Back from Wonderland:wAlice,Madhatter,ChesCat&White Rabbit 11/11Thank You

[cjackearl]

Patricia, I'm terribly behind but have every intention of catching up on the doings of your adorable family. I've been working backwards, so I want to add to everyone's wishes for a successful resolution to Rabbit's lunchroom/reccess problems.

 

[mousescrapper]

So were do you go after you become a Jedi?

Disneyland




(I can't wait to see what the upgrade to the Star Tours ride will be like...the clips from the D23 Expo looked fabulous...)

me too...may actually get me to ride it again....not a big fan of the motion sensor rides


a little stuffed Ewok magnet in the bag for me...(which I thought was really kind of sweet...I now have him with my finger puppet magnets of Washington, Lincoln, and Teddy Roosevelt...(yes I am aware of my own nerdiness) it's my own little Mt. Rushmore set up-I have the Ewok taking the place of Thomas Jefferson until I find him...lol...


You crack me up...this is so good...please share a picture!!!


...there were some nice books...and out on the coffee table between the chairs and sofa I got my first look at the D23 magazine...Disney twenty three...I fell in love...not only was it lovely, glossy oversized magazine...there were some really great articles in it...lots of great articles on films, the parks, the muscials...hmmm...I wanted one...but they weren't selling it...it is one of the benefits of D23 membership...(foreshadowing...)

that mag sounds great....oohhh do I sense something fun you'll be sharing in our future

We celebrated both Alice's and Hatter's Birthdays -they are two days apart and Hatter and my anniversary..., so literally we had Hatter's b-day, day off, Alice's Birthday, our anniversary...


happy belated birthdays and anniversaries to all...



I just had an intuitive sense that something was off at school with Rabbit...(he's doing really well academically...but when I'd ask about who he was playing with...well didn't feel right...



I get an email last week from the new school counselor basically informing me that while David is happily running about chasing leaves he is not making very successful inroads into engaging kids in play at recess......(Reading between the lines...she doesn't understand his diagnosis...I don't know what her experiences have been...)

...his classroom is a little organized slice of heaven...but when you get down to the lunchroom...it's the 2nd grade version of Lord of the Flies...


Recess was a interesting bag...I started a game of tag with my son-who I realized didn't get the rules...and after I explained it- we played it for at least 15-minutes with about 4-5 other kids joining in...

Ugghhhhh---what I've come to realize is that since some of David's prime needs socially aren't in the classroom...its in the lunchroom and the playground where its all unstructured and a free for all...He could use some tools/scaffolding/basically some help navigating the social world...


The big question for me is how I'm going to convince not just the teacher (who is really pretty good in the classroom) but the administrators that the stuff that happens in the lunchroom and playground is part of the bigger picture...

it seems that there could/should be a better way...

Patricia,

I hear you a million times over....this is the same thing w/ Micahel and his school and many a school yr struggling w/ this same concept and how I always feel he and I are up against same brick wall or he's in some black whole un reached untouched....things have improved for him over his years in grammar school...but I worry w. the no school social realms that are "required" in middle school. Whether they'll be just a equal of a challange or even more so...

I know Michael has been mad, upset and a varied of other feelings over the school yrs..most of the time we have had to focuys on how to get along in frustrating situations or conflicts..but that is not everything. I kynwim....

Let's talk more

I will take a picture of my Mt. Rushmore...and post it...

can't wait to see it!


Personally I think the school playground is a horrorfest for lots of kids...I wasn't particularly found of it myself...It will all work out one way or another...



yes sadly that is true for many kids...


:
Our school has lunch/recess aides who as far as I can tell are primarily there to make sure there is no blood or broken bones...the teachers have their lunch at the time...and I can totally understand their need for a break...if only there was a way to train the aides to be able to be more engaged...and maybe figure out a way for one of the teachers to be out there once a week assuming they got their lunch at another time...I think that there has to be administrative support and its becoming clear to me that this "kind of thing" is not a priority when the principal is a bit consumed by test scores...

I know this battle oh so well....

Looks like Hatter and I are gong to have to postpone our weekend...FIL hurt his back and my inlaws aren't up to watching the children this weekend...

sorry to hear yor weekend has been postponed, and hoping your FIL will be feeling better soon!

J~

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Ohhh, Patricia, I'm sorry about your weekend....
I think you loss will be our gain though, I can't wait to spend some time DISing with you!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Ok ...onward and upward...

MOVIES, MEETING PRINCE CASPIAN AND LEARNING TO DRAW PLUTO...

After a fab and fun lunch...it was time to resume our Studios adventures...

