I am not a Disney person, maybe I'm not as fun or easy-going as I should be...maybe I'm just a total snob, but the scene there gives me complete hives.  I don't like crowds, I don't like rides, I am terrified of heights, I don't like Disney characters in general, and people who wear disney apparel as grown-ups?  Really? 

Anyway, my mother and brother convinced me to bring the kids to Disney, stating that I was the 'meanest mom ever' if I didn't give them that experience, so we went last weekend-- my brother, his three kids under the age of 9, my 2 boys (ages 9 and 6), and my parents.  Oy, what a trip.  I didn't love it, for most things I barely gritted my teeth and got through, but the smiles of the kids, the giggles between cousins, and the fun of watching them in this ridiculous setting lessened the blow.

Now, I must state that my kids don't particularly like rides, Disney characters, or crowds either, so it was a bit absurd -- we had tears of fear on rides, complaints about lines, and more -- enough to drive me a little batty, but here are the things we LIKED.

In the Animal Kingdom --

The safari trip is wonderful.  It is so bizarre, but they really take you in a safari type vehicle and bump you through a road where you view elephants, birds, crocodiles, rhinos, lions, wharthogs, and more.  Very cool. 

The Lion King Show.  A great, not too long, performance to get a taste of the Broadway show -- the acrobats were amazing, the music was great, and the costumes were fantastic.  Fun all around.

Tree of Life.  A fully sculpted "tree" depicting all manner of animals from around the world.  Beautifully carved and detailed.  Fun to just wander around and pick out the different animal types.

Kali River Rapids ride.  A very fun, VERY wet ride down a 'river' rapids.  If you like rides, you'll love it, but it's definitely not a calm ride.

Magic Kingdom --

Swiss Family Robinson Tree House.  An beautifully crafted tree house that winds you way up in a tree and around.  Very cool to see the rooms and the different levels.

Hall of Presidents Show.  If you're a history buff, you'll love this.  An interactive movie with moving figures of the presidents takes you through time and history.  Enough interest to hold the attention of the kids.  A great breather during the day if you need to sit, enjoy a little air conditioning and a break from lines.

Pirates of the Caribbean.  A great ride on a boat, with fascinating effects.  It is dark though and there is one part where the boat drops down a slight incline that scared my smaller one.  There are also pirates and crazy singing and scenes and loud noises in case someone worries easily... 

Restaurants:

T-Rex!  A must do -- reservations are necessary because it's completely nuts, but the setting is great.  Meteor showers light up the 'sky', the walls change colors in an ice cave room, and there are giant jelly fish, octopus, and dinosaurs hanging everywhere.  So fun.

Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue.  Now, I'll admit that you may get there and want to run away when you first see what you're in for.  Lots of people, not fancy food, but the kids were HOWLING and so were we.  If you can get your head around the down home fun, you'll have a great night.

All for now.  Comments welcome. 

I am not a good housekeeper. My husband is the neat one in our home, and as such, I feel it falls to him to keep the house in the manner he prefers-- I don't mind a little mess, but if he does...well, he can clean, I don't mind. 

He says worries that if something were to ever happen to him, the children would be removed by child services because I would just let the house rot and become over-run with papers and the sundry bits that I tend to leave lying about...which he now picks up and "hides" from me by putting them "away", but that's a story for another day.  I'll admit that the house would certainly not be tidy, but doubt it would get that bad...with the insurance money, I'd certainly get someone to fill in for him.

Anyway, a friend shared an email with me today, and I won't bore you with the full forwarded email...but the best line, I have to share because I just loved it...

"Remember...a  layer of dust protects the wood beneath it.  And a house truly becomes a home when you can write 'I love you' on the furniture." -- Forget the dusting for the day and get out and enjoy doing something meaningful!

My children and I are not morning people...during the week anyway.  They seem pretty happy to be awake and waking me in the morning on the weekends, but the morning growl has started in full force in our home as the kids have grown.  They dread getting dressed, having breakfast, and getting ready for school.  I spend most of my first hours of the day herding them about the house like uncooperative cattle.  I hate it, they hate it.  My husband on the other hand is the most annoyingly chipper person in the morning and we all just bark at him while he happily makes comments and goes about preparing for the day.  Who lives like that?!  Grrrrr.