Magic Kingdom, Feb. 2012

I copied most of this post from my other blog, Fish Out of Water, so you may have already read it.  I want to be able to use this blog as a family journal for us to look back at so I may be using some of my FOOW posts here when I have shared some of our family adventures on that blog.  I have added a lot of pictures in this post though that weren't on the other blog.  So if you've already read my FOOW blog post about our trip to Magic Kingdom, skip to the pics. 




A gloomy yet magical looking castle


This past weekend, we surprised the kids with a trip to the Magic Kingdom and it was fabulous. The only non fab part was that we only got to go to the MK and only for one day.

All along, they knew we were going to Florida to visit my parents. They also knew we were going to "Disney." I put that in quotes because my kids' idea of going to Disney and other people's is different. We go to FL at least twice a year to visit my parents.  Every time we go, we make a trip over to Disney.  My parents live only about 45 minutes away so why not.  But when we go so often, we don't actually go inside any of the parks.  We do the outside of the parks stuff that is either free or relatively inexpensive.  Most of the time this includes riding the monorail resort line (it makes stops at 3 different Magic Kingdom hotels) looking around at some of the intricately themed and beautifully decorated hotels and spending some time looking around at Downtown Disney. Sometimes we visit the Boardwalk that is near Epcot and rent a surrey bike (more like a bike cart that has benches that can hold a whole family) and ride it around.  Sometimes we sit on the beach at one of the hotels and just let the kids play in the sand.  I could go on and on.  There is actually quite a bit to do without spending much money.  So that's what we usually do when we say to our kids that we are "going to Disney."  That is what they thought we were going to do.  It's what we always do.  And while they get excited about it and always beg to go whenever we are in FL it ain't no Magic Kingdom. 

So to surprise them and say we are going to Disney would have gotten us a, "ya, we knew that."  When we told them though that we were going to Magic Kingdom (we waited until we were actually inside Disney property) they didn't really believe us.  It took a few seconds of "mom, are we really going to Magic Kingdom?"  and "can we ride the rides?"  and "are you serious?" for it to actually sink in and for them to get excited. 

It was a really fun day.  The weather could have cooperated a little better but wasn't really all that bad.  I was a little nervous because the forecast was for 60% chance of rain and I was like, NOOOOOOO!!!!  But it wasn't that bad.  It sprinkled on and off pretty much all day, but it only sprinkled and really not all that often.  And the cloud cover kept the temps down. 

We got to do almost everything we wanted to do.  It was actually a pretty productive day.  And since our kids are a little older than the last time we went, no one needed a nap break in the middle of the day and everyone walked of their own volition!  There was no maneuvering of a stroller through crowds.  No one had a meltdown 1/2 way through the day. I was especially proud of LeeAnne.  We got there about 9:30 and left around 10:30.  Paul had his pedometer with him and clocked 21,000 steps that day.  21,000!!!  That means LeeAnne with her much smaller legs probably took twice as many steps as her daddy.  And she did great.  A couple of times she told me her feet were hot or her toes were burning (I think that meant they were tired or sore) from all the walking, but she didn't really complain about it. 

Anyway, without getting into a lot of details, it was a really good day.  And yes, it was magical.  I love Disney World.

For some reason these pictures did not load in the order I wanted, so they are a bit mixed up.  You still get the idea though.

I rode in the Raceway car with Emily and LeeAnne.  Emily was at the wheel first.



Then LeeAnne took over.




LeeAnne and I rode the TTA with Mimi and Papa.



Daddy, Emily and Abbi got their own car.

Popsicle break!

Daddy and the girls with their 3D glasses on waiting for Mickey's Philharmagic movie.

Tiana was the only princess/character we got to meet this time.  She is one of Abbi's favorites so when we heard she was close by, we had to meet her.

The girls on Aladdin's Magic Carpet Ride for the 3rd time.



I love the "Let the Memories Begin" banner. 

This was taken right before going inside the Magic Kingdom.

Our first stop was in Adventure Land.  Dad, Emily and Abbi rode The Pirates of the Caribbean while LeeAnne and Mom rode Aladdin's Magic Carpet ride.

The girls got the movie Swiss Family Robinson for Christmas this year, so visiting the Swiss Family Robinson Treehouse had new meaning for them. 

Emily with Mimi and Papa waiting to get on It's a Small World.



I always take a picture of this goodbye sign that is at the end of the Small World ride to put at the end of that trip's photo album.



Datenight

Last night, Paul had not one, not two, but three dates to the father/daughter dance.  The Baptist church where LeeAnne goes to pre-k has a Valentine's father/daughter dance every year and this year, Paul and all the girls got to go. 

The way the church describes it is as a "unique date night to treat your daughter special and to help her learn what to expect from a husband and how to be loved as a grown woman." 

It was a very organized event.  There was a "walk to remember" where father and daughter walked along a guided (indoor) path with stops along the way with questions to facilitate conversation and a feeling of specialness between father and daughter. 

Of course there was food.  Appetizers started at 6 with dinner at 7 and dancing at 7:45.  From what I hear, the dancing part was very high energy and loads of fun.  The girls loved it.  You'll have to ask Abbi to do the "Charlie Brown" for you the next time you see her.  Hill- Lar-Eee-Us!

Each girl also got a charm to remember the evening by. Every year, the church gives the girls a different charm.  Our girls are already looking forward to collecting many more charms.

As soon as they walked in the door, I was hit with a barrage of 3 little girls all talking at once telling me just how much fun it was.  And then they crashed.  It was a late night for our kids anyway and then with all the dancing, they were worn out. 

 I wish I could have been there to take pictures but mommy's were not allowed and for good reason.  I would not have wanted to have taken away from Paul's special time with the girls. 
However, I was allowed to take as many pictures as I wanted before they left for the dance and so get ready, here they are (and there are lots)...

The girls all got corsages and Daddy got a boutineer.  It was sweet.  And I was right there, like a mom on prom night, snapping away.

It's sometimes, ok, all the time, hard to get all 4 (Paul is included in this) to stop talking and playing so I can take a picture.

LeeAnne!!  What are you doing??

For these last 5 pictures, I had told them to laugh.  This is what I got.  Boy did they laugh, some a little more expressive than others.

The Tooth Fairy Cometh

Abbi had to have oral surgery this morning to have 3 teeth extracted.  She, unfortunately, has inherited her mother's bad teeth and has already had quite a few cavity problems.  She had 3 cavities that were so bad, the Dr. said that since they were just baby teeth they had to go.  And since she is so young, our regular pediatric dentist thought she needed to be knocked out.  So we had to go to an oral surgeon for her to be put under general anesthesia.  She did very well.  In fact, she just told me it was kinda fun.  She's been "under the influence" before (cavities and the time she broke her arm) and  has talked about how fun it is.  I'm afraid she's going to start trying to come up with new reasons to get some "special medicine." 

Anyway, she didn't cry at all, even when they said I could not go back with her and even though I had told her I would hold her hand while they put her to sleep.  She was a little nervous the night before but perked up when we talked about getting to have a milkshake for lunch and possibly a slushy for dinner.  Who wouldn't perk up then? 

Recovery time for baby teeth extraction is evidently much easier than for one for adult teeth.  She was up jumping up and down, hopping about, ready for that milkshake before lunch.  The Dr. said he actually pulled 4 teeth because there was one that was just hanging by a thread and was about to fall out anyway.  2 birds with 1 stone.  She's excited because now, she's lost 10 teeth to Emily's 8.  Who says girls aren't competitive??

So now that  that's over and done with, Abbi declared that she's glad because now she has nothing to worry about for a really long time.  *sigh*...If only to be 6 again.