MIA

Where in the world and what in the world have the Lynch's been up to? 

Allow me to break it down:


We PCS'ed from FLW to Fort Hood, Texas (That's right we moved 2x in a year!)

Spent Christmas and New Years Eve in the Happiest Place on Earth, WDW

Signed the closing docs for our first home while on vaca in WDW

Ate our way through WDW to the tune of 7 lbs gained EACH

Chris turned 28

Drove cross country, first from MO to CT then CT to TX in TWO SEPARATE cars and with TWO dogs

Currently in the process of making our house into a home

Chris Deployed Jan 18=(

I ran my first 1/2 marathon Jan 24 (Princess 1/2 in Walt Disney World, yupp i love that place)

Did my first Epcot Crawl aka drinking around the world

Just got home from the most epic girls weekend everrrr

NYE

Although I had a blast getting shmammered with my NJ counterpart Marissa last NYE’s ponying up another $60 big ones per person and shelping ourselves into Waikiki and back after midnight wasn’t on our agenda this year.

Man, we must be getting older.

In true old person fashion Chris and I checked into the Aulani for a more relaxed NYE experience.

I brought Oakley to be boarded (always so hard but he needs to get used to it because we are not always going to have someone who is willing to watch him) and we checked in on Dec. 31 with a Jan. 2 check out.

We stayed at the Aulani for our anny in Sept. and spent a fortune eating at the resort so since we had a one bedroom with a full kitchen, I opted to bring food and cook it myself.

This worked out great (expect for having so many bag! Poor bellman) because we just got back from an eat-a-palooza in Disneyland and I was craving a home cooked meal. Don’t get me wrong I am a foodie and I enjoy eating at different restaurants but my waistline and wallet needed a break.

The day after we got back from Disney Chris and I hit up WholeFoods Market to pick up some groceries. I usually shop at the Commissary on post, but when I am looking for speciality items like higher quality cuts of meat like lamb of filet, I’m glad to fork over the extra dough. If I could only afford to shop here everyday. Sigh.

We picked up some fruits, lamb chops for his bday dinner and some beef satay sticks that looked too good to pass up.

For our NYE dinner I attempted to cook the beef satay sticks on the sticks they came on but the pans at the resort were just big enough. Crap. Luckily I was able to slide ‘em off and cooked them sans the stick. I think this worked out better and it was easier to eat.

To go alongside I made a garlic rice and steamed edomame.

Even though we weren’t going to a rager downtown I still wanted to get dressed up so I wore my festive sequin skirt. I love sequins these days! We walked around the resort but it was chilly out! Instead of ordering cocktails at the bar we ordered hot cocoa! The bar tender looked at us like we were loco. Not crazy, just cold. Those drinks sure hit the spot.

I only last in my ensamble for an hour or so until the chill in the air and the sandman got got me. Hey, atleast I tried. We went back into our room, put our PJs on and headed down to the lagoon area to watch the fireworks show at midnight.

Right before our clocks said midnight I got my lass smooch of 2011 and right when the fireworks started at 12:01 I got my first kiss of 2012 and wishes my Mookster a happy 2-7!

I also love fireworks! The midnight sky show was the best I have seen in a while! The Hilton in Waikiki shoots off fireworks every Friday, but they only last a few minutes. This NYE show lasted for almost 20 minutes. Well done Disney, I wouldn’t have expected anything else =)

At exactly 12:27 a.m. Chris and I hit the hay. What a great NYE =)  

Lynch's Take Disneyland Day 5

This marks our last full day and night at the happiest place on Earth. Since we pretty much did it all, Chris and I walked around the grounds of the other Disney hotels and hit up a mall nearby and had lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.


I saved the best meal for last and we dined at Steakhouse 55 (fancy shmancy and oh so yummy) and then we headed back in Land for the best show of the trip: Fantasmic!


We skipped out on dessert at dinner because I had purchased premium seating for this and it was so worth it! When you pay the hefty $60 per person, you take in the show from an elevated section near the anchor by Café Orleans and the French Market. You also get a dessert sampler and unlimited beverages. This part came in handy because it was cold out!

Mickey's active imagination sets the stage on the Rivers of America for Fantasmic!, a musical extravaganza where the forces of good and evil battle in his dreams. Stunning effects erupt against the night sky as beloved Disney Characters join the reverie both in digital film projections on water and live performances.

