Though I’ve been Passover cleaning, I’ve also taken some time to play with my new Droid Bionic.  One of my favorite new features is the camera.  Yes, my last phone had a camera, but it really wasn’t good.  It basically had two settings: Flash Off (aka Extremely Dark Shot) or Flash On (aka Washed Out To The Point Of Being All White Shot).  So being able to take actual photos with my cell phone was exciting to me.

Some choice shots that I took yesterday.  The only processing I’ve done was to reduce them in size for the web, affix my watermark, and (in the case of 2 photos) removed some personal information from the photo.

Wordless Wednesday Cheat: The above photos are of three stray cats in my parents’ backyard.  My parents saw them during the winter looking hungry and took pity on the strays.  They began setting some food out to help them survive the cold.

Over the past few weeks, NHL has been complaining about headaches.  At first, we thought he was just trying to get out of doing homework.  Eventually, though, we began to wonder if he was actually having trouble seeing.  An eye doctor’s appointment confirmed our suspicions: NHL needed glasses.

We tried on a few pairs, but NHL quickly decided that he had a favorite.  Can you tell why?

Here’s a hint:

Just call him NHL Potter!  Expelliarmus!

Of course, JSL started to feel left out.  After all, I have glasses, B has glasses and now NHL has glasses.  So he got his own pair.

They might not be real, but they keep him happy.

My Aloha Friday question for today is: Do your kids wear glasses?

P.S. If you haven’t already, try out my Twitter applications: FollowerHQ and Rout.

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #129

Earlier this week, I wrote about the snakes and reptiles that we saw at the Kidz Expo.  We didn’t just stop by the reptiles, though.  We also saw tons of different programs that the kids could sign up for.  I honestly didn’t realize just how much there was in the region and we have quite a few options to consider for this summer.

Of course, the main reason we were drawn into this mob of people was Radio Disney’s presence.  They promised some Perry the Platypus related activities so off we went.  When we got in, we played some games and the boys got some prizes (a frisbee, temporary tattoos, and stickers).  They also got a Perry mask and a backpack (which came in handy to hold other things they got).  Finally, we took a photo with Candace, Phineas, Ferb, Perry, and Dr. Doofenschmirtz.  (Doof was on his best behavior and didn’t bring any Inators that day.)

After this booth, we wandered around and stopped at various booths to gather information.  We also were on a Radio Disney scavenger hunt mission.  We needed to find the five clues hidden around the expo.  We spent quite some time looking for clues as we wandered around.  Alas, we only found three of the five.

While at the expo, we heard a rumor that a costumed Agent P was there.  Sadly, this wasn’t true.  Luckily, though, the boys met a few other costumed characters, including the Devil Dog from the Albany Devils.

As the day wore on, the kids got tired and it was time to leave.  On the way out, though, one last booth caught my eye: Mad Science.  As a big science fan, I’m always looking for ways to spark science interest in my kids.  They had planet matching blocks, rings the vibrated as they spun, and pieces of paper that they lit on fire to produce a burst of light (NHL did *not* like that one).  The best was the fake snow produced by combining a certain chemical with water.

The Kidz Expo was certainly an informative and fun experience.  I’m not sure if we’ll go back next year as we’re not fans of fighting crowds, but it definitely gave us a lot of options to consider.

There are so many Disney characters, that it can be hard to choose one favorite.  In fact, I have two.

My first favorite is Goofy.  He’s clumsy, odd, and seemingly a bit of a geek.  Still, Goofy is a true friend and will never gives up despite the fact that he will likely find himself propelled through the air while he lets out his trademark scream.

My other favorite is actually a duo.  These geeks don’t let anything stop their quest to make the most of each day.  Not even the laws of physics or simple economics can prevent their complex builds from being completed by a small group of children in a few hours’ time.  Of course, I’m talking about Phineas and Ferb.  You’ve got to love a pair of step brothers who decide that the perfect family pet is a platypus.  Speaking of which… Where’s Perry?

Who is your favorite Disney character?

This past Saturday, we braved heavy crowds and insane parking to attend the Hannaford Kidz Expo in the Empire State Plaza.  There were many interesting booths with various fun options for the kids.  I couldn’t possibly blog about them all, so I wanted to focus on one of them today: Reptile Adventure.

B wrote about them previously when they stopped by a local library.  That time, NHL went with B to see the various creatures that Reptile Adventure had to show.  This time, however, NHL was a bit overwhelmed.  Perhaps it was the crowds or the anticipation of seeing the Radio Disney booth.  In any event, he didn’t want to be anywhere near snakes or lizards.

Thankfully, JSL didn’t seem to mind much.  So while B took NHL out of the room to calm down, JSL and I marveled at the various creatures they had.  I’ll admit that I didn’t get as good a look as I would have liked.  There were a lot of people walking through and I wanted to make sure that JSL stuck by me.  Still, JSL and I each got to touch a snake and we each loved seeing the turtles, lizards, snakes and even the hissing cockroaches.

Yeah, about those cockroaches.  When we first walked in, we saw a Reptile Adventure employee sitting down with a big snake around her neck and a hissing cockroach walking up one arm.  This was easily the biggest bug I’ve ever seen.  It was at least four inches long.  To be perfectly honest, I just looked them up on Wikipedia for that length.  My eyeball estimate was going to be 8 inches but Wikipedia says they grow to 2 to 4 inches.  Perhaps my estimating skills can be forgiven seeing as they are HUGE!

