"But WHY did you do it?" Our Annual Disney Christmas trip PTR/TR Completed 10-17-11!!

LOL love your future too cute! Don't you just love a woman in gogo boots, doesn't every scientist wear boots like that LOL!!!

You have never walked around Canada LOL!! Glad you found the cute soap LOL!!!!!! I still say they need more hockey stuff around there LOL!!

Awww your picture with Marie is too cute!!!!!!!!

Okay....two more updates...and still no proposal...what are you trying to do to me Jess....LOL!!!

Oh you know it...I clean fish tanks in go-go boots!:rotfl:
Yes...no proposal yet! Within the next 2 updates you will get your proposal :rotfl:
 
Those soaps are hilarious!

So funny that the little girl just plopped down on Aurora's lap. :rotfl:

That slush sounds FAB!
 
I'm guessing you are on your way to Norway for school bread! (That's where I'd be heading :thumbsup2)

Jess, I'm TRYING very hard to slow down and enjoy your TR but I'm too anxious for the big moment!!! Please get there fast so I can enjoy the rest!!! :hyper:
 


Those soaps are hilarious!

So funny that the little girl just plopped down on Aurora's lap. :rotfl:

That slush sounds FAB!
Oh the slush is awesome! They have a Lemon Grey Goose one too, but I am very partial to the GM..yum yum!

Yum! You know I love those Grand Marnier slushies! Blake's Goofy picture is too funny! :lmao:
He's a dork, but I guess we all love our own dork right? ;)

I'm guessing you are on your way to Norway for school bread! (That's where I'd be heading :thumbsup2)

Jess, I'm TRYING very hard to slow down and enjoy your TR but I'm too anxious for the big moment!!! Please get there fast so I can enjoy the rest!!! :hyper:
You know I have never tried school bread Katie? I wrote it down to try for this trip and it just didn't happen! Oh my gosh, you all...sheesh! I'm glad it happened on our first trip day and not our last now!:rotfl2:
 
We were off to get a snack in………


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Mexico!


Now we have eaten at San Angel a few years ago, but Blake decided he was seriously in the mood for some Mexican food. I tried to tell him we can get Mexican food anywhere, but he got his craving for it and wouldn’t have it any other way. We always joke that in a past life both of us had to have been from Latin America or Mexico because if allowed, we could probably get tacos, or burritos or fajitas every other day.

So, we stopped in at the Cantina de San Angel. Never tried this one, and I heard on the boards that they changed the menu. I remember one post in particular saying “$10 for 3 little tacos” and that of course if what Blake wanted. But I grabbed his arm and told him to hang on a second and when I pointed them out to him, they were TINY, so he immediately switched to the nachos, which were $2 cheaper and not only HUGE, but were really very good!
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They had a ton of toppings on them and just tasted great. We paid OOP for these because we didn’t need a dessert and already had those extra waters from breakfast at Pop.

Blake caught me.
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I yelled at him for feeding a red corn tortilla chip to the bird. Poor bird.

Now as we were finding a seat, this..I'm guessing now that I think back, he didn't know very good english, we had our tray in hand and see that this man and the rest of his family are getting up and we said, "Are you done?" and he said "No" But keeps getting up. So we ask again "Are you not done?" We get another "No" but he continues to round the corner around the trash can....one more time "You're not done...?" "No." But then he leaves.
Blake and I kinda looked at each other and laughed and then sat down because he never came back...I guess he wasn't done ;)

Gone! Boy were they yummy!
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The breeze was great, just sitting under the patio and I sat down and updated my TR in my book.

When we were finished, we headed off to
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the Mexico pavilion
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to do the boat ride in there and looked at the wooden carved art. I love them, they are so bright and pretty, but man are they expensive!
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Inside the ride.
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Not one of my favorites, but it was nice since the line was non-existant.

We got off and headed back toward FW and listened to the Gospel singers for a second when they came out. Very fun! They were all dressed in their xmas gear and just looked like they were having a blast on this pretty day.
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Oh oh…let me back up. Today was the day I was supposed to be meeting up with my friend Ann! I had got a text that morning saying she would be here around 2-3pm, after initially saying she would be there all day to hang out. At this point, she texts me and says, she’s running errands and won’t be there until about 6pm. Man, I was mad, but tried not to let it bother me, as I knew with ADR’s scheduled for tomorrow (Friday) and that being her only other option to hang out, today would be the best day for us. Oh well.

