So I'll start at the end (and than backtrack) because it sums up the whole experience.
We'd just finished meeting 5 Disney Princesses, one on one, face to face, hugs, pictures, conversations...unbelievable. The final princess was Mulan...big surprise. I had forewarned Isabella that she would probably not meet Mulan. There isn't a lot of Mulan paraphanalia/souvenirs/etc...around and we hadn't heard of others meeting her. Than she burst through the door and it was MAGIC!!!! After she had left, I exclaimed to Isabella, "What a wonderful surprise, wasn't that wonderful to see Mulan? We didn't think we'd meet her! WAs that exciting?"
Isabella said something softly (she'd been speaking very softly through the whole breakfeast and reminding us too...just like a princess). I didn't hear her...I asked her to say it again.
Very softly my beautiful daughter with her face shining said, "Someday I will bring my babies here".
I started crying. Grandma Grace started crying. Daddy started crying. We were all crying, we couldn't contain it. I reached across the table and asked Isabella for her hand, she extended it, I squeezed it told her how much I loved her and she told me she loved me too.
I have so much welling up in me reflecting on that moment. Perhaps you won't ever be able to grasp the innocense, the beauty, the joy of the moment, or understand that it was a very special way in which Isabella was telling us thank you for the experience with such profound maturity and gratitude. It was a moment where you go, ok I am doing something right here. It was a moment of perfection. IT WAS MAGIC...I don't think that the three of us (mom, me, and Bry) will ever be able to forget it. It's a story we'll tell when she gets married, when she's pregnant, and someday a story I will tell my grandchildren as we embark on a Disney adventure together. That moment was the stuff that life is made of and is meant to be about.
So let me start at the beginning. I hope you'll take the time to read this, especially if you're a Disney cynic, or if you plan on traveling there someday, or just if you're a parent who treasures magic moments with your children.
I was so excited for this breakfeast with the princesses that I did not fall asleep until 2:30 a.m. last night (my alarm went off at 6:20 a.m. this morning). My mind was racing - is the camera charged, which princess will be there, will the girls like their princess dresses Grandma got them, will we be on time, will it be everything I'm expecting or a disappointment.
Up I got and started getting ready and than getting the girls ready...curlers in the hair for both of our princesses. Than into Grandma's room we went for them to receive their very special princess dresses that Grandma had got for them to wear! Isabella was excited, Veronica proclaimed 'NO WAY' when we asked her if she was going to wear it and went giggling out of the room:)
Isabella had Grandma and Daddy close their eyes while she got her Cinderella dress and crown on and entered the room! She was so beautiful. I always wondered what she would look like as a Cinderella...it was PERFECT!!! With a ponytail of curls on top of her head and her long, lean body...she was an enchanting Cinderella.
Veronica became quite excited seeing her sister in her dress and got hers on with the help of Daddy and Grandma...and oh my! I always knew that little girl would make the most adorable Snow White out there and was I ever right! SHE WAS ADORABLE! The little red hair bow and the little pink cape attached to the back of her costume made it perfect...CUTENESS TO THE MAX!!!
We arrived at Epcot plenty early, got a great parking spot and enjoyed a leisurely, beautiful walk over to the Norway pavillion. I checked us in and we waited outside taking pictures and taking in all of the other little princesses arriving! From the moment we got to the Norway pavillion, Isabella became extremely quiet and calm and I could tell what she was doing...she was going into 'princess mode'...emboding all the little things she has heard about princesses and their manners...it was very darn cute.
As I checked us in, I could see through the doorway that it was Belle in her beautiful yellow ballgown that would be greeting us once we entered!!! Oh boy, exciting!!! I told Isabella there was a princess inside waiting to meet us and did she want to know who it was or did she want it to be a surprise. Very softly she whispered with her eyes twinkling, "I want it to be a surprise".
