Half Marathon. Full Princess.

Well guys, I'm back home. Sigh.

My reign as a princess has officially come to an end. I must, however reluctantly, relinquish my crown to my own personal little princesses. I gotta say, though, I now totally get why my girls are constantly dressing up in dresses and tiaras. Being a princess is a lot of fun! I know that statement has a bit of a "duh" factor, but, man, was it a blast to be play princess this weekend. Even being one out of 20,000 other princesses. In fact, that probably made it more fun. Who wants to be a solitary princess? Even Snow White and Sleeping Beauty made it out of the woods and back to their castles eventually.

Anyway, the whole princess weekend started with a flight down to Orlando on Friday afternoon for the 2012 Disney Princess Half Marathon. Five of us ladies booked the trip together. All moms. All runners. All prepared to be princesses. 

We decided to go all-out Disney and stay at one of the Disney resorts. Not the Grand Floridian or Polynesian or anything. We're not made of money! (At least that's what my husband keeps telling me.) But, it's a once in a lifetime trip, so, we might as well, right? 

It was one of the best decisions ever. We never had to worry about transportation. We just hopped on board one of the many shuttles available to take us everywhere we needed to go. For us moms, this worry-free travel was heaven. No buckling kids into car seats, dropped sippie cups rolling on the car floor, or last-minute wails of "I can't find my jacket/backpack/blankie, Mommy!" This was a moms weekend. A moms without kids weekend. We rode in high shuttle-bus style. And, we loved it.

We explored the Expo on Saturday morning. For you non-race runners, the Expo is where you pick up your race packet with bib, shirt and various other goodies before the race starts. At big races, they have vendors selling everything running. At the Princess Run Expo, they had tons of vendors selling everything running, everything princess, and everything running princess. It was amazing. And, dangerous for the wallet. I did find some adorable Minnie Mouse Princess ears for my girls, so it was a success.

After the expo, we headed over to Epcot to check out the park. I, in the smartest decision of my life, wore flip-flops to explore the park. Or, um, perhaps it wasn't so smart. I was so excited to be in Florida and actually feel heat on my feet, that I couldn't help myself. I should've tried harder to stop myself. My feet were already tired by Saturday night. And, seeing as how we had to wake up on 2:30 to catch the shuttle to the race Sunday morning, my feet did not get much rest time. Poor things. They definitely need a pedicure to recover. Sound good, Cory?

Her Royal Highness, Belle

Remember when I said everything I was reading told me that the princess culture was ruining my daughter's life? That the high heels, constant pink-ness, and emphasis on everything girly would surely turn my independent, strong-minded daughter into a simpering push-over with low self esteem? Well, let's just throw that all out the window, because this weekend I took Molly to her friend Jensen's princess birthday party. And, who was there, but ... drumroll, please ... Princess Belle, herself!

Now, I'm not going to apologize for this day of glorious princessy fun, because Molly had a ball. (Pun intended.)

From the first moment Belle walked into the party, she had all the girls (and Cole, brother of the birthday girl), transfixed. Has anyone seen that Modern Family episode when the princess gets out of character? Well, that did not happen here. She was pure Belle from the moment she stepped into the door until the moment she left.

Belle had several games for the kids, including popping the bubbles with magic wands and trying on silly hats. It was remarkable how well she could get all the kids to listen. I think it was her voice. It was dripping with sweetness, like a syrup-soaked pancake. She spoke with it the entire time. No leaving character, remember? Some of us moms were joking that we'd have to start walking around our daily lives in princess ball gowns, and maybe then our kids would listen to us better.

At one point, Belle asked all the kids what their talents were. There were the normal answers: running, dancing, etc. But, one of the girls answered, "pushing my sister." We were all hoping she was describing pushing her sister on a swing, but I don't think that is what she really meant. Pushing your sister down can be considered a talent, can't it?

Next up came princess makeovers.

Before makeover.

Check out that after shot. 

Now, if you'll notice, Molly's dress is pink. It's actually not a specific Disney princess dress, but Molly is convinced that it is an Ariel dress. When we went to the store the other day, she needed some new detangler spray. Well, I was a sucker and bought her the Disney princess detangler spray. (I told you I was reading about how princesses were bad for girls, I didn't tell you that I was actually following it!) She was so excited about it, and while I thought I understood, I didn't really. She apparently thought that the princess spray would make her hair turn red "just like Ariel's." So, while that's really cute and funny, I also have to note that she said red like Ariel's, and not red like mommy's. Maybe if I were walking around in that ball gown ...

The hardest part for all the girls was when Belle had to leave. Jensen seemed to think that Belle was her actual present. She kept asking when she was coming back. How do you explain to a 4-year-old that your princess is not coming back? Why, that you had 'a lovely time, but your castle is oh so far away,' of course.

Belle with all her mini-princesses.

So, I am not sorry that we delved into the world of princesses once again. The smiles and twirls sealed it for me. I am not going to take away something that makes Molly so happy. She may turn into a weak-minded push-over, but, by god, she will know how to curtsy.

When I grow up ...

For some reason, Molly has been starting almost every conversation lately with the phrase "when I grow up ... " She has said that when she grows up, she wants to go running with me. Or, that she wants to be a doctor. Or a mommy. But, because she's only 3, she doesn't truly understand the concept. So, when Molly grows up, often she's going to be a mermaid.  Or a flower. Or a cupcake. Or Minnie Mouse. The possibilities are endless in her little 3-year-old mind. And, I love to hear her talking with such boundless optimism about her future. Although, I will admit, I have a hard time stifling my laughter when she comes into the room and proclaims that when she grows up, she's going to be mac and cheese. Ok, sweetie, whatever you say.

Molly, you have to beware. If you choose to be macaroni and cheese, your sister will eat you right up. And, you will end up all over her face, just like in this picture.

All of this talk about what Molly wanted to be when she grew up started me thinking about the dreams I had for my own future when I was but just a wee one When I was in elementary school, I just knew I was going to be a lawyer. And, then, I did one of those mock courts and realized that I would have to speak in front of groups of people. Not only that, but I would have to deal with conflict. Yeah, once I realized that, being a lawyer was out.

Run like a princess

Ok, so here's a deep, dark secret I will share with you now. You ready for it? You sure? Positive? Ok, here goes: When I was pregnant, I really wanted a girl.

It's not that I didn't like boys, or that I wouldn't have been completely and utterly happy to have had a little boy. But, down, in the depths of my heart, I longed for a little girl. A girl to dress in pretty dresses. A girl to wear hair bows. A girl to go shopping. A girl to play tea party. I wanted all that. And, lo and behold, I was blessed with two precious little girls.

Now, here comes the tricky part: raising two girls in today's world.

Geesh, I cannot turn on the news, flip on the radio or open a magazine without the perils of growing up girl screaming out at me. First, it was the bullying and subsequent suicide of a teenage girl, then the aforementioned Cinderella Ate My Daughter book, then the Tiger Mother book, and now the push-up bikini top for 7-year-olds. My god, sometimes it's enough to make me want to pack us all up and move to the South Pole. Well, except that it is really, really cold down there. And, I really, really hate cold. So that probably wouldn't work. I do think penguins are cute, though, so that's a plus. And, we definitely would have no need for that ridiculous bikini top.