Annnnd we're back! Disney Recap Take 1

Well rested...or maybe it's more exhausted than ever from two weeks at Disney World. We got home around 10:30 last night, Arden went to bed not horribly long after that and slept until 11:19 this morning. Tuesday morning's school waking will be such fun. I'm really looking forward to it. Really.

We took an absurd amount of pictures on our trip. Over 1000 with the regular camera (borrowed from Mandy, thanks Mandy!!!), plus 400 on my iPhone, not to mention however many Dora took with hers. We will do a full recap soon, I have a feeling Dora will want to do that since this trip was her orchestration, but figured I'd get the ball rolling. Suffice it to say, it was a great trip. We learned a lot about what works best for our family when it comes to tackling the beast that is Disney.

And now for the pictures!

At baggage claim at MCO

Such a welcome sight!

Arden spent a lot of time twirling and playing at the Grand Floridian. This is an attempt at a nice picture. Worked out well. Although it does capture the essence of Arden...

I'm not sure which of them enjoyed the pony ride more...

What I remember most about this day is the unbelievable, take your breath away humidity. After this pony ride we hit the pool....

See? We didn't spend nearly enough time here, even in 15 days. About 45 minutes after this picture was taken the sky turned black. We hightailed it back to our room and shut the door just in time to dodge the storm that would end a thousand storms. Well, at least I thought so. It poured for hours.

We had dinner at Cape May Cafe at the Beach Club. Perhaps the best buffet of the trip (though we learned halfway through we just don't love buffets in general, more on that later). Arden liked it because she could color on the tablecloth.

Post dinner, post major downpour exploration of the Beach Club.

We found a flock of ducks feasting on popcorn at Hollywood Studios one afternoon. We hung there for quite awhile so Arden could talk to them and photograph them. This is one of her photos.

She also spent a lot of time with lizards...but I am happy to say they all remained in FL and we did not return with one as a pet. Here she is showing her bracelet to one.

In Norway at Epcot you could make your own mask. She spent a good 30 minutes creating the masterpiece you see below. And yes, that's a shield in her other arm. She chose that over the viking hat. Phew.

We took time out for special treats like fancy hair. We tried (and tried) to convince her to go the the Bippiddi Boppiddi Boutique for a princess makeover but she stood her ground (as she has done our previous two visits) and downright refused. Glitter and color from the Main Street Barber though? Hit central.

She got to hula hoop in the Magic Kingdom.

We got to go to the Spirit of Aloha Luau one evening. Arden *loved* it. She got to go on stage and learn to hula at one point. Pictures of that to come once we get them downloaded from the real camera.

We got to do our favorite, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. If you are ever at Disney between September and October, do this. Such fun. This is her pirate costume from last year. She has grown about a foot since last October so it's coupled with a pair of capris, as we didn't want people to think our 5 year old was some sort of pirate hooker.

In case you are wondering, this year she wants to be a knight, not a pirate.

We rode the monorail all the way around, just because we could.

We rode the People Mover many, many times. I love that she loves this ride. It's about my speed.

We made sure we got to ride on the steamship this time. Here she is waiting ever so patiently for it to dock so she could get on. I wonder how much time will pass before Disney makes the steamship some sort of character experience with Tiana (Princess and the Frog).

Next time we skip the Disney trip and just take her somewhere she can climb a tree.

The (sort of) secret gardens behind the UK at Epcot. She did this maze over and over.

Halloween party, v.2. She didn't want to wear her pirate costume again, and after adding her ears and sword called herself the "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Knight" .... rather perfect, if you ask me.

The final morning with new friends to take home. Pluto was her favorite this trip, we think because he started a bread fight during one of our character meals. She thought that was pretty fantastic. And, naturally, Pluto couldn't come to MA without Mickey, so he came home with us too.

And so concludes Take 1 of Disney. There will probably be 47 more posts to follow. I told you, we took lots of pictures. And have lots of knowledge to impart for the 4 people who read this blog. :-)

A Day Out With The Girls

Annette captured some great photos from her day with Arden at the Highland Games.