Our family was announced and invited in and as we came into the entryway, Isabella caught site of the yellow ball gown and knew it was Belle! Right before the girls were to go up for their meeting and picture with Belle, Veronica started to get a bit nervous and cling to Daddy's leg. Belle came right up to Isabella and hugged her and grabbed her hand and I grabbed Veronica's hand and walked her up to Belle and she was fine...happy in fact:) My little girls held Belle's hand...Veronica staring up in wonder, Isabella so quiet and calm. She twirled them around and danced wiht them and they all smiled for a beautiful picture and off we were to our table.
Per the advice of our good friend Stacy Nelson I had asked a worker to point out the entrance the princesses would be entering from during the meal. The lady pointed it out and so we knew what side of the table we wanted Isabella on. As the hostess walked us to our table, I could have fallen over. We were at the table right next to the door, meaning we would be the first to meet the princesses and that our girls would see them the second they dashed through the door. I could have cried. So we sat down and I didn't quite know what to do. We didn't know when the princesses would be coming. Our server took our drink order and told us he would be bringing us a hot plate of food and to help ourselves to the buffet table of pastries and fruit. I pushed my luck and dashed to the buffet, leaving the rest of the crew behind and loaded up a plate with fruit and pastries and got back. A moment later our server brought our plate of hot food, we were settling in, starting to eat a little, when...
Ok, break moment, I'm getting teary remembering this as I type it:)
...Woosh, the door flew open and out came Aurora (Sleeping Beauty). It was so unexpected and I happened to see Isabella's face perfectly. She literally was in complete awe, kind of numb...just totally awestruck...no smile, just super HUGE eyes. Aurora floated right over to her and started talking and Isabella couldn't even speak and we told her to go ahead and stand up and Isabella quickly stood up on her chair and as she stood up, I could see through her dress that she was holding her tummy so tight I don't think she was breathing. As this all is happening, we're so excited and overwhelmed by Isabella's reaction that I'm crying, G'ma Grace is crying, Daddy forgot to videotape, Veronica is staring with a wide open mouth while holding a piece of bacon, and I'm fumbling with the camera. I'm supposed to be the parent, but I felt like I was the kid I was so darn excited!!!
Off Aurora dashed to the next table and Isabella started to breath again and this huge smile swept over her face and she was in full princess mode, reminding all of us to talk quiet and to chew with her mouth closed.
Veronica sat and munched on a piece of bacon without making a peep and her eyes never left any of the princesses as they moved through the room. She as well was truly awestruck and SO QUIET. We all marveled at what a wonderful meal it was - the kids were deafeningly quiet and actually ate.
We'd barely recovered from Aurora when the door flew open and there was Jasmine before our eyes! Beautiful, so adorable in her outfit!
Than the door flew open and it was SNOW WHITE!!! Very exciting as we had our own little Snow White at the table!!!:) Snow White took some extra time doting after Veronica since they were twins.
At this point, I had gotten up from our table and station myself by the 'magic door'. I figured there was one more princess left. When that door flew open and Mulan walked through, I can't even describe. Isabella is into Mulan, but I just never imagined we'd see her based on what I had heard from others. In the world of being a parent, it was a dream come true!
We told Mulan we didn't think we'd see her and we were so excited and she was so nice and sweet to the girls. As she was preparing to leave, I told Isabella why don't you give her one more hug and say thank you, and Isabella turned and hugged me and said, "Thank you Mommy"...again...I was about to cry:)
Isabella was SO incredibly well mannered and respectful with these princesses. She hugged them so softly as not to ruin their hair:) She took her picture very quickly with them and had her 'moment' with them so they could move on. She was such a good girl and so well-mannered.
I don't think I have ever seen Isabella so quiet and in awe of something...she was just mesmerized. AFter each princess would leave, she would sit back down and the shocked face would break into the purest, happiest smile around.
Veronica was absolutely adorable too. The princesses would bend down to talk to her and she would just STARE at them with those big brown eyes! Once they left our table, her eyes never left them. After her visit from Snow White, she asked a short time later, "Where Snow White, Where Snow White". She loved it as much as her big sister...it was fun to see our little baby in the midst of the magic!!!
