The Drive, the Dream and DVC - A March 2011 Birthday Surprise TR(NEW 11/9 p. 32 END)

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Boy when you do an update, you aren't playing around!

So glad Paige liked TT. I felt sorry for her looking at those pictures. Poor thing. I would have done the same thing as you though and pushed her to do it. I wouldn't if it was something scary, but TT is too much fun to miss!

Loved the F&G pics, especially the topiaries. I hope to see it in person someday!

BBB! Oh my gosh! They are so cute getting their little makeovers done! I know they loved that. So sweet to see sisters do that together and I love the pics of the two of them! I really like both dresses, but I have to say that the P&F is my favorite. I think that dress is gorgeous! And I am so happy to see that they didn't think they were too old for BBB or the Princess dinner at Akershus (girls just try to grow up TOO fast these days). I was worried about that with my DD, but yours are a little older than her so I think she'll be fine too!

Can't wait to hear about your dinner. We've never eaten anything there but breakfast, so I am very curious to hear what you thought.

 

[Pluto_fan]

What a great update, Sheree!
Love all the BBB pictures!

 

[Lady Lallie]

What a great update!! So much to comment on.

*Love the BBB pictures, they turned out really well!

*I want to see a picture of your phone cover, sounds cute.

*I'm a dog...and it is a VERY SCARY dog that they made. Eeek.

*I love that the camera was a whine defuser.

 

[MEK]

Wow - when you update, you REALLY update!!!!!

So glad that Paige got over her TT fear and loved it, although I'll admit that the car stuck outside did NOT look fun!

The girls look absolutely fabulous after their visit to BBB. Just beautiful! What a wonderful memory to have because I am sure it won't be long before they are "too old" to do something like that. Love, love, love their dresses.

So great that you got to meet Dawn. I didn't realize you are practically neighbors!

Awesome updates!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Loved the massive update!

I'm glad Paige ended up liking Test Track. I had to force my oldest son to ride RnRC, he was so afraid that he was going to fall out of the car when it went upside down. He was silently crying and the CM that loaded us gave me a VERY dirty look, like I was the worst mother in the world. But, I knew he would love it and he did! As soon as we got off he wanted to ride again. Sometimes parents know their kids and other people shouldn't be so judgemental.....

Love the girls BBB makeover pics, they look beautiful!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Great update Sheree! Your pictures really make me want to go to Disney in the springtime again!

The girls look adorable.

 

[jenseib]

You've been BUSY!!! Wow! I love all the updates.
That picture of your DH with Paige in line totally cracked me up. His look is priceless. It's so fummy because today I just posted the sand sculpture and some of the topiaries from our spring trip and then went on to read yours with the same pictures.

The girls look fabulous with their makeovers. Isn't it amazing that they don't scream and cry and wine when someonone else does there hair?
I almost want to pay my Paige (19) to come along and get her hair done with Claire just so I can have teh sister experience and pictures. But Paige would kill me if I ever posted them publically. And I would have to pay her a lot to do it.

 

[MeMom]

I bet this area of Epcot yesterday, 9/11, had an especially awesome atmosphere. I love getting that patriotic feeling there anyway, but on a day like yesterday or 4th of July, etc., it is extra meaningful.

Hooray for a Paris Disney trip! I hope you'll share that trip with us, since most of us will never make it there.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

What a fun-filled update, Sheree! Love all the pics from the Flower and Garden Festival and Paige and Sarah's BBB transformation! I am glad that Paige ended up liking Test Track!

Thanks! TT will be a must do for all of us from now on! More FPs!

Boy when you do an update, you aren't playing around!

So glad Paige liked TT. I felt sorry for her looking at those pictures. Poor thing. I would have done the same thing as you though and pushed her to do it. I wouldn't if it was something scary, but TT is too much fun to miss!

Loved the F&G pics, especially the topiaries. I hope to see it in person someday!

BBB! Oh my gosh! They are so cute getting their little makeovers done! I know they loved that. So sweet to see sisters do that together and I love the pics of the two of them! I really like both dresses, but I have to say that the P&F is my favorite. I think that dress is gorgeous! And I am so happy to see that they didn't think they were too old for BBB or the Princess dinner at Akershus (girls just try to grow up TOO fast these days). I was worried about that with my DD, but yours are a little older than her so I think she'll be fine too!

Can't wait to hear about your dinner. We've never eaten anything there but breakfast, so I am very curious to hear what you thought.

