Disney Day Three

We started out Day Three of Vacation with a water taxi ride over to Downtown Disney -- one of the best features about the Port Orleans complex. We decided that being a water taxi pilot would be Aaron's perfect semi-retirement job when we move to Florida in another 20 years or so...

We had a great time doing a little shopping. With Molly's birthday money, she picked out Cinderella gloves, purse, and glass slippers. Then, who should we run into at the Disney Store but Molly's friend Jodi from our first day!

She asked Molly if she had gotten her birthday phone call. When Molly replied no, Jodi immediately took Molly by the hand, led her behind the counter, and placed a call to Goofy - who then wished Molly a very Happy Birthday (gawrsh!). Then Jodi took Molly to find one of the Fairy Godmothers in Training from the Bippity Bobbity Boutique, who sprinkled a little fairy dust over Molly. (NOTE: the fairy dust takes MULTIPLE washings to get out of the hair of a little princess. I'm just sayin'...)

We ended our visit to Downtown Disney with a little Italian Ice (cherry, of course...).

In the afternoon, we wanted to visit the very fun pool at the French Quarter -- which features a giant serpent slide where you get to slide down the tongue! This honestly was the selling point of the hotel (for me, at least). And, as we should have known -- based on our visit earlier this summer to Great Wolf -- Molly decided that the slide was too scary and she would NOT go on it under ANY circumstances. Not even watching the 18 month-old babies go down it would convince her that it was not scary...

Look! Here goes Mommy! Look at how much safe, low-speed fun I'm having!!!

After that, we decided to have dinner at the Riverside section of Port Orleans... then cruise on back to bed.

Stay tuned for Disney Day Four -- Fun at Hollywood Studios!

Fun Raining Down at Disney

When last we left our birthday girl and her family, they all had arrived safely in Orlando... and were ready for Molly's big birthday at the Magic Kingdom.


Unfortunately, the morning did not start off all sunshine and rainbows. We had to get up early... there was a lot of excitement and anticipation... someone still needed to take her Amoxycilin... so -- needless to say -- we'd had better mornings. Oh yeah, and a certain someone "never wanted to be five. I want to be four."

Oh great.

Eventually, Daddy (who kept his calm) herded us out the door and we got on our way.

I have to say, whoever came up with the idea of "visit Disney free on your birthday" is BRILLIANT. Sure, the birthday girl gets into one park free... but everyone else pays, plus food, plus hotel, plus souvenirs, etc. But -- to Disney's credit -- they really play up the experience to Disney perfection: Molly had her birthday button with her name on it. And EVERY cast member who saw her would say, "Happy Birthday, Molly! How old are you today?" or "Good morning, Princess Molly. Happy Birthday!" It was so sweet. Molly met a cop on Main Street who was celebrating her 55th birthday. And we saw lots of other guests all day in the park -- from little kids to grown-ups -- and all would cheer and yell "Happy Birthday, Molly!" It was fantastic.

First stop after Molly turned in her Golden Ticket to get her birthday pass: breakfast at Cinderella's Castle. We started off meeting Cinderella first and having our picture taken with her. Then we were escorted upstairs. FABULOUS food (although Molly didn't eat much... Daddy and I loved the food). Molly saw ALL of the princesses, got a magic wand and wishing star, and even got a little cake for breakfast!

Then we visited Dumbo (of course!) and Cinderella's Carousel...

Then we got a call from Uncle Paul and Ellie - they had made it. So we met them at Peter Pan (which Molly did NOT like). Then we swept through Small World -- one of Molly's favorites.

After that, we visited the completely updated Hall of Presidents - complete with new digital three-screen film and the animatronic Barack Obama. It was very moving and simply amazing. So well done -- very Ken Burns.

Then we took off for the Jungle Cruise. The line was long, but our cruise driver (who's a dead ringer for my Uncle Fred) was hilarious! Best of all, he recruited Ellie to drive us through the tunnel!

After that, Paul and Ellie headed off to check out a couple things... and we hit Aladdin's Magic Carpets, then went back to the hotel to nap.

Two hours later...

When we woke up, it was POURING rain. Not just the daily little Central Florida 15 minute rain burst. This was a downright soaker. So I purchased five fabulous Disney ponchos (much to Ellie's tween style sensibility) and off we went.

This photo is in the running to be our Christmas Card photo.

Smile, everyone! You're at Walt Disney World! In matching ponchos! What could be more magical!

Dinner at Cinderella's Castle was great. Again, started with photos and a meet and greet with Cinderella. Then, instead of all the princesses coming out, the Fairy Godmother comes out with the mice and does a hilarious little caberet act. The food again was phenomenal. Molly got another little birthday cake and the girls both got magic wands (although Ellie gave hers to Molly).

After that, we walked outside and had a fantastic view of the parade from up by the castle (since it was roped off and we weren't supposed to be there). We waited for the fireworks and had a WONDERFUL view.

Then we worked our way through the sea of lemmings and made our way out. (Molly asked, "Where are the people that waved good-bye to us last time? You know, the ones who wore the Mickey hands?" What??? You mean these people from last May??? How do you remember this stuff???)

By the time we got on the bus and were dropped back of at Port Orleans, Molly was out. So we dropped her into bed, climbed in ourselves, and remembered that special day five years ago when our little princess came into our lives.

