Introducing My Princess to the Magic of WDW 05/03-05/09 Completed 08/12

[aGoofyMom]

I completely forgot to explain the "say Epcot" thing. Siri loved the word Epcot so much that she would repeat again and again. When we started taking pictures on that day, she would pose and say Epcot to smile. We still do this now!

d

 

[connorsmom911]

Another great installment...I giggle everytime I come up in your trippie!!

Actually, the roaming charges were not all that bad...I actually called dh from the line inside Wolfgang Puck Express while he was outside saving a table to ask what he wanted off the menu...silly I know. We used those 2 way radios soooooo much after that!!!

 

[aGoofyMom]

Ok it has been a nutty week to say the least - the highlight for me last week was a funeral. Before trying to catch up on my reading, I will post more, as I believe there are still a couple of readers and I can't ask for more than that!

I left you with a teaser regarding a threat. I have edited and edited this section, and had a couple of people read it over first, I had even thought to leave it out. I decided to included it, and wanted to reflect what happened without being unfair to the other party. Here goes.

Transportation nightmare:
As we approached the bus stop, we see a bus there. The line doesn’t even empty but the bus is full and leaves. We were pretty much last in line – there was a large group ahead of us. We stood there waiting for over 30 minutes. We watched a LOT of empty buses drive up to empty bus stops. It was almost Twilight Zonish it was so completely bizarre. Our stop was becoming a mass of people. The other bus stops were oddly deserted. A bus FINALLY arrives. The family that mosied up near the front in the last 10 minutes or so to sit on the curb decides they should just try to walk straight on to the bus. Excuse me? The people in front of us had been waiting Heaven only knows how long for the last bus while standing and couldn’t get on and you wait sitting down for 10 minutes and think you are entitled to skip the now huge line up. I couldn’t watch it. I couldn’t stand by. I spoke out. Ma’am if you are out there reading this I will give as accurate a telling as I can but I don’t remember exact words. After I said something about getting into the line up, her Hubby tried to lead them to the back of the line but she was putting up a stink. Great. Stress. Why be like this at Disney. With your kids in tow. The Hubby manages to steer the family back about half way. As we get on the bus my DD tells me I was rude. Great. We are sitting in the very last row of the bus. Then the family has found their way on the bus and has sat down in front of us. The woman is STILL going on about how she had better not see that ***** again or she will make sure I regret it. (Or something to that effect. I don’t remember exact words but the threat aspect was there). Her Hubby tells her maybe she should turn around since we are sitting behind them. PERFECT. How long is this bus ride? I tried to be civil. I tried to explain in my very Canadian way (I’m so sorry you don’t feel the need to allow people who have been standing…) that the group in front of us had watched a bus fill up and leave at least 30 minutes before this one arrived. She wasn’t going to hear it. Her Hubby told her that perhaps she could adjust her attitude since I was trying to be civil. Nope. I had ruined her son’s first trip to Disney and his Birthday. Oh well. Her Hubby then proceeded to strike up conversation with us. Turns out that this was their last day and their memory card had been mysteriously deleted either that morning or the night before. They had lost ALL their pictures I was horrified for them. I could completely empathize with their situation and tried to express that to him. She was fuming & ignoring me at this point. He went on to say that they had spent the entire day going from park to park trying to recreate all their pictures. That stinks. But that doesn’t provide free license to be nasty or threaten other people.
I expect I am now the scapegoat for a bad trip for someone. Too bad. I truly hope that instead the memories that family has chosen to focus on is of all the fun they must have had and not how the trip ended. Really. I don’t like hearing about someone having a bad time at Disney anymore than I like seeing someone trying to line cut in that kind of situation. Everyone there was tired, and wondering what was going on with the delay in the buses. People were making rumblings about the number of empty buses stopping at empty bus stops. I don’t think a little fairness is too much to expect. As no one else in line spoke up I can only guess that they didn’t see a problem. Either that or it was because the husband was kind of big.
Ok. Unplesantries over with.
Dinner at Intermission and BED.
Tomorrow will be better.

 

[Backstage_Gal]

Sorry that I missed your last two installments somehow, but found the one today and am now all caught up. Fabulous job on the TR, just sorry about the bus episode.

