Coming back from an errand today I saw a lady driving one of those little cars that is great for gas mileage.  Not sure what it was, don’t think it was a Prius or hybrid, just a small four door car.  As she turned the corner I noticed a car seat in the back, behind the drivers seat, with a smiling young girl in it.

Did I mention the car was small?  Mom (presumably), the driver, seemed a bit cramped and it appeared the car seat took up at least half of the back seat.  I am sure it was due to the belting down of the seat but the little girls face couldn’t have been more than 4 inches from the window.

It made me think- is it safe?  What if they were in an accident?  Would the car stand up to it?  Would the occupants survive a collision?  What would be the injuries?

Granted, as I said, I didn’t see what kind of car it was so I can’t search for crash test data, etc. to lay to rest any misconceived notions but it just looked unsafe.  I drive a Chevy Avalanche- possible among the larger vehicles on the road that don’t require a special permit to drive.  In my truck I feel safe.  Safe for me, safe for the boys.  In a little car that I felt like I had to wear it to drive it, I would not feel as safe for me.  And, I feel I would feel even less so for the boys.  Am I crazy?

It seems the gas economy fad has faded a bit.  Granted, gas is still expensive and people are still looking to get the best mileage per gallon they can, but it seems the push to buy a hybrid to avoid $4 per gallon gas has lost some steam (or fuel, but that pun was just too good).  So, my chance to laugh at the guy at the grocery store who can’t fit more than 2 of his 10 bags into his “Smart Car” has been stifled a bit, but that aside, are families safer with larger cars.  I need to look into this but wanted to post the thought while it was fresh in my mind.  If you have something to say, comment below.

The DaddyCast Episode 194

A Podcast for Parenting from the Hip!

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Want to act like a kid again? Be a parent and do that things you wouldn’t do if you didn’t have kids. A new article by Stephen Yoder inspired me to bring this topic up again.

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One on One time- whether with one of your kids or your spouse, it can be invaluable so enjoy it and make it happen the right way, don’t be rushed!

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How to deal with Picky Eaters – tips from The National Fatherhood Initiative

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One on One – Special Times

Originally uploaded by LoveHouse Radio

Had an opportunity to spend an evening one on one with my youngest. My oldest was at a birthday party sleepover and Jen was helping a friend. So, we tried to do a few things special and have a little fun.

I didn’t realize how important this alone time was to my son. We had the same chance to spend an evening together back a while ago and he apparently has fond memories of that time. We didn’t do anything really special, pulled up a GI Joe cartoon On Demand, but when he heard we were going to have another evening together he was overjoyed.

This time I let him pick our dinner spot (McDonald’s as I would have predicted- but special because we ate there) and then went to Cold Stone Creamery for ice cream. When we got home we played the Wii together and picked out a movie. Nothing earth shattering but more than once he said ‘This is a Great Day!”.

So don’t undervalue time with your kids. Take some time to do something special, doesn’t have to be big but it will be memorable to them. And if you have more than one, try to isolate some time with each every once in a while, it will make an impact.

Now I have to deal with my oldest whom I just picked up. We know what the “Day After” a sleepover can have in store. Sounds like he was one of the few that slept last night so I have my fingers crossed. It is always nice when the host parent comments on how well behaved and sociable your kid is, that will give him a little leeway today when the lack of sleep kicks in.

Flight Home

Originally uploaded by LoveHouse Radio

So, we have actually been back for 6 days now and I finally feel caught up enough to sit in front of the laptop. Our last day at Disney was a good one although I think we found our limits. It seems six and a half days are enough Mouse for us.

The last day was a Saturday and since our flight didn’t leave Orlando until 9PM we decided not to head to the park too early. We took our time packing and left around 10 to get to Epcot, where we began and where we decided to end. We had yet to ride Soarin and it was the last ride I wanted to get in, after having seen a documentary on how they built it a few weeks ago.

Well, it appears that Saturday is a popular day and Soarin is a popular ride. By the time we got to it, there was an 85 minute wait and the FastPass line was out the door distributing passes for 4:15. Since we had planned to leave around 5 to get a head start on the airport (and the dreaded security line), we initially turned our backs on Soarin and headed back to Mission Space, where there was literally no wait.

After a few trips to Mars, my oldest and I decided to take on the line. We had iPhone in hand with Peggle loaded and found that in the line there were games to play as well (some really cool audience interactive stuff projected on the walls along the line). We eventually got on the ride and found it to be well worth the wait.

By the time we got out, Jen and my youngest had toured the rest of the park extensively. The crowds were growing and the groups (at least 50 or more girls from South America blocking the exit to Soarin as an example) were getting more annoying. The adults had had enough. It was time to leave.

We had time to kill so we looked into a movie but realized we didn’t have that much time on our hands. We opted for lunch at Planet Hollywood in Downtown Disney. It was fun, the food was fine (we were starving by that point) and it kept us entertained.

