I couldnt take any chances and miss this show of the Lion King. The plan was to get out of the park by lunchtime so I had to forgo my search for my frozen banana until after the show.
We were seated in the Lion section. Our seats were towards an aisle and about 4 rows from the top. Not the best seats in the house but since we arrived 10 minutes prior to the show I was pretty happy. Last year we were giraffes. I still dont know what sound they actually make. At least I know how to roar like a Lion.
The kids were super excited to watch the show again. Dh and Poppa not so much. Try as Nanny and I do we just cant get them excited for live Theatre. I am determined to change that with my boys. Eeoyre of course has caught the Dance/Drama bug as well as Cindy. Jedi is still young enough to be entranced by the lights and the music. I highly suspect that since as his Mother I am going to continue to expose him that he will at least have to develop an appreciation for the arts. One that does not include his chin dropping to his chest in a snooze each time the lights go out.
The Theatre was not full. There were still empty seats when the show started. I didnt take any pictures. There are enough good pictures here on the boards that if you want to see some you can find them easily enough. My old Fuji camera and I could not have done it justice.
The kids and I were once again entranced watching the show. We love it. I took Eeoyre and Cindy to see the Lion king when it was in Toronto. They were both so young though. They went at separate times. I took Eeoyre with a friend and her two kids. I was pregnant with Jedi then. Quite pregnant. Eeoyre was totally overwhelmed and had to be held and cuddled until the show began. Once it did then he was so cute as he kept morphing between being fascinated and being terrified. One moment he was crying and one moment he was laughing. It was tiring to watch never mind for him to go through. He loved it by the end. He forgot he was ever terrified.
Watching him watch this version of the Lion King brought back all those memories of him when he was little. I could still see the wonder in his eyes as he watched the dancers. He was especially mesmerized by the bird duet. I just know he was thinking, I could do that as he watched their graceful pairing. He turned to me at one point as said Mom did you see that? and I nodded dutifully but in truth I was watching him watch and did not even notice what was happening on the stage.
I suspect Cindy caught me watching Eeoyre as she maneuvered her way into my lap. She positioned my arms so that I was hugging her and when the body contact was not enough to satisfy her needs she grabbed my face in her hands ever so gently and pointed it down towards her. I gave in to her call for affection and attention and showered her with hugs and kisses for the rest of the show.
When Cindy was little and felt she hadnt had enough physical attention she would practically knock me over so that she could sit in my lap on the floor and have my full attention directed at her. This was a pain while I was trying to make dinner obviously.
When I took her to the Lion King Show in Toronto it was just her and I. Unlike her brother who had to share the experience with another family she had me all to herself. She was about three and a half. We made a whole day out it. We took the Train into the City and visited my brother at his office downtown for lunch. She was so excited but then during desert she fell asleep on my brothers lap. I didnt bring a stroller with me so he had to carry her for a while and this was first for him as he didnt have kids yet. The early nap meant that she was fully awake for the show so I was glad.
So what Im saying is that since she was little she has always needed more attention than I was giving her. It seems the more attention I give her, the more she needed. Its exhausting really. But then parenthood is. Im doing my best to give the kids what they need and hopefully Im doing at least part of it right.
So where was I?
Thats right watching the Lion King show with Cindy in my lap. I was getting a bit chilled due to the air conditioning so her warm body was welcome.
The show ended and everyone had to go to the restroom. I begrudging went too but after that I was thinking I just had to find my coveted frozen banana treat. It was the only thing left on my list to get.
It would have been nice to run into Devine too but at this point I was just hoping for my banana. I had snack credits saved so Dh wasnt grumpy about the price. Being on the dinning plan was so great for that. I never even looked at the prices of things at the snack carts. I just looked for the little
DDP sign.
We walked towards the front gate and finally we passed a cart selling among other things frozen bananas!
Crisis averted.
Speaking of food, we were lucky to see them feed the flamingos at the front gate. Flamingos are one of Cindys favorite animals. She insisted on some pictures.
Here's one of the birds she took herself.
Cindy took this picture of Poppa, Eeoyre and I. Dh was in the washroom with Jedi washing the sticky out of his fingers from the ice cream.
Poppa insisted on leaving. He had his nap (courtesy of the show) and his frozen snack and now it was time to go. Here he is reminding us where the exit is.
We took his advice and exited the park. We made it back to POR in good time. Only this time we got off at the main entrance so we could eat lunch at the food court.
In case you noticed in the pictures it was actually sunny and I maintain that AK is the hottest park of all. We were all wiped. When I get hot, I dont feel like eating much.
Lunch has never been a Big meal for me. It is one of the hot spots of our marriage because Dh likes to have a big hot meal for lunch. No little sandwich for him. He often forgets that not everyone shares his delight in a large noon meal. This should set the stage for the next Diamond Drama. Dh wanting all the kids to have a large meal while the kids could care less about eating.
Oh, and I should mention that Dh did not get a frozen treat along with the rest of us. So while we had filled our sugar quotas (for that hour anyhow) Dhs blood sugar level was low. He was hungry and thought we all should be too.
