It's Friday, and I'm behind. (total shocker, I know) But to be fair, I have no idea what day of the week it is anymore anyway. I gauge where it is in the week based on people on Facebook talking about the weekend, or posting throwback Thursday pictures, or complaining that it's Monday. With Asa's new schedule, Calib being off in Ohio, winding down our traditional home school, and the vacations and mini vacations we've been on, and I'm all kinds of screwed up on the days of the week.
Let's backtrack to Cinco De Mayo, I know I said Asa was making a whole mess of Nachos.. so I wanted to share them with you. He made the cheese sauce, salsa and guacamole all from scratch. Pretty impressive.
Later the in the week he used the same cheese sauce base to make us some awesome cheese fries to go along with some burgers. Have I mentioned how awesome it is that he's been cooking? Because it's so awesome, and he's getting good at it!
Thursday was the much anticipated 2014 draft. The theme of this weeks blog is all things free, and this is where it started. Now when I say free, most things you pay for in some form or another- this one came from our season tickets (which all in all is $1350), so the free MAYBE needs an astricks. But, it's totally a perk to get to go to the Draft Party at the stadium on draft day and eat for free. As much food as the boys wanted!
And boy did they load up. Yes, I realize none of this is healthy and well-balanced. But, my kids almost never get food like this, especially at various sporting events. Can you imagine how much it would cost to feed them all at an event? They were in heaven. This isn't even all of it either, there were hot dogs, brats, hamburgers, popcorn, peanuts, pop.. just all of it for the taking.
They ate until their little hearts were content.
Then as another perk, pass members got to go down on the field for exclusive access.
Sidenote: When did I get so short? For real, Calib's growing like a weed.
They also had a bunch of Play 60 games out for the kids, so they all ran off the massive amounts of food they'd ingested.
We got home in time for the actual draft to start. The Bucs picked number 7, and went with Wide Reciever Mike Evans. Honestly, as long as they didn't pick Johnny Manziel, I was happy. There was much, much rejoicing when we picked for the sheer fact it wasn't him. It was a good draft. Let's hope it translates well on the field, and we get to see the Bucs win a few more games this year!
Our garden is coming a long nicely. There was lots of stuff ready to be picked when we got back from vacation, but I did get my very first tomatoes! Our plant is having a little trouble, I think the heat is a contributing factor, it's not really the season for them here, so we'll see how it goes.
Asa took the tomatoes and some peppers and made a really yummy corn salsa to go on top of some steak sandwiches for dinner on Friday.
He even tried his hand at making the beingnets. Some of them didn't puff up so well, but the second batch a few nights later turned out a lot better.
Saturday Asa had to work (per his new schedule), but I did take Hayden out to his (free-- check it out if you haven't) Build n Grow class at Lowes.
This month was a flower tuck in honor of mother's day. He built it in record time, and got his patch.
It even had a little vase in it for a real flower, so he picked me one from the front yard when we got home.
After lunch, I took Peyton out to tween game day at the library. I was able to pick up quite a few books to keep the boys occupied the next couple of weeks while I work on our summer theme weeks, and while Calib closes out his curriculum in Ohio.
We stopped on the way home for Sonic Happy Hour, and I got the boys some slushies. Hayden knows how to relax on a Saturday, I tell ya.
Sunday, of course was Mother's Day. And while we're not big on Mothers and Fathers Day in this house, we usually celebrate the same day. Asa gets Hobbit Day, and I get board game day. We get to play all the board games that have been retired because I win too much (I could kind of see their point after I got 193 points on Ticket to Ride-- a new record, even for me!)
Asa told me he'd make whatever I wanted for lunch AND dinner. I requested nacho dogs for lunch. Has everyone ever put olive oil, salt, and pepper on hot dogs before you cook them? It makes ALL the difference in the world. He also added some more homemade guac and salsa (which is SO easy when you have a garden and a food processor! You really do get to make salsa out of nothing!) He crunched up some of my favorite blue corn chips on top, and wham! Best hotdog, ever.
And more Ticket to Ride, this is how I know they love me. They HATE this game.
