Juan says "BAAAA!" - 12/24 - Our last few Disney hours. COMPLETE

[jenseib]

Ya know, now that I have my Rebel XS, I'm not sure exactly what settings to use! Do you use the program settings, or do you use Tv, Av, A-Dep???? I will play around with the settings, but I think I need to know exactly what to use so I don't blow the important shots next month! Your pics are so great, I would really like to do as well as you. Thanks for any and all help!

If you are not familiar with how to use manual settings then go with Auto. I use total manul usually. But when it's quick I will switch to auto. A-Dep gets intop more of depth percetion. TV and AV you still have to set your Aperture or shutter speed (depending which you use) If yousing AV, I would set it wide open for any indoor shots so you can get better lighting.

 

[k_reile]

i wasn't planning on going to a CP breakfast while we were there (good thing too as CP will be closed for Rehab) but that food looks really good!! We are going to try Chef Mickeys for dinner!!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Those are some of the sweetest photos ever...

Henry looks totally blissed out...I'm sure this will be his favorite breakfast of the trip...

The food looks really good too and the setting is lovely...

Well that does it...if little Henry can handle the characters...I am going to suck up my irrational fear of costumed Piglet and book that breakfast the next time I am able to...

(I don't know what it was/is about Piglet...I love the characters but he always seemed to Big and Pink......but I think I have to suck it up and go for it...)

 

[mrsksomeday]

Those pictures of Henry at the Crystal Palace are fantastic!! Complete and total joy!! The blowing out the candle pix are so precious. It is great that he is not afraid of the characters.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Sooooo, how does it feel not to have to go to work today?

 

[brookelizabeth]

Awww bless what a cute update. Hectic at the start, but turned out all good in the end

Those Main Street pictures are really good, love the caption under the last one

We love CP, the setting is perfect and who doesn't love Pooh Bear and Friends You pictures are so cute of Henry and those cupcake pics, made me laugh and go awwww

Those puff french toast thingies look yumma, did you try the breakfast pizza?

It was a hectic start, I still was feeling a bit off from the cold, so it all kinda went by in a fog!! But, after we were settled at CP-it was all good!!!

I didn't even see the breakfast pizza...I guess that's a good reason to go back, right?!

What awesome pix taken from mommy's perspective! They were taken with pure love in mind and it's what comes across in the pix, especially the ones with the cupcakes! Nothing like the innocent joy of a child!

Thank you! It was SUCH a fun moment. He was so thrilled with the cupcake and the fact that he got to blow out the candle.

Great pictures of an awesome morning, Brook! I was going to highlight one or two, but I can't pick a favorite. They all just made me feel like I was sitting at the table with you watching Henry give sweet baby slobber blows to the candle.

What a perfect way to start a day! I know it started mine off right!

Check in with us this weekend as we report live (sort of) through Trent and some Dis pals. Have a great last day at work!

"sweet baby slobber blows" - EXACTLY! He sorta spits through his teeth!!

Oooh-I gotta hop over to your report and check out the live stuff! I bet you guys are having a great time! And I hope you are able to cruise around WDW easier this trip than last with your knee all fixed up!

Awww Brook, LOVE the cupcake picture series of Henry!!!!! Those are TOO cute!!!!!! Love that little face, he was a very happy little boy!!!!

I"m pretty sure today is your last day of work....thinking of you and welcome to the world of SAHM!!!

It's 1:45 pm and I'm posting on the DIS. So weird!! But GOOD. Today has been great!

Awww, that series of pictures is adorable! The tootbrush story is pretty funny too.

Thank you! I just had to include them all, I couldn't pick a favorite. He's back to Piglet lately. Elmo was allowed for about a week and a half, now strictly Piglet!

What a great breakfast at CP! Looking forward to the next installment!

Denise

It really was! So much fun, and gooooood food!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Great update and such wonderful pics of Henry!

And I wouldn't mind cupcakes for breakfast either

We have made it a tradition to do CP before the park opens on our MK days. Those Pooh Bear Puffs are scary good!

Yesterday was National Cupcake Day. You could just celebrate a bit belated and make them for breakfast tomorrow.