We got some great pics from today's big birthday surprise for Sabrina, but we're borrowing Mandy's camera and don't have the cord to transfer the pictures. We had a genius idea to try to use on of our old cameras to them off ... but it was too good to be true. Soon enough, I hope :-).

With a large black bear....

They stretched a penny....

A free spirit in the middle of NH

Flower child

Waiting in line to jump far too high in the air...

Ready....

Set....

GO!

Adding yet another sword to her collection

Fierce

Stabbing her Aunt

And her Aunt's friend...

Aerial view

Extreme close up

Strawberry ice cream for dinner!

Brusha Brusha Brusha

We closed out the week with a trip to the dentist. Arden was the picture of perfection...as were her teeth. She chose chocolate toothpaste and bubblegum fluoride. Mmmm good.

Arden is spending today at the Highland Games with Annette. We originally thought we'd need Annette to watch her today because I had a work thing and D has to help ... process chickens (no more Perdue for us!). My work thing was cancelled but Annette offered to take her anyway because she knows she'll enjoy it. This leaves me to clean and finish trip prep, and spares the child the oh so dreaded trip to the CSA. Everybody wins!

A couple of pictures from yesterday's dental festivities!

Watching the hygenist.....


A cool customer.

Riveting Weekend Recap

And so ends another too fast weekend. We spent half of our weekend running from one place to another and the other having doing a whole lot of nothing.

Saturday was incredibly busy. I kicked off the day in Marblehead just after 6AM for Floating Hospital's Cycle for Life. It was a fabulous event, and the morning was picture perfect, see? Marblehead is now on my list of places I'd like to live.

I headed home around 10 so we could head off to a first birthday party. We were so happy to be able to go to Paxton's first birthday party. Juli and Alisha put on a great party -- Arden was so excited about it because they hired Wendy, who happens to be Arden's music teacher, to play for the party. She played for an hour and had kids of all ages mesmerized. Arden loved it and we continue to be certain she will lead her own garage band one of these days.

Until Wendy arrived she was contemplative and well, let's be honest, totally anti-social. But she looked cute in some new Gymboree duds from Grandma Joanne and Pops. The shirt has a horse on it. Dora approved.

Jumping and singing with Wendy....

Musical conga line....

We left the party a bit early because we had to get down to pick up our CSA box, then headed home to drop it off and go to Bobby and Mandy's house for dinner. We came bearing gifts...Dora made peach jam yesterday, so we took them a jar. We have quite a generous batch in our fridge that we'll probably have to freeze.

Arden talkign to Grandma Mary, inquring on the status of a package that is supposed to contain chips, while waiting for Uncle Bobby to get the video game working, as evidenced here:

We ordered Chinese food, just like last time, as that is what the little dictator requested. It was a fabulous evening that ended with Godiva and great coffee. I think we should make these dinners monthly. Maybe one of these days we'll pry Annette out of her precious North End to join us in the burbs.

Arden entertained herself with Lego Star Wars (or some such thing) until 9:30 when she shut it off and laid down on the floor. This was our cue to leave.

Today was the opposite, slow and lazy. We're ready for the week, with meals planned and clothes washed and ironed. And we're only 12 days away from vacation.

May She Rest In Peace: Turtle - May 2001 to September 2010

We lost a member of our family this morning. Turtle was the first pet that Dora and I had together. We got her at the Topsfield Fair in 2001 -- we were living with Mary and Bob and the time and Mary felt bad that I was far from my parents, so granted permission for us to get a rabbit.

Turtle was a bit of a reject ... she was supposed to be a dwarf and well, she was a touch on the large side so she was not headed for the breeding program. At that time Mary and Bob had the chocolate store, and we all know they were famous for their turtles...and given her chocolate and caramel color, she was christened Turtle.

Turtle was the first of our cohort of quirky animals. A faithful companion -- she was the only of our creatures to live with us in each of our homes together. As the years creeped along, Turtle got grumpy and set in her ways. Weighing in at 6ish pounds she could bully Lucy away from her bed with one thump.

