Say cheers

So.

Did you know that if you take a 2 day mini-break, it feels just like a holiday?

As my birthday treat this year, M booked us into a Disney resort for the weekend. How blissful! Port Orleans Riverside was where we spent the weekend and it has all the ear-markings of a family tradition.

Friday night, we checked in and headed straight to Epcot for adventures with Nemo at ‘The Sea’, dinner in ‘Germany’ at the beer-hall and fireworks. And then a really late night family swim.

Saturday we hit up MGM, M and I tag-teamed a few rides (Tower of Terror and Rockin’ Roller Coaster). We tried Playhouse Disney.

V’s response? “No dis. NO DIS!” (‘No this’ in case you needed a translator).

In spite of this little set back, we proceeded swiftly to a delicious nap. So delicious, in fact, that when we all woke up it was time to head off to dinner. This might have been the best moment of this whole weekend.

I woke up with Little Man curled up in my arms, blissful sleeping face, melts my heart.

We still had time for a quick dip and a quick sangria and then off we went to ‘The Beach Club’ for an Tabiho-dai (My Japanese friends, how badly did I spell this?!). It was an All You Can Eat Seafood buffet and we had some serious crab, clam and mussel action. V sat so politely throughout the whole thing. Which was such a blessing

Post delicious seafood feast, we decided to hit up the Magic Kingdom. And we somehow made it there just in time for the Electric Light Parade.

V hated the Light parade, by the way. It was a shock to me too, especially since I was rather excited about it. Anyways, post-parade, we did a sneak cruise through the gift shop as a detour and ended up past the crowds and into Adventureland. Things were kind of closing down, slowing down and so we just walked up to the Magic Carpet Ride.

Oh my, we thought this would be the funnest. I don’t think I have ever been on this ride in my whole life.

And in case that wasn’t clear to us, it was illustrated by a man that screamed at us from the lineup that we were entering the wrong carpet.

M and I made a ‘what the?!’ face and looked at each other. 10 pm on a Saturday night and, well, you want to be fussy about a ride with no line and no  limit to seating? Apparently he did. Right up in our face. To the point where on e of the ride operators came over to see what the problem was.

My answer?

“Apparently it’s very important for them to sit here,” I said, “So why don’t you all go right ahead?” I am certainly not going to take shit from a cranky tourist in the middle of my nice mini-vacation. I am quite capable of having a nice holiday with my family and not being a total bastard to random strangers. We were, after all, in the ‘happiest place on earth’.

Which also turns  people into total assholes. Anyways, he had a big ol’ tough-guy pout and then said “Well FINE. It doesn’t matter to us where WE sit.’

Jesus H.

Didn’t matter to us either, but you didn’t really give us a chance to say anything. And you pissed me off by yelling at me the second the ride gate opened.

So screw you!

Ahhhh, feels good to get that off my chest. M kept side-eying me all night, you know I carry these things around with me. I was so tempted to give him the sharp side of my tongue. M can tell you, it can be pretty freakin’ sharp. I usually keep it locked up, but you get mouthy around my child? Watch it Mister. Just watch it.

Anyways… V had the most fun ever on that ride. Him and Daddy, squished in the back, both grinning like fools. V going “Wheeeeeee!” every time the carpet went up or down.

And pleasantly exhausted and full, we headed back to our room where V happily said “Mummy snuggles” and felt asleep on the bed.

So. Bavarian goodness. Seafood extravaganza. Midnight-ish pool dipping. Mickey ears (say cheers!). Tasty drinks and treats. The most delicious slumber ever. Two nights of it, actually.

Thanks honey, loveliest birthday prezzie ever

xoxo a.m.

Five

Five is the number that we celebrated yesterday.

Yup. That’s right. M and I hit the big 5. It kind of feels like a deep inhale and long and thorough exhale. One of those yogic ones where literally no breath is left in your body. A thorough oxygenation of your physical being. We are now ready for some heavy-duty relationship stuff. Maybe another baby. Maybe another dog?

It will be quite interesting to see what the next 5 years brings.

We always eat at some crazy fancy kind of restaurant for these sort of events. M always picks. He likes to surprise me too, so I never know where we are going. That makes it extra fun for both of us.

Last night?

Reservations at California Grill, on the 15th floor of the Contemporary Resort at DisneyWorld. And storm clouds were a’rollin’ in  as we were heading up and being seated. M had asked for a window seat and so there we were…noses pressed to the glass (me mostly) as we took in the gorgeous view of the Castle in the distance and the lights of Disney spread out all around. And those storm clouds. And then the rain. And the crazy Floridian lightning.

