Trip Report Day 10: 12/1/13

Merry Christmas!

On our last day, we woke up at 7:30 a.m. to get everything ready to go down to bell services. After they took our bags, we followed and waited until 9:30 for the Magical Express bus. I went in the souvenir shop to get one last Minnie's Bake Shop cookie to bring home for my colleagues to try. I couldn't find them, so I asked the cast member if they had them and she said they don't get put out on the shelf until 11:30, but she would go in the back and get me one. That's what I love about Disney; most of the employees are willing to go above and beyond for you.

After the bus came, we got on and had to make three stops before heading to the airport. We were able to go in the wheelchair lane at security because of our stroller, which was very helpful. We grabbed a little breakfast and were on our way back to Long Island. Fortunately, Jax watched Cars 2, had some snacks and fell asleep. Another peaceful ride!

Now that we are back in NY, we look back on our Disney vacation with such happiness and love. Our son had an amazing time discovering new things and our whole family made a lot of wonderful memories with him. This vacation was a special one and we can't wait to go back and make some more memories.

Trip Report Day 9: 11/30/13

Rapunzel's Tower

Unfortunately, it was our last full day of fun at Walt Disney World, so we went back to the Magic Kingdom so Jax could get on some rides. We started out at the Main Street Bakery for breakfast and then we were able to get on the Tomorrowland Speedway, but Jax wasn't tall enough to ride. I thought he would be, but he still had like half an inch to go. He watched us drive around, but he was able to get on Dumbo, the new Journey with the Little Mermaid and the Mad Tea Party.

Since the park was not packed yet, we were able to grab lunch at Be Our Guest, which we were worried that we wouldn't be able visit this trip because of its popularity. The food was good, but the three dining rooms were the real draw. One was dark, one was lavish and the other had snow coming down outside the window. They did a great job with the theme of the restaurant and it really helped tell the story. They even had the Beast's rose in the corner of the dark room.

While Jax napped, we were able to go to the Haunted Mansion and the Hall of Presidents. When we were done, we enjoyed some sweet treats at the Sleepy Hollow and I had the Nutella Waffle Sandwich and HOLY SMOKES, it was good. The only thing that would have added to the deliciousness would be a little whipped cream. We headed back to the hotel because MK was really getting crowded and we were able to do what we wanted. The only rides I missed were Space Mountain and Thunder Mountain Railroad, but I know them and I'll make sure to hit them first on our next trip.

Be Our Guest Dining Room

At the hotel, I changed Jax into his bathing suit and Dad and I took him to the water play area by the pool. He had a great time splashing around and getting soaked until he started to get cold. We went back to the room so I could dry him off and change his clothes. I changed my clothes too and we went for a walk around the resort to see the animals on the savannah. Jax was more interested in the lights on the floor, but we had some time to kill, so we hung out in the lobby, watched cartoons for a little and then went back to the room to scoop everyone up.

Paige and Georgie drove their own cars to the hotel, so we drove over to Downtown Disney for our dinner reservation at Bongos. Parking was a nightmare, so we got dropped off at the entrance to Pleasure Island so that we would not miss our reservation time. I went straight to check us in, but they wanted to give us a table outside. It was cold and Jax was with us, so I refused that and told them that we would wait for the next available table indoors. Tom and I got a couple of cocktails and waited it out. So, 35 minutes later when our whole party joined us, we were seated. We got appetizers and entrees, but we wanted dessert elsewhere. Georgie got a pretty amazing dinner, but it ended up being $75. We were shocked, but when something says Market Price, well, it is not going to be cheap.

$75 Paella for Two

We hit the Lego Store afterward because I wanted to buy more of those cool keychains for people at home. Tom had Mom and I go into World of Disney when we were done to look for Vera Bradley bags, but they only had duffles left, and I already have one and Mom didn't want one. Everyone was ready to leave, so we did ... without a Gold Rush from Ghirardelli. No ice cream on this trip. No Classic Mickey Bars. Nothing! And, we are leaving tomorrow. Boo.

Trip Report Day 8: 11/29/13

Epcot

We started the day at Epcot with a Fastpass+ at Soarin'. That ride is more of an experience than an actual ride, and it is so relaxing and fun. You have to ride it to know what I am talking about. After we finished, we had breakfast at Sunshine Seasons. The multigrain croissant was surprisingly good.

When everyone was able to finish riding, we headed over to Test Track to wait in the single rider line. We were able to ride in 40 minutes, as opposed to the 110 minutes that it said for the stand-by line. Then, I walked around with Jax so he could fall asleep while some of my family rode Mission Space. When we met up, we headed over to to the World Showcase, as I had planned on having a brat and a beer at Sommerfest in Germany. Tom and I were able to get brats, beers and Nudel Gratin for Jax, and we were even able to swing a table. Jax was still asleep, so I saved the Nudel Gratin for him to have when he awoke.

Afterward, we were all able to head over to America so the rest of my family could have their lunch an dthen to Japan to shop in Mitsukoshi for a little bit. In America, we bought a Peppermint Hot Cocoa that had Peppermint Schnapps in it and it was delicious. I bought a few items in Japan and we headed over to Imagination while Georgie, Uncle George, Garrett and Paige went to go check in for Dive Quest in the Living Seas. Jax was able to ride Imagination and then we headed over to the Garden Grill for our dinner reservation and Candlelight Processional Package.

Candlelight Processional

While eating dinner, we saw Mickey, Pluto, Chip and Dale and Jax squeezed their noses. The dinner was OK, but the dessert and the rolls were very good. We got Jax a light up Buzz Lightyear clip-on and a Toy Story cup with his meal. After dinner, we went over to Nemo and Friends and were able to ride that with Jackson. He also watched Turtle Talk with Crush, but wasn't totally interested in sitting down quietly. We waited for Dive Quest to end and took Jax around to look at the fish in all of the tanks.

