen b/c their way was blocked by kids trying to see Mickey. Some of the kids had run straight up to the aquarium, squishing by chair backs and the people seated at those tables to get up close...and jump and squeal...
The diners were starting to look a little annoyed. I can't say I blame them...I don't think I'd have been too happy either!
Once Jay and I realized that it really wasn't appropriate for people not seated yet to be in the dining room, we went back to our...patch of wall...and waited some more.
Little by little the waiting area re-filled.
FINALLY our name was called.
We were taken to a VERY nice seat. It wasn't right up next to the aquarium, but it wasn't too far away.
I really like the interior of Coral Reef. It's dark and shimmery...makes you want to talk in hushed tones...unless you happen to be Teddy...who was exclaiming (in as loud a voice as appropriate manners for restaurants would allow) over SEA TURTLES!!! And SHARKS!!!! And GIANT FISH!!!
Our waitress was VERY nice and very friendly. Her name was Leah. Sally told her right off that someone had STOLEN her daddy's anniversary button.
Leah was just as astonished as we were that someone would STEAL an anniversary button. Then she took our drink orders and disappeared.
I kept looking at the tank. I wasn't sure when the diver would appear...I knew an "approximate" time...but who knows how accurate that would be!
Leah reappeared shortly with a tray full of brightly lit, blinking beverages!
The children did not order brightly lit and blinking beverages. I think they actually ordered water!
Leah gave us a brilliant grin and said "Mickey wanted me to bring these over with his congratulations on your anniversary and to tell you he was sorry that your button had been taken!"
She set the drinks down in front of the kids and she set a very brand new anniversary button down in front of Jay!
Wow. Well she just made our day. This is the kind of Cast Member that totally gets it. Her kindness was magical for us. MICKEY MOUSE himself had sent us drinks! He knew about the Campbellscots! He knew there was an anniversary. He even knew that we were very much in need of a new anniversary button!
Sally was more excited about Jay getting his "button back" than her blinking drink! She's a good girl that way!
Jay and I thanked her and I tried not to be weepy. Both kids chorused a thank you without having to be asked.
We were all feeling the love!
Jay attached his new button to his shirt.
Order had been restored to the universe.
TIME TO ORDER!!!
The kids both ordered celery and carrots as their appetizer and the Mac and Cheese for dinner.
Jay got the Caesar Salad and the NY Strip steak.
I also ordered a house salad and I got the grilled chicken breast.
Is it weird that we were at Coral reef and not a one of us ordered sea food?
I'm allergic to Shellfish...and most fish...excpet tuna...That's my excuse! Jay just isn't over fond of fish. Besides...I find it slightly macabre to watch the very alive sea life drift by in the aquarium while munching away on somebody's cousin...know what I mean?!
Sally had the same thoughts b/c she asked if people were EATING the fish that were in the tank?!
(Sally had been positively horrified when she found out that the lobsters at the grocery store were not there to entertain children shoppers...as they waited for homes in aquariums at people's houses...she found this out when a "meat man" at the grocery store had seen Sally and Teddy looking at the live lobsters in the tank. He proceeded to take two lobsters from the tank and plunk them down in an ice bin right in front of the kids...he had answered questions about why they had rubber bands on their claws and where lobsters usually lived in the ocean. When Sally had asked what their names were, he gave a hearty laugh and said "They are ALL called DINNER!"
Sally didn't get it right away and as I hastily pulled them down an aisle, I was hoping she'd forget about it...but just as we were leaving the store she gave a little yelp and said "You mean he's going to EAT the lobsters?!" She was NOT happy about that at all...injustice bothers Sally! I had premonitions of her being one of those people who sets lobsters "free" by knocking over tanks and staging sit ins!)
The very idea that Mickey would do something similar was very worrying for our Sally. Jay reassured her that these were protected animals and no one would EVER eat them.
sorry...digressed a bit...
Anyhow....With our orders on their way to the kitchen, the kids settled down to color on their papers and sip their blinking drinks...that were full of sugar...but I didn't mention it b/c it was magic and it doesn't count if it's MAGIC sugar!
*ahem*
Sally's first reaction to her drink was that it was "spicy".
spicy?
I wondered if someone had accidentally put a dash of tobasco in her drink! I sipped it and realized she was talking about the carbonation!
Clearly, soda is not something we often allow the children...I know...I'm SUCH a hypocrite...but soda falls under the Do as I SAY, not do as I DO catergory in our house!
I handed Sally's soda back to her and told it was Magic bubbles. She still eyed her drink suspiciously.
We were having way too much fun here at Disney!!!
I kept sneaking glances at the tank...waiting for our diver.
Suddenly there was a human looking fish swimming through the water!
He stopped in front of our table eye line and held up sign.
and it wasn't for us...
Luckily the kids were too busy coloring at that moment to notice. There was another diver coming our way...he too stopped and put his sign against the glass...
THERE IT WAS!!!
I gave Sally a nudge and and told her to look at the tank.
She looked up and the most PRICELESS look swept over her face.
She looked at me in total astonishment and said,
"MissCAMMIE...there are kids here with the same names as me and Teddy!"
"Hey Sal...that sign IS for you and Teddy!!!"