Dinner was mashed potatoes, peas, strawberries, and my favorite thing Asa makes: buttermilk paprika chicken tenders. I told you, he's totally leveled up his cooking skills. Before you know it, he'll be making ambrosia (a little Sims humor for you there)
Monday my mom flew in. Calib, Peyton, Hayden and I picked her up from the airport and headed straight to Orlando. Mom had offered to come get Calib for his trip to Ohio so he wouldn't have to fly alone on his way up, and then she coupled it with business as she was presenting a proposal for a grant to Disney! They were so kind to comp her a room for the night. As the luck of the draw may have it, she ended up with the Grand Floridian. When she said we would love to come along, they even gave her a bigger room to accommodate us.
Asa had to work Monday (vacation days are running a little slim), though he did take a day Tuesday so he could also enjoy a night at the Grand Floridian. At $488 a night in the cheapest room during value season, we wouldn't be staying here anytime soon without it being free. It was a once in lifetime opportunity! (Lets hope mom gets her grant and they comp her a room every now and again!)
Our room wasn't quite ready when we arrived, so we found a spot by the pool and had the PB and J's I had packed for lunch.
The room was worth the wait though, it was on the 5th (top) floor with a lagoon view.
The bathroom was nice, and had two sinks!
And the nice couch pulled out too.
I really want this pillow. The whole room was fancy-shamcy.
After checking out our room, we went down to the pool for an afternoon swim.
Hayden even played some of the pool games.
We've been in this hotel lots of times. But, we've never stayed here (obviously, the rates are crazy!), but it really is a sight to be seen.
Justin and Asa met us after work, and we got to hop on the monorail to Epcot. It runs right through the hotel!
We often stop to see the picture of my dad and Calib (as a baby, it was taken in 2000) on the monument wall in Epcot, but we're always sure to stop when mom is with us. Funny, who knew when we did that, we'd be living here with annual passes!
A must-stop with mom is Club Cool for some Coke from around the world.
But the main draw this trip was the Flower and Garden Festival. It ends Sunday and between Spring Break and Easter crowds, plus vacation, we hadn't made it over to it yet.
I love all the flowers, but the topiaries of Disney characters are my favorite.
So many flowers. It's gorgeous in person. The pictures don't do it justice.
A couple of days before hand, Peyton was asking about how pineapples grow. Then we found this one!
Another draw to the Flower and Garden Festival, is the food booths around the world. Mom treated us to the fun little gift cards to pay for it all. Thanks, Mom!
Sweet Potato Waffle with Pineapple soft serve? Yes please!
Quick sidetrip to check out the new moose souvenirs in Canada.
Salmon tar-tar on a cheddar biscuit? No thanks.
The duck and potatoes in France was a favorite.
And we treated mom to a taste of the macaroon ice cream sandwiches. So good.
Hayden starting his own band in Morocco.
Everyone loved the Chicken, and the (cold) cous-cous with fruit in it.
Mom, the lush, with her little umbrella-ed drink in Japan.
Peyton's flower and garden festival favorite: frushi! (fruit sushi!)
We got to see some bonsai trees that are much more impressive than ours we got from DC.
We found the Piggylicious Bacon Cupcake. How could my husband NOT try that?
Calib and I opted for the Pulled Pig Slider (so good!)
But Asa was a huge fan of his cupcake. I just thought it was ok. It was more muffin-y to me than cupcake.
A Lot-so Topiary.
And my favorite, Lady and the Tramp. I love, love, love Lady's ears!
New this year: the Muppets!
Justin and Asa of course can't go to Germany without Brats.
And Peyton was very happy with the watermellon slushie from the Florida Fresh booth.
(Can you see Pumba behind us there?)
Hayden spotted Simba. He was pretty excited about them.
By the time we got around the world, we were all pretty full. But when Peyton saw the Beijing style candied strawberries, he knew he had to have them.
The last booth we passed had ghost-pepper dusted talipia. Asa and Peyton are my spicy food eaters (and are always trying to out-do each other on the spicy scale, silly boys), so full or not they had to try it.
We left Epcot to go back to our room, but stopped on the way out to see a few more flowers.
