(I though I had already posted this chapter when I posted my pictures from the BBB photo shoot we did. So let's just pretend that they are in this chapter shall we?)
We last left off at DTD. We left Nanny back at POR and had finished dinner at the Earl of Sandwich. Eeoyre and I had just taken off for a chocolate fix and we met back up with the rest of them. I figured the BBB must have been slow tonight because there were three teams of fairy-godmothers-in-training walking around and offering free pixie dust and good wishes to all willing participants. I tell you that pixie dust is some strong stuff. Just tonight which is 6 weeks later I noticed that my youngest DS still has some on his scalp. Of course their pillows were covered in it the next morning.
Cindy and I couldn't resist getting a photo with the original Cindy.
Since we were right by the BBB photographer I thought it would be a great idea to go in and get a family picture done in our matching T-shirts. It turned out that it wasn't such a good idea after all. DS9 still hadn't forgiven me for the chocolate incident and while we were waiting the photographer told DS5 to stay off the rope and that was that. He was done. I'm not sure what was bothering Cindy. Perhaps it was that last time we were here it was all about her and now she had to share the limelight with her brothers. Whatever it was-it was a complete disaster. Poppa stood off to the side and tried to hide his laughter. The three of them had totally shut down, arms crossed, chins tucked into their chests and their heels dug in. They weren't budging and they certainly weren't smiling for any picture. The photographer tried. He really did but he was no match for them.
I took a deep breathe in and said to myself for what seemed like the millionth time today but in fact was maybe only the fifth that this was our Disney arrival day and I wasn't going to let anything spoil it. So out of the photo studio we all went as I apologized to the photographer and I ushered them over to a corner. I took another deep breathe in and very firmly explained that in this family sometimes we do things we don't feel like doing for other members of our family. I was very clear to them how much I wanted a family photo and had spent a lot of time and money planning this trip. Was this how they wanted to spend their Disney vacation? DH spoke up on my behalf as well and reminded them how much it would mean to me to have a nice memory of today. I faked looking really sad (when really I was angry but that wasn't going to get me anywhere with them). I believe DH also threatened to skip the
Lego store if they didn't at least smile on the outside for a photo for me. Poppa was still off to the side trying to keep a straight face.
Eeoyre was the first to come around. He hugged me and said he would try again. DD7 said if we were really quick she might be able to do it too. DS5 said if I have to I will. DH said he didn't have to but it would be nice if he did and then we could all go to the Lego store. I thanked them all for trying again and back we went into the photo studio. Can't say I love the pictures we got but at least we don't have raincoats on like we do in the most of the photopass pictures.
So after our photo session we were off to the Lego store. Here is the obligatory family photo with the Lego family.
DS5 had some birthday money from his other grandparents burning a hole in his pocket and was hankering to spend it. He loves Lego and he loves Star Wars so DH took him off to that section of the store. I let Eeoyre and Cindy fill up a tub of Lego to play with back at the room. I even bought a green Lego board so they could build stuff on it. Poppa paid for some build your own Lego people for the three of them so they had characters to play with.
We were probably in that Lego store for over an hour. And talk about the lineup at the cash. It was super long the whole time we were there. DS5 gets the Lego catalogue at home and the star wars Lego set DH was going to buy him as our birthday gift was sold out. DH found out that they get shipments in almost everyday so was going to check back. We were hoping to have it shipped to the hotel room for his birthday morning two days from now.
It was getting dark and the wind was picking up again. We took the boat back and got a bit wet on the way home. Kind of wish we had taken the bus back.
Here is a picture of the mansions from the boat.
Back at our room our bags were actually there. What a great surprise. I always expect the worst when it comes to arriving baggage. That is the best magic I could have wished for. The message light was lit up on our phone and we had a couple messages. The first was that our groceries were at bell services and when I phoned them they would bring them to me. The second was that all the parks were opening at 8am tomorrow because of tropical storm Faye. I think I will repeat that in big letters.
The parks were ALL OPENING AT 8 AM because of TROPICAL STORM FAYE!
