Day 405: Thursday, April 22
On This Thursday, we were two weeks post vaccination, which means, the four of us are now considered fully vaccinated! Weeeee!
So, we felt it fitting to celebrate with a trip to Disney. Of course, there's still Covid restrictions in place, as evident by the message you get on your phone as soon as you get to Disney.
We've only been to Animal Kingdom and Epcot since the parks reopened in July. But, Epcot is under lots of construction, so things are always new everytime we go. This time around the 'Leave a Legacy' wall had been moved and opened. Now, it's outside the park.
My dad and Calib got their picture taken for this wall back in 2000, when Calib was just a baby. I looked it up, but we didn't then go find the panel (they're really spread out), but if anyone else is interested, it's pretty easy to look up which panel it's on.
So, the big news on this trip to Epcot was that it was Calib's first time back- his first trip to a theme park in Covid times. But he was in, because it's Flower and Garden Festival time- which means FOOD!
Our first stop was at the breakfast/brunch booth. We even tried out the Fruit Loops Milkshake (which I didn't care for, Calib thought it was just ok, and Asa loved).
I was more into the food there. We had deed fried cinnamon rolls, a burnt ends hash with homemade potato barrels and an egg on top, and the best shrimp and grits I've ever had on Disney property.
And of course, there are also tons of Flowers here!
And the topiaries are back!
It wasn't too hot- so sporting our masks wasn't miserable. Still warm, for sure. But not miserable.
I love the topiaries so much, even the non-Disney inspired ones.
Next up we got the Citrus Orange Shortcake AND a spike the bee reusable spork. This might have been my favorite dessert. It was light, fluffy and citrus-y. My fave.
Meanwhile, the guys got some porkbelly on top of kumkat puree. They weren't as impressed with the puree as I was, though.
We also swung by the refreshment port for the popsicle trio. This was awesome. BUT you better have some help eating these- because they melt FAST. Even on the day that didn't see a super melty Florida summer sun. (The raspberry one in the middle was the best- but the lime and the mango coconut were also refreshing).
Of course, you can't go to the Refreshment Port without getting some Poutine. The festival one they have right now is sausage and peppers. It was delicious, but honestly didn't look all that appetizing. Still, it's the yummy-ness that counts.
As for crowds on the day we went: definitely more crowded than any Covid-time trips before, but you can see the life kind of coming back into the parks, and that's encouraging. I might have felt a little more uncomfortable in the crowds this time had I not joined the ranks of the fully vaccinated- but I was fine. I'm slowly getting used to being around more people again.
At least outside-inside is another beast. But, as we made our way inside the Festival Favorite tent, there was hardly anyone else in there.
And we had to stop there- they had the pork sliders that are SO. GOOD.
Asa had been talking about this sandwich/slider for days, and it did not disappoint.
Calib, meanwhile, opted for the fried green tomatoes. They were good, but nothing terribly special. We actually liked the crab and the salad part more than the fried green tomatoes.
As we continued on our way around the world showcase, we stopped to see the topiaries!
And take some crowd pictures along the way.
Over in the UK Pavillion, we spotted Mary Poppins (from a safe distance, of course).
And we were able to nab ourselves one of the fun wrist gift cards that make paying at the booths so much easier.
We were pretty full by now, but really wanted to try the creme brulee bienget in France. And this thing did not disappoint.
Look at the crunch sugary goodness on the top of this sucker.
Over in France we also sort of got to check out the new area.
Ratatouille is coming soon!
Making our way around the world showcase, some places were busier than others.
But the scenery was really gorgeous. These guys are my favorite topiaries, and they have a new spot this year.
And I LOVE how pretty Epcot looks with all the flowers everywhere. Hoping that monorail gets running back up again soon. It's just not the same without seeing it whiz by every now and again (the monorail from Epcot to MK hasn't re-opened since Covid).
On our way out, we stopped for some Desert Violet Lemonade. This might have been my favorite thing I had all day. It was light, and refreshing, and the right balance of sweet and tart. Plus, I was so full, I wouldn't have been able to down anything other than a drink.
There are still lots of construction walls up around Future World as it undergoes it's transformation. But, Disney is making good use of them.
Some areas of the park are obviously WAY less crowded than others. There is still reduced capacity (it was supposedly 35% when we went).
You guys, these flowers are gorgeous! Love them!
I am also partial to the Lion King topiaries.
You can be Figment!
Calib wouldn't stand with the butterfly wings (party pooper!) but Asa would!
And that does it for our trip to Epcot. Trying to hit it on the nice days while we can!
Oh, and the new fountain has been revealed. I like it enough, I guess.
