Grumpy and his wife and possibly the DIS Food Porn Queen are going to Disney

[All7OfUs]

Hope you're having a super weekend so far. THat little doggie is just so dang cute! Very squeezable!

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

Cookie is just darling.

 

[KatMark]

We're holding to to that!!


Kathy

I'm working on it...I promise.

Hi Kathy!

Can you forgive me one more time? I just caught up on your pre-trip report! And I am soooooooo sorry I missed your anniversary!

Happy belated anniversary!

So sorry to hear that you were sick too!

Karin, you are ALWAYS forgiven. I'm waiting for your next food update from your Paris trip.

Hope you're having a super weekend so far. THat little doggie is just so dang cute! Very squeezable!

A wet weekend thus far...but quiet. Thank you...she is very squeezable--I love her.

Cookie is just darling.

Thank you, sweetie.


Okay, I just got Mark packed up and on his way to Rockford (about a 90 minute drive from here) for his six games this weekend. It's been pouring here (Andy's game is in rain delay), but a few dribbles only in Rockford. I'm hoping it stays that way because those six games is a little over $300 towards our trip.

I'm working on my update as I'm doing laundry. I'm trying to sort through the pictures and having a very hard time of finding any pics of the next country on our journey, Italy. So it will be a little bit...otherwise, Italy won't have any pics.

 

[Stefy]

Kathy, Cookie is as cute as ever!

Stefy, we have 2 Maltese - one 5lbs and one 10 lbs - there are lot of Maltese and/or Bichon in need of home through breed rescue. When you are ready, maybe consider adopting. You will find some of the most wonderful furbabies in need of loving homes. You can do a search for rescue organizations, but if I can ever be of help, would be happy give you names of some outstanding Breed rescues. We started adopting through breed rescue about 12 yrs ago and it has been wonderful - these little one are so devoted.

Sorry to hijack your thread, Kathy..but I know you know how I feel rescue and getting rid of puppy mills!

p.s the little one, Gracie, is 5 lbs and 17 yrs young and the bigger one Jackie, is 10 lbs, 14 1/2 yrs young.

Your babies sound so cute

We would never buy a puppy from a pet store or if we knew if came from a puppy farm as I have heard the stories and it just breaks my heart

We have the Kennel Club over here and I would either use them to find KC Registered Breeders, or look into rescuing. But would have to do lots of research first.

Kathy, hope all goes well for Mark today, bummer that its raining though.

I have a couple of Italy pics if you would like to use them

 

[KatMark]

Well, so far so good...Mark's games are going off. The sun came out for awhile, but not it is getting cloudy here at home again. So fingers are still crossed.

When I last updated, we were finishing up in Germany with Mark watching the train for what has probably seemed like HOURS by now. If we don't grab bratwursts for lunch (I'm not a big fan), we'll probably have lunch at the American Adventure.

So up next is Italy (Stefy, I found a few pictures from our 2008 trip, but thank you for the offer).

There's not a lot to do in Italy, but I do like walking through the shops. And hopefully, if we are lucky, we'll time it well that we can see the Street Performers:

And we'll go in the back by Tutto (we will eat there one of these days if it is the last thing I do):

And we will try to get a picture in front of this:

A funny story about the above photo. When we were there in 2008 with our best friends, we took a seat back by the statue to take a rest while Shelley (my best friend since 1980) so she could call her son. The reason she had to call her son is that he and his girlfriend were finding out if they were having a boy or girl. All of a sudden, Shelley lets out this really loud scream and everyone starts turning around looking at her like "what the he** is her problem?" I was in stitches. All of a sudden she runs into her husband's arms (this is her second husband and a MUCH BETTER man than the first one who, unfortunately, is the father of her kids) and yells: "IT'S A GIRL!" She so much wanted a granddaughter and she got her wish (Madeline was born January 2009 and is an absolute doll--looks just like her daddy).

Okay, from Italy we will walk over to the American Adventure. If we didn't eat in Germany, we'll grab something here. Then it is off to hear the Voices of Liberty:

We never miss their performance -- they are outstanding. We will then go and watch The American Adventure.

Japan would be next. I don't know what it is about Japan, but it never really thrills me except for the guys playing the drums--I enjoy that (especially if the young lady is playing -- she is really good.

Off to Morocco where we will search for Aladdin and Genie. And we'll visit this guy:

And Mark will try on this:

 

[Stefy]

Lots more fun at Epcot

I love the Italy pavillion, esp the shops. Am going to try and buy a mask this year as they are awesome. Do you like the mask shop

What a cute/funny story about the fountain. Bless her

 

[dizneeat]

PLEASE, don't eat in Germany! The German pavillion does not really sell good food! Sorry!
Maybe when you are there, the new eatery in Italy might have opened - I cannot wait to try their food!

for Tutto! By far the best and closest to real Italian food we have come across in the US. Get the Zabaglione ice-cream with berries for your dessert - it's

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your little story about your friend's granddaughter! What wonderful memories that spot holds for all of you!!!!!!!!!!!

I really like your touring plans! There are so many things we do exactly the same way (only exception is that we avoid Germany , they have a habit of nicking things from their neighbours - Toblerone from Switzerland, Ferrero candy from Italy, Haller Tex from Austria !)
Can you imagine that we only "discovered" the food at the American Pavillion this last February!
And the American Adventure is such a nice treat during the hot summer months - AC - love it!

 

[KatMark]

Lots more fun at Epcot

I love the Italy pavillion, esp the shops. Am going to try and buy a mask this year as they are awesome. Do you like the mask shop

What a cute/funny story about the fountain. Bless her

I do enjoy the mask store. Maybe this year instead of hats, we'll do a "mask photo shoot".

