A Gem of a trip-quality, clarity, color and "Cut that out!" completed 8/4

[DisneyJo]

I can see it too

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I think I fixed it. I unsubscribed and subscribed again. So it seems to be working. I'll keep my fingers crossed that this will do the trip because I am so NOT technical.

 

[purplepeg]

lordy be, I haven't been checking in for a while. Boy good job with Eeyore.

I'm with hubby on the potato casserole, it remionds me of the hashbrown casserole I make very now and then. I just had it at a potluck breakfast .someone else made it and another person asked what it was and I said it was heaven on earth Poor Nanny, she sounds like me most days

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Since we were in Norway and during our last visit Maelstrom was down we thought we would give it a go.

I didn't even attempt to take Eeoyre on it. Off he went with Nanny to the shop to wait for us. Nanny was happier to shop anyway.

Surprisingly we didn't need to get a fast pass (LOL).

We walked on.

As she was stepping foot into the boat Cindy asked if there was a hill. I figured that since we had a busy afternoon and I needed her to be on her best behaviour it was just better to let her sit this one out to. So I didn't push her besides I didn't feel like having my feet covered in potato casserole.

I walked her back out to join Eeoyre and Nanny who luckily weren't too far into the shop and were happy to have her join them.

Back I went on the ride again. The rest of the boys (Poppa, DH and Jedi) had waited for me. I think Poppa was sorry he came on the ride. He doesn't do many of them since he is paired with Eeoyre and I guess he was hoping for something more substantial. Sorry Pops.

We got Jedi to pretend he was upset and skipped the movie. And as it turned out Jedi did get upset so we didn’t' have to pretend. You see, Jedi didn't want to pretend he was upset and didn't think it was a good idea so he starts working himself up to a frenzy about it. Of course the CM's couldn't understand anything Jedi said because he was so worked up.

It became one of the most trying parental moments I had all trip. Not so much in the I don't know how to handle my kid department but in the truth department. Here I was asking my child to lie and upseting him so much about it. All because I didn't want to watch a movie I had heard was too long and basically well... sucked. Was it really worth it to upset my child so muc and what kind of example was I setting?

While I was coping with these theoretical parenting questions DH just scooped him up and carried him out of there.

We made our way into the store to find the Nanny and the crew. Nanny could hear us before she could see us. I could see her concerned face. That Nanny is such a sucker for her grandbabies. I swear she was a rod of steel when I was growing up. What happened to her? Does this mean I will be like that too? See again with the theoretical questions. But back to the report.

Nanny became distraught upon seeing Jedi so upset. Her immediate reaction was to offer to buy him something from the store. Well, once Jedi heard that he was good to go. He just grabbed Nanny by the hand and led her straight to the play swords they have there. He somehow managed to convince her to buy the matching hat and shield to go with it.

Here he is at home playing with it. I never let it out in the Hotel room so I don't have any trip pictures with him playing with it.

Now Cindy felt she had to get in on the action. She managed to acquire a white crown that you have to pay for each jewel individually to adorn it. Nanny bought enough jewels to fill the whole crown. Unlike Jedi who plays with his goods from there I have not seen the crown since I unpacked it. Which means since I never opened it in the Hotel she has NEVER played with it.

You may be wondering where Eeoyre was during all of this. He discovered Kidcot. He was in his element.

"Mom! Mom! Mom! Hey Mom! Did you know they have these masks here? They have them in each country Mom. Can I do one?"

"Sure. They're free. And yes, I did know about them. You can also buy a special passport too but let's save that for our next trip shall we?"

"Why didn't we do them last year?"

"I don't know? We really didn't spend much time in the World showcase last year so maybe that's why."

"Can we do the whole world this year Mom? And can I bring my mask with me?"

"Yes, we can do the whole world this year. But NOT today. We have other plans remember?"

"I don't want to do the Tea Party-"

"Stop right there. We agreed to the plan before we left. You signed the contract and you will be going. End of story."

I was making reference to the contract I got off Tour Guide Mike about our code of conduct for the trip. Basically it says I will follow the plan and since my mother is the keeper of the plan I will bow to her wishes at all time and like it. Okay maybe not quite that but I wish it said that.

