After a pretty late start on the 29th, we finally all made it into the car and on the road. Destination: Disney's Contemporary Resort, where we planned to celebrate Tal's Best Birthday Ever, without having to get out of the car once we dropped it off at valet.

On arrival, we found out that my dear friend Sandy had pulled strings for a fabulous upgrade to a top-floor suite!!! The concierge greeted the birthday boy, and there were balloons on our room door. It was spectacular!

We took the monorail over to the Grand Floriidian for dinner, and had a wonderful time. An uneventful dinner with toddlers is a spectacular dinner with toddlers.

After dinner, we walked to the dock and watched the Magic Kingdom fireworks on the lake. Riley was not happy about that.

Tal got to ride in the front car on the way back, and got a co-pilot badge.

What a surprise when we returned to the room! There was a Mickey card, more balloons, and a Mickey cake! They even set the table for us...nice touch.

Here is the cake:

The room was spectacular, and such a relief to have some space when juggling toddlers. We had a kitchen, two baths, three balconies, two plasma TV's...

And I was worried about having room to shove the mondo double stroller in the room. Notice how it tucks nicely into a corner of the foyer :)

Here is the view from the balcony... not too shabby!

The photo here is not a shocker...Tal at the computer.

The boys were WILD, but finally passed out from sheer exhaustion. Waking up in Disney World on one's birthday is the best!

What excitement. We had a table for TWELVE at an extremely painfully early hour. Tal had a birthday cupcake with candles (never too early to start the sugar, right?) and we had a blast with the Armstrong family.

At right are a couple of college roomies and their army of children. We didn't even attempt to have them all looking at the camera at once.

Notice Tal's new Heely sneakers. We broke down and got them for his gift. He hasn't mastered the glide yet, so he wore them as regular shoes for the big day. Tal is wearing his new pin collector strap.

At right, Reagan is clearly not happy to see Goofy.

The birthday excursion was Daddy's idea, and in spite of the cell phone, we're having a great time!

First and foremost, it must be documented that Mommy beat the standing Buzz Lightyear winner scores by a very wide margin. Riley decided in the line that he wasn't comfortable with it, shook his head, and left the building...that was interesting. We've mastered the Fast Pass, but not the power off button on that darn cell!

The R's met up with an alien in Tomorrowland after getting drenched in a much-needed mister while Travis & Tal rode Space Mountain. Tal added a cool Space Mountain pin to his collection.

Reagan was very huggy...hugged the caricature artist and some random people on the street. One Disney manager found us later and said it made his day. Riley has apparently shed his shyness shell completely. Had more fun than we thought he ever would in public. Or maybe it was the constant sugar rush of park food...

It's a good thing they're cute!

We're grateful for a wonderful day out, friends who helped make it special, and the sweetest bunch of boys I could ever imagine!