Sunday...Do we really have to go home?

If you were a fly on the wall the morning after the birthday festivities, you would have gotten an earful. The conversational topics consisted of such things as...

"Do we really have to leave today?"

"I wonder if it really will take Francis a week to get home?"

"This was the best birthday, evah!"

"I loved that chocolate cupcake that Paige and Alberto gave to me. The frosting was amazing!"

"Can't we just stay another day?"

"I can't believe Francis was hanging out with Grammy! What do you think she did when she opened the door and found him standing there?"

"I had the best time with our friends last night, but I don't think I'll ever get that Kitchen Sink again. That was too much ice cream!"

Insert a shocked look by both parents. Too much ice cream? What is this 'too much ice cream' that she speaks of? Did someone take our child and replace her with another?

"Do we really have to go home today?"

As you can see, no one wanted to go home. This had been a trip to remember, and we didn't want it to end. Unfortunately though, Mark was needed back at work the next day. If I didn't get him back there, I don't think his boss would ever let him go away with his girls again. He might think that we were a bad influence! LOL!

Before we left the room, Renee posed with the birthday card and balloons that Minnie had left for her the day before.

Sigh...she just looks so grown up in that photo, doesn't she?

After loading the van, Renee decided that she wanted to spend her last day in Epcot. She was disappointed that we didn't get to 'Eat Around the World' the way we had planned to. If we spent our afternoon there, she just may be able to sample some new foods!

Side note: We did a ton of mobile food blogging that afternoon. If you are interested in seeing what we sampled, feel free to hop back to the month of October. You'll find it there!

Renee remembered that there had been a pear exhibit last year right in front of the American Pavilion. She wanted to see if they were still giving out the little coins like they did last year, so we made our way over there.

Woo-hoo! It was there again! And you know that the three of us couldn't walk by these cutouts without stopping for some silliness. First up, the 'Proper Princess' Renee.



Agrrrrr. You've realized by now that he really is a pirate, right?



And how funny is this?



Our dear friend, Danny, has been calling me 'Mare Pare' for some time now. Quite fitting, don't you think?

After learning all about pears, Renee wanted to stop by to see if her friends were performing with the Voices of Liberty that afternoon. As we walked inside the American Adventure to look for them, she struck up a conversation with a Cast Member. Before we knew it, we were being whisked upstairs and honored as 'Family of the Day'!



Renee is holding some of those pear coins that she was given at the pear exhibit. I think she wanted her Grammy to know that she didn't line anyone pockets to end up in such high places!

Look at them.



Family of the day, indeed.

Just don't look at the mobile photos I blogged that day. I seem to remember a certain someone being silly and displaying some 'not so perfect' behavior.

;)

When the Voices of Liberty came out, we were all excited to see that Renee's friends were performing that afternoon!



And then, in a total surprise to us, they looked up at the balcony and began to sing.



Sniff, sniff.

After this trip, I think Mark should be working for a tissue company.

After a quick hello, Krista had to head back to work. Jay hung around for a little while though and posed for a photo with Miss Renee.



As we made our way outside, I had to laugh when Mark yelled, "Voices of Liberty rock!"

And you know what? They do, in their own special way.

=)

And, most importantly, they make Renee smile even bigger than you could ever imagine. So to Krista, Jay, and everyone else, thank you for what you do.

Oh, and you so do rock.

LOL!

Off to see some friends in Morocco.

Earlier, while over in the New Orleans exhibit, we had picked up a few extra necklaces for Jasmine and Aladdin.



Yup. I think they liked them.

It was beginning to get a little late in the afternoon, but there was a new attraction over in Innoventions that we really wanted Mark to experience.

'Slap Stick Studios' proudly presented by Velcro would like to know...What's Your Problem?!



Looks like their problem is that nobody is there to give them their tickets!

I guess they were cute enough to not need tickets. Once inside the theatre, guess who was chosen to participate in this amazing game show?



Yup.

And did you know that Velcro is the brand name of the product? It's really called 'hook and loop'. Never knew that!