"But I didn’t' know about this world thing. You never told me so really how could I have agreed to something when I didn't know what I would be missing?"

"Eeoyre, I have already said that we can do the entire world showcase-just not now. Would you like me to change my mind?…… No? (pretend you can see a pre-teen cross between an eyeroll and a glare) That's what a thought. You stay here I am going to check on your brother and sister."

Cindy and Jedi made their way to the Kidcot station too. While they enjoyed the novelty of it they didn't embrace the concept the same way that Eeoyre did. But they made masks of their own just the same.

I had time to browse the store myself. I picked up a Jan Brett book I didn't already own. I love her stuff. The illustrations are so rich and detailed. I had the store ship everything to our room. I wanted to spend as much time "sword free" as possible and shipping the stuff to the hotel would buy me at least another day. Truth be told I let the sword and other stuff sit for a few days before picking them up. I'm no dummy.

Eeoyre was a little upset when he realized Nanny bought the other kids stuff and not him. I gently reminded him that Nanny bought him a whole month of dance camp and even had him staying with her for the month and I bet if he thought about it Nanny had probably spent more money and time on him than his siblings overall. He agreed but in him grump reminded us that we should take off Jedi's birthday buttons.

Here are the kids with their masks in Norway.

Up next- Roses are red, violets are blue, How much shopping can Nanny do? Click here to find out. http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29253604&postcount=454

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I can see it too

I'm finding you... but i'm subscribed and it popped up as having new messages this am

Thanks for letting me know I wasn't lost in cyberspace after all.

I read you Diamond!
Sorry you are having computer problems!

Did you try clicking on "usercp" and finding it in your subscribed threads control panel?

That is basically what I did. Great to have you on board Sorsha!

I'm so pleased you got Eeyore on Soarin and the Mulan photos are so funny

It was quite a chore to get him on it. Of course it is quite a chore to get him to do anything he doesn want to. I wonder who he takes after?

How funny. We had the same exact princesses (and I use the term princesses lightly since 2 of them are NOT princesses) at our breakfast!

Yes, Eeoyre had made note of that fact too. I imagine he would have thoroughly affended if Alice had been there.

Great update. As you remember, I didn't get on the Nemo ride so I'm looking forward to it this time.

That's right. Wasn't that the part of the great Epcot meltdown of 2007?

great update and pics.

I do not like Nemo. It is too short for the amount of time it takes to walk through the queue and the queue itself is better to look at than the ride.

Yes, the queue is one of the best parts.

I'm very proud of Eeyore for overcoming his anxieties. What a challenging day!
MMMMM, potato casserole!! I'm with your DH on that one!

Great pics again!!

Everyday is a challenge with Eeoyre. Try singing that to the tune of "Everyday's a holiday with Mary" from Mary Poppins. If I sing it-the reality fo it seems less daunting. My Best Friend is convinced he is going into the Law. She says he's been litagating since he was 2.

Yet another great update!! Eeyore is certainally growing up... I know how you feel..... My DS shaved off his rather noticable moustace for the first time this past week....almost did me in...

He keeps getting less and less dependent on me.... I feel for you. I know how wierd it is being so proud of them, yet not wanting to grow up 'just' yet. Pretty soon we won't be needed at all except to give them $$!!!!

A Moustace! Oh, I am so not ready for that. But I guess it's not up to me to be ready but to help them get ready regardless of how I feel. Time marches on. (Gulp)

I am proud of Eeyore to and he doesn't even know it. I think your eldest has a little DIS fan club Diamond! It seems to me that you handled both Soarin and Nemo with great tack and caring. Your son will be all the better for it. I do admire how well you can distrack him and yet help him to overcome his dragons. Wow, is all I can say.

Suz

Thanks, Maybe I'll get him to check in and give you his side of the story one day. I'm sure I won't come out smelling like roses according to him.

 

[lazydoxy66]

Does Cindy remember she has the crown? That is so funny. Maybe you should buy a display case for it with a lock and tell her she can never touch it again. You know reverse psychology!!??

 

[preschoolmom]

I've been with you since the first installment!

I'm enjoying your report very much! Just like you said at the beginning of your report - I read more to see the inner workings of other families than the Disney Stuff...

Right from the start, your trip to the airport and the interaction with your husband? That was good stuff! I was LOL and reading it out loud to my husband!