Dinner:

Spicy Kazan Roll . . . Crab, Shrimp, Bay Scallops, Tuna, and Fireball Sauce

Crispy Chicken with Leek and Manchego Fondue, Truffled Whipped Potatoes, Pinot Noir Chicken Glaze

Oak-fired Filet of Beef with Tillamook Cheddar Gratin, Broccolini, and Teriyaki Barbecue

One amazing cheese course, several unbelievably expensive glasses of wine and the most ridiculous dessert finished the night off.

Food coma are the best 2 words to describe what I fell into when we got home. Apparently there was a rip-roarer of a storm last night. However I was firmly under in the land of truffle scented potatoes, rich Merlot, cypress leaf wrapped cheese and medium rare filets. No wonder I didn’t wake up at all.

Mmmhmmmm, I sure do love these fancy dinners.

As we were heading to the elevator on our way back down from food bliss, I noticed a little something on my calf. A bright red band-aid, right next to my pretty shoes. It went quite nicely with my pretty dress, my borrowed handbag and my freshly shaved legs. The life of a fulltime working Mum is such that shaving my legs is relegated to the back corner of ‘things to do’.

And that is probably why I cut myself while I was shaving yesterday. It was like I was 12 years old all over again, t felt like it had been that long. And my legs agreed. It was a long shower.

I think the gorgeous diamond earrings from my husband of five years made up for that ridiculous band-aid though. Right?

As I am still recovering from my food coma, I’ll cut this short…

xoxo a.m.

StarWars

M and I ventured to DisneyWorld today with V…. always fun to do on the weekend, and since we get in for free there is really no reason not to go.

On our arrival I heard some familiar music. I couldn’t place it at first, but the closer we got to the enterance and then as we were walking through the bag-search area it struck me. Star Wars. Oh my….

It was StarWars weekend at Hollywood studios! How did I not know that they did this? I was sure that M would have mentioned it to me since I thought he was ‘Star Wars obsessed’. But, as he told me while we hustled through the crowds,  “I’m not really that into it anymore”. Bullsh*t is what I thought of that statement. Pretty much all men are in love with Star Wars. As they all love Westerns. And The Godfather. And if they protest that they don’t like either of those 3, they are lying!

Once we got through the main gates of MGM (or HollyWood Studios as it’s called now), there was a full-on StarWars parade in action. Storm Troopers all over the place. Chewbacca carrying C-3P0. Darth Vader. Etc.

I personally saw 4 children dressed up as Storm Troopers (and one who’s Mum didn’t do up the back of his costume and his tush was hanging out.) One grown man dressed as as Anakin. One dressed as Obi-Wan. One man pushing a baby stroller coming out of a gift shop dressed up in an orange pilot costume.

V wasn’t interested in anything at all. In fact, we took him to Muppets 3-D Adventure and with all that noise and us trying to fuss with 3-D glasses on his face (for fun) he fell fast asleep on Daddy. Fast asleep. M turned to me and said “He is totally going to sleep like this on the plane.” Oh god I hope so….

Home from the parks, V in bed early, post dinner, M and I are indulging in a ‘True Blood’ marathon. Pretty much the furthest thing away from StarWars that you could ever get. Dare I say that we like it more?

Blasphemy!

Sans bra

I think I might have seen a grey hair this past week. Maybe. Or it was my roots growing out….. Regardless, I am now in the process of making sure that it (or they) are never seen by anyone else. I’ll tell ya about it, but won’t let you see it.

Friday night and I am dying my hair. Good times. I am cheap and can’t be bothered to get it done in a salon, and so am doing it in my own salon (my bathroom). This way not only do I not have to wear a bra while I am doing it, but I can have a shower right after. And drink wine during…. perfect…

I am due for application 2 in 3 minutes.

*Pause*

And I am back. For 10 more minutes.

Tomorrow I am venturing to DisneyWorld with a girlfriend. It is a husband-free trip for both of us, 2 babies and one 5-year-old, 2 possible margaritas and, of course, one stop at the Canada pavilion. I have to go every time. I buy over-priced Caramilk bars and watch the 360 panoramic movie starring Martin Short and sing “Canada, My Canada”. Let’s consider it prep for re-visiting the country of my birth… which will take place next month, just after V’s 1st birthday.

It has been about 3 1/2 years since I have been home, my Canadian accent is completely gone, I slur my words, I have an American-sounding ‘a’, I say ‘y’all (and I did the other night and M didn’t even blink) and I haven’t had poutine in I don’t know how long. On the plus side, I have not developed a taste for sweet tea (thank god).

I miss my home sweet home and the thought of showing it to V is amazing. Can’t wait for him to meet his Grandparents and Great-Grandparents, see some proper Ocean and lawns with actual nice grass on them as opposed to the crap stuff we have here. See some trees that are not palm trees, gator-free lakes (bonus). West Coast Action for my boy. Hells ya.

Off to bed, need to get some sleep for that Disney action that I’ll be hittin’ tomorrow 😉

For the Canada pavillion click here

For the Canada, My Canada song, click here

To check out BC, click here