“But the most wonderful thing about Tiggers is….”
Well? What is it? Do you remember?
Sorry, getting ahead of myself here.
First of all, note to self: Do not attempt to write a post at nearly midnight. Especially not while Blogger’s spell check option is still down and you are too lazy to paste it into Word to use spell check. Otherwise, you will re-read said post the next day and find a zillion typos and cringe.
To all of you who read that post before I could get my editing hands on it, I sincerely apologize.
Alrighty now, peeps.
I promised pictures. And because I followed the leading of the Lord and unloaded my camera card the day before The Camera Incident, I actually have pictures with which to fulfill that promise.
Which is a Very Good Thing, because otherwise I would have lost this picture:
And I would have had to banish myself from stepping foot in the Happiest Place on Earth ever again as penance.
Because, DO YOU SEE THAT??? Troy got to meet Tigga-Tigga… er, uh, Tigger. This was at the beginning of D’land Day Two, and was certainly the highlight of both days put together. He was beside himself. He’d been talking all week about wanting to see “Mick Mouse,” but his 23-month-old mind never dreamed he’d see Tigga-Tigga.
He was ready to bounce right out of that stroller seat.
Troy loves Tigger, mostly because he figured out the first time he watched The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh that Tigger lives for bouncing. Not unlike the little boy who lives in this house. So he frequently hops and jumps around the house, singing to himself, “Bounce! Bounce! Tigga-Tigga!”
When he saw his big orange-and-brown-striped buddy, he didn’t even hesitate to go right up, adorned in the Tigger ears he’d already been wearing, and say, “HI! Tigga-Tigga!” and give him hugs, kisses and the whole nine yards.
It was slightly different than the pictures we have of me at his age with Cinderella, my then-favorite Disney character–so awe-struck that I clung to my parents in stunned silence.
Even Merritt showed more enthusiasm for the trip than Disney-crazed-me seemed to, judging from those Cinderella pictures.
Although it could just have something to do with the fact that he was all comfy in the stroller and was being held much of the time.
We love to stop and listen to the ragtime piano player on Main Street. When John and I were engaged and my family was at the Land of the Mouse, we talked to the piano player for a bit and he even asked me to play on that old piano. I’d love to say that I’d hopped right up and played “The Entertainer” with ease, but my nerves got the best of me and I sat there and drew an utter, complete blank. Also, the only version of “The Entertainer” I’d ever played was probably all of four lines long, consisted of about two “hand positions” and said “Alfred’s Level 2″ on the cover. But I did go home and learn Elite Syncopations after that day at D’land to play in my next recital.
This is Mom and I at the beginning of Day One, pre-ears.
This is Mom and Troy, partway through Day One, post-ears.
Then Troy and me, post-ears.
Dad and Zach are too cool for ears. But not us, nosirree. We are too cool to NOT wear ears. Mmhmm.
And if you want some hilarious back story to the ears and Disney hats, read it here. Goodness gracious, we are a crazy bunch.
At the beginning of Day Two, we stopped inside the entrance and took the Token Shot In Front of the Mickey Mouse Face… the boys, Zach and I.
Then we did the same shot with Mom and Dad and the boys–Grammie and Grandpa Dule with the grandbabies.
Ha. It looks like that’s them with their own little family. That’s what they get for letting their daughter get married at eighteen. How dare they??? AHEM.
We think Troy is going to love him some thrill-rides when he’s older. Look close–see his hands in the air?
Although, to be quite honest, this is not something he only does when riding on the “Dudmo” ride with Grammie. He also raises his hands in his carseat and shouts, “Slow down!! Woohoo!!” any time we round a curve in the car or drive over 40mph. It has nothing, NOTHING, to do with my driving. Don’t go thinking bad things about me, now.
Merritt, on the other hand, is quite content to simply sit in Grandpa’s arms.
Well, most of the time, I guess. Somehow, Grandpa Dule always gets Merritt right before it’s time for him to eat.
Time for the baby to eat, that is, not the Grandpa. Well, maybe the Grandpa too, but he’s a little more self-sufficient when it comes to feeding himself.
After all his talk about wanting to see Mick Mouse and the great reception Tigger received earlier in the day, Troy and I waited in a ridiculously long line to see The Mouse Himself in his home in Toon Town. And as it would happen, Troy then decided he wasn’t too sure about seeing the Mouse. Talking to him was fine, but sitting with him to take a picture wasn’t so appealing.
Sorry Mickey, I guess Tigger won this time around.
But he did give Mickey a hi-five before we left the Mouse’s humble abode.
Frankly, playing in this little stationary car proved to be more fun. And there wasn’t a forty-five minute line to play in the car.
Some friends of Zach’s–two sisters, Jessie and Lindsey, who he knows from Camp Ironwood and who also like bluegrass music–met us there for the day to celebrate Jessie’s birthday.
They all got hats, too, in case you missed that fact.
While they stood in line for Indiana Jones and the two moms talked and held Merritt, Dad and I took Troy on a few more little-person-type rides. We went on Dumbo again and the Teacups twice. The Three Musketeers we were.
At the end of it all, we had two tired out little boys. Not to mention the mom, grandparents and uncle.
But it was oh-so-worth-it. Because after all, this is the Happiest Place on Earth.
Grafted Branch@Restoring the Years says:
Looks like so much fun with your little men!
Every other year or so, we make the trip. 3 days–spending the last swearing off every doing it again.
And in a few short months, we’ve forgotten the pain and find ourselves pining for the happiest place on earth again…
(And yes, your parents could easily me mistaken for your children’s parents!)