Thanks for sharing your trip with all of us! I look forward to the next installments!

 

[DisneyJo]

Wow can your Mom adopt me please, I'd love all the pressies Maybe you could wrap DD's crown up and give it to her for Christmas

 

[Diamondintheruff]

Wow can your Mom adopt me please, I'd love all the pressies Maybe you could wrap DD's crown up and give it to her for Christmas

Yes, her slowness is usually forgiven due to her gracious nature.

I've been with you since the first installment!

I'm enjoying your report very much! Just like you said at the beginning of your report - I read more to see the inner workings of other families than the Disney Stuff...

Right from the start, your trip to the airport and the interaction with your husband? That was good stuff! I was LOL and reading it out loud to my husband!

Thanks for sharing your trip with all of us! I look forward to the next installments!

So glad you finally said "Hi".

I'm glad to hear your Dh got a laugh out of it. My Dh is not able to laugh at it quite yet.

Does Cindy remember she has the crown? That is so funny. Maybe you should buy a display case for it with a lock and tell her she can never touch it again. You know reverse psychology!!??

I think what happened was that Nanny bought Cindy something else a little later that day that Cindy just loved so much she did forget about the crown. Plus Cindy is 8 now and doesn't play dress up anymore. My little girl is growing up. Gone are the days she would come down the stairs in princess get-up.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

lordy be, I haven't been checking in for a while. Boy good job with Eeyore.

I'm with hubby on the potato casserole, it remionds me of the hashbrown casserole I make very now and then. I just had it at a potluck breakfast .someone else made it and another person asked what it was and I said it was heaven on earth Poor Nanny, she sounds like me most days

I just told Dh that you can make that potato casserole and he said "How much does she want for it?"

 

[Nemo32]

I liked your rhyme at the end of your post, lol. Great update...your parenting skills seemed to work in Norway, everyone seemed happy. I have pictures from there of my siblings and I posing with the swords and shields. The Maelstrom ride is a bit of a bore- we skipped the movie as well.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Slowly catching up after the ice storm...Love the contract idea. Do they have ones for DHs too???

 

[Nemo32]

hey Diamond...just dropping by to give you the link to my new TR.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=29223993#post29223993

AND where's an update??

 

[Diamondintheruff]

We left Norway and headed for the Mexican pavilion. Eeoyre was foaming at the mouth to get to their kidcot station. We happened to run into this guy on our way.

Eeoyre was not pleased about taking the time out to get our photopass pictures done. But I think he faked it well.

The weather doesn't look so bad in this picture. We had a few pockets of sun today. Nothing longer than 10 minutes and lots of clouds up there moving quickly across the sky. So what I'm saying is that yes there was some sun but it wasn't hot and it still rained on us too.

I thought we could be quick in Mexico. I thought we could do the Kidcot station and the ride and then still have time to try the figment ride before the Wonderland Tea Party.

I hadn't counted on the shopping.

It all started out innocently. Eeoyre was taking longer at the kidcot station so Cindy and Nanny started to explore the shops. I should have stopped it then. But I didn't. I even joined in myself.

Cindy had Nanny convinced she needed to buy herself a Mexican dress.

"It'll be perfect for the cottage Nanny. You could wear it to bed or to the beach."

Then comes the real kicker. While I have mentioned that Nanny has Cindy's number and works wonders at bringing her out of one of her funks. Apparently, Cindy has Nanny's number too.

Cindy then declares (and so innocently too, I was impressed)"Look Nanny, they have dresses in girl sizes too. We could match!"

Hook, line and sinker. Cindy is the only granddaughter and Nanny jumped at the opportunity.

I wish I had a picture of Nanny's dress too but here is Cindy's.

Cindy does love this dress. She uses it as a nightgown. It was by far her favorite and I had to tear it from her hands to put it away for the winter. We need flannel and fleece to make it alive through the nights up here in the North.

While I have seen Nanny wear her dress, Cindy and Nanny have not worn them at the same time yet. I guess that will happen this next summer.

Nanny left us to use the washroom and set Poppa about to pay for the dresses. He was a bit grumpy about it but again Cindy spun her web around him too and his grumpiness eased up.

