At Disney World: The Enchanted Tiki Room

In the Enchanted Tiki Room, where the birds they sing, and the flowers croon, my nine-year-old daughter A reveals some thoughts about her experience in the same room five years prior. It's sad to see the kids growing up!

A (disappointed/disgusted): They used to use real birds for this.

At Disney World: Space Mountain!

At Space Mountain, the roller coaster which is also a space adventure. Krista is about to get on the rocket sleds with Z, our ten-almost-eleven-year old.

Z: I don't feel ready for this.

Krista: You've already been on the ride several times. Aren't you ready for it?

Z: Mom. Is anyone ever ready for a space adventure?

Awwwww!

My beautiful wife put up a blog post for my birthday today. Thanks! And thanks to all of you who sent me birthday wishes and so on. I appreciate it.

We went out to lunch at Muchas Gracias. This is my favorite restaurant here in Vancouver. One, it is a Mexican restaurant. Two, it has "authentic" prices (it's a one '$' restaurant). Three, it's open 24 hours a day. Have I ever gone to it in the middle of the night? No. But it gives me a warm feeling of comfort to know that the option is there. Afterwards the kids bought me ice cream. Pralines and cream on a plain cone. Yum!

And, a few notes from "today in history":

1) In 1821, Spain cedes Florida to the U.S. Now that's just weird, because I just got back from Florida yesterday.

2) In 1955 Disneyland opened to the public. Also weird, because I just got back from Orlando yesterday, where we were going to Disney World.

3) David Hasselhoff turns 56 today. Which is weird because (a) it's David Hasselhoff... who knew I shared a birthday with him? and (b) I am 34, which is like "34-56". Somewhere there's a twelve year old kid with a birthday today who completes our numerical connection.

The Haunted Mansion

On the bus from Disney back to our hotel, A got into a conversation with the people in the seat next to us. Their favorite attraction at the park had been the Haunted Mansion, which we did not enter. A asked what it was, and I explained it was a house with pretend ghosts in it.

A: I don't think I would like going into that place, because I don't understand 'ghost words.'

Me: Ghost words? What do you mean?

A: I don't think I would understand what the ghosts are saying because I don't understand their words.

Me: What sort of words do you think the ghosts would use?

A: Words like 'Haunted' and 'mansion.'

Eavesdropping With Matt (Episode Twenty-Three)

Dedicated to the ten-year-old boy at Disney World who gave me a hearty laugh as I crossed from Adventure Land into Tomorrow Land. Well done, young man, well done.

Young Man: SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS! Where is he?

When your kids team up against you

We picked the kids up at the Orlando airport yesterday. Krista's Dad flew in with them, and we loaded up into the rental car and headed for our hotel. The kids were exhausted after the long day of travel, and pretty much anything could set them off into fits of crying. But they still had the strength to double team me... watch this interaction.

A (crying): I want to go to Disney World right now!

Me: We're going to Disney World for two days starting tomorrow.

A (crying): We're only going to Disney World for two days? Waaaaagh!

Me: You know, when I was a kid we only went to theme parks for one day. We would go in the morning and then we'd leave when the park was closed. We never went to Disney for two days in row.

Z: Daddy?

Me: Yes?

Z: Tomorrow is your lucky day.