Magical Madness

The first week of March we went to Disney World to "experience the magic"   Boy was it magical, everyone used the word magical when they talked to you.  Have a magical evening, How can I make your day magical, Have a magical ride.  Lordy, it was magical alright!  We were like a whirlwind.  We drove 10 hours to get there, crashed around midnight, then spent our 1st day at the "Magical" Magic Kingdom.  We were there for the opening ceremony and we hit the park like crazy nuts.  We jumped on every ride or "experience" as we came to it.  The thing about the rides is that they are actually "experiences"  We couldn't help to wonder. "How in the world did they come up with this?"  "Who in the world would have ever thought of this?"  It was truly magical.  Emily was sick the 1st day or so we were at Disney, but she was a trooper and we stayed until the evening fireworks.  Emily's favorite thing was the haunted mansion and Abigail just loved everything.  We covered the entire park and only bypassed a few things.  The park wasn't really crowded and we didn't wait in line more than 10 minutes for anything.  We left the park at closing, had a late supper, and we were in bed by 11:30 that night.

Goofy at the Garden Grove



Pluto at the Garden Grove restaurant

Belle from Beauty and the Beast

Marie



Alice



Mary Poppins

 The second day we went to Epcot.  This is the best place I have ever went!  We happened to be at Disney when the Flower Festival started and everything was decked out in flowers.  It was absolutely amazing.  The "rides" (and here again I hate to call them rides because they are so much more) were absolutely amazing.  We went through a greenhouse where they used futurisic ideas to grow all kinds of fruits, vegetables, and even some exotic stuff.  This was one neat place and I would have liked a behind the scenes tour here.  They told us that most of the stuff grown in there was used by the restaurants at Disney.  We did a Captain Eo show starring Michael Jackson and Emily loved it.  (She has been infatuated with MJ ever since we got home.)  We had made our way around to one of the major attractions late in the day and the wait the "Soarin" ride (which is a hang gliding experience) was about an hour, so we grabbed a Fast Pass and the passes were for 8-9pm come back time.  We had a 7pm dinner reservation with Goofy and Pluto at a hotel across the lake and we were worried that we would not make it back by closing time to use the fast pass, but we did.  We hiked from the buffet line all the way back over to the boat taxi and then hiked like wild people over to where the ride was.  We arrived at 8:50pm! Whewwww!  We went on it and it was so real.  There was even smells added to the experience when we went over the ocean, over an orange grove, and through an evergreen forest.  We felt like we were about to dip of feet into some waves and we almost got hit by a golf ball when we flew over the golf course.  When it was over they let us ride again to fill the last ride of the evening.  So a double "Soarin" adventure for us.  It was a great end to a great Epcot day.  We weren't able to cover all of the countries around the "World Showcase", but that leaves us something new to see if we ever make it back there.  Emily and Brandon did get to see more of the countries than Abigail and I did.  They participated in a Kim Possible mission that took them to Norway to crack a mystery and catch a super villain.  They got a clue, received a cell phone and the phone told you what to do, where to go to communicate with a satellite, and then they sent a smoke signal to ask the Viking Gods if they would help.  Then they went into a shop to see a troll and take a picture with the phone.  They could tell you more about it than I could because I was with Abigail meeting Princesses and Marie, the Aristocat. 

Jasmine was a fun one to meet-she asked Abi if she kept her monkey treats in her bag.  Abi told her she didn't have a monkey and Jasmine told Abi if she found her and Alladin's monkey she could have it!  Then she asked Abi if that was her travel bag, now Abi calls it her travel bag!  She also pointed out that Abi was wearing her jewels (see Abi's shirt) and that purple was the color of royalty.

One of the beautiful garden areas

This is the closest we came to meeting Mickey and Minnie!

 Pictures below are from the Living with the Land "experience"  food grown here are used in Disney restaurants  It was like something from the future-words really can't describe



Sweet potatoes



notice pumpkins hanging in "mini hammocks"

Pictures below are from Epcot-mostly flower stuff-it was WONDERFUL!

Below are pictures from Magic Kingdom

Part of the parade



Swiss Family Robinson tree house-AWESOME 



Let me take you on a magic carpet ride!