We went up to our room just as the sun was setting.
And we discovered the room has been "turned down" for us, complete with chocolates.
We went out on the balcony, and caught a glimpse of the Epcot fireworks.
There is also a small boat electrical light parade each night, and we had a good view of that from our balcony.
After catching all of that, we headed down to the pool to let mom get some work done. That's Justin throwing Peyton in the pool.
We discovered Justin had never seen the electrical light parade, and we were so close to the Magic Kingdom (just one monorail stop away!), so we all headed over at about 10:15 to see Celebrate the Magic, and the parade.
While the Wreck it Ralph scene on the castle is very cool, so is the Lion King. But nothing tops when all the lights travel up through the castle like in Tangled. Disney Magic, people. Disney Magic!
With a little break, Justin and Asa ran over for some pineapple floats.
And then we all watched the electrical light parade together.
The boys (Asa included) always see how many characters they can get to acknowledge them. This time they got Mickey to 'raise the roof'. It was a high light for sure. They also carried a full-on conversation with Alice.
We took the boat back to the Grand Floridian,
Justin drove home (and even had to work the next day, I wonder how that went), and everyone else got tucked in for the night.
The next morning we woke up to great weather. (yay, Florida!)
We decided we were going to have Tonga Toast for breakfast. They only have it at the Polynesian, and only for breakfast. Asa wasn't sold on walking over there, but I told him given our proximity to Tonga Toast, we had to go. We're not staying here, or in the Polynesian anytime soon, given the price.
So we had a lovely morning walk.
We even passed the wedding pavilion, complete with Cinderellas carriage being pulled by white ponies!
And made it over to the Polynesian in time for breakfast.
Calib and I had Tonga Toast once before, when we went to see Live with Kelly and Micheal at the Magic Kingdom, so he was excited for it. But, it was a new experience for everyone else.
Its basically cinnamon sugared french toast stuffed with bananas.
We brought half a slice back for mom, since she was at her meeting when we went (we hear it went well!) I walked down to take a picture of everyone out on our balcony. They are on the top floor there, right next to the tree.
A close up, yay new camera!
We spent a little time in the Florida sunshine, enjoying our morning.
The boys swam a little, and played some ping pong.
Mom treated us all to drinks to celebrate how well her meeting went (because who doesn't drink at 11am)?
Then we went upstairs for some lunch. I packed chicken and threw it in the slow cooker that morning so we could have hot sandwiches for lunch.
We had a late check-out at 1 am, so we took a few more pictures from our balcony, before we had to be out.
Just because check-out was at 1, didn't mean we couldn't enjoy the pool for awhile after that, so we all went down to go on the waterslide (me and mom even took a trip down), and swim.
Peyton and Hayden even played the games down at the pool. Here they are trying to splash their rubber duckies across the pool.
Calib, meanwhile, went down the slide about a million times.
After we got home and unpacked, I realized it was National Ice Cream Cone Day, and the Haagen Dazs at the mall was giving out free cones. Mom had offered to get us pizza for dinner, and so when we went to pick up the pizza, we stopped and got a little ice cream for free.
Wednesday we spent the day playing some games. The boys all finally wised up and voted me out of all the boats before I had a chance to do anything. Well played, guys, well played.
My mom decided we could re-create the strawberries from the flower and garden festival, so her and Peyton took on that project.
While Asa made Chicken Parm, a request from Calib since he was leaving for a couple weeks.
The strawberries turned out good. Not as evenly coated, but the taste was spot on.
Also, as request of Calib, we went out and took advantage of summer of shakes at Sonic (all the shakes are half off after 8pm). There was rejoicing in our house when the boys discovered they were bringing it back for the summer, and Calib had been asking to go before he left. I'm glad we were able to squeeze it in.
Calib and mom left early yesterday morning. He stopped and saw my grandma and aunt before Jeff picked him up. We miss him already! I'm so glad it's only for two weeks this time. The house seems much to quite without his sarcasm and outbursts.
Up Next: Not much of anything, I'll be back Tuesday to get back on track- but as of now we don't have ANY plans for the next few days.
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