MGC Disney Trip

Disclaimer---MCG stands for Mean Girls Club.  That nickname was given to us years ago and it stuck.  We don't care...we like it, we own it, deal with it.

This Disney trip has been in the making for a while.  It has been planned for a while and seemed like it would never get here. This was the Locke Family's first visit and we were so glad we were there to watch their kids get excited and enjoy this place as much as we do.  Lynn and Jason had always said if they go, they wanted us to take them so that we could show them around and such.  I hope we didn't disappoint.   We had so much fun.  Three families...four days...tons of craziness.

Nothing like a 1:30am wake up call.  Don't they look tired? 

Again, isn't this the most beautiful thing you have ever seen?  Best. Marriage. Ever.

First ride of the day! We had to send it to Auntie Noelle.  Toy Story Manier!

PARTY OF 15!!!!!!!!  Right after we all met up for the first time.  So exciting!!! 

Second ride together!!  (The first one was Goofy's Sky School and the only memory I took away from that was Lynn's mom Diana screaming at the top of her lungs the entire time and me laughing hysterically trying to watch her since they were behind us.)   

Diana and Kirsten!  So darling.  Diana was a trooper!  She just got back from a trip to Paris and she just went with the flow.  It was so great to have her on the trip.

Matt's first ride on California Screaming!  Jason too.  I cannot ride this ride anymore.  I don't know who I am kidding when I think I can ride this.  Every time I get off I say that I am never going do ride it again, and then I cave to peer pressure and not wanting to look like a wimp in front of my nine year old. 

View from our room...this never gets old.

First night in the park.  It's Halloween Time!!!  And it's time to test out my new phone's camera night settings.

Halloween Time!

 

Practicing the panoramic!  Work in progress, people.

Late night driving on Autopia! 

My driving partners.  Me, Colson and Ryan.  Love these two!

Night ride to the Haunter Mansion. 

The Haunted Mansion at Halloween makes the Haunted Mansion non-Halloween look like a joke.

Let me tell you how much the Locke's and Guido's were troopers that first day.  The Sunday that we got there was the only day the park was open late until midnight and we told them to pace themselves and rest well because we were shutting the place down.  It was the only night they would be able to see fireworks and Fantasmic.  

I'm not going to lie...kind of became obsessed with taking pictures at night.

 

 

New Starbucks on Main Street. 

The next day we started out early.  With the park only being open until 8:00pm, we had to make good use of our time.

Before we got on Radiator Springs.

 

The Three Amigos!

Freaks!  (Cute freaks)

I love this picture...Colson trying to make Vinnie smile.

Anthony and I swapping pics.

Bumper cars with Dad.

 

This is just funny.  She is just funny.

Mrs. Locke leading a game of Simon Says while we wait for our ride back.  A cast member asked if we were family and we answered no.  She said, I can tell because they are all getting along.

The kids....and Kelly.

Jedi training.  Dillon was picked and loved it, but unfortunately Camden and Colson were not.  Oh well, this is excuse enough for them to have to come back.

Getting better...

 

Dinner at the House of Blues on our last night. 

BFF's

Cars Land at night.

Alright, last one.  I think it turned out pretty good. 

This is my absolute favorite picture of the trip.  How do you not love this little love bug who is laying in his stroller periodically sticking out his tongue to lick his ice cream cone, while being pushed around.  This friends...is the life.

 

Last morning.  Nothing like being in line at 6:55am!!  Someone needs to break Rich's alarm clock.

Solo Screaming!  He went from being terrified to going on it to wanting to ride it alone...since neither Rich or I would go on it.

The boys and Leah on RS for the last time.

Last ride of the trip.  They all still love each other.

Five minutes after we got in the car to head home.  To be completely honest, I was out cold after taking this. 

 

So, there it is.  Hopefully the first of many MGC trips to the Mouse's House!  When we get back all of the group pics that we ordered, I will share those too.



