May 8/Day 7
Up early to catch the Magical Express at 6ish. Ya know what? Even for morning person, there is nothing Magical about heading home that early. After Florida had been 45 days without rain, it looked like they wouldnt be waiting much longer. DH cashed in a snack credit to get me a coffee (mugs were packed). We left 5 snack credits behind. Oh well. (a little math

after the fact and we still saved $100.) Siri was being a real trooper again. She was told she had to stay awake until we got on the plane. Then she could go back to sleep. The bus arrived and we found our seats. That was about when the rain started. I got all teary pulling away from ASMu.

One more stop at All Star Sports and we are headed to the airport. As we drove away from the Disney property the princess still couldnt wrap her head around how big the place is I start to cry.

Carl is sitting across the aisle trying to re-assure me we are coming back.
They started playing a movie about your next trip with Disney. You just cant deny the Mouse and his marketing skill. Siri was pretty drowsy but promised to walk through the airport on her own. She was half watching the movie, and as she drifted off, she asked When we come back Mommy, where will we stay? I said I wasnt sure, but we thought maybe Caribbean Beach, or the Contemporary, maybe the Grand Floridian or the Poly why? She answered Oh. I want to stay at All Star Sports. She promptly fell asleep before I could ask why. If they had a glowing Mom smilie I would put it here.

This guy will do. I got all teary again

Carl was getting bewildered.

I was fine again by the time we got to the airport.
Of course by then it was a complete downpour. Our driver announced that he would like everyone to stay on the bus and stay dry. In the time it took him to get soaked and get our luggage off, another bus had pulled up, emptied and pulled out. Thats ok I was dry! We checked our luggage in and made our way to the gate. OH CRUMBS. Security again. Siri had woken up on the bus, and had pulled her little self together enough to manage her own carry on. Siri got very nervous.

We talked, I encouraged and comforted. Scar was the comfort of choice for the day. Then, the guard said nope we need a picture of your kitty. Beg Pardon? I tried to gently get it from her. The guard was behind the machine, reached over, past me and literally SNATCHED IT from her arms.

Every parent, heck anyone who has seen a child knows what came next. HYSTERICS. Ok scoop her up and lets go. She was beyond inconsolable. She was tired, and in no mood to have her comfort snatched away like that. The line was not that bad the guard could have given me another chance to coax it from her. Ok off to the side and calm down again. Off to the gate, and find a seat. I noticed a place just close to the gate with a fruit bowl on the breakfast menu. Exactly what the princess and I need. We sit down with food & coffee for Mommy with plenty of time. Siri is dividing her time between the older couple sitting across from us and just dancing

around she has found her second wind after the fruit. In one of the many trips to the garbage can, I heard someone call my name. I turned around, and there is one of the girls from the front office of the Fire Department back home. NO WAY! She recognized my daughter first. Figures I wasnt in uniform I know how that goes. So we chat she had spent some time at a Condo with friends. She shared part of a sandwich with Siri. She had to be back at work the next day. I still had until Sunday. Yippee back to work on Mothers Day. And, we check out the plane cool it is painted up as Shamu. We decide to line up for pre-boarding a little earlier this time. Once boarded, and the princess has chosen our seats, we relax and settle in for a snooze. After a peaceful, uneventful flight, we arrive in Buffalo 15 minutes early. The flight attendants sang We love you, you love us, cuz were faster than the bus (every parent knows that tune!) and reminded us that had they been 15 minutes late, we would have told everyone we know, so make sure we tell everyone they were early. You have been told that Southwest Airlines provided a phenomenal service to us. And my DD is STILL singing that version of THAT song.

(At least the plane wasnt painted purple!!)
Once we gather luggage hey its WET!!! We head out for the hotel shuttle. We wait. Everyone else gets their shuttle and goes. Now I am positive I was told by the hotel in Buffalo that their shuttle runs every 30 minutes. We have waited 30 minutes no shuttle. I find a receipt, Carl calls. Oh why didnt we call sooner? Turns out we were supposed to call for pick up. Thanks for that. They will have someone there in no less than 20 minutes. I hope so - it is a 10 minute drive. Another 30 minutes later we are about to call back to advise them to expect a cab fare to be paid by them upon our arrival and the shuttle arrives. No apology or explanation offered. Oh where are you parked, I will drop you off at your car. Great keeping us away from the front desk & manager? You know what? At this point, I dont care. Siri sees the front of the car and is completely disgusted-she is very vocal about how gross the bugs on the car look. She actually refused to get in for a bit. She wanted nothing to do with the buggy car. We finally manage to get her in and we have to get moving to avoid rush hour traffic at the bridge, and the highway home. An uneventful ride home and we unload the car. I wanted to open the suitcases right away. Good thing. The top layer or two of my suitcase were soaked as well. Remember the downpour at MCO? Well it really soaked our suitcases. Nothing but clothes got wet, thankfully. I am just so glad my sketch wasnt damaged. Something to remember next time I pack!
So the princess never made it in to the Haunted Mansion. Next time I think we will be there several times. (After all she wants to try Scoobys Haunted Mansion at Canadas Wonderland later this week!)
My Magical Wishes Moment the highlight of the trip for me? Turns out it was also the highlight of the trip for Siri At the end of the school year she brought home a journal they had drawn pictures in every month. Her drawing for May watching Fireworks with Mommy & Daddy and she drew the Castle. Awesome!
Just the other night, Carl was coming up with ideas on making sure we visit WDW for
MNSSHP and
MVMCP ok not this year, but whatever the celebration sometime soon. I think we have an official convert.

We will have to see if he appears here. But I wont hold my breath. At least on him reading this or anything else here. He works on computers all day and wont touch them much at home. (glad hes not a chef I would never eat!)
And re-creating all those pictures? I intended to put them together somewhere. Connorsmom had given me a tip about putting together a collage at the
Walmart photo finishing area. My Walmart didnt have that and hers, although closer to work, I just havent gotten there. Instead I went to another place and put my pictures together for a photo book. As I was putting it together, I realized it is 30 years since my first trip to Disney. I put together pictures of my first meeting with Disney, and the second and the third, along with Siris first meeting with Mickey. I have pictures of me & my sister on Dumbo together with Siri & DH on the same page
The book is going to be bound as a hardcover book (coffee table style book, not to look like a coffee table but like a published book) with 21 pages of 30 years of Disney Magic. I have one page with a picture of me, my sister and our Grandparents with Chip (or was it Dale?) from 1978. A picture of my sister & I with our parents & Pinnochio from the same trip & a picture of our family with Cinderella from this trip. I am hoping this book will be incentive for my parents to join us on our next trip. We have invited DHs Aunt & Uncle (the in laws are beyond anything that can be mentioned here, and his Aunt & Uncle are close enough to be that almost second set of grandparents.) I should have the book in two weeks. Complete with its purple suede cover. (I didnt choose purple Siri did, with Daddy's help. Interesting how things work out isn't it

)
So until next time
hopefully next year
I will be living through everyone elses magic here!
