Marathon Monday!

We arrived at the park gates before 7 am. Being a guest on Disney property gets you in to extra magic hours, an hour before the park opens exclusively for you and the other hotel guests. Too bad the park wasn’t opening till 9 am, making the extra magic hour starting at 8 AM. No worries though, Zack and Kayla quickly made fiends with some kids from the OC and the hour passed by quickly enough. We were the first through the gate at 8. And then like all smart disneyites we headed right for the finding Nemo sub adventure, a ride which boasts an up to 4 hour wait! We waited only 10 minutes (if you exclude the hour at the front gate.) Then we managed to ride Space Mountain, the materhorn, Astro orbiters, the Alice coaster and get in to Toontown Morning madness ALL BEFORE 930. We were off to a heck of a start. We met Mickey and his pals in toontown, rode the roger rabbit cabs and took a third ride on small world when we realized we were hungry (the early start was fueled only by the breakfast foods we had assembled in the room.) So we thought we would see if we could get in to Minnie Mouse’s breakfast at the plaza inn, we didn’t have a ressy, but you never know. Well it must have been our day…. Walked right in, sat down and a parade of characters came to greet us as we feasted on the best French toast with strawberries and whip cream. Dale of Chip and Dale gave me a new hair-do, the fairy Godmother sat with Kayla and Zack – telling Zack he looks just like Prince Philip (Auroras man) and telling Kayla she looks like all the princesses in one. Alice came over and had a lovely chat with Kayla and Zack, followed by the Mad Hatter, Tiger and Rafiki from the Lion King. It was fantastic, Kayla only has one page left in her autograph book!

I Now what more could a day bring, well just wait! Cousins Erika and Karly with Uncle Kevin came and met us at the park. Erika and Karly came with a princess Minnie hat for Kayla, and a glowing necklace for Zack. Erike quickly assumed mom duty riding the dumbos, autotopia and the teacups with Kayla who just adores her big cousin while Zack and Karly raced from ride to ride in an attempt to get front row. We managed to pack in Space Mountain, Matterhorn, Star Tours before we headed out to Catal for a lovely dinner in Downtown Disney. The kids got along so well and really enjoyed each other and it had been many years since I had a chance to hang out with Kev. I carried sweet Kayla home asleep one more night! We have one last night with hopes of her making it to see the fireworks….. perhaps a secret weapon NAPTIME is in order.

Sunday we took on Disney's newer park, California Adventure. It is filled with amusment rides and shows. You can see Zack and Kayla in the Hollywood Studios back lot, yes that is a back drop not a real city.


A lot of the fun was to be had on daring rides, such as California Screaming, which Zack rode twice, once with Mom, once with Dad as Princess Kayla is not quite 42 inches yet, and I don't think she would care for this one. You can see Zack and Alex in the FRONT car on the left, and you can see them upside down in the front car on the right. But the good news is that you certaibly get value out of California Adventure, I had my lunch twice!

We did see an amazing Aladdin show! I can't believe they do this show 4 times a day. And can't forget the High School Musical 2 mobile stage show! What time is it? It's our vacation.

You can see by the end of the day, the cherubs are getting tired, ready to grab a hand full of honey and dream about Heffalumps.

Wish me luck, we go to the early hours of extra magic tomorrow in hopes of getting on the finding Nemo subs.

Surfs up. Well not really…

Saturday we headed the advice of the travel books and took a day off from the park and took the opportunity to catch up with Southern California friends and relatives. So by 830 AM we were on our way to the Kelly house (aka Lambertsen house) to see Dawn, Brian and baby Sandy. They have an awesome little house in Hermosa Beach with ocean views from the front yard! You can feel the California cool oozing in the beach barrio. We headed down to Manhattan Beach to catch the waves, but none were to be caught for the big surfers. Zack, on the other hand, was quite the master boogie board man, heading out to face the breaks on his own…. He just looks like a California surf kid.

