Special friends

Nothing makes my heart happier than seeing my kids happy and watching them meet special people in life that they connect with. A sweet friend who moved away last year (who Amberlin misses dearly!) showed up at school today to surprise her. These girls are just way too sweet!  

Annalie's first trip to the dentist

Annalie had her first visit to the dentist yesterday! She was so excited for her big girl adventure... 

 She did great! 

Until they started... Then she kind if freaked out a little bit.

But overall it was a good experience. We love our pediatric dentist! The girls are both very excited about their prizes and their light-up toothbrushes. :) It's the little things! 

Chuck E. Cheese

I don't remember field trips like this when I was in school! :) Andy and I were able to go with Amberlin's class on their field trip to Chuck E. Cheese on Thursday. She has never been there before, so this was a special treat! They learned all about ordering from a menu, paying for their food, handling change, working with servers and then got to PLAY with the tokens they bought! 

Scavenger hunt! 

She got candy as a reward for her tickets and brought it home to share with her sissy. 💗💗💗 Sweet girls. 

Quick Stop in CA

In January I had the opportunity to visit with some of my family following a job interview in LA. It was a wonderful afternoon and I was so thankful for the special moments before I returned home! 

My little dancing girl

D23 Expo schedule

I can be a nerd sometimes. For instance, I love writing out what we do on vacations and at events like the Expo. When it's all over and I feel depressed that it has ended and we have to return back to real life, I get joy from looking back at detailed accounts of our experiences.

Now before you judge me - realize that this may some day benefit you! If you are going to any of the places we have been I can share my detailed account with you and that might assist you in planning your vacation! :) Don't judge. Even us nerds serve a purpose.

In addition to the photos posted earlier, I thought someone out there (I'm not sure who - but surely there is someone!) might like to know what we actually DO during these events. Here is my recap of the time we spent at the Expo (minus the details on the Optimist - that deserves its own post). I got made fun of quite a bit for the time I spent documenting it, but it still puts a smile on my face to look back at the experiences!

Friday, August 9

*Got in line at about 5:30 a.m.

Art & Imagination: Animation at the Walt Disney Studios

Introduction – Bob Eiger

Led by John Lassiter

PIXAR

• Monsters University highlights 
• We got to see the premiere of the new short film – “Party Central”
• Celebrity Guest – Bill Hader
•  The Good Dinosaur – previews and several clips.
• Celebrity Guests – Lucas Neff, Judy Greer & Bill Hader
•  Inside Out – several clips
• Pete Docter & Jonas Rivera
• Celebrity Guests – Phyllis Smith & Bill Hader
•   Finding Dory – preview & talks
• Andrew Stanton and Lindsey Collins
• John Ratchenberger with a marching band! (Pixar’s good luck charm)
•  Toy Story of Terror – TV spot coming this Halloween.
• We watched about 10 minutes of it and it looked AWESOME!!

DISNEYTOON STUDIOS

•  Legend of the Neverbeast
• Steve Loter
• The Pirate Fairy
• Peggy Holmes
• Celebrity Guests – Christina Hendricks & Tom Hiddleston
• Planes
• Klay Hall
• Planes: Fire & Rescue announced
• Bobs Gannaway
• Celebrity Guest – Dane Cook

WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS

• Burny Mattison tribute
•  “Get a Horse” short film world premiere (AWESOME!!)
• Lauren Macmullen, Eric Goldberg & Adam Green
•  Big Hero 6 – San Fransokyo – Disney’s first animated Marvel feature. 
• Character sketches and news on who will be voicing them.
• Don Hall
• Zootopia – 2016 announced
• Byron Howard & Jared Bush
• Frozen – previews and never before viewed scenes (Olaf is hilarious!)
• Chris Bock/Jennifer Lee
• Celebrity Guests – Kristen Bell, Josh Gad
• Idina Menzel – live performance of “Let it Go,” the theme song of the movie! 

Scavenger Hunt – Expo portion

Met with Wallace (The Optimist)

Followed the map with our new friend & Optimist partner, Steve

The Art & Artistry of Aulani

Tahitian music & dinner show on lawn at Disneyland Hotel

Became an Optimist. Got our Tomorrowland pins. Called it a night around midnight!