Pictures below are from our hotel.  We were at the Movies Resort and we stayed in the Toy Story Building.  These pictures are from the hotel "courtyard" area



Our very modest accommodations.  2 full size beds were all we needed to crash for 8 hours so we could do it all again the next day.

 The 3rd day we went to Hollywood Studios.  It was OK, but nothing to really write home about.  We enjoyed a stunt show where they reenacted a chase scene with cars and motorcycles.  There was the Tower of Terror that Abigail absolutely loved.  It was a twilight zone themed adventure where they put you in an "elevator" which you were strapped down in, and then they acted like they were taking you up to your room.  When the elevators doors opened you dropped 13 stories or so and you saw everything outside as you were falling and then they did it again and again.  We all felt a little green afterwards, but it was a neat ride.  We watched an Indiana Jones stunt reenactment, went through the Toy Story carnival ride, and did a Studio Backlot tour.  It was a good day, but we didn't need the entire park opening hours to see what we wanted to see.  We were there during ESPN weekend and a lot of famous football players were there, but that really didn't interest us.  We got out of there by 7pm and went over to Downtown Disney to find a nice restaurant with some good food.  When we got there we couldn't find a restaurant that had a menu that looked appealing.  I wanted some plain food-grilled steaks or something "normal"  not almon pineapple glazed peach sauteed porkchops or whatever!   We got tired of looking for a good restaurant so we went back to our room and got the car and made a trip over to good ole McDonalds.  All 4 of us devoured our meals and if I were to be honest, I think this was one of the best meals I had the entire time we were gone.  We went to some really "nice" places while we were down there, but none of them really appealed to me. 

Yes, that is me with a big Woody!  Haha!



fake street scene at rear of picture





Singing in the Rain



Our Queen of Heart



Aboard the Toy Story Arcade game ride




Across from Toy Story ride



The 4th day we went to the Animal Kingdom Park. We had almost decided not to go there while we were planning this trip, but we decided that we would go ahead and visit all 4 parks while we were here. We were afraid this park would just be an overdone zoo of some sort, but boy were we wrong! This was an amazing place like nothing we had ever seen. It has to tie with the Epcot for my favorite Park. First thing that morning Brandon saw the raft ride and there was no way I was going to get soaked first thing and have to walk around with wet socks and shorts. I can't stand the feeling of wet clothes! The kids didn't think it was a big deal until they got of the raft ride and realized they were going to have to tough it out until there clothes dried!

Later that day we were able to watch a veterinarian do surgery on a 2 month old black buck (similar to a small antelope) It had a hernia near its belly button and they were fixing it. When we got there to watch they were sewing it up. The only thing separating us from the surgery was a glass wall. Emily was really interested in this. It was "funny" to see its little hooves and legs hanging out from the white sheet! The girls decided they wanted there faces painted so Emily got hers done as a tiger and Abigail got the "Desert Queen" design. We got many compliments throughout the day on them. Later that day we went on a safari and rode through the safari and this again was not just a ride. There was a story line with a plot and some unexpected things along the way. You could almost make yourself believe that you were in an African Sahara.

Another ride called Journey to Everest was a roller coaster ride that made you run up on a yeti (bigfoot like animal) that tore apart the tracks of the coaster and it sent you flying backward to get away from it, then sent you forward on a different track. It was a wild ride and we loved it.

The centerpiece of this park was the "Tree of Life" It was a fake tree that had over 200 carvings of animals throughout its branches and trunk. We took a long time wondering around it to see what animals we could make out. It was really a masterpiece. We also saw a "Nemo" musical. It was really amazing too! How many times have I said amazing in this blog? Words just don't describe some of these things. The musical was about 40 minutes long and Abigail was very interested in all of the characters and their costumes. She said later it was boring, but there is no way she was because she was craning her neck and looking at all the commotion on the stage the entire time.

