More Gingerbread Displays!

Much to my surprise I DID get to go and see some more Disney Gingerbread displays! Rick had plans to go to a glass blowing session so Adri and I hit the Disney hotels. We were a little disappointed that some of the hotels did not have gingerbread displays. They all did in past years. Our first stop was at Coronado Springs, it is the one with several small gingerbread houses. We thought them pretty cute. They had cereal roofs and were just over all cute.

Since this is only our second year viewing the gingerbread I don't know if they follow the same theme every year but the Contemporary once again had a Pinocchio theme. We did not think it was as elaborate as last year but it was still fine.

The Grand Floridian always has a Gingerbread shop in it (we bought a shingle last year and found it pretty gross!). It looked very similar to last years. This year the window frames had different Disney characters on them. I love the way they use the poinsettias all over!

This was our first time to see the Boardwalk. They had an open room with an odd Minnie and Mickey (we thought them odd looking at any rate). They had cute little chocolate squirrels that reminded me of Easter Bunnies and I thought they would be perfect as stocking stuffers. They did not have them for sale.

This last one is at EPCOT from when Adri and I went to the Candlelight Processional. We were definitely not wearing long pants today as it is in the 80's!

Chocolate Carousel

It doesn't look like I will be getting around to all the Disney Gingerbread displays but the chocolate carousel was my favorite last year and Rick and I did go to see the new one this year. We ate at the Yachtsman Steakhouse the other night. Mm m mm delicious! The Yacht and Beach Hotels are next door to each other so we walked over to the Beach to see the carousel. It did not disappoint! In the display they also had this castle. On one side it said Walt Disney World and on the other (shown) it said Where Dreams Come True. Looking at the chocolate carousel one can believe that any dream is possible!

Adri

Eric gave Adri the best Christmas present! They went to see Disney's Lion King last night. While she was waiting for him to arrive we took a few pics and of course before they left I had to take a picture. I took her in front of both trees. The tree with the wallpaper in the background is in the living room and the tree with the window is the one in the family room that you can see as you drive by. I think Adri looked beautiful! Its way too early in the morn to ask her how it was but I imagine it was fantastic. I asked her if she warned him that she knows ALL the songs. I am a tiny bit jealous and at the same time very happy that she got to go see it.
After they left we sat at the computer trying to locate tickets for ourselves. Ticketmaster has that frustrating system that you have to key in the letters/numbers that you see. I can't read them! Drives me bonkers!! I noticed Rick was really slamming the enter button after keying so I believe it was making him pretty mad too. We did not find seats that we would want. Bummer.

Candlelight Processional

Adri and I went to the Candlelight Processional at EPCOT. It is a beautiful service telling the Nativity story through narration and song. Neil Patrick Harris was the guest narrator, better known as Doogie Howser. He has a very nice speaking voice. Next year we decided we need to check the website early to see who we want to hear. Mario Lopez and Kirk Cameron were guest speakers already and we wouldn't have minded hearing either of them!
There is a huge line to get seats and we were stopped about 50 people from the front. We stood and worried that we were not going to get in for the 6:45 seating and Adri did not want to wait for the 8:00 one. After several minutes of wondering they opened the queue and we got seats. It was the second to the last row in the bowl. They also had some rows of folding chairs behind us. I took several photos but only a few turned out. The lighting was beautiful but not condusive for photos. I used my whopper lens. I noticed lots of people using their little digital cameras and wonder if they had any success.
The choir is mainly made up of students from nearby high schools. A few years back Michael endured hearing all that music because a certain girl was in it. He went more than once!
It is truly a beautiful experience.
Afterwards we went into the Liberty Inn to see if they had a gingerbread display. They did (we hadn't heard anything about them and weren't sure they were happening). I am hoping at some point in this season we can get to the hotels to see their displays. Disney really knows how to do Christmas!

Sunday Dinner

Sunday Little Dude and his dad came over for dinner. He got to meet Rick and was so cute standing there, shaking his hand and saying "nice to meet you". Then he announced to Rick that Adri was his sister. He had the biggest grin when he said that! His dad asked if he remembered who I was and he proudly said "the other mommy". We all had a good chuckle. Luanne is very hard for little kids to say! My mom says I called myself "fwan" and would get frustrated and stomp my little foot when people didn't understand.
We had chicken enchiladas (thanks Sarah for the recipe-delicious) and while eating Little Dude said "it's picey". I wish you could hear his cute little voice. I keep hearing him say that and it warms my heart. After dinner he helped Rick make cookies. He is a very good helper. Then they set up the train I rummaged through the attic to find. Later we drove through a couple of neighborhoods looking at the reawy reawy petty lights (and even those that Little Dude wasn't impressed with). He liked the very lit, over done ones the best!

Looks like fun

I happened outside at just the perfect time today. My neighbor and her daughter were out for a ride. The dogs usually notice them in the field riding the horses, this was the first time I have seen them in the buggy. I thought they looked so cute! It's not every neighborhood you get to see a horse and buggy!

The house

This year I finally bought a prelit tree for the front window. While we love the smell of a fresh one, I am just getting too old to do all those lights and Adri is after all allergic to the live tree! I love driving up and seeing it all lit up. Makes me feel Christmassy.

Little Dude

Last night I had a visitor. He was a Little Dude. An absolutely adorable and delightful little dude. He walked right in with a big grin and gave me a hug! He quickly found my Hess truck and motorcycles. He also felt it would be a good idea to hand out the presents from under the tree and open them. We tried to explain that we had to wait until Christmas. I don't think he got the point. He is after all only 3 1/2. Hey, what am I saying? I know ADULTS that don't get that the presents are to be left untouched under the tree until Christmas!
Can't wait until he visits again. Little Dudes are fun!

Street of Dreams pools

Here are 6 of the 8 pools. I thought I had taken a pic of all of them but I only see 7 and 1 is just not a good picture. They were all very nice and rather ornate. I love the way one of them looks like it flows into Lake Hyponex. It is impossible to tell in the pic but there is one that has a glass opening in it that you can see through to the deck below.
So far I have had a yard work week end. Edged the front, raked up 3 million leaves (10 million left on the trees!!grrrr wish they would hurry up and be done) mowed the back, trimmed around the trees. Rick got started late in the day putting lights up and I helped a little. I also rearranged the family room so that I am not using my dining room table for scrapping. We had a twin bed and a double futon in there that I removed and put up 2 tables. I really like the lighting in the dining room better but for now I am I am going to try and stay in the family room (at least until after Christmas). I also have all the Christmas wrapping supplies in there and out of my bedroom. Whew, now we can walk in my room!