The McSparklesons are BACK and they are CRUISIN! COMPLETE 10/4

[karajeboo]

Great update - well worth waiting an age for

Sorry Ally wasn't feeling too hot and glad to see she perked up a bit later on. Great food pictures. One of the entrees looked very much like the veal chop I had at Animators - delish!

AN AGE!!!! Whatchoo talkin bout Willis???? OK, so it did take me awhile. But this thing called "life" is really biting me in the AFT these days!!!

Ally is still on the gymnastics pre-team 2 nights/week. Throw in swim team practice 5 days/week and meets once a week. It's a CRAZY summer! But I"m only working 3 days/week this summer so hopefully I can get this TR wrapped up before we set said for our next one in ONLY 296 days!!!

 

[anewmac]

Have you seen the price of a drink on a cruise ship?????
thats why you BYOB to the show LOL

Yeah. And since I was running so fast, so fast..... like lightning, Steve Austin would have been a blur as I blew by him!!!!! But the problem with my lightning speed is that my pants were mostly dry when I got back to the room that I couldn't even suck the gin and tonic out of them!
you say that like its a bad thing?

The problem I found with late dining, is that the early show gets out later than early dining, so trying to find a seat for any show between first and second dinner seating, was next to impossible.
ya I hated that too.. .
1
After a bit, she started to sniffle a little bit, so I thought I'd better take her out of the bar. Yes, I just said it was time to take my 9-year old out of the bar...... You won't hear me say THAT every day!!!!!
you say that like its a bad thing too?

For the past two night, our server kept telling us we had the BEST table at AP and not to forget our camera this night. And I've learned to never doubt the Dobo...... Well, anyone who knows me knows I go NOWHERE without my camera. So I was well prepared......
oh you did have great seats we were to the left of the big screen tucked in a corner. I think they knew me well LOL

For starters this night, I ordered the Ahi Tuna Tartare
With Caviar, Chives, and Wasabi Cream.....
Jeff got the Wild Mushroom Risotto and Porcini Twist
Served with Parmigiano-Reggiano and Black Truffle Oil....
omg it all looks so yummy!!!!!

I can't remember what it was, but it was not finished......
ya it doesnt look so hot. like a baked cheesecake type of something LOL

And it was!!!! I have attempted (and halfway succeeded!) in making the wild mushroom risotto since we've gotten home, but I have yet to try the blue cheese and asparagus risotto. It was one of my favorites of the whole cruise!!!!! And I have no photo.......
oh ill be at your house anytime you wanna cook for me LOL

I also ordered the Smoked Salmon and Trout with Goat Cheese Salad
On Baby Greens, with Toasted Almonds and a Cranberry-Balsamic Vinegar Dressing.....
food porn is awesome

Animator's Palate Show - VIDEO
thanks for sharing this the boys and I watched it a couple times.. it brought back awesome memories! especially for P who never saw it cuz he went to his club LOL

Speaking of Willy, it wouldn't be dinner without a magic trick.....

OK, move only ONE crayon to change the direction the horse is running....

FYI: Ally got this one!

GREAT a 9yr old figured it out before me.... again.... ya ya ya i know bless my heart again... im so stumped?

 

[UsNew2Disney2008]

Kara I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. I am enjoying your TR... doubting I would ever cruise for fear of boredom but it sounds like this would be the cruise to do!

 

[jenifred]

I'm in. Great report! You have me laughing and crying, sometimes both at the same time. The princess video had me all teary eyed. I have a three year old princess and I hope she stays young for a good long while. Can't wait for more!!!!

 

[karajeboo]

GREAT a 9yr old figured it out before me.... again.... ya ya ya i know bless my heart again... im so stumped?

OK, I need to find Ally to figure it out because just looking at the picture I can't figure it out now!!!! Bless MY heart, right?

Kara I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. I am enjoying your TR... doubting I would ever cruise for fear of boredom but it sounds like this would be the cruise to do!

Trust me, there is NO trip with the McSparklesons that is boring!!! HOnestly, this trip was anything but boring...... greatest. vacay. EVAH!!!!

I'm in. Great report! You have me laughing and crying, sometimes both at the same time. The princess video had me all teary eyed. I have a three year old princess and I hope she stays young for a good long while. Can't wait for more!!!!

I hate to break it to ya, but they grow up.... it sucks, trust me. But at the same time, little ladies are fun too..... well, if you could just stitch the mouth shut.... just sayin.....

 

[brookelizabeth]

Glad to hear Ally perked up! Hopefully it wasn't the start of a stomach bug.

Your food looks deeeeeeeeeeelicious!

 

[podsnel]

Soooo....did he get the lemon or the lime???? MY GOD, WOMAN!!! The suspense is killing me!!!!!!!