Mickey opens his imagination to the audience as he conducts a breathtaking water show on the Rivers of America. Follow Mickey's dream as he takes you through high-resolution digital film sequences from the film Fantasia as they are projected onto enormous screens of water! His conductor's wand guides the whimsical scenes as brilliant sprays of sparks burst overhead. Pink elephants, massive puppets, princesses and more magically appear on and around Pirate's Lair on Tom Sawyer Island.

When the Evil Queen calls for her Magic Mirror, Mickey's dream takes a dark turn. The forces of evil come out of the shadows as she invokes some of Disney's most dastardly villains! Will Mickey triumph over this terrifying beast from the depths of his nightmare? DUH!

Lynch's Take Disneyland Day 4

Since Fantasy Land was sooo busy earlier in our stay, this is where we started our day. I love walking through the castle. 


In Fantasyland, pixie dust practically glimmers in the air. From the whimsical topiaries to the cobblestone streets, the entire land reflects the enchantment of the stories it tells. Inspired by medieval villages of France, Germany, Switzerland and England, the architecture features the picturesque timbers and tiled rooftops of fairy-tale cottages and castles.


We made our way to Adventureland, to embark on a bold expedition into excitement and intrigue! This part of the park is a captivating world, where natural wonders, incredible wildlife and untold danger surround you. You can enter a lost temple or delve into dark jungles. We sailed into action on the Jungle Cruise and then tumble into The Temple of the Forbidden Eye on the Indiana Jones Adventure. Then we climb into Tarzan's Treehouse (which I am pretty sure used to be called the Swiss Family Robinson's Tree House) and discovered a bird's eye view of the surrounding wilderness. 


Adventureland is a place where you can experience the thrill of exploring exotic lands, where every step of the journey is a foot further into the unknown. To that end, the outposts are reminiscent of the Victorian expeditions embarked upon by famous travelers such as Sir Richard Francis Burton, David Livingston and Isabella Bird Bishop, as well as classic adventure films. With the addition of the Indiana Jones Adventure, the famous films of George Lucas also pervade the land, adding an extra dimension of cinematic excitement — not to mention everyone's favorite archaeologist — to the terrain.


I don't know how I managed to be hungry after the non stop eating we have been doing, but I Soldiered on had clam chowder in a bread bowl. It his the spot.


Chris and I were both pooped (you do LOTS of walking) so we headed back to take naps and then get ready for our dinner at Ariel’s Grotto. We opted to eat here because they give you priority seating (which turned into standing and I'm not 100 percent sure was worth it) to see World of Color.


The World of Color nighttime water spectacular weaves water, color, fire and light into a kaleidoscope of fantasy and imagination. More than 1,000 jets of water form incredible shapes in time to the music as Disney characters come to life on a shimmering veil of mist. Since it was a holiday, we were able to experience the magic of Kringle Academy elves, Lanny and Wayne — from Disney Prep & Landing — who make a special introduction to the show.

Tips on how to surive Disney

These are in no particular order.

• Stay in the Disney hotels. Many offer early magic hours (7 a.m) and exclusive entances into the park. When you stay at the hotel you don't have to pay for parking and when you have had enough, you can take a break and veg out before heading back out.
• Disney allows you to bring in snacks and drinks (no glass) which is great for people with bambinos because stuff gets expensive FAST! (Read $2.79 for a bottle of water and $2.99 for a non refillable soda. The churros are $3.50 a pop!)
• Don't over do it. If you can, start early, take a nap and then come back.
• If you go to a park over the holidays expect long lines and huge crowds!
• Get fast-passes for the most popular rides. It's free and all you need to do is insert your park ticket into the designated kiosks. Now you can ride other rides while you wait for your return time. Remember you can only get one fast pass at a time.
• Leave your double wide stroller at home people! And if you have a stroller, your kid better be in them or else I consider your empty stroller as a weapon.
• Make dining reservations because or else you could face hellacious lines around dinner time. You can make many of them online.
• Learn how to walk. When a crowd is moving forward at a slow pace, it is not the time to just stop or check your Facebook status or check in on Foursquare. Remember the stampede scene from Lion King? If you do stupid stuff like stop in a forward moving crowd, you will be trampled.

Lynch's Take Disneyland Day 3~ Christmas Day

For the first time in three years, when we woke up on Christmas Day it actually felt like Christmas. Maybe it was the cooler temps, but I am going to attribute it to good ole fashion Disney magic.


On our way out of our hotel we grabbed some hot cocoa and some yummy muffins and made our way to Disney's California Adventure. A perk of staying at the Grand Californian Resort and Spa is that it has its own entrance into this park. This means NO LINES for us!