By the time they were out, we had to head over to the Candlelight Processional. The line for advanced tickets was so long that it lined the fence from America to Morocco. The line moved pretty fast and were able to sit in the back with the stroller because Jax was sleeping. I found some of the cast members that night to be very irritable and rude, and others to be extremely nice. I guess everyone deals with crowds differently. The show was lovely and festive. Gary Sinise did a great job narrating and the lighting for the event was pretty cool. It was a great way to begin the holiday season.

After the show, we got a hot cocoa and Chai tea latte because it was so cold out. We raced to the bus stop and the bus came right away. Fortunately, Jax slept through the show and all the way back to the resort. He even slept through his diaper change. I was amazed, but he must have been wiped out from the day.

Trip Report Day 7: 11/28/13

Luigi

We are celebrating Thanksgiving today, so when I awoke, I helped my parents prepare yams and stuffed mushrooms and left the bread stuffing for later. Dad and Mom prepared the rice stuffing, the turkey and my aunts prepared some other sides. When Jackson got up, he was able to watch a little of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and see Buzz Lightyear.

After breakfast, Tom, Mom, Jax and I headed over on the bus to the Art of Animation Resort by way of Animal Kingdom to see the Cars section of the resort. They did a great job with the theming of each area and Jax was able to run up to and around all of the Cars characters. He absolutely loved it. We were also able to shop in the resort souvenir store, but they didn't have any die cast cars that we were missing, so we bought a few other Cars things and headed back to the resort to finish preparing Thanksgiving dinner.

When we got back, I made the bread stuffing, Mom made the brussel sprouts and Aunt Annie made the corn, so we were all set to eat. We set it up on the bar counter like a buffet and let everyone get their food and find their place. Dinner was delicious. We pulled off a 20 lb. turkey with several side dishes, and I don't know if that small Kidani kitchen knew what hit it! If it were a Disney character, it would be exhausted and proud.

Flo

After dinner, Jax went with my Aunt Rosie and Aunt Annie for a walk around the resort, and he came back screaming because he got a bad diaper rash for the first time in his 16 months on earth. My Mom advised me to put him right in the bathtub to soothe him, and that's exactly what I did. In two days, the rash was gone, thankfully.

Cars Section of the Art of Animation Resort

We waited for Paige, George and Garrett to return from Ocala and have dessert. When they did, George gave Jax a present: DARTH MATER! We were shocked and he wouldn't tell us where he found it, but he said he wasn't beneath buying Jackson's love, which was fine by him because he loves that car. We went down to Community Hall and played foosball and pool, and then headed over to the arcade from some pinball and air hockey to finish up the holiday.

Trip Report Day 6: 11/27/13

Today, we woke up when we wanted and waited for my aunts to arrive. When they did, we were supposed to attend "Welcome Home Wednesday" for DVC members, but we didn't know it was in another hotel, so we decided to skip it and head to Downtown Disney for lunch.

We always love Earl of Sandwich, so that is where we started out. One time we even visited the Earl twice in one trip. The sandwiches are cheap and delicious. I think is where you can get your most inexpensive lunch on all of the property, but correct me if I'm wrong. We went shopping after lunch and Tom, Jax and I stopped into the Lego store for the first time. I always walk by it, but never shop. We ended up buying Jackson a Duplo Cars set and I found these really cool Lego figure keychains. We also popped by Raglan Road during their happy hour, but we were obviously pushing Jax in his stroller, so we took our beers to go and headed to West Side.

Fortunately, we were able to let Jax run around a little bit in a small area across from Candy Cauldron. By then, we all met up to discuss what our next plan was. I went shopping in Wet Seal really fast because there was a buy one, get one 70 percent off sale, so I had to stop in. I ended up buying a Mickey Mouse t-shirt and, since it was BOGO, I got a Biggie Smalls tank top (I thought it was pretty interesting). When I was done, I came out and Tom and Mom told me that they stopped into Splitsville to see if we could go there for dinner and bowling, but for 11 people, it would near $500 to do so. Also, we stopped into Paradiso 37 and they could seat us, but we all decided to head back to the resort for dinner.

My family wanted to have Chinese food delivered, so I got them the phone numbers. There was no way I would be eating Florida Chinese food, especially on vacation. No offense to Chinese food restaurants in Florida, but it is just not the same as New York Chinese food. Sorry. So, Tom and I decided that we would head downstairs to Sanaa for a little dinner date and some African fare. Our waitress at Sanaa was awesome. Her name was Stacey and she was from Boston, and I noticed it before she told me by the way she said garlic (gah-lic). She asked if we were from Boston too because we have accents, but we are from Lawn Guyland (Long Island). The meal broadened our horizons and we listened to Stacey's recommendations on almost everything. After dinner, we went back to the room and wrangled up some others to head down to the arcade for some Guitar Hero and air hockey to end the night.

Trip Report Day 5: 11/26/13

Halfway through our trip, we woke up and headed over to Hollywood Studios for our breakfast reservation at Hollywood & Vine. Fortunately, when we got to the park, I found a cast member and asked where those who had dining reservations entered the park. Everyone else was lined up at the turnstiles, so he led us to a side area where we gave our names, scanned our Magic Bands and walked right into an empty Hollywood Studios. It was pretty cool to see the quiet streets before all of the guests filed in.

At Hollywood & Vine, we saw Handy Manny, Special Agent Oso, June from Little Einsteins and Jake. Again, Jax wanted to eat in peace, so he wasn't so keen on the idea of pictures, but he did like all of the singing and the music. The waiter wasn't our favorite, but we had a good time.