We'd just finished meeting 5 Disney Princesses, one on one, face to face, hugs, pictures, conversations...unbelievable. The final princess was Mulan...big surprise. I had forewarned Isabella that she would probably not meet Mulan. There isn't a lot of Mulan paraphanalia/souvenirs/etc...around and we hadn't heard of others meeting her. Than she burst through the door and it was MAGIC!!!! After she had left, I exclaimed to Isabella, "What a wonderful surprise, wasn't that wonderful to see Mulan? We didn't think we'd meet her! WAs that exciting?"
Isabella said something softly (she'd been speaking very softly through the whole breakfeast and reminding us too...just like a princess). I didn't hear her...I asked her to say it again.
Very softly my beautiful daughter with her face shining said, "Someday I will bring my babies here".
I started crying. Grandma Grace started crying. Daddy started crying. We were all crying, we couldn't contain it. I reached across the table and asked Isabella for her hand, she extended it, I squeezed it told her how much I loved her and she told me she loved me too.
I have so much welling up in me reflecting on that moment. Perhaps you won't ever be able to grasp the innocense, the beauty, the joy of the moment, or understand that it was a very special way in which Isabella was telling us thank you for the experience with such profound maturity and gratitude. It was a moment where you go, ok I am doing something right here. It was a moment of perfection. IT WAS MAGIC...I don't think that the three of us (mom, me, and Bry) will ever be able to forget it. It's a story we'll tell when she gets married, when she's pregnant, and someday a story I will tell my grandchildren as we embark on a Disney adventure together. That moment was the stuff that life is made of and is meant to be about.
So let me start at the beginning. I hope you'll take the time to read this, especially if you're a Disney cynic, or if you plan on traveling there someday, or just if you're a parent who treasures magic moments with your children.
I was so excited for this breakfeast with the princesses that I did not fall asleep until 2:30 a.m. last night (my alarm went off at 6:20 a.m. this morning). My mind was racing - is the camera charged, which princess will be there, will the girls like their princess dresses Grandma got them, will we be on time, will it be everything I'm expecting or a disappointment.
Up I got and started getting ready and than getting the girls ready...curlers in the hair for both of our princesses. Than into Grandma's room we went for them to receive their very special princess dresses that Grandma had got for them to wear! Isabella was excited, Veronica proclaimed 'NO WAY' when we asked her if she was going to wear it and went giggling out of the room:)
Isabella had Grandma and Daddy close their eyes while she got her Cinderella dress and crown on and entered the room! She was so beautiful. I always wondered what she would look like as a Cinderella...it was PERFECT!!! With a ponytail of curls on top of her head and her long, lean body...she was an enchanting Cinderella.
Veronica became quite excited seeing her sister in her dress and got hers on with the help of Daddy and Grandma...and oh my! I always knew that little girl would make the most adorable Snow White out there and was I ever right! SHE WAS ADORABLE! The little red hair bow and the little pink cape attached to the back of her costume made it perfect...CUTENESS TO THE MAX!!!
We arrived at Epcot plenty early, got a great parking spot and enjoyed a leisurely, beautiful walk over to the Norway pavillion. I checked us in and we waited outside taking pictures and taking in all of the other little princesses arriving! From the moment we got to the Norway pavillion, Isabella became extremely quiet and calm and I could tell what she was doing...she was going into 'princess mode'...emboding all the little things she has heard about princesses and their manners...it was very darn cute.
As I checked us in, I could see through the doorway that it was Belle in her beautiful yellow ballgown that would be greeting us once we entered!!! Oh boy, exciting!!! I told Isabella there was a princess inside waiting to meet us and did she want to know who it was or did she want it to be a surprise. Very softly she whispered with her eyes twinkling, "I want it to be a surprise".
