Look, a hidden Mickey!

Another freezing night in Central Florida...

The Interior of the Gaylord Palms Hotel

Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

The Three Kings tell us about their gifts to the baby Jesus and the gift giving Christmas traditions in Mexico.

Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

In China, Sun hou-kong, the Monkey King, tells us his how Buddah threw him in jail for using his amazing magic powers exclusively for selfish purposes until the kindly monk, Thang Seng asked Buddah to put him in a work-release rehab program to assist in bringing Buddha's original texts from India to China. Before the adventure was over, the Monkey King learned that helping others gave him great joy in his life.

Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

In Germany, we learn of the Tanenbaum, the first Christmas tree, and the story of the Nutcracker.

Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

In Italy, La Befana, the good-hearted witch who has been flying down chimneys delivering gifts longer than Santa Claus, tells us her origin story: Three wise men came by looking for the baby king and invited La Befana to join them. She thought it was crazy, but when angels appeared in the sky to shepherds and everyone, she believed, but by that time the star of Bethlehem was fading and it was too late. Since then, every year on the eve of the Epiphany (Jan 6th) she rides her magic broomstick down chimneys of houses looking for the baby Jesus to give him a gift like the Magi did. Every time she sees a good child sleeping, she thinks, "This one looks as beautiful as the baby Jesus," and leaves a gift and treats for all of them as well.

Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

In Japan, a street peddler shows us his wares, Daruma dolls which you buy at O-Shogatsu (New Year's) and put on your front door step. You paint the pupil of the left eye when you make a wish for the New Year, and when it comes true, you paint in the other pupil, and your friends and neighbors know your wish has come true. He also told of family get togethers and other O-Shogatsu traditions like the 108 tolls of the gong at the Shinto shrine, which remind folks of the 108 earthly desires to overcome. Once you have all that under your belt, you have got it made.

Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

The Targee Drummer / Storyteller leads us in dance and tells us of Moroccan holiday traditions like the great feast after the fasting of Ramadan, and the holiday of Ashura, when families get together to give gifts and have a festive bonfire in the evening.

Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

Father Christmas leads us in caroling and tells us about British Christmas traditions of wassailing, sending Christmas cards, and kissing under the mistletoe.

Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

Pere Noel tells us about French Christmas traditions like Nativity Scenes and Letters to Santa.

Christmas Traditions Around the World at Epcot

Papa Noel is traveling somewhat incognito through Canada. His assistants, the Belsnickles are everywhere watching to see who is naughty and who is nice.

The Return of the Peacocks

We awoke this morning to some thunks on the roof. Closer investigation revealed this...

The Christmas Tree is up...

And it's feeling more like winter now that the cold weather has arrived!

This ship is about to sail

Terry and Marsha are sailing to the Bahamas this week aboard Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas.

The Osborne Festival of Dancing Lights

Running nightly thru New Year at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Our souvenir from Mexico

Marsha tries out our new hammock swing that we purchased in Cozumel during our cruise.

Dinosaur World

On our way home we decided to check out this local Tampa attraction.

Enjoyed Busch Gardens Howl-O-scream

Entrance to the park

The Theming in the park is beautiful. Here we are going into the Egyptian section.

Sheikra is the most thrilling coaster with its 200' more-than-90-degree drop that lifts you out of your seat.

Roller coasters are even more fun at night in between haunted mazes and scare zones.

Fun stuff!

Tigger Costumes from Mom

Here we are showing off our Tigger costumes. Happy Halloween Everybody!

Ready for sail

Last posting before sailing. Taken from aft observation deck looking out to the VAB at Cape Canaveral.

Our stateroom

Twin beds!

The Norwegian Sun

Today is the first sailing of the Norwegian Sun out of Port Canaveral. Our ship awaits...

Congaloosh 2010

We are having dinner in "Cairo, Egypt" on the stage of Indiana Jones Stunt Spectacular with the cast of The Adventurers Club.

EPCOT Food & Wine Festival starts today

We ran into a friend from Boston here today for the opening of the 15th Annual Food & Wine Festival.

Halloween Horror Nights XX

We started our Halloween season with a visit to UNIVERSAL STUDIOS tonight.

KSC Family Day 2

Space Shuttle Discovery on Launch Pad 39A set for liftoff on Nov. 1

More fun and educational photos are posted at KSC Family Day 2010

Kennedy Space Center Family Day

Space Shuttle Atlantis in the Orbital Processing Facility at KSC.

Wizarding World of Harry Potter

We bought Annual Passes today for Universal Studios and are about to experience Forbidden Journey for the first time!

Lunch in Atlanta

We are having lunch with Tia and James before heading back home from DragonCon.

Sunday night at DragonCon

In costume ready for our skit in the DragonCon Masquerade.

1st Place at the DragonCon After Dark Costume Contest

Chip just won the Saturday night costume contest as Mr. Tumnus the Faun. Beating a topless Poison Ivy and a provocative lady cop in 2nd and 3rd place.

DragonCon 2010 Atlanta GA

The Con is in full swing and more crowded than ever!

Comic Magician Dana Daniels and Luigi

Dana used to headline Disneyland's "Golden Horseshoe Variety Show" and performed last night at Wizardz Magic Theater in Kissimmee. With him is "Luigi, The Psychic Parrot".

The East Coast Cousins

Audrey, Kim, Amber, and Lynn

Magical Lights again

I'm not sure why the previous post picture didn't come thru so here's another view.

Magical lights

This is a view of the backyard at twilight with all the solar lanterns lit.  It's even better in complete darkness but it doesn't photograph as well (at least with my iPhone camera).

New Epcot restaurant

The pizza ovens at Via Napoli in the Italy Pavilion

Summer Nightastic Fireworks

From across the Seven Seas Lagoon while dining at Narcoosee's at the Grand Floridian Resort.

Our first home-grown mango

The only mango fruit that reached maturity on our surviving mango tree is ripe and ready to eat!

Our first visit to Gatorland

We took Chip's parents to Gatorland today and ended up in hot water!

A day in St. Augustine

Cannon demonstration at Castillo de San Marcos.

Down to the big boards

Getting these 20 ft long timbers home is the real challenge!

Our future new deck

We were given this huge deck which we plan on relocating to the hillside below the pool. The only catch is we have to dismantle and salvage ourselves. We have been working several hours a day (mornings and evenings) for the past week and still have a ways to go...

Happy Independence Day

We're having a pool party/barbecue today.

A place to relax in the shade of the oaks

A gift from our friends Don & Patrick.

The last Mango

Although the one remaining Mango tree (after the freeze) did produce
half a dozen fruit, most have fallen off prematurely. We hope this
last one will ripen enough to enjoy.

Another Saturday in the Maguc Kingdom

My sister Tia and family