Our day in Epcot

After staying up past 2am at Mickey's Not-so-scary Halloween Party we got up a little later than we planned and headed over to Epcot.

Disney World has 4 parks. The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, The Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

When I was a kid it was just the Magic Kingdom, which is a bigger nicer version of the Disney LAND in Southern California, And Epcot. The only thing I ever knew about Epcot growing up was that there was a big silver ball that looked very cool and had some sort of ride in it. I always wanted to go visit it.  I think my brother told me there was a roller coaster in it. Well there isn't. but there is a fun little "future" ride.

What Epcot does have is much more fun that I ever expected. It has pavilions from countries around the world. Much like the world's fair had when we were in Shanghai, only much much better. They are called Pavilions but really they are little streets with shops and restaurants set up to look like the country they are from (only cleaner than the actual counties in some cases like Italy and China).

Not only did each little section have food and shops from their part of the world but all the people working in each pavilion was from that country too! So all the shops in "England" were staffed with people with lovely British accents, France was full of French people. Even the people walking by sweeping up trash from the country of that pavilion.

We were definitely world travelers that day.

Here's a picture of my mom in Japan with her Tokyo Sunrise drink.  We also had some really good Sushi for lunch in Japan.

After lunch we wandered over to Italy.  Where we looked at very fancy cologne and designer bags.  There was a mime there too... but we didn't stay for that. I don't know what it is about mimes... do they make every one want to punch them or just me?

On the way to Germany was a miniature village with an electric train. Rosie LOVES trains and she an her Nana stood and watched it for quite some time.

In England they had red phone booths.  William was pretty excited about them and took Rosie in to play in one when the phone started ringing! So he answered it. It was so much fun. I have no idea how they knew he was in there but some one with a British accent called him in the phone booth to ask him how his day was and how he was enjoying his stay in Epcot and England.

It was really funny and very surprising. Rosie, who had just woken up from a nap, wasn't too sure about it though.

Here's a picture of me and Rosie in Germany. I really liked Germany. It was very cute an had a wonderful Christmas Shoppe that I spent a lot of time in. They also had a beer garden and a mechanical clock that Rosie and I enjoyed watching.

We spent more time than we needed to in China. But it was kind of fun hearing Chinese and looking at all the things for sale that we saw so often in China.  I think we spent too much time here but it was kind of like visiting home.

The country we spent the most time in was France. They had great chocolate and wine and really nice shops. We also had dinner there. Not only did all the staff speak French but the "chef" rat from the movie Ratatouille came to our table too. That was pretty funny.

The dinner at Les Chefs de France was incredible. The real chef came to our table and talked to us about our Gluten Free options and then made us a wonderful Duck breast dinner.  

 The atmosphere and friendliness at Tony's, on our first night in the Magic Kingdom, was by far nice than Chefs de France, but the dinner in France was was amazing. They also had the best Creme Brulee that I've ever had in my whole life. And I've had a lot of Creme Brulee in my life, since it's one of the only Gluten Free desserts.

Epcot was very fun and there was a lot to see. There were entire countries we never even made it too and we missed most of the rides. I could spend a lot more time there. I think next time I'll ride the rides first and then go visit the countries. And next time I'll eat a lot more in each country.

(Across the lake from England looking at the US pavilion at dusk)

The Magic Kingdom

I do not remember life without Disney.  I do not have a time when I can ever remembering NOT knowing what Disneyland was and that I loved it. My mom says I was 2 when I first went and I think ever since my first visit I carried the magic if Disneyland in my heart always.

Growing up in California we were lucky to always be driving distance from Disneyland.

As kids Disneyland was the ultimate vacation. We always had fun with our parents. We were always going to interesting places and learning about fun things. But always looked forward and enjoy Disneyland the best.

Even in High School Disneyland was my favorite place to visit. And it still is even to this day.

When William and I started dating one of the first things I did was buy us a Disneyland pass.  We went every weekend and sometimes we'd even meet there after work just to walk around, have a hot chocolate and sit and talk. It was truly a wonderful and magical way to start our relationship and marriage.

Our first time at Disneyland as a couple

When I was a kid I heard that there was another Disneyland. Something called Disney World in a place called Florida. I looked it up so I knew where Florida was. I knew it was far away but I was told that Disney World was even bigger and better than Disneyland.  It was always one of my childhood dreams to someday visit Disney World.

Well, you know what they say, When you wish upon a star dreams do come true, and last night my dream came true.

Last night was the first night of the Halloween Season at Disney World and it was the first night of their after hours Halloween party.  Guests not only get to stay in the park till midnight, but they are also encouraged to dress up in Halloween costumes!

Tinkerbell and Peter Pan check things out

We started our evening out with dinner at Tony's Italian Restaurant. It's the same restaurant that Lady and the Tramp ate at on their first date.  This was the most amazing meal we (my mom and I) have ever had in a restaurant because it was all Gluten Free! The chef came to our table and talked to us about what he could make us and then brought it to our table. We even got Gluten Free dinner rolls! hot ones!

Of course since we were at Tony's Rosie and I got Spaghetti and meatballs. It's Rosie's very favorite food... after chocolate.