As it happens there was a commotion at the cash register. It was a couple trying to exchange some jewelry. It took quite some time and involved all layers of management. Poppa noticed the jewelry in question. He wanted it too.

I must have mentioned earlier that Poppa owns a flower shop. It is a small shop and usually just himself and another lady work there together. She has worked for Poppa for over 20 years. So really she is like part of the family.

The jewelry was a tiny dried rose bud encased in clear plastic. Poppa sent me to go and find where it was in the store.

About now, Nanny returned. She came over to the jewelry section and she saw something even better. A forget-me-not. Since Poppa's store is named after the forget-me-not we all declared that that was indeed the perfect gift for his employee.

I left them to pay and went off to find Dh and the boys. The morning that Nanny left early I found a forget-me-not pendant on my night table that she had bought for me.

The boys went on the ride while we were shopping. We all posed for the required Hat pictures.

I tried not to think about creepy crawly things as we played with the hats. Luckily we missed out taking any of those things home.

By this time it was truly time to head to the Grand Floridian for the kid's Wonderland Tea Party.

We bid adieu to Nanny and Poppa who were going to do some more shopping (Poppa didn't look too happy about it) and left the park. Sadly no figment today. I hadn't mentioned the ride to the kids so they didn't know what they were missing. The kids did want to use our soarin fast passes from the morning but I had to tell them we had run out of time.

"I don’t want to go to the Tea Party" said ___________.

Up next- our first visit to the GF. Do all the kids make it to the Party and what do Mom and Dad do while the kids are busy? Click here to find out http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29297369&postcount=460

 

[DearDaisyinDurham]

Tea party pretty pretty please !!!!!
ETA: but you can write about it tomorrow while it's snowing!!!
(it'll make the rain seem not as bad! )

 

[Diamondintheruff]

The Maelstrom ride is a bit of a bore- we skipped the movie as well.

For my tastes, Maelstorm is as exciting as I like it. I'd rather be entertained than thrown (or at least threatened to be thrown) anyday. Be interesting to see if Dh and I will actually go on any of the more "exciting" rides when we are alone.

Slowly catching up after the ice storm...Love the contract idea. Do they have ones for DHs too???

Yes, they do. I made Dh sign one. He was much better this year but then of course last year he was awful.

hey Diamond...just dropping by to give you the link to my new TR.

http://disboards.com/showthread.php?p=29223993#post29223993

AND where's an update??

Okay I signed into your pre-trippie. I think your last trip report was the first one I ever made a comment on.

Tea party pretty pretty please !!!!!
ETA: but you can write about it tomorrow while it's snowing!!!
(it'll make the rain seem not as bad! )

I'm slowly forgetting all the rain as the time passes.

Jedi and Cindy have Hockey practise early tomorrow morning. I doubt we will make it with the impending snow storm. Actually I doubt we would make it if it suddenly turned 30 degrees and tropical.

Speaking of Cindy and Hockey...

Cindy scored her first GOAL today!
I missed the game to take Eeoyre to his piano recital. But Dh was there.

 

[Nemo32]

Great update and at least a lot of goodies were picked up. Mexico is by far my favorite pavilion and Cindy is oh so clever.

 

[pl'smama]

I love you Mexico update Diamond! The kids all look so happy in their photos ( the Donald one and the hat one) and as a family you look great!! Really nice! That Cindy really can work her magic!! Good for her and how nice of your mom to get the pendant for you. It sounds like a lovely time was had by all.

In case I am not back on here, Merry Christmas to the Diamond clan and to everyone else!

Suz

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I love you Mexico update Diamond! The kids all look so happy in their photos ( the Donald one and the hat one) and as a family you look great!! Really nice! That Cindy really can work her magic!! Good for her and how nice of your mom to get the pendant for you. It sounds like a lovely time was had by all.

In case I am not back on here, Merry Christmas to the Diamond clan and to everyone else!

Suz

Merry Christmas to you too Suz!

Great update and at least a lot of goodies were picked up. Mexico is by far my favorite pavilion and Cindy is oh so clever.

My Nanny (therefore the kid's great-Nanny) always said "the moodier they are, the more clever they are." She was convinced that the colic babies were the smartest ones. Cindy had very mild colic. Of course it could be that since I named Cindy after her that she had an affinity towards her. She was a moody lady herself.