I like the idea of making CP a tradition on an MK day! It's such a lovely way to start it. Right there in the park, empty Main Street, beautiful restaurant, and ooooh yes, the puffed french toast... Can beat that to start your day!

Great update Brook!! I would have been totally freaking out about running late just like you were! I actually recall telling DH in January to remind me never to make a breakfast reservation again.

Alas, we have 2 breakfast reservations in 2 weeks Our Chef Mickey's ADR isn't until 10:50 so that will be easy enough to get to,especially because we'll probaby go to MK before hand. Our Tusker House ADR is 9:10. Again I think it's more doable for us then the 8:30 reservations of the past. I resist the urge to take a 7:30 ADR at Chef Mickey when I changing our plans 9,000,000 times!

We LOVE CP!! We've done it every trip with the kids! We're not doing it in 2 weeks because it just wasn't fitting into a shorter trip with all the other requests. Obviously we aren't doing it in January because it's closed. I try to get an ADR at LTT, because I hear Pooh and Friends are moving over there during the refurb, but I've read it's completely booked! I think we'll go into Pooh withdrawal!! Especially Ryan!

I LOVE the pics of Henry at CP Too cute!!! He looks like he was having a blast!!!!

Have a wonderful last day of work!!!! You must be soooo excited at this point!!!

I really like the idea of a pre-rope drop breakfast, and I'll try it again on a future trip-but if it ends up that we'll be late again-I'll stick to later times like you do! We were able to make our 10:00 am Boma back in November.

I heard about the characters at LTT in January on LL's report! I think that's so great. It would be extra cute if they had colonial costumes! But, I'm thinking probably not...

You'll have to ride Pooh a dozen times or more to make up for the lack of breakfast with him!

My last day went REALLY well. I cried twice. Got lots of hugs. Went to lunch with my boss. Barely did ANY work.

Those are absolutle precious pictures of Henry at Crystal Palace!! He is such a cutie. I love seeing his Disney experiences, thank you for sharing them with us!

Thanks LL! It was a really fun time there. I'm happy to share it all with you guys-thank you for reading along and putting up with my gushing Mommy moments.

I have been lurking but I just had to say the Henry is so adorable. I love the shirt he has on. Did you make it? My dd loves Cars too. She is 4 and had a Cars themed birthday. She too acts out the movie with her Cars that she got for her birthday.


P.S. Happy last day of work (at the office).

"at the office" Today is my first day of work not at the office, and I have to say I'm pooped already! This certainly IS work! It's been great though.

His shirt is actually from another DISer - DisneyBride03! She might be around here, or lurking... are you out there Diana?! Her little girl wore it, and then they sent it to Henry about a year or so ago, just out of the kindness of her heart! It's a size 3, so Henry has been able to wear it on all his Disney trips so far! The first time it nearly reached his knees...

Have you heard about Cars 2? Mater is the star this time around, I'm really looking forward to it, and Henry should be old enough for the movie theater by then!!

Oh, that darn morning camera fog! I hate that, but what are ya gonna do?

I also hate that rushed feeling you get when you know you are going to be late but there is nothing you can do about it. How nice to receive special mickey pixie dust.

Now....I don't know which pictures I like best.....the pics of Henry with the characters or the pictures of him and the cupcake. Quite the toss up. I'm gonna have to go with the cupcake pictures because the wonder, amazement, and joy in his face are so evident. What a great memory to capture!

We've never experienced the humidity like that at WDW since we've only gone in the cooler months - so we kept forgetting about it! But, I still really like how the pictures turned out.

It was a very fun time with the cupcake, I loved Henry's reaction to it all! Pure bliss! (plus, the lighting in that restaurant is just great!)

Hope you have a happy last day at work!

I love the pics of Henry at CP.....Only in WDW are we allowed to have cupcakes for breakfast!

Thank you! It was a great day at work. And now I'm already here, on at the "new job".

I think that was half of Henry's bliss-knowing he was getting a sweet for breakfast! He ALWAYS asks, every-single-day, to have "choc choc" for breakfast, but he knows better!

