60 Candles, 30 Million Lights, Best Friends&Family at Disney--Priceless (New 5/23)

[KatMark]

I will come back and do responses tomorrow or tomorrow night (it was so busy at work, I just got home from my pedicure and I am wiped out).

But I had to share with you the Mother's Day gift that was sitting on my front porch when I got home from work today from our oldest son, Andy:

 

[jenseib]

Love it. They really know what to get you!!!!

 

[Chicago Mo]

awesome awesome awesome!!!
i love photo stocked TR!!! This is Great!!! Love the new luggage!!! love the hat pictures and your right they need new hats to keep up with you guys!!!

 

[mickeystoontown]

I'm telling you Kathy, you've got some really sweet boys! I love the Tink suitcase!

 

[mommy2mrb]

what a fun suitcase!

 

[goofy4prez]

Kathy, love the suitcase! What a great gift to receive. I saw one just like that but it had the Mickey ears on it instead; almost bought it and now kicking myself for not doing it. I haven't seen one since.

 

[ronnmel]

The suitcase is sooooooo pretty!!!

 

[marvali]

All caught up again! Some fun F&G updates, and they do a great job with all the topiaries!!!

What? Mark?? A beer in Germany???

Would love me some Karmel Kuche right about now.

I know you really loved your Mother's Day suitcase! So perfect for you!!!

 

[WDisneyMom]

What a great Mothers Day gift!!

 

[Poolrat]

Back and trying to catch up.

Happy Belated Mother's day and the suitcase is cute.

I do love Flower and Garden but next time I would have to go earlier.

Very crazy around work and I feel it was just too stressful to enjoy myself really.

 

[KatMark]

you got some great photos of the flowers and topiaries! haven't done Malestorm in years! maybe in Nov!

It amazes me how often there is a long line for it. We only ride it when it is less than a 10 minute wait.

lunch and snacks look yummy! the Karamell Kuche is my FAVORITE place in Germany...can't wait to stock up on my caramels!

Mark loves his caramels; I personally don't care for them, but he makes up for both of us.

OOOooo ... I love your flower photos. DH was so fascinated with the floating planters in the lakes there. He asked all kinds of questions. "Those look like they are made out of concrete, how do they float?" And "Do you suppose they have them anchored somehow? You know, so they don't all float round and bump into each other?" Also, "I wonder how they water them. Do they ride out there in a boat every day?" Life's great mysteries. Haha. I found it amusing.

That is amusing, but also a good question. The flowers were so beautiful.

I like the beer they serve in Germany. It is always so nice and cold and refreshing. And the caramel shop ..... ahhhh, I love that place.

Mark wishes they would offer a few different varieties though. But as long as he gets his beer, he'll be happy.

Your first couple pictures of Norway made me giggle. The boy in the first one... all he needed was a stick and he could be your viking in the next.

I had to go back and look and you were absolutely right!

Ok, so maybe my coffee is getting to me.

Nope...either that or the coffee was getting to me too.

What a beautiful day it looks to have been. In so many of your pictures, the sky looks amazingly blue.

It was a perfect day...blue skies, sunshine and 82 degrees.

The topiaries are super cute. LOVE the dwarfs!!

I really think the dwarfs were my favorite.

That's ok, calories don't count on vacation.

They will when I can't get into my dress in 30 days for the wedding. Hopefully, with the 96 degrees they are calling for during the entire time we are there, I'll sweat off a few pounds.

That's usually the argument that convinces me to ride it.

Yes, definitely not worth waiting in line for.

"Cute."


You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.

You know what I mean! I'm not as good as you and Glenn with "words."


That's how you think on your feet.

I have to admit, I never even knew the man liked apple wine or any wine for that matter. How can I be married to him for almost 30 years?


Ahhh...beer and caramel, together at last.

Not a combo I'd be going after.

I had Frank Sinatra on the radio when I typed that.

Ha ha! Kathy you are funny! YES, you certainly can!

I knew I could pull that on you; you know I love you.

That sandwich from the Norway bakery looks great!

It was yummy.

You have to visit Karamel Kuche when in Germany, isn't it required?

It certainly is for my husband.

I love that troll topiary. I got to see him in March.

I thought he was neat (is that better, Mark?).

