Disney Days: Part 6 (Character Pictures)

I was determined to get pictures of the kids with the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse gang. We managed to track them all down and wait in the long, hot lines so Nate and Kate could meet them.

As soon as we got there on the first day Pluto was out.

We met the legend at Hollywood Studios. Kathryn, of course, ran right up to Mickey Mouse. 

Nate was reserved, even though Mickey Mouse is his favorite character. Mickey Mouse touched noses with Kathryn and made a kiss sound and that was enough to put Kathryn over the edge. That absolutely made her day.

 Nate showed Mickey some love.

 Their official Mickey, Nate and Kate pic.

Look at how happy she was after she met Mickey. That kiss from Mickey Mouse made her one happy little girl.

We just happened to come across Goofy at Hollywood Studios too. Kathryn always ran right up to the characters and gave them big hugs. Nate was much more reserved.

 He gave Kathryn her moment then stepped up and gave hugs.

 Official Goofy, Nate and Kate pic.

Then we ran into Donald Duck at Epcot. Not many kids there, so we only had to wait a few minutes.

This was the day Kathryn just happened to be wearing her Daisy Duck shirt. (Daisy Duck is her favorite now.) Here, Donald Duck pointed to Kathryn's shirt and gestured that he love Daisy Duck. It was so cute. Then Kathryn asked Donald where Daisy was. The person standing by Donald told us where she was at Magic Kingdom. Immediately after she found out Daisy was at Magic Kingdom she was done with Epcot. So, wanting to make sure the kids loved every minute of Disney World, we left and headed straight over to Magic Kingdom to wait in line to see Daisy Duck.

 Official Donald, Kate and Nate pic.

We waited in the line that was estimated at 60 minutes. The kids didn't mind because it was so hot and the line was inside in the cool A/C and they just sat and ate Skittles. When Kathryn saw Daisy she ran up and gave her a huge hug

Kathryn wouldn't leave Daisy alone either. She kept almost leaving then going back for more hugs. I don't think Daisy minded though. Daisy's companion who speaks for her said she was flattered to be on Kathryn's shirt.

Kathryn already decided she is going to have a Daisy Duck birthday party this year. Who better to invite to your Daisy Duck birthday party than Daisy Duck herself? Kathryn did. Daisy was flattered once again by Kathryn. Nate thought it was hilarious that she invited Daisy Duck, but he thought it was even more hilarious telling her Daisy Duck wasn't really going to be at her party.

Daisy Duck, Nate and Kate.

Next up, Minnie Mouse. She was Kathryn's birthday party theme last year. She was thrilled to get to give Minnie a huge hug.

 Nate and Kate and Minnie Mouse.

As we were walking off Minnie Mouse came after me and my first thought was, "please don't embarrass me or make me do anything." Then she pointed to my backpack and gestured for an autograph, so she signed Kathryn's bag. Kathryn thought that was pretty great too.

And a bonus character, Marie from Aristocats. This was Nate's favorite movie when he was 3 years old.

We're already discussing our next Disney trip. It's addicting to see how happy Disney World makes kids.

Then this was the ride home. Now you get to see Nate isn't always the mean one.

Bonus video! Despite what she says, I think she prefers Magic Kingdom over any other park.

Disney Days: Part 5 (Animal Kingdom)

We went to Animal Kindgom on our last day.

Nate and Kate signed up to be Wilderness Explorers. Kathryn took it way more seriously than Nate.

Kate stayed on top of her animal awareness.

Nate liked it at first until it got to be too much work. He preferred to just sit back in the stroller and look at animals with any accountability.

We petted some goats, pigs, cows, sheep. 

 It was a blast from the past when we used to go to Old MacDonald's Farm regularly in Rapid City.

The goats provided some entertainment.

Kathryn can't resist any kind of street show. We had to stop and watch pretty much anything that was going on.

Kathryn can't resist joining in in street performances too.

She was so proud of herself. These giant smiles just kept coming and coming the entire time we were there.

They didn't want to spend much time at Animal Kingdom. They agreed to go back to the hotel to take a nap so they could stay out late at Magic Kingdom.

Look who saw a picture being taken without him.

They were so ready for Magic Kingdom one last time.

I love this picture.

And this picture.

And these too.