Lightning McQueen

After eating, we headed over to Tower of Terror so most of us could ride it, excluding me. It is the only ride I refuse to try in all of Walt Disney World. I just think that the queue will freak me out and the ride will make me uneasy. When they were done, we went over to Rock N Rollercoaster to check the single rider line. They actually closed down that line because they said it was getting longer than the stand by line. I guess my secret is out. Fortunately, we were able to sit down to see the Lights, Motors, Action show and Lightning McQueen. Jax was interested in all of the cars in the show.

On our way to Muppetvision 3D, we saw a line to take pics with Lightning McQueen and Mater, so we waited so Jax could get up close to them. It would have been nice if he could have gotten a little bit more time to walk around them and analyze them, but there were people behind us that had been waiting too. When we got to Muppetvision, we went right in and I needed to change Jax's diaper, so I went in the dark corner and laid out his stuff, so no one could see and I could change him quick. We went right in after the little pre-show.

Osbourne Lights

Afterward, we headed over to Toy Story Mania, but only half of our party had Fastpasses for the ride. In the past, we would just get paper Fastpasses for the rest of our party and go right in. Unfortunately, with the new Magic Bands, we were unable to make any changes unless we went to Guest Relations at the front of the park and made the changes. This what not an option for us because the line for Fastpass return was already so long, so those with Fastpass went on and those without went to eat. Toy Story Mania is such a fun ride, but I lost the game to Tom. We met up with everyone else at Studio Catering Company for lunch, but they were already finished eating. We ate our lunch and I bought Jackson a Lightning McQueen snack bucket for $11.99, which was a pretty good deal. We went shopping in the Animation Courtyard for more cars, but were only able to find Star Wars versions instead. We bought a few, but we spent all day looking for Darth Mater and there were none in the whole park. We even asked cast members to look in the back for him.

Some of us went off to ride Rock N Rollercoaster and Star Tours, and we took Jax in to see Disney Junior Live. He loved it, but I wasn't a fan of sitting on the floor for the whole show. My dad couldn't even sit with us because with his knee, he couldn't sit on or get up from the floor. Also, I couldn't believe that they didn't sell any souvenirs or toys with Handy Manny or Oso. Where are those toys?

Tom and I were able to walk right on Star Tours even though stand by said 20 minutes. We had the Yoda/Wookie version of the ride and it was pretty cool. After that, I went with Georgie and Garrett to ride Rock N Rollercoaster and Tom and my parents took Jax to the Honey I Shrunk the Kids play area, which ended up being closed. We were able to use the single rider line and I rode the coaster next to some first-timers, so I warned them about the initial take-off and how fast it is. When we were done, I met up with Tom, Jax and my parents so we could see the Osbourne Family Dancing Lights. It was pretty amazing, especially when the music came on. Tom told me that Jackson loved it when it snowed on the street too.

We had a dinner reservation at Cape May Cafe, so we all met up and headed over to the Beach Club on the boat. The captain of the boat that was waiting when we got there was pretty grumpy so I was glad that we were waiting for the next one. The seafood buffet we had for dinner was great, especially the crab legs. I used the skills that I learned at Joe's Crab Shack to open and eat a bunch.

After dinner, we took a look at the arcade and it started to thunder so we decided to grab a cab and head back to the resort instead of taking the boat back to Hollywood Studios. I missed out on a No Way Jose at Beaches & Cream and my heart still hurts ...

Trip Report Day 4: 11/25/13

Today, we got up and ate a really small breakfast in the room and got ready to leave. We had to catch three buses to get to Fort Wilderness for our lunch reservation at Trail's End. This was my recommendation because I heard that they had a new a la carte menu and it was delicious.

Bridge in the Wilderness Lodge

We were able to get there with a little time to spare, so we did a little shopping in their trading post. Lunch was awesome and afterward, Jax was able to play on the jungle gym and swing on the swings for a little bit. We then headed over on a boat to the Wilderness Lodge to see their holiday decorations. That resort is amazing and cozy, and will probably be our next choice for accommodations. It is just so homey, especially during the holiday season.

We also headed over to the Grand Floridian to see their decorations, and I am sorry to say that some of the guests aren't so nice there. I held the door open for two different people and they didn't even say thank you, and people just walked right through while we were trying to take pictures without even an "oops" or a "sorry." Maybe that's not a big deal to you, but it is to me. Not a fan.

Gingerbread House at the Grand Floridian

Uncle George, Aunt Rosie, Garret and Georgie all went back to the room and the rest of us headed over to Downtown Disney to do a little shopping. Jackson was able to meet Santa, but he was already in a bad mood while we waited on line, so he looked like a little nut in the pictures we took. We had a dinner reservation over at Chef Mickey's so we hurried over to the Contemporary on yet another bus. Chef Mickey's was pretty funny because when everyone was swinging their napkins in the air, Jackson was able to join in and when he took pictures with Donald Duck, he put his hand in his mouth.

After dinner, we did a little shopping and then took the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom and a bus back to Kidani.

Trip Report Day 3: 11/24/13

Today, we woke up and headed right over to our breakfast reservation at Ohana. Unfortunately, it took a while for a bus to arrive so we took a cab over to the Polynesian. When we arrived, I went into the store on the second floor and found one of the Cars die cast cars that Jackson did not have yet. We've been on the hunt for characters from both movies since October. I think we have almost 70 of them for Christmas for him now.

When we checked in to Ohana, we took our family picture out front with our t-shirts on that said "Jackson's First Trip to Disney" and "I'm Jackson." We headed in to our table and the food was family-style, so we had big plates of food in front of us within minutes. The characters paraded through the restaurant and I was able to get a bunch of autographs on the mat board I bought for a Disney picture of Jackson. He didn't love all of the action while he was trying to eat breakfast, so we didn't get too much character/Jax interaction, but that's OK.