It was great to see Dawn, had not seen her since she and Brian were married back in Long Island in ’99. And Sandy, their ten-month-old baby girl is ADORABLE. Kayla soon asserted she would be the babysitter and was very attentive to Sandy’s every need…. Even if it was to eat shells…

In the afternoon my cousins Kevin, Terry and their girls Erika and Karly joined us at the beach. Everyone was healthy and happy and Zack and Kayla very much enjoyed their cousins, so much so that the girls are going to come join us at the park Monday. Erika makes a great babysitter in training…. I really wish she lived closer.
I have to admit, the California beach, sun and surf is mighty nice! Perhaps I could get used to this.

That evening we headed back to the Kelly house for a great bbq with some of Dawn and Brians friends, including a four year old who gets up on a surf board and rides the waves (big boy style) Dawn and I took a photo together with our children, I think we should frame this one side by side one of the Spring Break Mexico photos..... no one would have guessed it.

“A place where dreams come true” that is what is said Walt Disney himself imagined when he hatched the idea of Disneyland back in the 1950’s. While I knew Zack would have a great time at Disney, my honest motivations were to fulfill my sweet Kayla’s dreams about meeting her girls, aka the Disney Princesses.

So we arrived plenty early, 730 AM for an 8 AM open, needless to say we were in line with thousands of other Disney tourists of all ages, genders, races and well sizes. And off we got to the start of the day.

After enjoying a few rides in Fantasyland we headed to the Princess Fantasy Faire for it’s 9 AM opening! We qued up for our moment to go through the receiving line and greet the Royal gals. Snow White, Cinderella and Princess Aurora were waiting for us when we came in. In his recently typical Zack “guy” style, he kept the girls and their “girly smells” at a safe distance. This didn’t stop Snow White and Aurora from coming right over for a little tag team princess action!

Kayla rather apprehensively greeted each girl with hugs and small chat. THEN we left only to notice the next stop in the fantasy Faire, the Bibbedy Bobbedy Boutique! And Kayla proclaimed at the top of her lungs, “I need to go get my style on “ And so Zack and Alex went off to ride Buzz Lightyears astroblasters and Kayla and I set into the salon to get her hair and face painting.

Well, Kayla came out of there with a DO! Her hair was clad full of roses and her face decorated with hearts and sparkles all over! We went to the Jedi Knight training to meet up with Alex and Zack, then to see Buzz Lightyear and then some lunch when we realized (after two failed attempts to get K on the “big rides” that we should divide and take separate ways for a bit.)

Kayla and I headed to Ariel’s Grotto to meet Ariel! WELL! Talk about dreams. I often talk about “authentic moments” or “living in the moment” or in college, my less articulate years it was “BOOM moment”. There was a moment here, Kayla, decked out in her new hair do and having changed into a skirt when it got warmer walked up to Ariel with her autograph book and pen in hand and these two girls just started talking’! I asked if I could get a picture of them together, they posed, then Ariel announced, “we’re just going to talk for another minute here mom” OK, no problem with me and with that Kayla GLOWED, she was telling Ariel all about… breakfast? But it was so sweet. Then Ariel said hold on have something for you…. And she turned into her chair and came up with a sequin from her tail, AKA a “wishing scale” which she ceremoniously presented Kayla with. Kayla and Ariel hugged and kissed and now, well lets just say I think the Barbie Beach Party will be by the wayside and it will be all about Ariel in part of our world!

Later, on the pirates of the Caribbean ride, Zack had his Boom Moment of the day. The animatronics in this ride are amazing! You really think you are looking at Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow! Zack was on the edge of the boat, talking up a storm and we came to point where the boat went between two sets of pistol fire. Zack HITS THE DECK in the boat and takes cover for fear of his life! It was so real, so honest, and so cute!

I have to say; in Brazil at Carnival I was amazed at how they know passion and performance. Well Disney knows dreams and entertainment (and marketing. but this isn’t a glass half empty kind of blog tonight.)

