Wow, time flies! We got one more morning at Disneyland before our flight back home. My hope was to find our final characters for their autographs. Dennis bought the kids autograph books that has a spot to insert the photo of the kids with that character. This was obviously my favorite mission! :->
Shae and Lil Stacy slept in. The rest of us got up really early to be there when the park opened and make the most of our last few hours. Stacy and I got to join in a character photo!
It was time to walk away, and Shelby just couldn't do it without loving on Goofy. This was the only character he did this with, and I teared up at the moment, because this is the moment I think of when I think of kids at Disneyland. The one where they think the character is real, and they just can't resist loving on them!
Shelby told him how silly he is. Goofy played the part well for him.
Pluto was a hoot! The kids were cracking up.
Grammy and Grandpa's turn for character photo! MaryAnn was pretending to be a dog like Pluto.
The mean ole' Queen of Hearts was hilarious. The kids paused a little too long when it was our turn and she played up the impatience and annoyance!
It lead me to wonder....to stay in that body language, does the worker find themselves frowning underneath the costume? Try smiling and make the rest of your body look pissed off. It's like your brain is confusing your body parts. I would love to play a character like this, but am afraid all that frowning all day would affect my mood in real life! Anyways....food for thought.
She slammed the pen on the book. Wow...you go Queen.
Elaine and I couldn't resist!
MaryAnn was my little model in New Orleans Square.
The guys went off to do their thing in Adventureland while MaryAnn, Elaine and I went back to the Haunted Mansion. MAWJ loved it so much the first day, and since Grammy and I took out crying, freaked out little boys, we didn't get to see it. She wanted us to see.
Then we hopped on the Jungle Cruise in Adventureland on our way to find the guys. It was actually a little creepy from time to time.
The announcer on the boat said he brought his pet zebra here to live with the other animals. He started calling out his name then got quiet when he saw this scene of the lions eating a Zebra.
Ummmm....really!?!?!?! Poor MaryAnn had big eyes. What in the world, Dude! This is Disneyland!
See, creeped out. Me too, baby girl!
After the boat we hit the timing just right and Jasmine was just showing up for character photos. YEAH! MAWJ was pumped! She was the first kid to talk to Jasmine. Jasmine told her she loved her outfit. Grammy got it for MAWJ and it really was super cute on her. The bright colors were so precious. And of course we matched up the bright color hair braids I had bought each day with each outfit. I love that I have two nieces to get girl time in with!
I think MaryAnn can give Jasmine a run for her money in the beauty area. :->
This gentleman, Michael, was awesome with the kids waiting in line! We'd been waiting for about 40 min by this point for a photo with Merida, and MaryAnn had just gotten in trouble with me (very rare for MAWJ and Aunt T to have that moment, so I'm not sure either of us knew how to react). She and I were exhibiting tense vibes and this guy walked up and made it all go away. I had just bought her the Tangled princess wig and Pasqual at Fantasyland. Michael grabbed Pasqual and brought him to life.
Shelby and Michael ended up in a bit of a battle of wits.
So when "Michael's son" came over to let Michael go on break, it got worse.
Not sure who one. The joking was pretty funny on both "kids'" parts.
Finally! Merida from Brave! No wonder it was taking so long. She spent so much time talking to the kids.
Shelby just told her he had a question. But when she looked down at him through those gorgeous red locks, he stuttered and said, "I can't remember my question." HAHAHAHA
Lil Stacy was a hoot here.
Bow and arrow time!
Then, our last stop for the day was Mickey's Toontown. The kids loved all the spots to play.
Don't worry, guys. We've got Uncle Jay on speed dial! Angelo Bail Bonds will be here in just a moment.
I love this one. LOL!
MINNIE! And, with less than an hour left of our adventure, it's complete. Perfect!
Lil Stacy wanted to stand next to Minnie. The kids had a well established order for photos by this point, so they didn't think anything of lining up, but Stacy had the hots for Minnie and was not having his usual spot front and center.
So Minnie kissed his precious little head good bye. All better!
We got to go inside Minnie's house. Here, Shelby is excited to show Daddy that Minnie had a magazine with Daddy's Girl, Jessica Rabbit on the cover.
Doesn't look so comfy.
Lil Stacy found the buttons in the kitchen that made dishes in the dishwasher roll around and a cake in the oven rise and fall.
MAWJ had to strike a pose. What a character she is herself!
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What a trip!
I personally loved focusing on the kids all weekend. Living so far away, they grow up too fast with too little interaction in between. All three kids really made me feel like I was more important than the characters at Disneyland! Every bus ride there was a fight over who's turn it is to sit with me. Wow, guys, talk about making me feel loved!
One story I want to capture in my journal that I thought was cute, and forgot to mention thus far, was that at dinner one night there was a crane with stuffed animals inside. Elaine rocked that thing!!!! She won three animals, one for each child, then surprised them with it later. I actually think these babies appear in several of the photos, like chillin at the hotel or during nap time. Shelby still sleeps with his baby. Thanks, Grammy!
Thank you to Grandpa and Grammy for all the awesome memories! This was an amazing gift! We quite often talk about all our special moments that weekend. It's truly priceless. Thanks for spending your anniversary with us!!!! We love you!
