Layers

Mari, Payton, and Minion.

Realmas

The real Christmas is here.

Game Off

Board games make a nice change from video games (and this is coming from me.) This one is called Uncle Wiggly.

Furry Friends

Mystic and Minion got along great, Madison not so much (no surprise there.)

Noob

Our newest family member, Minion Bolt Ireland.

Mixed Messages

If you're going to deface the wall outside of the Public Defender's office you need to be more clear. For instance I can't tell if this "ya" is an exuberant version of "yes" or "ya" as in "you". Are you happy or angry? Maybe you got something really awesome for Christmas and are still stoked about it. Maybe it was a really nice pen. Or maybe you're going to prison. I'll never know! You took the time to draw that curly line below, and whatever that mark to the upper right is supposed to be, but you couldn't throw in a period or an exclamation mark? Details people, details.  

Kindamas

Christmas is here, kinda. We couldn't wait so we opened the presents to each other this morning, but the real fun will be next weekend when the Atlanta Irelands arrive.

Centerquilt

Getting the guest room ready xmas syle, as always anchored by the quilt my parents made.

Santa With Swords

We went to see this, not expecting much and expecting even less when the audience around us averaged about eight years old. Turned out to be pretty good, well worth the time.

The Nice List

Mari checks in with the big guy to make sure we're all good.

Yet Another

Sleeping dogs post.

Design

...into this, you have to take the frame completely out of the door, then entirely apart.

Bad

In order to change this...

Boxed In

This was a co-workin' buddy's effort. Andy made a roof out of cut up cardboard boxes, then wrapped the whole thing to make his entire cube look like one big present. It's just too bad his name isn't Richard.

Winners Win

We had a decoration contest at work, winner gets two days off. As you can see, I brought it fierce. No way I can lose.

This Old Mouse

Xmas decoration is complete.

WOTM

Xmas style. It's like Gangnam Style, only with more fur and less leg flailing.

Tree Time

Christmas is go.

A Pack A Dern Years

My 14th wedding anniversary, to the best wife ever. She who puts up with me, my quirks, my slight gaming obsession. I love her more than ever.

The traditional 14th anniversary gift is ivory, the modern is gold. We went with ivory. Above is Misty who lives at the Elephant Sanctuary over in Hohenwald, TN. We took the money we would have spent on gifts and flowers and all that good stuff, and instead donated it all to her.

Card Post

Disney sent us a little thank you for giving them lots of money. I kid, worth every penny! Tinker Bell and Goofy must get tired of signing things pretty quickly.

Hitching Post

No picture today, as nothing could top this one:

Congrats to Brent and Brock!

(Edit: I have since come back and copied this picture to my blog instead of just a link to it. I did this because I worry about links breaking and losing the picture. All rights to the picture of course belonging to Brent.)

WOTS

That would be, Wolf of the Season. I'm a sucker for a good wolf postcard.

Le Turkey

A quiet Thanksgiving for two from Mimi's. We were expecting it to be good, but it turned out to be fantastic. We think if we have company next year we're going to get Mimi's anyway.

16th

Watched Lincoln. A very good movie.

Rage Against The Dying Of The Light

 Finished Dishonored. A very good game.

Leaf It Outside

Just because I liked this picture.

Dexterous

This was right outside the elevator when I stepped off this morning, I thought I had walked into a crime scene for a second. Just some electrical work it seems.

Flee Market

Mari has always wanted to go to the big Christmas Village they have at the fair grounds every year. With the Atlanta Irelands visiting for the weekend we all headed down there. Meh, underwhelming, it was kind of like an upscale flea market. Highlight though, they had a really good Santa that Payton got to meet and have a picture with, so that made the trip worth it.

Skyfall

Went and saw Skyfall with Lonnie, was nice to get out and see a movie with him. It was OK, not bad but not the best Bond movie. The real star was the gorgeous 1964 Aston Martin DB5.

Barack To Barack Victory

Four more years.

I Approve This Message

Voted this morning.

8 Bits Of OK

I really wanted this to be fantastic because it's Disney and it's gaming so I mean what could be better? It was good, but not great. The "inside" game references were fun to spot and I'm glad it seems to be doing well at the box office. Special props to Alan Tudyk's voice acting, I never would have guessed it was him without seeing his name in the credits.

Belle Curve

The Liberty Belle at night, one of the Trick or Treat locations.

Creepy Cartography

The special Halloween map they gave out after hours.

Weekend Remainders, Disney Edition

Just tossing up some of the unused pictures I have left on my phone, for my own personal posterity. Here's the park map.

WOTM

November comes howling in, let's hope it ends with an Obama.

Return Of The Living Dogs

Another Halloween, another pumpkin and "trick or treater". I think we've gotten our money's worth out of those shirts:

2008
2009
2010
2011

Happy Tails

So we found this really sweet puppy standing in the middle of the road on the way home. We really didn't know what to do with her, so we got her in the car and drove around knocking on random doors. No luck. We were considering taking her home with us when the people who lived on the corner right next to where we found her offered to keep her in their backyard for a night or two while we all tried to hunt down the owners. We went home and brought back food and treats for the dog because the family, super nice people, only had a cat. Anyway, the dad whose name is Andrew found a missing dog ad on Craigslist and found her family. So the best possible ending. But we almost had a third dog for a minute there.

Spoiled

Yes she is.

Spoils

Mari's pin lanyard, my hat that I also used for pins, Mickey ears, a chocolate frog from Hogsmeade (complete with collectible card but I got Salazar Slytherin boo), and a limited edition Mickey watch Mari got for me.

The Best Part Of The End...

...is bringing the puppies home from Abby's Bed-N-Biskit.

Fade Out

Home. There's only one thing missing.

Recap

Mari and I don't have time for another park today, we have to fly home. So while the Ireland clan heads to the Animal Kingdom Park, we head to the Orlando airport. We're relaxing a little before breakfast while Payton tells his Gramma all about his favorite parts.

Dead Tired

Main Street lit for a Halloween exit.

Ghost Lights

The "Hallowishes" show and fireworks, once again around and over Cinderella's Castle. I have to say I think this show was even better then the "Wishes" one from the other night.

Dead Line

Mickey's Not So Scary "Boo To You" Parade.

Jacked Again

Just as I post about missing characters Payton meets Jack Sparrow.

Mickyween

The after hours Halloween party. The trick or treat bit has been a little disappointing. You walk through the queues of certain rides and they give you candy. I guess I was expecting the candy to be handed out by characters, or the queues to be done up in some fun Halloween style. But it's not characters, it's just workers with barrels, and the queues are just the same chain-formed lines. I was expecting more. However there is also special parade then a special fireworks show. And it is fun to see most of the guests, young and old, wearing costumes.

Second Land, Second Visit

Frontierland.

First Land, Second Visit

Liberty Square.