We decided to take a trip on the Great Movie Ride...I must say that the outside of Graumann's Chinese Theatre in LA is not quite as cute/wholesome as this Disney's version...(although I'm sure that its lovely inside)...(The El Capitan Movie Theatre that Disney redid-is quite lovely and the Soda Fountain next store is quite cute-little plug if you get to DL/LA)...(I'm a bit of a movie junkie so I love old flims and I happen to really enjoy this...even though the kitsch factor is definitely high...I always love that bit when your "first tour guide" shows back up after the gangster tour guide bites it in the Indiana Jones scene for trying to steal the jewel and I must admit I love watching all of the film clips...)

We went back and had a second go on Toy Story Mania...it was even better the second time around...better scores too!

Well now a certain Miss Alice had an interest in meeting Prince Caspian...so off we trotted to meet the Prince...

he was a charming Prince...he bantered with Rabbit about his shirt and asked "what was a Jedi"- he found out from David that it was a good warrior-and how he was a good warrior too and how that was wonderful. Alice was all sort of tongue tied for her...(unusual) and just sort of smiley/blushy...I have to admit I got a big kick out of the whole thing...

We then went into Journey Into Narniarince Caspian-There was a little bit of a show/set from Narnia...It was pretty cool...I didn't realize it would be as interesting as it was but being Disney I shouldn't be surprised...and I have a desire to see the movies now...(actually I just remembered I want to add them to my Netflix queue...)


We made our way down to the Animation Courtyard...Alice and I had read and were interested in doing the Animation Academy-where you learn how to draw one of the Disney Characters...we got in line...we had just missed a class and they run every half an hour and can accomodate 30 people...Hatter meanwhile took Rabbit around to see the characters in the building...the characters from Up where featured in there this particular day...(We agreed to meet up at Starring Rolls for a snack before tackling ToT and or RnRC...)

I highly recommend Animation Academy...We learned to draw Pluto. The animator was very patient and really walked you through step by step...and when you're done you have a drawing that you could frame as an awesome souvenir...I should try to find mine...I bent it a bit...next time I would definitely do this again with the plan to save and frame it...

We made our way to Starring Rolls and I have to say it...I think we had hit the "wall". I was really feeling tired...I wanted coffee so badly...and Alice was feeling pretty tired too...I haven't spoken that much about it-but it was as only DWD in August can be really hot and humid and although it had been all week for some reason it seemed like we were really feeling it today...

So after meeting up with the guys we were hoping that a sugar fix might perk us up (in addition to the coffee...) so we shared these babies:

They were both good but we weren't feeling the need for speed...we were feeling the need for a pool...so against all previously conceived plans...we decided to leave the park without doing either ToT or RnRC---Sacrilege! (And actually to boot-I had never done either of these rides so I had been looking forward to it-well at least the RnRC-I still have mixed feelings about ToT but its at the top of my list for next year...

We all needed a nice rest or swim...something to revive us in time for dinner at Boma that night...

We went back to the Lodge and I thought I'd take a quick lie down-Hatter ran up to the Lounge and got some snacks...hummus and breads and BBQed coffee short ribs and some nice red wine...I had a little "snack"...and before I knew it...I was out...apparently Hatter took the kids for a short swim but they came back for a nap too...and we luckily woke up and made it downstairs at the last minute for our reservations...but being sleepy and slightly out of it...I forgot to bring the camera down to take any photos...but being Boma-it was very good...

Next UP: A TRIP TO VISIT KIDANI, A LUNCH AT SANAA & BECOMING PIRATES

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Alice looks quite comfortable with that Prince Caspian.....
I would love to know what she was thinking while standing there with him!
I can't believe we missed Animation Academy this past summer.... I really want to do that next time.
Starring Rolls = Yummy!

TOT = so much fun!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Yes, there may have been a bit of a recurring theme with Han Solo (and Indiana Jones) where I am concerned. Not to mention that I sooo wanted to be Princess Leia when I was little -- she had the best lines and lots of sarcastic spunk!

Great update! The Animation Academy is really neat! I saved all the Poohs that we drew a couple of summers ago.

Mmmm, Starring Rolls cupcakes! Oh, I those! Sorry to hear about hitting the wall, though. If the heat you were experiencing was anything like the heat we had in June (and I am sure it was), I think you made a very wise choice to go take a nap.

Alice is so cute with Caspian!

 

[tiggrbaby]

Too bad about your weekend! It's nice to get away every once in a while. I can't remeber the last time DH and i spent our anniversary together at anything other than a swim meet!