Have you done Tutto? We used to love Alfredo's and were very disappointed when they removed it.

 

[EstherS]

I am here, a little late, but here to read along.

 

[KatMark]

PLEASE, don't eat in Germany! The German pavillion does not really sell good food! Sorry!
Maybe when you are there, the new eatery in Italy might have opened - I cannot wait to try their food!

for Tutto! By far the best and closest to real Italian food we have come across in the US. Get the Zabaglione ice-cream with berries for your dessert - it's

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your little story about your friend's granddaughter! What wonderful memories that spot holds for all of you!!!!!!!!!!!

I really like your touring plans! There are so many things we do exactly the same way (only exception is that we avoid Germany , they have a habit of nicking things from their neighbours - Toblerone from Switzerland, Ferrero candy from Italy, Haller Tex from Austria !)
Can you imagine that we only "discovered" the food at the American Pavillion this last February!
And the American Adventure is such a nice treat during the hot summer months - AC - love it!

We will definitely put Tutto on next year's schedule; I'm not sure with the new Italian place with pizza that I can even try it. Florida pizza is SO BAD!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to do Biergarten this year (we've not been in three trips, but Mark wanted Coral Reef).

I am here, a little late, but here to read along.

Hi, Esther. I'm glad you are here. I've missed seeing you on the DIS.

 

[dizneeat]

We will definitely put Tutto on next year's schedule; I'm not sure with the new Italian place with pizza that I can even try it. Florida pizza is SO BAD!!!!!!!!!!! I wanted to do Biergarten this year (we've not been in three trips, but Mark wanted Coral Reef).

Coral Reef - very good choice!

I thought that I had read that the new Italian place was serving brick oven pizza - Italian style (hope it is REAL Italian). I am hoping for some pasta dishes as well.
We have only been to Alfredo's once and even though the food was quite nice I much more enjoy Tutto Italia! It's pricey, but so worth it!

 

[Stefy]

I do enjoy the mask store. Maybe this year instead of hats, we'll do a "mask photo shoot".

Have you done Tutto? We used to love Alfredo's and were very disappointed when they removed it.

Oooh thats an idea, you should so do it. Would be really cool to see which mask Mark picks out to try on

We were going to try Tutto this year, but I changed my mind. It does look pretty good though and has had really good reviews. Like you said maybe one day

 

[KatMark]

Coral Reef - very good choice!

I thought that I had read that the new Italian place was serving brick oven pizza - Italian style (hope it is REAL Italian). I am hoping for some pasta dishes as well.
We have only been to Alfredo's once and even though the food was quite nice I much more enjoy Tutto Italia! It's pricey, but so worth it!

If they do pasta, we'll try it. I just can't bring myself to eat pizza in Florida (I swear it is the water!).

Oooh thats an idea, you should so do it. Would be really cool to see which mask Mark picks out to try on

We were going to try Tutto this year, but I changed my mind. It does look pretty good though and has had really good reviews. Like you said maybe one day

I can only imagine what mask he would pick.

 

[KatMark]

Moving on to France. We always try to take a picture here if possible:

More shopping, a beautiful film (France is such a beautiful country) and I believe we will have to share some sort of pastry while here.

Now that we've done France, we've done all of the countries. At this point, we'll probably do a couple of more things in Future World that we want to repeat:

After we've finished off at Epcot, we will head over to Downtown Disney.

I think we will try to eat at either Earl of Sandwich or Wolfgang's -- we've never done Earl and haven't been to Wolfgang's except for the one that was on the West End when it first opened many, many years ago.

And then it will be time to do one of my favorite things: SHOP!!!!

Next installment -- our last day at the World (Tuesday, September 21). Which park will they end up at? Where will they eat? Tune in to find out....

 

[OhioDisneyLover]

I LOVE the hat pictures but I bet the masks would be hilarious!!!!

I think you should eat at Earl when you are at DTD. We love it there. In fact, I can't decide if I like breakfast or lunch/dinner better there. I want to stop on our way to the airport and get stuff to bring back home. It's delish!

 

[tinkgurl]

I'm here to catch up! Love seeing another DIS'er from IL!

 

[KatMark]

I LOVE the hat pictures but I bet the masks would be hilarious!!!!

I think you should eat at Earl when you are at DTD. We love it there. In fact, I can't decide if I like breakfast or lunch/dinner better there. I want to stop on our way to the airport and get stuff to bring back home. It's delish!

I think Earl is leading the way as of this time. I have to go look at the menu again. What do you like at dinner?

I'm here to catch up! Love seeing another DIS'er from IL!

Welcome, tinkgurl. I'm so enjoying your TR and your PTR. You and your fiance are too cute.

Where in Illinois are you from?

 

[KatMark]

Okay, a little off topic. Mark, our youngest (I call him Markie), is in Rochester, MN, with the youth wrestling club that he coaches. It is the Regionals for Freestyle and Greco Wrestling to qualify for Nationals. He sent me this picture off his iphone. These are two of the young boys he coached to first place (believe it or not, they are both in eighth grade and ALMOST as big as my 22 year old son):

And here is Andy with the 13-year old baseball team he coaches. This was two weekends ago when it was like 100 degrees in the shade. They took 2nd place:

 

[tinacaplan]

LOVE THE PICTURE of you and your husband kissing in France! And the pictures of your sons and with their coaching charges are very special, as well. As an eighth grade teacher, I know how important good adult role models are. You seem to have raised such wonderful sons.

 

[OhMari]

Just found your pre- TR. I met you right? You made me a green Mickey Head? I'll be so embarassed if it wasn't you.