Christmas - Done Differently

[petals]

Oh dear girl! I'm so sorry. I'll be thinking and praying for you.

Thanks.

 

[WDWRids]

pwdebbie has a WW thread on the DIS. You need to find us over there.

The bakery is closed until May starting tomorrow, so you are safe on your Feb trip.

Congratulations! Are you going to do meetings too?

I'm so sorry that your dh's surgery didn't pan out for today. I hope everything gets squared away. I'm so glad you have his surgeon advocating for him. I know there are several things I couldn't have won on my own, but the Epilepsy Foundation of Florida stepped in and advocated for me. Is your dh coming with you to Disney in Feb?

I had looked at the thread when doing WW on my own and looks very supportive. I'll pop over today. Just going to do online. Figured with everything going on it would be easier. I've got a friend here in the office doing it as well so that should help!

DH will not be able to come with me in Feb....I'm so bummed about that. I really feel bad for leaving him for 5 nights after he's had surgery. We have lots of family around so I know he will be taken care of. It's one thing to be away on business but when its at our favorite place and he's not with me - just makes it worse. I do hope we can meet one day!!

You know, right after I typed the message about the bakery the email came about it being closed. I was sad but then ok as I know I would have a hard time passing up on the temptations.

Have a great day!

 

[lovethattink]

That's great you have someone at the office for accountability. I'm sorry your DH won't be going. That's great that you have family and support near you though.

 

[blessedmom4]

Oh Tink, all caught up again! LOVED the pics of JJ and the decorations were beautiful but I was so sad that Grumpy wasn't there.

I SO agree about special needs at church. On many levels. For many years, Lisa couldn't be in the regular nursery/ age appropriate room and Pete and I would take turns gong to church. One day, several of the elders/deacons asked why were were so sparse at church (Lisa was 2). I explained how Lisa couldn't be around germs and we needed to keep her in a separate room. Did they offer to help? No, their solution was for Pete to go to one service and me to go to another...I never went back and Pete and I were very active Deacon, Circle leader, taught Sunday School a and Wednesday nights, kept the nursery. One of my friends had me come to her church and twice a month she kept Lisa in a pre-cleaned room so Pet and I could worship together. And I won't even get started about a child with ADHD and one with Autism...I am happy you have found a church that understands!

And WOO HOO on the weight loss...I am back to square one again....

 

[lovethattink]

Oh Tink, all caught up again! LOVED the pics of JJ and the decorations were beautiful but I was so sad that Grumpy wasn't there.

I SO agree about special needs at church. On many levels. For many years, Lisa couldn't be in the regular nursery/ age appropriate room and Pete and I would take turns gong to church. One day, several of the elders/deacons asked why were were so sparse at church (Lisa was 2). I explained how Lisa couldn't be around germs and we needed to keep her in a separate room. Did they offer to help? No, their solution was for Pete to go to one service and me to go to another...I never went back and Pete and I were very active Deacon, Circle leader, taught Sunday School a and Wednesday nights, kept the nursery. One of my friends had me come to her church and twice a month she kept Lisa in a pre-cleaned room so Pet and I could worship together. And I won't even get started about a child with ADHD and one with Autism...I am happy you have found a church that understands!

And WOO HOO on the weight loss...I am back to square one again....

We are use to Grumpy not being there, but the Christmas tree picture is tradition. There was only 1 year since we moved here that we didn't get a picture at that tree. I'll have to search and see if I can find some old ones.

That's too bad that nobody was willing to step up to bat and help you and Pete with church. I'm glad we found this one too.

I'm down 1.2 pounds this week, even after stopping at Beaches & Cream again.

 

[WDWRids]

I'm down 1.2 pounds this week, even after stopping at Beaches & Cream again.

Great week!!! I have my weigh in set for Friday's but could not resist the scales this am........I was very pleased!! I know first week gives you the biggest drop but at least feeling like this is going to work this time!!!

I already pulled the walking/running maps for disney up on Pinterest and planned my route for my trip. Have you seen the New Balance Minnie shoes? They are great!!! Hoping they can be bought online soon as they are only at the Expo now. Would really love to start running again and run the 1/2 next year. Something to work towards so we shall see.