Our family was announced and invited in and as we came into the entryway, Isabella caught site of the yellow ball gown and knew it was Belle! Right before the girls were to go up for their meeting and picture with Belle, Veronica started to get a bit nervous and cling to Daddy's leg. Belle came right up to Isabella and hugged her and grabbed her hand and I grabbed Veronica's hand and walked her up to Belle and she was fine...happy in fact:) My little girls held Belle's hand...Veronica staring up in wonder, Isabella so quiet and calm. She twirled them around and danced wiht them and they all smiled for a beautiful picture and off we were to our table.
Per the advice of our good friend Stacy Nelson I had asked a worker to point out the entrance the princesses would be entering from during the meal. The lady pointed it out and so we knew what side of the table we wanted Isabella on. As the hostess walked us to our table, I could have fallen over. We were at the table right next to the door, meaning we would be the first to meet the princesses and that our girls would see them the second they dashed through the door. I could have cried. So we sat down and I didn't quite know what to do. We didn't know when the princesses would be coming. Our server took our drink order and told us he would be bringing us a hot plate of food and to help ourselves to the buffet table of pastries and fruit. I pushed my luck and dashed to the buffet, leaving the rest of the crew behind and loaded up a plate with fruit and pastries and got back. A moment later our server brought our plate of hot food, we were settling in, starting to eat a little, when...
Ok, break moment, I'm getting teary remembering this as I type it:)
...Woosh, the door flew open and out came Aurora (Sleeping Beauty). It was so unexpected and I happened to see Isabella's face perfectly. She literally was in complete awe, kind of numb...just totally awestruck...no smile, just super HUGE eyes. Aurora floated right over to her and started talking and Isabella couldn't even speak and we told her to go ahead and stand up and Isabella quickly stood up on her chair and as she stood up, I could see through her dress that she was holding her tummy so tight I don't think she was breathing. As this all is happening, we're so excited and overwhelmed by Isabella's reaction that I'm crying, G'ma Grace is crying, Daddy forgot to videotape, Veronica is staring with a wide open mouth while holding a piece of bacon, and I'm fumbling with the camera. I'm supposed to be the parent, but I felt like I was the kid I was so darn excited!!!
Off Aurora dashed to the next table and Isabella started to breath again and this huge smile swept over her face and she was in full princess mode, reminding all of us to talk quiet and to chew with her mouth closed.
Veronica sat and munched on a piece of bacon without making a peep and her eyes never left any of the princesses as they moved through the room. She as well was truly awestruck and SO QUIET. We all marveled at what a wonderful meal it was - the kids were deafeningly quiet and actually ate.
We'd barely recovered from Aurora when the door flew open and there was Jasmine before our eyes! Beautiful, so adorable in her outfit!
Than the door flew open and it was SNOW WHITE!!! Very exciting as we had our own little Snow White at the table!!!:) Snow White took some extra time doting after Veronica since they were twins.
At this point, I had gotten up from our table and station myself by the 'magic door'. I figured there was one more princess left. When that door flew open and Mulan walked through, I can't even describe. Isabella is into Mulan, but I just never imagined we'd see her based on what I had heard from others. In the world of being a parent, it was a dream come true!
We told Mulan we didn't think we'd see her and we were so excited and she was so nice and sweet to the girls. As she was preparing to leave, I told Isabella why don't you give her one more hug and say thank you, and Isabella turned and hugged me and said, "Thank you Mommy"...again...I was about to cry:)
Isabella was SO incredibly well mannered and respectful with these princesses. She hugged them so softly as not to ruin their hair:) She took her picture very quickly with them and had her 'moment' with them so they could move on. She was such a good girl and so well-mannered.
I don't think I have ever seen Isabella so quiet and in awe of something...she was just mesmerized. AFter each princess would leave, she would sit back down and the shocked face would break into the purest, happiest smile around.
Veronica was absolutely adorable too. The princesses would bend down to talk to her and she would just STARE at them with those big brown eyes! Once they left our table, her eyes never left them. After her visit from Snow White, she asked a short time later, "Where Snow White, Where Snow White". She loved it as much as her big sister...it was fun to see our little baby in the midst of the magic!!!
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