We had almost left our table at Crystal Palace when our waitress came over with Jedi's birthday cupcake and card.
I could have sworn we took pictures. Perhaps I forgot to take the lens off. I'm not all that camera smart.
We stayed a mite longer as Piglet was so close. Piglet tried to steal Jedi's cupcake
and give it to another family. The other family brought it back and Piglet took it again and gave it to yet another family. It was quite funny. Jedi thought it great. Piglet turned around and gave Jedi a look with a hand on her/his waist and waved the other finger in the air as if to say "Oh no you don't". Jedi feeling brave ran right over to grab the cupcake back and Piglet got down on her/his knees and caught him, gave him a huge bear hug, tousled his hair and blew him a kiss before heading on to the next family. Jedi was beaming as we left. It was certainly worth waiting to see Piglet again.
We wrapped ourselves up in plastic again and prepared to be attacked by the winds and the rain. It hurt on your face it was coming down so hard. We headed to IASW as a group.
I know It's a small world is hooky and needs to be updated but when I'm on it I'm not looking through a 30 something year olds eyes. I'm 9 again. At least until my 9 year old speaks and brings me back into the present.
Cindy thought the dolls looked a bit like the American Girl dolls. I had a giggle thinking about Disney buying American Girl and remodeling IASM with their dolls.
I do think they could add a few new hidden mickey's on the ride to give us older folks (yikes did I say older?
I mean seasoned Disney vets) a new twist on the ride. I've already found the few that they have and I could use a new challenge. Perhaps I'll drop them a note.
After IASW we went to Mickey's Philharmagic.
This is Cindy's favorite ride. Eeoyre did not enjoy it. He had been on it last year and since has decided he "hates 3D things". He kept his glasses off and his hands over his ears. But Cindy and Jedi enjoyed trying to grab at the jewels and such and would have gone right back on it.
At this point we decided to split up. Eeoyre went with Nanny and Poppa to ride the carousal. Nanny tells me later that Eeoyre was worried about the storm the whole time and just wanted to get back to the safety of the Hotel.
"Disney's not so much fun in the wind, rain and dark" Eeoyre told Nanny. She agreed with him. So off they went.
Meanwhile Cindy, Jedi, DH and I ignored the weather and kept up the pace. We went to Stitch's Great Escape first. I'm so glad that Eeoyre didn't come with us. He would have hated it. I used the trick of sitting up tall so that the top of the seat gives me lots of room when it is locked in place. Still I kept my feet up and I leaned forward because I hate those special effects that pop out and surprise you. (Gee, I guess you don't need to wonder where Eeoyre gets it from?
)
We had to convince the kids to do the Monsters Laugh Floor. I had forgotten to mention this but all the fast past machines were down and there were not waits for anything due to the horrible weather so we could walk on anything.
Jedi still breaks out in laughter at one of the jokes from that night. The monsters were asking little kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. The monster on the stage said he knew what he wanted to be when he grew up. The camera's panned the audience for this same gentlemen that they kept picking on and the monster said "That guy". For some reason Jedi thinks this is the most hilarious joke. He keeps telling everyone he wants to be 'that guy" but of course they don't have the background information on what he is talking about so they all just look at me like I have some freak for a child. Which of course I do. I have three of them.
We squeezed in one last ride on Buzz. I didn't take any pictures so you will just have to believe me but I scored around the same as earlier today. I had wanted to do Carousal of Progress but I wanted to wait until the whole family was there so we headed home.
We had an early ADR for O'hana's for Jedi's birthday and the Luau for dinner. I was tempted to keep going on rides but I knew that we would pay for it tomorrow. I needed Jedi (and Cindy) to be fully rested for tomorrow.
"Into the strollers kids. It's time to head home"
"Aw… Can't I go on the teacups again?"
"Tomorrow"
"Tomorrow's my birthday right mom?"
"Yes, Hon"
"Humph" grumbles Cindy.
Dh and I exchange rolled eyes.
