the big 'd'

that's right - disney!  we had been calling it "the big 'd'" because we didn't want the kids to be disappointed if we got rained out.  we thought that we were a little crazy to go to disney world on a saturday, but it was actually a really great day - not too crowded, not too hot.  a big "thank you" to natalie for taking us.  thanks to her all we had to pay for was lunch and souvenirs.

the kids didn't know where we were going until we pulled up.  i thought that there would be more of a reaction, but in mason's defense, he didn't know what "disney world" is since he was only 8 weeks the last time we went.

madelyn wanted to be peter's big sister too and held his hand (and natalie's) much of the day.

mason and daddy riding the monorail

madelyn, peter and natalie - peter was looking at the boats

the typical family shot outside the park

mason seeing the castle for the first time

family 'disney' shot - maddux wasn't feeling it

mason (and all the kids) enjoyed small world - i always forget how long a ride it is and how nice it is to spend that much time in the air conditioning

carousel picture - thanks to natalie

madelyn could not have been happier to be there

i think madelyn rode every ride with natalie and peter

mason and i taking a spin on dumbo while daddy stayed with maddux

'mommy' madelyn helping peter and mason

isn't this too cute with the blond boys riding on shoulders?

waiting for our last stop of the day...

mason was still dealing with some sort of rash/illness and was done by 2:30 - he rode in the stroller and maddux was carried by daddy

when i was discussing the trip to disney last night with natalie, she asked if there was anything specific we wanted to do or buy. i told her that the only thing we had to do was get a picture of madelyn with ariel.  natalie said she needed to check something and then let me know the bad news - areil's grotto was closed for renovations (i guess they are adding a larger ariel section and adding a belle section - rides, etc.) and that the only time we would get to see her would be in the parade.  we were bummed but since madelyn said that was her favorite part last time (seeing ariel in the parade), we thought that she would be equally pleased this year.

natalie and peter left so that peter could be home for his nap (and since they come all the time it wasn't a big deal to miss a few things).  we went on to checkout the two sections of the park we hadn't been to yet.  the timing was just right because we ran into the ariel and prince erik photo spot!  they had them set up in a temporary location during construction.  there was no sign or anything so we would never have known.  we were too late for that session but were told that they would be back after the parade.

we rode a few more rides and then watched the parade.  the second ariel's float passed us, we rushed back to the photo location.  there was already a line but it wasn't too bad.  madelyn was so excited and shy when it was her turn.  the "ariel" was so kind and asked madelyn all sorts of questions and told her about flounder and sebastian.  i couldn't hear everything but madelyn said that ariel told her she could be whatever she wanted - or something along those lines.

madelyn showing "ariel" her ariel t-shirt

a big hug!

i am so bummed that both pictures i took were blurry - this is the better of the two.

it was a really successful day at disney. and i think that the kids really enjoyed it - all three of them. maddux was even old enough to enjoy the rides too.  when i asked madelyn her favorite part she said - driving the cars!  i didn't go on that one but i guess they did the race car track 'ride' and madelyn drove the car with natalie and peter.  she said that she didn't stay on the road very well, but being able to 'drive' really made an impression on her.

we are so lucky to have such a wonderful friend who is willing to take our family to the park.  and their family put us up for two nights too!  thank you again to rob and natalie for letting us visit.  love.