Awesome update Brook. Love the pics with the characters and the cupcake pics--too cute.

I could eat that puffed french toast three meals a day -- just love it!

Thank you! That Puffed French Toast was just amazing. I wish I knew how they made it!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Great update! I could go for a cupcake for breakfast right about now! LOL! He looks so joyous over it too! He is just so darn cute! Claire has been asking alot lately to go back. The thing is, she needs to be saying it to Daddy, not me. I'm all for it, but he's the one we gotta convince! LOL! Did I show you her Halloween Costume? She is being Mary Poppins. I can post some pics here later if I haven't. I can't remember who all I've shown.

Oh goodness! I haven't seen the Halloween costume! Post, post!!! Please!!! I bet she looks so adorable!!!

Maybe she could make her Daddy a sweet little card, full of Mickey stickers as a hint?

What a great start to your day despite having to rush to MK. The pictures of Henry with the characters are great! I also love the series of pictures when Henry was blowing out the candles. Cant wait to see how the rest of the day went.

I am very glad our crazy morning was not a sign of things to come. Everything slowed down after we finally got settled at CP. I was really happy to see Henry still wasn't scared of the characters either. He was so eager to hug and kiss them all!

Love, love, love the pictures of Henry and the Cupcake (sounds like a title of a children's book doesn't it?)

Liam liked the picture of Henry and Tigger together!

It does!! Hmmm...might be a good side money maker.

Aw, hi Liam!! Henry loves him some Tigger. *bounce bounce*

Wonderful update!!

Running late makes me too!! I know how that goes, been there, done that. Not my fault of course, it's usually the men in our lives.

All those pictures!! Happy Henry! CP is one of my favorites, too. Just getting in the doors before anyone else makes Main Street so magical! I love the caption you put under the one where he's kind of wringing his hands. . . . "So, I should just stand here, ooookay." Too funny, and it fits perfectly.

BTW, HAPPY LAST DAY AT WORK!!!

I couldn't believe how disorganized Joe was that morning! Erg! I told him a dozen times we had to be out the door by a certain time...but...!! I think he'll probably be EXTRA cautious on our next early morning ADR just to avoid all that. He apologized about a zillion times.

I am certain Henry thought we were NUTS for running, running, running, then making him stand alone in the middle of the street!!! Seriously, who does that?! (Ooooh, every DISer! )

And thank you! My last day went really really well! I hardly worked at all!!!

Oh my goodness, Brook! Those pictures of Henry with his cupcake are just priceless. You can totally see how happy that one little cupcake made him. Oh, to be a kid again and find joy in the simple things in life!

I've never had breakfast at CP, just dinner, but I'm thinking I may have to remedy that - that puffed french toast looked sooooo yummy!

Oh, and HAPPY LAST DAY AT WORK!!!!

If you like breakfast, you'll like this buffet! It's really really good! The options aren't as expansive as Boma, but the characters and the atmosphere make up for it.

It's such fun watching Henry experience things-he gets so excited about the smallest things! I love it!

What a great update! Those pictures all made me smile!

I love the expressions on his face as he blows out the candle and gets into the cupcake- like you said, every child's dream breakfast!! This is where having an SLR really comes in handy- my camera would be too slow to capture all those expressions!

Love the empty Main Street pics, even if they are a little foggy.

All the kisses for the characters are too sweet! I love the one of him and Piglet- very cute!

Thank you! I was very, very glad to have the SLR for all that. My old camera would have gotten maybe 2 of those, its soooooo slow. Our SLR can even do faster than this, but we end up taking about 15 of the same thing instead of our usual 3-5!

There is something so awesome about a CP breakfast -- and Henry's smile with his cupcake, even more awesome!

I hope the last day of work was a good bittersweet.

I agree! Being there before park opening, the empty Main Street, the good food, the characters, the morning light--it was all just great!

It was a good bittersweet. I cried, but I smiled a lot more. And I really did feel like a weight was gone when the door latched behind me. I'll miss my co-workers, but I won't miss the stress!

We love CP! Looking at all the food makes me so hungry and thankful that I'll be eating that next Friday!