PS: I read Connorsmoms reports too..

 

[SmithFamily2003]

Great trip report! I can't wait for the next installment. So sorry about your bus incident. I had a woman that was standing on a bus from Downtown Disney fall on me (I was sitting) and she didn't even apologize. She laughed for several minutes while I hoped I didn't have a black eye from the elbow in my eye.

 

[aGoofyMom]

Backstage Gal: glad you are enjoying...Connorsmom was such the inspiration for this trip...

Smithfamily2003: Welcome! the strangest things do happen on the busses. I think I am going to follow my buddy Connorsmom to car rental next time!

 

[aGoofyMom]

Day 5/May6

Ok first I have to back up before going on. Before going to bed after Epcot, I tell Carl my thoughts on the watch. Which didn’t fit anyways. He takes it very well, and admits it was very hard for him to figure out “something pretty” but he wanted to have something for me right then and there. He insists that we will return it before leaving and find something else. I love my hubby very much, and I love even more, that I know I can be honest with him. I don’t think either one of us would want it any other way. We agree that since we want to ensure we are at the hotel to have our SW boarding passes run off on time, we will forego AK for our last full day and just spend some time back at Downtown Disney then wherever the mood takes us. We don’t have any ADR’s for that last full day anyways, and the top I grabbed for myself without trying on first, doesn’t fit. (too big – always better than too small) And yes, I know that DD4 is a pre-boarding pass but I had heard that if there are too many families with young'uns, they might cancel that so I want to be sure I have "A" boarding passes. Just in case. Only a little anal!

Back to first things first - the pool. We haven’t gone to the pool since Thursday. On Friday, in DownTown Disney, we purchased a Nemo floaty for $3. Back at Maestro Mickey’s we had also purchased Goggles. Neither have been tried yet. OK ok lets’ go pool side.

Well, not completely first. First and foremost before anything else, we are picking off the remainder of the Henna. Ahh, something to do while the in room breakfast digests. I have lots to pick off. All over my hand & fingers, and half way up my arm. In the hair. Stuck. Some has fallen off in bed over night. Make sure that is left out so Mousekeeping ensures the sheets are changed. Siri doesn’t have as much left to pick off. Mine is darker because of that. She is mildly disappointed over that but that will be resolved in the end. (stay tuned!)

Ok back to poolside. I went in with Siri first. I got cold pretty quick. It was early - not that hot yet...at least not in the water! We traded off. I was hanging out on the deck & Daddy went in. The goggles were a big hit, but Nemo –not so much. This is a split ring inflatable with an inflatable Nemo smack dead centre. I finally show Carl that Nemo is a separate air chamber. Nemo is deflated and all is well with it. While I am hanging out on the deck, a family near by is squabbling. I have no choice but to hear it. This too, shall return later. Carl and Siri are blissfully unaware. Regardless I will have no stress today. I have decreeed it.
We spent the entire morning poolside, and are now very relaxed. No Stress. After lunch at Intermission we head over to MGM. We ate at Intermission a lot. We are not complete foodies but I will admit we are heading in that direction. The food was good at Intermission but again – the portions were huge. While at Intermission though, I checked out the snack boxes. Hmm.. a juice box, box of raisins, napkin, and peanut butter with crackers and M & M’s. This could be a good idea. I picked one up. Siri was happy with her little box. We did cave and pick up a small autograph book too.

For any Mom looking at those snack boxes - it was a big hit. She used it for her snack for school afterwards too. It has still really held up well.

Once we arrived at the park, we have, of course, bag check. Siri is carrying her snack box herself. I inform her that she will have to open it for bag check. She is suddenly thrilled with the prospect of having her own bag to be checked. The guard played along, and checked out her snack. She was walking proud now. Here Daddy you can carry this in the backpack now. Siri wants a stroller. We disagree. We intend for an easy afternoon, ADR at the SciFi Dine In followed by Fantasmic. I don’t want to be saddled with a stroller for Fantasmic. DH agrees. Siri isn’t really happy, but accepts it. She was a little moody as we strolled through a couple of shops on the way to Playhouse Disney. I try hinting for the stuffed Minnie Mouse for Mother’s Day (Nope. Didn’t work. I really don’t hint well do I? I really should just stick to what works.) Siri had gotten a Minnie Mouse hat with ears on it on the first day. She wore it for maybe an hour before she got too hot. I had hoped she would want ears, but didn’t want to push it. My little grumpy princess decides these ears look good. She picks out some colourful ears with Mickey, Donald, Pluto, and Goofy on them. Ahh – she wasn’t interested before because she wanted colour. Makes sense. Knowing her. Although she can pick one favourite colour, I think she would claim rainbow as her favourite if she didn't think she would be told about it not being a colour.

