Pumpkin Craving and Power Tools!

Craving PumpkinDetail Pumpkin WorkIt was pumpkin craving time here at the Allen’s house.  Karen took it up a notch and pulled out the power tools.  She pulled out the Dremel.

There was a lot of fun to be had.

You can see more photos here.  The username and password are “friends” and “photos”.

Having Fun with Science at the Kids Trek

Making Water Molecules Models Katie Beth and I went to Kids Trek at the Madison County Public Library today.  Martha Williams puts on this free event, which is rich with science and discovery activities for children and adults like.  The focus is on the children, but adults can participate in all the activities.

Cheese RampWe started with making water molecule models out of sugar drops and marshmallows.  The models were fun, but the proton and neutron nucleus made out of marshmallows was very sticky.

We made a ramp out of cheese and discussed the affect a ramp has on a force.  Katie Beth may have enjoyed the cheese ramp more as a snack.

 

Walt Disney World Trip Day 8

The Boneyard and Tusk of Wooly MammothWe went to the Animal Kingdom again today.  We  finished Katie Beth’s adventure as  Wilderness Explorer.  She only lacked a couple of badges.

We went to Katie Beth’s favorite place in the Animal Kingdom, which The Boneyard.  I love listening to the crazy play list that includes a lot of popular rock songs that have dinosaur, rock, or bone themes in them.  Who knew there were so many!

T-Shirt RelayAfter Animal Kingdom, we head back to Disney’s Boardwalk Villas and Luna Park Pool.  Katie Beth joined in the pool games including  t-shirt swimming relay.  The kids had to work hard to swap the wet shirt from racer to racer much less the actual swimming with a t-shirt.

Karen and I relaxed a lot pool side, because we had a lot of packing ahead of us today.

You can see more photos from today here.  Remember, the username and password are “friends” and “photos”.

Walt Disney World Trip Day 7

IMG_0296We hung out  poolside at Luna Park Pool.  Katie Beth had fun with the pool side games and playing with the underwater camera.  If you haven’t tried ESPN Club’s food, you have missed out.  It is a short walk from Disney’s Boardwalk Villas.

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In the evening, we headed into Epcot to enjoy more of the International Food & Wine Festival.  We stopped in France’s Pavilion to get something new for Katie Beth.  We had her try it before we told her what it was.  The photo on the left is her reaction to the taste.  The photo on the right is her reaction to learning what it was.  She was eating escargot in a butter garlic sauce.

You can see more pictures here.  Remember, username and password are ‘friends’ and ‘photos’.

Walt Disney World Trip Day 6

Blizzard Beach FunWe spent today at Disney’s Blizzard Beach.  Katie Beth just loves going across their ice berg walkway.

We had a chance to our underwater camera case.

Karen enjoyed having time to read her book.

You can see more photos here.  Remember, the username and password are “friends” and “photos”.

Walt Disney World Trip Day 5

Brazil SamplesToday, we ate our way around Epcot’s International Food and Wine Festival.  We enjoyed so many different items.  Katie Beth had fun when ladies for Italy Pavilion decided to dance with her.

Katie Beth road Epcot’s Soarin’ for the first time.  She really enjoyed it.  In the past, she got spooked before we road it likely due to the darkness.  We also road Test Track.

You can see more photos here.  Remember, the username and password are “friends” and “photos”.

Walt Disney World Trip: Day 4

Captain Jack Sparrow's Pirate TutorialToday, we spent out time at the Magic Kingdom.

We started playing Disney’s “Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom” game, which has you traveling all over the Magic Kingdom.  You start this game at Firehouse on Main Street, where they give you a free set of playing cards along with a map.  With the map and cards, you take on Disney Villains and help Merlin protect or secure the Crystal of the Magic Kingdom.  We had a great time playing today, but we were just getting a feel for the game.

Hundred Acre WoodIn Adventureland, Katie Beth was selected to join Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Tutorial up on stage.  This is a lot of fun.  Junior Pirates Wanted, Sword Fighting 101, and Join Ye the Crew!  Four children are selected to join Jack and company on the stage for sword fighting.  After training, other children are asked to join them up on stage for the official pirate’s oath.

We dropped by and road the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, but more importantly, we got our traditional photo of Katie Beth next to Mr. Sanders’ House (Winnie the Pooh’s house if you didn’t know).

You can see more photos here. Remember, the username and password are “friends” and “photos”.

Walt Disney World Trip: Day 3

Karen and Brian outside Sci-Fi Dine-In TheaterWe started out of day at Disney’s Hollywood Studio.  The crowds were huge as this is Brazil’s vacation time so this park is full of Brazilian tour groups that can be as big as a 100+.  We did a few things and then headed over to your Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater reservation.  Katie Beth had never been there so it was a real treat for her especial since she loves to watch a television, which we don’t allow much of at your house.

The food was good and we stayed long enough for the drive-in movie reel to loop.  Katie Beth really enjoyed it, but she didn’t want to leave the movies.

With the crowds being so bad,  we headed back to our resort.  For example, by 9:30 AM, the fastpass machines for Toy Story Midway Mania were giving out 8:00 PM fastpasses.  Crazy!

Karen Struggling at GalagaBack at the resort, we head to the Boardwalk Community Hall.  Katie Beth did crafts activities and we played games like air hockey and Galaga.

You can see more photos here. Remember, the username and password are “friends” and “photos”.

Walt Disney World Trip: Day 2

Katie Beth Working on her Habitats Badge for Wilderness ExplorersWe spent the day at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  We had fun and started the new Wilderness Explorers activity at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Wilderness Explorer Badge

The Wilderness Explorers activities have you visiting places all over the park and discovering many things about the animals, the park, and science.  Each activity completion provides the explorer with a unique badge for the activity.  Katie Beth completed all but a few badges today.  We just ran out of time.  Thankfully, we have more days to come back to work on the last few badges.

African Elephants We enjoyed the Kilimanjaro Safaris and the saw a number of animal including these elephants.  Hopefully, this makes up for missing Safari Day at school this week.

You can see more photos of today activities here. Remember, the username and password are “friends” and “photos”.

Fall Trip to Walt Disney World has Started: Day 1

Pumpkins and Katie Beth AllenOur fall vacation to Walt Disney World and the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival has started.

We drove down here so that on our return we could take Katie Beth to see her 97 year old Great Uncle CV Alexander.

Our first stop on our vacation was a Whole Food to get provisions for the trip.  After spending an amazing $183.91 on provisions, we head off to Disney’s Boardwalk Villas.

Katie Beth had Karen snap her photo with the pumpkin display at Whole Foods.