So we headed toward Soarin. Now yes, I was a little nervous, but I’ve heard good things about this ride. I took some pictures of the entrance, pretty, love the lights
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and pulled out my fastpasses.
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I sat down, buckled myself in and as soon as it went up, the vertigo hit me, I felt like I was on an airplane as it swayed back and forth, I ended up spending the whole time with my face in Blake’s arm, with my eyes closed, breathing really hard but slow trying not to throw up.

It was horrible.

I have NEVER felt anything like that before. As soon as it lowered me down, I unbuckled my belt, put my head in my lap and started to cry, just happy to be back on the ground.

Now, I’m glad I did it, as Blake really wanted to try it out, but NEVER AGAIN.

Gosh.

Blake said, ok “cross that one off the list”…..

as we exited, I took a bench and the nachos hit Blake, so he went to use the restroom. It was 3pm at this point as I glanced at my watch while I updated my TR.
 
Continued from previous post.

Next, something a bit more familiar and smoother I think.

We walked next door to The Seas.
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We waited, but the ride was broken, and didn’t get started back up after about 15 minutes, so since we’re both biologists and really are there for just the fish tanks (hey, it’s what I do for a living) I figured I could live without the actual ride this trip.

Jellies
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I loved the eel tank! Snowflakes and Zebra eels…so pretty!
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Seahorses
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Biggest Frogspawn ever! Blake put his hand up for the comparison.
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We went upstairs and looking at the big aquarium
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These are the fake coral pieces we scrub at work, just on a larger scale
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found the manatees who were busy just floating around eating their lettuce.
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We played a game, on the “expert level” and I’m happy to announce..
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We know our stuff. :rotfl2:

We must have spent a good hour in there. We love fish. I mean we're both bioloists, we love to fish, we have fish tanks.
It's just us.
It was a perfect way to spend the afternoon.

After a few more pictures and browsing the gift shop, it was time to walk back toward WS….ready with our dinner spot already picked out....and maybe, just maybe have a little magic happen as well ;)
 


Does that last sentence mean what I think it means LOL!! Will we have a proposal soon cuz I'm dying here Jess LOL!!!! I want to squeal in delight with you!!!!!

Another wonderful update! Those nachos do look yummy!
 
Those nachos look seriously good!!!

Oh, Jess, I am so sorry you didn't enjoy Soarin'. :(

Thank goodness you were able to recuperate at the Seas. So much fun, and of course you achieved expert level -- I wouldn't expect anything less. :rotfl:
 
Your post and pictures make me want to spend more time at the Seas next time! We watched the dolphins for a while, but the manatees weren't in and I didn't see any seahorses and I have no idea where that game is! Usually we hit the ride and then Crush and then we move on (did you do Crush?! it's a must-do for us since it's a different experience every time!). Honestly though, the ride is not my favorite. I used to like the old ride and I wish the ride was more about the real seas and less about the Nemo story, but I'm probably in the minority on that. I have to say though, the queue for that ride is definitely one of the best! I always find it ironic that it has such a great queue and never any line, lol!

Speaking of Mexican food, do you go to Plaza Azteca in the Hampton Roads area? That is our favorite Mexican place of all time!!! We really miss it and it's a must-do whenever we are down in that area for a visit!
 
I didn't realize you had never done Soarin! So sorry it wasn't a good experience. I get vertigo too but I can usually get to the last couple scenes before it starts to hit so I can still really enjoy it. What a bummer for you!

I'm thinking you need to take your job experience to Disney! What fun would that be!!

Waiting...patiently...waiting...patiently....waiting...NOT SO PATIENTLY!!
 
Does that last sentence mean what I think it means LOL!! Will we have a proposal soon cuz I'm dying here Jess LOL!!!! I want to squeal in delight with you!!!!!

Another wonderful update! Those nachos do look yummy!
:lmao:Yes yes Jen, it does mean what you think it means! ;)

Those nachos look seriously good!!!

Oh, Jess, I am so sorry you didn't enjoy Soarin'. :(

Thank goodness you were able to recuperate at the Seas. So much fun, and of course you achieved expert level -- I wouldn't expect anything less. :rotfl:
They were SO good. Although, Disney does have a habit of changing their menu often so who knows if I'll ever see them again! Soarin...ah, at least I tried it!

