Old Friends, New Friends, and The Mouse!

Yesterday Wesley, Anna Kate and I met some friends for a play-date at Disney World! We met Lindsey, one of my friends from college (since I graduated 7 years ago, I guess college friends are starting to qualify as old friends), and her two kids, Shepherd and Rauly. Wesley was so excited about his new friends! He has been talking about them ever since! I must say I'm starting to master the Disney World experience without actually paying to go to Disney. I made reservations at the Polynesian Resort (outside the park, so we didn't need park tickets) for a character breakfast with Mickey, Pluto, Lilo, and Stitch. Lindsey's kids had never been on Disney property before, so they were super excited! Here they are with Cinderella's castle far in the background. But they did get an up-close look, because we took the monorail around the lagoon and got off right in front of the park (that we didn't have tickets to enter), so they did get to see it in all its Disney glory!





Wesley hugging THE Mickey Mouse. This time I had prepped him for waiting his turn. Those of you that remember my post about the last character breakfast will remember that we weren't prepped for the fact that the characters go from table to table, and you are not allowed to approach them unless it's your turn. A great rule, but a little difficult to explain to a 2-year-old at the moment that he catches his first glimpse of his beloved friends! This time we were ready. Wes was anxious, but very good to sit at the table and wait. The whole drive to Orlando, he kept telling me he was going to "wait my turn." The entire breakfast was all smiles and no tears for all 4 kids! (below) Wesley wanted to show Mickey Mouse his sister - he said, "This is Anna Kate!" AK loved the characters - even Stitch, who I thought looked kinda spooky!





Two sets of eyes facing the camera and two sets of eyes glued on Mickey Mouse!





Wesley with Stitch. None of the kids had a clue who Lilo and Stitch were, but it didn't seem to matter. Wesley has talked about Stitch almost as much as Mickey since yesterday. I dunno what it is about the ugly blue guy, but even Anna Kate loved him! (Above) Rauly hugging Lilo. What a face! I was so impressed with Lindsey's kids. They are just as fun and sweet and adorable as all those pics on her blog!





Anna Kate is getting proficient at eating table foods. I don't even bother cutting things up into small pieces anymore most of the time. They had thin slices of cantaloupe, and I handed her a piece as soon as we sat down so I could focus on keeping Wesley contained. She had a ball chomping on melon and Mickey Mouse waffles! She has 2 bottom teeth and 3 top teeth (her fangs have been joined by her top left middle tooth, which has grown in just about as much as the fangs now. Still no sight of the other middle tooth though!). 5 teeth seem to be enough to handle just about anything Anna Kate wants to eat!





Pluto spent the most time at the table with Wesley. I think Wes was a little surprised that Pluto was up on two feet. When playing with Pluto, Wesley got down on the floor and started to act like a puppy dog. Pluto got down on the floor with him!

Every 45 minutes, all of the kids were given shakers and invited to parade around the dining room with all four characters. Wesley had his Mickey-Radar activated, so as soon as the marching began, he found Mickey. When Mickey saw how excited he was, he put his hand out for Wesley's hand and they marched together for the rest of the parade! So now Wesley keeps saying "Mickey March" instead of "Mickey Mouse." I'm sure he's just recounting the memory of marching with Mickey, but it makes me laugh!





After breakfast (Lindsey and I finally managed to cram in a few bites after the characters departed for Magic Kingdom. There's always lots of food at a Disney character breakfast, but I have yet to eat much at one!), we boarded the monorail and rode around the lagoon. Anna Kate loved watching the other 3 kids run around and hang off the poles. We got off the monorail at the Magic Kingdom, but instead of entering the park, we then boarded the ferry boat that takes passengers back to the parking lot (and from there we boarded another monorail that took us back to the Polynesian Resort where we were parked). So the kids got to ride two rides several times without ever entering the park! They're all quite certain that they've been to Disney World. And all for the price of breakfast! Shep was excited that it was a slow boat. Apparently he recently road in a fast boat and did not like it. He was so sweet; his eyes got big and he said, "Mom, it's a slow boat!"





After turning Disney World public transportation into our own little theme park, we settled into some comfy chairs in the lobby of the Polynesian Resort where the kids watched Disney cartoons, made leis, and colored pictures. Lindsey and I got so spend some time catching up, and talking about how much God has blessed our lives since college. I feel so blessed to have developed friendships with amazing Christian moms like Lindsey; they challenge me to be a better mom, a better wife, and a better Christian, just by their example! Here's a pic of Lindsey holding Anna Kate, who finally crashed hours and hours after his missed morning nap! Oh, and did I mention that Lindsey drove 2 1/2 hours each way to meet us?! What a friend!