We were home before dinner time, but it's always a little weird when you spend the first part of your day at Disney. We hemmed and hawed about what to do for dinner and landed on pizza- and I was like, you know what sounds good? A college pizza! So what's that, you ask? Well, extra sauce and extra cheese. Emily and I used to exclusively order this our Freshman year, and it just tasted like college. Everyone actually really enjoyed it too.
And we took an evening walk around the loop.
Day 406: Friday April 23
Championship Day in Tampa Bay! All the trophies met up for some pictures!
Aw, and look- it's the one year anniversary of injecting sunlight!
We were ready for a new countdown. They say we're fully vaccinated after two weeks- but we keep building them for about four. So, a new countdown!
Still, a fully vaccinated me went to Costco all by myself! It's the first time I've done this in a year, too. I even nosed around a bit. Not, like, a lot- but some.
We hit the pool for lunch, which was awesome. There aren't a whole lot of people down there these days. That'll change when summer vacation starts in two weeks, but for now, it's usually just us- or maybe a few other familes split between the two pools.
For the most part though, we have a whole pool to ourselves.
Sometimes even both pools.
And of course, we've been taking lots of walks still.
There's even some baby (now more teenage) cranes around.
And, we've been having lots of movie nights too. I think this one was Godzilla vs. Kong
Day 407: Saturday April 24
With our second stimulus check, we decided it was time to get ourselves a new kitchen table. The world map one was really showing it's age. It was nearly impossible to keep it clean, too. So, we got ourselves a new one.
All we had to do was put the new legs on.
And ta-da! New kitchen table.
We christened it with a take out lunch.
Along with the new table, I ordered some new placemats from Kohls. And all six placemats came packaged separately. Some were in boxes- some folded in bags, some flat in bags- it was really weird. So for like a week I'd get a placemat or two a day- and I felt terrible about how bad my placemat purchase was for the environment. I even tried to leave a review about it, and Kohls kicked it back saying I couldn't talk about shipping in my review. What? They come from your warehouses? Weird.
For dinner, Asa recreated the sliders from the Flower and Garden festival, and they were a total hit.
There were also some lizards hanging out on the screen... you know.. "hanging out"
And on our walk around the loop, Tommy was happy for some pets (we name the cats we don't know, but Tommy is this one's real name).
Day 408: Sunday April 25
Baby Gator sighting! This little guy ran in front of me, across the sidewalk, while I was on my bike.
Because it was Sunday- bike ride day!
Picnic Bike ride day, in fact. I'm going to miss this when it gets all hot and gross outside.
Also, I've gotten really good at picnic packing.
We finished another 500 piece puzzle, a cute Little Mermaid one.
And had date night: crab fries and steak!
Calib, meanwhile, went to get everyone else take out.
So, um, he might feed the dogs, sometimes.
On our evening walk, we collected some sticks for a fire.
And we even brought Ellie along- she usually keeps up pretty good on the evening walks, the morning ones can be hit or miss.
And another movie night!
We watched Mortal Kombat, which was just terrible. But, whatever, I was there for the snacks anyway.
Day 409: Monday April 26
We finished up our first Summer of Shakespeare book: Romeo and Juliet (Which Hayden just HATED).
And started in on our second: Julius Caesar.
Found this guy all alone on my morning walk.
And a gopher tortoise just making his way down the street.
You could even hear his little feet and shell dragging along.
It was Monday, too, which usually means it's time for a library craft bag.
This one was string art!
I think we did a pretty good job on this one.
Ellie has taken to looking out the window from the chair these days.
And we've been squeezing in evening walks while it's still cool enough to enjoy them.
Day 410: Tuesday April 27
Just me and Ellie out for our morning walk.
And new CDC guidelines. We don't need masks outdoors, for the most part.
Though, still recommended in some settings.
And this is mostly for the fully vaccinated. Check out all the safe activities I can do - some with a mask, some without.
Spotted some crane families on the evening walk.
Which has gotten a little weird- here is Asa watching Gary the Axolotl's Youtube channel. Hayden found it and insisted we check it out.
Tommy! Our favorite quarantine cat.
Day 411: Wednesday April 28
A muscles with muppets day.
And another trip to a deserted pool.
Plus, Dungeon Defenders has come out- but not for local co-op, so Asa and Hayden made it INTO local co-op, by putting it on separate x-boxes and tvs.
A new cat showed up on our walks. We named him creamsicle, but later found out his real name is George.
And we met up with Calib, Ellie and Etta, halfway around the loop. Etta is doing better on walks these days.
Oh, and it was also State of the Union time- except not, because you don't call it that when a president just took office, but whatever.
It was still historic- because yay, women!
We closed in on Bidens first 100 days, and I'm not mad about it. In fact, he's barely tweeted about it. And that's all we all really wanted, right? Well, that and basic human rights like healthcare, a sustainable wage and affordable child care and college, but you know...
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