Saturday, August 10

*Got in line at about 4:30 a.m.

Let the Adventures Begin: Live Action at The Walt Disney Studios

Alan Horn, President

They gave us nothing on Star Wars, except to say it was their priority (Boo!)

MARVEL

Kevin Feige

•  THOR: Dark World – previews & clips
• Celebrity guests – Tom Hiddleston, Natalie Portman, Sir Anthony Hopkins
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier – preview & clips
• Celebrity Guests – Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackey & Chris Evans (!)
• Guardians of the Galaxy – in production, but we saw a few clips. It looks like the funniest Marvel yet!
•  Avengers: Age of Ultron
• Disney Nature – Bears

WALT DISNEY STUDIOS:

Sean Bailey, President

•  Muppets Most Wanted
• Ty Burrell
• Into the Woods
• Live Action Cinderella coming in 2015 – we saw sketches and they announced voice actors.
•  Malefiscent
• Celebrity Guest – Angelina Jolie
• Tomorrowland announcement/preview
• Brad Byrd & Damon Lyndelof
• Saving Mr. Banks
• Celebrity Guests - Jason Schwartzman & BJ Novak, Richard Sherman

Peruse the show floor, booths

Explored the Tomorrowland Exhibit

Richard Sherman & Alan Menken concert. We had seen both at prior D23 events, but this was an historic event - the first time they have ever performed together.

Dinner at Earl of Sandwich at Downtown Disney

Sunday, August11

Look through Mickey’s of Glendale (Imagineering clothes & merchandise)

Explore the Parks & Recreation Exhibit

Look through the Disney Archives display (Mary Poppins focus)

Walt Disney Imagineering 60^th anniversary – Imagineer panel discussion - Craft of Creativity

Screening of the new show Agents of Shield (we have a new show we will be watching! It was great.)

Walt Disney Imagineering 60^th anniversary – Imagineer panel discussion -  Leave ‘Em Laughing

D23 Expo

Every time we got to the D23 Expo, we get the same question. What is D23?? D23 is the official Disney fan club. Each year they alternate putting on an Expo that is open to the public and a more private event that is only open to D23 members, called Destination D.

This year we went to our third Expo and it was one of our favorite events to date! Think Comic con for Disney geeks. Presentations by Imagineers, Bob Iger, John Lasseter (my personal favorite), park presidents and amazing musicians like Alan Menken and Richard Sherman. The history of Disney, Walt's dreams and legacy told by people who knew him and worked with him. Announcements and sneak peeks of new movies that are coming out, getting to see the actors that are voicing the roles, performances by broadway stars (namely Idina Menzel as Elsa from Frozen)... it's an amazing experience and we love going each year.

Although we could not take pictures of most of the big presentations or previews, we were able to catch some fun photos throughout the weekend...

 You will see more of this later, but these are some of the photos of our #TheOptimist scavenger hunt/journey that started weeks before the expo. It took us on a journey throughout the Expo and the park and allowed us to meet new friends. It was a blast! 

 We had to hold up our map with other people's maps to solve the clues. That's one way to encourage team work! 

 Meeting Wallace - the leader of #TheOptimist game 

 A fun sign that was outside of the imagineering display

This year there was no Parks & Resorts presentation so we had to just pick up some cues from the displays in the Journey to Imagineering area. 

 (More hints for #TheOptimist) 

 Our pin that we received for completing #TheOptimist journey

 Avatar land hints & clues

 Looks like Star Wars land might be in sight...

 One of the displays explained some cool effects. The new wrist band system will make it possible for items to respond to individuals - even call you by name when you walk up to it. 

 This plant responds musically to touch - it was really cool. 

Some of the items that were up for auction 

 Eating at a food truck. It beat the convention center food, for sure!

A beautiful line of designer gowns, designed to resemble the Disney princesses 

Once Upon a Time costumes & props 

Costumes from Oz: The Great and Powerful 

 China Girl

 Mary Poppins materials & costumes

 It's the bag! THE BAG!! 

So if you ever wonder why we like going to the Expo, these are just a few of the reasons. I will post more reasons from Andy's camera later... :) That's enough for tonight.