Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Carlye and Noah with Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)

Noah and Carlye with Rapunzel

I had to put in both of these pictures, even though they should have been in yesterdays post!  Aren't they so cute? Please notice that there is still not a picture of Nathanael with a Princess - this is important!

When we went back to the park for the party there weren't very many people there at all!  We had decided to hit Fantasyland first, because there were so many things that we wanted to see.  I was thrilled to see that the new Little Mermaid ride was open (with NO wait, we walked right on!), Ariel's Grotto was open (I can't find that picture, but Noah & Carlye got to meet Ariel), and - my favorite - Enchanted Tales with Belle was open!  I was so excited, and so was Carlye.  The attraction begins in Maurice's cottage where Belle grew up, and all of the little details, from the pictures to the inventions were so neat.  From there you are transported through a magic mirror to Beast's Castle.  Again - breathtaking.  Lumiere was well, Lumiere!  It was so much fun to talk to him!  What we didn't realize was that certain children are picked from the audience to participate in the story telling.  As soon as we walked in, Nathanael - yes, my I refuse to talk to or look at or smile at or even be civil to a Princess son - was chosen to be the Beast.  Noah was picked to be Chip, and Carlye was a picture frame and stood against the back wall.  Nathanael was given a red cape, and instructions for his performance.  What he didn't know (and neither did we) was that he would have to dance with Belle.

Carlye with Belle

Noah with Belle

Nathanael with Belle

Nathanael and Belle dancing!

Tea Cups!

Little Mermaid ride

While in Fantasyland we also rode Dumbo, the Teacups, and a few other rides - including Space Mountain again.  Afterwards we went to the parade.  It was beautiful.  The light show on the castle was so much fun, and all of us - especially Carl's mom - loved the parade.  

Magic Kingdom

Our first full day at Disney World we woke up bright and early and headed to the Magic Kingdom.  We were there to watch the opening show, and ran in with the crowd.  Sadly, things did not go as well as we had planned.  Poor Noah was run over by an older woman being pushed in a wheel chair by her husband.  It really shook him up, and it took us a few minutes to get our bearings together.

This is how I found the boys our first morning - Noah's wrapped up in the sheet!  I don't know how they sleep like that!

Mouse Ears on, Autograph books in hand, pin necklaces in place - we are ready to go!

Our first stop that morning was to Space Mountain Fast Pass, and then we rode Stitch's Great Escape, mostly because Stitch is Nathanael's favorite Disney character.   After that we noticed that there wasn't a ride for Buzz Lightyear, so we walked on in - and ended up riding 3 times in a row!  This was Noah's favorite ride (and I think Nani's, too).  We rode this probably 10 times over the course of our week at WDW.  Noah only wanted to ride with Nani, though, because she let him spin their car around and around and around and around in circles, and Carl and I wouldn't.  

Carlye riding Buzz Lightyear - Nani and Noah are behind her

We had lunch reservations at Tony's Italian Restaurant, and it was so much fun because the Barber Shop Quartet comes in and sings a song so that the restaurant can officially open.  Of all of our meals, this was our favorite.

You can see the kids sitting on the floor listening

All of us with our yummy pasta - Noah's was shaped like Mickey Mouse

Carlye made me take a picture of the dessert because she LOVED having Lady and the Tramp printed on the plate in chocolate.

Carlye's very favorite Princess is (and always has been) Cinderella.  She had so much fun meeting Cinderella, Rapunzel and Aurora.  Noah had a great attitude about it as well, and took pictures with every character that we saw - even the girls!  He loved getting everyone's autographs, and had so much fun.  Nathanael, however, did not have a good attitude, and at the moment this picture was taken he was sitting over agains the wall throwing a fit.  And for those of you who were wondering, you get in just as much trouble (if not more) at Disney World for being stinky as you do at home.

