2 Castles, 2 Send out 2011 & Ring in 2012...12 Days of Christmas

[21hearts]

Oh man the highest its been here is 102 and I thought that was hot. Thankfully we have gotten some afternoon rain storms to bring the temps down a bit.

 

[lfwhipp]

Yeah, HOT it is, we reached 104 the other day, i cant even imagine 108!!!

 

[Becc1]

So glad that the trip is still on, I will keep my fingers and toes crossed for you that ticket prices plummet!

 

[annmarieda]

I think we should take our two locations and average it. I don't think we even broke 55 today. It poured and at one point we even had thunder and lightning. The rivers here are SO high. At the park we were at a couple days ago (the day we actually had summer since I am almost certain that was all we are going to get) they had a sign posted regarding how dangerous the river was and to stay clear. I am sorry it is so hot where you are. I sympathize... just on the other end of things. I pray for sun... some sun would be nice. If I could I would send you some rain.

 

[momabaarjo]

What crazy weather all across the country...while we pray for rain for our drought others have so much that they are flooding. Then there are the storms and all that they bring with the torandos an such...I am usually not a complainer when it comes to weather...take it as it comes and deal with it.

Yesterday was the hottest ever recorded in the history of where I live (130 years of weather recording)...

upper 90s is usually as hot as it gets here with a few low 100 days occassionally...thank goodness we have little humidity. So the weather is manageable...but this year with the lack of rain and being 100+ almost every day is putting a huge damper on things.

Boo goes to his first Boy Scout Camp starting tomorrow and they are already thinking of cutting it short because of the temp forcast for the rest of the week...he is so disappointed. The kids usually spend a lot of time outside riding bikes and swimming...but it just is to miserable to be outside for any length of time. We are making the best of it...can't wait to head to the mountains next week for a long 4th of July weekend! While they are not as hot...they are above average in temps and dry...and fire bans...

 

[momabaarjo]

Looking at my ticker....6 months til our first castle....

 

[annmarieda]

Looking at my ticker....6 months til our first castle....

 

[shocky5]

Looking at my ticker....6 months til our first castle....

That is sooo very cool!

 

[momabaarjo]

Summer Movie Afternoon:
Finding Nemo
June 24, 2011

Can you tell my children just love to have this picture taken? Goo mad us laugh so much that I thought I would use this picture to introduce this post!​

This is Ab’s favorite movie (currently). I remember when we went and saw this movie when she was about 6. Her favorite character was Dory (probably my least favorite character besides the fact that I am no Ellen fan…I found Dory to be just down right annoying). This is probably one of my least favorite movies from Disney/Pixar. Most of the characters looking back just annoyed me, Merlin just seemed whiney all the time, the school of fish with the Cheers guy’s voice was silly, the seagulls I never got. Okay, so who did I like…Crush and Squirt. The whole movie just seems chopped up and there are a lot of places where the movie just skipped where there should have been little scenes added in to make it flow better.

Activity:
We are in the mist of a heat wave and drought, and I thought this would be a perfect movie afternoon to include with a trip to the local water park to get some relief from the hot temps. We have been trying to find lots of indoor activities to keep us out of the sun, which should not be the case in the summer…but this is just not a summer to enjoy the outside.

Ab and Goo loved try to body surf the waves in the wave pool

Boo loved spending his time on the slides and in the lazy river waterfalls​

Menu:

Hot Dog Squids, Sea Shell Mac & Cheese, and Ocean Water

The hotdogs have to squids as Goo corrected me…there is not an octopus in Nemo…I stand corrected!

Coral Reef Snack Mix

Way to yummy…pretzel sticks and colored goldfish crackers coated in white chocolate


Crush Dessert

Lime and Orange sherbet with fruit candy slices​

​

 

[lovethattink]

Hurray for 6 more months!!! I have yet to visit the HP stuff. We haven't made it past Seuess area with Anakin. Grumpy has done all the HP stuff!

Great ideas and lots of fun on the Nemo day!!!

 

[lfwhipp]

YAY, i am so excited, we are just about 5 1/2 months, i am almost bouncing!!!

Ablsoutely precious hot dos!!! my kiddies will love these!

 

[momabaarjo]

Universal Studios:
World Expo

The theme in this area of USO is supposed to be a World’s Fair Exposition, but frankly I do not recall much in theme to leave a lasting impression. Although part of this might have been that afternoon rainstorm that we were running through the time we were in this part of the park. From what I have been reading online and in books, my no impression was basically right on…there is no impression…but there are really 2 GREAT RIDES!