One of my best moments happened right before closing time and we were trying to make sure we covered everything and collect the last stamps for the kids "Discovery" project that they participated in. We walked up on Lilo and Stitch! I love them (and so do the kids by the way) and I wanted to get in line to meet them and have pictures. When we got up to Stitch I introduced Abi as the "mini-Stitch" because we have always said she acted like Stitch. When Stitch heard this he snuck Abigail off to the mulch nearby and they picked up mulch, hid it behind there backs, and snuck back up to Lilo and Emily. Lilo showed Emily how to cover her face and then Stich and Abigail threw the mulch at them! It was so cute!

That night we ate at the Rain Forest Cafe.  The inside of these restaurants are made so it feels like you are actually eating inside the rainforest.  Animal sounds, trees, the works.  We thought it was ok, but here again its almost like it is a tourist trap where you feel like you just can't bypass it before your trip is over.  It could be that we had spent all day inside the Animal Kingdom and we were already overstimulated by our surroundings and this place did nothing for us.  Been there done that, next time we are going over to Orlando to eat at Charley's again where I know my cow was hand massaged and given beer before they butchered it!  That's what I am talking about!  The Rain Forest Cafe did have "The Volcano" dessert.  It was a 3 brownie dessert with like half a carton of vanilla ice cream and 2-3 scoops of whipped topping.  It was really good and we couldn't even finish all of it. 

Mt Everest in the background

The wet Burnettes 

Recreating the Lion King Scene

The freshly painted Desert Queen

The friendly tiger

One of the Kilimanjaro safari vehicles

one of the Kids Discovery Kamp project exhibits

Tree of Life close up

Stitch and Lilo



Poor Bambi is about to be eaten by a tiger!



Abi is putting a spell on Marie!

I wonder how many weight watchers points this would be!

VOLCANO!  at Rain Forest Cafe.  I think my life flashed before my eyes by the time we were done with this thing!



The only picture at the pool I took.  This was about midnight the night before we went home



Weekends at Morrow Mountain

Abigail tries her hand at photography



Enjoying some Lance crackers




Sisters on the trail




Me and my world




Posing on the bridge




Taking a rest at the top of a grueling path




Trying to get the group back up after a rest




Nature's balance beam

We have spent the last 2 Sundays hiking at Morrow Mountain.  Last Sunday we did about 2.5 miles on a strenuous trail and we had such good weather again this weekend we headed back there again today.  This time we stopped in Albemarle and got a big bucket of KFC and had a picnic before we hiked.  We were planning to do the 4.1 mile loop, but about .5 miles in we found out it was closed, so we turned back and went in from the other end and it was closed .4 miles from that end.  We just circled around the group camp sites and made our own trail and then we found a .6 mile loop trail to go on.  Abigail is the "pace car" on the trail.  She will take off on a trail and we have to keep up with her.  It is nice to finally have kids that will hike without complaining and we really do cover some ground.  It was really nice to enjoy some beautiful weather with the family. 

Brandon has this mustang shirt with the horse racing and this is just what he was doing Thursday night on Hwy 49 when a state trooper happened to see him parade by going 70 mph.  He got a speeding ticket and has to go to court on April 15.  I guess he was trying to finish off his week to make my week not seem so bad.  I had a horrible experience that I had to endure Tuesday and Wednesday and it's something that I never ever want to have to go through again.  It's nothing to do with our health or families and on the grand scheme of things I guess it could have been worse, but none the less it was very nerve racking and scary.  Some things just make you want to quit your job and go hide under a rock where no one could ever find you!!!   Thank goodness we have a vacation coming up.  I live for vacations! (and to wipe Abigail's bottom-for those of you that follow my blog)
I did have a good birthday and Valentine's Day.  I got a Montana Silversmith necklace and earring set for my birthday and we went to the Thai House for dinner where the kids loved the food they got, so now Sogo's had competition for Emily and Abigail's favorite place to eat.  On Valentine's Day I got a gift card to massage envy and if I would have been thinking I should have used it Wednesday evening!  So I have something to look forward to next time I need to relax! 

Best Kids Ever!