She looked back at the sign and read it again. She gave a wave to the diver who waved right back and gave her a thumbs up!
By this time, Jay's attention was on the tank as well.
He gave me a questioning look.
I winked and said "Surprise babe! Love you!!"
Teddy wasn't sure where to look, so Jay pointed at the diver and told him to look for his name. Teddy can recognize his name, so this was VERY thrilling for him.
When the diver flipped the sign over, Sally gave an excited squeal.
"MissCAMMIE LOOK!!! A sign for you and Daddy too!!! How did Mickey even KNOW that?! LOOK!!! Mickey really likes us!"
Jay smiled at me and reached across the table for my hand.
This was awesome. Really. This is what I was hoping for. It was MAGICAL!!
My surprise attempts rarely work out.
Must be that Disney magic!!
Not too long after that, the appetizers arrived. The kids munched down their carrots and celery...and Jay munched down his salad...lots of munching going on.
Teddy showed me how "QUIETLY" he could chew his carrots.
Everyone was on their best behavior!
Leah came back several times to ask how we were doing and refilling drinks.
When the food arrived everyone was READY!! We went over the eating "rules" once more, and made sure we had plenty of napkins at hand.
The kids dug in with gusto!
Sally was the first to put her fork down.
She looked like she was trying to decide something. I could see her hemming and hawing internally. It was on the tip of my tongue to ask her what was up, but I decided to let her put it out there.
Finally she just said it.
"MissCammie...this mac and cheese tastes funny...and I'm not saying it's yuck...just it tastes funny."
(Yuck is a banned word in our house! It's rude!)
So I reached over and took a fork fullof her mac and cheese.
in one word...YUCK.
Seriously.
Aside from the fact that it was so overcooked it should have been called mush and cheese...it tasted BURNT.
I looked over at Teddy. He had taken a bite or two and gone back to his carrots and celery.
"Hey Teddy, how's that mac and cheese?"
He gave his most winning smile and said
"It tastes like the fire place..."
Poor kids.
Jay was annoyed. He hates when food is just wrong.
Sally wanted to know if she could still have her fruit cup?
I told her she could, and asked if she would like some of my chicken?
She looked very longingly at her daddy's steak. Sally is a red meat loving little carnivore...and she wants it "PINK and JUICY"...this is thanks to her grandfather. (BTW--if you ask Sally where steak comes from she will say "The grocery store..." We have not yet given her the full explanation...she loves cows...alive cows! ) Never mind that feeding children near to rare meat can be dangerous...or that the FDA recommends that meat be cooked completely before consuming it...
(I know...all you steak lovers out there are groaning at my lack of appreciation for how a good steak should be done...SORRY! I do NOT do Texas proud on this issue!)
Jay caught the look as well. So he cut up a good bit of his steak and gave it to Sally. I gave some of my chicken to Teddy and the rest of it to Jay to replace the steak he'd just given to Sally. That way, tummies would be full and no one would get grouchy any time soon! Sally offered me her celery.
This is called Merry-go-round eating!
Sally was happy as a clam with her steak! Teddy ate most of the chicken I'd given him. He was so consumed with trying to draw all the sea creatures he'd seen in the tank, I was surprised we got any food into him at all!
I was just glad to see Sally and Jay enjoying their food so much. They were bonding over red meat!
When Leah returned Jay told her about the Mac and Cheese. She immediately removed it and asked if we'd like something else.
We didn't. The kids were happily full of protein.
Leah disappeared with the mac and cheese. When she returned she had our desserts!!!
AND she had two Mickey pins! He was wearing a Chef's hat! Leah told us that they were an apology for the burnt Mac and Cheese!
The kids were thrilled with the pins! Who needs food when you can have a Mickey Pin?!
Jay and I got the Chocolate Wave...both had chocolate signs saying "Best Wishes"...I tried to put a picture of it up...but it won't resize...photobucket is currently on my HIT LIST!!!
It was FABULOUS...The kids enjoyed their fruit cups as well...they were FANCY!!
Overall we'd had a wonderful experience at Coral Reef. Jay said his steak was good...my chicken had been pretty tasty too...according to Jay and Teddy!
Obviously the MUSH and cheese had been BAD.
But the service had been wonderful (the blinking drinks had been on the...MOUSE! groan...bad joke!) the atmosphere was fun and my surprise had worked out beautifully.
We left feeling happy...and that is all that really mattered!
Up next...Spectromagic and the MEANEST lady at Disney!
We have truly missed you. Good to see that you have a 10 day vacation planned to the World. That is so fantastic for SallyRally and Teddy. Ya'll really deserve this stress free, quality fun time without the wicked mom hanging around. 
Plus loss all cell phones upon arrival
the peas were gone from his plate. Later to be scraped off in the bathroom. Wasn't funny at the time but as we talk about their antics now that they are adults, it's pretty funny! 
)
I practically have to bribe my family to come with me, but they often enjoy the air conditioning and take a nap in their chairs while I watch from the edge of my seat. Yes, I'm a geek. 
your kiddlywinks are SO funny
. I'm really pleased you had such a great meal at Coral Reef, it's not somewhere that I've considered so far but I may have to rethink it now
I really like the kiddos outfits.