Men in Black

​

GRADE: B+

FACTS: MIB is a 4 minute interactive ride with laser weapons (TSM or BLA for all you WDW fans). There is an EXPRESS pass line, but once again you will miss a lot of the theme throughout the line area if you decide to go this way. Also, there is a single rider option, which is always great if you do not mind breaking your group apart. This ride requires the DREADED USO LOCKER…beware.

TIPS: The guns will auto-fire, hold down the trigger the entire time, so you will earn more points. If you hit the same target multiple times, your boost your score. The maximum score is 999,999 and from what I have read it has been done. If you have an outside seat (farthest from loading platform) you have the first view of targets and greater motion freedom for aiming at targets

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: Did I mention that I like competition? This ride was fun, although I am not sure about anything but shooting. I can’t even tell you what happened; I was so focused on shooting and winning. My 2 boys loved the MIB movie and love to shoot…so this will be a ride we probably do several times.

SIMPSONS

GRADE: A

FACTS: This is a simulator thrill ride that lasts for 4 ½ minutes, with a 10 minute pre show (which I could have done without…but all the Simpsons fans around we were laughing and thought it was great). There is an EXPRESS PASS line, if you use this option you will not miss anything in theme.

TIPS: Try to get in a car on the front row, if possible the middle car, on the middle level…what does that boil down to in line…ASK to be on Level 2 (automatic EXPRESS pass level), Room 6.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: I hate The Simpsons. I can honestly say that I have never seen more than 30 seconds of their television show. But the ride, WOW…it was one of my favorites! It was one that I could see myself doing over and over again. Did I mention how much I hate the Simpsons?

 

[annmarieda]

Love the squid and shells meal! I will have to snag that idea!!

The water looks like it might have helped to relieve you all a bit from the heat.

Warmer day here...finally! Not as warm as you guys though.

 

[chrisw127]

I finally got caught up. So what did you decide to do with your ADRs? Did you think about Yachtsman Steakhouse? If you have people who like meat, it's a really good 2TS choice.

You are so organized. I am totally impressed. I could never pull off a Christmas morning trip

 

[shocky5]

The hot dog squids, crush dessert... all of it is AWESOME!

Was going to tell you that we took the kids to Cars 2 last night! Great movie! Had no idea what to expect but it was definitely a much different storyline from Cars. So creative! My kids loved it, as did DH and I!

 

[momabaarjo]

Last week of summer school! The things I do so we can have the $$$ to go and visit Harry and Mickey in 6 months!!!!

 

[Becc1]

Love the Nemo night, that shebert was a great idea! And how fun to incorporate a trip to the waterpark!

One thing we all enjoyed about Universal was the MIB ride, we went back in 2002 when my ODS loved MIB so it was a hit with us. Of course I love all of those competitive types rides, anything I can beat my DH at I think we are definately hitting up IOA and Universal on our next trip so when you do your TR, I'll expect reviews like the ones your doing now

 

[momabaarjo]

Okay...here are somethings that came today in the mail...found on ebay for our trip to be worn on December 26th when we visit WWofHP for the first time.

Mine (black) and Ab's Shirts

Boo & Goo's Shirts

Back of Boo's Shirt

I bought Ab and Boo shirts last summer when I was at WWofHP, but they have worn them so much that I think they needed new ones for the trip.

What about dh? If I can find a HP t-shirt with a pocket on the front...maybe he would get into it and wear one...gonna have to find him something to match us anyway!

 

[momabaarjo]

I finally got caught up. So what did you decide to do with your ADRs? Did you think about Yachtsman Steakhouse? If you have people who like meat, it's a really good 2TS choice.

You are so organized. I am totally impressed. I could never pull off a Christmas morning trip

I have thought about the Yachtsman...I think 1 night while we are at USO of getting taxi and taking dh to Ruth Chris...he has never been (I have) and has been dying to go to one. If we do that, then I do not have to worry about steak the rest of the trip. Still tinkering with my ADRs...I have until Saturday night to figure them out...Sunday is the day!

I am hoping for some to pull of this trip...if airfare would just cooperate...Christmas morning is the least of my worries! I am a planner to a fault!

 

[momabaarjo]

I think we are definately hitting up IOA and Universal on our next trip so when you do your TR, I'll expect reviews like the ones your doing now

No problem...I will let my kids rate them and I will report back to you! I think we are in for some issues...Goo is going to be my thrill rider. At the waterpark you have to be 48 inches for the big slides...which he wanted to to but he is only 44 inches...he can ride everything at WDW but Universal is a different story. I worry that there will be lots of upset tears...I really want him to ride Forbidden Journey in HP but I do not see him growing 4 inches in the next 6 months.