Much as I love Steven Curtis, this song  kinds of hits the cheese factor for me.  Maybe it's just that I don't like characters on clothes or in songs because it makes the whole ensemble one big cliche.  Still, I couldn't help thinking of those lyrics and feel nostalgic while I went through these pictures from a few weeks ago.

Stephanie and I took the girls to a dinner with Cinderella at the Grand Floridian because their birthdays are a week apart and this was their gift to each other.  Each character comes to your table, and while you wait there is a complete children's buffet and adult buffet.  Macaroni and cheese, buttered corn, strawberry soup, and other foods high in sugar and starch flanked the spread as if in Neverland.  There was also a dessert bar for the kids with an ice cream machine and toppings, brownies, cookies, and bread pudding... plus, an entirely separate "adult" dessert bar with (no, not strippers) but more gourmet desserts like chocolate mousse, cheesecakes, and Keylime tartlets because when in Florida, eat something "Keylime."

The girls were too in awe to eat much of their food.  They spent most of the dinner spun around in their chairs, watching Cinderella interact around the room, blushing when Prince Charming passed by, and keeping on guard with the Stepmother and Stepsisters.

They got to wear special birthday buttons and stand up when special guests were honored.  This got them yet another sweet- a cupcake topped with Mickey Mouse shaped sprinkles and birthday crowns.

Lick your cupcake, girls- for a picture.  Lick them at the same time, ready?   Now!    

Okay, or that.   (So they're only four. They don't quite get the whole "follow directions" thing yet.)

The much-anticipated moment. 

I don't know, I don't want to be mean, but is it just me, or is Cinderella a bit of a disappointment?  I think it's the shiny makeup, or the wig... something is just "off," but they don't seem to notice.  

Same goes for this guy who had the personality of a lump on a log, but Madalyn is too busy telling him that she's four going on twenty-six to notice that Charming is not so charming.

She blushes the appropriate blush, like any True princess would. 

Being a TRUE princess is the key, here.  Anything else doesn't count.  (I know this because she tells me often and wants assurance that she not only is a princess, but a TRUE princess, at that.)

Hmm.  Should we give you two a moment alone?

Oh, GOOD.  A Chaperone!

These are forced smiles.  They are afraid.  Very afraid.

Dresella (sp?) was alright, but it was Anastasia who took the cake. 

Madalyn felt Anastasia's vibes the minute we entered the room.  She knows a kindred spirit when she finds one.  See this?  This is her mimicking Anastasia, who is in the background and has yet to come to our table:

Most little girls dream to be the dainty, idealistic beauty in the movie.  Not mine.  Anastasia is her idea of a rockin' true princess.

First things first- I'm four. You got that, lady?  F-O-U-R.  (Because it's very important that each and every character know this recent bit of information.)

Anastasia made every other actor look dramatically challenged.  She was spectacular... she wanted to know why they would dare wear blue dresses and surely they wanted pink like hers.  She asked if they'd done their chores... wanted to put them to work.  (Stephanie and I said we would be happy to leave them for a bit and have Martinis by the pool but she for some reason she ignored that comment.)

Madalyn followed cue pretty quickly and jumped on the attitude band wagon... you can see the attitude taking shape in this one above.

And growing into full bloom here.  Dare I say it is even better than Anastasia who she's mimicking from the above picture?

Oh oh, red alert, red alert!  She sees you, Madalyn- turn it off. 

But no.  No turning that thing off, it's just getting started and then...

...oh no, there it comes!  The tongue.

Anastasia has never been treated like this at these things!

She is both horrified and smitten at once.

I think she secretly wants to take Madalyn home and put her in a pink dress and dye her hair red.

But Madalyn must stay and dance with Sydney while Cinderella dances with Prince Charming.

Then she will change into a swimsuit and swim with her mother till dark; fly down water slides completely independent and self-sufficient... laughing and squealing, and proudly teaching herself how to dive down and retrieve things from the bottom of the pool for the first time (she normally needs a push to get down there,) but tonight had the special bit of pixie dust she needed... 

Because there was a sloped pool that finally gave her the control she needed to combat her natural buoyancy in water.  Because she figured out how to pop that rear of hers into the air, submerge, and come up beaming for praise.  Because it was a spectacular time to learn such a trick. Because she's spectacular.  (Attitude and all.)