I found some build-your-own-watch stuff. I love these. The elastic beaded bracelets, and different watch faces. I then make my own bracelets, that fit a little better and create enough bracelets to go with the main colours in my wardrobe. I find a watch face with a little Mickey head on it and some bracelets in pink and purple – I don’t have those colours yet. I also bought a Tink charm and a castle charm. I put the charms on the watch, but quickly wind up taking the Tink one off and put it on my backpack purse. It was driving me a little nutty.

On to Playhouse Disney. We had to wait before the next show so we wandered around and thought about Fast Passing The Voyage of the Little Mermaid. No guarantees for it though – technical difficulties. We got in line for Playhouse Disney and didn’t have much of a wait. I had been warned previously that the characters come up out of the floor of the stage so front row is not necessarily best. We did the line well because when we went in, we were pretty much in the middle, dead centre. Bear had been a huge favourite early on in our house.

Aside: Did I mention that part of my creative endeavors have included making Teddy Bears? No, I look back and no. Well I was a Bearsmith (one who makes teddy bears) for a while. I have always collected Teddy Bears. When Carl proposed it seemed only natural to have bears in the wedding. We gave away bears, I made a Bride & Groom bear to sit at the church, and reception head table. I am allergic to pollen so wasn’t having real flowers. I made bear head boutonnières and corsages and included said bear heads in my bouquet and for my sister’s bouquet as well. I made tiny bears to be the bride & groom for the cake topper. Her little wedding dress even matched mine somewhat and I had to hide it from DH. All told, I believe we made well over 100 bears for the wedding. Our photographer gathered all the bears before the wedding and did a photo-shoot with them. We put the pictures of them up at the reception. He created an entire scene with the giveaway bears and a scaled model of a hot air balloon taking off. It was quite well done. Anyways, I had a business making bears for a while. On our Honeymoon I had the Disney Channel on in the room and was quite fascinated by the dancing huge Bear. When pregnant, what was supposed to be one of my last bears, was a large stuffed Bear. Bear in the Big Blue House Bear. I thought it was fabulous. Then my little Princess discovered Bear. One night when she was up too late, and we were on the road and trying to calm her down, I started to sing the Good-bye song. It worked. As long as we kept singing it. We sang it over and over all the way home. That became her lullaby before bed. Along with one I made up. We still sing it. Every night. She sings along now too.
Anyways, back at the Playhouse, the show hadn’t started yet, and people were still trickling in. They were playing music from the show. Eventually I look around to see that we are not the only parents singing. Whew.
Once the show starts and Bear comes out the princess is enthralled. This is cool. For her. Actually I had a ball too. Watching her, and trying to capture some pictures. Then it switched to JoJo’s Circus. Apparently they watch that at Daycare sometimes. Good, since I really don’t know this one. Then Stanley. Again, not so familiar with this one. Then the Book of Pooh. Siri is blown away. Then the big finale. Yippee. Oh ya, The Good-bye song. Got that as a video clip! This was a fabulous show for us.

Up next - more Studios, a couple of cars, a frog, and cheering for the villians.

 

[Princess Aurora45]

YEAH your back thanks for sharing.

 

[aGoofyMom]

When I last left you, we were hanging out at Studios.