DH and I bend down as we head into the elements and prepare to sprint for the buses. We race each other over the Tomorrowland Bridge. DH is winning. Suddenly DH and Cindy come to halt.
The stroller's back wheel has fallen off.
"What the heck?"
I of course know automatically what has happened. It's the same wheel that was being kicked on the bus. Now is not the time to share this with DH. He is optimistic about being able to put it back on. He gives it a good try but it is missing a knob to keep it in place.
So DH makes do. Every three or four steps he kicks the wheel back into place. If you were watching Cindy it would seem like she was on a bumpy camel ride.
I'm tired, I'm wet and I happen to think it's the funniest thing I've seen all day. I can barely push Jedi in his stroller I'm laughing so hard.
I have to use the washroom. Opps maybe it's too late. Something catches my eye and all of a sudden my giggle bubble bursts.
In front of the castle there was a little boy about 6 years old all alone sobbing in his rain poncho.
There are hardly any people around except for a large Spanish speaking family.
I sobered up pretty quickly.
I can't help myself. I am a kindergarten teacher after all. I went right to the little boy.
He was not able to form words he was so upset.
"Does this boy belong to you?" I yelled at the Spanish-speaking group.
They all said no. The boy shook his head.
"Are you lost honey?" I asked him getting down on my knees. He nodded his head.
"It's okay Sweetie. I'm going to help you find your family". I hold out my hand to him and he collapses into my chest still sobbing. On instinct I rub his back and mumble soothing words to him.
I wonder how long he has been alone.
DH takes stock of the situation and goes over to the CM in the popcorn carts nearby and has them radio for help.
Cindy gets out of her stroller and comes over to the little boy too. She's such a little mother herself she starts speaking to him in a calming voice. He responds really well to her. First he tells her his name and then he goes on and on from there. He said he was 4 and a half. This was his first trip to WDW. He didn't like the Dumbo ride but his Mommy told him he had to ride it. He didn't know the name of the Hotel he was staying at but it had a pool and an elevator. He drove to the park. He liked the trams that go through the parking lot and his favorite character is lightning McQueen.
I just let Cindy and him talk while I hold his hand and occasionally pat his head through his poncho.
I can see DH and the CM on the walkies coordinating the next steps.
Then from the tommorowland side of the popcorn cart I see a small group of official looking Disney Staff heading our way. From the main street I can see a woman in a poncho running our way. Please let this be mommy I pray.
It is Mommy.
Cindy and I watch the reunion.
The Disney Staff stand back and watch too.
I feel like I am watching the Mother and son in slow motion. Like the old bionic woman TV episodes.
Mom picks him up a gigantic hug. Then she sets him down and scolds him. Then she picks him up and hugs him again. She is Spanish, which becomes apparent as she speaks to him. Of course I can't understand (if only it was French) so I don't know what she is saying.
Finally she turns to me. She's gasping for air and speaking a half-English half Spanish mostly in comprehensible babble. But we are both Mothers no matter what our first language may be and I know she is expressing her gratitude.
She calms down after some more hugs and I make out that they were shopping and she turned around and couldn't find him. She's been searching the shops frantically.
I notice other Official Disney staff joining the outskirts from the main street entrance. She points to them. They've been helping her.
Other family members arrive. There is more hugging and scolding and Spanish flying around us.
Cindy and I start to pull away.
The mother picks up the little boy carries him off towards the entrance.
Cindy blows him a kiss goodbye and he waves farewell to us.
Cindy takes my hand and as we walk towards DH and Jedi she says, "We did good Mom".
"We sure did Honey. We sure did." I say.
The four of us make our way to the exit lost in our thoughts but mostly thankful that we are all together.
Up next an unexpected romantic gesture by Dh or not.
Click here for next installmenthttp://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=28585894&postcount=343
I could comment on a million things, but I kept laughing and forgeting what they all were
to meet a boy her age that dances... she has never had the chance, but has mentioned before.."how can we do a REAL ballet with just girls and no boys for the Boy parts??" 
Paula!
