i was so anxious about our flight... flying by myself with an almost two year old "lap baby". not sure how that was going to work. thankfully, we were flying southwest, and it was not a full flight (how does that happen the week of spring break to orlando???), and we got a whole row! it was wonderful. quite possibly the best flight i have ever been on with two kids. i got to read about 60 pages in a book, flip through the in fight magazine, and close my eyes for a few minutes. the kids were great. so entertained, and nora was so grown up and helpful. james was in his carseat by the window and he was so entertained by what was outside the window. what a cute boy. it keeps striking me this week how GROWN UP he is!
the most anxiety inducing for me is the getting on and off the plane. i have a carry on bag, two kids and a carseat. thankfully, a nice couple offered to help. i had seen them at several points throughout the morning, and honestly, they didn't look super friendly or amused by children. they were our age or younger. but, they were right behind me and when they saw me folding up the stroller at the end of the runway, and probably did the math of my arms to amount of stuff to carry ratio, they offered to help. i said thanks, and he replied that they would be in the same boat some day.
getting off the plane (here's to NO LAYOVERS!), nora had to go potty. i had jamey strapped to me in the carrier, nora walking, my big llbean bag on one seat and the carseat on the other seat in the stroller. some woman walking next to us told me, "i am a nurse. can i watch your stuff while you take her in to the bathroom?". it was so sweet. as we were waiting (the bathroom was closed), nora noticed that she had the same flip flop necklace i had. we chatted for a few minutes, and then went potty. we came out, and she offered to walk with us the rest of the way. since she seemed to be waiting for a flight, and we were going to baggage, i told her it was okay. plus, my parents were meeting us in baggage. she said, "God bless". i could have cried.
there was so much in the airport. it was awesome. we meandered down to baggage (two flights down), and saw the fountain, the disney shop, the shampoo shop (sea world, which was okay, because nora told me it wasn't the "real" shampoo), and took a tram. (maybe the tram came first...) we got to baggage and got our stuff just as the fam's plane landed. the kids waited patiently, got them, got our cars and went to CHICK FIL A for lunch!! Heaven all around.
after lunch and a grocery trip, we went to my mom's dear friend's house for dinner. i grew up remembering so many fond times at missy road's house. it was so fun to see my daughter love it. they also just loved being able to run, outside, play in the grass, and get nice and dirty. they are such fun friends (and love to wrestle). it's cute to watch... nora got to have one of missy road's tea parties, and she LOVED it. she also got new tinkerbell jammies in honor of the trip.
then, home to bed.... a big day tomorrow...
we happened upon the princesses first, and there was not a long wait. it is such a joy to watch nora watch the princesses. she is just mesmerized. just in awe. we thought jamey would love it. when we put him down to say hi, he just said, "sissy. this is nora". like he had to introduce her! it was cute. he would hug her and show her off to the princess. i hope that defense and protection of his sister continues!
he was not a fan of waiting in the first few lines, but loved the rides when we got on them. then, we got to aladdin and jasmine. we put jamey down again, he took one look at aladdin, and started crying. SO NOT A FAN! (i also made the mistake of taking him on haunted mansion. he was not a fan of the dark...)
then, we hit up small world. both kids were mesmerized and loved it. soon, it was naptime for a boy. the adults when on space mountain and nora got to see minnie and mickey. we got to go on peoplemover and carousel of progress (two of my favorite rides, that they don't have at disneyland!!). finally, everyone was awake and we did buzz lightyear. three times. that was the hit of the day. we had gotten fast passes, and got on right away every time. the kids LOVED it. at one point, you are flying through space, space mountain-dark-like, and jamey got this terrified look on his face. he tried to cover his eyes, but wanted to see. it was SO FUNNY to watch. the next two times, he loved it.
then, we found chip and dale's dance party. nora was very hesitant at first to go up to the costumed furry characters. after a few minutes, she was up there dancing. she is my mother's granddaughter. she got chip's hand, and wouldn't let anyone else in to hold it. she danced for no less than a half hour. had a BLAST! jamey went in and danced for a few minutes. then, we had a great dinner where the kids INHALED their chicken nuggets. and refused any fries.
we wanted to stay for the parade, and meandered that way. the kids asked for the teacups, and dd and byssa offered to take them. i can do a lot for my kids, but teacups is where i draw the line. they LOVED it. both kids will tell you that was their favorite ride. it was fun to watch the two kids with my two kids!!!
then, it was time for the parade. we got to the route in perfect time to get good spots. five minutes later, it was five deep behind us. we waited and saw all the "goods" they sell. nora wanted some of the sparklies. fortuitously, i had bought a twirly-wand-light up thing for $5 at wal-mart and glow bracelets for $1 at target. nora had no idea that they were any different. (someone caved and bought jamey the buzz lightyear light up so he had one, too... not me!) we all had on our glow bracelets and loved it. i think i saw about 0.5 seconds of the parade, because i was watching nora. she was shouting to each character, like they were only there for her. when they didn't look, she was hurt. (all but one waved in her general direction.) i mean, her face. she LOVED seeing them. james was fairly entertained, too!
