So we headed back to the hotel for the swim, rest, change.
I wanted to have left the hotel about 3:15 at the latest, so we could be at the gate at 4.
Here's how it
actually went down:
Arrived back to the hotel: 11:30ish
Swam from 11:45ish- 1:30ish
Changed by 2ish
Everyone ate snack of PB&Js, pretzels, and juice at 2:30ish, while watching TV. Kids in their cute costumes:
Unfortuneately, this is the only pictures I have in the kids for the party in their costumes. Because after we loaded into the car... (late! thanks to DH messing around on the computer saying he was doing 'homework' but he was actually playing solitaire!
) at 3:45ish, they looked like this:
Now, once we got under the wonderful sign:
DH suddenly gets into the left turn lane for the Hess station.
"What are you DOING?!" I squeal, looking at the 4:00 on the dashboard.
"Getting cigarettes," he says, "calm down."
I'm FUMING. By the time he gets out of the station, it's about 4:10ish. And guess what? THERE IS NO WAY TO GET BACK WHENCE WE CAME! So now we're on our way OUT of the park, almost back to World Drive, before we see a quick left turn that steers us BACK into the parking. I was MAD. THEN he turns into the WRONG parking, the AAA & disability parking, because he's not paying attention to signs- AGAIN
.
We are quite irritated with each other by the time we pull into the parking spot. Some 45 MINUTES AFTER WE GOT THERE TO BEGIN WITH.
"45 minutes for a pack of cigarettes." I say. "Nice."
I won't tell you what he snapped back at me.
So now we rise our children. They are not happy. That whole swimming thing? No, def. not a good idea. They are exhausted. And now they are hot ini their costumes and proclaim to me they need to change. I plea to them to at least wait until we get to the TTC and maybe they will change their minds.
Well, we never did get that rain that night, even though I had those darn ponchos in my bag now. And it was HOT. Like, 95 hot. And humid. I don't think it got that hot all summer in Illinois.
So the costumes were rolled up in mom's bag, and reg. clothes changed into. I don't know how some people walked around in the costumes they did. It was so darn hot for that! I mean, I was wearing a skirt, flip-flops, and a tee shirt and I was comfortable.
They are cranky on the monorail, but Dad and I are excited!
We tell them we could get them a baby-sitter and go by ourselves! They don't like that idea.
So, I was pretty irritated before this point, I must say. I mean, we arrive into the parking lot about 4:45, and not to the front gate until about... I don't know... 5:10ish! In my head, I'm calculating that by the time we get to City Hall to get our buttons, down Main Street, have photopass taken, and over to Tommorowland to do Buzz (which Ebin has chosen as the First Ride), it will be 6 already! Two hours WASTED. #1 because DH wouldn't get his butt moving. #2 because he made a cigarette run that turned into a 45 minute mess.
But I have to tell you- I pulled it together.
Everytime those thoughts shoved their way into my head, I PUSHED them out, determined NOT to be mad during our magical day. MY magical day. And I think I only reminded DH of his flaws..... 2 or 3 more times. Ok, maybe 4. At most.
But getting to the Magic Kingdom can generally make anyone less mad, dontchathink?
Getting our bracelets:
Ebin kept touching this guys hat while he was putting on his sister's bracelet. I thought it was so funny.
In front of the entrance:
Warning: Do not attempt to haul yourself up onto that wall if you have passed your twenties. It nearly killed me.
Next up: Our first view EVER of Main Street, USA!
Feel better soon!
I've got a killer headache but the antibiotics are kickin' in. But I digress.....
All I can find on ebay is a button. I don't want a button- I want a pin! 
Oh well.
I paid for a couple other things that DH had picked out 
, as well as an autograph book w/photo inserts- the kids had left theirs in the car 
They didn't know what to make of her! 
that he'd just plum forgot!
, but I assured him I had known it would be about that much and had budgeted for it. 
Great start! Lovin' all the pictures. 
and Thanks!
Yes, I myself just suffered a bad Disney depression week.
I noticed your DH's lanyard at breakfast time...too funny! It's cute he wanted to be in pictures with the Characters, too! Can't wait to hear about MNSSHP!!!! 