My kids annoy the heck out of me but I can't help to think that I still have the best kids ever!  They are so funny and entertaining.  A few weeks ago I bought some King's Hawaiian Sweet rolls and I thought it would be a novelty to make little teeny sandwiches for the kids with them.  They are about 2 inches by 2 inches square and make cute little deli sandwiches.  One evening I asked the girls what each of them wanted in their lunch boxes for the next day.  One wanted PBJ and one wanted 2 little turkey, ham, and cheese on Kings Hawaiian rolls.  So I get out all the ingredients for this and then when I was finished put it all away.  Abigail then decides she wants one of the King roll deli sandwiches right then.  So I got all the stuff back out of the fridge to make her that almost 9 pm snack.  Then I put back up all the supplies for a second time.  Well, in the mean time Brandon got a bite of the little sandwich and decides he wants one too.  I told him I was finished in the kitchen and if he wanted one all of the stuff was in the fridge.  He argued that the ones I made were "made with love" and tasted better.  I ignored him and went on about my business to get things done for the evening.  He kept saying "I sure would like one of those little sandwiches" and the next thing I know Emily is in the kitchen making him one.  She told me later that the only reason why she did it was to make him quiet!  Great, I am raising a girl to do whatever the man of the house says!  Just wonderful!  Well, I am going to have to work on that because she needs to start letting that kind of stuff go!  But anyway, the next afternoon after school Abi wanted one of those little sandwiches for a snack and so I am in the kitchen and she comes over and says, "Now momma, make sure you make love with it!"  I THOUGHT I WOULD DIE!  I said, "Do you mean, make it with love?"  She said "yeah".  I wanted to roll on the floor.  I looked at that poor little sandwich and thought to myself, Now, exactly how would that work? Ugghh!  HA HA!

I also have proof that Emily is the boy that I never had.  She came home from school one day with a bunch of graded papers and there was a math test that she made a 100 on, but there were 4 extra credit questions on the back that would have made her and extra 20 points, but she didn't even attempt them.  I asked her if she didn't realize they were on the back and she nonchalantly said "Yeah I knew they were back there, I just didn't want to do them."  I was thinking, this is not my child.  I would have did every possible question for extra points in case I were to mess up something later in the semester, but oh no, not Emily.  She doesn't care a bit about math and that drives me up the wall!  She doesn't care about getting the bonus words on spelling tests right either.  She is going to be one of those that just squeaks by without putting an extra effort into things. 

One conversation we were having with the kids Brandon was telling us that mongoose were known for there speed and were used to keep away the cobra.  I said "oh..." and Brandon said "you didn't know that?, I thought everybody knew that!".  Abigail piped in from the backseat and said, "Yeah, everybody but momma and feel bad for her!"  Oh well... I guess if I ever learned that I have forgotten.  There are so many things to remember and the importance of mongoose has just left me.  I give up.

Brandon wants so desperately to turn one of the girls into a country girl that wants to take care of the chickens, feed the pigs, learn about engines, and do all the things over at the shop that he does.  Emily is not really interested in any of that for a long period of time.  Abigail on the other hand might give it a better go.  She is more likely to go with Brandon and collect eggs and hang out in the shop.  Emily and Abigail are responsible for cleaning the eggs after they are collected.  Brandon takes 10 dozen every Saturday to his buddy and trades them for a round bale of hay to feed the animals.  About a month ago we took 10 goats to the goat sale in Monroe and the girls each  had a goat to sale and they made money for our upcoming trip to Disney World.  I just don't understand how I didn't see any of the money from the sale.  Hmmm.  Oh well, I will get my cut one way or the other. 

Back to Reality

The kids and I had a wonderful time the other week sledding/sliding in the snow.  We would go out each night after supper (when everything had time to refreeze) and play.  We would start from behind our garage and if we were lucky, make it all the way down to the playhouse.  This involved some slalom skills to maneuver around retaining walls, trees, and a muddy patch of land above the septic tank.  Even though this was strenuous work at times I don't think it was as good as exercizing in the basement.   I was able to actually start some scrapbooking that I have been meaning to get around to sice January 2007.  I actually found some supplies with the receipt to document my starting time!  Ha Ha, oh well, I have officially started to scrapbook.  My stuff looks a bit amateur, but with the help of my mom's stash of scrapbooking goodies I have made a good start.