We've been on a lot of vacations, but taking these kids to Disney World and watching their faces light up and get so excited over everything was by far the best vacation ever.

We rode Splash Mountain and Thunder Mountain over and over again every night without a wait. We watched the fireworks from the roller coasters while everyone else was at the 9 p.m. parade. We have little troopers who stayed up for the 11 p.m. parade each night.

Their Splash Mountain picture. They're so little you can barely see them. Just the tops of their heads. Thank goodness for Kathryn's tall New Balance shoes or else she wouldn't have been tall enough!

One more Disney post to come!

Disney Days: Part 4 (Princess Lunch)

Nate's activity was Jedi training, so Kathryn's special activity was a princess lunch. She was so excited to meet the princesses and she was even more excited to show off her own princess style to them.

Her princess lunch was at Epcot, so we walked around a little before our reservation. I tried getting a picture of Nate and Kate together, but neither child would cooperate. I finally took this picture of them purposely not looking normal for the picture to embarrass them when they're older. I gave them plenty of chances to smile nicely for the picture. Payback.

Nate is actually really into countries at the moment so he thought walking through the different countries was pretty cool. He wanted his picture taken in front of them so that people would think he's actually been to some foreign countries. Here he is in Mexico.

 Norway.

 Japan.

Then Nate explained to Kathryn that people aren't going to think she's been to any foreign countries so she decided to start getting in on pictures.

 Nate and Kate in Germany.

As we were walking through Germany these maidens kicked their soccer ball over to Nate for a little street soccer. They didn't know what they were getting themselves into.

After they played soccer Nate just stood around chatting with Germans about all things Germany. You know showing off his German counting skills, eins, zwei, drei, vier, funf and chatting about the autobahn. He threw in a "danke" after they gave him some caramel corn. They were impressed with his fondness for their country. As one guy said in a German accent, "He's practically German." Nate holds Germany dear to his heart because that was where he spent his first three months of existence in my tummy. By the way, he let them know that too.

Kathryn was just proud of her flower she picked and wanted a picture of it.

And now it's time for the princess lunch! That morning Kathryn picked out a princess dress to wear. She chose Rapunzel, so I changed her in the bathroom before we went to the restaurant.

Nate started getting jealous of Kate's moment so he jumped in front of the camera every time I tried to take a picture of Princess Kate

When we walked in there was a photographer set up taking pictures with Belle from The Beauty and the Beast. They gave us a 5x7" print in a folder, but this is the picture I took to share. Nate didn't want to have anything to do with Belle because it was right after he got in trouble for jumping in front of Kathryn's pictures.

We sat down for lunch and the princesses walked around to each table and chatted with their fans.

 Princess Ariel admired Kate's Little Mermaid Ariel doll.

 Ariel and Kate.

Nate originally declined Ariel's offer to have his picture taken with her, but once she told him what a handsome prince he was he couldn't resist.

Cinderella's visit was by far the most awkward because she is Kathryn's favorites in person. Kathryn turned into her super awkward, nervous self. Thankfully she's outgrown her nervous tongue sticking out bit, but she just sat and stared at her. She's so beautiful, how can you not. Cinderella made a joke to Kathryn before she left our table. "It was so good talking with you even though I couldn't get a word in edgewise."

Nate was all about getting his picture taken with Cinderella. Especially after she called him prince too. He really thought these princesses liked him.

Snow White with Nate and Kate.

Kathryn walked around the restaurant in a princess procession. That's where Nate definitely drew the line. He didn't mind taking pictures with the princesses as long as they were complimenting him, but he wasn't about to walk around the restaurant with them. You can see Kathryn directly to Ariel's left in the purple dress.

Even princesses have to eat.

 So princess like.

 Dessert time for our little princess.

Princess Kate really let this princess lunch go straight to her head.

My little prince and me.

 Daddy's little princess.

This was definitely a magical lunch experience! That magic was left in the restaurant, unfortunately. Back to real life. Nate and Kate are sharing a Dr. Pepper and of course that can't be done without Nate picking on Kathryn telling her not to put her whole face all over the bottle.

You can just see the look on Nate's face that he's enjoying giving her a hard time. Watching them gives me flashbacks of my childhood.

 Criticizing her as she's drinking.

 Then wiping her germs off.

 These two are quite the pair.