Bunny & Mommy Goin' On Vacation, Sunshine & Ice Cream... NEW NEW 3-30-07

[bunnysmum]

KAAAAAYYYYY!!! Welcome back!!! How was your trip? Did you bring us back a present?? We missed you a lot. Regarding Bunny finally making eye contact with the camera...honestly it was just statistics. I took over 600 pictures at the World, so she had to be looking at the camera in a couple of them.

Hi Uma! And welcome back to you, too. Uma just got back from Disneyland, everybody. And did YOU bring us all presents, too? Isn't it funny how kids can be so generous one minute, and then so NOT the next? My little nephew used to refuse to share when he was about three, and then say, "I am a selfish thing", by way of explanation.

Hi Celery! Thanks for stopping by. Little things like that really made the whole trip SOOO worth it. Are you a Star Trek fan, too?

Hi Disneyaddicted, and welcome! Thanks for your kind comments. I get a little goofy about my dd, and you all are so tolerant of me! I did kinda think the Snow White dress was a good choice for her w/her dark hair, and the dress is more colorful than the other princess dresses, which are more pastel-ish.

Hi MinnieMoo! Thanks for loving the Star Trek references. I couldn't help myself. Right now, I'm trying to find a way to work "Jeffries Tube", "plasma conduits" and "propulsion systems" into my next trip report. Stay tuned....

Hey Nab! Ooooh, you Canadians are such brave, hearty folks. I was a total wimp the whole time, could you tell? I'm hoping the Bunny getting me in trouble scene won't lose too much in the telling...it might have been a "you had to be there" moment...we'll see!

Hi Vannigirl, and welcome! Great to have you here. I so appreciate your reading and commenting.

Welcome 3DisneyBugs! I'm glad you're with us, too!

TeddyToo, welcome, welcome! Come on in. So sorry to hear you've been sick. I do hope you're on the mend now! Glad to have helped keep you entertained. Plenty of other Dis-ers have done the same for me on sick days.

missj1975: Gosh! The best trip report EVER? Everyone, meet my new best friend, missj1975! Does she have great taste or WHAT?

Seriously, everyone, thanks for reading! I appreciate hearing from you.

I should maybe tell you that I'm going to be going on a church retreat this weekend, leaving Thursday night, and coming back Sunday night, so I'm going to be away from the computer for a few days. PLEASE don't all go 'way, okay? I'd miss you too much.

Have a great few days, and when I get back, I promise we'll put me on trial regarding the unfortunate "patootie incident" in which Bunny rats on me big time.

 

[NMAmy]

We'll miss you but have a great weekend! And you can bet your sweet bippie, I'll be there for Bunny's rat out. (bippie, patootie, I've got a million of these!)

 

[dismom9761]

I followed you over here from the PEEPS thread and have thoroughly enjoyed your report from start to finish.Your DD is adorable and I look forward to more.

 

[Princess Tinkerbell]

Bumping while Bunnysmum is away! I am going to Myrtle Baech this weekend for a girl's weekend. I need some of Kay's lucky 14 weather, but it looks like we're not going to get it. That's okay, we can get into more trouble in the rain.

 

[Kay7979]

Now that I have time to reread your last episode, without someone waiting for me to get off the computer, I want to highlight some of the great parts in this last episode. Which is a problem, because this is another one of those episodes where I could quote virtually everything as exceptional!

And then one of those space-time rifts occurred. It seemed I was glimpsing into the future. And the future scared me.

It seems the bikini-clad teenaged girl being shouted at was also named, “Bunny”. That was unusual, because Bunny’s real name is not shared by too terribly many other people.

So when I saw this other, older “Bunny”, a shocking realization struck me full in the face: Bunny is going to be a teenager someday. A teenager with a figure. Heaven help me, I’m in trouble. Suddenly that whole Rapunzel locked away in the tower philosophy was looking pretty reasonable. Bunny, I’m afraid I can’t permit you to date until you’re 30, maybe 35.

I think you are already seeing the wisdom in not wishing the years away quickly. So many parents “can’t wait till the kids are all in school,” or “can’t wait till they’re old enough to be left home alone,” etc. The years speed by and before you know it the troubles that you complained of when the children were little are insignificant compared to the challenges that come later. I have only glimpsed this, as a step-mother, but I can attest to its truth. Not that there aren’t great experiences when kids get older, but the world becomes so much more complicated and the pressures kids face today are tremendous.

