Thursday, March 31, 2011

CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR LAST BOOK

The 6th, and last, book in her CLAN OF THE CAVE BEAR series was released yesterday. Chris bought it, and I should be borrowing it shortly.

My fellow Harry Potter & Twilight fans... you have no idea.
You think it was hard to wait for the next book?

The first book came out in like, 1980.
That is 30 years.
Like, when I was born.

Now THAT is a wait!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

TANGLED

Tangled was released to DVD yesterday!
Mark took Joey to Best Buy so she could buy her own copy.
(She'd seen it twice in the theater.)

It was as cute last night as I remember in the theater.
A Disney villain hasn't had that much SASS since Ursula.
I know that Alan Menken did music for more films besides BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and LITTLE MERMAID, but this feels more like them. Did he finally find another lyric partner to compare to Howard Ashman (died in mid 90s)?

I'd love to hear the back story, but unfortunately, the good bonus features seem to come on the BLUE RAY version.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

CARNIVAL RIDES


St. Justin the Martyr is a Catholic Church in north Key Largo with beautiful grounds. And more land then I think is decent in the Keys. It's almost showing off. But I like the way they show off.
Winterfest was March 11-13. Carnival rides and food. And these were Dade County Youth Fair quality Carnival rides. Good stuff, not just the kiddie rides we took Joey on. I would recommend this next year to everyone!

Everyone was so nice. Every ride we went to, some older kids would volunteer to take Joey with them, so I didn't have use my tickets to go with her. That way, Joey got to go on twice as many rides with the tickets saved!
Of course, some rides the grown-ups just can't pass on.

And now, Mommy is going to show you how to eat CARNIVAL FOOD!
Hamburgers, French Fries, Funnel Cake, Fried Pickles, Carmel Apples and Cotton Candy (which, to Mommy's disgust, she DIDN'T like Cotton Candy!!!)

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

WORLD WIDE SPORTSMAN


We went down to the World Wide Sportsman to so that Joey could play in the replica of the Ernest Hemmingway boat, see the big fish tank, walk along the dock and see the tarpon... oh yeah, and so Grandma & Mommy could go shopping. (Great clothes selection there.)


Uncle Chris is so nice. He is sharing his fish with Joey.
She tried to hold it, but it was too heavy/slippery for her.

Monday, March 21, 2011

SPLISH SPLASH


Joey went over to Kaki's house to play in the sprinklers with Austin & Madison.

Her dupey is so big, it literally doesn't fit in her suit. And that is a T3, not 2.

Coppertone Baby or what?!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

ON THE FARM

We spent this weekend in CROOM, a ATV park North East of Tampa.
While we were there, we had a chance to visit a farm.
Out of all the things we did this weekend (camping, ATV riding, hiking, campfires, smores...) if you ask Joey what she did this weekend the first thing she'll tell you is:

"The cows went poopie A LOT!"


Wednesday, March 16, 2011

WANNA BITE?

Yes, that is a tomato.

And yes, she is taking a bite out of it like an apple.
Grammy Jo used to spend her candy money on tomatoes and eat em' like an apple too.

Sunday, March 13, 2011

FASHIONISTA


It was chilly on Friday and I let Joey pick out what sweater or jacket to wear. She was very enthusiastic about her "Jacques" sweater. It is a bright red sweater with a black silhouette of a terrier on it. She thinks it is Jacques, from Lady and the Tramp.

She didn't want to wear anything BUT the sweater. I tried to find an outfit to go with this bright red sweater. I pulled a black dress/red tights combo out of the closet and showed it to her. She looked at me, at the dress, and back to me. She gave me an "are you serious?" look and told me, very plainly:

"Mommy, that's not pretty."
"Okay then. You don't have to wear it."
She ended up jeans and a Mickey T-shirt.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

BYE BYE TO GRAD NIGHT

This is an article from THE MIAMI HERALD today.

Sad, sad news.


This spring will see the last Grad Nite celebrations at Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney World announced Wednesday.

Disney World says the increase in theme park attendance in the spring has made scheduling the after-hours, separate-ticket event for high school seniors increasingly difficult. As an alternative, Disney will offer Florida school groups a special one-day, one-park ticket for $55 valid any time during the year.

"Over the years, we've signficantly increased the frequency and types of programming offered specifically for students," Walt Disney World spokeswoman Andrea Finger said. Sports competitions, performing art workshops, festivals and educational programs give students access to Disney "virtually any time of the year," she said.