[Reply]
February 23rd, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Tiffany says:
How much fun!!!! I had so much fun just looking at the pictures!!! Im so excited that Troy got to see Tigger!!!! I can’t wait to see him having so much fun at the Happiest place on earth!!!
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February 23rd, 2008 at 9:40 pm
Mishel says:
What a blast we had!! And to think, we get to do it one more time! : )
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February 23rd, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Ginger says:
I LOVE tigger myself!! I still get tigger stuff animals and such for birthdays and Chrsitmas…etc…
About the spell check thing it’s finally back up and working or it was on mine tonight anyway…That was quite annoying not having that!!
Loved…the pictures they were so cute!!
Ginger
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February 23rd, 2008 at 9:54 pm
Robin says:
…because he’s the ONLY one! Of course. Tigger was my Dad’s favorite.
Pictures are great! You tell such a wonderful story, pictures and all.
Happy week-end.
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February 23rd, 2008 at 11:08 pm
Leah says:
Looks like fun! ;) What cute pictures. :)
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February 24th, 2008 at 10:32 am
Nicole says:
“The wonderful thing about tiggers is, I’m the only one!”
Wow, can’t believe I still remember that after all these years! Glad you guys are having fun with Disneyland. :) I can’t wait to take Caleb. Thanks for sharing the pictures. . . absolutely adorable. :)
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February 24th, 2008 at 11:42 am
Mel's Mom says:
What a great post with great pictures!! My first trip to the House of Mouse didn’t happen until I was 35 (I think)—what a sad, sad thing =)
What a blessing to see you and your family having so much fun together!!
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February 24th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Elizabeth in Alaska says:
Looks like so much fun… so glad the pictures weren’t washed away in the dog dish!
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February 24th, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Happymama says:
I loved all of those pictures and little Merritt’s personality is really showing.
~Kristi
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February 24th, 2008 at 9:15 pm
Julie Fink says:
What beautiful pictures! What a fun family day!
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February 24th, 2008 at 9:50 pm
Karen says:
We love Tigger around here, so much that I’ve nicknamed my second daughter on my blog “Tigger”.
She’s bouncy, pouncy and fun, fun, fun too (with reddish hair to top it off) but trust me when I say that it is a good thing for the world that she’s the only one! :)
I’ve only been to Disney (World) once, when my girls were very small (3 & 6 weeks). I guess we’ll have to go back sometime when they can enjoy it (and remember it!).
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February 26th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Elizabeth says:
Aww … it looks as if you’re having SUCH fun together! How very precious! I’m still praying for you all! :->
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February 26th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Sara says:
I can totally sing the Tigger song! If you get me going I can even sing the Pooh Bear one where he’s excersing :)
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February 26th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
LeAnna Flowers says:
Hi there,
You don’t know me, but I found you on YLCF (read your courtship story, how sweet!) and I had to leave you a comment, regardless of the fact I blog hopped my way over here un-invited! ;) Though I’m not completely sure why, the Lord has really laid you on my heart since finding this blog, and I’ve found myself praying for your family on more than one occasion this past week. Mainly that you would be encouraged, and that your heart would find joy and peace through the sweetness of our Savior, especially with your husband so far away. So, from one sister in Christ to another- you are cherished by the Most High! Lord bless you!
-LeAnna
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February 26th, 2008 at 6:57 pm
College Gal says:
Looks like you had a great time in the wonderful world of Disney! Tigger my fav too!
God bless!
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February 27th, 2008 at 12:13 pm
Anonymous says:
Hi Ashleigh,
When I saw LeAnna’s comment I felt I should post, too, because I’ve had something similar happen. Like her, I “found” you through YLCF. I’ve enjoyed the articles you’ve written there, and very recently I discovered your blog through that site. I’ve also felt a draw towards you and your family and have also been prompted to pray for you, your little boys, and your husband, especially in this time that you have to be apart. I just wanted to let you know, and tell you how I’ve been blessed by your blog…you share your life and heart, and the pictures of your little boys are so precious! Your cheerful heart, love for your family, and trust in the Lord are an example to me…may the He keep you and yours in His perfect peace and sovereign protection, holding you in the palm of His hand, and give you great joy.
Another sister in Christ,
Kiersti
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February 27th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Angie says:
When I saw your parents, my first thought was, “Wow, they look really young!”…then I read that you married at 18 and realized, they must BE really young. ;-)
Thank you so much for your comment on my site. How is it that being identified with can mean SO MUCH? When you said you had moved during both your pregnancies, been sick, and taken months to unpack, I felt so much less alone!!! :-)
Your site is really, really cute and fun to read. Your boys are adorable, too! :-)
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March 2nd, 2008 at 10:02 am
Anonymous says:
your sweet comment recently really blessed my heart. and i thought a few wks. apart from my hubby was hard – more than a year!? i cannot even imagine how hard that must be…
all i know is that God’s grace IS sufficient! He’ll walk us through whatever comes our way each day…
this morning at church our pastor was preaching on… oh, i’m not even going to attempt to spell their names correctly – the fiery furnace guys. :) and he made the point that God hasn’t promised to spare us from the fires.. only be there with while we’re in them.
and also – i wanted to say that my family and i are very. very grateful for your husband’s service to our country. i know it’s because of men like him that we can be in our nice. secure homes and enjoy the freedoms we have~ thank him from the Hutchins for his sacrafice for our country. and yours too… which is just as equally as important – staying back. “holding down the fort” for your soldier to come home to…
such a great. fun post here too.. looks like a happy time at Disney. although, now i have the Tigger song stuck in my head! :)
love & blessings to you and your sweet little guys…
Amber (Hutch5 from xanga) =D
[Reply]
March 2nd, 2008 at 9:10 pm