1 crazy family+2 resorts+5 parks+1 snake+1 surprise=A Mickeystoontown report 4/3x2

[mickeystoontown]

Great update. Good to hear the Norway boats are easier to get out of. Love Hunter's hat pictures, and he's good at accessorizing. Cheers! What was that thang your mama was going to put on her head? A wolf?

I think a pickle would be a fun tradition. I've always been tempted to buy one, but never did.

I have no idea what that was Mama was putting on her head. It does look like a wolf though, doesn't it.

I've never bought one of the pickles either. I always say that I'm going to though.

The story of the pickle I believe is that it is hidden on the tree and the child who finds it gets an extra gift. We have had one on our tree since our kids are little. It is hard to find since it is green.

Mr . Mark needs to try on that animal hat Mama was modeling.

That's such a neat Christmas tradition. I wish that I had done that when the kids were little. Maybe I can do it with our grandbabies if I EVER get one.

Great update!

Thank you! Another one coming right up.

Looks like so much fun! I love that your mama got in on the hat fun too!

I am sitting here looking at a picture that I took of Mama few years back and she has on a Viking hat. It's on the bulletin board by my desk.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Hey! We have those Germany Mickey ears! They are currently sitting on the bookcase in our bedroom!

And we do the pickle thing, too, in our house. We buy a separate present...usually an ornament or a box of chocolates...and whoever finds the pickle on the tree Christmas morning gets that present. It's a lot of fun!

Great updates! I'm glad Mama was able to get in and out. I have a hard time getting in the boats on Maelstrom, so I can understand her having a time of it.

Can't wait to read more!

Really!?! Cool!

I wanna come to your house on Christmas morning! I'd love to get a box of chocolates.

The boats in Norway do seem a little harder to get in and out of.

I love your writing style!


My daughter loves pickles and I got a kick out of her reaction to seeing the picture of the tree. I wish we had an EPCOT at Disneyland.

Thank you! I am one of those who "calls 'em as I see 'em" and I guess that I'm also one of those who "writes 'em as I speak 'em". Does that make even make sense?

If you want me to pick up a pickle for your daughter when we are there in May, let me know and we'll make it happen.

OKAY! I FINALLY got all caught up around noon yesterday (and you should have seen the looks as I laughed at you calling your Mom a jewelry...YOU know) and you slipped in another update! Which I loved! I guess I should be glad photobucket was down!

I can imagine your surprise when you're reading along thinking "Oh she's so sweet to have spoken about her mother like that" and then....BAM "Oh my word! She's calling her mother a ho!" It's okay, I've told her that she is to her face and she laughed.

That Hunter is one handsome guy. We have a big pickle and a small pickle for our tree as well...that German thing and all ... well, not me....

As for the hats, I ALWAYS worry about the lice that could be lurking...but no one else seems to, according to our own pics...I guess the mouse has a rule, that isn't allowed at the most magical place on earth...at least I HOPE he has that rule!

Heavens, I hadn't thought about the lice! I just think about all those sweaty heads before us.

Loved your pics, even with your bangs...I got my hair cut for the first time in a year before our trip and she cut my bangs WAY to short, after we discussed it in great detail...I thought you looked beautiful as always!

My bangs! Oh my bangs! I spent half the time looking like Lenny of Lenny and Squiggy.

 

[mickeystoontown]

A couple of great updates, Lisa!!!

I loved what you wrote about your relationship with your Mama. Honest, touching and funny! You are both so lucky to have each other.

I really love my Mama so it was easy to put it into words.

What a great time you all had at EPCOT.

We love Ellen's Adventure, too, but we don't go every single trip. Mark and I remember the version before they added Ellen, Bill Nye and of course, Stupid Judy! The pre and post show are so much better with these additions, but I don't really like that the characters are in the attraction part.

I never got the opportunity to see it pre-Ellen. I don't like the part of the attraction where they have the not-so-look-alike Ellen shaking the stick at the dinosaur. It doesn't even look like her.


Yeah for another great ride on Soarin! For some reason, I just picture Mama jumping out of a plane and skydiving with George Bush. But I suspect she will just stick with hang-gliding.

You are picturing Mama just about right. When she was a kid, she used to hop on trains when they passed through town. She wants to go ziplining but she said that she can't climb high enough to start off. If only they had an elevator.

AWESOME picture of Hunter!!! How cool is he?

I didn't realize how many boat rides there are in EPCOT!

The Mexican pavilion is really neat. I'm glad you found so much to keep you entertained there. The glass sculptures are just amazing!

There were some really neat glass sculptures there. I'm not that into stuff that collects a lot of dust but I could go for some of the things for sale in the shop.

Hunter is one cool cat.

Glad you have the ressies made for May- My sister is going down at a similar time, I think end of May too...

I wish that I were going RIGHT now!

I would love to go again next Sept/Oct but I think we will have to hold off until at least beginning of Dec or even Feb/March.



I still haven't found a job yet , I didn't think it would be this hard. I have submitted my resume about 25 times ( BLAH) and I have had three interviews and nada. I wish I could move to Disney and work there.