How's Anakin today?

 

[lovethattink]

Great week!!! I have my weigh in set for Friday's but could not resist the scales this am........I was very pleased!! I know first week gives you the biggest drop but at least feeling like this is going to work this time!!!

I already pulled the walking/running maps for disney up on Pinterest and planned my route for my trip. Have you seen the New Balance Minnie shoes? They are great!!! Hoping they can be bought online soon as they are only at the Expo now. Would really love to start running again and run the 1/2 next year. Something to work towards so we shall see.

How's Anakin today?

Interesting shoes! Are you going to get them? I wear New Balance sneakers. Mine are black and white running shoes.

Congrats on a successful week 1!

My husband wants to start running. I told him about the sweepers and now he's not so sure he should even start.

Anakin is having a good day today. It's a stay at home, get school work done and take it easy day. Grades get mailed in today. He is slightly ahead of schedule. Usually we have more buffer days built in.

On Friday we are going to see his voice teacher in a musical. He is excited. Tomorrow is his special theater class. He can't wait til they start getting more into the Fabulously Funny Fairytales. He wasn't very happy at first though. He didn't understand why he wasn't doing the Grinch again. He mumbled about having to do new stuff and it's just not fair. But he got over it as soon as class started last week.

 

[WDWRids]

I would LOVE to get a pair of minnie mouse shoes......if you see them in any of the stores, please let me know.

Yea, they do sweep you up if you don't keep up the pace. But sounds like even if you 1/2 walk and 1/2 run you still are ahead of the sweepers. I so want to run down Main Street and through the castle just one time. I hear it is very emotional.

That's so cute the Anakin doesn't want to give up the Grinch Can't wait to hear about the Fairytales.

Gotta pop over to your SWW PTR. Somehow I missed it - oops....

 

[lovethattink]

I would LOVE to get a pair of minnie mouse shoes......if you see them in any of the stores, please let me know.

Yea, they do sweep you up if you don't keep up the pace. But sounds like even if you 1/2 walk and 1/2 run you still are ahead of the sweepers. I so want to run down Main Street and through the castle just one time. I hear it is very emotional.

That's so cute the Anakin doesn't want to give up the Grinch Can't wait to hear about the Fairytales.

Gotta pop over to your SWW PTR. Somehow I missed it - oops....

I will keep my eye open for them. Since it's a Disney thing, maybe they will sell them there?

I know one of the songs they are doing is from the Enchanted movie.

 

[blessedmom4]

I saw the Mickey and Minnie shoes and I wear NB BUT, they were only selling them at the Marathon...I think it was January 11 to the 12...I hoped they would have more, they are so cute!!! I want them too.


ETA: Here is the link for the shoes.

 

[KatMark]

Great pictures of the decorations at the Beach Club, and sweet photos of Anakin with his hot cider and with Santa.

 

[WDWRids]

I saw the Mickey and Minnie shoes and I wear NB BUT, they were only selling them at the Marathon...I think it was January 11 to the 12...I hoped they would have more, they are so cute!!! I want them too.


ETA: Here is the link for the shoes.

Thanks, Judy! I also read somewhere that they might start putting them in the specialty Disney shops. I hope they do - I have a crummy foot and have to spend more on good shoes so I might as well spend it on some Disney ones....lol.

 

[lovethattink]

I saw the Mickey and Minnie shoes and I wear NB BUT, they were only selling them at the Marathon...I think it was January 11 to the 12...I hoped they would have more, they are so cute!!! I want them too.


ETA: Here is the link for the shoes.

I hope you both can find them. I actually have no desire for them. I like my black and white NB better, they are just plain.

Great pictures of the decorations at the Beach Club, and sweet photos of Anakin with his hot cider and with Santa.

Thanks. We were back the other day at the BC. It seemed so bare without the decorations.

They are starting to set up for the F&G Festival now. We saw some construction for it throughout Epcot.

Thanks, Judy! I also read somewhere that they might start putting them in the specialty Disney shops. I hope they do - I have a crummy foot and have to spend more on good shoes so I might as well spend it on some Disney ones....lol.