At the airport things went more smoothly than anticipated. We returned the car, found help with our luggage and as a Valentine’s gift for Jen, even upgraded our seats (nothing says I Love You like the option to avoid a plane full of tired kids coming home from an exhausting week at Disney). As you can see in my picture, my youngest didn’t make it too long. In fact, the security line was the fastest we have ever seen it (amazingly so) and we ended up with about 4 hours at the airport since our flight was delayed- he fell asleep with 2 hours to go!!

Home never felt so good. It was a great trip but getting home was tremendous. We are nearly back into our routine (if you can call our chaos that) and have most of our stuff put away. Hope to get a show out about our experience as soon as I can get Jen in front of a mic. Until then- hope you are all having a good weekend!!

Taking on the elements with smiles

Originally uploaded by LoveHouse Radio

With rain in the forecast, we donned rain gear and headed out early to take advantage of the lighter precip morning. We had a plan- head to Hollywood Studios when they opened, get Fast Pass tickets for Toy Story Midway Mania, get in line to ride it before the wait stacked up then head to Magic Kingdom where the rides are situated a little closer. And, at least for the first part of this plan, about a thousand others were thinking the same.

We hit the Toy Story Fast Pass line first and it was a line, stacked deep just to get Fast Pass tickets. The lady behind me said with astonishment “This is the Fass Pass line?”. I had to respond “Yep, looks like everyone else had the same ides” just to make her feel less unique. The line to ride was about 40 minutes but we waited and then hit Star Tours a couple of times before returning to our Fast Pass time.

At Magic Kingdom we did It’s a Small World a couple of times to avoid the rain- plus there was no line there. We did Fast Passes for Peter Pan and Winnie the Pooh and hit Buzz Lightyear and the Laugh Floor to get out of the rain. I also rode Pirates of the Caribbean, but the boys opted out. Other than one drop in total darkness, I think they would have been fine- basically a dark, loud Small World without the song that sticks in your head.

So another valuable lesson, making the most of a not-so-perfect day. We all had fun and actually stayed at the park until dinner time. Feet were wet and cold but the rain gear kept us fairly dry and comfortable and again, the boys learned they we would adapt, improvise and overcome. Valuable lessons and fun times, how can you go wrong?

A rare Family Photo

Originally uploaded by LoveHouse Radio

We hit Universal Studios Orlando again today and had a great time. The park was a little more crowded compared to Tuesday when it was raining but still not terribly packed. We did the Universal Studios area first, road a few rides there (the boys lacked adventure early on) and experienced the Shrek 4-D show.

We then went back to Islands of Adventure and let the boys do a few of the things they loved from Tuesday. With the lines being longer (Tuesday we could run from ride to ride with no line so it was an adjustment) we didn’t get to everything again but had fun none the less.

While in line for the Pteredon ride (where you ride in a swing above the Jurassic Park area, a little too high and open for my liking) we even met a mom and son from Canada and struck up a conversation. It was quite the learning experience- pretty sure they learned why we call my youngest Sir Talks-A-Lot.

Not a lot to say about the day. Universal is setup for older and more daring riders than our two (or even the two of us as neither Jen nor I are big on roller coasters and such). I was surprised at how much of the facility was closed- lots of the snack areas and so forth were not open, I assume due to it being off-season. Plus, they are really stocked with such places, and shopping places- almost too many eating and drinking holes or at least more dense than we are used to with Disney.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a rain day so we stopped by Target to get rain gear. The parks sell rain pullovers for $8, made of trash bag material. We went to Target to find something cheaper but instead got higher quality rain pullovers for the same price. Whatever works, it is a value compared to missing out on a day at the park. I’ll let you know how that goes once we dry out tomorrow night.

DSC02256

Originally uploaded by LoveHouse Radio

Wednesday brought our trip to Animal Kingdom. We took the opportunity of a short line to take the Safari when we first arrived, around 9:30, and again later with the Fast Pass option when the line was much longer. And the second time around was awesome.

For one thing, the tour had to stop because something up ahead was in the road. This allowed us to get close to a giraffe that was grazing on trees next to the path and to check out some other wild life around us. I even got to video a little, without the jostling that comes with the tour vehicle moving through the savanna

When we got up the trail a little farther, we realized what must have been blocking the road, the Rhino pictured here. He was at the side of the road and close enough to touch. My youngest thought this was quite a thrill. All in all, the second time around was a great experience.

Also at the Animal Kingdom, we took time to fo through the jungle walk adjacent to the safari tour, a new thing for us. We also spent some time in DinoLand and the boys had fun in the dino dig area, an exercise that was top on their list. Otherwise, the safari was the big draw and after our second ride, we headed over to Epcot.

