Our Eventful Florida trip Part 6

I'm finally to the end of the Florida trip.  As I mentioned earlier, we decided to end our Disney day at Epcot.  The question of the evening was what does Epcot stand for.  The answer: Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.  The following is a quote from Wikipedia.

"Disney's original vision of EPCOT was for a model community, home to twenty thousand residents, which would be a test bed for city planning and organization. Disney's vision was not realized as funding and permission to start work on his Florida property would not be granted until he agreed to build the Magic Kingdom first. Disney died before the Magic Kingdom opened and the Walt Disney Company decided that it did not want to be in the business of running a city."

Once at EPCOT we took Noelle's picture with the Spaceship Earth in the background.





Then it was off to find the Sunshine Season Food Fair. There we found good food at a reasonable price. After we ate we rode the Living with the Land ride.

Dh wanted Amy to experience the Spaceship Earth ride. From Epcot's website:

"Spaceship Earth Attraction is a 16-minute omnimover ride through time and space for Guests of all ages that features approximately 20 elaborately detailed, Audio-Animatronic show scenes that depict the stirring story of human connection and collaboration over 40,000 years—from the dawn of recorded time to the 21st century's internet age."

We got a dose of evolutionary theory on this ride, but overall it was interesting.

Before staking out our spot for the fireworks we went to the Canada Pavillion to watch the 360 degree film "Oh, Canada" narrated by Martin Short. The scenery was beautiful. Everyone stands for this short film. Fortunately, they have railings to hold on to. The 360 degrees reminded me of our helicopter ride in Hawaii, so when I was starting to get dizzy I just told myself that it was like being in a helicopter.

I'm not sure what time everyone started to find their spots for the fireworks, but it was probably over an hour before they started. We found our place then Amy and I went exploring for a bit. My toes were hurting by this time (I had blisters on the fourth toe of each foot) and as much as I wanted to keep going I had to stop.

Illuminations is the name of the fireworks show. Our pictures we're great because there were tall people in front of us as well as a tree and it was dark, but Amy managed to get a few good ones.







After the show was over we and the multitudes made our way to the monorail to get back to the Transportation and Ticket Center to take a tram to our car. We were all tired and I could hardly walk because of my toes, but we were happy.

Despite the trip being "eventful" it was a good time with friends and a good time together as a family.

Our Eventful Florida trip Part 5

Magic Kingdom was tastefully decorated for fall and Halloween.


Walt and Mickey




Part of the Swiss Family Treehouse.


I was really looking forward to the Winnie the Pooh ride, but in the end I have to say it was disappointing.  It went by way to fast and there really wasn't much to it.  In fact, I felt that way about most of the track rides.  They mostly just go through displays of different things like the story of Snow White.  Now before you think I'm complaining, I'm not.  I had a great time!  My expectations were just higher, I think.

My favorites were:  Monster's Inc. Laugh Floor; Mickey's PhilharMagic and Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin.  The last one was like a huge video game ride.

Late in the afternoon we headed over to Epcot.  Our FREE tickets were park hopper tickets, so we took advantage of that.   

Our Eventful Florida trip Part 4

As I mentioned in the last post about our trip, Amy and I drove to Orlando on Thursday evening. We didn't have any trouble other than construction traffic that got a little crazy in downtown Orlando and that we drove to the wrong Courtyard Inn. I'm just glad the other one was only 5 minutes away.

After getting settled in the hotel (seeing my hubby for the first time in days was so nice) we discussed our plans for Disney. Our friends told us to try to get there for the opening at 9 a.m. So Friday morning we got ourselves up and all ready to go by about 8:15. We got parked then rode the tram to the Transportation and Ticket Center where we boarded the monorail for Magic Kingdom. My friend was able to get us three FREE tickets from her friend who works for Disney!!! That was wonderful! We were standing in line to get in while the opening started. The steam train brought a host of Disney characters to welcome visitors with song and dance. Our view wasn't great, but we did get to be a part of the opening.

Pampered Chef fundraiser

The following is copied here from my friend's blog. If you're interested in ordering any Pampered Chef items to help with their adoption costs follow the directions listed below.

PAMPERED CHEF FUNDRAISER FOR KATYA

Are you needing some high quality kitchen items for yourself? Need to do some early Christmas shopping from the comfort of your home?! Want to be able to help Katya come home to her family in a timely manner? If so, read on!

Shelley O., a homeschool mom who is a friend of ours, is helping us to hold a Pampered Chef fundraiser for Katya for adoption expenses. We will be collecting all orders no later than Monday November 29, 2010. We will receive any where from 17-20% profit. We will also receive $3.00 for each catalog or cooking show booked during this time.

