Tag Archives: Mimi

Family, Photo-A-Day, Travel

Expert Traveler Kids


Photo-A-Day #2988

Less than twelve hours after graduation Allison, Eva, Andrew and I were on a plane headed down to visit Mimi and Dano for a vacation. As a family we have really hit our stride on air travel preparedness. We wee all up and out of the house by 5:15am and at our gate by 6:30am. The kids slept in their travel clothes, something light for sleeping but substantial enough to wear on the plane. I dropped everyone at the outdoor check in area with the bags and then parked the car. It took me a couple of minutes to get into the terminal. Allison and the kids were already inside and ready to roll. We flew through security so quickly that the TSA looked at us and said that we were really organized.

The flight wasn’t too bad. Andrew and Eva were pretty good on the flight. Andrew had a little meltdown towards the end and so did Eva. I think it was mostly the being over tired plus the ear pressure thing. Some time with the iPad and with some crayons and coloring pages helped them out.

We arrived at Mimi and Dano’s. We stopped at Sonic first for our lunch and then some playtime and off to the pool. Both of the kids were little fish in the pool. Andrew spent most of the time climbing in and out of the pool. Eva did a lot of jumping and playing with the noodles. Then Dano came home and made us some barbecue chicken. We had a nice meal and then time for the kids to bed down for the night. Time to get some sleep.

Photo-A-Day

Lion Country Safari Time


Photo-A-Day #2575

Today Allison, Eva, Andrew, Mimi and I went to Lion Country Safari. This is a drive through safari that Allison and Eva went to on a previous visit. When they went the last time there were torrential rains once they got into the park portion of the safari. This trip however we had a nice warm day which was perfect for Eva to play on the Splashpad. Continue reading Lion Country Safari Time →

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Marcia and the Minis

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Photo-A-Day #2371

Today Grandpa Dano and Mimi headed back home. We went over to Morin’s Diner for breakfast. Allison and I split some pumpkin pancakes and they were amazing! This was probably something that I wouldn’t have ordered for myself but I certainly would again. Allison said that it is good that I am enjoying pumpkins so much because she’s found a bunch of great pumpkin recipes. I say bring it on. Continue reading Marcia and the Minis →

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Eva’s Got Some New Wheels


Photo-A-Day #2370

I received a PlasmaCar from PlaSmart Toys to do a review and today I put it together. When Eva came home from school I had it out on the patio. She was very excited about playing with it. She went and hopped on it and was moving right along. I think we found the right kid powered vehicle for her age. Continue reading Eva’s Got Some New Wheels →

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Eva’s Birthday Week has Begun

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Photo-A-Day #2369

Today when I came home from work Allison’s parents were at the house. They are staying with us for a few days as they are up from Florida for a mini vacation to visit with the family. They arrived last night after I had left for work and Eva was so excited to have them come and stay with us. So when I got home we had a small party with Halloween themed chocolate donuts with orange sprinkles on them. Then I got some rest before more family members arrived for lunch. Today would be a day full of visits, good food and laughter. Continue reading Eva’s Birthday Week has Begun →

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Eva’s Playing House

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Photo-A-Day #2077

Tonight we celebrated Christmas a little early and online. Allison’s parents are down in Florida and they sent up Eva’s Christmas gift, a Fisher Price Loving Family Grand Dollhouse Super Set (Aff Link). Allison put the house together this morning and wrapped it tonight. We got pizza for dinner and watched How The Grinch Stole Christmas. After that we fired up Skype and got online with Allison’s parents. Continue reading Eva’s Playing House →

Disney, Photo-A-Day, Travel

A Perfectly Princess Day at Epcot

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Perfectly Princess Day
Photo-A-Day #1997

Today Allison, Eva and I went to Epcot with Mimi and Grandpa Dano. We met up with Auntie Mo and the six of us went to Akershus in Norway for a Princess Breakfast. This was a great character breakfast because Eva got to meet five princesses and we got not only one but two sets of photos from our visit. No other breakfast that we went to had that option. Each of the other ones made you pay for the photo. The food however was not the best and there was very little in the way of selection. But we weren’t really there to have a gourmet meal, we were there because the princesses were there.