Turtle was 4 when Arden arrived. Arden didn't really discover the joy that was Turtle until she turned about 2. As you will see from the videos I've included, she may have been cranky with us, but she was full of patience for Arden.

This is Arden's first lesson in loss, and she's processing. Out of her mouth before school this morning:

• 'I don't think she's dead, I think she's just sleeping in until 10 today.'


• 'She is just cold, she needs a pillow and a blanket.'


• 'We need to sail her to New York so the doctors can look at her lungs. Someone must have smoked near her.' (There has been talk about the crime of cigarettes in our house lately, that it turns lungs black etc.)


• After whacking her cage with her microphone stand while I was upstairs...'Mommy! I think her eyes moved!'


• 'Can we get another rabbit? We can name her Turtle too and then our family will be complete again.'


• 'Maybe she just needs a friend. Maybe we should just get her a friend.'

So. Processing.

We're processing too. Dora is, unfortunately, away on business this week and I had to tell her just before a big dinner meeting. I think it will hit us all at unexpected times over the coming weeks and months. Like when I went to grab a drink this evening and I looked at her stash of stuff and realized we have an unopened 25lb bag of her food in the back of the car.

Here are a couple of videos from when Arden was around 2. I hope they work, I had a bit of trouble figuring out how to share them. I just think they so accurately describe how wonderful she was with Arden. We were very, very lucky.

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk32/ArdensMommy1/?action=view&current=60000.mp4

http://s276.photobucket.com/albums/kk32/ArdensMommy1/?action=view&current=3777-60361-0.mp4

And the Countdown Begins...

Well, let's be honest, the countdown started for us 6 weeks out. We're now 18 days from our big Disney trip. 18 days....2 weeks from Friday...

This weekend was mighty boring for the child, as it involved lots of shopping in preparation for the trip. It was our only unplanned weekend before we leave, and by hitting the mall and the Kittery Outlets we were able to figure out what we needed to order online and have ample time for delivery. Two thumbs up for not having to pay rushed shipping costs!

We had an incredibly successful, bargain filled weekend, and, shockingly, Arden survived. We promised her today could be a pj day, and we delivered. She spent hours destroying the house...I mean creating art...and watching movies with Dora while I finished the rest of the shopping in peace....I mean, sadly alone.

Arden has figured out how to watch videos on the Disney website. She was sad to learn that she cannot participate in the Cars stunt show at Hollywood Studios. Poor creature.


This is for Nonno. Her chosen outfit for part of Saturday involved her Red Sox shirt.

At the mall Saturday night...we browsed the Halloween costumes. Princesses are still getting a big fat no. She wants to be a knight for Halloween. And she cannot be convinced to go to the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Disney. The Pirates League is another story altogether. She'll get an official pirate name you know.

More fun shopping. Doesn't she look excited?

Goon.

A 5 year old's guide on how to entertain oneself while her parents look for clothes.

Sunday we headed to the Kittery Outlets. Harry and David's was our final stop. Yes, we bribed her to be good. Sampling a chip and some sort of dip.

Oh, hi Mom. The shoes on those tootsies were a great find at the Bass outlet. She found them and asked for them...they happened to be in her size (the last pair!) and only $10 on clearance. We obliged. She insisted on wearing them for the rest of the day. They are the cushiest flip flops...I wish I could find a pair like that for myself!

Her H&D choice, Poltergiest Pretzels, of course.

We hit the Reservoir after we got home. It was only fair after dragging her shopping for two days.

A somewhat failed attempt at scootering down the grassy hill. I suggested it might not work well, but she just rolled her eyes.

I think she was lecturing Lucy here...

Action shot...she nailed the balance this time, so the whole experience was a lot less terrifying for me.

When we got home she requested we pack her suitcase. I believe here she is contemplating how to get us to allow her to pack all of her race cars in her suitcase. Because you know, who doesn't have to bring 412 toys to Disneyworld. You should know that Stitch is already packed. Hope he doesn't suffocate over the next 19 days.