Around the World..Disney

*click to enlarge pics*

We successfully managed to visit the last stop on our Worldwide Disney adventure this past weekend (ok so we haven't been to Hong Kong Disney yet, but I'm gonna guess the one in Tokyo is just as comparable). Disneyland Paris was fabulous. We did, however, take the Express tour...so that means we will be back with an extended visit later. This time it was a one day, one park, feet wet kinda deal.


They have two parks, Disneyland (aka Magic Kingdom) and Walt Disney Studios (aka DisneyMGM). They also have Disney Village (like Downtown Disney). We chose the classic of the two and pushed forward. Of course everything was written and spoken in French (Thyme would have enjoyed that), but since we were in Europe...it was also subtitled in English for all those Londoners :o) BONUS! So that was a nice change. I think I said Danke (thanks in German) like 15 times to the French and they would stare me down and reply Merci...MY BAD. Anyway, some of the staple rides were there...Space Mountain 2, Thunder Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan, Dumbo, Le Carousel, Buzz Lightyear, It's a Small World, etc. There were some odd interpretations here and there though...


Haunted Mansion was referred to as Phantom Manor


and Cinderella's Castle was replaced with Sleeping Beauty's Castle.

But what I was really excited about was the Mad Hatter Teacup ride. The excitement quickly turned into despair...Mad Hatter was on hiatus. That effer didn't even leave a note. So there I was, reminiscing my days as a young child growing up in Disney"World" territory, never once spinning myself in a cup o'blivion. My chance was once again thwarted by that schizo Hatter...one day I'll make it down that rabbit hole.

The new additions...they had the Indiana Jones Temple of Peril roller coaster. JD thought he should be able to climb the temple...we almost let him, but the line was moving too fast. He settled for an Indy hat that his big sis bought him instead...he rocks it pretty well.


Teage had a BLAST to say the least. I caught many moments of him just staring in awe at the Happiest Place on Earth.


We spotted a few characters as well...even though Teage wanted NOTHING to do with Capt Hook. "I don't like him...he's too mad", he said.


Oh, and Ratatouille is HUGE there...being French and all. They have rat hats, statues, shirts...all about it.


The weather was perfect, the park was hoppin', and the food was great. What a great beginning to our jam packed Spring Break. Check out the rest of our pics...




P.S. You simply cannot leave France without a croissant or some creme brulee...so I had both, and I wanted to slap my mama...it was SO GOOD!


P.S.S. I'm gonna say it, the French ARE rude. They lived up to the hype on several occasions. One in particular in trying to push my Teagie out of the way to let their kid jump ahead on the slide line....I think I saw Saige's head spin and she almost took some lady out :o) (What they didn't realize was that the Isla's don't back down!)

P.S.S.S. Nothing says Europe like being able to buy Pez AND a lighter at the same Disney stand LOL



Bon Voyage and Merci,

Mini-PHX Update

I have so much to write about...

"Dad" doesn't have wireless in his house (something we will have to fix before we leave here), so my laptop has been collecting dust in the carry-on for days. So I am using G-Pa's Ultra Command Center 'Puter. Anyway, the visit is going awesome! The kids are having a blast be-bopping between the G-Parent's houses since that means Teage can play with "Lady" and the "small dogs" no matter where we are. Saige is enchanted with all the shoping at her fingertips...JD would rather just sit and play the Wii or have me hang out in Fry's Electronics with him all day, but he's still having a good time.

The visit with Jenny is going FANTABULOUS! All the days she has been my road dawg, and this visit couldn't have come at a better time in our lives or location. She has been my sanity this past week (more on that later). So far we have hit up the Arrowhead Mall, Target, Wal-Mart, the Dollar Tree, Arby's, Village Inn, Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Ross, and the salon. So Far, So good...with much more to follow!

It's so refreshing to visit with the in-laws (mainly, because you realize that your extended family is not the only one that's crazy LOL). G-Pa has been GREAT! He's braved all the "on the go" moments and keeps throwing in his one-liners, which personally I can't get enough of. G-Ma has spent some good quality time with Saigie and had big girl bonding time...the boy bonding will soon follow. Plus, I finally got to meet the other Isla chil'ren. Granted it was 11pm and they were sprung from the car following their road trip. Which means they weren't exactly feeling Aunt Diane's desire to roll around on the ground and play kissies. All good things come to those who wait, I guess.

I have pics to post from the trip, but I must wait till the laptop is on full swing to upload. So get prepared for "photo phun" coming soon. I hope everyone is doing great and getting all the last minute shopping completed. Will blog soon....right now, it is EARLY and there's a party in my mouth that I need to take care of :o)

Love ya....

Recouping from Vacation

OK so as everyone already knows, we made it back safe from our Tokyo adventure. I think I caught a little bug on the plane ride home because my head is sorta stuffy and my throat feels lumpy. So I have been relaxing all day with some sporadic movements here and there. George has been getting all the laundry done for me (what a nice guy). I know it has a lot to do with the fact that he just cannot stand still for more than 5 seconds. Maybe I should have him checked for ADHD. Adults can have that now right? Isn't it insane how many medical conditions a person can have these days?? Whatever happened to the "Lay down and take a nap" remedy. My kids know that one all too well. Home remedies are where it's at people!! Just look at them now....the cure for jet lag:

OK so maybe a little Wii action helps it along!! Either way, it's a lazy day in the Isla household and we are going to top it off by going to one of George and I's favorite restaurants...The Garlic House (Arin Krin). I love it there. And for those who don't know about it...it is family style dining where you order several things ala carte and share with everyone in your party. Everything is made with garlic: Garlic Pizza, Garlic Potatoes, Garlic Pasta, Garlic Rice...you get the idea! It is heaven and something I wish I could package up and take to the states with me once I get back there. This will be the kids first time going (the place is small and half the restaurant is seating on the floor) so it is hard to get a table there as you can imagine. So they are excited to be getting the real deal rather than the leftovers from our dinners. Speaking of...here is a pic from our last visit:

I am looking forward to the garlic seeping out of all our orifices on the car ride home.

Let's hope that this wanna be sickness gets my drift and travels onto some other helpless host. And when I say that I am NOT talking about one of my kids or George. Lord knows that is why I am willing it to be gone...I as well as all the other mothers out there can't afford to be sick, we're too busy taking care of our sick brood, whether it be mental or physical :o) !!

Man, coming back from vacation really jacks up your schedule. Who knows what I have going on this week!! Catch you next time...