then came a light show and fireworks. (it was nine pm and the kids were being AMAZING!) a great firework show, and the kids had so much fun. both fell asleep just as it ended. nora didn't wake up again, despite being changed into jammies and a pull-up. jamey fell asleep on the way home, and slept through most of his changing. he screamed for 30 seconds, and stopped mid-scream. and we all slept till 8:45 am. and here we go again!
funny story about yesterday... we were standing in line. i was trying to distract nora, and pointed out a little four year old-ish girl in a snow white outfit. here's what happened:
me- nora, look! she's in a snow white costume
girl- turned to look at us, since i had called attention to her. then, ran SMACK into a trash can because she wasn't paying attention... i am still laughing. it's SO wrong. i felt SO BAD. i laughed till i cried yesterday.
today was animal kingdom. we saw this cool "lion king" show. and were quite disappointed to find out that the "everest" ride fastpasses were gone. so, we were thinking about leaving, and someone handed us all the fastpasses we needed for it! how cool is that?? the kids enjoyed it and jamey had another good nap! he's so big! it's fun to have him actually hold my hand to walk around... and nora is so grown up. she chats your ear off, makes up things, and is mature.
just before bed, i gave jamey a "woody" guy that i bought at target. i was going to try to keep it from nora, because she is going to get a present in the morning. she came up and saw it, and was so great about it. i was so impressed.... she asked if she could have a "jessie" doll for her birthday. no big deal about not getting anything tonight. she's also been really good about not having attitude when i don't buy her everything she wants...
tuesday was a pool day. it's a great pool here at the resort. there is a lazy river, that nora jumped right into. the current carried her away before we realized she was out of arms reach. thankfully, she could swim alright and we got her. there is also the receding entry and a cool slide. jamey really wanted to go down it, so we figured we would try. he ABSOLUTELY LOVED IT. we went continuously for about an hour. nora went once or twice, until i dunked her accidentally. she wasn't a fan of that.
after naps, ben and susan johnson and the boys (friends from san diego who now live in fla) came to visit. it was so much fun to see them. we went back to the pool (except jamey who took a four hour nap) and then to house of blues for dinner. so much fun to see them. we got back late, again, and all fell into bed.
today was hollywood studios (formerly mgm), and then lunch with the princesses. at hollywood studios, we got to see a "little mermaid" show and a "beauty and the beast" show. it was so much fun. both kids loved seeing the live shows.
we got to epcot and got ready to have lunch with the princesses. then, i realized that my camera wasn't working. at first, i thought battery, which was frustrating because it was fully charged last night. but, no, it was just the lcd screen. i am about to go look at the pictures, so it will be interesting to see what we come up with. thankfully, i think it's insured. so, we did lunch with the princesses in norway. it was a lot of fun... to see nora's reaction, and excitement! jamey was watching "shows" on my phone (a lifesaver, since he HATES waiting in line and has watched a ton to distract him when all else fails!), and when the princesses talked to him, he just wanted to show them the show.
we went on the "maelstrom" ride, and enjoyed it, then to the "nemo" and "imagination" rides. we saw "captain eo", and considered leaving. it was thundering and lightening. but, we hadn't done spaceship earth yet, and thought we would hit it (all the rides at the end of the day were 5 minute waits). we came out to a complete and total downpour. the kids were not enjoying it, but i decided to embrace it. i told the kids it was an adventure, and nora started to like it.
we ran through it to the car and nora told me it was like going potty in her stroller.... an interesting analogy, but her seat was filled with water when she got thrown into it, so.... the whole way to the car (as the rain died down), nora kept telling jamey it was a fun, rainy adventure. it was so cute.
thursday it rained and we stayed in. played games and went to chick fil a for lunch. can't beat that! on friday, mom, dad and the kids got up and went to magic kingdom. they said no one was there and did all the rides by noon. they didn't have to wait for anything. dave, byss and i went to epcot and did soaring (which we hadn't done), and found the crowds, waiting for the monorail. i think the tour buses got there just before we did, because it was packed. we hit up space mountain again, and nora wanted to wait 50 minutes for peter pan. i kept trying to talk her out of it, but that's what she wanted. so, we waited. and waited. but, she was so good. and wanted to stay and enjoyed it... (they closed the ride right after we went on it. something about a tinkerbell about to fall on someone!)
everyone left, and david and i went on pirates and headed back. we spent the night packing and playing cards. the kids were great again on the trip home! here's to disney!
3 comments:
I love your really long post. It gave me lots of time to get my fill. -Don't tell anyone but I read it twice
Those kids sure do have an awesome aunt and uncle, teacups is dedication! xoxo
love all the photos! what a blast!
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