Bag Lady

Okay, truth time.  I may have a small obsession with bags.  Not so much purses, but bags.  I can't stop buying them.  I feel I need them, all of them, and each one serves a purpose that the others can't always help with.  Should I clean some out and get rid of them?  Of course.  This really isn't a question.  But every time I think about getting rid of some, I have a justification for each of them staying and more importantly...going out and getting them more friends.  I. Can't. Stop.

Last week I got a new bag from a co-worker's daughter, who was selling them for a fundraiser.  She comes and sees me every year and every year I tell myself that I am "helping out for a good cause".  Truth be told, if she hasn't come to see me by November, I seek her out and ask if Rich has somehow gotten to her and forbid her from coming to see me.  I would not put it past him.  And if I may add this small tidbit of information, I also view my bags as a strong force of estrogen in a testosterone filled household.  I kind of feel like if I am in charge of snacks and drinks for one of the boys' teams, then I should be able to carry them out in a brightly floral bag if I want to.  Not everything in this house needs to be in a form of blue or green.  It's just a small reminder that a girl is still living in this house.

The other night, a day or so after "the new bag" had made its "No, I'm not new" debut, Rich said-- "Tell me you didn't buy a new bag."  Me-- "I didn't buy a new bag."  Rich-- "The bag you used the other day looked new.  Did you buy a new bag?"  Me-- "I'm confused.  You just told me to tell you I didn't buy a new one...so, what exactly are you trying to get me to say?"  Rich sighing,-- "Heather."  Me sighing,-- "Rich?"  Rich-- "Stop buying bags!!!  We don't need anymore!!!  You have plenty and you don't use all of the ones you have now!  Stop buying bags!!!"  Me-- "Yeah, I can't promise that.  But I hear you and I respect your position on the subject." 

Here is just the collection from the pantry.  This does not include my bedroom or the boys' rooms.  And since he claims he never reads this blog...I'll assume you are all Team Heather on this and not out me.

A couple other happenings at the Marini Household include the beginning of Ryan's flag football season.  Don't confuse this with the soccer season that he is still in the middle of, we just added this one to make sure all of our Saturday's are filled up at some type of field.  He is super excited though, he is playing with his good friends from school.  One of his best little buddies is Tyler Franklin, and his dad is the head varsity football coach for Tokay.  It's understood that everything they do is purple related, I get that, we just continue to tell Ryan---just remember you bleed red, we are Flames for life.
Don't get any ideas.

A little excited that he is on his Uncle Mike's favorite team.

 

Pick 6. 

And I love that Tyler's sister Gabby is on the team! 

 

And we are officially on vacation.  Did I mention that???  Seriously, the fastest first quarter of school in history.  Here is Matt getting an award for the first quarter.  He has worked really hard this quarter, harder than he has ever had to work, and we are super proud of how he is doing.  He no longer comes to see me for part of the day, so we are back to the occasional, low attention "S'up" we share when passing in the halls.  This was a good decision for a number of reasons, but most of all I can go back to using him when talking about things in class.  It was hard to talk about him in the middle of class and the kids not give him a bad time.  So now we, the kids in my class and myself, have a deal--what happens in Room 12, stays in Room 12.  Also, he was correcting me occasionally when I misspoke and called me on it several times...that little shit.

And it's hockey season again!!!  The other night we headed to our first game of the new season.  It was fun to be back in the Tank again!

Can anyone tell I got a new phone???  Aren't the pics a little better???  I am in love and I am no longer attached to my charge cord.  It's like a whole new life.  I seriously can't tell you how happy this makes me feel.  Oh, I got new tires on my car---equally as exciting by the way....

And finally, Mike and Stacy and the kids came down a few weekends ago and we did something pretty amazing.  I can't share with you now, but I will when I get the nod of approval from Stacy.  It was Rad with a capital R and that is all I am saying.

Happy Fall Everyone!!!!!!!!