When they spun the 'Wheel of Seemingly Insurmountable Problems', they were lucky (or not!) to have it land on 'Pack it On'.

Now I can't remember whether Mark's humongous cape was the hook or loop part, but either way, he looked pretty darn incredible in it.



Then Renee had to try to stick as many travel items as she possibly could to Mark's amazing cape!



Just watch. You'll love it!



I really have to learn how to keep my hand steady while shooting video of something that is making me laugh. Between Francis' phone call the day before and their frantic packing this afternoon, my hand was all over the place!

After making and dressing a really cool (FREE!) Velcro frog outside of the theatre, we decided to head over towards one of Renee's favorite attractions.

A little 'Where's the Fire?', anyone?



And just to warn you, if you ever have the opportunity to play Renee in this game, she will totally kick your butt!

Before we headed back over to the World Showcase, Renee really wanted Mark to see Innoventions' 'Smart House'. We timed it perfectly, because a new tour was about to head inside!
In this house, there's an awesome room that has a bunch of electronic musical instruments. Why didn't they have these when we were growing up?

Of course, they had a drum set. The one instrument that Mark always threatens Grammy with that Renee will one day play.

Guess who was handed the pair of drumsticks?



I think Mark was jealous that he didn't get to play them, too!

As we made our way back towards the World Showcase, we stopped to enjoy the hidden beauty that makes Epcot what it is.

We are always sad to leave, but we thought that one last visit with Aladdin and Jasmine might just help a little.

We also thought it would be fun to surprise them with the Velcro frogs we had made. I don't think they have things like this in Agrabah.



Aren't they cute?

Because it was beginning to get dark, Jasmine, Aladdin, and Genie were about to head inside. Renee was quickly whisked away in their little group, and Mark and I happily followed along.



Jasmine's body language may say that she is mad (the classic hands on the hips pose!), but I can assure you that she wasn't. She was quite happy that Aladdin was giving Princess Renee the royal treatment, and smiled through the whole thing!

When we walked inside and gave Aladdin the Velcro frogs, he came up with his own use for them. He decided to stick them on Genie.

Things got a little crazy after that when Aladdin figured they might look better as a bikini top.

As you can see, Renee is pretty amused!

I guess I'll have to admit that I was the one who sent it over the top. I figured that my red hair would make a perfect Ariel wig for Genie, and he really seemed to enjoy dressing up. Just look at his smile!

Renee, on the other hand, couldn't even look at the camera. She was either laughing hysterically, or totally embarrassed by my behavior.

We shared a sad goodbye, and walked towards the front of Morocco.

Another beautiful sunset, and this one would have to last us until our next visit.

As we walked towards the gates, Mark and I came to a quick conclusion. We both know that Renee is pretty smart, but she is getting quite crafty, too. As of late, she has come up with cleverly disguised plans at delaying our departure for home. This could come as a request to stop and browse through a store, the cry of hunger, or even a reminder to us that we forgot to fulfill a promise we had made to her earlier in the trip.

Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner, folks! Mark and I had promised Renee she could fill one of those pixie stick tubes at the beginning of our vacation, and we couldn't go back on a promise.

Hmmm. Does it look like she was winking at me?

I'm sure she was secretly patting herself on the back. She had put off our departure for at least another 20 minutes, and I think she was quite proud.

As we made our way around the Boardwalk, these are the faces that looked at me.

Sad, aren't they?

I, on the other hand, had to keep a happy smile on my face. Inside I was crying, but someone needed to keep the group's spirits up!

In another attempt to extend her amazingly wonderful birthday trip, Miss Renee curled up on one of the couches that flank the entrance to the Yacht Club.



What she didn't take into consideration is that she can still be carried.

Even against her will.

Which, if under the right circumstances, can turn into a tickle war that will make anyone smile.

LOL!

It was pretty tough driving off property. Maybe it was the kindness of others, the joy in Renee's smile, or possibly the amazing memories we had made that made it so hard to leave this time.

As I drove towards Georgia, I knew one thing for sure. Although we will return soon, this family trip will remain in our hearts forever.

See you real soon...