We decide to continue on to MuppetVision 3D. I love Muppets. Carl loves Muppets. We danced to the Rainbow Connection at our wedding. We walk right in but something got messed up because we not only can’t sit together but there aren’t enough seats. We manage to find 2 aisle seats close together and I try to get Siri on my lap. The Princess, who doesn’t normally ride in a stroller but wanted one today, definitely doesn’t want to share a seat. I still love the show, but it was awkward. Once the show was over, Siri wanted to go again, but out of nowhere it was lined up out the door. Instead we take a picture by the fountain. Again this is a re-creation photo. I have one from my ’94 trip with my sister, and from my Honeymoon. Hee hee. All this plotting and re-creating photos. We wander through the Muppet Store. As we are wandering I realize they are playing our song. Rainbow Connection. Our eyes meet across the store and we both grin. Then it dawns on me that if they are playing the song, they have the CD here somewhere and we don’t have it. After some searching I locate a CD. We don’t even look at the price. No question. Gotta have it.
Once out & wandering again, we found some face painting, and the Princess chose one with a Kermit on one cheek, with a rainbow from Kermit, up across her forehead ending in a cloud. And lots of glitter. Of course. Because we didn’t get enough glitter at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. She thusly became “Frog-Cloud-Rainbow-Girl” - She also has a thing for superheroes occasionally.

We head in to the Sci-Fi Dine In – I could not get over how quiet it was in there. Wow. We are “parked”, but can’t squeeze together in one row. Carl has to sit behind us. That was just weird. And a little disappointing. It felt like he wasn’t really with us. The food was fast, not the best, but not that bad. The portions were way too big again.
Once we were done dinner we wandered the streetscape a bit. We decide to try to get in to the next Beauty and the Beast show and start in that direction. We walked in with no line. We got pretty good seats and didn’t have to wait long at all. I snapped a few pictures during the show. I was about to snap a picture of the Beast dying and the Frog cloud rainbow girl grabbed my arm (out of nowhere of course) and said NO MOMMY! You can’t take a picture – it’s SAD. Ok This is the same child who firmly believes the villains are only pretending right? I get Frog-Cloud-Rainbow-Girl’s permission to take a picture after the Prince rises. After the show we had to backtrack to check out the “Villians in Vogue” Store. My plan had been to do a little shopping in MGM and maybe find a book or two. That would provide entertainment while awaiting Fantasmic. In Villains In Vogue I am also looking for a gift for my sister. We all wind up loving this store. I found some flip story books. They are “My Side of the Story” with both hero/princess side then flip to the Villain version of what happened. I picked up the Maleficient/Sleeping Beauty for my princess and Captain Hook/Peter Pan for my sister. Princess-Frog-Cloud-Rainbow-Girl has discovered a stuffed Maleficent dragon. (one Maleficent is never enough) (No Haunted Mansion but let’s sleep with an evil fairy in all her dragon finery every night – sure). We also find a travel coffee mug with Maleficent for my sister.

Have I explained adequately about my daughter and Villains? When Aladdin was the favourite movie, Jafar made regular appearances in her pretending, usually as her brother. With Sleeping Beauty being a favourite right now, Maleficent has been appearing. Last year, when she had her Cinderella dress for Halloween she decided 2 weeks before Halloween that I should be the Fairy Godmother. Yes - ,I made a Fairy Godmother costume quick - no problem, big blue robe with a pink bow. This year with the Aurora dress she wants me to be Maleficent. For weeks before the trip. I have been asking for a good fairy instead. Or at least the queen. I know small role but maybe more fitting? We shall see.

We make a quick pit stop and gather to wait for Fantasmic rope drop. Once in there I realize I forgot the bug repellant. What was I thinking? I know this is sitting in front of pretty much stagnant water. Ok sit still and they will go away. After they have sampled enough of my blood anyways. I tend to be the live bait for biting insects. We read a bit of our storybook, chatted with a near-by family. We shared our glow stuff again. We basically were just kinda relaxing and I notice I am hearing some bickering. I look over and guess what? The bickering bunch from poolside this morning are down the row. Fortunately they decide their spot isn’t good, and move far enough away that we don’t have to listen. Cheer up people – it’s Disney!