THis update should be smaller, I don't want to stay up too late tonight! HA!
Yeah, I was feeling a little bad for Paige, but I really wanted to ride this trip! I knew she could handle it!
The F&G is so cool - amazing what people can do with flowers and plants! I'd try to find a non-spring break time if you want to see it though! The BBB was very expensive in the end, but I'm really glad we did it. This whole trip was about the girls and celebrating their birthdays. I think we've hit the age, at least with Sarah that she won't be into it much longer. But she sure loved being a princess! I'm glad she picked Tiana's dress. It looked good on her and I love it too. It was either that or Cinderella, and I think this was a better choice for her.
Thank you on the pictures - I will always cherish the pictures where they are together looking so happy and pretty! Might have to pull those out some day when they're hating on each other!
I'll be doing our Akershus dinner update now!

What a great update, Sheree!
Love all the BBB pictures!

Thanks! It was a big chunk of our day (and our $$) but it was so worth it!!! I was grinning just as much as they were!

What a great update!! So much to comment on.

*Love the BBB pictures, they turned out really well!

*I want to see a picture of your phone cover, sounds cute.

*I'm a dog...and it is a VERY SCARY dog that they made. Eeek.

*I love that the camera was a whine defuser.

Thanks Leslie! Maybe you'll be taking your little one to BBB in a few years too!!
I will look for a picture of the phone cover - I know I took pics of all my souvenirs!
You are not a scary dog like that! You are more a cute puppy type dog in my mind!!!
Yeah, I'll do whatever it takes to diffuse the WHINE!!!

Wow - when you update, you REALLY update!!!!!

So glad that Paige got over her TT fear and loved it, although I'll admit that the car stuck outside did NOT look fun!

The girls look absolutely fabulous after their visit to BBB. Just beautiful! What a wonderful memory to have because I am sure it won't be long before they are "too old" to do something like that. Love, love, love their dresses.

So great that you got to meet Dawn. I didn't realize you are practically neighbors!

Awesome updates!

It's only because I don't update very often!! HA!
I felt bad that I was trying to talk her into a ride and then we had to watch a car get stuck! Didn't really help with the persuasion KWIM?
Oh, thank you on the girls - I was so pleased and proud. They are starting to age out a bit on the princesses, but we still love them.
Meeting Dawn was so fun - someday we will get more than 10 minutes to visit! She's so nice and friendly, like we'd been friends for years! I'd love to meet up with her here in MN too!

Loved the massive update!

I'm glad Paige ended up liking Test Track. I had to force my oldest son to ride RnRC, he was so afraid that he was going to fall out of the car when it went upside down. He was silently crying and the CM that loaded us gave me a VERY dirty look, like I was the worst mother in the world. But, I knew he would love it and he did! As soon as we got off he wanted to ride again. Sometimes parents know their kids and other people shouldn't be so judgemental.....

Love the girls BBB makeover pics, they look beautiful!

Don't you love it how people just think they know everything and judge you!!! I always want to say - listen, it's my kid, I know what I'm doing!!!
Thank you - I thought they were beautiful too!

Great update Sheree! Your pictures really make me want to go to Disney in the springtime again!

The girls look adorable.

Thanks! I wonder if you want to go more in the springtime now that you've experienced summer time at WDW!

You've been BUSY!!! Wow! I love all the updates.
That picture of your DH with Paige in line totally cracked me up. His look is priceless. It's so fummy because today I just posted the sand sculpture and some of the topiaries from our spring trip and then went on to read yours with the same pictures.

The girls look fabulous with their makeovers. Isn't it amazing that they don't scream and cry and wine when someonone else does there hair?
I almost want to pay my Paige (19) to come along and get her hair done with Claire just so I can have teh sister experience and pictures. But Paige would kill me if I ever posted them publically. And I would have to pay her a lot to do it.

Yeah, that picture of them was funny. I have been seeing the same pictures on your TR too - yours are better and clearer!
I can't believe how little the girls fuss when it's a fairy godmother in training tugging on their hair, but if I barely touch it, you'd think I was pulling their scalp right off!
That would be so cool if you could get the big sister to come too!! Start saving! HA!

I bet this area of Epcot yesterday, 9/11, had an especially awesome atmosphere. I love getting that patriotic feeling there anyway, but on a day like yesterday or 4th of July, etc., it is extra meaningful.