After our breakfast we stopped by the Character spot and got Eva signatures from Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Donald and Goofy (the big 5) and from there went to my favorite attraction, Journey into Imagination. I liked the old one better but this new one with Eric Idle isn’t bad. We introduced Eva to Figment. I don’t think she was that impressed. I started my new collection with my first Disney Racer, the Figment car. Auntie Mo got Eva a pin and then we headed over to The Land for the Circle of Life movie and the Boat ride and also to get Soaring Fast Passes.

We finished up at the Land and had an hour before our Soaring FastPasses were any good so we went over to the Seas (used to be called the Living Seas) and did the Nemo ride and also turtle Talk with Crush, that was cute. Mimi and Grandpa Dano stayed with Eva while Allison, Mo and I went back to The Land for Soaring. I don’t know about you but I can’t enjoy that ride if I am on the bottom or second tier because I just see people’s feet and it takes me right out of the movie.

After Soaring we caught back up with Mimi and Grandpa Dano, went over to Innoventions and played a game with Eva then did some gift shopping, had a snack and said goodbye to Mimi and Grandpa Dano. Then Allison, Eva, Mo and I went on Spaceship Earth. After that ride we said goodbye to Auntie Mo, too. Eva fell asleep.

It was back down to Allison, Eva and I so we ventured around the World Showcase. We met Princess Aurora (3rd time) and Mary Poppins and Marie from the Aristocats. We had dinner at the quick service Mexican restaurant and then did the ride in Mexico and headed for our hotel.

Disney, Photo-A-Day, Travel

Talking with the Animals at Tusker House

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Tusket House
Photo-A-Day #1996

Today Allison, Eva and I went to Disney’s Animal Kingdom. We were joined by Mimi and Grandpa Dano as well as with Auntie Mo. We drove over this morning and went right to the Safari Ride. We were able to see many of the Giraffes and other animals because it was very early in the morning and they had just eaten. I was able to get a few decent photos but those jeeps bounce all over the place and my DSLR is just not fast enough. I was also on the wrong side for best viewing, I seem to always do that.

After our safari ride I checked us in to the Tusker House for a Character Breakfast. We were lucky and they accommodated Mimi and Grandpa Dano too so we could all eat there. The host of this breakfast was Donald Duck and he brought along Goofy, Daisy and Mickey Mouse. Eva was excited to see Mickey again. I think she is most excited to see Mickey out of all the characters including the Princesses.

We caught up with Auntie Mo after breakfast and then went to see the Lion King show as well as the Little Nemo one. Eva feel asleep during Nemo. Before that however, we went on the flying Triceratops. Eva also got her photo taken with Goofy and Pluto. Allison, Mo and I went to see It’s Tough to be a Bug and then watched the parade as a family. We made one more loop around the park and then headed for the hotel.

Animal Kingdom Park closes early and that made it perfect for us to go back and relax at the pool. After we had done all the swimming that we wanted to do we had some dinner. Using the Disney Dining plan we were able to get two pizzas and desserts as well as drinks for everyone. We sat out by the pool and talked and had fun, it was very relaxing. Eva was going to go back with Mimi and Grandpa Dano tonight but I guess she missed us because she decided to stay at our hotel.

Disney, Photo-A-Day

Meeting up with Mimi and Mickey

Meeting up with Mimi and Mickey
Photo-A-Day #1995

Today Allison, Eva and I were joined by Mimi and Grandpa Dano. We went over to the Magic Kingdom for a second day because it has the most stuff for Eva to play on. We took Eva to Goofy’s roller coaster again because she loved it so much the first time. She enjoyed it once again so that was fun to see. After the coasters we waited in a few lines for autographs, Mickey and also the Princesses. Eva was so cute and she went right up to every character without any fear. Her autograph book was filling up quickly.

We took a break from being in the park in the middle of the day and went over to the Whispering Canyons Cafe for lunch. Each of us ordered the All You Can Eat Skillet and we did a really good job of polishing off two of them as a group. That is one of my favorite meals at Disney.

After lunch a quick boat ride back to the park where we got more autographs, Eva rode the carousel with Grandpa Dano and we all saw Mickey’s Philharmagic. Then we got some snacks and Eva enjoyed the heck out of a Mickey Ice Cream Bar.

Mimi and Grandpa Dano got Eva a Jasmine outfit complete with shoes, crown and matching purse and gloves. They also took her back to their hotel for the night.