Lucy's Birthday and We Did Disney!

What a trip.....we just had one heck of a weekend!  Lucy turned 4 and we flew to Florida and did Disney World!  Lucy had 2 celebrations:  one at Disney World, and one at home so she could open her presents from family.  

So let me write about Disney first and we will get to Lucy's home birthday celebration later....

On Saturday we drove down to Boston and flew Jet Blue to Orlando.  One of the perks of East Coast living is Jet Blue and their amazingly AWESOME low-cost flights.  And they're a cool airline too!  Probably one of the best I've ever flown with.  Anyway, we almost missed our flight because we showed up to the parking lot where we were parking our car on time and early.  There was supposed to be a shuttle to take us from the parking lot to the airport but the shuttle was 45 min late!  Then it took 15 minutes to get to the airport and we sprinted all the way to the counter and checked onto our flight 30 minutes before take-off; we thought they weren't gonna let us on (with all of our luggage).  I won't be using that car shuttle service again....talk about stressful!

Anyway, we never told Lucy where we were going. We kept telling her we were going to fly to a hot place for her birthday with an outdoor pool.  She's young enough to not know that flying places is a lot more expensive than staying home....so she didn't question why we were flying somewhere "for her."  We got to Orlando and the girls were awesome on the flight down (the flight home was a complete nightmare....thanks Piper....).  Lucy still didn't have any clue what was going on.  The next day we had to get ready to go somewhere, but we kept telling her "we'll tell you where we are taking you when we get there."  We had to take a shuttle from our hotel to Epcot, then 2 different trains from Epcot to the Magic Kingdom.  Each time we'd get on a new leg of our commute to Disney she would look confused.  But FINALLY, there it was:  the Castle at the Magic Kingdom.  We were on the Monorail (the above ground train that circles the park "in the sky") and we had full view of the park.  We finally told her we were taking her to the castle where all the Disney Princesses live and she flipped out.  I saw her mind processing what we were telling her and she asked a thousand questions, clapped her hands and was SO excited.  It was beyond adorable.

The first Princesses we had signed up to see were Rapunzel and Cinderella (2 of Lucy's favorites).  They were also the sweetest to her and P.  I wish I could have let everyone in the world experience what happened when her and Piper walked into the room and saw those 2 ladies.  Oh. My. Gosh.  It was the cutest thing in the world.  They live and breathe Disney Princesses and to see their "idols" up close and touch them and hug them was more than magical to them.  It was priceless.  Worth every single penny.  They gasped and jumped around and squealed and marveled at these Princesses.  They were in heaven.  How cool for their little eyes to see REAL LIVE PRINCESSES?!?! I don't think they've ever been happier!  And these Princesses are totally in character!  It's so cute.  They talk about their day as if they are living in the actual story.  Cinderella told them about the Mice that day, Rapunzel told them how Flynn wanted her to wear some funny dress, Tinkerbell told them that she "found" Cinderella's necklace and laughed as she said "I didn't steal it....finder's keepers!"  (if you know Tinkerbell, you know she's mischievous).  Ariel told them how lucky they were to be sisters and she had 6 sisters who all loved to sing!  Mickey Mouse sang and danced with them to the "Hot Dog Song," Belle told them how she had just finished reading a wonderful book that morning, etc.  It was so cute.  The only princesses we didn't get to meet were Anna and Elsa.  They had 2-3 hour waits at all times. But we were able to see them at the parade and they waved to Lucy and Pi from their float, which practically caused them to faint. But Piper's all time favorite is Minnie Mouse.  She sprinted as fast as her little legs could move and practically leapt into Minnie's arms when it was her turn.  She talked to Minnie for a long time and showed her her Minnie stuffed animal and proudly exclaimed "Minnie, look- it's YOU!"  So stinkin' cute.

Walking around the park we saw Aladdin and Jasmine, Alice in Wonderland and Merida from Brave.  But we only could wait in line for their favorites (minus Anna and Elsa) because it takes a long time to get in with those characters!  Every single character that we saw was met with amazement and pure joy from my girls.  They got hugs and kisses and every single one brought giggles from the girls.  I could not have wished for a better experience for them!  We also brought Autograph books so that they could get Autographs from each character.  Apparently, that's "the thing" to do at Disney.  We learned that a few days in advance and, luckily, came prepared.  The books they sell at the souvenir shops are around $20 each.  I got each girl one online for $5 before we left.  Those souvenir shops are no joke!  The prices... YIKES!

While there, we rode Dumbo a couple of times, we watched a 3D movie where we felt as though we were flying on Aladdin's Magic Carpet, swimming with Ariel, eating a feast with Belle, cleaning up jewels and gems that were flying out to us with Cinderella, and playing music with Mickey Mouse.  It was one of those experiences where you can smell the food and feel the wind on your face when you "fly."  It was funny cause Lucy and Piper would jump when stuff shot out at them and reach out for objects that looked as though they were right in front of them in mid-air.  I love 3D movies!