Bunny careens down the slide several times before I begin to feel life support systems shutting down. I think my warp core was destabilizing. I was probably sustaining heavy casualties on decks 2, 11, and 12. . . .

. . . .When this happened, I would glance into the living room and think, “WHOOOOT! WHOOOOT! WHOOOOT! Warning…containment systems are failing. Shields at 40% and falling. Warning….Warning…”

I SO love the Star Trek analogies. I love all science fiction. It’s so mind expanding. But Star Trek is such a classic. In fact I heard the other day that it’s the longest running show in TV history when you include all the “franchises” from the original show through present day spin-offs.

It is crowded at the hot pool. Bunny climbs all over me because children don’t believe in sitting still in the hot tub. Somehow, during this process, my earring gets caught in her hair, and what ensues is a sad and painful comedy of errors. I shout (in pain, and surprise), which startles Bunny, so she jerks away, so I shout louder and grab on to her to hold her still. This startles Bunny further, so she jerks farther away and starts shouting herself. This causes me more pain, so I yell even louder, and tighten my death grip on Bunny. This really concerns Bunny, so she flails about wildly, and screams louder. That was fun.

This is so visual and slapstick funny, despite the fact that we are all wincing even as we are grinning at your odd predicament!

Bunny is a big fan of “meat with stripes”, which she enigmatically requested one night for dinner. After a great deal of discussion, I finally figured out that she was asking for a grilled pork chop. You know, the stripes that the grill leaves…?

This is really cute. You’ll probably be telling her boyfriends these cute little anecdotes someday, much to her horror!

talking with Esther for a few moments, I saw Bunny take the lei from around her own neck, and gently place around Esther’s. Then she proudly skipped over to me and said, “Mama! I gave her my flowers!”

“Well that was very kind of you!” I said, “Are you sure that’s what you want to do? To let her keep them?” (I just wanted to make sure she wouldn’t have “giver’s remorse” on the way back to the room; I didn’t care about the lei…)

But Bunny just hugged herself and whispered, “Mama, I feel all warm inside!”

Wow. That is just amazingly sweet and touching. I hope she remembers that feeling and it stays with her for life. What a valuable lesson to learn at such a tender age.

Well, not every episode can get the five dancing banana award, and I don’t want you to feel pressured to write five banana installments every time, because that’s just not possible, but this one definitely rates the award!

 

[SmallWorld71]

Loving your trip report. It's all great, but tell Bunny that my favorite part of the report so far is when she had her turn typing. I'm a first grade teacher and I read it just fine.

 

[CrispyCruiser]

Bunnysmum! You have to come back soon and write more I am loving your story telling

 

[TiggerandTink]

more please....

 

[kat08]

I haven't read many trip reports but I am thoroughly enjoying yours, bunnysmum! I did a crash course tonight and read it all from start to, well, now. I want more, more, more!

 

[NMAmy]

Just wanted to give this a little bump because I'm missing bunnysmum's report and I'm anxiously awaiting your return! (Psst...hope you had a great time!)

 

[vancesmom]

It took me some time but I'm all caught up. Thank you so much for sharing. It has given me such a lovely Disney "fix" . You're little girl is darling. And your storytelling skills are some of the best I've read. Can't wait to hear more!

 

[bunnysmum]

You guys are the BEST!! This is just a very quick hello and thank you for all your wonderful comments. I ended up unable to get to the retreat I'd been looking forward to since January b/c Bunny and I BOTH got sick (flu). This has been a really bad season for us, healthwise, but we are on the mend and determined to get over this business!

I'm afraid I'm a bit behind with everything: work, laundry, housework, so the next installment is a few days away yet, but I had to check in and say howdy-ho and thanks to all of you for reading and not letting my TR slip into the nether regions of page 3, 4, 5...

 

[Maleficent13]

bunnysmum. I was sent here by NMAmy, who has excellent taste in trip reports. So far she's batting 1000! Since I joined 11 pages in, I won't quote all the hilarious parts, but I'm anxiously looking forward to Amy being on the patootie hot seat!

 

[Kay7979]

Hello, bunnysmum. I hope you are both feeling much better now. I'm sorry to hear you had to miss your retreat. We're all looking forward to your next episode whenever you have time to write.