Stay tuned next time for Day Two - The Water Slide Molly Refused to Go On...

Birthday Season Part Four - DISNEY

The first entry about Molly's Birthday Trip to Disney...

And long last, Molly's birthday arrived. The day before her birthday (a.k.a. her last day of four), we flew to Orlando. Thanks to our frequent flyer miles, we flew first class for the same amount as coach! The best part about first class for Molly: that would be the warm chocolate chip cookie.

We arrived at our hotel -- Disney's Port Orleans French Quarter. Super cute, quaint, and lovely. (And ironic, since Aaron and I are not fans of the real New Orleans...)

We had a fun time taking the water taxi to Downtown Disney and checking things out. Molly met her FAVORITE cast member -- a wonderful woman named Jodie (more on her later, too) -- who helped her make her ears. At first, Molly didn't want her name on the ears... but Jodie said, "Molly, can you help me push all these buttons? I'm not sure how to spell your name..." And that was that...

Jodie even gave Molly a special certificate about the special experience. It was fantastic.

We took the bus over to Disney's Boardwalk for dinner... but unfortunately most all the restaurants were closed. And then Molly fell asleep on the bus... and then it started POURING rain. So we ended up having dinner at the ESPN Zone.

We had to bus it back to our hotel because of the lightning (which took forever), but then bunked down for the night... and got ready for the first real day of vacation -- Molly's birthday and dining with the princesses at Magic Kingdom!

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part B -- Fun Raining Down at Disney...

Birthday Season Part Three - FIVE-A-PALOOZA!

After months of planning by the mommies, it was finally here...

FIVE-A-PALOOZA!!!!!

The big birthday bash for Molly and her four friends who all turned five this summer. I have to say, it was the easiest party ever -- Ellie's mom reserved the rec center (with its GREAT indoor pool), Abby's mom made the goodie bags, Isabella's mom brought the water, the other Ellie's mom got the stuff to make candy necklaces (a.k.a. crafty distraction before the pizzas arrived) and booked our sitter/helper, and I made a sign for each of the girls, like this:

(Yes, I made likenesses of each of the girls with the Paper Doll cartridge on my Cricut machine. I LOVE my Cricut machine... and I spent lots of time crafting their hairstyles to match the real girls... but I digress...)

I also called KidSmart -- the charity we're donating to. All the mommies agreed that our girls are very blessed and don't need any presents. Also, we didn't want the parents to feel like they had to go out and buy five presents for one party... so, since all the girls are starting Kindergarten, we had a school supplies drive.

The party was so much fun -- very sweet kids from the girls' school and their cool parents. Most everyone got in the water and played. It was a fantastic day.

Happy birthday, Fab Five!

Birthday Season - Part Deux

For the next installment of "Molly's Birthday Season," we took a trip to visit Grandma and Papa (Aaron's parents). And luckily, Molly's cousins were going to be there for a visit, too. So they cooked up a little surprise party for Molly...

First, there was the personalized balloon banner upon arrival:

(Unfortunately, the photo didn't turn out too well. But Avery and Riley spent a lot of time blowing up balloons and writing out HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOLLY, with one letter on each balloon. But the H kept falling off, so we kept laughing that the sign actually was wishing Molly a Happy Birt-day.)

Then, there was a light-up sparkly crown. Awesome!

And the crown-shaped cake, complete with jewels... (and REAL buttercream icing for Mommy to enjoy!)

Then, Grandma took all three girls to a pottery place to make their own pottery. And this wasn't one of those just "paint your own" places -- this was serious! The girls were using a real wheel and everything.

A B-I-G birthday season thank you to Grandma, Papa, Avery, and Riley for a fabulous birthday weekend!

Next time: Molly's Birthday Season continues with Five-A-Palooza...

Birthday Season Has Begun...

Molly -

I'm sorry I haven't written anything in awhile. July has been an extremely crazy month -- between LOTS of playdates with friends, a trip to see Papa and Grandma, planning for vacation, getting ready for Kindergarten, signing up for ballet and soccer, preparing for the big birthday party... the list goes on and on. But it's all good -- and all fun.

The other day, as I was working through the logistics of Five-A-Palooza (your big birthday party with your friends) and your birthday trip to Disney, you informed me that it was "my birthday season." Not a weekend... not a week... not even a birthday month. Nope. You, my friend, jumped right to season.

And it seems that people are buying into this. (And by "people," I mean your grandmas and grandpas and aunts and uncles...)

The birthday seaon began a week or so ago when you received a package from Aunt Lois and Uncle Jim. It really had to be the sweetest thing EVER. Inside the box were several presents, as well as instructions:

- The three big presents you can open now. (They were all BEAUTIFUL dresses.)

- The two little presents are to open on the plane to Disney World.

- Three big presents plus two little presents = 5 presents for Molly's big 5th birthday!

We called Aunt Lois and Uncle Jim while you opened the box (which was a Mickey Mouse box, by the way...) and you talked and talked and talked. And you modeled all the dresses for me so I could document the whole experience WHILE we talked to them on the phone.

The same day, you also got a package from Grandma. So we had to call her and model the new jeans skirt she sent while talking on the phone.

What a great way to kick-off your birthday season!

Stay tuned for Birthday Season Part 2 - Party in Springfield!