Disney Blog Carnival: Food

Disclaimer: The new look is not the look I was going for but at midnight, I gave up, HTML code kicked my butt and this is the result (all that after my mouse died and the boy and I had to run to the store and grab a new one)

Disney Blog Carnival: Food (yummm....but you have to pronounce that like the Red Robin yummm commercials because Disney Food is that angelic)

Don't forget to hop over to JG's page

Me and My SoldierMan

and find more Disney Carnival Bloggers, stories and pics!

Here's some of the Food highlights from our last trip starting with our first night...we'd spent the day at Typhoon Lagoon swimming with sharks (SO cool) and playing in the wave pool so we'd built up a BIG appetite and luckily we had reservations at Hoop Dee Doo Musical Revue...it's a dinner show that we love to take people who have never been...especially on the first night-it's a great introduction to the magic...

HDD is held at the Ft Wilderness Cabins and has great rustic feel to it. It's a dinner show where they literally bring you buckets of food (all the yummy comfort food...fried chicken, ribs, corn bread, potatoes...) and dining is family style. They also offer unlimited beer and sangria....that's all I'm going to say about that...

This was the only meal of the trip where everyone was there...we had two sets of friends who were at WDW with overlapping days in addition to half a dozen family. If you look closely, you'll see JG and her SoldierMan (*wink wink).

Two of the people from our group were called up on stage to preform as guest actors...this first was my cousin's husband, Kyle...he played a Brave Warrior...isn't he cute?!

The 2nd person from our table, was Erin, a close family friend who managed to be selected as the Can-Can girl...ooh la la.

This guy wasn't a part of our group but he certainly made the show even funnier...he's about to twirl like a ballerina...

The next day, we met up with our family (technically my family who are from Florida and Virginia and whom we hadn't seen before this trip since Benjamin was born)

The Photopass guy's assistant couldn't understand that the lens I had on the camera at the time didn't zoom in or out (it was a flat 50 for those who care) so Mickey got cut off a bit but we're all there.

We were the 1st table to be visited by each of the characters-thankfully because all around us children refused to eat while they anxiously awaited their own visit. Our kiddos met the characters one by one and in between managed to grab a few bites. This was the boy's first experience with his favorite character...he was nervous but excited!

This is my cousin's daughter, the princess...she has been to Disney World more times in her short little life than many people will go in their lifetime. The joy and magic are always there.

Casey's Corner...our favorite quick service place (just means it's not a proper sit down restaurant). It's sort of a tradition for our first and last days to grab a hot dog and watch some cartoons...a tradition the boy doesn't seem to mind.

Restaurant Merrikesh....in a word, delicious. It's in the Moroccan Pavilion at Epcot's World Showcase, complete with a bellydancer and really amazing food. I had the most tender (literally fell off the bone) lamb shank. I highly recommend it!

Both my boys loved it (and not just because of the bellydancer...though the little one was fairly mesmerized...the big one knew better than to stare too much, lol...it's all very family friendly)

Our absolute favorite restaurant at Disney World is Le Cellier-it's a French/Canadian Steak House/Winery and it's good...like the best steak of your life good (and we're BIG steak people).

This is one of the only "real" food pics I took...it's my Chocolate Moose from Le Cellier.

We managed to do a second dinner show on our last trip, the Spirit of Aloha Luau. It was a first for us and included everything from singing and hula dancers to a fire-breather (he was really impressive).

Again, beer and wine were unlimited but my cousin decided to order whatever this thing was called...he said it was really good and even got to keep the coconut cup (it was a monkey carved from a real coconut).

After the show, they brought out our desserts...Chocolate Volcanoes...

and we ate...and ate...

until we couldn't eat anymore.

Towards the end of our trip, we had a dinner, just the three of us, at Liberty Tree Tavern. It's a Colonial Style Restaurant in Magic Kingdom where, rather than just calling your name for your table, they announce you to the restaurant...like you're royalty entering a ball...anywhere that treats me like royalty is on my good list ;)

The food is unlimited and served family style which is great with a little one....this day he was wiped out and seemed particularly interested in the green beans.

With a little one, snacking was a must periodically...

This was one such moment...we were waiting on Daddy to get off Rock N' Rollercoaster

But, let's be honest....real food at Disney World is amazing but it's the treats that are the most fun....

Waiting for IllumiNations to begin

Just after he realizes his first Mickey Mouse Ice Cream is all gone (also, right before lunch at the Sci-Fi Dine-In...only at Disney World does dessert come before the meal)

A pit stop at Liberty Square in Epcot

Back at the resort, just before bedtime...Daddy messing with the boy

He didn't seem to mind too much

By the end of the trip, the boy learned our policy on treats at Disney....basically it's the opposite of at home (and it took a couple weeks at home to unlearn that policy but it was well worth it).

One, please (ok, he didn't say please unfortunately but he did want some ice cream)

Tomorrow's topic: Characters...should be a fun one!

Disney Blog Carnival: Rides

Disney Blog Carnival: Rides

Remember to hop over to JG's blog Me and My SoldierMan to read/see more Disney Carnival Bloggers and link-up your own page!