Oh my! I can't believe that you haven't found a job yet! Here in our town, the paralegal/secretary turn over is ridiculous. There's always somebody looking for a paralegal.

 

[mickeystoontown]

Don’t put your hands on my balls buddy or you’ll draw back a nub!

Additional stops were made on our way around World Showcase but our goal was to end up in Italy for our dinner ADR. We were eatin’ at one of our new favorites! Via Napoli. I checked in and they told us to stay nearby and they’d call our name when a table was ready. Not long after, we were called up and shown to our table. We were seated near the front of the restaurant up against the wall. This was Mama’s first time eating at the restaurant but our second and we hoped that it lived up to our previous experience there.

We had a lovely waitress with a thick Italian accent and it was hard for us to understand her and it was hard for her to understand our Loozeeanna accent. I am sure that we had that “I’m baffled” look when she was talking to us. I am also sure that she was looking at us saying “What did she just say?” But, we got our points across and our orders were taken.

I didn’t take many pictures during the meal other than of our food. I didn’t have a good enough view of the pizza ovens and our table was quite close to our neighbors’ so we simply chatted. Until, that is, our food came.

John ordered: Candele - candle stick pasta, sausage ragu, polpettine meatballs, mozzarella, ricotta



Hunter ordered a cheese pizza with red sauce:



Mama and I ordered pepperoni pizzas.



Mama’s eyes were the size of saucers when she saw how big the pizzas were. They really are much too big for just one person but I knew that John would help us eat our “leftovers”. My Mama eats like a baby bird and would order a kids’ meal every time if she could. I’m always getting on her telling her that she doesn’t eat enough and is going to wither away if she doesn’t eat more. It’s not a vain thing, it’s just a, well, I don’t know what it is but it ain’t ‘cause she’s vain. Oh wait, I know what it is or think I know what it is. She’s told us more than once that food just doesn’t taste the same any more. John once took a medication that caused his taste to change and some foods had a metallic taste to them. So, I often wonder if maybe some of her medicine is messing up her taster. Could be?

Anyway, we all ate until we were fuller than ticks. Another Southern sayin’. Pretty gross isn’t it? Full, but we still had room for desserts except for Hunter. He’s not much of a dessert eater anyway so he passed.

After placing our dessert orders, John received a call or he may have called his brother or they may have sent a text to each other or, heck, they could have sent up smoke signals for all I remember. His brother and family were in Epcot and they were almost to Italy. We wanted to meet up with them and watch Illuminations together. Plans were made to meet and our desserts were delivered.

Mama ordered the pistachio gelato:



John ordered something that’s apparently not on the allearsnet menus but I seem to recall that it was a uglier than something or other dessert. Or did I just dream that? Heck, I don’t know. Here’s a picture of it so ya’ll can figure it out:





I remember quite accurately what I ordered. The Zeppole di Caterina - Ricotta cheese fritters, served with whipped cream and chocolate sauce



Now, I may have shared my pizza with John but when he started reaching over for one of my zeppoles, I scrunched up my mouth and whispered these words “Don’t put your hands on my balls buddy or you’ll draw back a nub!” As with all of my other threats that I give him in life, he didn’t believe me for a second and quickly grabbed up one of those delicious balls of yumminess and popped it into his mouth. Good gosh almighty! Those things are delicious! I can’t wait until I have more of them in May.

**Up next: Hangin’ with the fam!

 

[kaoden39]

Really!?! Cool!

I wanna come to your house on Christmas morning! I'd love to get a box of chocolates.

The boats in Norway do seem a little harder to get in and out of.



Thank you! I am one of those who "calls 'em as I see 'em" and I guess that I'm also one of those who "writes 'em as I speak 'em". Does that make even make sense?

If you want me to pick up a pickle for your daughter when we are there in May, let me know and we'll make it happen.

I personally like the shoot from the hip style of speaking or writing as it were. I think I may you up on that. Kody loves pickles and it is a big part of the German heritage thing. My mom is full blooded German.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Poor, Poor John......all he wanted was one little fritter ball!!! Geez!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I personally like the shoot from the hip style of speaking or writing as it were. I think I may you up on that. Kody loves pickles and it is a big part of the German heritage thing. My mom is full blooded German.

I have to type all fancy smancy and use big words when I am doing my legal work so I have enough of that in my work day. I'd rather just write what I am thinking without "thinking thinking".

I don't mind picking up a pickle and getting it to you. Really, I don't. We'll figure it out when it gets closer to May. Just don't let me forget.

Poor, Poor John......all he wanted was one little fritter ball!!! Geez!!!

He shoulda ordered his own balls! Nah, I let him have several since I couldn't possibly have eaten them all.

 

[kaoden39]

Oh my goodness!! Your dessert looks so good. For some reason though I expected the chocolate sauce to be drizzled on it. And John's dessert is ugly. I am sorry it is not a word I use lightly but well it was.

 

[kaoden39]

I have to type all fancy smancy and use big words when I am doing my legal work so I have enough of that in my work day. I'd rather just write what I am thinking without "thinking thinking".