Hooray for a Paris Disney trip! I hope you'll share that trip with us, since most of us will never make it there.

You're probably right! That would have been a cool time to be there.
I will most definitely do a TR on Paris!! I plan to take LOTS of pictures!!! Now if only airfare would drop by about half!!! Nothing's booked yet, and we're waiting to see if the postal service can still operate between now and then so DH can have a job to pay for that trip!!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

DANG! I had almost the whole PSB dinner update done and I hit some key wrong and it vanished! I ended up posting the replies twice!! GRRR!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

We walked in and were shown to our main princess for the big photo op!
It was none other than Paige's favorite!! She was thrilled!

We were seated near the buffet, and all the tables were close together - like they do at character meals to cram more people in at once! My chair was sort of stuck in a corner. We went to the buffet - meats, cheeses, salad, fruit - all really good. Sorry no pictures of that!
Sarah was cold and put on my Mickey hoodie. I couldn't let a princess freeze!!

Happy Princesses!

We ordered our main course and then I think the princesses started coming around.

I wasn't impressed with Snow White. She had a perpetual look of surprise on her face! I always think they go overboard with the high pitched, almost squeaky voice too.
Ariel taught the girls how to hold out their dresses.

Ariel led the parade of kids around the restaurant
Can you find Sarah? Paige sat out. You can see her in the corner of the picture sitting at our table.

For our main course, the girls both chose hot dogs. Sarah only ate the buns, but they brought her two! Must have thought she was a little big for that kids' meal.

She was toying with the idea of eating her corn, but did not want Paige to eat it!

Dave ordered the grilled pork chop and it was good. Sadly, he ate most of it before I remembered to take the pictures!

I ordered the mushroom ravioli and I must have really liked it!

For dessert we were served a platter to share. It included berries and cream in puff pastry which was good; rice cream- some type of Norwegian specialty -(they can keep it in Norway, yuck); and chocolate mousse, which was good.

The girls each got a cupcake and a birthday card signed by the princesses. That was very nice!

This meal is one TS credit on the DDP. It would have cost us $160!!! I was really glad we did it, and really really glad we had the DDP!!!

After dinner, we met up again with SIL and her family a little before 8 p.m. We planned to watch Illuminations and staked out a spot between Norway and Mexico. I had promised Sarah that she could have a chocolate croissant from France on this trip, but we hadn't gotten one yet and we were not coming back to Epcot again. So I, the devoted mom, hoofed it from our spot near Norway, ALL THE WAY to France, stood in line at the bakery and got 2 chocolate croissants (one would be for breakfast). The line was long, but it moved quickly. I also got a hot chocolate. The CM taking drink orders was having a hard time with "hot" vs. "cold" chocolate. Jeez! I need to learn some basic French before I go, but I basically had to point to what I wanted!
When I got out of there, I saw a virtually non-existent line at the slushie stand. I could not resist! I got a grey Goose Slushie and hoofed it back to Norway. I made it back there at 8:45!!! I was pretty tired, and glad I had that drink, even though it was a bit chilly.

We watched Illuminations - Oh I love that music!!! I'm pretty sure I did not take pictures - too hard to get the good ones, so I'd rather just enjoy the show.
After Iluminations we headed to the bus stop.
One last Photopass stop!

We thought we'd have to wait for the bus, but people in front of us chose to wait for another one rather than stand, so we got on and stood. It was about 15 minutes to AKL - but we stopped at Kidani before Jambo!
We swung through the store (I love that store!) since they were open until 11, to look a t-shirts, but the kids were too tired to really shop. So we headed up to bed and they were asleep in 2 minutes!

It was a wonderful, but tiring day!!! We have early EMH at MK tomorrow!! We need our sleep!!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

I have always wondered about that rest....thanks for posting all the details!! Glad they had such a good day and really enjoyed it!

 

[jenseib]

What a wonderful day. And you did quite a bit. We had the race dessert stuff whe nwe ate at Arkerhus in 2009 and I agree...keep it in Norway. It was tasteless.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Dinner looks like fun! I'm patiently waiting for my niece to get old enough for me to take her to WDW so that I can enjoy all the girly things I've had to skip being the mother of two boys!

Mmmmmm, Grey Goose Slushie - oh, how I love the!

 

[Lady Lallie]

What a great update.

I love that last photopass picture, very pretty.

What a great value on the dining plan to eat at Akershush!