Entrance to the Magic Kingdom

After breakfast, we took the monorail over to the Magic Kingdom and started our day. The first place we hit was the Starbucks at the Main Street Bakery for coffees and I had a Dark Chocolate Cherry Mocha. Jackson had a haircut appointment at Harmony Barber Shop at 11:30 a.m. The stylist, Margaret, was amazing. Jackson screamed like we were torturing him for both of the haircuts he had at home, but this time, he was like a different child altogether. He actually enjoyed himself and didn't cry once. It was a pleasant surprise and Margaret was able to entertain him with toys and stickers. With his haircut, he got a certificate, Mickey ears and Mickey stickers. Margaret also gave me a lock of his hair and some confetti for my scrapbook. It was a great experience and we were all very happy.

After that, we headed over to New Fantasyland, but all of the lines were way too long, so we rode the Walt Disney World Railroad over to Frontierland where we walked to Adventureland and rode Aladdin's Magic Carpets, but Jax wasn't sold on it. Nonna bought Jax an orange bird sippy, but they could only put soda in the cup, which made zero sense to me because my kid and many little kids do not drink soda. We were able to use our Fastpass+ for the Jingle Cruise and it was a total waste of time. I thought there would be some holiday decor on it, like a hippo with some lights around its neck or an elephant with a Santa hat, but nope! It was the same lame ride that I rode in the late 80s and I was annoyed that Disney tried to pawn it off as a holiday special. If I want to see animals, I prefer real ones. Anyway, we went to go eat lunch at Pecos Bill Cafe after that debacle and then to see the Country Bear Jamboree, and it was empty. Everyone was busy watching the parade outside, so we basically had the theater to ourselves. Jax danced in the aisles and pointed at the bears as they sang.

Cinderella Castle

Following that, we headed over to Tomorrowland to catch our Fastpass+ for Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin. We went right in and I achieved my best score to date with a 135,800. I don't know what I hit, but it was a good move. Afterward, Aunt Rosie bought Georgie and Garrett Buzz Lightyear sweatshirts. While Buzz was doing his character greeting, they stood in front of him and he ran over and photobombed them. It was pretty funny. Georgie, Paige and Garrett left the park so Paige could leave to go home because she had to work the next few days. The rest of us rode the People Mover and Jax fell asleep immediately after. We had a Fastpass+ for the Tomorrowland Speedway but decided not to use it because Jax wouldn't be able to enjoy it. So, we headed back to the resort after shopping a little bit. I got Jax the Cars bath toys.

While at the resort, we decided we needed a few things, so Tom, Georgie and Uncle George took a trip to Walmart and the rest of us just hung out in the room. Tom and Georgie ended up going back to Magic Kingdom that night because it was open until 3 a.m., but they weren't able to really ride anything because the park was still packed. Tom texted me around 12:30 a.m. to tell me that he beat my score on Buzz Lightyear. Figures!

Trip Report Day 2: 11/23/13

We woke up and headed to Animal Kingdom. We started out at Pizzafari because none of us ate and I read that it was one of the places that served breakfast. When we got there, we just missed it, but the manager, Yusuf made sure that we got the last nine bounty platters, and if one of the plates was missing something, he threw in something else. He even threw in a plate for free because it was all he had left. It really helped us out and we were so grateful. I know I'll never forget his Disney touch of kindness.

The Tree of Life

After we finished eating, we headed over to Expedition Everest and rode it really quick and it was actually better on a full stomach. Jax couldn't ride Kali River Rapids, so we sat out with Aunt Rosie and hit the bathroom instead. By then, we were ready to use our Fastpass+ to ride Kilimanjaro Safari. Jax fell asleep, so I put him in the carrier and he slept through the whole thing. I noticed that they removed the Little Red/Big Red storyline and I think it was a good idea, but I did miss the guy saying, "Come in, Simba 1!"

After that, we enjoyed a few wonderful Mickey pretzels and then some of us went to It's Tough to Be a Bug and others to Festival of the Lion King. When the show was over, we met up and saw a character greeting spot with Pooh and Tigger. This was the deciding moment; would Jackson love the characters or be afraid of them? Well, Jax ran right over and into Pooh's arms. I did all I could not to cry like a baby. It made my day, no week, NO month! I was a proud Disney mama.

A Mickey Pretzel

We all then headed over to Dinoland U.S.A. so some could ride Primeval Whirl and we could take Jax on Triceratop Spin. He held on to Poppy's shorts for dear life. We also played a carnival game and I won Jax a stuffed turtle. At that time, our dinner reservation at Yak & Yeti was drawing near, so we headed over there. I checked us in and grabbed a drink at the bar before we were seated. We had appetizers and entrees, and our waitress was very friendly. I don't remember her name but she was blonde and I was able to leave positive feedback on the card on the table.

When we were done eating, we left the park to get back to resort to get ready for Poppy's birthday surprise that night. I told a little lie that I wanted to try the craft beers at the Crew's Cup Lounge and we were all going to go, so I arranged for cabs for us and we went to the Yacht Club. They have a cool train set in their lobby for Christmas.

When we got to the marina, I checked us in and then we told my dad that we had a surprise for him. My mom and I had planned a pontoon cruise to view Illuminations, complete with birthday decorations, snacks, soda, coffee, a fruit plate, cheese and crackers, and a special Mickey cake. We were able to go by Hollywood Studios to see the Christmas tree and then under the bridge in France in Epcot before the show started. It was great to see Illuminations from another angle, especially with snacks (thanks to the folks on my Disney list serv for the great idea).