 

[Bari]

Just stopping by to see if I've missed anything. Hope you two are feeling better soon! Looking forward to more of the story.....

 

[bunnysmum]

Our first Epcot day!

After dinner at ‘Ohana, we called it a night, and made our way back “home” to POR. But first, we made our usual stop at the front desk to get our Keys to the Kingdom re-issued. Yeah, just doing our part to keep the world as we know it from falling apart at the seams.

Then off to bed. Tomorrow’s our first big Epcot day, and we are planning to be at the entrance for opening, and then dash like mad over to Soarin’, which we expect to love, based on all we have heard so far.

Like a well-oiled touring machine, the three of us wake up exactly when we’re supposed to, and despite phoned-in annoying alien commentary, are dressed and ready for the day in record time. We quickly down our thrifty in-room breakfast, then grab our touring accoutrement (cameras, jackets, odergraph books and pens, extra batteries, memory cards, Pal Mickey, park maps), and we’re off to the bus stop.

We arrive at Epcot early. We’re among the first in line, and this time everyone’s tickets work! Hurray! This is a very good sign. We are allowed through the turnstiles and into the park for a bit, before encountering ropes and CM’s to prevent our eager onward push.

We are not the only ones chompin’ at the bit to get to Soarin’. A swarm of other guests surrounds us. We wait. And then, things got a little fuzzy. I guess I was so anxious to get to Soarin’, and so worried about keeping Bunny attached to me at the hand, that it all seems like a nebulous dream sequence now. I think there was music, and some sort of welcome, with a HOST of Disney characters on hand working hard to distract the teeming masses from The Land and Soarin’.

I am almost distracted myself, because Mary Poppins is there in all her festive white-dress and hat splendor. We have not seen her yet, and I love Mary Poppins. I am sore tempted to stop and schmooze with Mary, but no, no. Soarin’ awaits! Bunny is all for stopping to meet characters and collect more odergraphs, but I talk her (and myself) out of it, and we are carried by the hordes into The Land, and the entrance of Soarin’.

Aha! Finally here! First, I grab FastPasses for us all to ride again, because we’re fairly sure we’ll want to. Then, we all get in the stand-by line. It’s early enough that the line isn’t very long, so we’re up front and ready to ride in no time.

I do so love the “preflight safety check” for this attraction, the brief film they show while you’re in the waiting area, with “your chief flight attendant, Patrick”, who is so smugly self-assured, it’s quite amusing. It’s a nice touch that the CM’s working this attraction are also dressed as flight crew members.

And at last, we’re in. We are directed to the very FRONT seats, in the center section! We do not yet realize what good fortune that was. The music begins and the ride is exhilarating! My stomach drops as the “wind” whooshes through my hair and the faint scent of pine, and later, oranges wafts by. I lift up my feet so they don’t get wet on the whitewater rafting scene. There is a Dad with his family seated next to me, and I can tell it’s their first time to ride, too, because we take turns saying “Whoaaa!”, “Awesome”, “Wow!” throughout the entire ride. It’s pure magic.

There’s a group-think mentality at work here, too. Something extra special about being right in the midst of other people, who like you, are experiencing the same thing you are for the first time, and who appear to be just as entranced as you are.

We all three exit, and by unspoken agreement, get right back in line. Was there any question? The line is still not too long, so we save our FastPasses (oh yes, we’ll use them!) and get in the stand-by line. This time, we are in a further back section, and off to the side. It’s still an awesome ride.

After our second round of Soarin’, we head over to the Seas, to jam with Crush. Bunny is “encouraged” to sit down close to the front where Crush can see her, because let’s face it, she is not by any stretch of the imagination a shy child, and I have read that there is significant audience participation in this attraction. Bunny seems a prime candidate, since talking to people is probably her very favorite thing in the whole entire world to do. Even beating out eating chocolate ice cream, flying her kite, and writing stories which she also illustrates profusely.

I have the videocam at the ready. Crush appears and starts schmoozing with us “dudes”, then he asks the children in the audience if they have any questions for him. I have primed Bunny with what I think is a winning question.

“Ask Crush if he has a shell-phone,” I suggest to Bunny, knowing her great love of silly jokes. “Get it? A shell-phone!”

But Bunny is a little too star struck to comply. She sits mutely. For the first time in her scant almost six years, she is silent. Crush calls on several little human dudes who are painfully shy and not much into conversation. I groan inwardly.