As I sat and contemplated that piece of information and what that would mean to my in depth touring plans for tomorrow Nanny came in the room. She had received the same message on her phone. Plus she was hungry. What did we bring back for her? Oops, we had forgotten to bring her back anything. I quickly remembered the untouched half of Eeoyres sandwich and offered that to her. She wasn't impressed.
So she took off to go to the food court to get something better. DH and Cindy went for a quick swim and Poppa helped DS5 put together his new Lego set. I unpacked our luggage and waited for the groceries so I could unpack them as well.
It had been a trying first day. The weather channel was telling us that tomorrow was not looking promising. Even the CM that brought my groceries was predicting the parks closing tomorrow due to the storm. He asked if we had any flashlights in case the electricity went out. I told him I had glow bracelets and he laughed. He laughed. Well I guess he could. He lives at Disney. This was my vacation. There aren't supposed to be closed parks and tropical storms during my vacation. I hoped the storm would pass quickly and finished unpacking.
We got the kids into bed by 9:45. We discussed as a family what the plan was to be for tomorrow. We were going to MK. We had the family magic tour booked for 10am which meant we had to be finished touring and walking towards the front gate by 9:30. I had been brainwashing the family with the importance of rope drops all year. The plan that was laid out that night looked like this. Fast pass pan, go to Dumbo first, than teacups, than pooh and if there is time ride the Merry Go Round. That would leave us time to grab a quick snack, have a bathroom break and do a family castle photopass shot before showing up for the family magic tour.
The kids finally fell asleep by 10:15pm. I'm not a great sleeper so it took me ages.
Here are the boys all decked out in their Disney jammies. Eeoyre is wearing pluto and my little jedi knight is wearing Pirates of the Carribean. In particular notice his Stitch. This was one of the last sightings of him. We never took him out of the room and yet he did a disapearing act on us. But more about that later.
Here is Cindy on the trundle bed. Notice the garbage can beside her. She also had the horrible hacking cough and much to our dismay had perfected the technique of coughing until.... well until she needed the garbage can. They'll be more details later.
Besides I was trying to figure out what outfits to lay out for tomorrow and what to pack in my parkbag to prepare for a tropical storm. I finally decided that we would all dress head to toe in quick dry clothing. I packed our windbreakers as well as our rain ponchos and umbrellas and an extra set of dry clothing that had long sleeves for the kids. I took the mini flashlight that was attached to my set of car keys and attached it to my park bag too. I had forgotten I had a flashlight after all. It had been a Christmas stocking stuffer from Poppa. DH had one too.
I took a dose of Benadryl to try to get to sleep. In my defense, I did have a bit of an itchy throat and I was getting a bit stuffy too. It started happening on the cold, windy boat ride home. Finally I could feel the wave of sleep overtake me. Yeah Benadryl! As I drifted off to sleep I prayed to the Disney Gods that the tropical storm would pass quickly. I had images of my family at the parks tomorrow in the storm being swept away by the wind in their umbrellas like the nannies waiting for an interview from the beginning of the Mary Poppins video. I got up and took the umbrella's out of the park bag. Perhaps I shouldn't have double dosed on the Benadryl.
In the next chapter....
Did the parks close after all the next day?
Did my family make good on their promise to get up and get going for Rope Drop?
Did our touring plan work out?
Click here for the next chapter.
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=28208741&postcount=275
DH and I being ..... alone. What a concept.
He had some other suggestions but I don't think I should post them.
Yeah, I'm sure you can do better than that... 
Worked wonders! 
I can't wait to hear how Nanny reacted when you left her to nap. I have to say I love to nap but am so grumpy when I wake up it's better for everyone if I just don't nap
Jasmine, when she was little, didn't like to go to the movies or any kind of show, even, ice shows, because she was afraid of curtains. Dd8 was afraid to get her picture taken and she is still scared at the movies of previews in case there is something scary. I don't know how you do it
I totally didn't expect it to work, but for some reason it did 
