Today Was All About JT

After a big lunch (and I do mean big!--both boys ate turkey legs) at the Animal Kingdom, JT and I headed out to do some rides that Luci just won't do. Which could mean any ride, couldn't it?? John and Bryan took Luci back to the Boardwalk Villas while JT and I headed to the Magic Kingdom. First we rode a bus, then the Monorail...

Then on to see Stitch's Great Escape... (I screamed in all the right places.)

And on to Tomorrowland's Indy Speedway (The last time we were here JT had to ride with me--now he's a better driver than I on this track!)

Cool Dude

Gotta have that popcorn!

Riding the Tomorrowland Transit Authority...

We used to ride this 'way back when ... when John took Bryan on the Space Mountain roller coaster in 2001, and in 2002 when John was on one of his trips overseas, JT and I would ride this while waiting for Bryan to get done riding Space Mountain. Lots of memories here.

Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin was lots of fun! JT's score was 26 times higher than mine!

Riding the teacups in the Mad Tea Party...

We also got to see the show, Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor. That was pretty funny. JT pointed out a man who looked just like Papa! I tried to take his photo but I got in trouble for using my camera in the show! boo hoo. Papa, what were you doing there??

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JT has had a hard time giving up his place in the family as the youngest. It was so nice to spend this special time with just him, going someplace incredible like the Magic Kingdom. We ran all over (ok, I just tottered everywhere--he said he could give me a mile head start and he'd catch up in 10 minutes) doing whatever he wanted that was not too scary for mama. We used our Photo Pass to get some special pictures of him all by himself. He said his "love bucket" was feeling pretty full today.

This photo was this morning, before our "date"--JT showing his strength before he conquered Mount Everest and the terrible Yeti who lives there. JT said this roller coaster was "way better than Space Mountain!"

Guess Who Was Brave Enough to See Mickey?!

YAY!! Mickey did some kind of magic on Luci and she actually asked to see Minnie and Goofy! What a great day of bravery for Luci.

Birthday Party!

Today was the day slated for Luci's party. John took the kids swimming in this fantastic pool here at the Boardwalk. Luci actually went down the ginormous slide by herself on Sunday when we first got here. You end up shooting out of the clown's mouth (that's her popping out in the second picture--John's catching her). She liked it, but only once! Never again!

The view from our window. The Tower of Terror from Disney's Hollywood Studios (used to be called Disney MGM Studios) and its water tower are in the background. Can you see the Mickey ears on the water tower?

When they got back from the pool, they found the dining area decorated for a party! It was hard keeping everything hidden all week from a certain birthday girl. Today we saw more smiles than we'd seen all week.
The last of this collage is from the Olive Garden. Luci got two Cinderellas--one baby and one all grown up, plus one of Tinkerbell's friends with dark hair ("Her hair's like mine!"). Double click to enlarge the collage.

Trying to get Luci into the car to go to dinner. She did not want to leave--she thought we weren't coming back. Saturday morning is going to be hard.

Did I mention that I got locked out of our room while everyone was at the pool? I went out to put up a balloon and slam! I called downstairs from a house phone and a manager came up to let me in. The phone started ringing. I showed the man my Boardwalk key card with my name, and I wanted to get the phone! He said, "Show me a picture ID. If this is your room, you'll know where it is." I'm glad he takes his job very seriously, but wowzer, I had a party to get ready for!

Luci Meets Cinderella

You just have to understand what a BIG DEAL this is. With every character she's ever met (here and on the cruise 2 years ago, at grocery store openings--Piggly Wiggly's pig), she cowers, whimpers, and tries to run away. Even from those yards and yards away in a parade. Not with Snow White--just shaking with her. Not with Mulan, she feels a kinship with her.

And Now, Not With Cinderella.

Look for the smile when Luci hands Cinderella her autograph book. John and I could not believe it!

my apologies for the quality of the video.

Move over, Pluto. Cinderella is my favorite now!

On the way to Magic Kingdom, Luci calls Cinderella from the U.K. in Epcot.

First ever sighting of Cinderella's castle. It's back there, trust me.
We finally got in to the Princesses and Luci would only go to Cinderella. (Sorry, Belle and Aurora!) We have Photo Pass. I handed the photographer our card and asked him to please take as many photos as he could, since Cinderella was the only character she would go to today. He was snappin'!When we got back to our suite, look what was waiting for Luci! A birthday card and balloons from CINDERELLA. So Sweet! It was attached to Luci's bear. Luci was sound asleep when we got to the rooms, so this will be a wonderful surprise in the morning.We found glass slippers! This wasn't budgeted--but how could we pass them up??The day ended wonderfully with Cinderella. It began with trauma on the Dumbo ride. She's been talking about riding Dumbo for at least a month. JT was supposed to ride with her. It was difficult getting her into the pachyderm....think of putting a dog into a bathtub. After coming this far, we were going to go through with it.
Should'a skipped Dumbo.
Riding the Carousel with Daddy. Started out well, but...
should'a skipped the Carousel, too.Luci's favorite "ride." This was in a preschool playground area in Toon Town, right across from Mickey Mouse's house. Overall, I am glad that Luci is not a thrill-seeker or as adventurous as the boys. Maybe she won't get into as many dangerous things as the boys did as young children. Luci being my sidekick is a pretty wonderful thing.
PS: John and the boys were at the Magic Kingdom today, too. They had a blast going on all the big rides while Luci and I did the mild stuff. JT made his first (and second, third, fourth, etc) trip on Space Mountain, a big roller-coaster that has been "too much" in the past. Bryan and JT are taking John to the Not-So-Scary Halloween Party tonight. I am happy to crash here with Luci!