Henry is adorable as always and his interaction with the characters is so fun!

He is a lucky boy to eat a cupcake for breakfast and how cute is he blowing out his candle?!

Don't you just love that you can say that? "Next Friday?!" I think you are actually IN WDW right now! You departure day was Saturday or Sunday if I remember correctly.... maybe you'll run into MeMom and crew! I hope you are having a GREAT time, I look forward to hearing about your CP breakfast!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Such fun and cute pics ! I am glad you enjoyed CP, and I totally agree it is an awesome way to start a day at MK.

I would love to do it again in December, but it is just not going to fit in...and I have no clue if we could even get anything at this point. Next trip, I gotta go back!!

Whoa! Those pics are so great! I just loved Henry's interaction with the characters and the cupcake sequence.

That was always a favorite breakfast for my family; even my teens loved it for the food, so I got the characters as a bonus!

Thank you! It was a wonderful time with the characters - I was so happy Henry wanted to hug and kiss them all! He hasn't been scared (yet)...I hope that trend continues!

The food there was soooo yummy! I bet your teens secretly loved Pooh! who doesn't?!

Very cute update! Love all the cupcake pics. Oh how I wish Cayley would get over her Tigger fear.

Oooh, I hope she does soon!!! So far Henry hasn't shown fear on any of the characters. I think he might freak out a bit at any of the villans, and perhaps Stitch!

OMG! I'm in love with the CP pics with Henry! So awesome and I agree - thank goodness for an SLR to capture them the way you did! I just love how stinkin' excited he was and you gotta love a cupcake for b'fast! That's living, isn't it? I thought breakfast at CP was awesome so I'm glad you liked it! My DS was "surprised" at our b'fast at 'Ohana and got the cupcake and bday card and he was just a grinnin' I'm a big softy as well and could get all teary eyed thinking about how such a simple thing puts such a smile on their face, ya know?

How nice of the office to do a pot luck for you and hopefully you'll be able to keep in touch with those that matter!

Heather

Oh ya, I know!! I got teary eyed writing that post and looking back through the pictures! It is so precious when kids light up and their days are made by a simple cupcake and a birthday card from all the characters! (made our days too!) I bet Henry will really like the card when he gets older and realizes what it is too!

I do hope to keep in contact with my co-workers. I am sure I can swing through from time to time to see them, plus with Facebook and those things nowadays, I have no excuse!

I loved all the pics at CP. We love going there also & we do not have little ones but love getting into MK early & the food there is great!! I love the pics of Henry with Tigger & also with the cupcake. They are all so cute & he is such a cutie!! You captured some wonderful moments. Cannot wait to hear about your MK day.

That's one of the best things about Disney! Even if you don't have little ones, it is completely appropriate for you to be at a character breakfast and loving on all the characters, enjoying every moment!! I would love to go there with just girlfriends sometime, it would be so much fun!

What a charming update, Brook! I all the pictures of the Crystal Palace, Henry's interactions with the characters, and his delight over the cupcake! What a great way to start your Magic Kingdom day (even if you did have to rush a little bit at the beginning).

It was a great start! I was still a bit foggy feeling from the cold-and the rushing, but after we were settled and eating, things started to clear up. I hope to get a CP breakfast again on a trip next year!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Brook, what kind of bag do you use for your camera? When I take my point and shoot I just slip it in my regualr bag I use for vacation. Just a canvess type purse thing. Really ugly but holds what I need. When I take my SLR I take a camera bag, and try to put as much as I can in the side pocket. It's so bulky though and the bag isn't that great, so I can't bring much of the extras that I like to bring. It's not padded well, so I may need to get another one. Since I got a new camera that is a tad bigger than my Rebel, the other bag I have that is smaller , but more padded won't work. I can't fit the camera in with a lens and no side pockets in it either.I think I have to bite the bullet and buy a different one for my needs and just give up taking a purse, and try to fit what I can in our take along bag with Claire extra stuff in it. I have decided that my point and shoot just doesn't get the shots I want. It's terrible in restaurants, and if I do use the flash, it takes forever in a day to recharge. It also seems to have problems lately. It would click a picture, but the creeen goes black. No picture was taken and you have to restart it to get it to work again. Ah Decisions to make!

