Birthday in Disney Paris

We had planned on taking the little gentlemen to Disney for Benjamin's birthday.  Eric had something at work and he couldn't take off.  What to do?  What to do?  I decided it would be better to go on my own rather than not go and be bitter about it.  So we went.  

We found a good grocery in the train station right outside of Disney, yummy baguettes for breakfast kept three little dudes happy and full.  They were really good.  I think this will be our new norm before we head into the park.

 Disney Paris is awesome.  I LOVE this magic bean stalk.  Another thing I love is the dragon lair beneath the castle.  There is a huge animatronic dragon that is a little unnerving when it lifts it's head up and snorts. Unnerving, but super cool.  And the pirate caves to explore are super cool too.

We were there during the transition time.  We saw three different parades as they were shifting to the Christmas themed parade.  We were also there for the last night of the firework animation show.  We missed the Frozen show. Drats.

I learned that the hotel lobby has a character meet at 4 pm everyday.   You dont have to be staying at the hotel so we tried it out.  AWESOME!!  We got to see lots of characters and interact with them not just pose for a picture and get an autograph.  Goofy was a hoot.  And Mickey would dance with the children, or tussle their hair.  Later we went to City Hall and Mickey gave Benjamin a birthday phone call.  The cute lady gave Benj and his two brothers a coupon to get a free gift in the shop.  Very cool!

So the photo below is blurry but I am adding it anyway as it was my favorite photo bomb ever.  We were visiting with Chip and ready for a picture when Dale jumped in front of the camera.  It made me laugh out loud.  Dale then pointed to Isaac's holey (not holy) mouth and then pointed back and forth from his holey mouth to Isaac's.  He then gave Isaac high five.  Evidently they are part of an elite group of cool holey mouth dudes.  I loved him because he happily made Isaac feel special. 

Happy Birthday Benjamin!!!

Just a reminder that Benjamin threw up at the hotel our last night.  He slept well, and the next day he seemed fine.  Ha.  Too bad Eric wasn't there....for lots of reasons...one of which, he would have kindly cleaned up the throw up mess. :)

Paris with the Mère

HALLOWEEN

Autumn...(contented sigh)  I love you.   The crisp air, scarfs, the leaves changing color completion, and of course Halloween.  We celebrate it all month long around these parts. 

side note:  One of my best talents is choosing good friends.  In the words of Lacey, "I'm not just good at it.  I'm really good at it."  One such friend is Erin Glover, who is a blogging diva.  She caught some pictures of our wii characters. Her blog is linked here.  Go way back, there are like 10 blogs with the little men in it, including USAG trunk-or-treating. :)

 Benjamin's costume was my magnum opus.  He told me he wanted to be Bowser, from Mario Wii, months ago.  DRATS-They don't sell Bowser costumes...so I made one.  He looked awesome, though he wouldn't wear the shell front or a jagged necklace , but you could still guess who he was.  

 I was inspired by a Coorduroy book, who made a dragon costume.  I liked how he did the mask as 
a hat.


So on Halloween we went trunk-or-treating.  And the following Saturday we went to the property party, which is always awesome.  The kids run around, we dance and eat yummy food.  Good times!

Family Pictures...round I

Benjamin's THREEEE?!?!

Benjamin was born about 7 months ago, so I really wonder how it is possible that we are celebrating his 3rd birthday, and yet there were three candles on his birthday cake.

    

At 3 years Benjamin loves:
His mom
Sleeping with his mom


Snuggling his mom
The beanie baby monkey
Nursery
Going to school at Kevin's house
Granola bars
Jake and the Neverland Pirates & Octonauts
Seth's night light
Gum
Gabby
Dispensing water from the water cooler
Popcorn
Nutella
Chocolate milk
Riding his "tryc" around the family room
Laughing with Seth
Isaac
DisneyLand Paris
Watching movies in the car
Remembering funny things that happen in movies
Pretending he is a dog
Bowser
Singing
Diego
When I sing "I can fly" from Peter Pan.  It's his lullaby of choice.
Pretending he is Diego and I am Alicia...or Luke SkyWalker and princess Lea respectively
Suckers after he gets his hair cut
Reading books or just looking at the pictures

At 3 years Benjamin is not a fan of:
Seth or Isaac riding his "tryc" around the family room...at least not when he wants it
Eating dinner when everyone else is eating... nor sitting at the table
Flossing
Turning on the light in the bathroom
When Seth takes something away from him, he gets feisty
Holding my hand in parking lots
Walking far distances
When I don't snuggle him at night
Climbing up high at parks or on ladders

Benjamin is a delight to have in our home.  He is easily entreated.  It is such a I am thrilled that he can be reasoned with.  He changes his attitude quickly if he thinks it will make me happy.  And when I am upset, he knows how to reach my heart, he just tilts his little head and says to me with a smile, "Be happy." It is amazing how well it works.  He has a vivid imagination.  He can play for hours with his little action figures all by himself. I love listening to the conversations he develops between his little toy men.  They are usually engaged in animated dialogue, and he often changes his voice lower to sound more masculine.  He is my joy.  I love, love, love him and I am overjoyed that the feeling is reciprocated. He is a very loving man.  He is quick to give a hug if it is requested, and maybe even if it isn't.  His papa is a big sucker for the little man.  Benj gives his daddy unsolicited love and Eric just beams.  I think Benjamin makes Eric's eyes sparkle more than anyone else, even me.  It's as if having Benjamin's love is the biggest compliment in the world, and Eric cant get over how lucky he is to have Benjamin's love.