I had that cheesecake shrimpie thing, too- it was ok, but definitely not a fan favorite.

On the horsey, do you just move the head down to make it a leg?

I hope Ally felt better- and once again, if I haven't said it enough-

I miss you, Kara!!!!

 

[karajeboo]

Glad to hear Ally perked up! Hopefully it wasn't the start of a stomach bug.

Your food looks deeeeeeeeeeelicious!

Nope, I think it was just a little dehydration. We all found that we didn't drink nearly as much water as we drink at home. Of course, if I had a little cabana boy serving me "drinks of the day" in my house, I would probably drink less water at home, too.......

Soooo....did he get the lemon or the lime???? MY GOD, WOMAN!!! The suspense is killing me!!!!!!!

I think it was the lime.... with a big ole heapin splash of GIN!!!!

I had that cheesecake shrimpie thing, too- it was ok, but definitely not a fan favorite.

On the horsey, do you just move the head down to make it a leg?

YES!!! That's exactly what you do!!! See? I KNEW I could count on you to think like a 9 year old!!!!

I hope Ally felt better- and once again, if I haven't said it enough-

I miss you, Kara!!!!

I miss you toooooooo! Just think, next year we will BOTH be writing a TR on the cruise thread...... TOGETHER!!!

 

[kid-at-heart]

Soooo....did he get the lemon or the lime???? MY GOD, WOMAN!!! The suspense is killing me!!!!!!!

I had that cheesecake shrimpie thing, too- it was ok, but definitely not a fan favorite.

On the horsey, do you just move the head down to make it a leg?

I hope Ally felt better- and once again, if I haven't said it enough-

I miss you, Kara!!!!

I don't get the horsey thing, if you move the head to make an additional leg, you just have a boy house, not to be inappropriate but I lived on a farm when young so I know what a boy horse looks like. I think I need someone to drop me a picture.

 

[jenseib]

I don't get the horsey thing, if you move the head to make an additional leg, you just have a boy house, not to be inappropriate but I lived on a farm when young so I know what a boy horse looks like. I think I need someone to drop me a picture.

I don't get it either, but I love your post!!!!

 

[kid-at-heart]

I don't get it either, but I love your post!!!!

What is "agent education program"? Sorry to be jumping in on Kara's site but I am curious. By the way, Jen, I lived on a dairy many, many years in my young years and I really miss the cows and the smells but I do not miss having to milk twice a day - every day, rain, snow or shine...whether you are well or sick or have a date... you know. I used to worry about smelling like cows when I went on a date until I realized, my date smelled like a cow.

Hi Kara, back to you now. By the way Kara, does Ellen talk like she writes? And Ellen, does Kara talk like she writes?

 

[KristiMc]

Hi Kara, back to you now. By the way Kara, does Ellen talk like she writes? And Ellen, does Kara talk like she writes? Ummm, maybe we should create a NotDisMomsButStillCool group and plan trips which overlap the original Dismoms so we can PARTY together. Or would that be weird?

Ooh - I like the NotDISMomsButStillCool group idea

 

[WannaBeADisMom]

Hi Kara, back to you now. By the way Kara, does Ellen talk like she writes? And Ellen, does Kara talk like she writes?

I HAVE to jump in here (though the question wasn't addressed to me) as one who talks to Ellen almost every day and wishes she could talk to Kara just as often.........YES....and YES....they both do! And they are both really, really good listeners too!

 

[jenseib]

What is "agent education program"? Sorry to be jumping in on Kara's site but I am curious. By the way, Jen, I lived on a dairy many, many years in my young years and I really miss the cows and the smells but I do not miss having to milk twice a day - every day, rain, snow or shine...whether you are well or sick or have a date... you know. I used to worry about smelling like cows when I went on a date until I realized, my date smelled like a cow.

Hi Kara, back to you now. By the way Kara, does Ellen talk like she writes? And Ellen, does Kara talk like she writes?

The Agent Education Program (AEP) is for travel agents at Disney. I am going to 1 in Aug. It's my first one, but they have 5 days/4 nights of planned tours of resorts and some meals and a tour of the Dream and some classes as well. You get more insite on things to have a better idea of what you are selling your client. I think we tour 9 resorts, stay at the Yacht Club, and possibly will be seein La Nouba as well. It will be a totally different kind of trip (no family and not much planning on my part) but it will be fun still. I will get to meet some great Disers who are going as well and I will be rooming with one.

I grew up on a farm too. We grew strawberries, green beans and melons (musk and water). My summers were BUSY. I swore I would NEVER marry a farmer...but here I did, and the worst kind. I don't do the work here though, so it's not so bad for me. And my DD is stil lyoung where it is fun to go and work with dad a couple of hours. Lucky for me the wind usually blows just right, so we don't have too much of the smell, unless we get a wacky weather day.

