Oh Orlando....

We returned from a whirlwind trip to Orlando Wednesday night!!!  Whew... I definitely needed a vacation from my vacation when I got home!  It was a good trip.  It had some GREAT, amazing highlights... and like any trip with kids... some definite low moments.  But, all-in-all, it was great to go... and I think Ally really appreciated the time with us.  (I think...)  ;-)

We traveled down on Friday.... the flight was a bit delayed, which was a bummer.  I wanted to be able to get to the hotel and chill for a while... let Ally swim and take it easy.  We didn't get in until after 8 or so... once we got our bags and our rental car.  Scott's conference was at The Ritz at Grande Lakes and it was absolutely gorgeous!!!  Just gorgeous!!!  And I cannot say enough all the amazing things they did for kids!!! Scott kept saying "it IS Orlando honey" but still. I appreciated their catering to our little girl... and so did she! She will never experience hospitality quite like that!

We checked in, and Ally "checked in" at her very own reception desk. Where she was given toys and ice cream!  The bellman took us to our room, and was wonderful with her. Turned on the Disney Channel, telling her to sit tight while "mom and dad unpacked!"  He told her she could still go to the pool... that she could get ice cream any time she wanted... the list went on and on.

We went right down to the pool, and were able to order "room service" to be delivered pool side. The pool attendant (Nills - loved him!) also said he could go to the lobby bar and get us drinks.  So.... burgers and chicken fingers... and gin and tonics.... and swimming.... and we were all in heaven!

We headed up to bed at a decent hour... and when I say decent, we were watching The Late Show when we got up there, so really... it was pretty late for the seven year old!  But, we all fell asleep eventually.... and that's good cuz the day ahead of us was a doozy.......

Day 2:  Off to the Magic Kingdom!

After parking, taking a ferry, and then taking a tram... we finally arrived to the gates of the Magic Kingdom... then, we had to wait in a line to have our bag checked out... then, the debacle of actually having our tickets appropriately scanned... then, Scott had to go the bathroom as soon as we got in... and Ally got shit on by a bird.  Yes... that's how the first moments went.  ;)

Ally LOVES Pluto... Pluto is her very favorite... and the ticket she was issued had Pluto on it.... and after cleaning up the bird poo... the first character we saw as soon as we walked into the park, was Pluto himself!!!!! She was pretty giddy in that moment.... then, we had to get in line.

Don't get me started on the lines.  Now, I know Disney is all about waiting in line. I am familiar with waiting in line for rides, for shows, and even to meet characters... but Ally is not so familiar.  So, after about 20 minutes in line for Pluto... she decides she no longer wants to wait.  HAHA!!!!!  Luckily, a parade started (that we could view from our position in line) so she was distracted by that and I got her to wait until we could actually meet Pluto... almost an hour in line.... yep... an hour to meet Mickey's furry friend.

It appeared to be worth the wait... :)  It was for me anyway. I think sometimes I was more excited for her than she actually was.  :-)))))) She kept talking about Pluto all the way down Main Street.... where we went to see Cinderella's Castle.

The sun was getting pretty brutal by this point. We did not arrive first thing in the morning, we took our time... and probably got there around 10 am or so. At first I wanted to be there before the park opened, but after a couple drinks, Scott convinced me to take the more laid back approach.  :-)

The first thing Ally was dying to do was the Dumbo Ride.... so we headed right there.... and much to her dismay, there was a line. This was a theme throughout the rest of the day. Having a small fit every time we got in line.  Ugh. That was definitely a low-point for me. She would get in line... and sink to the ground in a heap.  :-( I know she's impatient, but I guess I expected her to be a bit more tolerant of things... after all, we WERE IN DISNEY WORLD!!!

But, we made it through the line at Dumbo....

From Dumbo... we made our way over to Toontown.... where we rode a roller coaster, took a trip around the park on the train, came back and met Pooh and Tigger, then walked through Mickey's house... and met Mickey and Minnie!

After all that excitement, we needed a cool break for some lunch!  We took a break for some mexican provisions... and some much needed time off our feet and out of the heat!!  Ally's impatience was growing... Looking back on all the pictures and smiles, you would never know that we had moments of pure hell in between....  ;-)

Right after lunch, as we were walking, we "ran into" Donald and Goofy... and autograph book in hand, Ally just had to meet them!!!  So, we waited in a fairly short line this time... to meet the boys in Frontierland!

I think we might have taken another break for funnel cakes at this point. ;-) I do love me some deep fried goodness.  :-)  We rode a bunch of rides.... the teacups..

And, then, we stupidly rode the Pirate Ride... which scared the living crap out of Ally.... nice... so we went on It's a Small World to try to cheer her up. We weren't able to completely accomplish any sort of cheering up at this point. She was getting tired. And grumpy. And she was hot.  So.... I suggested we go back to Toontown to wait to meet the Princesses. It was an air conditioned line.... and I thought this would be a nice break.  This, as it turned out, was a GREAT idea... and we met Aurora, Belle and Cinderella!

The day was winding down... so it was time for us to go secure a place on Main Street to watch the night parade and fireworks.  This was a tough wait time for Ally... but I think it was worth the wait. She enjoyed the parade and the fireworks that followed.... all in all... a nice day at the Magic Kingdom!

