Can I get you some cheese with your wine? Epcot 2009

One of the funnest things to do around Orlando in October and November was going to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. And thought it was expensive, it helped to think in advance and get free tickets.

* Note, our thinking in advance was to volunteer for the Disney Marathon in January of this year. And we'll be doing it again in two months time to get some more free tickets!

When I told Margie and Bob that we were going to go, they got jealous and decided to drive down and join us. (It might also have had something to do with my parents being in this time-zone...)

What a great day!

Started off getting there a little after lunch so we could pace ourselves and not get too tired - was a gorgeous day. Sunshine galore!

Windy Tram ride!
Margie and Mom



We're here!

Ended up getting Fast Passes to Soarin' because it was already packed - not a big deal - and went on all the smaller/not-so-exciting rides. My parents hadn't been to Epcot for a long time - I think I was six or so.

Beautiful day.

Waiting in line.
Mom, Margie, Bob, Darin, and Dad.

Finding Nemo ride.

After exploring the ride-side of Epcot, we decided to open our wallets and start eating! I mean, why else go to a Food and Wine Festival?

Here was the menu. I feel like I should write down all we ate, but won't. It was slightly embarrassing - though I will/would do it again. I have no shame.

Here we stopped in Mexico to get margaritas - more substantial drinks (compared to wine).

They're lushes.
(Mind you I've probably had three glasses of wine by now).

Then off to Norway where we didn't go on my favorite ride (so sad) because we had drinks. It was a kind of easy decision.

Next was Germany. Man do I love Germany.

Darin, Bob, and Dad with a pretzel.

Mom and her cupcake. It was quite delicious.

Every year (including last year) I have gone to this, my good friend Carrie makes me get the wine flight in Germany. And though she wasn't there this year with us (and couldn't be drinking anyway because she's 100% pregnant), I had to stop and persuade my Mom and Dad to try some wine.

Being drunk.

How cute was this?

And from there we wondered around eating merrily and drinking. The boys got some beer, I stuck with wine, and Margie had her iced tea. We were all happy. We watched the show at each of the counties and tried to not lose anybody! Success.

Here was what the little countries looked like (compared to the actual countries that were always at Epcot, that was.)

South Africa - getting wine.

And we went to Italy (I had cannelloni).

Dad was excited about Snow White. We could have waited in line to get their picture together but decided it was probably not a good idea.

And then it was time to go on Soarin'. A great ride all together. We got on a boat and headed back to where we started!

Waiting for the boat.

Hurray for sitting - boat ride!

Sunset from boat. Once again, beautiful.

Did that and then came around the other side of the park - started in Canada (and had cheese soup - one of the best things served.)

Dad, Darin, and Del.

Bob, Mom, and Margie.

We were getting kind of tired (though not less hungry, I might add). Just walked around more to explore the other countries we had missed.

On the way to England.

Dad, Del, Margie, and Mother.

Listening to the Beatles.

Crazy dancer.

Ireland - the hot ticket item. Their Lobster & Scallop Fisherman's Pie was voted the best dish this year. Had to try it!

Using a trash can as a table. We're creative.

And that was that! We found a spot to watch the fireworks, lost Bob for a bit, found him again, and enjoyed the last part of our day. We were well fed and full, tired but not too tired, and happy all around.

Can't wait for next year!

P.S. My favorite was from Australia: Grilled Lamp Chop with Red Wine Sauce and Murray River Sea Salt.

Visiting the Elders - Naples FL

On Sunday (two weeks ago), we drove back from Destin, FL to Tampa. From there my parents drove down south to Naples to visit my Auntie Pat and Uncle Bill.

I thought I'd share some cute photos of their visit!

Bill, Jere, and Pat outside on the balcony.

Eating dinner!

On the beach drinking wine.
Love this photo!

A Halloween Wedding: Part II

I had a look at all of the other gazillion photos my mother and I have taken from the wedding and decided I needed to definitely share these.

Best picture by far. It speaks for itself.

Can you see the blue eyeshadow?

Our nether-regions.

The other fantastic group costume.

Matthew and Gina's first dance. Sweet.