Carlye and Noah with Cinderella

Nani, Carlye, Chip, Noah, Dale, Nathanael & Mommy

After lunch we rode Thunder Mountain, Space Mountain again, and then headed back to the hotel.  One of the very best things we did was schedule in rest time for every day - it truly made the trip more enjoyable for all of us.  We woke up rested, and then returned for Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.  It was incredible.  My favorite part was that the new Fantasyland was open for preview, so we were able to see all of the new attractions.  I especially loved it because Beauty & The Beast is one of my all time favorite Disney movies, so I was thrilled with the new attractions centered around the movie.  But I'll save all of that for tomorrow.

Happy Birthday to you!

Carlye had a very special day, that started with her favorite Blueberry muffins!  She received some amazing gifts from family, including books from her brothers, Tinkerbell stationary from Mom & Dad, some very special charms from our Bahlmann Bunch, and Webkinz from Grandma & Grandpa.  Nani took the girls to Olive Garden and then to see the Nutcracker with the Moscow Ballet at the Majestic, and Aunt Tippy and I tagged along.  Carlye said that it's been a wonderful birthday.  Now, I know that it will shock you to discover that our birthdays tend to go on, and on, and on, and..........so anyway, tomorrow we will have her family birthday party with yummy strawberry shortcake cupcakes, and a dinner of Pork Sausage Casserole (her choice). Sadly, though, Carlye will not be having a "friend" party this year.  I just didn't feel like messing with it this time around - just kidding!  Instead of having a party Carlye decided that she wanted to swim with the Beluga whales at Sea World.  Have I mentioned yet how very jealous I am?  So one day next week Carlye's dream will come true - while Mommy video tapes and photographs the entire thing and Daddy and the boys ride the Steel Eel.  She's so ecstatic she's been researching Beluga's non stop since finding out.  I love how excited she is.  Anyway, we ended this very special birthday day with a super delicious dinner at Popeye's chicken - yes, her choice.  What can I say, she's her daddy's girl!

Happy Birthday, my dear sweet girl!  12 years old, I can't believe it!  You bring so much joy to our family!  We love you so much, and I'm so thankful that you are mine!

We will return to Disney tomorrow.......I know that you can't wait!

Tomorrow is a brand new day, with no mistakes in it.......

In honor of the New Year I decided to start a new blog.  I'm hoping that this will help with all of the dysfunctional characteristics that my old blog has developed.  However, if it doesn't, I will at least know that those are MY characteristics and not my blogs - and knowing, as they say, is half the battle.

Christmas Tree in Hotel Lobby

I would like to start this blog off with the best of the best!  What, you may ask, could that be?  Why, Disney World of course!  My family recently went for the very first time and it was (get ready for the cliche'), magical.  Our first day there we arrived at our resort, The Art of Animation, and then went to explore the Magic Kingdom.  First of all, let me say that our hotel was fantastic.  They just finished building it, and we stayed in the Lion King Family Suite.  Two full baths, a bedroom (and Carl and I both fit on the bed!), and the couch in the living area folded into a bed, and the table in the dining area pulled down like a Murphy bed.  There was more than enough room for all of us, and the food court was great.   PLUS, the swimming pool played music under the water.  So cool.

Nothing can describe when we walked into the park and saw Main Street and Cinderella's castle for the very first time.  Yes - I cried.  I am what you might call a Disney nerd.  I have dreamed my entire life of going to Disney World or Disneyland, and at 35 years old my dream came true.  It was everything that I imagined that it would be.  Since it was the Saturday after Thanksgiving it was insanely busy.  I didn't have a plan for our time there on Saturday, so we walked around and rode the rides that had a 20 minute or less wait.  Our very first ride was The Haunted Mansion, and Carlye was furious!  As a matter of fact, she told us that we were ruining her trip to Disney World forever.  I don't think she could have been more angry.  She kept her eyes closed the entire time, and can't even tell you what it was about, but she will tell you that she didn't like it at all.  It was so funny, because Carl and the boys loved it!  Then we did the Hall of Presidents, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Jungle Cruise before heading back for the night.  Amazingly, we did not do one princessy or girly thing that first night - yes, we were in the dog house with our little girl.  But don't worry, we more than made up for it in the days to come.

Cinderella's Castle