Christmas - Done Differently

[KatMark]

Sorry I was behind....the holidays and going away this weekend has me all behind again. Love the MK updates.

Happy New Year!

[kaoden39]

What a great day! Minus the fight of course. I don't understand how people can be like that. I try to look at life as a great adventure that shouldn't be spoiled by petty behavior. I love the picture of Santa walking Anakin to the visiting area.

[lovethattink]

Originally Posted by KatMark

Sorry I was behind....the holidays and going away this weekend has me all behind again. Love the MK updates.

Happy New Year!

No worries. Thanks!

The holidays have come and nearly gone too fast. Anakin is sick, coughing up a storm. I had hoped to see some more decorations. We did get to Epcot and the Yacht and Beach Club on Christmas Eve. Will be posting that next.

Originally Posted by kaoden39

What a great day! Minus the fight of course. I don't understand how people can be like that. I try to look at life as a great adventure that shouldn't be spoiled by petty behavior. I love the picture of Santa walking Anakin to the visiting area.

It really was a nice relaxing day. The fight was other peoples foolishness. Good outlook. Thanks, I love that picture too it's very tender.

[lovethattink]

Christmas Eve Day

We started going to a different church. This church has a special needs ministry that is out of this world. Anakin is given a buddy or shadow who takes him to both Sunday School and Children's Church. If he is overstimulated the buddy takes him to the special needs room (which is actually giant and has 4 rooms and a bathroom in it) so he can take a break. This is great because no longer are kids touching him or his head phones or asking questions he doesn't feel like answering about them. The buddy will field the questions and explain. The buddy is usually a college student majoring in education or psychology. They are all CPR certified. The buddy will also assist with any reading or writing help that is needed, and make sure he doesn't get lost or leave the building while finding his classes.

So what does this have to do with the TR? It was Christmas Eve and traditionally we go to church on Christmas Eve. This new church has a midnight service, so we had the whole day at our disposal and Epcot was where we decided to go!

It’s been a long standing joke in the family that when someone asked where did we park, Goofy will answer, “Create 48.” My mom would always fall for it and write it down. Guess what? This time we really did park in Create 48!

Our only plan was to see some of the storytellers we missed. But as we were walking by the fountain we saw the singers getting ready to go on the stage so we decided to stop and see the show. It was a high energy gospel choir called Joyful Noise.





From here we headed to the right in World Showcase since we went left the last time. France was the next storyteller, so that was our goal. We passed by the popcorn cart and this time I got a better picture of the Perry stuff.



Off Kilter was performing as we walked by there.



We got to France early and hung out watching the Agent P game others were playing. We all decided we were hungry and it was getting close to supper time. At the same time we all said Beaches & Cream. We hadn’t eaten here since last year during SWW.


Much to our surprise we were seated right away and the restaurant was mostly empty!



Anakin loves these



The menu had changed since our last time there. The server said it changed a couple months ago.









We no sooner sat down and the lights started spinning on the ceiling. Someone had ordered the kitchen sink.



I really like tomato bisque, so I was trying to decide between getting dessert and then just ordering tomato bisque. It was $5.99 for just the soup, or $8.99 for the grilled cheese and tomato bisque. Our server said this grilled cheese was really good and was different from a traditional grilled cheese. I went with her recommendation and got the grilled cheese and tomato bisque. While it’s not on the menu, Anakin ordered a kid’s grilled cheese meal. His was a traditional grilled cheese on white bread with yellow cheese, not the 6-blend grilled cheese I got on sour dough bread. Goofy ordered a burger. They say you are what you eat, so he must be a burger.

He has been slowly losing weight, just over 20 pounds since last year’s SWW. I am doing Weight Watchers online and I showed him one of the very cool tools where you build your own meal and see how many points it would cost you. He couldn’t believe how everything he loves, the cheeses, the sauces, quickly add up the points. So he’s been getting burgers with ketchup and mustard, lettuce and tomato and letting the buns sit. He loves burgers and this is a way to keep the points at a good level. Let’s just say I blew it with my sandwich. I also got dessert, so I ended up borrowing from my extra weekly points. But not just one dessert, I got a Frozen Sunshine to drink too.







While we were eating, the place quickly filled up with people. We were in a booth.



The people next to us were a large party who were celebrating a birthday. They filled up the counter space plus two tables. They ordered not one, but two kitchen sinks. I had never seen anything like this. They all got out of their seats and flocked to the counter to watch their desserts being made.
When the server brought them out, they ran back to their seats.



After watching all these Kitchen Sinks being brought out, Anakin wanted to get one too. That wasn’t happening, so he settled for the ice cream that came with his kid’s meal.



Dh and I decided to try a new menu item. We got the Grilled Banana Bread, it came with peanut butter sauce between the slices and vanilla ice cream topped with caramelized bananas, chocolate syrup, nuts and whipped cream.





The ice cream and caramelized bananas were amazing. The grilled banana bread was not so amazing. It was mediocre at best. Goofy and I shared this. We ate all the ice cream, but there was still banana bread left.