I don't mind picking up a pickle and getting it to you. Really, I don't. We'll figure it out when it gets closer to May. Just don't let me forget.



He shoulda ordered his own balls! Nah, I let him have several since I couldn't possibly have eaten them all.

Well, I am glad that there is a work you and a fun you. Not that I am not sure that you are fun at work too......


Thank you I really appreciate it. Now I need to remember it too!

 

[natebenma]

My favorite type of update- Food Porn!!!

We have not been to Via Napoli, but the reviews and pictures like yours makes it very tempting.

Loved your threat even though you didn't follow through!

 

[mickeystoontown]

Oh my goodness!! Your dessert looks so good. For some reason though I expected the chocolate sauce to be drizzled on it. And John's dessert is ugly. I am sorry it is not a word I use lightly but well it was.

The chocolate and the cream were in little dishes on the side. I preferred the cream over the chocolate but both were really good.

I really do think that the dessert was called ugly something or other but I can't remember for sure. It was ugly but it was good too.

Well, I am glad that there is a work you and a fun you. Not that I am not sure that you are fun at work too......


Thank you I really appreciate it. Now I need to remember it too!

Unfortunately, I work for a grump. A mean old fart of a grump. Don't worry, he knows it and he even calls himself Grumpy. It's just he and I in the office so I suffer through the day sometimes. But, I do manage to get a smile or two out of him every once in a while.

 

[GrammyJudy]

The meals at Via Napoli look yummy, especially the desserts. Andy says sweets taste metallic to him too. I think it started after his heart attack a few years back and is due a med.

 

[mickeystoontown]

My favorite type of update- Food Porn!!!

We have not been to Via Napoli, but the reviews and pictures like yours makes it very tempting.

Loved your threat even though you didn't follow through!

The first time that we ate at Via Napoli, I thought "this is just going to be pasta and pizzas" and it was but it was waaay better that the regular pizza parlor pizza.

Heck no! We could threaten each other until our faces were blue and we wouldn't believe 'em.

The meals at Via Napoli look yummy, especially the desserts. Andy says sweets taste metallic to him too. I think it started after his heart attack a few years back and is due a med.

The Via Napoli food is really good. If you have a chance to eat there, take it.

See! I told Mama that I figured it was some of her meds. I'm going to tell her that I know somebody else that's like that.

 

[kaoden39]

I thought you might like to see the latest house pictures.

 

[KatMark]

Lord, I wish we could go to Via Napoli one of these times, but I'm so afraid I'll get sick after eating there (pizza and red sauces and I don't see eye to eye 75% of the time). Your meal looks wonderful. And those pizzas are huge!

 

[eandesmom]

Holy cannoli! Not even a week and I lost count of the updates!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You were a MACHINE!

I want a fritter ball. NOW please! Oh my those look good.

I love hearing about your relationship with our mama. It isn't for everyone, and I admire the commitment it takes but also can appreciate the reward and joy it gives you in return. It takes a special person I think, and you are that. As is John, that can be hard on a marriage and just seems to be a matter of fact and I love that.

I am close to my folks, and certainly see them more than just special occasions, typically 2 or more times a month. Daily though....boy...I adore my mom but daily....the things that make you go hmnnnn. Jeff and I have often joked that my dad, and his stepmom would be the ones out of the 6 of our folks that we could take...

Daily.

What lovely lovely updates, fun times and yes, funny bangs.

 

[maryj11]

I have not been on here in a long time! I have been catching up the past 2 nights and finally I'm caught up You have been busy with updates wow ! That all nighter sure looked packed ! I would of been worn out.
I'm glad Mama got in and out of the boats alright at Epcot and like your Mama I love Soarin
I had to laugh when you said fuller than a tick That is what our family says also especially at holiday dinners. Were from Ohio so I'm not sure how far that saying has traveled or where it started . Well I say I'm full as a tick It does sound nasty because I hate ticks

 

[emmysmommy]

Hi Lisa! Looks like a very playful bunch in those shops! For some reason when I see a pickle ornament I think of Larry the Cucumber from Veggie Tales. I love the Christmas shop in Germany.

Oh my goodness!! I love Via Napoli pizza! Those zeppoles are definitely worth risking the nub treatment. I'm not a chocolate fan but I do like them with the whip cream. Love the loozeeanna accent in your writing! (My MIL lives outside Alexandria.)

 

[rndmr2]

Love the updates! Glad your mom was able to get into/out of the boats without too much trouble.

Via Napoli is definitely on my list of places I want to try.

That dessert is called "Coppa Di Brutti Ma Buoni - Ugly, but good". According to the Dining/menu page here on the Dis.

I looked at the Allears and the "Coppa..." name was there but not the rest, I remember it used to say Ugly but good but I guess they took that out with the latest update. I imagine that Coppa Di Brutti Ma Buoni probably means "Ugly but good"

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Wow! If I miss a day, I miss a ton!!

That dinner looks so yummy! Makes me wish I had made an ADR there for our upcoming trip. Oh well! Jon has already told me, "No more messing with my meals!" The fritter balls look so very yummy. Is that the only place you can get them??