 

[jordanyosh]

Looks like Hatter and I are gong to have to postpone our weekend...FIL hurt his back and my inlaws aren't up to watching the children this weekend...but we will reschedule and to cheer myself up I'm going to decadently fiddle away some time Dising...


OK

It is time to get this TR moving back along...I will post the rest of the Studios Day later today...so I can then move along to our next day which was spent exploring Kidani, eating at Sanaa for lunch and taking Rabbit and Alice to Pirates League, the Wave for Dinner and the Pirates and Pals cruise...(after the whole Jedi Academy thing...this was probably my all around favorite day...)

So time to get writing and finish up the Studios so we can move along...

First a cup of coffee and a little catching up on everyone else's TRs and PTRs and then finish up Studio's Day...

Sorry about the weekend.

But update Off to read it.

 

[jordanyosh]

For you to miss out on RnRC and ToT, that's tired.

That Russell looks a bit odd as a character. It's seems like he should be smaller since he's a boy...just sayin.

can't wait to hear about Sanaa. I keep going back and forth with this one for my trip.

 

[hhockman]

Glad you guys enjoyed Caspian. We didn't do Narnia this time. Another thing we didn't do. Have you read the books? I know you love anything and everything that is book. I read the Narnia series for the first time when I was 10. Got the set for my birthday. I've read them countless times since. Love, love, love the books. The movies are okay. Wasn't as crazy about the second one.

We had a good time in Animation Academy. We all did it. All of us that were at the Studios. Will had a fit because he couldn't get his picture right (we were drawing Dopey) and ended up not finishing his. That's my perfectionist. Everyone else's came out decent (except Christian's, of course, but I still love what he did all by himself). Matt's was downright good. He's always been good at drawing.

Those cupcakes look good. Much better than the homemade one I just ate.

I totally know what you mean about hitting the wall. We hit that wall a lot. My plans were changed often. And we didn't do ToT or RnRC either. At all. Matt ALWAYS does ToT, and we both like RnRC, but it just didn't happen.

I hope you get to ride it next year.

Sorry about you missing out on your weekend away too. Gives you something else to look forward to.

I'm interested to hear what happens at David's school. You are such an awesome advocate for him.

Looking forward to Sanaa.

P.S. I'm with you on the Jedi thing. I get so upset at the counsel when I watch what they do to him and I know what's coming. Just makes me downright mad (It's just a movie!, I tell myself). Anakin was the chosen one (despite all that Luke does, he is the one to actually, physically, get rid of Palpatine), but there had to be other paths that could have led him to getting rid of Palpatine than the one he went down. There had to have been a better way. It breaks my heart even now thinking about it. It's just so so sad.

 

[Mickey_Mom]

A nice glass of wine, a book or a pedicure can be pretty theraputic too...

Baileys and hot chocolate is my preferred escape.

I hope everything is ok with Ariana...I was thinking of her the other day since we have the same favorite princess...Ms. Snow White...there is a ton of SW merchandise at the Disney store right now...there is actually this cute little cottage...hmmm...

She's having a bit of a struggle right now but seems to be back on the upswing and having more good days than bad. I have to get her over to the Disney Store for sure while Snow White is front and centre.

I hope everything is going well for her at school...I'm sorry you've had to wage a battle at school...it takes it out of you...but good for you for winning...you know what your girl needs...

We thought we'd won the battle but in the last few days we've taken a few steps backwards again. The school has had to make some tough decisions regarding the distribution of their EAs amongst the special needs students and Ariana's EA has been tapped into to help two other students.

At a moments notice, her EA could be called away to assist the other students and Ariana has to stop what she's doing, leave the classroom with her EA and wait around. Then she goes back to her own classroom and hopefully picks up her work. Not exactly the structured setting she needs.....

Motherhood is not for wimps...that's for sure...

Nope, wimps we are not.

I love your update! Alice and the Prince look like they're about to exchange vows!

 

[eandesmom]

Well now a certain Miss Alice had an interest in meeting Prince Caspian...so off we trotted to meet the Prince...

he was a charming Prince...he bantered with Rabbit about his shirt and asked "what was a Jedi"- he found out from David that it was a good warrior-and how he was a good warrior too and how that was wonderful. Alice was all sort of tongue tied for her...(unusual) and just sort of smiley/blushy...I have to admit I got a big kick out of the whole thing...

Adorable pics!

We wanted to go to that last year and never made it...

I highly recommend Animation Academy...We learned to draw Pluto. The animator was very patient and really walked you through step by step...and when you're done you have a drawing that you could frame as an awesome souvenir...I should try to find mine...I bent it a bit...next time I would definitely do this again with the plan to save and frame it...

