I'm starting a post about Ashlyn Grace's 5th Birthday Celebration at EPCOT with a picture of Braxton for two reasons... 1)he was not really into the characters...but this one he got the CLOSEST to all on his own (meaning, I didn't have to pick him up and physically take him to see the character). He SO wanted to touch the cute Aristocat but just didn't! And 2) I never wanna forget the feeling of magic and awe as I experienced things larger than life through the eyes of our children!!!
We started the day off at Imagination Land (everyone liked), then we hung out at the jumping water! We made our way over to Mexico and Norway (both inside boat rides which everyone liked). We stopped for lunch in America (real daring I know)! After that we headed back to the front of the park and it started to rain, I noticed it was nap time, so I suggested we go to the Character Spot (BEST thing that EPCOT has added since I was younger...it's like a One-Stop-Photo-Shop with all the characters). It was fun for all...well-not really for Coly and Braxton...they weren't too into the Bigger Than Life Characters UP CLOSE...it was ALL good at a distance! The FIRST character was Mickey (of course) and this was as close as Braxton would get! :)
The last character in the Character Spot was Goofy and Coly did NOT want to go up to him because he's a DOG (and we all know Coly has a REAL fear of dogs)!!! So we ALL joined in- to get the younger two to be OK! (check out the looks on their faces)
After that we headed to the Living Seas and the Big Ball- both big hits. Then it started to sprinkle (it had been threatening rain ALL day) and Ashlyn Grace needed to head back to the hotel to get dressed for her big date with the Princesses...so we all loaded on the bus to Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa (highly recommend it) and, gladly, missed most of the down pour!
Upon arrival, we all had jobs- grab snacks, change Braxton's diaper, dress and prepare Princess Jasmine, throw shoes, socks and jackets in the dryer and get coats for all for tonight (as we planned to stay for the show over the Main Lagoon).
So without further adieu...here is Princess Jasmine (think she liked her costume and special make-up?!)
It was cold that night so she wore a leotard and tights under her costume! After the costume and crown were in place I broke out Jasmine's special make-up and you would think that Gracie had just won the lottery. She said, "MOM, I get to wear make-up now that I'm FIVE?" Mommy, "Uh, no Gracie (giggle inside). You get to wear special Princess Make-up tonight because you're the Princess Jasmine and she wears it right?" Gracie, "Oh yeah- that's right Mom. What is that stuff for?" (mascara) Mommy, "This is to make your eyelashes dark like Princess Jasmine's." Gracie, "Oh, it's cold. (blink) And wet. (blink)" Mommy, "OK Gracie, try not to blink until it has dried because you just got some on your cheeks, you have to blink softly until it dries." (you should have seen the "soft" blinks which followed...all the way to the bus to return to EPCOT, when she finally asked if her eye paint was dry yet?!!!- PRECIOUS)
We are all done back at the room and head out the grab the bus back to EPCOT. Rain was DONE! We all walk quickly- so we're not late for our 5:25 dinner reservation at the Castle at Norway. No one had time to change, or freshen up, or even run a brush through their hair, except Princess Jasmine (as she decided that she wanted to be called for the night while we were briskly walking to the Castle- through rain puddles and around those lolly-gagging along the way...didn't they know we had a dinner engagement to get Princess Jasmine to?!?!)
Then the Princess Jasmine was called to her dinner and the first picture was a semi-group picture with Belle.
Then we were seated and the Princesses circulated the entire castle dinning room- stopping to give each Princess at each table special attention. Cinderella was the first to come by our table...then Jasmine. We were told that Princess Jasmine is not a common princess at these dinners, to which we told our waitress that we had been praying for Princess Jasmine to be there since we made the reservation! (you are guaranteed 5 Princesses at the dinner and they are not the same 5 every lunch or dinner...some of the ones they listed I didn't even think should be considered Princesses...but regardless, the grown-up Princess Jasmine was there and our Princess Jasmine was so tickled)
Next came Snow White and we ended with Ariel (with her sea-legs)! What an enchanting evening it was for all.
After dinner we rode Fast Track, first Daddy and Pop with Ashlyn Grace and Evan (while Mommy and Nonnie strolled around with Coly and Braxton) then Nonnie and Mommy took a ride with Gracie and Evan (while the boys hung out). The Land ride was closed and the wait for Soaring was too long-so the only thing that we wanted to do but didn't get to was Energy (it closed at 7:00 PM and we headed there after Fast Track just before the Grand Finale Show over the Main Lagoon-too late). Oh well...the Flock had a great time dancing around as we grabbed a good spot to see the final fireworks and laser light show...
And while they were all dancing around the having such fun, Braxton was sitting in his stroller taking his "gee-gas" (socks) and shoes off (for the millionth time that day)!
And while they were all dancing around the having such fun, Braxton was sitting in his stroller taking his "gee-gas" (socks) and shoes off (for the millionth time that day)!