A typical Christmas morning for us would entail sitting in the living room, eating a special Christmas breakfast (Usually French toast with strawberries), drinking Kona coffee (Tazo Awake tea for Chris), listening to Christmas tunes and opening up our gifts to one another. Usually followed by a trip to the beach or the lagoons.


This year, since we exchanged gifts earlier, and a dramatic change of scenery, we were off and running (I was at least) to hit up some rides! 


Disney's California Adventure is more for "bigger kids" as it features more roller coaster type rides like the The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror  and California Screamin. 


This park is also expanding. A new Cars Land (opening in 2012) and Buena Vista Street — the all-new entrance to Disney California Adventure Park.


I wasn't really in the mood to ride a coaster so instead we walked around the park and ran into Mickey Claus! After our photo op we walked through Hollywood Pictures Backlot, Paradise Pier, Golden State and "a bug's land."


The Hollywood Pictures Backlot beckons you to bask in the glitz and glamour of Hollywood yesteryear and today, with a touch of magic from Disney·Pixar movies. We checked in at The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror for the elevator ride of your life and then got a wild view of the world with Muppet*Vision 3D as Kermit, Gonzo and the gang unleash their latest technology. Then we chilled for a chat at Turtle Talk with Crush, the righteous surfer turtle from the Disney·Pixar film, Finding Nemo. And we didn't  forget that Monstropolis is just a scream away at Monsters Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!


Paradise Pier will remind you of a turn-of-the-century seaside amusement park filled with Disney character. We Tore through the air on California Screamin' rollercoaster and then took off in to the wilder blue yonder at Goofy's Sky School. We then attempted tp step right up to play Toy Story Mania! —it's both a ride and rootin' tootin' shootin' challenge, but the line was too lone. 


We discovered the spirit of adventure as you dove into the scenery! We took in breathtaking landscape and diverse geography on Soarin' Over California, and then climbed into a white water raft and crash over the rapids on the Grizzly River Run. 


Before we left to catch the Christmas Parade in land, we saw the world from a bug's perspective in "a bug's land". Based on the Disney·Pixar film, A Bug's Life, this playful place is built especially for little ones and is full of insect-sized surprises. 


A lil hungry I grabbed a Churro while Chris found us a place to watch the parade. After having to vacate our perfect lil bench because it was becoming a disabled viewing area we perched ourselves against a fence and still had a great view.


I just love parades!


After the parade ended, we headed back to our hotel to relax and get ready for our Christmas dinner at Napa Rose.


Even though it was buffet style (I am usually not a fan) the food was yummy! Full and a quick wardrobe change later we headed back into Land and New Orleans Square. The sights and sounds of the historic French Quarter are recreated in this land with the picturesque courtyards, lacy wrought iron balconies, the swing of jazz bands and smell of down home cooking. Everything about the architecture invokes the grace and elegance of the Old South, with its lazy summer days and vibrant nights. The style is influenced by a comely combination of French, Creole, Cajun and American traditions.


We paid our respects to the grinning ghouls at the Haunted Mansion, which they completely redid and made it into the Nightmare Before Christmas! There were 999 haunts who were "dying" to meet us, but lucky for us we didn't become their their 1000th "gloom"-mate. After we made it out alive, we boarded a boat in the Pirates of the Caribbean and sailed down into the misty pirate caverns to discover the curse of Davey Jones.


The cold got to us so we decided it was time to hit the hay. 

Merry Christmas!

Feliz Natal!

Felix Navidade!

Mele Kalikimaka!

Merry Christmas!

Lynch's Take Disneyland Day 2~ Christmas Eve

Being here it officially feels like Christmas. The hotel and the parks are all decorated and the mornings and evenings have a definate December chill to them.

This is the first time I have been to land in 10 years and the first time I have been to Disney since Chris and I got enagaged in 2008, so the parks def. have a different feel to them. This is going to sound extremely lame and cliche, but there is a sense of magic here.

We went into Disneyland first and walked around Main Street, U.S.A. Main Street, U.S.A. is the gateway to Disneyland Park. We took a stroll down the street where turn-of-the-century architecture and transportation recreate the quintessential small town of Middle America in the early 1900's. We saw Walt's suite, located above the Firestation and there is always a light on in the window to remind you that Walt is always watching (in a non creepy way). 


