We survived Mini’s birthday weekend.  Mike and I are completely exhausted, but we did it.  72 hours of non stop festivities.  All for Miss Mini turning the big 3.  We decided instead of a party this year, we would take her and my sweet little niece Milania to Disney World for an overnight trip.   In the middle of June.  When it is 100 degrees.  Yes, I am insane.  But it was so worth it.  Let me start by saying, I am not Disney’s biggest fan.  Of course I think is it magical and fabulous.   But I also love beach vacations.  And margaritas.  Oh wait, I had a margarita in Epcot.  But it’s different.   What I do love about Disney?  Is seeing it through the eyes of my child.  The excitement and thrill she had seeing all the characters was simply the best thing ever.   It was worth all the sweating and overpriced bottles of water.

Here is the weekend in photos.  Be prepared.  There are A LOT of photos.

It all started like this….

We went to our favorite Mommy and Me story time at the library

Unfortunately our cupcake party in the park got rained out.  Big time.  Poor Mini got soaked.

We woke the birthday girl up super early, went to pick up Milania and spent an entire day sweating our tushies off in the Magic Kingdom.

Went back to the hotel to relax and give the girls a quick bath.  We stayed at the Contemporary Hotel so we would have fast access via the monorail in and out of the park.  We made dinner reservations at Liberty Tree Tavern.  There is nothing I love more than a Thanksgiving type dinner.  Seriously, nothing.  They all came and sang Happy Birthday to Miss Mini and she shared her chocolate cupcake with her cousin of course.  Mini and Milania got to meet Elsa and Ana, and let me just tell you, that may have been the most exciting part of the whole day for them.  Oh, and see their matching side ponytails.  How stinking cute?  I was having way too much fun with this…

Exhausted, we decided to head back to the hotel during the last parade.  I would have totally stayed for the fireworks, but scrooge, I mean Mike, didn’t want to get stuck in the crowds leaving the park.  So back we went.  We stopped in the hotel to grab the necessesities, milk and wine.  Within 5 minutes of putting the girls into their matching princess pjs, it was lights out.  Literally.

I was thrilled to wake up at 7am and realize I actually got to sleep through the night.  Those two girls were pooped.  We met Aunt Jessica for breakfast and we all high-tailed it to Epcot.  Mini loved meeting all the characters in the park.  Milania, not so much on this trip.  Toddlers are so funny like that, so much is dependent on their moods at the time.  Luckily she cheered up when we put her in her princess dress.   They colored and danced in Italy and had an amazing Princess lunch.  We made a deal with Mini.  She agreed to give Cinderella all of her paci’s for other little baby girls.  In exchange Cinderella was going to give her a present.  Since Mini was dressed as Cinderella, I bought a big Cinderella tiara.  When Cinderella explained to Mini that she was a princess and a big girl and placed that tiara on top of her head, I about died.  It was the most adorable thing ever.   Mini must have taken her very seriously, because that was Sunday and she has been paci free ever since.  Whew.  Thank you Cinderella.  I only wish I did this sooner, because the $17.95 tiara would have saved me the 10k I will likely have to spend on orthodontic treatment..oh well.

After lunch we headed back to Grandma’s house for a birthday BBQ.  I know.  The fun continued.  We really wanted to be able to celebrate with our whole family and have everyone sing Happy Birthday to Mini.  Mike took over the grill and I played bartender.  And by that I mean, I drank all the wine.  Listen, it was a long weekend.  Mini was so excited to come home and see her baby Joey.  She was more excited to open all of her little presents.  She is one lucky girl who has so many people who love her.

The whole weekend was a success.  I can’t believe my little baby is 3.   I love nothing more than being her mama.

Happy Birthday Mini.

Love Mama, Daddy and Baby Joey (who is seriously going to question why he isn’t in any Disney photos..)

The green mermaid stares at me as I drive by.  She lures me in with promise of pep and energy.  I am drawn to her, with bags under my eyes and a to-do list longer than the declaration of independence.   There is something about Starbucks that keeps me and everyone else coming back time and time again.  For some it becomes a habit.  A daily occurrence.  Their coffee pot collects dust in a corner on their counter.  They stop in every morning for their daily fix.

That sounds amazing. 

To go everyday and have my coffee made exactly the way I like it.  To have someone else pour the milk and stir in my splenda.  Oh how I wish.  However I would have to choose coffee over sending my children to college.  Because at $3 a pop, I wouldn’t be able to afford my own coffee habit.  I drink 3 cups before I begin to function in the morning.  I would be $9 bucks in the hole before I even washed the sleep off of my face.  How would I explain that to my children.  Sorry, you’re really going to have to try for that scholarship.  Mama was just so damn tired.

Still, every once in a while a triple shot latte is exactly what I need.  I remember when I had my first.  Don’t you always remember your first?  It was recommended to me by a law school student who hadn’t slept in 3 weeks.  That is not an exaggeration.  I figured if it was keeping her awake, it may help me get over the afternoon slump.  You know, when the kids start getting cranky, it’s time to start dinner and you look around and realize you didn’t get a damn thing done all day.   And for some reason you are exhausted?  That triple shot will hit the spot.  After just one sip you’ll feel a rise in energy.  I kid you not I will fly around my house throwing toys in the correct bins, while whipping up a dinner that doesn’t include scrambled eggs for once, all while randomly stopping to bust out a set of 10 squats.  No lie.  That really happened.   And yes, my butt was sore the next day.  I paid for that latte in more ways than one I’ll tell you.

I just have to wonder why they make the coffee so hot.  I mean ridiculously hot.  So hot, that if I want to drink my Starbucks at 1pm I need to order it at noon.  If by chance you forget how hot they are you will be reminded when you walk away from the counter and take a big sip.  Feel the 300 degree espresso burn its way down your throat as the frothy milk feels like Satan’s jacuzzi at the base of your tongue.  Just act calm as you walk out of the store.  Those people sitting in the big comfy chairs, they are professional Starbucks drinkers.  If you look shocked at the temperature you may as well never step foot in that location again.  Because the same people will be there tomorrow to judge you like the newbie you are.  Don’t worry though, there is another Starbucks within walking distance, so just head there and remember: don’t take a sip right away.

And what is with the Starbucks verbage?  I walked into a Starbucks recently to grab a quick cup of coffee.  I ordered my non-fat cappuccino and stood there while the barista rang my credit card through the machine.  Up walks a girl to the other open spot at the counter.  “Can I please have a grande triple soy chai latte, extra hot no foam?”   What the fuck!?  I turn to look and everyone has a straight face.  I must be getting punked.  What the hell is that?!  Who drinks that!?  How do you even get to that conclusion.  Do you start with a chai latte?  Then develop a milk intolerance, so you must switch to soy?  Need a boost, so you have to add the extra shot?  Extra hot??  Did you not hear me before?  The coffee comes out 300 fucking degrees!  Do you like your tongue?  Because you just burned it off.  And the no foam?  I just can’t deal.  What an jerk.  I’m all for ordering a coffee, or even a “fancy” type of coffee as my father would say.  But that girl crossed a line.   And I will forever think she is an asshole.

So I hate Starbucks, yet love it all at the same time.  The mermaid makes me smile, because like I said, if I am holding Starbucks I am dressed and that means at least one day this week I really have my shit together.