I think you just like to torture us!! :lmao:
I promise I'm not! :rotfl:

Your post and pictures make me want to spend more time at the Seas next time! We watched the dolphins for a while, but the manatees weren't in and I didn't see any seahorses and I have no idea where that game is! Usually we hit the ride and then Crush and then we move on (did you do Crush?! it's a must-do for us since it's a different experience every time!). Honestly though, the ride is not my favorite. I used to like the old ride and I wish the ride was more about the real seas and less about the Nemo story, but I'm probably in the minority on that. I have to say though, the queue for that ride is definitely one of the best! I always find it ironic that it has such a great queue and never any line, lol!

Speaking of Mexican food, do you go to Plaza Azteca in the Hampton Roads area? That is our favorite Mexican place of all time!!! We really miss it and it's a must-do whenever we are down in that area for a visit!
As biologists, we say the same thing about The Seas! I totally agree, the ride takes away from the aquarium SO much. That's why if we do the ride, we do it, if not it's no big deal, we just exit the ride and head off to the aquariums! All the tanks (eel, corals, lionfish, seahorses) are on the 1st floor, then the good view of the aquarium is on the top floor, plus you can see the manatees and dolphins, then it another room they have stingrays, and coral that they're propagating and a whole tank of baby clown fish...we love exploring inside!

PLAZA!! We just went there last saturday!! Oh dear lord do we love it..we actually have one right behind our house! :rotfl:

I didn't realize you had never done Soarin! So sorry it wasn't a good experience. I get vertigo too but I can usually get to the last couple scenes before it starts to hit so I can still really enjoy it. What a bummer for you!

I'm thinking you need to take your job experience to Disney! What fun would that be!!

Waiting...patiently...waiting...patiently....waiting...NOT SO PATIENTLY!!
Trust me, I've looked into the Living Seas before. Disney has things called Internships for College undergrads, but then they have Advanced internships for grad students and one of them is an Aquarist at the Living Seas. I have emailed the people several times, but as it is Disney and essentially a dream job, the coordinator told me a few years back, she only saw that position open up once in the last 12 years. So, I guess it's one of those, you gotta be at the right place at the right time :sad2:

Patience is a virtue Katie ;)
 
I love every update...you all had such a nice day, and to not have a clue the entire day what was in store for you.....EEK!!! I just get all excited thinking about it! Did Blake seem any different to you at all that morning? Was acting nervous or any more excited?!?!? The day Tom proposed, he was hilarious....I don't think he could have waited one more second to pop the question....it is a funny story. SO looking forward to hearing your story!!! :)
 
Great update. Your pictures are wonderful. Can't wait to hear about the proposal. Sounds like you were completely surprised.

Sorry about Soarin but I know the feeling. My DH and I went to Disneyland and were about to ride Soarin. I had a panic attack and started screaming for them to let me off the ride immediately. Luckily the ride hadn't started but people were looking at me like I was a crazy lady. They let me off and I never attempted it again.
 
Oh goodness, not you too! :rotfl:

I love every update...you all had such a nice day, and to not have a clue the entire day what was in store for you.....EEK!!! I just get all excited thinking about it! Did Blake seem any different to you at all that morning? Was acting nervous or any more excited?!?!? The day Tom proposed, he was hilarious....I don't think he could have waited one more second to pop the question....it is a funny story. SO looking forward to hearing your story!!! :)
Thank you Jen! You are too sweet!! Blake didn't seem weird until during our meal before the proposal, he was just "off" :rotfl2:

Great update. Your pictures are wonderful. Can't wait to hear about the proposal. Sounds like you were completely surprised.

Sorry about Soarin but I know the feeling. My DH and I went to Disneyland and were about to ride Soarin. I had a panic attack and started screaming for them to let me off the ride immediately. Luckily the ride hadn't started but people were looking at me like I was a crazy lady. They let me off and I never attempted it again.
I was surprised, it was just an awesome day!
I am the same way with rides! Last year, I tried to do Star Tours again (I used to do it all the time when I was little), and completely freaked out when the seatbelt "locked" and I got the CM's attention and hauled butt out of the ride before we took off, leaving poor Blake in his seat. I don't know what it is! As I've gotten a little older, I am horrible with things like that! At least you're not alone! :hug:
 
So the long awaited update is here! Forgive me guys, for my delay, BUT…I have awesome news….



I AM DONE MY MASTER’S PROJECT!!!!:yay::dance3::banana:



This thing has been on my shoulder for 2 years, and now finally, it is done. I spent the weekend and part of last week, going back and forth with my 2 advisors fixing their comments, over and over again, and I finally have received acceptance from both of them.
On Sunday, we printed it out…42 pages total, we needed 3 copies, so 126 pages, packed them all up and since Blake has to go BACK to D.C. again for work for ANOTHER week, he took it with him and is going to hand deliver it tomorrow! YAY!!