I hope you find them. I love my NB running shoes. They are so comfortable at Disney too.

 

[mommy2mrb]

LOVE the Disney shoes...especially the red ones!!!!

I wear walking t-shoes when we go to the parks...would running t-shoes be better???

 

[lovethattink]

LOVE the Disney shoes...especially the red ones!!!!

I wear walking t-shoes when we go to the parks...would running t-shoes be better???

I have no idea. I got the running ones I have because they were light and had lots of holes to breath. I don't know about their support though.

Update coming soon, today or tomorrow

 

[lovethattink]

Anakin got sick over the New Year and wasn't feeling up to go any where until January 5th. We were so happy to see the Christmas decorations still up at the Animal Kingdom.

This day, we actually had ADRs for the Rain Forest at 3pm. Nothing was available on Disney's website, so I called the actual restaurant. The person taking our reservation asked if we were memebers of Landry's Select Club. We are! She said she'd make a notation of that on our reservation. I didn't think anything of it. Just thought it was for the server to know to take care of the points we'll earn.

When we arrived at the AK, we all were hungry and didn't think we could wait until 3pm. I went up to the podium and asked if there was availability to eat before three. I gave my name and she said sure. As she was telling us where to wait our name was called. We were so suprised. Apparently if you have Landry's Select Card, it gives you priority seating. We didn't know that. We thought it was just for earning points. Last time we ate at Bubba Gumps we got a free entree just for becoming members. I'm really liking Landry's.

We were seated in the Gorilla Room, right between some gorillas and an aquarium.

Grumpy collects glasses, so I ordered a souvenir drink.

For lunch, dh got a burger, I got a portobella mushroom burger, and ds got a kid's pizza. We got onion rings for an appetizer.

Before I could snap a picture of the onion rings, dh and ds had it half gone. They were good! The onion rings, not the guys. They were suppose to wait, they know the rules.

My portobello mushroom burger was a nice sized potobello musroom on a bun with a spicy sauce, shredded lettuce, cheese, onions, and tomato. Chips came with the sandwich. I really enjoyed it. It was much better than the mushroom burger I had at Bubba Gumps a few months ago.

Dh's burger was a typical cheese burger. It came with cheese, one onion ring, shredded lettuce, and tomato.

Ds got the kid's pepperoni pizza.

He did NOT like the pizza at all. It was the sauce. He ate one slice and left it sit. He will never get pizza there again. We had suggested the grilled chicken but he didn't want any part of it. Everyone around us was getting the Volcano dessert. It looked great. This was one of those times I wish i could eat chocolate.

I have no idea what I said about the dessert, but I got smolder, Flynn Rider style out of the server and dh.

Our server took great care of us. Instead of having to take my glass off the table, he gave us a brand new one that was boxed and in a bag. That sure made it easier on us to carry it around AK.

 

[lovethattink]

It was January 5th and the Christmas decorations were still up. I just love the tree at AK, especially the lion ornaments.

The first thing we noticed were the new entrances with the rfid readers. The cm there explained to me that eventually all the turnstiles will be replaced with these.

We noticed the new animal guides.

I'll be excited once the Wilderness Explorers start http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/bl...coming-to-disneys-animal-kingdom-this-spring/

http://www.wesh.com/themeparks/disn...8151720/-/13di3jaz/-/index.html?absolute=true

We stopped in at Guest Services. The decorations in there were pretty too.

We asked ds what he'd like to do. He wanted to go see "Mr. Kipling". Mr. Kipling is a 7 foot water monitor lizard that is a character on Jessie on the Disney Channel. So we were off to Asia to the Maharajah Jungle Trek.

It was after 2pm, but there was still a dance party happening along the way.

We found "Mr. Kipling"!

My son had a million and one questions and this wonderful cm did his very best to answer them.

We were here for a very long time. The cm was impressed with the level of his questions. What can I say, science is his thing. He had another million questions to ask, but dh and I decided it was time to move along.

I am fascinated by bats. I could have stayed here much longer. The snake was gone from the display. Ds missed him. I wasn't quite as sad

We could only see one tiger.