By now we have talked about Fantasmic a little so Princess-Frog-Cloud-Rainbow-Girl is ready to cheer for her Villians. You do that. I will stick with the Mouse thanks. We all enjoy the show. After the show Siri is a little disappointed. She really wanted Maleficent to win. After all – Mickey always gets to win. I get this. Kind of. Kind of like reading Archie comics and wanting Betty to get Archie in the end just once. Or wanting to see Charlie Brown actually kick the football. Just once. I did read an Archie comic where Betty did get Archie in the end. It wasn’t as good. Especially not when they added the disclaimer that it was written just for that purpose.

We had much better luck with transportation and mosey back for sleep. Ok first, some packing to determine if another suitcase will be needed before heading towards any further shopping. Ok we can fit the internet purchase in the suitcase – but what’s this in the bottom of that bag? Carl has found a pink pin lanyard with 2 pins on it? And a note - The note was from Connor (Connorsmom) to my little Princess.
Another aside: Before I had even thought about booking my trip, I had purchased a package of double A batteries. The package had a very nice Tinkerbell pin in it – we gave it to our princess without a second thought. Our last trip to Disney was just a few months before pin trading started. Once trip planning started in earnest (& stealth mode!) I mentioned the pin to Connorsmom at work one day – are these the pins they trade? OMG – we were suddenly nearing the end of this promotion from Energizer offering 5 different pins in packages of AA batteries. Can we get them all before we go? I am on a mission. I get coupons, I enlist family, I am GOING to get these pins. DH decides I am completely off my rocker. How can we go wrong I ask? The cheapest pins at Disney are $6.95. I have been researching. I know. The battery packs are just over $7. Between remote controls, the cordless mouse, toothbrushes, my portable speakers for my MP3 player, the digital camera, flashlights… tell me we won’t use these up in no time! It finally spread. By the time we left we had 2 of each. Ok overboard before being out the door. Yikes! We have been at Disney with all these pins & Siri didn’t care. Now, Siri is finally interested in the pin thing. After all someone was kind enough to buy a lanyard. Why didn't I think of that?
We also still have 10 snack credits left. We really haven’t used those wisely. Hey – now I remember, the plan was to use the snack credits to get the milk in the morning. Oops. In bed by midnight.

Up next: our last full day

 

[connorsmom911]

hehehehe...gotcha!!! How could I go about this trip without getting someone else hooked on the pin trading too? Now what fun would that be?? And I just thought it would be cute to leave a little something for Siri from Connor. We let him do most of the pin trading, let him pick which pin he wanted to get and which one to give. Since he's going through that "princess thing" of course he would spot a few of those and daddy would diligently direct him to another pin on the cm's lanyard. He did manage to pick one when daddy wasn't looking and I said we could put that one on the lanyard for Siri. He was good with that. One word for your next trip and pins...ebay.

Another great installment!

 

[1000thhappyhaunt]

A Trip Reporting Machine.

I'm lovin' it. I'm in.

I believe I know a friend of yours, too.

I love that you danced to "Rainbow Connection" at your wedding.

Who doesn't LOVE the Muppets?

Keep it comin'.

Cheers, Mel.

 

[arizonacolbys]

Great trip report so far! Sounds like Siri is having a great 1st trip to the World! (I just love her name by the way! )

Can't wait to hear the rest!

 

[aGoofyMom]

Connorsmom - Siri is learning from Connor too - you will see what soon...(don't want to leave a spoiler for my own report!)

Mel: I believe a friend of mine reading a report of yours earlier this spring was the reason this trip even happened - thanks! And you have reminded me I am not sharing enough of the "goofyness" I shall have to work that back in! I admit that work is dragging it out of me right now.

arizonacolbys - welcome & glad you are enjoying.

 

[aGoofyMom]

Ok time for some pictures! - hope I didn't make these tooooo small.

About to be Flying high! (much to DH's chagrin!)

My Cinderella & her favourite Princess

My princess & her Daddy

My little Auora and her favourite Princess

I had to get a picture with Jasmine to show my belly dancer friends!

This is just my favourite picture.

And this is how she became Princess Frog-Cloud-Rainbow Girl

"...some day we'll find it, The Rainbow Connection, The lovers, the dreamers and me!"

 

[Lisa_Belle]

Still lovin' every word of your report - and the photo of your beautiful Princess Frog-Cloud-Rainbow Girl (that can be her Indian name when she goes to camp )

 

[3princesses+aprince]

Your report is awesome. I want to be there right now.

