I think I have created a monster but maybe it's my Dad's fault

     Any of you who know me know that my Dad was my hero.  Music, books, history were just some of the interests my Dad and I shared.   Pop-Pop, as Emily named him, may not be with us any longer however my children are certainly following in his footsteps.
     My Dad absolutely loved anything Disney.  I remember seeing Mary Poppins at the theatre on Sunrise Highway where you had to walk down the stairs on the side of the building to leave.  Shortly thereafter I had the music book and was learning "A Spoon Full of Sugar".  Growing up on Long Island going to Walt Disney World  really wasn't something most families did.  However when the opportunity arose  he took us to the Happiest Place on Earth.  Oh how he loved seeing all the characters.  I think we went in 77 but I'm not sure as they were still celebrating the Bi-Centennial.  Now remember back then Disney characters weren't immediately available in Toys R Us and such places.  To see Mickey was HUGE!!!  I remember him simply savoring the tours on the history of Disney and the old characters.  Oh how I would just die to find the pictures from back them but that's another dark and dreary blog.
     I'll even admit that shortly after we were married The Little Mermaid came out.  Being childless was not going to stop me from seeing the new Disney movie.  Michael and I snuck subs into the movie and I had the sound track shortly thereafter.  My Dad took both Emily and Patrick to their first Disney movies though they'd have no memories as they were both babies LOL.  When Emily was a toddler Disney started creating sing a long videos.  They were usually centered around the latest movie but also included some tune from what we now call Disney classics.  We had the entire collection~ they were educational you know.  Seeing the words on the screen reinforced reading skills (that's my story and I'm sticking to it)
      I can't count the number of Disney themed parties we've had over the years.  All 3 kids have dressed as Pooh and Tigger for Halloween ~ I still have those costumes. We've had spaceship tents, Princess teapots and an assortment of character toys.  We've even gone on eBay to get the missing piece of the connectable toys from Tarzan and the last leg of Inspector Gadget. And of course living in Florida we have been to the Disney parks quite a number of times. 
  So yes my kids have grown up with Disney in their veins.  They really didn't have much choice in the matter did they :0)
     Last November you would have thought that I was a 7 year old the way I was excited to see Disney's latest movie Tangled.  I didn't go alone or at least childless I took MaryEllen and my dear friend Karen.  Oh did we love this movie.  We laughed out loud maybe a few times too much if you ask Meg.  The story was wonderful, fresh and didn't stoop to adult humor.   It quickly became a favorite of mine.  (OK I saw it twice but so did Karen)  Tangled was released last Tuesday and last Tuesday we owned Tangled.
     MaryEllen knows the movie backwards and inside out.  Now mind you she is 14 years old.  And I absolutely love it.  When so many kids her age are obsessed with growing up before their time she could care less.  I love that just last Saturday she was shopping with Kalla for high heels and dresses for their 8th grade formal and this Saturday the two of them are having a Tangled Sleep Over.
    There are many things we pass onto our kids.  Some good some bad.  Some we don't see til later years.  I love seeing the joy of Disney living on in my kids.  BTW Emily has asked that we send Tangled to her at school as her friends want to watch it during finals ~~~

 I think Pop-Pop is looking down on his Grand babies and

 just loving it and maybe just maybe smiling along with them!

Mother Nature's Ego Boost

     It absolutely poured here this morning.  I am talking intense thunder and so much rain that all the parents drove their kids to the bus stop.  In my current world I needed no prodding to turn this into a nap morning.  OK I know nap may not be the correct word as in all reality it was pretty much just an extension of sleeping with a quick morning parenting break ~you caught me.  Truth is I have been pretty much a sloth these last few days I literally have no energy just getting up and getting dressed takes almost all I have.

    So by the time I had to leave the house for therapy the sun was shining and it was in the upper 70's.  We have morning glories blooming out front, my rain barrels are filling up and the blueberry bushes look incredibly promising for at least a couple of pies.  Despite nature showing off I still have no energy whatsoever.  Therapy was well therapy and I always leave exhausted, which I guess is good that means I'm working hard.  I do enjoy therapy as the crew strives to keep the mood light and fun.  I notice no matter how sweaty I am I do always leave with a smile.

     Today instead of heading home I had to pick MaryEllen up from school.One of her last NJHS meetings (thank heavens) at 430.  Tuesday night is B'fast for Dinner night, at least when Emily's not home.  The kids asked for French Toast and despite the many different ways I have tried to "fancy" them up the favorite at this Royal house requires the use of cheapy white bread.  So I stop by Publix on the way to get Meg to grab the bread and other groceries.  I wind up arriving at the school 15/20 minutes before her meeting's over.  What to do to kill time? Mind you I am on my quad cane so i thought I'll go look at the ducks in the retention pond.  Sorry for those of you not here in Florida all of our schools have fenced retention ponds around them.  A couple of schools have goats and such as school pets living inside them.  As I approached the fence what I would guess to be about 2 dozen ducks are literally swimming and waddling their way as fast as their webbed feet can take them to meet me at the fence.  Well with such a energetic as well as melodious welcome what could I do but go back to the car and get...... the bread that was supposed to be for dinner so I can feed the ducks.  I actually counted out how many slices I thought we'd need and feed the rest to the ducks. 

     Who knew that ducks could be so good for my ego.?  Everywhere I went they followed.  If I bent down they huddled closer.  If I stood up they backed away as if anticipating where I would throw the next piece.  All singing to me.  Sure I know they were in it for the food but it was me who was making them happy :0)

     Now I'm going to let you in on a little truth.  You know one of those stories that you share at those bonding games you play at retreats and such.  I AM TERRIFIED OF WHITE DUCKS!! Seriously I am terrified.  I wasn't always but I do have a legitimate reason.  When we live in Va Beach I worked at a YMCA that was next to a park Occasionally we would take the kids over for a walk.  However it got to a point where we couldn't as the kids would literally get surrounded by ducks looking for food.  So one day Michael and I go to the park with Emily won't this be fun.  Let me give you a mind picture.  A wooden picnic bench surrounded by white quacking ducks and me standing on top having a vision of "The Birds" running through my head.  Sure laugh but I only love ducks when they are behind a fence.  YES I know they can fly over the fence but for whatever reason they don't.  As long as they stay on their side of the fence life is good.  Once they cross over ~ well I do make a great duck a l`orange

     So I am going to bed with the happy thought that today for 15/20 minutes these 20+ ducks thought that I rocked.  Thanks Mother Nature for the Ego Boost.