After the show, I ask Bunny if she wants to see Crush again, or move on. She opts for a repeat performance of Crush. Again, I coach her on questions she could ask, and encourage her to speak up. Bunny assures me that she will.

This time, I have the video camera on the whole time. Bunny is seated next to a little blonde girl who appears to be about three years old. When Crush asks the little dudes in the audience if anyone has a question for him, I see Bunny speaking very animatedly to the little blonde girl next to her. What the heck is she doing, I wonder, but I am too far away to hear it. I attempt a stage whisper, “BUNNY”. But she is too engrossed in her conversation to respond. I don’t want to be a distraction, so I suppress the urge to whisper/shout again as Crush calls on several children who don’t seem to want to talk at all. Sigh.

As I glance down toward the front, there is Bunny, still talking non-stop to the little girl. Suddenly, the little blonde gets up and makes a beeline to her mother, where she remains for the rest of the show.

When it’s all over, I asked Bunny, with just a little irritation tinging my tone, “What on earth were you talking to that little girl about, and why didn’t you ask Crush about his shell-phone?”

“Mommy!” she is rather put out with me, I can tell. “I TOLD her to ask Crush, but she wouldn’t! I did my best to have her tell Crush about the phone, but she wouldn’t!”

“Um, Bunny, I didn’t especially want the other little girl to talk to Crush, I wanted YOU to talk to Crush. You’re the one who’s always dying to talk to every breathing soul alive whenever we venture away from home!”

Bunny counters, “But I wanted HER to talk to Crush!”

I can tell this is going nowhere, as Bunny’s elusive brand of five-year old logic is clearly at work here. Evidently, I was being a pushy stage mother. Feeling a little embarrassed, and sorry that my child terrorized an innocent toddler, I suggest we forget this frustrating scene and move along.

We have lunch ADR’s at Garden Grill, so we don’t want to head too far off.

We opt to use our Soarin’ Fast Passes for one more magical ride before lunch. Grabbing another set of Fast Passes for later before we get in line. Since we have our fast passes from earlier, we are able to bypass a rather long line.

Bunny NOW chooses to get chatty with “the people”. As we herd her past the waiting masses, Bunny proudly tells all those in line, “WE have Fast Passes! Look! We don’t have to wait in line, we get to go to the front!!”

Nana and I are embarrassed and more than a little fearful of setting of some serious “line rage”, so we attempt to corral Bunny through the line as quickly as possible, shushing her all the way. She totally doesn’t get it.

“WHAT?!” she shouts, “Why can’t I talk to the people?”

“Bunny!” hisses Nana, “What do you think they’re going to cheer for you, because you get to go ahead of them in line?”

I assure you, they were not.

This scene reminds me of a recent one at the grocery store, where I had taken Bunny with me to pick up milk and some more ibuprofen for her as we had both been sick with the flu.

Bunny has a little case of cabin fever, apparently, because she is jumping like a madwoman from tile to tile on the floor, acting like a crazed jumping bean. A very healthy jumping bean, at that.

I should add that we are NEVER able to go to the store without seeing at least one, and usually several people we know. It’s a small town. I feel a little embarrassed because Bunny and I have missed the last few days of school due to the flu, which really did hit us hard, but you have to understand that Bunny, who has ADHD, doesn’t let much of anything get her down. And when she is sick, she typically goes in waves of hyper behavior, followed by totally zomboid behavior. She unfortunately happened to be in a hyper upswing during our store trip.

I myself was barely plodding through, leaning heavily on the cart, as Bunny did her “completely healthy child on caffeine” impression. I swear to you she had been running an impressive fever earlier that morning, and had taken a nap earlier in the day, too.

I kept trying to shush her, to calm her down. Finally, after spotting my boss further down one of the aisles (“she’s totally not going to believe that Bunny’s been sick”, I worried), I whispered to Bunny in desperation, “LOOK! You have GOT to calm down! You have been sick, and so have I, but if someone we know sees you acting like this, they’re not going to believe that you have been sick!”

Bunny stops dead in her hopping tracks and asks, very loudly, loud enough for anyone in the vicinity to hear, “SHOULD I ACT SICK?”