Today's topic is rides and although some of the attractions in the video below aren't technically rides, they're all some of our most favorites from our last visit. However, I should qualify that there are many more we love but don't provide an opportunity to video or photograph.

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Some of my favorite memories of rides/attractions from our last trip...

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*Seeing how excited the boy got in Mickey's PhilharMagic...he was only 14 month but we got him to wear the 3D glasses and since Donald was his absolute favorite thing in the world (he's since moved on to Daisy), he kept reaching for him and yelling. He was in heaven!

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*Big Thunder Railroad is, always has been, and probably always will be my FAVORITE ride. It's been my favorite since I was 7 and big enough to ride it (miraculously considering that in kindergarten I wore 2T clothes) but this year it went to a new level. My Aunt took the boy so Joshua and I could have some time in the parks to ourselves one evening and we just happened to be on Big Thunder Railroad as Wishes (the fireworks show in Magic Kingdom began). We had seen it properly, sitting in front of the Castle earlier in the trip. But cuddling with my husband on my favorite ride, at my favorite place with an amazing fireworks show, there's no other word for it, it was perfection.

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*The boy in the Teacups...in a word, hilarious.

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*I was selected to be an extra in the Indiana Jones Stunt Show...awesome (the only downside was that I was in it so I couldn't take pictures and Joshua's not very skilled with a camera).

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*On our last night in the parks, we decided to take the boy on Dumbo and again, while on the ride, Wishes began. The picture below the video is the one that sums up our trip that year in a nut shell. It was just after we got off Dumbo and were watching Wishes from behind the Castle (not a ride pic, but my favorite).

For the record, Joshua's favorite ride is Splash Mountain but it's not a very easy ride to photograph. I think next time, I'm going to do what I did for Expedition Everest and try to get a daytime picture of him coming down the drop (btw the pics in the video of Everest, Joshua's 4th from the front on the right...not that it really matters but it's fun to know).

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I could go to Disney World, not ride anything and still have a great time. There's just something magical about being there, you really are in a whole other world.

Tomorrow's topic: Food....makes me hungry just thinking about it, yummmm!

Disney Carnival: Parks

A great friend and fellow Disney-phile is hosting a Disney Blog Carnival this week. Today's topic is Disney Parks.

Be sure to go over to

Me and My SoldierMan: Disney Blog Carnival: Parks to sign up and check out all the other blogs participating in the carnival.

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My hubby and I are BIG fans of Walt Disney World and I'm sure we'll love all the various DisneyLands around the world once we get the chance to visit (we're hoping sooner rather than later). Here's a few of my favorite pics from our last visit to WDW which was also our son's first visit in September 2009 (the time before, we came home with a special souvenir-pregnant with our son).

Magic Kingdom

(Where the magic began, well, in Florida at least)

(we love going in the fall and seeing all the Halloween/fall decorations)

(this guy was awesome...he was painting with water...as soon as he finished, it would start to disappear but he was so good-this was the first year I'd seen anyone do it and it was only a few minutes after seeing the "Talking Trashcan" for the first time as well...lots of firsts this trip)

(While we were having lunch on our first day, the boy saw Donald Duck for the first time and was SO excited!...aren't their shorts cute?!)

(The Dapper Dans Barbershop Quartet preformed while the boy got his very first haircut which was our excuse to go to Disney World this year)

(he was a champ...played with sticker and didn't get nervous one bit)

(His first ears and his first haircut rolled into one...doesn't get better than that in our house)

(Donald's Boat...with all the new construction going on in Magic Kingdom, we're hoping that Donald's boat makes the cut...we all had a great time)

Epcot

(I heart Epcot)

(Did you know that when the fountain in the middle of Future World was christened, representatives from 23 nations brought water from their own nation's lakes and rivers to be fed into the fountain and symbolize what Epcot is really about)

(Oh Canada, you have my favorite restaurant and remind me of going up in northern Minnesota)

(The Seas Pavilion is a big hit for our family)

(This is my favorite building in Epcot...can't really say why, I just love the way it looks)

(IllumiNations is just amazing)

Hollywood Studios

(which will always be MGM in my book...it's weird to think that the boy will never know it as MGM)

(This picture alone proves that you're never too young to go to Disney...he LOVED it!)

(my favorite picture of them by far!)

(Hollywood Studios Street Preformers)

(Hollywood Studios Street Preformers)

(Can't wait for the boy to be big enough to hold my hand through Tower of Terror)

(We don't do treats at home very often but at Disney it's pretty much whatever you want, you get, he picked up on that rule pretty quickly..."one please")

Animal Kingdom

(for some reason, I don't have too many Animal Kingdom pics that I really like...I'll have to remember that on our next trip)

(please ignore my husband...surprisingly enough, that's his happy face and yes, he wears black hats with brown shirts just to annoy me)

(I love this pic because it's looking out from the bridge to Africa into Asia with Everest in the background)

(the boy LOVED looking at all the stuff outside Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom, which worked out great for us because it's one of our favorite rides!)