I really really want to do this next trip! Evan would eat it up!

We went back to the Lodge and I thought I'd take a quick lie down-Hatter ran up to the Lounge and got some snacks...hummus and breads and BBQed coffee short ribs and some nice red wine...I had a little "snack"...and before I knew it...I was out...apparently Hatter took the kids for a short swim but they came back for a nap too...and we luckily woke up and made it downstairs at the last minute for our reservations...but being sleepy and slightly out of it...I forgot to bring the camera down to take any photos...but being Boma-it was very good...

Yikes. This is why I'm hoping to build in a pool break every day....

Nice snacks!

 

[praisehisname]

Great update! Sorry you didn't get to everything on your list at DHS, but like you said there's always next time!

Denise

 

[cjackearl]

Yes, definitely queue up those Narnia movies. I loved the books also and read them to my kiddos when they were younger and I think they did a good job with the movies.

I hear you with the WDW summer heat wall. Suddenly all motivation to do even the most tempting activities is sapped away. Pool time, rest and refreshments are the Rx.

I love the picture of Alice comparing hand prints with Audrey Hepburn. Cool!

 

[dismagiclover]

Oooh you got a cute Prince Caspian I'm sure Alice loved every minute of it! If you remember from my trippie I found Caspain quite charming, and I think he looks to have gotten even better looking in the ensuing months
Great update!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Wonderful update!

The Prince Caspian experience is too funny! We've never done the Narnia attraction because we've never seen the movies. But now that DD and DS6 are a little older I think they may enjoy them!

We've also never done the animation studio! We've been through but never done the class! I know DD want to do it in 2 weeks!! I can't wait to see what her picture turns out like! She's a terrific artist!

Those cupcakes at Starring Rolls look yummy!!!! Too bad they were enough of a pick me up!

It great that you got a nice nap!! Obviously you needed it! Better to take a little snooze then get all exhausted!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Wonderful update! I can't wait for Up to come out on DVD. I haven't seen it yet but I think all the characters just look so cute.

Now I can tell you the thing I was most fascinated by the John Adams miniseries. THE TEETH! I loved how they aged them and you could tell they were getting older as their teeth got worse. It was fascinating to me. That is some very strong detail there!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

That is hilarious!!!

Sorry to hear about your FIL's back, and your postponed trip. At least you can reschedule it, so you know it will happen!

Looking forward to your update...hopefully I'll make it back here today to enjoy! I'm trying, in vain, to catch up, and will be posting to my TR and PTR today as well. I hope!

I've had two cups of coffee...but a third is sounding MIGHTY fine right now!

Since it was our anniversary weekend trip...we'll definitely reschedule it...hmm...if I time it right...since we were heading towards DC... we may be able to see a Christmas Carol in Ford's Theatre-which could be cool...to make up for missing our "National Treasure" tour at Mt. Vernon...(they only do the National Treasure tour (based on stuff from the movie) through October since its outside) hmmm seeing A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre could be kinda cool though...

Bless your stalwart spirit...all of you...that have a PTR running beside your TR...I don't know if I could keep up...but then again the Disforce isn't as strong with me yet...I haven't been seriously Dising till this past summer...many of you much longer than that...The Dis Force probably grows stronger... Goodness knows I've been bitten by the Dis bug addiction...(And I am dying... to begin a PTR...but I'm going to finish this first...maybe...cause I should...hmmm.......

I'm just beginning my third...I think its the third cup of coffee for the day...I thought of you yesterday when I was in Starbucks because David wanted to knew the chemical formula for caffeine...(we started a whole discussion on why grownups like coffee and caffeine...and one thing lead to another...nuff said...) and I remembered that you either did or almost bought one of those mugs that have the formula for caffeine on it...would have come in handy here last night...

I'm all caught up! You got me all teary-eyed with your Jedi Training Academy Post. That was wonderful.
Sorry that you had to postpone your trip...that stinks. On the other hand, though, you know we all will be happy to have you here!

Hey April,...awww thanks for the sweet words...Hoping you're feeling all better...

Patricia, I'm terribly behind but have every intention of catching up on the doings of your adorable family. I've been working backwards, so I want to add to everyone's wishes for a successful resolution to Rabbit's lunchroom/reccess problems.

Hey Christine...miss you and all the goings on of the Earls...

Rabbit's situation isn't perfect but it is definitely getting better...It's getting better all the time...better...better...better......No more more caffeine for me...for at least an hour...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Patricia,

I hear you a million times over....this is the same thing w/ Micahel and his school and many a school yr struggling w/ this same concept and how I always feel he and I are up against same brick wall or he's in some black whole un reached untouched....things have improved for him over his years in grammar school...but I worry w. the no school social realms that are "required" in middle school. Whether they'll be just a equal of a challange or even more so...