Now it’s set, graduation for my Master’s is May 21st. I am paperless finally!! :woohoo:


And with that…on with the show!


When we left off, we had just had a GREAT time at the Living Seas. Couldn’t have been more “us.” I looked at Blake, and said, you ready to head over? He was…we were both getting hungry.
We already had our plan picked out……




Beaches and Cream!!!



On the way past France and to the exit, (C’s famous exit!) a voice goes, “Oh…excuse me!” and I turn my head and it’s Alice!!
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I love how they stay in character, even until the very end! She was asking everyone if they has seen the white rabbit and getting a lot of smiles, because we weren’t paying attention to who it was!

A quick walk across the bridge and we had made it to the other side. Blake and I love it here. A few pictures of the beautiful day at the Beach Club.

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And we found it! Beaches and Cream.
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I don’t drink a lot of soda, maybe 1 every few weeks, but I do really enjoy Disney’s vanilla coke. I think it’s because they make them the old fashion way with the flavored syrups. I don’t know, but I had to get one!
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Blake joined in too.
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We weren’t really hungry, so we decided to split something. Our waitress was awesome. We ordered the roast beef sandwich without cheese, and she gave us our own portion of beef dip and fruit and only charged us for one soda.
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She definitely got a big tip with that.

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While we were there, 2 kitchen sinks came out. We’ve been here before when they have been ordered, but just in case you haven’t, there’s lights that go off in the diner and they announce that someone has ordered it and how many scoops of ice creams and toppings there are on it (including an entire can of whipped cream!). I had to get a picture of course.
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And if this one doesn’t represent Disney happiness, I don’t know what does. The picture says it all!
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Continued from last post.

I love this place because they have dairy free ice cream and when you order it, they know what you’re talking about! So, I ordered a single scoop of vanilla tofutti with peanut butter sauce. Anyone that knows me..I LOVE peanut butter. It is VERY hard to find places that 1) Offer dairy fee ice cream and 2) have the liquid peanut butter as a topping. Love it!

Blake, strangely did not order ice cream. He was kind of in la-la land. But I figured he was tired.

So I enjoyed my ice cream! Yum!
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And when we were full, we slowly walked back down the sidewalk at Beach Club. I asked him if he wanted to sit in the swing on the beach and watch the sun go down, as we were right at the point where the sun was about the set. He said no, he wanted to walk on the other side. Ok.

Now we reach the spot in between Boardwalk and Beach Club, where it’s kind of a dock, I think it’s where some of the wedding pavilions go on and I set up and take a few pictures of the sun and the great scenery.
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Blake is spinning in a circle at this point. He says, “I want to get your picture by the water” so here’s one
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And another
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You can tell by my stance I’m getting a little annoyed. I wanted to sit down and watch the sun set, plus I was FULL and didn’t feel like taking a picture.

I looked around and there was a woman and a man standing next to us talking. So it was just us 4. Blake is insistent on getting a picture of us with the sun setting, and I say, "Well ask that guy then! He's right there!" He goes over and asks, meanwhile now I'm spinning around, and mutter to him, "You're being kind of weird"

He hands the camera to the guy after asking if he can take our picture. What I didn’t know was instead of having it set to take a picture, Blake had it set to take a video, and hands it to the man after he pushes "record"

(I apologize for it being in 2 videos) But here is the result.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfZztK-HiRI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udQ_jjo3v30

And as you know, I said yes :wizard:

Then I get nervous and have to call my dad. Funniest conversation ever. Blake says, he already knows, I asked him, but still…me and dad are like buddies, like son and dad buddies, stuff like weddings and kids, that is weird to us.
But I call him up and he said “So…” I said “So what..” He said “Something happen?” I said “You know what happened” He said “What happened?” I said “I got one of them there rings” Omg..I’m ridiculous:rotfl:

But I talked to mom and dad on the phone, Blake called his mom, sister, etc. Here’s a picture of me on the phone.
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Next, while we're close, we walked over to the Wyland Gallery. They were getting ready to close, but looking at ocean art just added to our day. Their pieces are beautiful.

Then at this point it’s almost dark and just about 6pm which is when I’m supposed to meet my friend Ann at the front of the park. We catch a glimpse of the beautiful Epcot tree
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And officially get our first “just engaged” picture
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Blake tells me later on why he picked that spot..which I shall share with you next ;)

In addition, Up next…I get to hangout with my friend Ann and show her my new “bling”
 

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