At Epcot, my oldest did me proud. First, he finally decided to ride the Mission Space (what we call the Mission to Mars) and we found that his reluctance was due to a misunderstanding that he would be alone in a capsule. This then became his favorite ride.Furthermore, his younger brother was thrilled that he now had more company on his favorite ride and that his older brother finally saw the light!

My oldest showed additional bravery in taking on the Test Track again. He initially was willing to do so if Jen joined us but then my youngest backed out on the deal. We already had Fast Pass tickets for Test Track and when Jen opted out, my oldest agreed to go with me. I shot video of his face on both his first and second rides- he is still noticeably scared on the second ride but he holds it in well and is elated with himself when it is over. It is quite a great thing to see and makes me proud that he is willing to face his fears.

That is the underlying theme of our Disney vacation this year, trying something new and facing fear. The boys are learning every day to try a new ride or experience and see what it is like. Some they find scary, some they find they like but the main thing is that they are willing to try. A tremendous lesson for life, even beyond the magic of Disney.

Bunch of characters

Originally uploaded by LoveHouse Radio

We were unsure about Universal Studios Orlando. We wanted something different for a day or two, something to break up the Disney week, and after doing Sea World for the past two years, we felt we had Shamu’d out. So we bought a book and tickets and decided to give it a try.

From what we read, it seemed Universal Studios was more geared toward an older audience, That assumption seemed enforced when we arrived, with a large mall like area including a Hard Rock Cage, Jimmy Buffet bar, Starbucks and various other shopping options and watering holes.

We headed in, turned left and began through the Marvel area. We got the boys to ride the Spiderman ride, one of the signature rides at Universal Island of Adventure, and reluctant at best, they obliged. They hated it but I found it fun, a 3-D ride through a Spiderman adventure, with some in your face villian activity but pretty fun regardless.

One of the biggest thrills was shooting water cannons at people bold enough to ride a water rides in February. Beyond the water they took on from the ride, we were able to shoot at them from several locations and typically, much to their surprise, add to the drenching.. This only added to the popularity of Popeye’s ship as it was home to several water cannons with an obscure vantage point.

Next up was the Jurassic Park. There was a play area with rope bridges, more water cannons and caves. It was a fun area but again, water and Winter should generally be separated. The Jurassic Science Center was fun and even a little educational, but don’t tell anyone.

While the rain for the day began to fall, we found the Dr. Seuss area became our home. Here, the boys were enthralled with the rides, characters and rides. Yes, I said it twice because we did it all half a dozen times. The area was nearly vacant and the boys ran from one ride to another then back around again. They could have done it all day.

We finally pulled the plug on them, as the rain picked up even more and it began to get even cooler out. They were thrilled with Universal and although we thought it might be a bust, for them it was an awesome time. So, it is a good thing we purchased two days at Universal. We are planning a sunny day to go back and although we plan to make it to the other park, the true Universal Studios, I am guessing we will be back with the Cat in the Hat and his friends before the day ends. Hey, that was almost Seuss like!

Day 3 begins

Originally uploaded by LoveHouse Radio

Well, we got into Orlando late morning Saturday (see previous post “Teaching Adapt, Improvise and Overcome” to see how we got here) and checked in at the resort. We don’t stay at a Disney resort so that we can escape the crowds, and the Mouse, for our nights. We prefer a golf resort that is scarcely populated as our escape.

After unloading the rental, we headed straight to Epcot. This year we bought 7 day passes since the price jump from 5 to 7 days was only about $12 a day. We figured that would encourage us to go more and last year we found more to do and enjoyed the park hopping to hit certain attractions we like. This way we can even hit a park on a rainy day and feel we are still getting our money out of it.

At Epcot we hit the rides we liked from last year (and pardon the names, we don’t always go by the “official” titles)- Journey to Tomorrow (or the Big Ball as the boys call it), Mission to Mars and the boys even agreed to take a ride on the Test Track. This was a stretch for them- the ride goes pretty fast and they were pretty scared (I have some video to share on that part) but after it was done I made sure to encourage them, to dote on them for having done it and who knows, they might even go again (if Mommy goes).

We had arranged for lunch in the Coral Reef Cafe and ate next to the giant fish tank that is the back side of the aquarium next to the Nemo ride. We also did a ride new to us, “Life on the Land”, a boat ride through various ecological areas that was fun and educational.

One of our goals this year is to try something new at each park. This being our third year, there are still plenty of thing we haven’t done. Also, as the boys get older, they are willing to try more so it is good to expand our horizons.

Sunday we went to Hollywood Studios, home to one of our favorite rides, the Toy Story Midway Mania. Thanks to Fast Pass and some patience for the last time, we were able to ride it 3 times. We caught “Lights, Motors, Action”- the stunt show and our new experience was “The Great Movie Ride”, which the boys disliked and found frightening. But, again, we thanked them for stretching themselves and trying something new. Star Tours was of course on the list and the boys spent some time playing at the “Honey I Shrunk the Kids” playground.