 

[Diamondintheruff]

So we bid adieu to Nanny and Poppa and headed for the monorail to go to the Grand Floridian Hotel for the Wonderland Tea party. In hindsight we should have taken the bus straight there but it's such a thrill to take the monorail that I'm glad we did nonetheless.

I had made the kids personalized T-shirts for the Tea Party. These are the only ones that I designed myself. The others are from the "disigns" boards or from Tour Guide Mike.

I had the kids change into their t-shirts on the monrail. Luckily it was empty otherwise I would not have gotten them to accommodate me.

"Mom. Don't you think I'm a little too old to be changing in public?" Eeoyre asks.

"We've got this whole car to ourselves. Just be quick. It's only your T-shirt you're changing anyway."

"I don't want to go to any stupid Tea Party. They're for girls." Jedi whined echoing Eeoyre's sentiments earlier today.

"In England everyone has Tea-boys and girls alike. Besides I heard that the Mad Hatter is crazy silly and he'll be so happy to see two boys wearing shirts with him on it that he is bound to make a fuss over you."

"Mom. You said you know how to sit us beside Alice. I don't want to talk to the Mad Hatter. He's just….. well, you know. I just don't like him." Cindy pipes up.

"Cind, you've never met him. Give him a chance. Besides he will probably have eyes for your brothers only."

Cindy rolls her eyes at me because although she believes in pixie dust she has figured out the truth. She doesn't dare break the magic spell and argue with me. So she finishes changing in silence.

We switch monorails.

It is at this time that Jedi realizes he has a walnut shell in his pocket. I swear I wash the boy's shorts but I guess I didn't notice the walnut shell in it. Could be worse. I've certainly washed many a smartie, wad of gum, Kleenex and the sort. I particularly enjoy the Kleenex. Who doesn’t enjoy playing with small pieces of white fluff?

Anyhow this wasn't just any walnut shell but the shell that his beloved Kindergarten teacher Ms. H. gave him. Ms. H. held god-like status in our house. She transferred to another school and so Jedi was upset that even though he was entering Grade one and couldn't have her again anyway, that she was leaving to go to another school. I actually think it was great that she got transferred, not because I didn't like her. She was a lovely woman and a wonderful teach but because that meant that I got to take over for her and teach Kindergarten.

However, the meat of the matter is that Jedi is darn attached to that walnut shell. He is also tired and cranky because it is just after 1pm and he has had enough of the parks.

When we walk up the ramp to get on the second monorail the worst possible thing happens.

Jedi drops the walnut shell.

It's way down on the ground and totally unreachable.

It landed in a garden below and we can still see it.

Jedi is dumbstruck.

My heart stops

I have to think fast about how I'm going to react to this.

I know this is going to send him over the edge and the possibility of him attending the tea party is teetering on the edge.

Naturally Dh is oblivious and is entering the monorail with the other two kids. He's motioning to us to hurry.

Hurry is not in Jedi's vocabulary right now.

Luckily Walnut shells come in two halves. Jedi has only dropped one. I pray the other half is still in his pocket.

Jedi starts trembling.

"Go get it"

"Oh sweetie, I wish I could get it back for you."

Then I have an idea that just might work. I just might be able to put the right spin on this potential meltdown.

Dh senses that something is wrong and the other kids and him hop off the monorail. They wisely keep a wide berth from Jedi although I can hear Eeoyre whining wanting to know what is going on.

"Sweetie, do you see any walnut trees here?"

"No. That's why I need my shell back."

"I think that maybe, your shell knew that Disney needed a walnut tree. It must be the only kind of tree it doesn't already have here. Look around at all these other trees. Maybe your shell really wanted to stay here. We can come back and visit it. Of all places for a tree to grow that is really good spot don't you think?

Jedi thinks about it. I can almost see the wheels turning in his head.

I think he might have bought this new idea.

"There is lots of sun and rain here right Mom? And Mrs. H. told us that trees need sun and water to grow."

This was not the time to tell him that the rain we've been having is not normal. But had he mentioned that I was all ready to show him the sprinkler systems they have here at Disney.

We waved good-bye to the walnut shell while Jedi had his other hand in his pocket holding dearly to the other half which remained safely in his pocket the rest of the trip.