Bummer that you didn't try any of the food booths. But at least you got some pictures of the menus. Nothing on the Germany one sounded appealing to me.

If we had had more time, I am sure we would have. But we really didn't want to miss anything since we only had the one day.



I'll come back tonight to finish responses and maybe do an update. I have to leave to catch the train to go get my nails done, and then staying home tonight to watch my Blackhawks.

 

[mommy2mrb]

what you don't like caramels silly girl
have fun getting your nails done, hope your hawks win!

 

[KatMark]

Great pictures Kathy. So very happy to see Mr. Mark back in his silly hat glory.

I told him Shannon would be very disappointed if he didn't come thru with some hat photos.

That Cars area is much more elaborate than it was last year. Very cool. Love the troll topiary too. I don't remember seeing that last year either.

I really liked that area.

STOP!!!!!!!!!!

No, don't stop ...... I love the updates! It's just that you sneak one in whenever I am out the door.

Love the topiaries and the Norway Sandwich - that is SO good!
Mark looks so happy with his beer.

You are too funny, Karin. I really need to get this done...I leave in 3 weeks. At the rate I'm going, it's not looking real promising (although once I get past the Disney day, I'll just do a short update for each day the rest of the trip).

It really was a great sandwich, and Mark was very happy with his beer.

Hey, when it is a country known for vikings and... uh... vikings, what else do you expect to find there?

True, but the hats everywhere we went are the same...something new is due.

That's a solid plan if I've ever heard one!

Mark sure thought so.



And I've heard that they've had it in the past.

Well, it is a shame he couldn't get his apple wine, but the beer and caramel make a more than adequate consolation prize.

He was a happy man.

You guys are so cute when you think alike.

They go for a shot, of course?

I asked Mark if he wanted a shot of Jaeger...he drinks with his kids.

What? Beer? So predictable!

Certainly NOT my choice.

Wow - great update. Great pictures in Maelstrom!

Thanks, MEK.

Love all the cute topiaries. There are so many that I have never seen. I am so glad I have a tentative F&G trip for next year. All these pictures are making me want to go.

I really want to go back...really enjoyed it.

Your sandwich looks really good. Yum!

You should put it on your bucket list...it was very good.

Thanks, Lisa; I hope you had a great one.

Nice morning at Epcot! I hope you were enjoying all things flowery & gardeny!

Thanks, Amy. We really enjoyed it.

Thanks, Tink. I hope you had a nice Mother's Day.

Posting this to all my friends who are REAL Moms! (My dinner is being prepared, so I may have to stop and continue afterwards)! DUH! How did I miss this was still a TR in progress...just with a different trip!

​

Thanks, Judy; I hope you had a wonderful Mother's Day.

 

[KatMark]

Love it. They really know what to get you!!!!

I gave him three suggestions and he went with the biggest.

awesome awesome awesome!!!
i love photo stocked TR!!! This is Great!!! Love the new luggage!!! love the hat pictures and your right they need new hats to keep up with you guys!!!

Thanks, Mo. I hope they come out with some new hats by August (I'll have to peek while I'm there with the girls next month).

I'm telling you Kathy, you've got some really sweet boys! I love the Tink suitcase!

They really are...I'm so proud of the men they have become.

what a fun suitcase!

Isn't it, though? I just love it; and it is so roomie (can you say souvenirs?).

Kathy, love the suitcase! What a great gift to receive. I saw one just like that but it had the Mickey ears on it instead; almost bought it and now kicking myself for not doing it. I haven't seen one since.

Did you trying researching it online. I know they had a Mickey one as well as the Tinkerbelle one Andy got me.

The suitcase is sooooooo pretty!!!

Thank you, Mel.

All caught up again! Some fun F&G updates, and they do a great job with all the topiaries!!!

They sure do, Marv.

What? Mark?? A beer in Germany???

Yes, a strange selection for Germany.

Would love me some Karmel Kuche right about now.

You can have my share.

I know you really loved your Mother's Day suitcase! So perfect for you!!!

I really, really did.

What a great Mothers Day gift!!

Thanks.

Back and trying to catch up.

That was a fast trip.

Happy Belated Mother's day and the suitcase is cute.

Thank you, Pat. I hope you had a nice Mother's Day.