(The boy. Notice one shoe on and one shoe off...that's my son, so proud)

(I always wanted a boy's boy...looks like I got it...ps>his shirt says Born to be Wild)

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Don't forget to go to Me and My SoldierMan: Disney Blog Carnival: Parks and link up to post your own Disney pics and stories and see others!

DISNEY

Ok, I'm a nut when it comes to Disney (all things Disney...movies, theme parks, music-the old school stuff, not the teenie bopper junk) and so I'm super excited about this week. One of my favorite writers who just happens to be an awesome real life friend is hosting a Disney Blog Carnival this week.

Go to Me and My SoldierMan: Disney Blog Carnival: Introduction for more information about it! I can't wait to see all the fun pictures and read all the magical stories!-and you can be sure that I will be posting my own!

My Secret

My friends seem to know me as a fairly blunt (but I would hope tactful) type A, outgoing, slightly scatter-brained, confidant woman but the truth is I'm terribly insecure and completely afraid of confrontation. So, there it is, my secret. I don't even like telling the waitress when my food is bad, I make Joshua do it for me. I'm sure I'm not the only one but this little adventure known as the military has forced me to do things that are so far outside of my comfort zone, they scare me. I hate it. I hate that Joshua's not here. I hate that when stuff comes up, I'm the only one who can deal with it because I'm the only adult home. I found myself hiding in the bathroom crying this morning because I didn't want the boy to see me. I love my traditional marriage. I love that my husband takes care of me. I miss it.

Ok. Pitty party over. I have to go deal with two car dealerships and O'rileys now. Ugh.

Man Work

Ohhh...I'm going to be sore tomorrow. BUT I'm pretty proud of myself today. I did some MAJOR Man Work ALL day. The front yard now looks perfect! And the back yard looks better...better is all that matters right now. Lol. I trimmed the hedges (btw, we have too many hedges) with our giant scissor trimmer things, weed whacked EVERYTHING, pulled some new weeds in the flower bed, prayed over my blueberry and raspberry bushes (nothing else seems to be working), took the boy's pool down so I can mow the back yard tomorrow (oh yay) and fixed both the lock on the shed and the wind chimes which fell in the last storm (I used real tools and everything). To top off my man day, the boy and I ran through the sprinklers for an hour and played catch with his favorite ball for another 30 minutes. In our family, most, if not all of these tasks would normally have fallen to Dad but I'm learning, slowly, to embrace the Man Work at least for the time being because it all still has to be done and the boy needs more than just tickle time, cuddle time and reading time (my particular areas of expertise), he needs to be chased through the sprinkler and play catch with someone who loves him.

Tangent: While we were playing catch today, I decided to grab his ball and play keep-away from him...after running back and forth a couple of times, the boy decided the only way to get the ball back was to tackle me...yup, that's my boy lol.

Anyway, I'm not-so-secretly hoping that when he returns, Joshua will not only take over the Man Work but maybe also embrace some of the Woman Work at least for a few days. I'm pretty sure he will. He's a good guy....much better at it than me.

I Stuck

It's official (it may be technically 3 weeks early but) I have a two year old. How do I know I have a two year old? Because my angelic little boy who used to point and start up the stairs to his bedroom every evening when he was ready to go to bed now screams like a teenage girl in a bad horror movie when it's time to go to sleep. During the day, for the most part, he's still quite angelic and wonderful. We play little games just the two of us know...one of his favorites (and I'm not sure how or when it started) is the "I Stuck" game. He'll run up to me, sit down, clasp his hands together and say "I'm stuck" which of course comes out more like "I tuck" and is too cute for words. At that point, I grab his hands and pretend to try and pull them apart but am unable so I tell him "oh no, you're stuck, you can't go anywhere" and then magically I'm able to pull them apart and he jumps up, yells and does his own version of a happy dance...sadly, he has his father's dancing abilities but that's a subject for another day. Well, over the last week or so, when I tell him it's time for bed (even after I give him a 10 and 5 minute warning...I try...he doesn't get it yet), he's been running up to me crying as he sits down on the floor and yells "no...I tuck." My only assumption is that he's hoping he "can't go anywhere" including to his bed because he's stuck. What he hasn't grasped yet is the fact that he's sill a quarter of my weight and I can and will pick him up and relocate him if he chooses not to move himself. As I do so, he calls out for his favorite things, generally in this order "Daisy, Mouse (as in Mickey), Bubba (our dog), Donald, Ball (any ball of any sort, I assume)" all while crying the ugly cry...you know the one where your face just mushes and tears mix with snot on the way down...it's pathetic. Once in his bed, we pile all his favorite stuffed animals around him (Mickey, mini-Mickey, Donald, mini-Donald, Daisy, Professor Von Drake (he still hasn't tried to say that one yet but he loves him), Dale (but not Chip), and Buzz with his blankie being the piece de resistance. As soon as I turn out his light and shut the door, he stops crying...sometimes he spends a few minutes talking to his toys or jumping on his bed but then he's quiet and angelic again.