Preserved in just the order he left it, Walt's own apartment is located on the second floor above the firehouse. An antique-style lamp sits in the window in honor of his memory throughout the year, replaced by a Christmas tree during the holiday season. While it used to be lit to let Cast Members know when Walt was in residence, it's now a special symbol of Walt's continued presence in the Park. 


We did some more souvenir shopping, had our silhouettes done (the woman was amazing! She cut them out by hand in a matter of second. I can't even cut out snowflakes!) and headed to do some rides.

First on my Disney agenda was Tomorrow Land which is home to Space Mountain! Here in Tomorrowland, the future is today! It's a spaceport where your imagination lands each day to glimpse otherworldly wonders, embark on fantastic voyages, and witness the pioneering of the human spirit. Being a Disney pro I knew there would be a hellacious line, so I grabbed us some Fast Passes. 


Before we could blase off from Space Station 77 into the inky outer reaches of the universe on Space Mountain, we helped save the galaxy when Buzz Lightyear recruited us as Space Rangers to thwart the Evil Emporer Zurg on Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters. We still had some time before we could use our Fast Passes so we submerged ourselves in an aquatic exploration when we embarked on the Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage (which I am pretty sure used to be called 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea). 


It was finally time for us to ride Space Mountain! 

The bay welcomes you with its sweeping overhead lights and shiny metallic interior as imposing machinery captures your attention from above. Once you and your fellow space travelers are scanned and prepared by the control crews, you board a sleek shuttle rocket and receive a safety check in the cockpit.

Once you are secured for take-off, your shuttle then enters the power generation room and the airlock is activated. Energy transfers from the power globes to your shuttle to prepare it for launch. As the universe dissolves before your eyes, Mission Control counts down…

Five…four…three…two…one…zero…!

The galaxy implodes before you, spiraling into a black hole! Hang on tight as your space craft dips and careens at supersonic speeds. So fun! Well for me it was, Chris had is eyes closed the entire time. I had no idea he didn't like roller coasters. My bad ;P


Just a short walk away was Star Tours. In this ride android Rex accidentally jettisons you into a battle with the Empire. 


Man it feels good to be able to act like a kid again!

Helpin' Buzz beat the bad guys!

Can you guess whose score's whose?

We finished up all the rides in Tomorrow and walked through Fantasy Land, more for lil kids, and after a quick lunch, we made our way to take our picture with Santa and his real-life reindeer at Santa's Reindeer Roundup in Frontierland. We forged onward into the rugged region of Frontierland! From the heights of Big Thunder Mountain to the rippling waters of the Rivers of America, this land celebrates the trailblazers, settlers and other heroes of the Old West. Since Chris isn't a big ride guy, he took a break while I rode Big Thunder Mountain but it was too cold to get wet on Splash Mountain.

Frontierland embodies the tremendous expansion into the West starting with the Louisiana Purchase until the Gold Rush of 1849. The rugged fort that greets you at the entrance, the Mark Twain Riverboat and "trading posts" all highlight the pioneering spirit of the Old West.

There's a sense of adventure and taste of authentic history at every turn. For example, the Sailing Ship Columbia is based on a true 18th-century schooner named theColumbia Redidiva. And the flags that line the fort are replicas of actual flags from the revolutionary period, prior to the creation of the familiar "stars and stripes." Come see all the ways that Disney makes history the story in Frontierland!

Can you find the hidden Mickey?

Mrs. Claus has been busy!

He was a good lookin' Santa. One of the kids in line, bless his heart, went up to Santa and told him to leave his presents at their hotel because they aren't going to be home!

We left the park around 3 p.m., but not before I got an ice cream sundae the size of my face, to take a nap and get ready for dinner at Napa Rose, which is located in our hotel.

Rested and dressed in our Christmas Eve finest we made our way to dinner, but stopped to take a picture infront of the pretty tree in the lobby.

For starters we got feasant dumplings, which looked more like empanadas and for dinner I got a yummy porkchop with a cannolini bean ragu and Chris got a lamb porterhouse with a mushroom pasta. We licked out plates clean!

After another wardrobe change, it is COLD here, we went back into the park to watch the Believe in Holiday Magic show. The lights in the park dim and Snow White's castle gets lit up. The best part of this show is it snows in select spots! It may be our first "white" Christmas in three years!

Not quite ready to throw in the towel, Chris and I went into the castle, it was way to chaotic with all the strollers and lil kids earlier, and scoped out the area and took probably my favorite two pics of the entire trip.

Backside of Sleeping Beauty's abode.

Giving it his best effort.

Nope. It's in there pretty good.