What do you want for lunch? Dh asks the kids as we arrive in the food court. It sounds innocent enough but decisions over what to eat can escalate fast with my family.
Not hungry was the standard reply out of all of them.
Do you want a pizza or chicken nuggets or pasta? Dh continues ignoring their comments.
Not hungry they continued if they spoke at all.
Well, what are you going to eat? You can hear the patience leaving Dh. I imagine it like a smoke cloud leaving his head.
Could I have some cereal? Eeoyre asks quietly.
Cereal is not lunch. Dh answers rather quickly.
But why not Dad? Im not that hungry and I had a bagel this morning so I havent had any cereal today
Cereal is not a lunch item. Dh maintains.
After some persuading, Cindy and Eeoyre agree to a pizza. But Eeoyre the picky eater hates pizza. He still wants cereal. Dh and Eeoyre are at a standstill. They are in the middle of the food court with their arms crossed facing each other. I wish I had thought to take a camera.
"If I can't have cereal, then I'm not having anything"
"Well, then you're not having anything!" Dh roars
and storms off leaving Eeoyre standing by himself.
You may ask what I am doing while all this is going on. I was trying to figure out what I was going to eat as well as truth be told I was not hungry either. I didnt have a problem with Eeoyre having cereal for lunch. I figured Dh was on his own with this one. I let him suffer for a bit.
Dh gets his lunch order and the kidss pizzas and still Eeoyre has not changed his mind. He is still standing with his arms crossed in the same place while the rest of the family has found a table.
I figured we had all suffered enough. I made sure that Dh had a few mouthfuls of food before broaching the subject. I tried to give Dh a graceful way out of the standstill.
Is it the fact that cereal doesnt have any fruits or vegetables to go with it that you appose having it for lunch? I ask.
Thats part of it Dh mutters. He is preparing himself for an attack from me. Instead I have decided to go with the old saying "you catch more bears with honey".
Are you worried hell be hungry before we have dinner and well have to buy him something else to eat? I ask just as politely as before.
Well,.. Yes, I guess so. Cereal isnt all that filling you know. He responds.
Yes, I can see why you didnt think cereal was a good choice. It really isnt a filling, four food group sort of meal. I state my agreement with Dh.
Right. He says but I can tell he doesnt understand where Im going with this. It is a delicate dance I have to do but Im almost there.
The heat really puts a damper on my appetite. I say as I take a small bite out of my lunch keeping my eye on Eeoyre.
Having that frozen banana really cut into my appetite. You didnt have treat so I imagine you are much hungrier than we all are. I continue.
Right Dh says with some hesitation. Hes realized Im going somewhere with this but has yet to figure out where.
Remember dear, were going out tonight so well be having dinner early. I say.
Right comes the standard reply again.
Whats it called that were going to again Mommy? Jedi asks. I tell him and return to my original dance.
You know Hon, I have all these grapes here and we have a banana back at the room. Do you think that since its so hot, and since we just had that ice cream and were having an early dinner that just this once Eeoyre could have cereal for lunch?
Ah
Dh starts but I cut him off.
He could have some of my grapes here or the banana to round out the meal. Im sure hell be able to last until dinner. If not, itll teach him a lesson to have something more filling for lunch dont you think? I may have even batted my eyes at him. I know I tilted my head and gazed at him affectionately.
Dh knows I have fought the battle well. He concedes. The food has reached his bloodstream and he is feeling better. He doesnt actually speak any words but there is a flicker of humour in eyes. I am relieved. I wasnt sure I would get through to him.
I walk over to Eeoyre and I explain the plan. His father was concerned that there were no fruits or vegetables. He agrees to eat some of my grapes and even share the banana back at the room with someone if he can have cereal. His father was concerned that he would be hungry before dinner. He agrees to be quiet about it if he is. The deal is done. They have both bended.
Lunch moves along smoothly after that.
Due to our late evening (had anyone guessed what we are doing yet?) I wanted Jedi to have quiet time. Dh volunteered to stay back with him. Apparently, Dh managed a nap but Jedi did not. This fact became obvious later on.
Poppa and I took the kids to the quiet pool near our room. I did more laundry. I hate coming home to a pile of laundry to do. Besides we have already discussed the more positive attributes of doing laundry at Disney.
I made a last minute visit to the store at the main building. I bought myself some pizza plates. I had already bought some for a friend of mine and decided I wanted some for myself as well.
I looked at my watch and realized that it was time to get ready for tonight. I didnt even have time left to put the laundry away and start packing if I wanted to be on time. I rounded the family up and we all headed back to the rooms to make ourselves look purdy for our big night out.
Where did we go? Click here to find out
http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=31149977&postcount=728
He asked if he could be the one to stay with Jedi.
and motioning that he was not going anywhere. I wondered how many snacks Poppa was going to have to buy for Jedi to keep him happy.
I could imagine that exact scenario happening with my family when I was younger.