It's a lot of work and I think my DH uses it as an excuse to get out of things. He can pick up and go for things he wants, but I have to nag for any vacations I want.

 

[karajeboo]

I don't get the horsey thing, if you move the head to make an additional leg, you just have a boy house, not to be inappropriate but I lived on a farm when young so I know what a boy horse looks like. I think I need someone to drop me a picture.

Boy horsey? Let me ask Ally about that one.... we did just have "the talk" a few months ago so she can explain it all to me now......

I don't get it either, but I love your post!!!!

I think if you move the head to the furthest leg, it becomes the head and the neck and other leg are the legs..... still could be a girl horsey..... I think.....

What is "agent education program"? Sorry to be jumping in on Kara's site but I am curious. By the way, Jen, I lived on a dairy many, many years in my young years and I really miss the cows and the smells but I do not miss having to milk twice a day - every day, rain, snow or shine...whether you are well or sick or have a date... you know. I used to worry about smelling like cows when I went on a date until I realized, my date smelled like a cow.

Hi Kara, back to you now. By the way Kara, does Ellen talk like she writes? And Ellen, does Kara talk like she writes?

Well, with the exception that Ellen lives in Joisey, so she talks like that. And I live in the South, so I say "y'all" a lot.... and yes, I have the twang.....

And I'm guessing "agent education program" means that you learn to work with Kim Possible? Or is this something that you can't discuss because if you told us you'd have to kill us?

Ooh - I like the NotDISMomsButStillCool group idea

Oh Kristi, you could BE a Dismom!!!! Kristi was ON this cruise with me and despite the fact that she left her poor, sweet, innocent, darling child alone with strangers while she ran off with some strange man (ok, so it was her husband......) she's still okay in my book!

I HAVE to jump in here (though the question wasn't addressed to me) as one who talks to Ellen almost every day and wishes she could talk to Kara just as often.........YES....and YES....they both do! And they are both really, really good listeners too!

We have to listen, Joan, cause you talk MORE than we do!!!!

The Agent Education Program (AEP) is for travel agents at Disney. I am going to 1 in Aug. It's my first one, but they have 5 days/4 nights of planned tours of resorts and some meals and a tour of the Dream and some classes as well. You get more insite on things to have a better idea of what you are selling your client. I think we tour 9 resorts, stay at the Yacht Club, and possibly will be seein La Nouba as well. It will be a totally different kind of trip (no family and not much planning on my part) but it will be fun still. I will get to meet some great Disers who are going as well and I will be rooming with one.

I grew up on a farm too. We grew strawberries, green beans and melons (musk and water). My summers were BUSY. I swore I would NEVER marry a farmer...but here I did, and the worst kind. I don't do the work here though, so it's not so bad for me. And my DD is stil lyoung where it is fun to go and work with dad a couple of hours. Lucky for me the wind usually blows just right, so we don't have too much of the smell, unless we get a wacky weather day.

It's a lot of work and I think my DH uses it as an excuse to get out of things. He can pick up and go for things he wants, but I have to nag for any vacations I want.

So no Kim Possible? Dang!!!! That would have been way cooler, by the way. Just sayin.....

 

[KristiMc]

Oh Kristi, you could BE a Dismom!!!! Kristi was ON this cruise with me and despite the fact that she left her poor, sweet, innocent, darling child alone with strangers while she ran off with some strange man (ok, so it was her husband......) she's still okay in my book!

Boy - does Shawn have you fooled! Is it time for them to go back to school yet?? I need a Konk Kooler today.

 

[WannaBeADisMom]

We have to listen, Joan, cause you talk MORE than we do!!!!

Hey!!! ummm......errr.....I guess I do....!!!! Oh well, I'm too old to change now!

 

[karajeboo]

Boy - does Shawn have you fooled! Is it time for them to go back to school yet?? I need a Konk Kooler today.

I wake up needing a konk kooler!

Hey!!! ummm......errr.....I guess I do....!!!! Oh well, I'm too old to change now!

But I love you anyway!!!!!

 

[marhs]

Still loving your trip report and can't wait for more! By the way, your picture with the sparkly silver mouse ears made me WANT WANT WANT my own sparkly mouse ears for our upcoming cruise. And wouldn't you know it, ebay came through... just ordered some pink sparkly ones. I know my DD will be jealous, but those are for ME!!!

Anyway, can't wait to read more of your report!

 

[karajeboo]

OK, Ally just told me how to fix the crayon horse. Move the the black crayon from the top to the bottom left "leg" and it becomes the head. Then the current "neck" and the right "leg" become the two legs.......

I think......