After the cruise, we went back in the hotel so I could make a stop at the Crew's Cup Lounge (so I really didn't lie) and buy a round for me, Uncle George and Tom. We took our beers and made our way to the Beach Club to see the chocolate carousel in their lobby. It was amazing that the whole thing was edible and perfect. We went back to the hotel after that to get to bed and prep for the Magic Kingdom again on Sunday.

 

Jackson's First Trip to Disney Day 1: 11/22/13

Friday, November 22, 2013 is the date we have all been waiting for. It's been months and months since we started planning for my son Jackson's first Disney vacation. Our trip members included: me, Tom, Jackson, Nonna (my mom) and Poppy (my dad) from N.Y.; Aunt Rosie and Uncle George from N.J. and Georgie, Paige and Garrett from FL.

The Jambo House Christmas Tree

Our flight from NY was at 6:15 a.m. We took the earliest flight to get the fun started immediately. I scooped Jackson out of his crib at 4:30 a.m. as my dad knocked on the door. The car was already packed from the night before, so we only had carry-ons to lug along with us. We headed for the airport and Jackson was awake already, and he was soaked. As soon as we got into the airport, I changed his diaper and his clothes, and then we sped over to security. We let him run around in the airport before boarding because we knew he would be confined to a seat once we were in the airplane. On the plane, we put the portable DVD player on and started Cars 2. And, then we heard from our angels as the flight attendants said we could leave all electronic devices on throughout the flight. YES! He watched the movie and had some snacks, which kept him nice and comfortable. About one hour into the flight, he fell asleep and we laid him on the seat between us that was left empty, for obvious reasons. No one wanted to sit next to a crying baby for more than two minutes, never mind two hours. Jax didn't even cry once. He remained quiet and didn't wake up until we landed.

Upon departure, we got our stroller at the gate and made our way toward the Magical Express terminal to bring us to our resort. Uncle George and Aunt Rosie met us there and my mother handed out the Magic Bands to all of us so we could use them as our ticket aboard. Jax fell asleep again as we made the drive to our resort, Animal Kingdom Lodge - Kidani Village. We had to make stops at Pop Century (we stayed there in '04 and '07) and the new Art of Animation Resort (more on that later on in the trip).

Walt Disney World Railroad Station

We finally made it to the resort and saw all of the decorations, including a huge Christmas tree decked in African animals and animal print. It was gorgeous! We could already see zebras on the savannah from the lobby windows, which is what makes this resort so special in my eyes. Unfortunately, we found that our room was too far from the lobby, bus stops, etc. for my aunt who just had back surgery, so they kindly changed our room to a more suitable location the next day. By the time we got to the room, we were all hungry, so I changed Jax and we headed to Jambo House and Mara for lunch and to get our refillable mug. We chose the "Length of Stay" option for $18, but only bought one mug for Tom and I. (I had the Carved Turkey Sandwich, but for more on what I ate, visit yumness.wordpress.com.)

After lunch, we went back to the resort to see if my cousin, his girlfriend and her son showed up yet. They just got there when we did and we were able to talk a little bit and then get ready to head to Magic Kingdom, since we had MVMCP tickets for that night. Tom and I decided to stop at the concierge to put a credit card on our Magic Bands for easier purchasing. Our dinner reservation was at 5 p.m. for Tony's Town Square and we were able to get in with our tickets at 4 p.m. After dinner, we decided to ride Pirates of the Caribbean because it's a favorite, and I was glad it was Jax's first ride.

Afterward, we headed back to Main Street to claim a spot for the show and parade. While we waited, a few of us got hot cocoa and cookies in Tomorrowland. After both events, we were super tired, so I decided to take Jax into the baby center and then make our way to the front of the park for the castle show and Holiday Wishes. Uncle George and Aunt Rosie left and Georgie, Paige and Garrett went on rides. The castle projection show was awesome. We were able to do a little shopping after and then leave the park.

Unfortunately, we missed the dance parties, but that just leaves some things to look forward to the next time we visit.

 

 

It's been a while

A lot has happened in my life in the past few months, and I haven't posted anything, so I apologize for that or maybe you are thankful, who knows? Let's review ...

1. TK went away on a family golf trip with a bunch of my male relatives, so Jax and I stayed with my mother for a week. It was nice to stay in my parents' house for a little while, and also have dinner made for me. That was the best part.
2. I had my first Mother's Day, and it was great. I got flowers from my parents and the card said how "proud" of me they are. That felt nice. TK had Lauren take photos of Jackson holding letters to spell out M-O-M and when I opened that gift, I cried I was emotional. I also received a $25 gift card to Target from my in-laws and a $100 gift certificate from Dad so that Mom and I could go to a spa together one day. I am DEFINITELY planning on that. Who would pass up a spa day? If you answered, someone very dumb, that's right.
3. I gave a presentation on Social Media as a FREE Marketing Tool to a group of people from the Bellport and Patchogue Chambers of Commerce. It was a little nerve-wracking because I wasn't sure if they were picking up what I was putting down, but I couldn't eat breakfast until it was all over. I get a nervous belly before presentations. I like when they are over.
4. June 29, 2013 marked 10 years since my grandmother passed and I had a wedding to attend that night. Once, I had to excuse myself to go have a nice mini cry while looking out on the water, but then I pulled myself together and sang "Rapper's Delight" to TK on the dance floor.
5. My little man turned one and we threw him a huge Mickey First Birthday Party! It was great. We had a bounce house, a dunk tank, a tent, two portapotties and a snow cone machine. Jax changed from one Mickey outfit to another during the party and he fell asleep for a little while too because we tuckered him out. I made him a big cupcake for his actual birthday and for the party too. He got white icing all over my uncle's face trying to share the cake with him. It was adorable. Everyone had a great time and people think I should plan parties for a living. Hmmm ... (Stay tuned for a party post that I want to share for Pinterest.)
6. Jackson has had two haircuts, one was two days after his first birthday and another on August 16. Both were traumatic for both of us. He screamed like I was torturing him and I had to hold him down or entertain him the whole time, and also try not to get either of our fingers cut off. At one point I was afraid my hair would get cut along with his. I still haven't had a haircut since New Year's Eve, so maybe I should have slipped some of my hair in there accidentally on purpose ...