 

[cjhinch]

I am really enjoying your trip report!! Your little girl is just adorable.....and she sounds very sweet! My boys didn't get into the pin trading until the very last day on our trip last year either......boy were they HOOKED!!

 

[Tanya90210]

Thank you so much for sharing... your daughter looks so adorable!!! I can't wait/// yet am sad... to read your final day...
planning on starting my pretrip report today...

 

[aGoofyMom]

Day 6/May 7

Sleeping in again. We lazily get ready & have breakfast. We need to have our boarding passes printed at 9:50. Carl actually has to hang out in the lobby because the first attempt was 5 min early according to the clock on the website and the CM warns him that another early attempt will mean locking out and waiting an hour or more. He was quite happy to sit and watch cartoons. Ok we get our precious “A” passes. (I know DD4 is our preboarding pass however I had heard that if there are too many parents of youngins’ preboarding it can be cancelled. I am anal enough to want the insurance of “A” passes)
We head off to DownTown Disney for returns (my ill-fitting shirt, and the watch anniversary gift) and a hope of a replacement gift for me. Siri is wearing her pin lanyard, but still doesn’t quite get it yet. Of course I can’t quite find all the pins either. I found 3. She had already traded one.
When we arrived, we scooted over to that Christmas character statue display at the Marketplace entrance. Again – this is me recreating photos from earlier trip(s? – I can’t remember if I have this one from ’94) hee hee – there is a plan for these!
While there, I see the splash fountain sidewalk thing is up and running and there is a VERY wet little boy having a ball. We conveniently stay there until the wet little one has moved on. Then my little princess spies the water and remembers that mean ol’ Mom wouldn’t let her play in it the last time we were here. I send her in with a warning not to get TOO wet. DH looks at me as if I am nuts. I remind him it is soooo warm she will be dry in no time & she wasn’t allowed last time. I sent him into the stationary store for the pen he was coveting. Siri was having a ball in the splash fountain, and heeding my incessant reminders to not get TOO wet. She would run, and the water would follow her. I was trying to snap a couple of pictures when I notice this guy on the bench with a black bag. Hmmm…wasn’t he there when the really wet little guy was playing? He wasn’t there when Siri started… COOL! Pixie dust for us! One magical moment for me. My little princess would stand right over top of a jet and NEVER get splashed directly. Thanks Dude! DH comes out with his purchase. I try to explain to him what is going on. He doesn’t quite get it. More Magic (kinda!) as he watches the water follow her back and forth with a look of wonder. Siri’s clothes are a little wet here and there, but not dripping. I am loving it like Christmas morning. She has no idea how the water is chasing her around. It has been a while since our last Magical Moment! We finally drag her out and head in to the Christmas store. I want a simple dated ornament. Sounds simple right? That took forever to find one. In fact our princess had goosebumps by the time we find it. I wound up taking her outside to warm up while DH was paying. Carl said at least 2 people saw him in line and were asking where he found the ornament.
Siri and I sat on a brick wall surrounding a flower bed. Siri picked a few flowers and we tucked them behind our ears. I snapped a couple of casual pictures of her. One of them is my favourite. She looked so relaxed, and thoughtful – very serene. No expectations, no impatience, just content. Magical just-happy-to-be-alive-and-in-the-moment-type Moment!
Once Carl came out of the store, we headed towards the Pin Traders store. We buy 2 new pins for Siri. Maleficent (of course) and Kim Possible (with Dr. Drakken and She-go – gotta have the villains). She poses for pictures with more statues. I tried to talk her into doing some trading with the CM’s here – nope. Moving on to the World of Disney store, we split up for the returns. I exchanged my shirt, Carl returned my watch. He encouraged me to window shop through the jewelry section but I just couldn’t decide on anything. (what is wrong with me?)
Onward to Once Upon a Toy Store. We missed this last time. Siri picked out a colouring book for her friend, and we chose some Freeze Dried Ice Cream for her and her 2 cousins. (I did try it. It is ice cream. A little dry, but not bad) After a once through of the store, the Princess chose a stuffed Scar to take home. Of course – more villains. We have a Simba at home, why not Scar? Then, as DH is paying I realize Siri has lost her big princess pin from Connor(smom). Crumbs. Ok everybody back track staring at the floor. As we are attempting to walk back through the store like this, I notice a CM watching us, green lanyard, and the exact pin we are searching for. I have no idea if that CM found it, or if hers had been there for a while, but after we mentioned what we were doing, and I tried to encourage Siri to trade for the pin, the CM gave us the pin. No trade. Magical moment! Thanks again!