We played in a jungle Gym, we rode the Tea Cups, the Carousel, Magic Carpets, an AMAZING Little Mermaid ride (that one was my favorite!- we were in a boat and they had the COOLEST displays that looked so incredibly real.  It's a brand new ride and so awesome), rode "It's a Small World After all," rode on trains in the air and trains on railroads, ate at Gaston's Tavern, watched Disney's huge parade and a singing show outside of the castle, visited Belle in her castle and the girls got to be in a live play with her! We visited the Souvenir shops and got free pins that said it was Lucy's birthday :) Every single park employee who saw her wished her a Happy Birthday and the girls were called Princesses everywhere we went.  Those park employees are so nice and act so happy all day long!  The weather was miserably hot (we were pouring with sweat!  We had to buy gallons of water and Popsicles throughout the day to stay somewhat cool) but all the workers acted happy as could be without complaint.  The insides of the buildings were blasting with air conditioning though, which was so nice.  It took us 2 days to do all of that.  It was so busy, but the employees said it was completely average and during Spring Break and Summer it's even busier....We waited so long for all the rides (unless we had Fast Passes) so I don't know how it could ever be busier!  Sounds crazy!

We were dead tired at the end of our 9 hour days at the park and our legs and feet ached!  We went to bed so early both nights and slept like logs.  It was so hard to wake up early each morning!  But, as I said, it was all SO worth it! 

On Lucy's birthday I brought her up breakfast in bed (Mickey Waffles) at the hotel.  She was SO excited to turn 4!  She told EVERYONE that she was four.  She is so proud of her new age.  Oh, how I love this little girl.  She is my little Princess.  So girly, so silly, so creative, so friendly, so compassionate, so loving, so imaginative, so stubborn, so sweet, so playful, so cuddly, so smart, so petite, so funny, so gorgeous, so perfect, so innocent...and she's mine, all mine.  I can't believe she's been my sweet Lucy Lu for 4 whole years now.  This is the last year I have with her all day, everyday, before she starts school.  And then I'll never have her the same way I do now.  She'll grow up and make friends and get busy and leave me.  It makes me cry just thinking about it all!  I sing to her this song all the time "Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up, you could stay this little.  Oh darling don't you ever grow up, don't you ever grow up, it could stay this simple...."  But no song will keep her young.  My heart breaks a little at the thought.  I love my Lucy Lu.  More than all the leaves on all the trees.

All in all, it was a total success.  Shawn and I feel as though, now that we've conquered Disney and went on our FIRST solo family vacation (one that wasn't a work trip or to visit family), we can finally call ourselves REAL parents.  Haha!  You can't join the ranks of parents until you've crossed Disney off your list.  It is quite the experience.  It takes every ounce of energy, dollar, and sweat from your body. But if you can survive, you've made it.  I feel as though I should get a trophy....hehehe.  Yeah, we've flown places with the girls before but we've always either stayed with family or met up with family.  We've had trips through Shawn's work, but he works all day and it's paid for by his company (which is awesome).  This was our first official, all-expenses-were-ours-and-we-didn't-meet-up-with-any-family trip.  5 years into our marriage, but we finally did it!  And it was a blast!

We came home and Lucy got to open her presents from her Aunts and grandparents (minus the Gilley's who are bringing hers up with them when they come this weekend).  Shawn and I gave her an Easy Bake Oven and so she made her own little birthday cake.  It was so fun to make that with her.  Those little things are so cute!

 As per Mary's request, we will be hosting a little birthday party this weekend to have some more cake and presents so that Bruce and Mary can celebrate with her as well.  This little girl is having a whole week of Birthday celebrations!  She's pretty lucky if you ask me.....

I think we will do Disney again in a few years when I have another baby and he or she is around Piper's age. Under 3 is still free admission into Disney so I'm sure in around 3 or 4 years we will be doing this all over again!  It's way too cute not to experience it a few times in your life.  There is nothing sweeter than experiencing the magic of Disney through your baby's eyes.  It truly is spectacular!  Especially now with all the new HD effects they've added to rides.  Everything is SO realistic now!  It's insane!  In Belle's castle, it truly looked like Lumier (the candle) was walking around with real burning flames and talking to us.  It was unreal....so cool!

Now Shawn and I will be celebrating our 5th Anniversary in 2 days! We are hoping for a little "Stay-cation" while the Gilley's are in town so that we can sleep in and get a little alone time. It's been too long since we've had a date.  It's been since our last Anniversary when my Mom came and watched the girls for us.  Can't wait to have a free babysitter this month again!

This month is definitely a busy one!

Ahhhh.....sleep. I can't wait.

P.S.  Thanks for the memories my Lucy Girl