I carried my sweet Kayla home after she fell sound asleep on the booth of the restaurant. Zack rode home on Alex’s back, clad with balloon swords and arms. They both lay here passed out, I am sipping a bear, hoping the internet connection is fast enough for me to join them sound asleep in dream land…. Dreaming of the next BOOM MOMENT to come!

Love ya all!

H

I forgot how long a flight it is to the west coast! Our day started at 4 AM EST and we got to bed at 730 PM PST. Which when your 33 aint to tough, but when your 3 it is a LONG day!

It started when the limo driver overslept and we ended up driving ourselves to the airport, not the end of the world, just more money.

The flight was fine, on time and despite no food, we were ok.

I HATE ALAMO RENTAL CARS……. There will be no more support of them in the Hardy/MacAyeal family or extended family worlds!

Once we got here, and got the Neverland pool where Zack and Kayla had a BLAST on the slides all was good.

We finished the day with dinner at Goofy’s Kitchen, the most expensive BUFFET dinner I have been to, but the kids loved it. By the end of the night Zack was saying, “Hey Goof” to Goofy as if they were life long friends!

We're going to LA baby!
We are heading off to Logan tomorrow morning at 7:30 AM to board the morning flight to LAX! We will be staying 6 nights at Disneyland, sure to be filled with FUN!
I will be posting photos and tales from the trip, stay tuned.....

Tijuca Forest on Tuesday. What an amazing place! In the middle of Rio there is a preserved Rain forest up on the hills. We ventured up very excited as Zack finishes Kindergarten with a unit of Rianforests. We saw the waterfalls, ruins of old slave buildings, hummingbirds, waterfalls and lots of tropical canopy. An old man from the WWF, world wildlife folks - not world wrestling - generously showed us around. The very sad thing is that these forests are not safe. The Favelas have started to encrouach and the police look the other way. Tourists are sitting ducks! They grab your stuff and off through the jungle. Thus we stayed pretty much in the car and only got out here and there for photos. Whoops this one above is crooked. Needless to say, Zack and Kayla may have missed a week of school, but when the rainforest unit comes, they will have real experience to share! I'll be ready with the power point presentation.

After Tijuca we went to plan B, and Annanda recommended a GREAT restaurant right on the water at the base of the Sugfarloaf. And get this, it had a fully childproofed amazing in door playground. The kids were in heaven...... so were the adults. The children played, we ate and enjoyed the view.

And to cap off the eneving we headed to Copacabanna Palace for dessert and to put our toes in the sand at Copacabanna and be that girl from Ipenima! It is honestly amazing!! WOW, I get the city! I would love to come here again and stay right in downtown Rio and experience the city on the beach! Don't let the scary crime stories scare you! Yes, you have to keep youir witts about you (a not so blind, blind man tried to picpocket me at the hippie fair, luckily my pockets were bare) but this city is blessed by that Cristo above for sure!

Monday Monday, la la la la la la. They are a quiet day in Rio. Especially the Monday after the Carnival holiday week. We enjoyed the beach at Iticotiara practically to ourselves. It is at the bottome of the hill (uh mountain) from the house and there is a sheltered area where there are no waves and the children could play more free than at the big beaches. We explored the big rocks, made sandcastles and Zack made himself a little Brazillian Amigo. After the two of them followed each other around for a while Zack comes over throws his arms up in the air and proclaims, "we just can't communicate"...... what could I say to that? Kayla enjoyed more Monkey enoucnters and built sandcastles on the beach. She wasn't so quick to make friends with the little brazillian girls in bikinis and they all looked at her with quizical looks as she was in her pink surfer suit.... sorry girls, but my girl isn't going to shrivel up like a raisin at 25.

I did the brave, and unpredicted according to Jack, we got a babysitter! Zack was feeling much better, had a great day and I wanted to experience Rio. So we headed out to the Zha Zha bistro tropical for a lovely dinner in Ipenima! Wonderful atmosphere, fair and some quiet conversation. Marcella, the sister of the hospitality manager, was out sitter, she teaches pre K here in Brazil and the kids loved her! WAHOO! Bet none of you saw that one coming!