We have the Lowepro SlingShot 100 AW.

It's large enough for the SLR and a few accessories. You could easily fit a lens in there, plus the top part is another compartment. We use it for our video camera, but it could easily hold extra lenses. On the strap there is a spot for a media card, and I think it even has a spot for a tripod, so you can do a "quick release" type thing. We only bring our mini-tripod into the parks. It can fit in my pocket if necessary!

Joe wears this on his back, while I wear the Baggalini. It works really well for us. The camera does fit into the Baggalini too without a problem, BUT, we wanted something that keeps it safer. They sell this bag in a few sizes-this is the smallest. I would definitely recommend it!

I love the photos of Henry with the cupcke, they are pure Disney magical memories xx

Thank you! It was a GREAT time! I love his big laugh and smile in all those pics.

When I saw Henry and the cupcake I almost cried.

Ooooh, that's so sweet. When I looked back at them, I did!

Ya know, now that I have my Rebel XS, I'm not sure exactly what settings to use! Do you use the program settings, or do you use Tv, Av, A-Dep???? I will play around with the settings, but I think I need to know exactly what to use so I don't blow the important shots next month! Your pics are so great, I would really like to do as well as you. Thanks for any and all help!

Thank you! We mostly just use the "point and shoot" type setting, without flash if we can. It's all the camera taking those good shots!! Occasionally we will play with the settings-like for fireworks or Spectro. For those we use Av (aperture priority), giving it the largest possible aperture (so smallest number) and the ISO up as high it will go, 1600. This will allow the light in, but also stop the action some so your pictures won't be blurry. We like the results with these settings - I learned about them over on the Photography Board. All the CP pictures from this last update were done in "point and shoot" without flash. (the green box on the dial). We probably could get slightly better pictures if we played with the settings more, but its just easier to do the point and shoot and live in the moment than deal with the settings - someday maybe we'll be fast enough to do both!

What a wonderful start for your day! Henry looks like he had so much fun!!

It was a great start! Henry just had a blast there - and so did we! I look forward to going back there sometime!

If you are not familiar with how to use manual settings then go with Auto. I use total manul usually. But when it's quick I will switch to auto. A-Dep gets intop more of depth percetion. TV and AV you still have to set your Aperture or shutter speed (depending which you use) If yousing AV, I would set it wide open for any indoor shots so you can get better lighting.

Yep. What she said.

We almost always just use auto. I am not quick enough with the settings to capture what I want, and still enjoy the moment. I would miss everything and be playing with my camera the whole time! Someday maybe I'll be familiar enough...

i wasn't planning on going to a CP breakfast while we were there (good thing too as CP will be closed for Rehab) but that food looks really good!! We are going to try Chef Mickeys for dinner!!

It was really good food! We all enjoyed it! Chef Mickey's was a lot of fun when we did it back in November! I can't believe that's almost a year ago... It's has a BIG selection and the character interaction can't be beat! Your little guy is gonna love it I bet!!

Those are some of the sweetest photos ever...

Henry looks totally blissed out...I'm sure this will be his favorite breakfast of the trip...

The food looks really good too and the setting is lovely...

Well that does it...if little Henry can handle the characters...I am going to suck up my irrational fear of costumed Piglet and book that breakfast the next time I am able to...

(I don't know what it was/is about Piglet...I love the characters but he always seemed to Big and Pink......but I think I have to suck it up and go for it...)

You can do it!!! Piglet is a very gentle, very sweet pig. Have no fear! I have a friend who is scared of EVERY costumed character. She can hardly watch any sort of parade. Meanwhile her children are off hugging everything...! If you start to get scared, just excuse yourself to the restroom as Piglet passes. The food, and the other characters, will be worth it.

Those pictures of Henry at the Crystal Palace are fantastic!! Complete and total joy!! The blowing out the candle pix are so precious. It is great that he is not afraid of the characters.

I am relieved that he isn't scared of the characters! Never once (yet) has he shown fear, but has always been amazed and in love with them. I hope that continues!