That's all from the Magic Kingdom... more to come on the days that followed.....

Leaving on (another) Jet Plane...

So..... tomorrow morning we take off for Orlando!!!!  Just Scott, Ally and I. We fly in tomorrow and plan to just take it easy... swim a little and have a nice dinner.... lie low if possible because the following days are sure to be madness.  ;-)

Saturday, we will head to the Magic Kingdom!!!!!!  We have two-day Disney passes, plus Park Hopper and I'd like to try to see a little of Epcot maybe Saturday too, if Ally is game for it.  We chose to do the Magic Kingdom Saturday because they have their special night parade and fireworks that night, so are open a bit later. Sunday, we will do Animal Kingdom in the morning and Hollywood Studios in the afternoon and evening because they are having Fantasmic that evening..... so it worked out that we could arrange our days to see two great night shows!

We should be absolutely exhausted come Monday....... so, while Scott is in his conference (as you may or may not recall we are tacking a family trip onto his conference), Ally and I are going to lie low at the pool at the hotel all day.  They have a few pools and a lazy river. The word of the day is lazy. ;-)  I plan to rest and read and drink some fruity beverages............. ;-)

Tuesday early, hopefully more of the same!  Tuesday afternoon/evening.. we will head to Sea World!  Scott only has meetings in the morning.........

Then, Wednesday Ally and I will hang again, until Scott is done and it's time to head home!!!!!!!

A pretty quick, but fun trip.

All that said..... I will tell you...... I wish we were going under better circumstances..... and by that I mean, my daughter. She is being an absolute BEAST this week.  I have no idea what her problem is.   Honestly. She wakes up every morning, already angry.  She keeps telling me that she's tired and maybe that's it.... but she is snappy, bratty, mean, and just plan all around AWFUL!!!!!  I put both the kids to bed at 7:30 yesterday..... after a horrid afternoon with them. 

This morning, I just threw my hands up regarding Ally. She was sulking before breakfast. She is SEVEN!  Do we have teenage angst already????  I just hate it because she KNOWS we are headed to Disney.  I feel as if she should be on her very best behavior, not her worst..... and thankful for this trip coming up. But, she just acts like she's entitled to it and like it's no big deal.  It makes me want to both cry and smack her all at the same time!!!!!!!!!

I truly hope that once we get going... once we're on our way... and we're without Luke.... that she will snap out of whatever is going on.  We are going to use this two on one time with her to try to talk to her and get inside her head a little.  Maybe it's just nothing.  Maybe she IS tired. Growth spurt?  Maybe she's fighting a cold?  Maybe she's sick of Luke's neediness. Maybe........... I could go on and on........ but whatever it might be..... it's gotta stop or I'm gonna lose my mind!

Between her attitude and Luke's clinging and whining... I can't get them to bed soon enough this week.  What a week..........

Packing tonight...... and then we're off....... wish us LUCK with this one........................

No Words...

There are really no words to describe to you what my daughter has done today.  No. Words.

I pick her up from school and head over to Nana and Papa's to pick up Luke.  We wait for Luke to wake up from his nap, and Nana graciously lets Ally have a bowl of ice cream.  AFTER giving her the choice of ice cream bar OR ice cream... because when Luke and Grace get up, they were going to have ice cream bars.  So.... Ally picks ice cream. Then, has some cookies.  Life is really tough for Ally right now.  Can you feel it?

Then, Luke and Grace get up and have their ice cream bars..... and Ally LOSES HER SHIT!!!! She wants an ice cream bar!! It's NOT FAIR!!!  She didn't know how big they were. She just runs away and around the yard... and proceeds to have a full on two year old temper tantrum at the age of seven. She is yelling at everyone. She yells at Nana cuz "she gave her the choice!"

I'm sure you can really feel for her now. The poor child has a choice of ice cream bar or BOWL of ice cream... has a bowl of ice cream... and is now deprived of the bar.  GOOD GOD!

She screams... and screams... and screams... I have finally had enough and tell her to get in the car. She is not stopping her rant.

She gets in the car. I wrestle Luke in the car (he doesn't want to go home and is now throwing a fit of his own, not to be outdone by his sister of course!). We start to drive home. She is completely losing it in the back seat. Screaming.  Kicking. Saying horrid things.  I turn on to our street and stop the car and tell her to get out if she is going to talk to me like that. She can walk home. She looks horrified.  I drive on. She starts in AGAIN!  I stop the car.  I take her out of the car. I drive away........... (we are less than a block from home on our street... don't call social services on me!)..... I drive slowly and watch her run behind me.

Okay....... you can judge away people...... if you are lucky enough to have a fabulously well-behaved child... you will not understand this at all.  My daughter is no where on the scale of easy going... she is challenging on a good day.... today, she is beyond a challenge........

She ran home..... and continued to get in my face and yell at me.  Wow.  Just wow.  Impressive.

She is in her room now and has been since we got home. She is screaming and throwing a fit in there. She will not calm down. She wants Daddy.  Obviously he is a better person.  She is lucky her Daddy is not home.

She is yelling at me that she is bored. Wow.  Who knew punishment was supposed to be fun....
She does not give up........

I am having a glass of wine. I am writing this down.  I am releasing this moment........ cuz otherwise I will lose my own shit....................