It is impossible to stick to a diet here because there are goodies where ever you turn. As we were making our way down Main Street USA and out of the park the candy store called our name. They even have an open kitchen where you can see them make the goods.

Our Disney Digs

Since it's only us this trip, we forwent spending the extra points on a one bedroom and went for the studio. The studio, or as they call it here in Cali, "Delux Grand Villa," was a good size and we weren't on top of eachother or suffocating in a confined space.

The hotel itself is gorgeous! Really makes you feel like you are in swanky ski lodge minus the snow. It even smells like camping outside. Needless to say we are impressed and are glad we bought into DVC.

A little kitchenette

Love having the loo and the sink seperate. Makes getting ready much faster.

The shower curtains have Bambi and Thumper on them.

Watching TV, like always. I really liked the lamps on the headboard.

Chris checking out our view of Disney's California Adventure.

The view from our room. Best part was even when the park was open we couldn't hear any of the noise from our room.

Can you find the hidden Mickey in this picture?

The awesome waterslide. This place had three pools and three hot tubs!

The amazing tree in the lobby.

One of two fire places. The other one is outside. We snuggled by this one with hot cocoa a few times.




 

Lynch's Take Disneyland Day 1

I turn into a lil kid when it comes to going on vacation and this trip was no exception! My home girl Kerri volunteered to drive us to the airport. Read: She woke up at 5 a.m. on her day off to drive us to the airport! If that isn't the definition of a true friend I don't know what is! She is also watching Oakley, I hate the idea of boarding him over the holidays, so whenever someone offers to take him I feel a ton better. I know he will have a blast because the Chase's have two dogs (Fred and Bently) whom Oakley adors and they just had their backyard fenced in so I am sure Oakley will have a blast!

Kerri picked up Oakley last night and even though I missed him, it worked out great because I was able to get all the packing and cleaning done without distraction.

Packed and ready and bright eyed and bushy tailed, we made our way to the aiport. Before we boarded our plane to LAX I grabbed some French Toast sticks from BK (I have to have something greasy in my tummy before I fly. It settles my nerves) and a peppermint hot cocoa from SB (I am addicted) but it was not very pepperminty at all. Fail.

Fueled and anxious, we bid aloha to Hawaii and headed across the Pacific to California. I haven't been to Cali or Disneyland in more than 10 years and this would be a first for Chris. The flight felt like an internity because I was so excited! I grew up with Disney movies and I have been going to Disneyworld since I was infant so my love for Disney runs deep. Lucky for me my hubby likes it too. We like it so much we bought into the magic and became members of the Disney Vacation Club. Hey, Disney isn't just for kids!

We could have taken advantage of the Disneyland Express to take us to and from the airport, like we do when we go to Disneyland (really pointless to rent a car in Florida if all you plan on doing is the parks) but since I haven't been on this side of the country in a decaded I felt more comfortable renting a car. After braving the redic line at the Hertz rental counter, we were off! Well, until we hit LA traffic. They have a weird highway system here. Before you merge onto the highway they have a system of traffic lights that allows one to two cars per green light. I guess it helps with conjestion. Man LA is weird.

Once I saw the signs for Disneyland Drive my inner kid was comming out and once I saw the entry way to our hotel (The Grand Californian Resort and Spa) all decked our for Christmas I wasn't 26 anymore.

Since we were spending Christmas here, Chris and I exchanged gifts early, but I still had a surprise up my sleeve for him.

A tree! You have to have a tree at Christmas time, even if you are away from home.

He was really surprised!

Mickey and Minnie even left us a belated anniversary gift, a signed picture of them infront of Snow White's castle.

Mickey makes a pretty sweet topper.

Once we checked in, unloaded our stuff and bundled up, It was COLD, we headed to Downtown Disney, which the back end of our hotel opened right up too, (Score!) to explore and grab dinner. Also, our hotel offers guests and exclusive entrance into Disney's California Adventure Park and early magic hours to Disneyland, which was also just a short walk away!

We ended up eating at the House of Blues. I got friend chicken and Chris got a pulled pork sandwhich. Either the food was amazing or we were starving, we only had breakfast, because we licked our plates clean. Stuffed, we walked around Downtown Disney and did some shopping and browsing:

We walked around the Lego store and they had huge displays made out of, you guessed it, Legos!

Howdy Woody!

He has the patience for Legos, me, not so much. I would rather by them put together already =P

How do we look?

Getting my Minnie Mouse on!

...until the cold finally did us in. Man, Hawaii has made us whimps!