Monday we were wavering between starting our day at Animal Kingdom or Magic Kingdom. The boys chose Magic Kingdom and we ended up staying there the entire day. We did the Buzz Lightyear ride (a few times), the Indy Speedway, Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh ride, Flying Carpets, Jungle Cruise and even caught the Hall of Presidents. The Monsters Inc. Laugh Floor was good for a laugh (duh!) and we left very little to do from our list of items that we wanted to get to, with a few more days and at least one more visit to the Magic left this week.

So, that is where we stand on Monday night. Tuesday we plan something entirely new as we head to Universal Studios Orlando for our first time. Then we will be back to Disney- need to catch the safari at Animal Kingdom and I hear Epcot calling our name again. More to come as time allows- it is busy and tiring but fun all the while.

Layover- Disney research and planning

Originally uploaded by LoveHouse Radio

As time approached for our annual pilgrimage to Mickey World, we kept a close eye on the forecast. The weekend before our planned departure we were hit with a foot of snow, very uncommon for Central Virginia, and they were calling for more. The question was, when?

Our flight out of Richmond was scheduled for 7AM. Earlier in the week, the meteorologists, with all their advanced scientific modeling, showed us on the rain snow line, more toward the rain side. There was hope.

As we got into the end of the week (a week where I was in St Louis Tuesday through Thursday, trying to make sure I got home as they too were looking at a winter storm, hitting late Thursday) we knew it would all come down to timing. If it was rain until Saturday morning, we would be in good shape.

I went to work on Friday morning and saw a couple of flurries. Flurries turned into a steady snow. And it kept coming. By midday daycare closed and I worked from home with one eye on the weather map, the other on the flight cancellations. Around 3:00 it came, our flight was cancelled.

As I saw it, we had a couple of choices. We could wait it out- the foot of snow had crippled the airport the week before but they had been back up to speed the following day, at least 80%, so that would likely only cause us to lose a day. Or, we could head to another airport- Airtran would swap it out without any cost to us, but the question was how would we get there and how far would we need to go.

I decided losing a day was not preferred since this year, unlike the past two, we had purchased tickets for all 7 days. So I started looking South. It appeared that if we headed SouthEast, toward Norfolk or Newport News, we would likely not escape the breadth of the storm. So I looked at Raleigh, North Carolina and started lining up our plan.

First was a car. We wanted to keep our flight back into Richmond and leave our car there so we rented a car from the Richmond airport to drive down to Raleigh- not the cheapest way to go but added convenience since driving 3 hours home after an exhausting week in Florida sounds more like torture then savings.

Next was flights. Airtran, as I mentioned, swapped out our cancelled flight with a new one at no charge. The catches were that the flight was in Raleigh and connected through Atlanta. Oh, and it was at 6 AM. An airport we are unfamiliar with that early in the morning is enough to make you nervous

Finally, accommodations fro the night. I searched hotels near the airport and the selection came down to the one with the best shuttle schedule. My plan was to return the car that night and use the shuttle to the airport to save time. The nicer looking hotel had shuttle service starting at 5AM- the one we chose had 24 our service (although somehow the 24 hour service was described as starting at 4- guess the clock has to start somewhere).

Plan in Action:

Once Jen got home, we packed in about 30 minutes. Not ideal but we were worried that the weather would turn for the worse. We wanted to get on the road. By 7 we were at the airport picking up the rental. We stopped for something to eat and traveled in a steady, even heavy at times, rain the entire way. We arrived in Raleigh around 10:30. Once checked in and unloaded, I returned the car to Hertz and caught the hotel shuttle back. It was Midnight before we got to bed. The alarm was set to 3:30.

With about 3 hours of sleep (the half awake kind of night hoping you don’t sleep through the alarm and miss the flight isn’t very helpful), we got to the airport, had some breakfast and made it into the air. I had purposely not set us up to take the shortest layover anticipating the weather may delay us at some point but as it worked out, we were actually early into Atlanta.

The layover wasn’t bad and at least the weather seemed to be cooperating. We thought about switching our flight up but figured that would only cause our bags to get lost, why mess with it when all seemed to be going well. And as it worked out, we made it to Orlando about an hour after our original direct flight would have gotten us there.

So, through perseverance and dedication, and a little luck, we made it to Disney. The boys really learned a lesson in Adapt, Improvise and Overcome. They recognized the effort, sacrifice and lack of sleep (they did not want to get up that early but did so pretty well) that it took to make our vacation start on time. The appreciated the effort. And I believe they learned something from it. That is more valuable than the money we avoided losing in missed time at Disney. That is a lesson that will payoff for a lifetime.

More to come on our vacation thus far- still catching up on some sleep.