Live performances have been a hallmark of the event. Musical acts have included Britney Spears, Miami Sound Machine, Katy Perry, Oingo Boingo, Ne-Yo, New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys, Paramore and Boys Like Girls.

Set for the 2011 and final version of Grad Nite are Pete Wentz, Taio Cruz, and 3OH!3.

The Magic Kingdom event began in 1972, the first spring that the theme park was open, and has continued there annually with the expection of a one-year stint at Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2009.

"Attendance has varied throughout the years, but that being said, Grad Nite has remained a rite of passage for high-school seniors over the years, and we have been pleased with the attendance," Finger said.

Heidi Tandy of Miami Beach was there in 1988,

Her memories of Grad Nite revolve around her classmates.

"To go on Peter Pan or go into 'it's a small world' and sing at the top of your lungs because no one is going to get angry at you is really a fantastic send-off to your childhood, especially for Florida kids who grew up going to Disney World," Tandy said.

She regrets that her son won't have that chance.

"I would have loved to send him off to his own Grad Nite at Disney World, maybe with the pin I have that says 'Grad Nite' '88 on it," she said.

For years, a strict dress code was adhered to for Grad Nite. Tandy said girls weren't allowed to wear dresses that exposed their shoulders. And Upright said the buzz — perhaps urban legend — indicated that Disney had ways of dealing with improper behavior.

"[The rumor was that] There was an underground Disney jail you'd be taken to for the night if you misbehaved or were drinking somehow or behaving inappropriately with the opposite sex," she said.

Disneyland Resort in California will continue its Grad Nite program.

Universal Orlando has a similar event for high-school seniors called Grad Bash, which is held at Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure theme parks.

"Right now, we are focused on making this year's Grad Bash great," Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said Wednesday. "But I can say that Grad Bash is a very popular event for us and for our guests — and we don't see that changing anytime soon."



Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/03/10/2107446/last-call-for-disneys-grad-night.html#ixzz1GFdwDxaM

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

MOMMY & ME WEEKEND


So it was supposed to be a weekend for the guys, for Doyle & Kevin & Mark to be together.
But the guys couldn't make and I called my back-up (Becca) and it turned into a Mommy & me weekend!
Go ahead. Guess. How many moms and kids do you think are under the tent?
The girls really did play well together.
Outside on the patio, AKA, our own personal little fenced in snow playground.


Tuesday, March 8, 2011

THE EVOLUTION OF SNOW

It just started snowing.

Becca drove through most of what fell.
Yucky.
A little bit more.
And more after that.
That is the road to our house.
There are cars under that.
The path I shoveled to be able to sled.
Anyone for a BBQ?

Saturday, March 5, 2011

FIRST DATE REQUEST

So Joey and I were watching TOY STORY on the couch when she turned to me and said:

"I want Julian sit here (patting the couch next to her... very next to her) and watch TOY STORY with me."

Julian is a boy from her class.

I told her she had to ask her Dad.

LINVILLE FALLS


We had some beautiful snow-free weather when we first arrived at the Mountain house in January before we got snowed in by the beautiful snowy weather.
We went sight seeing the first few days and went hiking at Linville falls again.
Of course, no one else was there because with all the construction and closures on the Blue Ridge Parkway it's nearly impossible to get to.
Joey really, I mean really, loves hiking and climbing and exploring and discovering nature.
That is Daddy holding on to a little girl who was ready to go swimming.
The paths were a little slippery.
No, but really, this was only one little section. For the most part, only part of the trail would be iced over. Joey had no trouble. But we did have to carry her over this part.
Peek-a-boo! I see you!
Joey found herself a walking stick.
She was fascinated with sticks in general, really.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

BLOWING ROCK


SUE AND THE GIRLS

RED KOOLAID

I have drank the Koolaid.
I am now officially in love with the Twilight series.

See now, WHAT HAD HAPPEN WAS...

(most good stories that end in jail, start with that sentence. Mine, ends with me being a Twilight fan)

We were about to get snowed in at the NC Mountain house and we knew it. So we stopped by Blockbuster to grab a bunch of movies. I had never seen or read any of Twilight, but was kinda interested in watching at least part of the first one, just so I could know what people were talking about. The idea being, to be educated when I ridiculed others. Like leaving a Lady Gaga song on for a moment before changing the station.

Well, since then, I have watched all 3 movies and read all 4 books.
It really is fabulous.
I would recommend it to anyone.