I know Michael has been mad, upset and a varied of other feelings over the school yrs..most of the time we have had to focuys on how to get along in frustrating situations or conflicts..but that is not everything. I kynwim....

Let's talk more

Hey Julie...I'll come to your meetings if you come to mine......we can tag team them...

If I have to say the words "Social Thinking" once more I might... If I have to repeat the line "Learning to think socially is as critical for a child with AS or any Social Learning Disability as learning to decode language and read is for a child with a Verbal Learning Disability...I might scream... but I won't (sigh) because I can't...and right now things seem like they are slowing but surely moving in a positive direction...


sorry to hear yor weekend has been postponed, and hoping your FIL will be feeling better soon!

J~

Thanks about the weekend...it will work out...

Ohhh, Patricia, I'm sorry about your weekend....
I think you loss will be our gain though, I can't wait to spend some time DISing with you!

Awww...thanks Anita...It seems I need very little excuse to Dis these days...it all starts at so innocently just reading some TRs for ideas...then you post...then you start to get to know other Disers and their families...and before you know it you are on the cusp of buying a DVC and hoping you can do a Dismeet...Where does the madness end...?

Alice looks quite comfortable with that Prince Caspian.....
I would love to know what she was thinking while standing there with him!
I can't believe we missed Animation Academy this past summer.... I really want to do that next time.
Starring Rolls = Yummy!

TOT = so much fun!

Noticed how comfortable Miss Alice looks standing there next to Prince Caspian did you...(me too...)sigh...I have a photo of her at 3 1/2-I'm going to go dig up...she's dressed in a blue Cinderella Ballgown Costume dancing with her dad...wow she's growing up so fast...

Animation Academy is sssooo cool...Baylor would love it...you would too...probably Shocker too...I'm still getting over my relatively recent realization that you guys are married...(that was such a relief when I realized it...)

Starring Rolls is super yum...now that we "discovered" it was there -I foresee many stops there in our future...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Yes, there may have been a bit of a recurring theme with Han Solo (and Indiana Jones) where I am concerned. Not to mention that I sooo wanted to be Princess Leia when I was little -- she had the best lines and lots of sarcastic spunk!

Great update! The Animation Academy is really neat! I saved all the Poohs that we drew a couple of summers ago.

Mmmm, Starring Rolls cupcakes! Oh, I those! Sorry to hear about hitting the wall, though. If the heat you were experiencing was anything like the heat we had in June (and I am sure it was), I think you made a very wise choice to go take a nap.

Alice is so cute with Caspian!

I agree that Princess Leia got some pretty good lines...and come on- to be able to rock that gold bikini and single handedly take out Jabba-that's pretty talented......Hmmm...Hans Solo and Indiana Jones...is this by any chance a larger Harrison Ford issue...just sayin...

AA was one of my favorite things we did definite top 10...and Starring Rolls...

Oh we hit the wall that day big time...

Alice is indeed cute with Caspian...her Dad is just a little wiggy sometimes...you'll see with Chelsea...there is this monumental leap between like 12/13 to 14/15

Too bad about your weekend! It's nice to get away every once in a while. I can't remeber the last time DH and i spent our anniversary together at anything other than a swim meet!

I hear you...we haven't gone away together...hmm...well over a year ago we did an overnight stay at Cape May...but since then......hmmm...Need to rectify that...hmmm swim meets take up a lot of time...I had heard that...I'd like David to try out for a swim team in a couple of years...maybe Hatter and I better make sure we can get in a weekend or two before its too late...

Sorry about the weekend.

But update Off to read it.

I'm sad too...wish I had a DTD and a Disneyland in my backyard to cheer me up...

For you to miss out on RnRC and ToT, that's tired.

That Russell looks a bit odd as a character. It's seems like he should be smaller since he's a boy...just sayin.

can't wait to hear about Sanaa. I keep going back and forth with this one for my trip.

We were walking dead on our feet-it was really sad to miss RnRC and ToT but on a plus side...it will be cool for Alice that the first time she gets to ride them will be on her 16th B-day-she's only really caught the thrill ride bug in the last year or so...

Yeah...Russell is a little different looking...I think some characters just translate better into the costumes...but Rabbit had seen the movie and loved it so he was good...

OH...Sanaa... I know you kind of ruled it out...you should really think about it...I'm going to write it up in one of my next couple of updates...It was really, really good...