So, I guess now you are caught up. 

What do you stand for?

Recently, I found myself having to stand up for what is right and fight against what is wrong. I prefer to tell the truth, always, because it means I have less to remember, especially after having a baby and suffering from baby brain. I also tell the truth because it is the right thing to do. I sleep more soundly at night because I don't have anything weighing on my conscience to obsess about.

So, while I was making the decision of whether to stand up for myself and my friends, I decided that if I did not make the wrongdoing known, how could I tell my son or anyone else to stick up for themselves? How could I stand behind my values and the values I teach to my son? I decided that I couldn't and that I had to speak up.

Now, I ask you, what do you stand for? Would you do the right thing even if it meant people talking about you behind your back or chastising you? Would you stick up for yourself even if it meant the loss of what you have? Would you fight for what is right instead of just allowing the wrong to win?

I am not perfect, by any means, but what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong, and that's how I have lived my life and how I plan to live it in the future. I also choose to surround myself with people who feel the same way because liars, cheaters and thieves have no place in my happy life.

So, what do you stand for? Just a thought.

Things I've Learned in One Year

On July 10, my son turned one and I realized how different my life has become since his birth; in good ways and in bad ways.

Here are a few things I have learned along the way:

1. Don't buy expensive clothes, they will just get stained or ruined in some way. Formula can stain a white shirt yellow, and veggies that have been spit out of a baby's mouth can land on your clothing. 
2. Poop is great. You want a baby that poops. A baby that does not poop is a VERY unhappy baby. 
3. A boy baby can pee at any minute, even if they just peed two seconds ago. 
4. Everything ends up in your child's mouth. This includes paper, toys, phones, remote controls, shoes, etc. 
5. Do not leave small items around the house. See #4. 
6. Do not get too drunk at a wedding or a party. A hangover with a screaming, tired baby is worse than any hangover you had in college. 
7. Don't wear bras that don't completely fit. Your son will pull your shirt down in public and instead of everyone seeing your bra, they will see your boob. 
8. Don't decorate your living room with fancy items because they won't match your Graco swing or your Baby Einstein Jumperoo.
9. You can never just run into a store again. Everything takes at least a half an hour. 
10. You may forget to eat because you will focus on making sure your baby is fed.
11. Little kid songs are very catchy. Everyday, there will be a new one stuck in your head.
12. Nothing is yours anymore. Everything belongs to your child. 
13. Take A LOT of pictures. You will end up showing them to everyone you know. 
14. Enjoy every minute. You will turn around and your kid will be a year old already.

So, I have learned plenty so far, but I am still learning, every single day.

Mommies and daddies, what did you learn during your first year as a parent? 

Mickey Mouse First Birthday Party

Table Decor

On July 13, 2013, we hosted Jackson's first birthday party in my in-laws' backyard and it was a Mickey Mouse Clubhouse theme. First, I did some research online to see what I wanted the invitation to look like and I found a pocket invite on Etsy that I thought I could recreate. I was right!

Mickey Invitation

I cut black Mickey ears out of card stock and the red pockets out of card stock and the white invitation circle out of a higher pound printer paper. I was even able to download the Disney Waltograph font for free from an online font site. The only issue I had was with the buttons. I had to visit a few Michaels locations before I was able to get enough buttons to create all of the invitations. Some invitations had to have white buttons because I couldn't wait for Michaels to get them back in stock. I got the envelopes from Michaels and they were easy to find. Our return address stamp has a Mickey face on it already, so that fit in with the theme too.

We rented a tent, tables, chairs, a bounce house, a dunk tank and two port-a-potties, one for ladies and one for gentlemen. The tent reservation came with a snow cone machine, so that was a bonus. I bought black, yellow and red table cloths at the dollar store and my mom was able to find Mickey Mouse decorations at Party City and another local party store.

Food Tables

We also bought red Solo cups, black cutlery and I found red and white plates at Sam's Club for the food. For the cupcakes, I purchased Wilton Mickey Mouse cupcake stands from A.C. Moore. I bought two, but at different times so I could use a coupon for each of them.

For the centerpieces, I put pictures from Jax's first year in small picture frames and placed one or two on each table. Some family members ended up taking the frames home because they wanted photos of Jax for themselves. I also created Mickey centerpiece bags for each table. I cut large black Mickey heads and red pockets out of card stock, then glued them to red craft paper bags. Then I cut out #1's and glued them to each side of the bag. We hid balloon weights in them and tied balloons to the handles of each bag, and hid those too.

Table Centerpiece

Fortunately, my friend Catherine had a Mickey Mouse party for her son too and had an extra high chair sign that she gave to me for Jax. I thought it was adorable and it was a nice addition to the decor.

High Chair Garland

To sing "Happy Birthday," I made a large Devil's Food cupcake just for Jackson. I bought black fondant from Michael's and rolled it out to cut Mickey ears. After the cupcake was frosted, I placed Mickey scrapbook paper around it to create the cupcake liner and used toothpicks to stick the ears on. After we sang and blew out the candle, Jax put his hands in the cake and got it all over himself and Uncle Frankie. He loved it.

Mickey Smash Cake

Everyone else was able to eat the Mickey cupcakes that my mother and I made for dessert. We made the cupcakes from boxed mixes and used red and white polka dot liners. For the Mickey ears, we used mini Oreos that can be bought in the cookie aisle of the grocery store. The cupcakes were very cute and everyone enjoyed them.