It Started Out So Well....

Ready to go eat breakfast with the Princesses at Norway in Epcot! Happy about it!

Not so sure anymore. Luci with Snow White, loving that Snow White knows it's her birthday but not sure about everything else.
More Princesses! Oh No! Luci hides under the table, sobbing. I want to go home NOW!!!
Princess Aurora (aka Sleeping Beauty) talks to Luci under the table while signing the autograph book. This princess sounds just like her character in the Disney movie. Wow.
Mulan got her out from under the table, but Luci would have NOTHING to do with her. By the time we left, every cast member (that's what Disney employees are called) knew about Luci crying under the table! The boys had to make do with these gorgeous young ladies. Doesn't it look like they enjoyed their task? Jasmine from the movie Aladdin. Oh--and Bryan and JT!
Princess Aurora
Mulan
John reading the birthday card that was delivered to the table for Luci--they even brought a cupcake with Mickey sprinkles! For breakfast!
Later on, Luci and I headed out on our own. John took the boys to do the exciting rides. I changed Luci into something more comfortable. While she worked on this craft in the China pavilion, guess who showed up and came straight to Luci?! Mulan! Look who let Mulan get close!This is my FAVORITE picture of the entire day. (Mom--are you crying?)
JT mugging it up.

Bryan and JT playing Power City after the Spaceship Earth ride. It was a fun game.
Sweet photo
Waiting for Mom to get out of the bathroom.
Luci and I toured the World Showcase. When we came to Germany, Luci told me that "Maggie lives here." Audrey, you might want to check on Maggie--Luci said she saw her here! :)
Finding the next thing to do....which turned out to be the boat ride home to our resort. So far, the boat ride is her favorite "ride" at Disney.
Back at the room, loving that jewelry box. This was a few minutes before she finally passed out.

Greetings from the Future!

Bryan and Luci have a photo, too--but here is the one I can access right now. Taken in that "big golf ball," as Luci calls "The Spaceship Earth" at Epcot.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique

Oh, my! This was FUN! Luci had a ball, but managed to keep a straight face during the process. A Fairy-Godmother-in-Training greets you and gives the special girl a brochure with her name, "Princess.....," on the front. Luci chose her hair-do and was led back for a beauty treatment. Once in the beauty parlor, I was not surprised to see so many moms and dads handing over their credit cards for this special Princess treatment. It really is just too, too special. There were girls up to 12 or 13 years old getting their hair done. I would have absolutely loved this if I ever had the chance.

PS to Buffi--we are having terrific weather--makes me feel a little guilty after all that rain you slogged through! (But not too guilty.)


Luci was a bit hesitant to go with the Fairy-Godmother-in-Training until she was sure I was right behind her.

Getting her nails done...pink, of course!
Special make-up and a jewel. I was astonished at just how Chinese Luci looked after her hair was pulled back. She just looks like a Willingham to me, until this afternoon. :) And for those of you who remember the He Kexin-Olympic scandal, I think this photo shows how much Luci looks like Kexin.
At the end, you get to sign the guest book. Luci took this seriously, as you can tell by her eyebrows! (Note to Julie: Look at that high Buyi or Miao forehead!) And yes, she has hair extensions!
Bryan helping the Princess play a computer game.
Wow, Princess Luci! Nana and Papa--Luci spent some of her birthday money today on a special Cinderella necklace with a locket and a jewelry box. She loves them. Thank you!JT showing us how to defend against Star Wars bad guys. The toy store has a station to build your own light saber. Too cool! The boys spent some of their money on this.

709 Miles to Mickey!

Woo-Hoo!

Luci is finally feeling a little more like seeing a character or two...as long as she doesn't have to talk to them. I think she and I had some sort of 'flu; it didn't last long enough for a cold and certainly was not as long-lasting as fall allergies.

Thanks to my Feingold friend Sharon who told me how to make my own Feingold-safe medicine...it did make me feel a lot like Mamie and Emily Baldwin from The Waltons, who made their own "medicine" out back.

Say It Aint So!

Wouldn't ya know? Luci and I both have COLDS. We leave in a few days for Disney! Luci's been whiny and clingy today, not like herself. (Clingy, yes, it's normal. Whiny, no.) She told me today that she didn't even want to meet the Princesses!

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This is serious.

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I did finally talk her into a McDonald's Happy Meal at Downtown Disney, and going shopping with her birthday money (thank you, Nana and Papa!). Even when she's sick, she still wants to go shopping for a tiara.

They Finally Figured It Out...

John left this morning on a two-day trip. The boys started arguing (what else is new?) and would not stop. So, the time-honored punishment:

Go to your rooms and don't come out until your father gets home!

That's until late tomorrow night! I had TWO quiet hours until they figured it out!

How Many Times Can Barack Obama Say "Pie" in 1 minute, 43 seconds?

This little video is from a campaign stop in Pennsylvania, I think. Chris Barrett from Powerhouse Pictures did this.