Disney Dreaming

Finally, after long last, and much harassment by our many Disney-loving friends, the Hickmans decided to do Disneyland. We figured we had limited time before the baby arrived, and that Syd and Kade deserved a special break with Mom & Dad before they both are dethroned by little brother's arrival. I bravely hauled the (very large) belly, along with some really good walking shoes, through the gates to the "happiest place on earth" and found every waddled step to be more than worth it as I watched my kids' eyes widen in disbelief....

They had been SO excited to go on the trip that Kade's sentences all began ending in "see Mickey Mouse at Disneyland!!!" regardless of the context of the conversation. He had started dreaming about it and suddenly everything around the house reminded him of Mickey Mouse....heart shaped wreaths on the wall, configurations of Cheerios in his cereal bowl, you name it. That boy knows his mouse ears! Sydnie just knew that she was ready to go on some rides....little did she know what awaited her!

....they got to see and do everything. It was really so much fun. On the second day, Kade finally got to see Mickey Mouse, and found the whole trip got even better when he got to come face to face with "the real" Lightning McQueen! Those two kids were exhausted, but having the time of their lives! Even when it rained on us for an entire day, there was no dampening of spirits! Just rides to ride and huge smiles as they made the most of every moment! After Don was done doing the kid rides, he talked Sydnie into going on some of the "big" rides with him. Don soon found his little "adrenaline junkie" was addicted to speed. That little four year old girl went on Space Mountain, Tower of Terror, Thunder Mountain and anything else that her 42 inches would get her on! It was hilarious how much she loved those rides! Meanwhile, Kade and I got cozy on our numerous trips through the Monsters, Inc. ride and shooting those targets on Buzz Lightyear. However, he loved every second of the one roller coaster that he was tall enough to ride! He kept asking for more rides that went "super fast!" More than anything, it was so fun just exchanging smirks with Don as we watched the kids and relished in the moments of just being there--spending time together as a family.

I think we are just now getting caught up from sleep lost on the trip, but still dreaming of Disney. Even though it's been two weeks since we got back, Kade still answers that he wants to go to Disneyland everytime we get ready to leave in the car. They both wear their "1st visit" buttons they got while in the park that week on an almost daily basis. Kade sleeps with his stuffed Mickey tucked under his arm. Tonight during storytime, he asked to please go on the Monsters ride, and while I was driving with Sydnie today, she told me that the cloud she was looking at looked like Disneyland. I'm afraid they're hooked. The Disney magic is contagious! While we won't be returning for a little while, I'm grateful they made memories worth dreaming about!