With such a Magical morning, we decide to have lunch at Wolfgang Puck Express. I kind of wanted to try the Earl of Sandwich but Carl loves Wolfgang Puck and he is the chef of the family. He has taken many cooking lessons lately and since I don’t cook, I can’t deprive him (yet – read on!) Ok I can’t cook. As in my DD will get a horrified look on her face when told Daddy won’t be home to make supper and say – “You aren’t really going to try to cook are you Mom?”
Enjoying our lunch at WPE, my wonderful loving husband says to me “Hon, I hate to tell you this but…” Huh? Hello – wonderful relaxing Magical Moments happening here – why on EARTH would you even THINK about starting to say ANYTHING starting with THAT PHRASE?????
“…You really are getting some grey hair there.”

I just kinda stopped for a minute. I have a big choice here. Part of the whole how to answer the “Do I look fat in this?” question is that I have agreed I want honesty from him. I have some grey hair. I know this. I have not been shy about saying this. He knows this. He has, up until this very moment, been the gentleman about it. He has chosen, at Disney, to inform me of how much he can really see it at that moment. Apparently it is very visible. At this exact moment.
I realize in my split second that I need to choose my reaction. I don’t remember exactly what my reply was, but freaking out was not an option. I think I questioned his need to comment on this here and now. I think I may have also explained the finer art of understanding how excessive sunlight & pool water could affect hair colour and the choice to not bother with it until after we return home.

He later said he didn’t know it bothered me at all until I said something again later. The truth is, it wasn’t that I was bothered by his actual words. It was more that they were bringing me back to reality and I was going to fight tooth and nail to stay in my Disney state of mind. It was our last full day & I wanted to stay in that moment as much as possible. I wanted to soak in as much Magic as possible so that when I was physically back in reality I could mentally return in the blink of an eye. Just long enough to regain my senses. I am very Type A. Probably Type AA. Ok I really don’t know if there is such a thing or if that describes me. I am quick-tempered, judgemental, have very little patience, and I am easily frustrated. I have been trying to change that for a loooonng time. Long story short, becoming a mother has done more in helping me make changes than anything else thus far. And my husband is the reason I have wanted to make those changes. My family means everything to me. For our fifth anniversary, DH & I spent a week in Cuba. I could bring back the memories from that trip for at least a year later –just to help me relax. Anytime I wanted. But as we weren’t able to go away anywhere last year I was losing the mental relaxation ability. I had managed to spend so much of this trip living up to my simple expectations. Don’t get tense in the airport, don’t try to do it all, just take it moment by moment and just relax and enjoy the family time together. By this time I had seen so much Magic, wonderment and love in my daughter and husband – I was not ready for that to go away. This trip and these memories were the only thing I needed for my anniversary. I know I am not very good at expressing this to my husband. So it is here for everyone to read. He said he would be reading this eventually. I know if he does get this far he will realize – it wasn’t the words hon – it was the return to reality. It was too harsh, and too unexpected. That and I hadn’t asked for it. So Honey – sorry if I made you feel bad by bringing it up again after the fact. Maybe now it can all make sense. That and really I am so lucky – he really doesn’t do the stupid comments very often. He helps out around the house and spoils me rotten. And he is carefully honest with the “Do I look fat in this?”. I am so lucky to have him. And he really is an amazing aspiring chef - if I could send his Baked Alaska through here to you all - I would!

And as much as I like the food at Wolfgang Puck Express - I don't think we are going back. End of discussion on that one!

Up next: An afternoon in MK...

 

[aGoofyMom]

And to you fabulous people who replied - thanks! I have been swamped lately and haven't had much time to answer everyone but I appreciate hearing from all of you.