Breakfast with the Princesses

A major highlight of the week (at least for Lillie Ruth, Emme, and Miranda) was the Princess breakfast.  Lillie Ruth and Emme wore their princess dresses and everyone got to enter Epcot just a little early.  It was incredible to have the whole park essentially to ourselves.  On the way over, Miranda explained to the kids they were having breakfast with some princesses (and secretly praying that Sleeping Beauty and Snow White would be there as the cast frequently changes).  When we were finally shown to our table, Emme sat down and patted the seat next to her, "Snow White will sit here by me!"  Miranda had to explain the princesses would just be stopping by for a visit.  In just a few minutes, Miranda turned around to find Sleeping Beauty smiling and ready to greet everyone.  She and Lillie Ruth were ecstatic!  Emme was bouncing so much it was hard to get a picture.  "You're a bit like my friend, Tigger!" said Sleeping Beauty.  Snow White, however, was priceless!  Emme was grinning ear to ear the entire time and gave her a big hug like she was her best friend.  Snow White planted a big kiss on her cheek and Emme refused to have her face washed the rest of the day.  The biggest accomplishment, however, was Snow White getting Ellis out of his seat to have his picture made with her.  It was such a fun breakfast and one of my absolute favorite parts of our trip!

EPCOT all to ourselves

Lillie Ruth (and Miranda's) favorite, Sleeping Beauty

A surprise visit from Cinderella

Emme and Snow White

Chaos, but notice Ellis grinning with Snow White

Ariel!

Hooray for Disney World!

DIsney Continues

The next two days, the triplets headed back to the Magic Kingdom (more Dumbo!) and then on the Animal Kingdom.  They were real troopers and almost had more fun than they could handle.  Let's just say we all took good naps.  The kids stayed in the room with us, which was a first for our family.  We gave them the choice of big people beds or pea pods, and they chose their pea pods.  (For those of you who don't know, pea pods are like small pop-up tents designed for kids to sleep in - great invention for the kids too big for a pak n' play but not mature enough for adult beds!  Bonus - they are much easier to pack and carry than pak n' plays.)

Joopy (aka Goofy), Ellis, and Grams

Grams and Ellis with Thumper and friend

Ellis was fascinated with this guy and his instrument.  We had to halt the stroller procession to just enjoy.

Too much fun for Emme

Birthday kids with Grams

Mommy holds everyone's glasses waiting on Mickey's Philharmagic to start

Mommy and Ellis on the "momma rail"

Papa Bob, Grams, and the terrific trio

Waiting on the "Most Magical Place on Earth" to open

Happy crew!

Lillie Ruth proudly wearing her birthday badge.  She loved the cast members telling her "Happy Birthday, Princess!"

Dashing to Dumbo

Dumbo!

Disney: Day 2

After a good night's sleep, the triplets were ready to meet Lightning McQueen.  Miranda let each child pick one character they really wanted to meet.  Ellis, of course, picked Lightning.   Lillie Ruth choose Minnie Mouse, and Emme picked Snow White.   So, off to Disney Studios on the Disney bus.  It was a long day with lots of fun including the new 3-D Toy Story ride, the Disney Jr show, Lightning, Pooh Bear and the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground.  Ellis was a bit shocked that Lightning was big!  He also revved his engine to say hello, which had Ellis quite apprehensive.  Eventually, everyone crept up and patted a hello on Lightning's hood.  Emme was the only one who would pose with dear Pooh Bear.  But everyone enjoyed the singing along with Mickey Mouse and "Rocket" at the Disney Jr show.  We wrapped up the day with a trip to Downtown Disney and the Rainforest Cafe.  The kids were a little weirded out by the animal noises and the "thunder storms," but everyone still had a good time.

Mr Potato Head, Lillie Ruth, & Daddy

Emme & Daddy discuss Toy Story Mania

BIG Lightning!

Snack time

Pooh Bear

Whee!

Cutie Pie, Ellis

Dynamic Duo

Look Mom! That elephant is moving.

Yummy milk

Miraculous moment - all 3 seated long enough for a picture

Look at Buzz made out of blocks!

Look out Disney World - Here come the Hortons!

November 27 - December 2, 2012

To celebrate the triplets' third birthday, there's no better place to be than the most magical place on Earth - Disney World.  We took off in the middle of the night the Sunday after Thanksgiving and headed to warm and sunny Florida for almost 6 days of fun.  Thankfully, Grams and Papa Bob were willing to come for the week as well.  It took lots of hands to get through so much fun!

Kyle had properly prepared the kids by letting them watch YouTube videos of many of the rides, so the kids were crying for Dumbo the minute we arrived.  Miranda started planning this trip nearly a year ahead of time and had found discounts on tickets (the kids were free!) and the rooms, so we checked into the Contemporary Resort.  Ellis thought he had died and gone to heaven - elevators, escalators, buses, and the monorail!  It was the boy's dream come true!  The girls were equally fascinated with the "mama rail" and hoped each time their favorite color would appear (i.e. the red one for Emme, the green one for Lillie Ruth).  They all became hams at the "alligator" aka elevator, and Dad taught them to stick one foot out in preparation for getting off the escalator.  Ellis would ride the whole thing with his right foot in the air.  It was hilarious!

About to eat breakfast at the GA/FL state line

Too excited to eat lunch - there's Mickeys everywhere!

Traveling in style

Our hotel

The "mama rail!"

Ellis LOVED the monorail!

Ellis charged right on to the escalators

Whoa!  This escalator is pretty cool!

Lillie Ruth on the monorail

Hang on Grams, here I go!

 Once we finally made it to the Magic Kingdom the first afternoon, Emme was amazed Snow White was posing for pictures (her favorite princess).  And everyone yelled "There's the castle!!" as they rode up Main Street.  Soon they were spinning on the teacups, flying on Dumbo, riding in Peter Pan's pirate ship, and spotting their favorite parts of It's a Small World (they had studied this ride extensively on YouTube beforehand).  Lillie Ruth loved the "doll ride" and pointed and yelled every time she saw the "big elephant" above the tunnel coming out of the African section.  However, the fatigue of no nap and a lot of travel hit a peak when Ellis laid down on the ground and cried, "I don't want to wait my turn anymore!"  Time for bed!

Teacups

DUMBO!!! We rode so many times that week, I lost count!

Mommy and Ellis in the blue Dumbo

Merry-go-round!

Grams and Ellis on "Pooh Bear"

Ellis lounging through Small World

Flying on Aladdin's Magic Carpets