First day in the Parks - Sunday - Magic Kingdom then Hollywood Studios

 First day at parks.   We were all incredibly excited.  I was practically jumping in the seat.   Of course we went to Magic Kingdom first.   I'd warned the family that we would be leaving around lunch to rest.    Scotland had seen the graph I'd left up on the computer that showed the wait times at park close, so he was fine with that, which meant Tatiana was too.   The graph was for FOP and it showed a wait time of 5 minutes at Park Close and a long wait earlier.   He said, "We need to get in the line at open or close."   I smiled to myself and said, "Yes.  Yes we will."

I'd gotten a 9:32am Peter Pan G+ reservation, which I was very proud of.   Plan was to do Seven Dwarves at early entry, then Peter Pan getting a reservation at HS for the afternoon, then doing Winnie the Pooh.   Best laid plans ...      We gawked down Main Street like the noobs we are.   So the line for Seven Dwarfs was already long, AND it was down.  But, we wanted to stay in the area, so we did Teacups as a family.    I had my thigh thoroughly pressed against the wheel to slow it down and it was still a tad fast.    Then we did the Carousel.    I was a little embarrassed that is what we were doing during early entry, but we were happy.    Then Peter Pan was down too!   So we did the Small World.  I loved it.  Then we did the TomorrowLand Speedway.   I rode by myself and was before them.   I did a two-handed Small World dance while driving so I was all over the place, but I had fun.   Tatiana kept trying to bump me from behind, but even though I wasn't paying attention, just as they were about to bump me I'd speed up.     Then we did Astro Orbiters manly because we were in the area and wanted to do everything.  Then on our way out Peter Pan was back up, so we did that.  Reminded us of ET at Universal.   

We had a nice rest in the room.   I'd had reservations for Millenium Falcon then Toy Story Mania then Star Tours lined up.    It took us too long to get to Millenium Falcon, so we were able to do that, but we missed Toy Story Mania.   But, it is hard to get Star Wars nuts to hurry through that area.  We had an amazing time on that ride!    We rode with a couple that piloted and had ridden once before.    They said the first time they didn't get any money, so were pleased we got something.    Scotland and I were gunners.    That was nice because you could just constantly push the buttons.   Tatiana was Engineer.    We ended up as Marauder.    

Then we went to Star Tours.    We loved that too.    I forget what we did after that.  

She wore her Jedi Robe and Yoda ears.   She got frequent compliments.   We learned later that she kept count and it was 41 that afternoon.  We were at HS for 4 hours.  

Arrival Day - Saturday

We arrived earlier than I'd expected because I'd forgotten about the time change.   My plan had been for us to lounge by the pool while waiting for our room to be ready.   My thought was even on a too-cold-to-swim day, that the sun would warm us up by the pool.    But, it was right around freezing, so that didn't work.   We napped in the car until our Topollino's reservation.   Tatiana wore her Yoda ears mainly to hide the major-league bedhead from sleeping in the car.  

We walked in and some people were glaring at us.   Then I realized we left the masks in the car.    I'd remembered to bring all of them on the trip and even gave them a thorough clean.    But, I hadn't worn one for 10 months since we were at Universal.  So, we'd left them in the car.   They gave us disposable ones to wear.  

The meal was amazing!   Our waiter was great, manager stopped by to chat.   Tatiana loved having steak for breakfast.   

We then went to our room.    The cleaning lady was just wrapping up.    But, we just piled all our stuff by the elevator. Tatiana guarded our stuff while playing on her tablet.    

We were exhausted and just slept and ate leftovers from Cracker Barrel and Toppolino's.   

Drive to Disney World - Friday

 Scotland and Tatiana have both been a little sick.   They are mostly recovered, but lots of rest is a good thing.   So I let them both sleep.   I worked Friday morning.   We'd had the car mostly packed Thursday night.    We left a bit after noon.   We had a nice drive.    We finished off the We Bought A Zoo audiobook.    Then we started on the Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy series.    We had been waiting until she was old enough to get the humor.    My favorite part of the drive was when I was driving and Tatiana was laughing on the backseat and Scotland laughed so hard he said he hurt.    I don't think I finished the series and I barely remembered the first one, so it is all new to me.  I've picked some awesome audiobooks for our driving vacations so their expectations are high.   It was this perfect choice for this geek family.

Driving at night is so much better than during the day.    Around 10pm all the semis were in rest stops and there was hardly any traffic.   

We did the Mississippi chant as we crossed the river.   

Normally we just eat gas station food on the way, but Tatiana nicely asked for someplace with mashed potatoes and Mac and cheese.    We saw a Cracker Barrel sign so we went there.   We normally avoid chains but it is nice sometimes to be in a strange place and know what you are getting.  I guess that is why Chains exist.  

Friday

 

I have to try to remember what happened yesterday. 

It is still really cold out but the water has stayed running.  I think Scotland did something to protect the water pipe while he is working on the addition.    We leave for Disney next Friday noon.   She did some schoolwork, but is still has a couple to do for math.   We played the Tea Dragon game in the morning.   It is a real interesting game, now that we know more what we are doing.  Scotland was interested.   He hadn't played it at Christmas.  

 

Church Youth Group

 

Last night was Tatiana's third time at the church youth group.  The first was before Christmas and she was a little snot.   She hung out with us.   A couple of girls her age were nice to her, and one of those she already knew.  She basically ignored them.   We were not happy!   Then the meeting started and they'd had 7th to 12th together, and that wasn't good.   Neely told us that they'd have a 7th-9th in their own group.   So, two weeks ago, we went again.  She was unhappy and sullen at the start, but she came back from the meeting cheerful and friendly with the other girls.   Yesterday when we told her it was church youth group tonight, she seemed fine with it.  So, we went and it seemed like she had a good time.    It seems that it was like a Sunday school class, but age appropriate for her.  She took some clay along and made a giraffe during the meeting.  

On the way home she asked if we could play a game.   We thought that was a great idea and decided on Unicorns.   We arrived home at the time we normally start getting ready for bed, but that can be a quick game.  We had a fun, vicious game and were evenly matched so it lasted for 1.5 hours. Tatiana won. Tatiana wanted to play another game and snuck the Tea Dragons game that she got for Christmas onto the table.  

 

Earrings

 There are always such big stories that I don't put here because I'm busy then.  Like Christmas and the latest visit to Gram and Grandpa.  Then I don't put the small stories that happen after because I think I need to write the big stories first.   I need to stop doing that. 

Yesterday was an ordinary day.   She did some schoolwork.  Scotland took her to an afternoon appointment at the Orthodontist.  She is concerned about how these certain upper teeth will come in.  But she can't do anything until they do.   Also Tatiana has to wait on her final set of braces until her 12 year old molars come in.   

Tatiana showed an interest in our earrings.   I had just gotten into bed.   So, I just told her where they were.   She took the drawer to the kitchen and she came back to show me the first and second ones she put it.   First was some ladybugs that were too big for her, but super cute.  I used to wear them.   Then some tiny teddy bears.    Then she said, "You are right mommy, it is a lot easier if you put in your own earrings."  She'd insisted I do it before and it is almost impossible to go in at the right angle, so I'd hurt her.