 Then it was out to the Magic Kingdom to have a magical time!

Disney knows how to do holidays! 

All the decorations were changed for the season along with the music and the lights.

I never would have imagined that Disney could ever be improved on, but Disney with costumes is spectacular.

So many people were dressed up, and not just kids. A lot of adults were there in really great costumes. Even adults with out any kids with them were enjoying the festivities and the tick-or-treating.

I was very impressed with everyone's costumes, but I was especially gleeful about meeting these two. Captain Picard and Captain Janeway from Star Trek!

Since it was a Halloween party we dressed up as the Peter Pan movie. We were Peter Pan, Wendy, Tinkerbell and Nana... the nurse maid dog. I always thought it was unfair in the movie that Nana didn't get to go to Neverland with the kids... So last night we took her.

Rosie LOVED all the flashing lights and wonderful costumes. She especially loved pointing out all the Mickeys she saw... she was pointing and saying "Mickey" all night long.  Nana got her this flashing balloon (that is still floating the next morning by the way) and she loved playing with it and dancing with it.

Rosie also loved the parade very much. We managed to get front row seats on the ground and she danced and clapped the whole parade. Except when the zombies came dancing by. She wasn't sure about them. I don't blame her... zombies creep me out too.

Here's a great picture of my mom as Nana. She was by far the best costume in the park. It was so much fun having people recognize her and seeing their reaction when they realized who she was.  A number of Disney employees said that she was the first Nana they had seen and that she made their night.

Since we were the Peter Pan group we decided we needed to visit the Fairy Forest

We were in the park from 7pm to midnight. We got back to our room about 1am. It was a wonderful wonderful night of magic and holiday fun but it wasn't long enough.  I think we are going to have to go back again tomorrow and see the park in the day time.

Rosie did so well the whole night. She smiled and laughed and stayed awake and in a good mood all night long. In fact, at 2am she was running around our room squealing and laughing.  I'm so happy she enjoyed it as much as I did.  It's so important to me that she grows up knowing Disney and having the Magic of the Magic Kingdom in her heart.  

This trip is supposed to be her birthday trip. It's about a month early for her 2 year birthday.  I don't know if she'll have specific memories of this trip or not, but I know she will never know a time Disney Magic wasn't in her life... and that's important ... to me.

Dickson County Fair

 On Saturday we went to the local Fair.  My mom read that they were going to be showing meat goats and since that's technically what we raise she wanted to go check them out.

This was our first local fair so we weren't sure what to expect. We were very pleasantly surprised. There was a bird barn with chickens that Rosie really loved. She also really liked the ducks and turkeys.

I enjoyed the 4H barn where kids had entered their canning, and arts and crafts, science projects, and collects, which are always my favorite. I love seeing what people collect and how they choose to display them.

We also enjoyed the produce barn where I saw green tabaco for the first time and a water  melon that was 110 pounds!

 After enjoyed the birds and produce we made our way to the goat barn. Other days of the week they had other animals but today was the goat judging.

The first group that showed their goats was the 5 and under age group. These kids were so cute marching their goats around the coral and they all had such cute goats. Everyone in this group was a winner.

 Here's a picture of the high school group for show goats. The girl in the red shirt in the bottom right corner of the picture won first place. This group was really hard to judge and it took a really long time for them to pick a winner. All the goats were really good looking and the kids did a great job with them.

Rosie also enjoyed watching all the people on the crazy carnival rides and games. Of course she wanted to do the fishing game. That was her favorite game back in July at the Irish Picnic too.

 I think she could have stayed there and fished all day.

 She won a purple bouncy ball.

 Then we found the ponies. Rosie was very happy just watching them walk around in a circle. We asked her if she wanted to ride one but she kept saying no. Then all of a sudden she decided she really wanted to ride one.

 She was SO happy to be riding the "horsey"

 She smiled and giggled the whole time.

 She was so cute that every one was taking pictures of her and the pony lady gave her an extra long ride.

All in all it was a great day. We were all very impressed with the fair and came home with smiles on our faces and a very tired baby girl.

The end of a hard day

At the end of a long hard day both Nana and Rosie enjoy playing video games.  Sometimes Rosie even asks for specific games. Her favorite is Little Big Planet. She calls it "Babbit."

By Special Request

We are LOVE the cooler Fall weather.

Sometimes we just like to be silly outside.

On this day she is 22 months and 4 weeks old. She weighs 24.6 pounds and she's 34 inches tall. I can't believe how big my little baby is. When did she get so big? She was such a little baby just last month.

A day in Nashville

 Last week we had to go to the airport to pick up my mom. We decided to take advantage of the drive to Nashville, so we stopped at two of our favorite place.

First we went to the zoo to see the monkeys and to have a picnic lunch. Rosie loves to sit and watch the monkeys. She also loves eating outside.

 Then we went to Trader Joe's. Our very favorite store.  It was the first time that Rosie got to push her very own cart.  She looked so adorable walking through the store shopping with her Nana.

She look very carefully at the milk and other things she thought we needed. She was definitely the cutest shopper in the whole store. 

I can't believe how big my baby girl is getting. She's growing up so fast.