No month like November

Is it just me, or does November seem to fly by for you, too?

Never fails every year, Halloween happens and then someone just seems to step on the accelerator and time starts to fly by. Or maybe its just because so much happens for our family in November that it seems that much busier.

That said, November is truly one of my most favorite months of the year.

And not just because its my birthday month, (but that is one of the good reasons!)

This year for my most lucky Friday the 13th birthday

CD flew down from Salt Lake to help me celebrate

at Disneyland, which as you probably know by now has

the clever promotion this year to let you in free

on your birthday. Because most likely you'd bring along

a paying guest and you'd both eat a lot of good food and

spend a lot of money on parking ($14!) and more likely

than not buy a $5 s'more bar (each!) on the way

out of the park that night.

At least thats how it happened for us.

The birthday attention began before we even hit

the park entrance, as we waited in the short line

for the next trolly from the parking lot.

Rick made my birthday button,

personalizing it with a hand drawn

mickey mouse, and my name.

Wearing this button doesn't really entitle you to anything

except a lot of enthusiastic "Happy Birthdays!" from

park employees, and perhaps other park patrons.

It was a lot of fun however to see how many

other people have my same birthday.

Just in through the front gate,

ready to go!

The park has been decorated for the Christmas

season, and is quite festive. I'm sure you could

buy your own Mickey wreath somewhere

in the shops along Main Street.

Sleeping Beauty's castle has snow on it,

it now matches the nearby snow

covered Matterhorn ride.

(which is so fun we rode it twice in a row!)

Delicious Pineapple Whip

from the Enchanted Tiki Room

We spent much of the afternoon in Adventure Land and

Frontier Land - in the French Quarter near the

river and the River Boat.

Heavy promotion was in full swing for the

upcoming Disney film The Princess and the Frog -

it was like Mardi Gras without the

floats and sugar beads. A full on Jazz Band

with colorful dancers, lead by the real-life

title characters and a guy in an alligator

costume walked through the streets headed

toward the River Boat, which they then climbed

aboard and sailed around on

dancing and singing.

If you close up on this picture you can see

the princess and prince on the top deck

of the boat, plus the dancers and alligator below them.

Quite festive.

We also made the very smart choice

to eat lunch at the Cafe Orleans

in New Orleans Square

which like the rest of the area really

made me think I was in the real French Quarter.

We had tasty gumbo, caesar salad, Monte Cristo sandwich,

and shared an order of the most excellent

parmesan crusted pommes frites

with a spicy remoulade sauce.

Completely delicious.

(above photo of Cafe Orleans from Google)

We did make the unfortunate mistake of riding Splash

Mountain right at dusk as the sun was going down

and it was becoming much cooler. CD and I were in the front

seats of the log, and got S-O-A-K-E-D.

My photo of the photo taken on the ride that you can purchase

as we went down the giant hill, "into the brier patch!"

I think this was the only photo of CD and I together that day.

When the sun goes down the lights come on -

It's a Small World was all lit up for the season.
It was really beautiful and quite a spectacle.

- reminded me of when

I was younger and my dad would get us all

a couple of rooms at the Hotel Utah so we could

hang out the windows and watch the

lighting of the Christmas lights at Temple Square.

Inside Small World was also done up for the season.

Love it or hate it, It's a Small World is quite an experience.

Sleeping Beauty's snow covered castle at night

Caramel apples in a candy shop along Main Street -

where we bought our delicious s'more bars on the way out

We stayed at the park until around 8:00, then headed

home to the real Happiest Place on Earth.
The kids were waiting excitedly for us with

presents and a cake they made with our

friends the Snyders who they hung out with

after school today.

Harriet and Corianne made me a lovely

birthday aquarium diorama.

Jed decorated a card

for me with seashells

Henry's illustrated card. You rock too, Henry

Da bomb birthday card from Jack

candles on my cake - 1967 was a good year

The Monday after my birthday is Henry's 8th Birthday!

He gets a special catered lunch of his choice from mom

at school that day.
Birthday badge

and

whiteboard announcement at school

In the evening on Henry's birthday

we have his soccer team party,

which doubles as a birthday celebration
dinner and cake at Fuddruckers

Henry gets a trophy from his coach dad

Jed gets one too, same team.

Later at home we open presents.

Happy Birthday Henry!

Didn't I say November was an excellent birthday month?