All the animals on the hill were gone, but there was a cm there who was explaining about the animals that are usually there. He caught ds's ear. We were fascinated to learn that one of the animal's coats changes color based on seasons.

Then the show began! A cm was picking up sticks. A peacock was determined that this cm had food for her and was relentless about trying to get it (there was no food). She tried to peck at the cm any chance she got. He was trying to do his work and trying no to get pecked at the same time. He had to get distance between he and the bird in order to work. The cm with us was explaining this all to us.

 

[lovethattink]

Moving along to the bird area. This was the most birds we ever saw in there.

The dance party was still happening.

Typically, my son wants to avoid It's tough to be a bug like the plague. He wants to be far from the tree as we walk around it. But recently he saw Bug's Life again. When he heard that Flick and Hopper were in there, he wanted to see them, but he was still pretty nervous. At the entrance the cm talked to him. He told her he loves Flick, but he doesn't like to get spritzed with water or air. She told him that she's seen other children who felt the same way stay in their w/c for the show and it made them feel more comfortable. He said he thinks he can do that because he really wants to see the show.

Lisa(mickeystoontown) had posted that there was netting up at the Tree of Life that blocked the view of the tree now. She asked if the netting is still up. Yes, it is.

He was a bit apprehensive as we waited to go inside

But he was soon sidetracked as a speed demon women on a ECV tried to run over me. I'm sure it all looked pretty comical, but I did get my arm hurt as I was pushed out of the way. The cm ran between me and the ECV as he tried to protect me and grab the controls from the lady. Oh she was mad. She had no clue what she was doing or that she was practically on top of me. The cm kept asking her to turn down her power on the ECV, to drive it slower. She insisted it was at the slowest.

Goofy was concerned for our safety, so he put himself between us and her. When it was time to enter the show, the cm tried to separate all of us entering the room. Kind of staggering us so that nobody got run over. He had the speed demon park as soon as you enter the room. We were safe!

Anakin's w/c sits low. It was too low for him to see. So he sat between us on the bench.

He loved the show! He was clapping, flapping, cheering, laughing, etc. He was fully engaged with the show. He said it was the best show ever.

This was a far cry from past years of having to exit before it ever started. I'm so glad it was a great experience.

 

[lovethattink]

Dinoland​

Dinoland was our next stop. JJ's favorite ride at the AK is Triceratop Spin. He jumped right out of the w/c and high tailed it to the queue. He was a boy on a mission. He left us behind. Goofy caught up to him and stayed with him. I stayed behind to take pictures.

It's been almost a year since he's gone on a coaster. Goofy thought he could give it a try.

He was so happy to be on it. But we should have stuck to our gut feelings. He did not feel well afterwards. He was dizzy to the point of not being able to walk right. This was the same thing that happened with Star Tours and TSM last year during SWW. This proved that he still can't go on these rides no matter how much begging he does.

Before we headed home, I wanted to look for the Year of the Ear ears. I found one kind of them, along with some other interesting merchandise along the way.

As we left, we admired the tree at night time.

And I took a picture of the Peacock Year of the Ear hat I bought. So far this is the only purchase I have made. I saw so many other things that caught my eye, but a 10% discount just isn't quite as inviting as the 20% one.

2012 was a great Christmas season. We got to see many of the sights at Disney. There were still many things we didn't get to see. Hopefully next year we'll be able to knock them off the list. We enjoyed everything we had the opportunity to see this season. In retrospect, my favorite was the glass blowing in Germany. The one thing that I look most forward to next year that I missed this year is the Candlelight Processional.

 

[kaoden39]

I love AK. There is talk about a new park being built at the DLR and I would love an AK or an Epcot. I have heard that they are considering a water park and frankly that's a waste in my opinion.

Yay for JJ and It's Tough To Be A Bug. My oldest Kacy will not watch that or any other 3D show. The things in the face really bother her. I get it. I am claustrophobic so anything in my face really bugs me but I love the movies. Especially the Muppets 3D.

The trees are always so pretty. I love how they are themed to the areas they are in.


That Minnie dress is adorable! If I was years younger I might just have to get it!


Too bad about JJ and the roller coasters but thankfully Disney is about so much more than coasters.