And though dark, the whole new family:
Luke, Baby D., Jill, Toni, Matthew, Gina, Aunt Carol, and Uncle Sam

And that's that!

McGuires on a Stormy Day

So a couple of years ago for my cousin Carrie's wedding, my Mom and I were down in Seaside (scary scary shiver - it's where the Truman Show was taped) and drove over to Destin to find McGuire's Pub.

And then a couple years later (maybe three years ago?) I met Margie and Bob, maybe KC??, my folks, and Dru (she drove from Orlando with me to Pensacola) at the McGuire's in Pensacola. It was for our last Spring Break in Orange Beach. Sad.

Anyway, it's a tradition to go there when you're near.

So we went!

Mom and Dad

Del and Darin

So this place brewed it's own beer. And it was after noon, so wa-la. We had beer. Good beer. Beer of different types. Boo-berry beer (blueberry). Num.

And the restaurant's thing was to put dollar bills everywhere. On the ceilings. On the doors. On the walls. Everywhere. They have a crazy bar area too with very interesting stuff. Ahem.

And their other thing was the bathroom doors.

Sigh.

Well we ate, drank beer, had 19 cents bean soup, ate some good dessert. And watched it get stormy outside and rain. Or sprinkle. It wasn't too wet, but it was turning cold.

But the beer warmed us up.

A Beach Rehersal

Hopefully you gathered from my previous post that we were not going to be home on Halloween.

Instead we drove about 8 hours (with a time change) to Destin, FL to celebrate the marriage of my cousin Gina and her *new husband, Matthew! We were very excited to be able to attend because we could drive to it - nothing like driving compared to flying. Also, we were happy to be able to see my other cousins, Aunts and Uncles, and good family friends there as well.

And did I mention my parents? They flew down from Seattle to enjoy beautiful Gina and beautiful Florida! They were hoping to come down (migrate, if you will) for a while this winter because the Pacific Northwest's winters were some what undesirable. So why not hit two birds with one stone.

Or flamingos.

We got in Friday afternoon to a beautiful day and a happy Mother. (She will always be a sun-bird beach person. Can't figure out why they moved so far away...).

After seeing the rest of the family, we all went our separate ways to go to the Rehearsal dinner which was being held at Henderson Beach. It was quite beautiful, but very windy.

Water. Ocean. Gulf.

Mom, Dad, and I walking the beach at night.



Del and Darin

After everyone got there, we watched the caterer place the food out and all dived in. So good. Love bbq - and it was good bbq at that!

Those were cheese biscuits people. Cheese biscuits.
I had four. At least.

Then we carved pumpkins. Or at lease Darin and my Dad did. My mom and I were supporting everyone else and drinking beer. What can I say? I did help people get the guts out of the pumpkin though. I'm good at that.

Cousin Jill dumping away. She made a boat design!

Aunt Carol, Arlene, and Aunt Helen.

Dad (with a fake smile) and Darin.

Dad's pirate pumpkin. He was very proud.

Darin's pucker. Yak.

It was a very festive evening, though it got kind of chilly by the end of the night. The ocean breezes wrecked havoc with our hair. Won't say I'll forget this Halloween Eve.

A Halloween Wedding: Part I

Wedding night - Halloween.

In true tradition, we decided to dress up for Halloween. Dru and my Dad (I think) came up with a fantastic idea for a costume.

Cheerleaders.

I think in our minds, the guys would have worn short skirts and bloomers, but it was too expensive and too scary. Image my father in those. Or Darin even - and he's got some nice legs...

I even put blue eyeshadow and blush on everyone. We looked great!

The wedding took place on the beach across from the resort - easy easy! My cousins and family set up the place (while we took naps, oops) and did a fantastic job. Everything was beautiful!

The 'reception' area. The ceremony was in the back.

On the chairs!

My cousin Jill and baby D. walking up the aisle

Gorgeous sunset.

We were semi-worried that the weather was going to be just plain awful. It was cloudy and rainy all day long. And chilly (like 45 degrees people, this was cold for FL).

When we got there you could tell the sunset was going to make everything worthwhile.

So perfect. Beautiful. Warm. Magical.

More too come - Part II later.