 

[MEK]

Oh Sheree - I have caused my entire updates to vanish from time to time as well. Usually I am so tired and cranky by that point that I just feel like crying.

I can't see your pics now, but I admire you for hoofing it over to France and back. Glad you treated yourself with a yummy slushy. I have always wanted to try Askerhus, but there are all boys in my family and I don't think they would love it. Still - I'm going to get there someday!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Your princesses are so pretty with the Disney princesses!

Good job stopping for the slushie on your way back from France! You deserved since you went all the way there for the chocolate croissants!

 

[MEK]

Gorgeous pictures of the girls. I forgot how beautiful they looked after their princess makeovers! Wow!

 

[Lovemy3babes]

I went back to get all caught up! Look at those pretty girls in their princess dresses. So pretty Sheree!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I have always wondered about that rest....thanks for posting all the details!! Glad they had such a good day and really enjoyed it!

Well, you are very welcome Miss Shawna! Any time I can do further research for you, just let me know! It was an awesome day!

What a wonderful day. And you did quite a bit. We had the race dessert stuff whe nwe ate at Arkerhus in 2009 and I agree...keep it in Norway. It was tasteless.

Yeah, it was a fun, although busy day. It didn't seem to busy or rushed at the time, which is what made it so great.
There are certain foods that only the people from those countries can love, I guess! Around here, surrounded by Norwegians, one of those foods is Lutefisk.

Dinner looks like fun! I'm patiently waiting for my niece to get old enough for me to take her to WDW so that I can enjoy all the girly things I've had to skip being the mother of two boys!

Mmmmmm, Grey Goose Slushie - oh, how I love the!

Oh yeah! you could do what Wigd did! Have about 10 princess dresses for her to change into between the visits so she matches each of them! That would be fun!
That slushie sounds so good right now. I wonder if I could manage to make one. Probably wouldn't be as good as having it at WDW, right? It was a wise stop I made that night.

What a great update.

I love that last photopass picture, very pretty.

What a great value on the dining plan to eat at Akershush!

Thanks LL! Sometimes I can't believe how pretty the girls are. You'll understand soon enough!
That was a good deal for the food, the picture and the experience.

Oh Sheree - I have caused my entire updates to vanish from time to time as well. Usually I am so tired and cranky by that point that I just feel like crying.

I can't see your pics now, but I admire you for hoofing it over to France and back. Glad you treated yourself with a yummy slushy. I have always wanted to try Askerhus, but there are all boys in my family and I don't think they would love it. Still - I'm going to get there someday!

I was more in the "feel like swearing" than crying mood, but I might not have been that tired or it would have been both!
That slushie hit the spot and I am so glad I took the time to do a little something for myself there!
I think you should go to Akershus anyway. Maybe on a girls' trip? Or if you go with others, have it be just for the females!

Your princesses are so pretty with the Disney princesses!

Good job stopping for the slushie on your way back from France! You deserved since you went all the way there for the chocolate croissants!

Thank you Jackie! It was one of those days when you look at your children with different eyes and just see how beautiful they are, how excited they are and know that you did something awesome with them that day. I really tried to soak it all in. As well as soak in that slushie! I knew you would appreciate it too! I mean, really, I was already in France, wasn't it my obligation to get a slushie?

Gorgeous pictures of the girls. I forgot how beautiful they looked after their princess makeovers! Wow!

Aww, thanks! I just loved seeing them smile constantly after that!

I went back to get all caught up! Look at those pretty girls in their princess dresses. So pretty Sheree!

Well, I sure gave you plenty of time to catch up, eh Kelli? I might try to get the next update in this week!
Thank you! Have your girls done BBB? I bet they would be STUNNING!

I really did want to get this going again soon. I have been so busy lately and just didn't even realize it. The other day I was talking to my mom about some scheduling something or other and she said, "how do you do it all?" I did not even realize how busy I was until I stopped and looked at the calendar! I should be in that movie, "How does she do it?" or whatever it's called!
Anyway, I'm sure I'm no busier than the next parent. This is turning out to be my "busy season". I'm coaching volleyball again, both girls are busy in dance on multiple days, I started a new part time business, and I'm hoping to save up some money to have a new ticker on my signature. We still aren't sure if we can swing it (dang airfare), but we're hoping to go to London and Paris (DLP!) in March. We shall see.

In the meantime, I will tell you soon about our last full day!