XOXO

because photos take so long to blog, I am redirectng you to www.theheraldsgosouth.blogspot.com to read and see more of the amazing soccer game. Honestly, I have been to the famous Fenway many times, sox fans don't know passion like this! The crowd litterally pulses in unison movement to cheer on their team. I walked out of that stadium ready to rhumba!! SPECTACULAR!

PS. Please comment so I know my mom isn't the only one reading! Miss you all!

H A Z K!

Sunday Sunday.... Another day of Yin and Yang. Zack woke up feeling much better which was great! Bad news was he slipped and put his hand through the fan and managed to chop his pinkie and ring finders to bits! Fortunately he was not returned to Dr. Mcsteamy Brazil as it only needed a spot of ointment and some bandaids. I was beginning to wonder if Zack and Brazil would mix.

Later in the day we ventured to the hippie fair in Ipenima, a street fair, I should have done a lot more shopping than we did! I fell in love with a marble mozaic of the world..... not suew how we would get that one home. We lunched at a chopperia in Ipenima and then off to the HIGHLIGHT the soccer game at Maracana!!!!! OH WOW! This was amazing. The energy, the passion, the feelings the crowd! We watched brazillian culture at the Sambodrome we experienced it at the Maracana soccer game.

I will try an up load photos, it takes forever from here and we have had no iternet at the house lately so it's a bit of a trick.

Needless to say Zack LOVED the game as did we all. AWESOME time.

XOX
H

PS BE SURE TO CHECK OUT:

WWW.THEHERALDSGOSOUTH.BLOGSPOT.COM

For more photos and stories!!

Thanks for the comments mom! xox

Ohhhh Saturday......what a day. They say for every yin there is a yang, for every action there is an equal reaction. We had all that today.



Zack woke up in the middle of the night unhappy with his ear..... Hmmmmm I lay there in bed thinking and descided that we need to see a doctor in the morning. After all if he does have an ear infection we cannot fly home till it's clean. So I called Steve, the Rio Holiday owner and he got Marina, our hospitality manager todrive Zack and I to the clinic. Zack, as you can immagine was not pleased!We gritted his teeth and punched and actually considered heading for the door at the clinic, but I do believe fear of what was out the door was worse than who would be behind the door of the waiting room. Well, the Brazillian version of Mcsteamy was our young docotor, but the room was right from Chineese torture stories. No bed or cot, just a metal chair with an orb to hold your head....AND Dr Mcsteamy sports one of those round mirrors on his head like a head lamp! Well.... You all who know Zack know his pain, he was shaking, crying, threataning and I hadtogrip him with all my might so that mcsteamy could look in the ear. Phew.... that was awful. The skin in his outer ear is infected, and he gave us an antibiotic hydrocortozone prescription and told us Zack can't swim for a week!!!!! Poor Zack (and it only gets worse tomorrow.) We got the script and a big stash of candy and went home to watch movies, eat pizza and breath.



Well on the other hand.... Saturday night is Sambodrome, we have tickets and it only happens three times a year. We had planned an English speaking sitter, but there was no way I was going to leave Zack. Betsy graciously announced that she would stay, she has had many amazing adventures and did not want me to miss Sambodorome. THANK YOU!! She and the kids were great and all was well with Zack in the evening.



So, after a quick shower and change we are off to Sambadrome, The show must go on, and it did. I can little in words tell you about it, all I can say is we think we know shows, sparkle, pizazz, showmanship....... This was unreal! Including a float catching fire, but that did not stop the samba, they putitout and the parade went on!



Sunday we are off to the Hippie Fair and Soccer Game.



XXOO




more photos later I promise they take a while to load.

Friday.

On Friday we went to the beach near by that looks over Rio.

Again, beautiful beach, and dare I say touris attractions?

Very nice people stopped to admire Ms.Kayla beach girl

The children enjoyed playing on the beach.