I do love Flower and Garden but next time I would have to go earlier.

Very crazy around work and I feel it was just too stressful to enjoy myself really.

I'm sorry made your trip stressful for you. I hope you'll have another trip soon that will be more enjoyable.

what you don't like caramels silly girl

Nope; give me Disney popcorn anytime instead.

have fun getting your nails done, hope your hawks win!

Nails look great and my Hawks won. A perfect evening.

And now bedtime; update tomorrow...I promise.

Have a good night everyone.

 

[MeMom]

I gave him three suggestions and he went with the biggest.

So now I am curious. What are the other things you might have gotten?

What you got was great!

 

[blessedmom4]

That suitcase is adorable, what a great son! You can put it to great use in a few weeks! AND a wedding in less than a month??? Don't forget to breathe Kathy and take in all of the moments!!! Lots of FUN stress...but still stress! Yea for pretty nails and the Hawks winning!

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Love the suitcase! So cute. Looks like you are making the most out of your short trip.
Only 3 weeks to go now! I know you are beside yourself between the trip and the wedding. How exciting!

 

[KatMark]

So now I am curious. What are the other things you might have gotten?

What you got was great!

I gave him a list (besides my gift certificate for my massage which he knows is always on my list) of: Mickey Trivet and teapot from Disney Store, Starbucks Gift Card and the suitcase...if he could find it on sale! I got that devilish look from him so do not think he got it on sale.

That suitcase is adorable, what a great son! You can put it to great use in a few weeks! AND a wedding in less than a month??? Don't forget to breathe Kathy and take in all of the moments!!! Lots of FUN stress...but still stress! Yea for pretty nails and the Hawks winning!

Thanks, Judy. I've put a few things in it each night.

Breathe? Is that what I'm supposed to be doing? I keep going over "my" lists and hoping I haven't forgotten anything, and then I help Alisha with her lists. This is coming way too fast.

The Hawks played great last night.

Love the suitcase! So cute. Looks like you are making the most out of your short trip.
Only 3 weeks to go now! I know you are beside yourself between the trip and the wedding. How exciting!

I think we will get enough attractions in to make us happy and plenty of pool time to cool off during the heat of the day. I can't believe it is only three weeks and 29 days until the wedding.

Here's a fun picture for those of you who I am not friends with on FB. I'm posting an "engagement" picture a day for the last 30 days. This was today's picture:




I'm working on my update and should have it up around lunch time.

 

[mommy2mrb]

what a cute photo of Mark and Alisha, hard to believe their wedding is almost here!

 

[KatMark]

When I last updated, we had just finished seeing some of the beautiful topiaries that Disney puts together and Mark had had his beer and caramels in Germany.

Next up would be Italy. And hence the title of this update. I had the radio on at work when I was typing the last update and Frank Sinatra was singing "The Lady is a Tramp" (one of my favorite Sinatra songs of all time) and why I ended my last update with it. Okay, go ahead...call me weird...but these last three weeks (or 29 days for the wedding) of preparations, excitement are getting to me.

Moving on.....

I present you with Lady and the Tramp:



I have to say that this one looked a little off to me.

We then strolled over to America. A kid favorite was there to greet us:





Had we not just eaten lunch in Norway and Mark not nibbled on caramels, we would have stopped here for lunch. It looked like something we would enjoy and smelled really, really good:



We stopped in the shop for a photo op:



When we exited the shop, we had a few minutes before the Voices of Liberty were going to start, so I took a picture of everyone's favorite Toy Story character:



We went back inside so we could grab a seat and I could charge my phone which was slowly starting to die as was my camera and I needed something to be able to continue to take pictures of.

Then it was time for one of Mark's favorite things to do at Disney...listen to the Voices of Liberty perform:






We exited the show, and I stopped to get myself my favorite snack while at Disney:



We continued our stroll around the World Showcase taking pictures here and there:

















And then we HAD arrived. We had arrived so that I could get my FAVORITE beverage at Disney:





Mark decided he had a taste for ice cream and this is what he came back with from a little stand in France:



He informed me that it WAS the BEST ice cream he had ever had. He found a new love (I must admit the tiny little taste he would allow me was very, very good).

Continued in next post