Actually Jedi never mentioned the walnut shell again after that. So potential crisis averted.

We grabbed the next monorail and were at the GF with plenty of time to spare for the Tea Party.

We hadn't been to the GF before. The kids were awed by the size of the lobby. Dh immediately put his grump on. It is a knee jerk reaction to anything that remotely smells like big cities, old money or sophistication. My arm chair psychology expert that I am tells me that he somehow feels threatened by it and therefore assumes a physical posture and attitude to protect himself. But as they don't give out arum chair psychology degrees I'll just have to design myself one.

We finally managed to carrel them into the 1900 Park Fare waiting room and checked in.

Now for those of you that remember from my pre-trip, this outing was one of the things that Nanny was paying for. So imagine Dh's surprise when we realized that it wasn't paid for yet. He in his already grumpy state now had to fork out $120 he wasn't planning on spending for something that he never would have agreed to-especially since it is in the GF.

So now, I have to try to butter him up as well as quench any anxiety fires that start flaring up in any of the kids.

"Mom, where do we sit to be beside Alice again" Cindy wants to know.

"Mom, do I have to speak Alice" Jedi wants to know.

"Mom, am I like the oldest kid here or what?" Eeoyre wants to know.

"We are paying $42 each for them to just have Tea or are they doing something else too?" Dh wants to know.

Honestly, when I planned the Tea Party I thought it would be fun. This was not fun. I was exhausted.

Finally they open the doors and let the kids in.

Cindy rushes to the seat I have heard will be the coveted "beside Alice" seat. The other two sit beside her.

My boys are the only boys there and yes indeed Eeoyre is the tallest and at 9years, 11 months olds is probably the oldest. The Tea party is for 4-10 year olds.

The CM who took our money and with it the last of the happy mood Dh held in reserve for our "adult time" tells us parents that we can take one last picture on our way out but makes it very clear that the parents are to leave now.

Naturally there is a parent that is not conforming. She is still by the table and chatting away with her daughter.

The CM calmly walks over to them. She tells the daughter to put her left-hand way up in the air. She tells the Mom that she will want a picture of this but oh she is too close to get a good picture. The CM says that the Mom needs to take a few steps back. Yes, towards the glass doors. Then the CM tells the daughter to wave "goodbye" to her Mom as another CM ushers the loitering Mother towards the door. The Cm has all the children wave as well.

Here is a picture of them waving. Notice I am by the doors like we have been asked to be but where is Dh? This proves that it isn't just me he doesn't listen too.

Dh was also ushered towards the door. I tried to pretend he wasn't with me.

The loitering Mom waves wildly as the doors shut and keeps waving. The rest of us parents look at her waving and crying and shrug our shoulders. We're all glad for the release. In an instant we all disperse our separate ways carrying our Disney beepers in case there is an emergency.

My emergency is getting Dh out of his grump. We head for the pool bar. We've even hit a window of sun. The bartender is tickled pink to see us. There really isn't anyone else around and according to the bartender it's been really slow due to the weather.

She talks us through the drink menu. I order a raspberry colada and Dh gets an orange icicle. I really liked mine. Dh's was just okay. We got the bartender to take our picture.

I like this picture a lot. We look happy. Not so sure if we actually were but we got much happier as the drinks were consumed.

We wondered around the property. We sat in the swing on the beach for a couple of minutes but the clouds had covered us over again and it started to rain. Again. Sigh. But I did enjoy those few minutes swinging slowly with my feet in the sand cuddled up to Dh and staring out at the water sipping my frozen drink.

Dh found himself a couch and laid down. Such class! I window-shopped. I didn't get anything.

I noticed the place where they serve afternoon tea. I thought that looked like a good idea. However not with Dh-the man with his feet up on a couch in the lobby. He so doesn't get the idea of afternoon "Tea". Cindy would come with me though. And Nanny for sure. I tucked the idea away for another trip but not until after I inquired about whether the "Tea" is on the Dinning plan or not. It is NOT.

Well, an hour is not that long of a time and before we knew it, it was time to pick them up.

Up next did the Diamond kids have fun without us? Did they sit beside Alice? Click here to find out. http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=29356386&postcount=471