Mickey Cupcakes

At the end of the night, when all of the food had been eaten and the bugs were ready to come back out, we said goodbye to Jackson's guests and everyone had a great time. We went back to my parents' house and opened up Jackson's abundance of gifts. He is one lucky kid and we are all so lucky to have him. Happy Birthday to our little meeska, mooska, mouseketeer!

Mickey Ears Straight from Walt Disney World

Dear Martial Arts (AKA Kickboxing)

Dear Martial Arts Class,

I really do love you, but I would love you more if you worked extra hard to bring my pre-preggo body back. I'm working hard. I mean, I sweat a lot and my body aches in the morning. I do everything you ask of me, and not in a fragile flower, dainty lady way that my mom and husband would prefer. I am really punching and kicking like the pad has taken the last Reduced Fat Oreo.

I would love to have my flat stomach back and for my gigundo boobs to shrink a size or two, so I can actually look good in a dress or a bathing suit or even a tank top, and not look like that ham hanging from a rope at the local deli.

Please help me with this goal, and if you are feeling extra generous, I'd like to know how to do an arm bar so that when TK gets fresh, I can teach him exactly how to speak to his wife.

Thanks,
Class Member in the Mickey Shirt
(P.S. When my classmates ask me who I am thinking of when I punch the pad, it's actually mother nature. I blame her.)

Bug 1; Melissa 0

These past few days have been less than fun. Let's just say I wouldn't wish this on anyone.

On Sunday afternoon/early evening, I started to feel a little crampy in my stomach. I chocked it up to eating too much all at once at dinner (I've been known to do that), but it didn't end and it actually got worse. I got the bug ...

From then on, I was in bad shape. I will spare you the glamorous details, but that virus was awful and I thought I was going to die. I haven't had a stomach virus for 20 years, at least. I was shocked because I've eaten tuna fish sandwiches from 7-11, fruit that I haven't washed, rare hamburgers and I try everything at least once. My stomach is usually cast iron with no issues, but this time a bug got the best of me and I lost in a big way. I am hoping that I lost some weight also as a two-day bulimic/anorexic, but we will see.

Now, I am a little sheepish to go out to dinner or take a fork to a rich meal, but I will get back on my fat horse very soon.

How about we hand out trophies for winning, for a change

Now that we are parents, TK and I have decided that the trophies that our children get for just showing up and participating are going right in the garbage. They may not even make it to the garbage at home. I may throw them out in the parking lot of the baseball, soccer or football field. A trophy for participation is not real life.

Would your boss have you compete against another colleague for a promotion and give it to the both of you because you "participated?" No, because that is not how things work in the real world. In the real world, there are winners and losers, and if you lose this time, you will try harder for next time.

Children should learn about discipline and disappointment. Coaches become motivators and disciplinarians on the field or court. They teach children that if they show up late to a game or do not participate in a practice, they do not play. It is not fair for the person that shows up 15 minutes early for every practice and a half hour early for each game to sit on the bench while a player who showed up 45 minutes late plays in a game. In the real world, if you are late to work numerous times or do not show up, you can get fired and for good cause.

The little league field should prepare our little athletes for real life. So, coaches that allow all kids to play regardless of their lateness to practices or games are doing children (and parents) a disservice and giving them a false sense of entitlement. I would prefer a coach that benches my child for lateness than a coach that just lets it go. There are teaching moments throughout our lives, and I have had plenty on the field or the court. For instance, fouling out of a basketball game showed me that my actions have repercussions. Striking out meant that I was not focusing. And, letting a ground ball roll through my legs meant that I was not keeping my glove down or using the tactics taught to me in practice. When I lost a game, it felt awful and there were times that I even cried, but those losses lit a fire inside me to want to win and I strived to accomplish that goal. I will not take those feelings from my children.

So, I repeat, there are teachable moments throughout our lives and our children's lives. Make use of them and prepare our children for a responsible, successful and respectful future. And, if you want our children's trophies, you can have them because they mean nothing, unless they actually earn them.

Getting Organized

My little guy is growing and growing, and I don't care what those percentiles mean that I hear at the pediatrician. He is eight and a half months old and in nine month clothing now. So, it seems like he is on par for his age.

Today, I decided to organize Jax's ever-growing clothing collection. I started with the bins in the garage and noticed that I already labeled one of them that contained all of his clothes from newborn to three months and his summer and fall outfits that he had grown out of. His old clothes were so small and cute, and I kind of miss those days, but we are having a ton of fun now so I prefer now to then. There were two other bins in the garage that needed organizing, so I took them out and took every piece of clothing out and made size piles. When my friends give me their kids' hand-me-downs, I take them and pack them away, but I don't really go through them until Jax jumps sizes. Well, this time, I went through every piece and made three bins: 12-18 months, 18-24 months and 24 months +. I had to make sure I wanted all the clothes that were in there and that none of them had stains. None of the clothes had been washed by me and that is fine because when the time comes, I will just do a couple loads of wash and Jax will have a whole new armoire of clothes to wear.

I also like to go to thrift shops and secondhand stores to buy Jax's clothes, even if the clothes can't be worn for a year or more. Baby and toddler clothes are always in pretty good shape in those stores because A. babies grow out of clothes fast, B. moms donate what they don't like or C. moms donate clothes because they cannot take them back to the store without the original tags. My kid grows fast too, so I don't understand spending a lot of money on an outfit that he may wear once or twice.

Jax may be all set for the next year or so with clothes, but his ensemble will probably double in size a few times over by the time he is three. My mom always comes home from a store with something for him, Joey Russo is growing out of his clothes and so is Grady Thompson. So, we're good for another year and a half ... unless there's a sale.