Sooooo, how does it feel not to have to go to work today?

GREAT!!! Today has been going really well. We have played Cars, watched Playhouse Disney, went to the doctor (2 year check-up), ate a good lunch, read some books, did some "art" - now it's naptime!

I've gotten a load of laundry done (Henry "helped"), some dishes done, breakfast and lunch made, caught up on my TR (!!!), got my email account below 200 emails , and cleaned, cored and froze 5 pounds of strawberries. Now I'm off to clean the bathroom!

It really has been good - I'm enjoying it. It's very different. Hasn't really sunk in yet that this is my new job. Just feels like a day off! Joe is working from home today, so he took a longer lunch and was able to come to the doctor with us and eat lunch with us, that was really nice!

 

[MaryAz]

Started my new PTR and am feeling a little lonely over there, if ya get a chance come check it out!

 

[ClaireW]

I'm waaaaay behind on this report but noticed you had your first day at home and stopped by to say I'm glad you enjoyed it
Now sometime soon I have to go back and get caught up

And I'll try hard to find time to PM you those stay at home mom blogs

 

[Charleston Princess]

Just think -- every day will be like today from now on! You will get into a groove soon -- it seems like in the summer it takes me about a week to feel like I know what I am doing.

 

[shebaxric]

GREAT!!! Today has been going really well. We have played Cars, watched Playhouse Disney, went to the doctor (2 year check-up), ate a good lunch, read some books, did some "art" - now it's naptime!

I've gotten a load of laundry done (Henry "helped"), some dishes done, breakfast and lunch made, caught up on my TR (!!!), got my email account below 200 emails , and cleaned, cored and froze 5 pounds of strawberries. Now I'm off to clean the bathroom!

It really has been good - I'm enjoying it. It's very different. Hasn't really sunk in yet that this is my new job. Just feels like a day off! Joe is working from home today, so he took a longer lunch and was able to come to the doctor with us and eat lunch with us, that was really nice!

Congrats Brooke! Day one post work sounded absolutely fantastic!! Okay, you cored and froze 5 pounds of strawberries??? You really were super industrious today!!

 

[KatMark]

Day One of being a "free" woman sounds great. And just think how many more like that you will have. You are very luck, Brook. Enjoy!

 

[princess&her4princes]

Hi Brook!
Sounds like your 1st day at home again went well....best wishes!!! You'll love it....I wouldn't trade it for the world (most days....lol!), getting into routine is huge and you'll be just fine! I'm sure Henry was THRILLED to have you to himself!!!! Hope his 2 year check up went well!! Did he have to get any shots?

Take care!!
Kristen

 

[Kara]

congrats on your last day of work!!! I'm so excited for you!!

 

[A.Mickey]

Congrats on your last day of being away from Henry, and your 1st day of being with Henry! Enjoy what you have! You are very lucky!!

 

[lazydoxy66]

That update was super. I just loved looking at Henry's reaction to the characters and the cupcake. Very precious!!!!!

I'm glad the job is going well!

 

[Stefy]

It was a hectic start, I still was feeling a bit off from the cold, so it all kinda went by in a fog!! But, after we were settled at CP-it was all good!!!

I didn't even see the breakfast pizza...I guess that's a good reason to go

From what I hear it is something everyone should try if they breakfast at CP

GREAT!!! Today has been going really well. We have played Cars, watched Playhouse Disney, went to the doctor (2 year check-up), ate a good lunch, read some books, did some "art" - now it's naptime!

I've gotten a load of laundry done (Henry "helped"), some dishes done, breakfast and lunch made, caught up on my TR (!!!), got my email account below 200 emails , and cleaned, cored and froze 5 pounds of strawberries. Now I'm off to clean the bathroom!

It really has been good - I'm enjoying it. It's very different. Hasn't really sunk in yet that this is my new job. Just feels like a day off! Joe is working from home today, so he took a longer lunch and was able to come to the doctor with us and eat lunch with us, that was really nice!

Look at you supermommy Sounds like you are enjoying it though Thats alot of strawberries