If you would like to order something, please go to www.pamperedchef.com , click on SHOP ONLINE (blue button at top), then check out different products on the left. Click on items of interest--write down the item number and price. DO NOT ADD TO SHOPPING BAG. We will not get credit for it if you order online this way! You need to send Shelley an email at sore1213@yahoo.com with any questions you have, or to place an order!!

#1. Please put "Katya" in the subject area of your email.

#2. In the body of the email, put the item(s) you want, along with the method of payment you desire to use, and a phone number where you can be reached. For safety, do NOT put credit card info in the email! You can give your credit card info to Shelley when she calls you to take your order.

#3. If you are ordering from out of town, click on "shipping charges" so you will know how much to pay based on how much you want to purchase. If you are local, orders are $4.50 shipping.

#4. To figure out your order total: A. Add up the product amount. B. Multiply product times 7%. C. Add on any Pantry items. D. If local, add $4.50 for shipping. Out of town, see shipping charge or ask Shelley.

Shelley has kindly offered some incentives: November Guest Special--Any customer spending $60.00 or more on products receives the adjustable measuring spoons FREE AND they can order the cookie press for $23.60 (usual price is $29.50)

Also Shelley will give each customer spending $30.00 or more a FREE nylon pan scraper OR a FREE "Season's Best Fall/Winter Recipe Collection".

Remember, PLEASE send an email to Shelley with your items that you are interested in purchasing! Do NOT order through the Pampered Chef website directly or we will not receive any benefit for Katya.

And I'm asking . . . will you be so kind as to spread the word about this fundraiser on Facebook and your blogs?? We are looking at approximately $25,000 in costs that we need to have raised in full by about April or thereabouts, God willing. I know God knows where the money is coming from, and so I'm not stressed. I do know we need to be diligent though to be busy and about the business of doing what we can to raise the funds for this precious girlie to come home to her family. We are literally engaged in being rescuers here--and you can help rescue one of God's precious children. We don't want anyone to order who can't afford to, or if you don't need anything and can't think of one single person to bless with a gift.

Pray for Grace to Govern your Tongue

I get a daily devotional email from Mathew Henry's Method for Prayer. I really liked today's message, so I'm sharing it here. (Part 4 of our trip will continue soon.)

I must pray for grace to enable me both to govern my tongue well and to use it well.

Lord, enable me to guard my ways that I may not sin with my tongue, and to guard my mouth, as if with a muzzle, Psalm 39:1(NASB) that it may not be impulsive in thought to bring up a matter. Ecclesiastes 5:2(NASB)

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips, Psalm 141:3(NASB) that I may not stumble in what I say. James 3:2(NASB)

Let my speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, Colossians 4:6(NASB) and enable me always, out of the good treasure of my heart, to bring forth what is good. Matthew 12:35(KJV) Let my mouth utter wisdom, and my tongue speak justice; Psalm 37:30(NASB) and do not let Your words depart from my mouth, nor from the mouth of any of Your people, nor from the mouth of our offspring, nor our offspring’s offspring, from now and forever. Isaiah 59:21(NASB)

Enable me always to open my mouth in wisdom, and let the teaching of kindness be on my tongue. Proverbs 31:26(NASB) Give me to know what is acceptable, Proverbs 10:32(NASB) that my tongue may be as choice silver, and my lips may feed many. Proverbs 10:20-21(NASB)

Our Eventful Florida trip Part 3

I don't think we took any pictures on Thursday, at least I didn't.

I got up Thursday morning feeling great, ready to go. I ate breakfast and felt fine. C and I went to return the Bentonite to the health food store then we went to the fabric store across the street. Somewhere in that time frame I started to get dizzy again. Then I was nauseous again. Keeping in mind this is after returning the Bentonite. :( However, I have discovered that I can fabric shop while the store is spinning. ;-) I found some cute fabric that would have made a great doll coat, but found nothing I loved that went with it. By the time C was finished making her purchases I had put my fabric back and felt nasty.

Thankfully, the store was only a short distance back home. I spent the next couple hours or so in the bathroom. After I could keep a little water down I took a nap and woke up feeling better. C made a trip to the store and bought me some chicken broth and saltines (you are such a great friend!) which I ate and had no trouble with.

Amy & I were supposed to have gone back to Orlando that afternoon, but ended up leaving after supper instead. I felt fine the whole way there with no issues.

Our Eventful Florida trip Part 2

Wednesday morning I woke up feeling dizzy and nauseous, so I went back to sleep for a few hours. When I got up I felt fine. I ate lunch and then had a relaxing visit with my friend, C. Amy & C's children were all outside and eventually came in asking when we were going to the beach. I felt good enough, so we all got dressed in swimwear and went to the beach. The weather was perfect, not too hot, just right. The children buried each other in the sand, found shells, danced around in the ocean and had a great time. All the while C & I got to chat. Love that! :)