Back at Soarin’, we have at last reached the pre-boarding area. Bunny is still upset with me for putting an end to her jubilant gloating over those in the stand-by line. She is trying to argue with me because I won’t let her wave the fast passes in peoples’ faces. “But Mommy!!!! I LOVE to talk to the people!”

Finally I bend my head close to hers and hiss, “Tough patooties!”

Well! Bunny is very offended indeed. She looks around, and there standing before her is a uniformed CM, who looks very official.

With all the five-year old dignity she can muster, Bunny tugs importantly on his sleeve and informs him:

“My mom just said a BAD word!”

The CM looks down at Bunny quizzically for just a moment before doubling over in silent laughter. Then he turns around, quickly trying to regain composure.

All I can do is look despairingly at Bunny, and protest:

“Patootie!! All I said was ‘patootie’!”

But the more I protest my innocence, the more the CM just continues to snicker and nod knowingly in my direction, giving me that “yeah, right!” look.

Now, NMAmy, would you please take the stand, and state for the judge and all those witnesses here present that “patootie” is not a BAD word? In your own words, of course...Go ahead, I'll wait here.

And any others of you who wish to support my case, please feel free to chime in with your assurances that I did NOT, as Bunny accuses, utter a BAD word when I said, “patootie”.

The court will now take a brief recess, and when we return, we will have lunch at the Garden Grill with Chip and Dale and friends, and watch as Bunny steps on her delicious birthday cake.

Thank you.

 

[bunnysmum]

NMAmy: I knew I could count on you!! Thanks a million!

DisMom9761: Hey there! Welcome and thanks for reading. It's great to have you here!

PrincessTinkerbell: Thanks for the bumpety bump!

Kay! Thanks for your comments! I recently had to upgrade my satellite tv package to include the only station that is now running Star Trek Voyager. Lucky me..now I get to watch 2 episodes a day!

And no, there is no way I'd wish the years away any faster. I had Bunny when I was 37, so I think at my age, I can appreciate the all too fleeting aspect of time. It's one more reason I love to share the Disney magic with Bunny when I can.

SmallWorld71: What nice comments! I will be sure to tell Bunny you liked her post. What she lacks in spelling accuracy, she makes up for with sheer volume of words.

CrispyCruiser: Welcome!!! Thank you for reading and joining us here. So glad you're reading.

Hi TiggerandTink! You're such a faithful reader! Thanks for hanging in here with us through fun and flu alike.

Kat08: Hello! Welcome. I am honored that you chose to read my trip report! Please, make yourself comfy and have some

vancesmom: Thank you my friend, for your very nice comments. I'm so glad you joined us!

Maleficent13: Welcome, and thanks for reading! NMAmy is the BEST!

Hi again, Bari! Thanks for stopping by!

You guys are the best! Thanks for hanging around through our nasty flu episodes. I'm very sorry to say that I don't seem to be kicking this thing very fast. I've been at work all last week, but it's wearing me out, and I'm afraid I'm not getting much better, really. So, it's back to the doc I go on Monday. Here's hoping I'm not walking around w/pneumonia or something equally dismal!!

 

[UtahMama]

YAY!

You are a rock star mama for only saying Patootie!!!

I hissper a lot more offensively, I'm afraid.

Dontcha just love the front row center of Soarin'??? I could ride that all day!

I love riding with new people too! How did Bunny like it?

We've only been to the Garden Grill once but it was about 8 years ago ao I'm anxious to compare notes.

Welp, BM, ( ) I just loved it! You really rock my socks!


Love, UtahMama

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Bunnysmom. another great installment! Sorry you have been sick. Bunny sounds like a real trip

I was just thinking today, you have not been around the Miker's thread lately, we miss you! Glad you seem to feel better.

 

[Kay7979]

This was such a funny episode! Next to the definition of "Loose Canon" there should be a photo of Bunny! The entire episode including your real life shopping incident was a riot. Isn't it odd that when you want a child to talk the child has nothing to say, like a kid on the phone to Grandma. "Say hello! She can talk. Honest she was saying Gramma a minute ago!"

Your description of Soarin' was great and I'm glad you got the perfect seats for your first ride, just as Lowell and I did.

Maybe next time Bunny will have the courage to ask Crush if he has a Shell phone. I bet he does, and he probably ends his calls by saying, "Sea you around."

I almost forgot to add, Patootie is not a bad word. In fact, I think it is a rather cute word!