Fighting Like a Girl

When I was a teenager, I wanted my father to teach me how to box because his father boxed and I was fascinated by the artistry of some fighters, but he refused. His argument was that girls would definitely hit me back and it wouldn't feel good. He also convinced me that punches would leave marks on my face and I wouldn't look the same. It made sense because I have a big Italian nose and one dead on punch to my nose would probably break it instantly. OK Dad, I get it. However, he did teach me how to defend myself when put in the position to and I am thankful for that.

Ronda Rousey, UFC Bantamweight Champion

Not every Saturday, but some Saturday nights I watch UFC fights, and when it is on, I watch the Ultimate Fighter Competition with my husband. Some people think it is barbaric, but I think it is entertaining and a legitimate sport. These fighters are trained in mixed martial arts (MMA) which includes fighting while standing up (striking) and while on the ground (grappling). The menu of experience for the fighters includes boxing, judo, Brazilian jiu jitsu, wrestling, kickboxing and karate. There may be other fighting techniques, but these are the ones I know of.

Now, when I say I like watching MMA, I mean that I like watching fights with submissions, ground and pound and boxing, but there are some fights that bother me because I am still a mother and a female. For instance, I hate when a fighter hammer punches another fighter's face until the fighter flops around like a rag doll. It can be disturbing. I picture this person's mother having to watch her son getting beat until unconscious and it breaks my heart. (Note: a hammer punch is a punch that uses the under part of a person's fist as if they were swinging a hammer.)

This month, UFC 157 included a female fight as the main event for the first time and it introduced Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche to the UFC. I told TK that we were ordering this fight on Pay Per View because I just HAD to watch. The inclusion of a female fight on a UFC card is a huge achievement for female athletes. They are paving the way for other females in yet another male-dominated sport. To end the fight, Rousey won due to an arm bar in the first round. (Note: an arm bar is a submission move that hyper-extends a person's arm to the point that it might break if they do not tap out.) After watching the fight, I wanted to learn about the personality behind the fighter so I watched YouTube videos that a colleague sent me. The emotional back stories and intensive training regimens were impressive and I became a fan. Rousey is even an Olympic judo champion. These girls are no joke!

So, next time you say someone "fights like a girl," think of Ronda Rousey and how she can flip over a 200-pound man and put him in an arm bar without messing up her hair. It's OK to be impressed.

Momtrepreneur-to-be

Yesterday, I took the first step to becoming a momtrepreneur, or whatever you want to call it. I took one step toward having a home office with orders coming in over the phone and through email and meetings via Skype where I can wear a blazer on top and flannel plaid PJ pants on the bottom, without anyone knowing the difference. OK, maybe that's all just a dream, but I did really start an Etsy shop. Yea, it may be something small, but it is something.

It says on my resumé that I have an art degree from Penn State, but I haven't used it since I designed promotional materials for Langistic Networks, and I am starting to piss myself off. I never wanted art to become a weekend hobby. I wanted art to be my talent and then become my career, but that obviously never happened. Well, fast forward 11 years and here I am with a husband, a house, a son, a master's degree, and a 7+ year career in public relations with no art anywhere. I enter my drawings in exhibits, but they were created years ago and I never even received an offer on one of them.

I am not quitting. I am an artist and that's what I've wanted to be since I was four-years-old, so I started an Etsy shop that I opened up by selling bottle cap magnets and photography prints of pictures that I've been taking for years on my DSLR. Eventually, I will add drawings, watercolor studies and maybe even portraits that I can do on a commission basis. It is a start. It may not be a six-figure salary or a home office, but it is something. I will not let my creativity flat line, especially at 32-years-old with a NEED to create. My Pinterest account is exploding. 

So, my Etsy shop is named MAK80 and it can be found at: www.etsy.com/shop/MAK80. Take a look and support a rebounding and rejuvenating artist, I mean, if you want.

Fifty Shades of Annoyance

For my 32nd birthday, my husband bought me the Fifty Shades trilogy. So, I read Fifty Shades of Gray and Fifty Shades Darker and liked them both, but then I got to Fifty Shades Freed and, to be honest, I am still on it. I got through the first few chapters, and that was about it. The little pebbles of annoyance that I saw passed in the first two books grew to the size of a boulder in book three.

 

Not every word was bad, don't get me wrong. During the first two books, I appreciated the highly imaginative descriptions and interactions, even though they were mostly sexual. I also liked that it was reminiscent of Pretty Woman, with a rich businessman falling in love with a quirky female who needs to find her way. The Christian Grey is jealous, has control issues and has sex with Anastasia Steele on a piano, so I saw an obvious Pretty Woman likeness. I mean, she even wears a grey tie for him ... really?

Now, those pebbles that I was talking about, yes, they exist and I will list them for you. First, the whole thing is unrealistic, especially Christian Grey's salary. I calculated that he would make $208 million a year or more, by making $100K an hour with added investments. That seems a little crazy. Second, I disliked how she mentioned his frown or his "straight-lipped smile" every other page. We get it, he makes facial expressions. He is a human being with full musculoskeletal control of his face. Got it. Also, it's annoying that Anastasia personifies her subconscious and has it wearing "Burberry" with its "arms crossed." What? That's just silly. And the final thing that had me saying, "Enough already," was the sex. They have SO much sex. On a bed. In a car. In the torture chamber (that's what I call it). In the bathtub. On the bathroom floor. I mean, it is A LOT. This is an erotic novel, so I understand that there has to be sex and plenty of it, but with all of this sex, someone should have a UTI by now or even a yeast infection. Sorry to go there, but it's true.

So, Fifty Shades Freed is on my nightstand collecting dust because Anastasia Steele and E.L. James are like my husband's snoring: OK in small spurts, but really annoying when it doesn't stop. E.L. you were alright at two books or you could have just killed off Ana in book three. Just saying.