We have a tradition in our family. Every Christmas season we go to the Yacht Club and get a picture of our children at the train display and the tree. This time it was not children, it was just child. Grumpy was home sick. He spent his afternoon sleeping. Traditionally I would use these pictures for our Christmas cards and we’d take the pictures Thanksgiving weekend. It was kind of emotional for me to take them of just one child. Anakin picked up on it and he acted out a little. He missed his brother too. (I’ll post those pictures at the end.) He talked about how they’d take pictures here at the train and there. And they’d stop at the giant wreath and Big Brother would act like he was holding up the wreath.











I've got too many pictures, the silly pictures will have to go in the next post.

[lovethattink]

Now the silly pictures









And have to get some Star Wars in here…

[Disney9.9.10]

Wow that picture of an empty B&C is probably the first I've seen like that Everything looks delicious, I really need to eat there sometime! I love the pictures of your son in front of the Christmas tree! So cute

[lovethattink]

Originally Posted by Disney9.9.10

Wow that picture of an empty B&C is probably the first I've seen like that Everything looks delicious, I really need to eat there sometime! I love the pictures of your son in front of the Christmas tree! So cute

I don't think I have ever seen B&C empty. Usually we have to wait a long time to be seated. It was great to be seated immediately.

The food was very good. Yes, you definately should try to squeeze it into your plans.

Thanks!

[WDWRids]

The buddy system at your new church sounds amazing! What a great experience for Anakin!

Epcot on Christmas Eve sounds amazing. The group from Joyful Noise was really having a great time. I bet they were entertaining. Beaches and Cream is now on my "must eat at" list. The food looks fabulous and love the atmosphere! How are you doing with WW? I'm debatting joining but need to do something.

Anakin was a ham in those Yacht Club photos......love his infectious smile.

[lovethattink]

Originally Posted by WDWRids

The buddy system at your new church sounds amazing! What a great experience for Anakin!

Epcot on Christmas Eve sounds amazing. The group from Joyful Noise was really having a great time. I bet they were entertaining. Beaches and Cream is now on my "must eat at" list. The food looks fabulous and love the atmosphere! How are you doing with WW? I'm debatting joining but need to do something.

Anakin was a ham in those Yacht Club photos......love his infectious smile.

I'm still doing Tuesday morning Bible study at the old church and Grumpy goes to the old one by himself on Sundays before work. Dh doesn't want to transfer memberships and I'm almost afraid to form relationships at this new one. It's 100% better for Anakin and he never wants to leave once he gets there.

I'm sure you'll enjoy Beaches & Cream. Just keep in mind it's usually not this empty, and there is typically a wait. They give you a pager usually.

I'm doing OK with weight watchers. I've gone from a size 14 to a 10. I love all the online tools. There really is no excuse for me not tracking points all the time. There is an app for the phone too.

He is a total goof ball sometimes. Yesterday was not a good day for him and a totally different side of him was unleashed. I'm so thankful those days are few and far between. Mostly he is happy and silly.

[mommy2mrb]

we need to plan on having lunch at B & C with you guys! haven't been since 2008 and the menu is making me HUNGRY!

love the photos of Anakin, he looks very handsome in his sweater sorry Grumpy wasn't there with you all.

your new church sounds wonderful! how great Anakin has a special buddy to help him through the day

[KatMark]

The new church sounds great.

LOVE Beaches & Cream and I am definitely getting that grilled cheese sandwich next time!

Love all the pictures...but especially the silly ones.

[lovethattink]

Originally Posted by mommy2mrb

we need to plan on having lunch at B & C with you guys! haven't been since 2008 and the menu is making me HUNGRY!

love the photos of Anakin, he looks very handsome in his sweater sorry Grumpy wasn't there with you all.

your new church sounds wonderful! how great Anakin has a special buddy to help him through the day

I'd love to eat there with you and Megan.

I'm getting use to Grumpy not being there. I'm glad he commutes from home for school though.

Originally Posted by KatMark

The new church sounds great.

LOVE Beaches & Cream and I am definitely getting that grilled cheese sandwich next time!

Love all the pictures...but especially the silly ones.

He really loves the new church. It's growing on me.

That grilled cheese is calling me again!

Thanks.

[mommy2mrb]

Originally Posted by lovethattink

I'd love to eat there with you and Megan.

I'm getting use to Grumpy not being there. I'm glad he commutes from home for school though.



He really loves the new church. It's growing on me.

That grilled cheese is calling me again!

Thanks.

its a date

[lovethattink]

Originally Posted by mommy2mrb

its a date

Sounds good.

[lovethattink]

Next stop was back to the Beach Club to look at the Gingerbread display. I collect carousel horses so this display is right up my alley.

Do you remember this trash can at the Contemporary?



It is so plain in comparison to the trash cans at the Yacht and Beach Club.





Didn’t see anyone swimming this day.






And there was still some refurbishment going on near the pool. I thought this sign was pretty.



And this window display



As we turned the corner after the Cape May Café, there was Santa all by himself! Anakin went right up to him.

This picture is motivation to stick to the Weight Watchers. Can’t stand how I’ve let myself go. I promise that I will not look like this come SWW in May.

[CENTER]

The gingerbread display





Doesn’t this look familiar? Remember it from the F&W Festival?





From the F&W Festival





Back to the Christmas display

















Continued....