Moving on from the cockroaches, we saw this turtle and a buddy of his relaxing near the entrance.  It looks like someone got him some reading material.  I’m not sure if it’s ironic or not for a turtle to be reading the "Race Day" section.

This fella (or ma’am… I really couldn’t tell) was on top of his cage.  I had to lift JSL up so he could see him.  I couldn’t tell if we were more fascinated by this spiky lizard or if he was more fascinated by us.

Then, there were the snakes.  They had small snakes and large snakes.  Each of these, at some point, was able to be touched by kids (and grown ups) to see how they feel.  By the way, I assumed that snakes would feel slimy, though in hindsight I’m not sure why.  They don’t.  Smooth, yes, but not slimy.

JSL was hesitant at first, but finally decided to try petting the small one in the photo to the left.  I didn’t get a good photo of that, but, luckily, JSL decided to pet this larger snake as well.  He did a great job on both.  (And, yes, Reptile Adventure provided a station for you to clean your hands afterwards.)

All in all, my only gripe about the Reptile Adventure room is that I couldn’t spend more time there taking photos of every creature they have.  The nature photographer in me can get frustrated by the lack of wildlife in my day-to-day life.  (Though the boys can be wild enough.)  We left wanting more (and JSL left wanting a stuffed snake).  Hopefully, we can see more of Reptile Adventure soon.

More about the Kidz Expo in general and the Radio Disney book specifically in the coming days.

Having gone to Disney World a few times, I’ve come up with quite a few rides that I must go on each trip.  I could ride these multiple times in a row and still come back for more.

First, in the Magic Kingdom, is Splash Mountain.  I’m not a big rollercoaster/big drop sort of guy.  (In fact, I’ll discuss later on just how much and why I hate these.)  Still, Splash Mountain’s big drop is only part of the ride.  The rest involves a story about Br’er Rabbit looking for his "laughing place" and trying to escape from Br’er Fox and Br’er Bear.  The animatronics turn the ride from just another log drop ride into a classic Disney attraction for me.

Just in case you are wondering: Yes, the photo on the left was taken on the ride itself.  I was feeling a bit crazy and took my DSLR on board the ride (shielding it during splash drops) and took photos of the ride itself.

In Epcot, I’ve got one "official" favorite and one "unofficial" one.  My official favorite is Soarin’.  The story behind this is that you are boarding a special aircraft and flying over California.  (How you get there from Florida isn’t explained.)  You sit in a special seat with your legs dangling and are lifted in the air.  Then, on a giant screen that fills your entire field of vision, you "fly" over water, golf courses, orange groves, and more.  It is a wild ride (even though you barely move).

My "unofficial" favorite is Epcot’s World Showcase.  I love just wandering through each country to see the architecture and sample the cuisine.  To increase the authenticity, Disney hires people from those countries to work there.  So when you meet a cast member there, you are honestly meeting someone from another country. 

Is it as good as actually traveling to those countries?  Of course not.  Still, outside of Disney World’s World Showcase, you’ll never be able to travel from Mexico to Norway to China to Germany to Italy to United States to Japan to Morocco to France to United Kingdom to Canada in a matter of hours.

Going to the Animal Kingdom, my main favorite attraction is Kilimanjaro Safari.  Disney went above and beyond with this attraction.  It really seems like you have traveled to the African savannah.  Animals wander around seemingly without any fences penning them in.  (The fences are there, just very well hidden.)  Most times, the animals (despite the looks) can’t approach your vehicle, but in some areas they can.  We’ve come within a few feet of giraffes and ostriches at one point.  As a bonus, every time you ride this attraction, it is slightly different.

Finally, we travel to Hollywood Studios.  Here, my favorite attraction is Toy Story Mania.  With this ride, you are shrunken down to a toy’s size and join Woody, Buzz, and the whole crew in some games.  You get to shoot plates, toss rings around aliens, and pop balloons.  You get points for your actions and compete against the player sitting next to you.  The attraction is in 3D but some scenes (balloons blowing by) are accompanied by a rush of air.  Small touches like this enhance the realism and enjoyment of the ride.

Now for my least favorite ride: Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.  I’ve only been on this ride once, but that was enough.  I wouldn’t have gone on it at all, but NHL, then 5, insisted on going on it with his grandfather and I couldn’t let him be braver than I was.

In fact, there’s a very good reason why I wouldn’t like Tower of Terror.  I have a fear of falling.  Not of heights, mind you, but falling.  I’m just fine behind the window of a 20th story building, but a second story balcony can terrify me.

Tower of Terror took us up 13 stories and then dropped us down.  That would have been scary enough, but then we shot back up and down and up and down and up and down.  There were a total of seven up-down movements.  Lest you think you’d get used to it, each time you shoot up (after the first ascent), you go up a random number of floors.  Maybe you’ll go up three stories next time.  Maybe ten.  Who knows?

So there you have it.  My favorite and least favorite Disney rides.

What are your favorite/least favorite Disney rides?

Over the weekend, we went to Cousin B’s second birthday party.  It was held in an indoor play area.  Waiting, the boys all but drooled over the long trampoline, foam pit, zip line, climbing net, balance beams, bounce house, and more.  As the boys removed their shoes and socks, they asked if I would go on everything with them.  I told them that grown-ups weren’t allowed on anything, that it was only for kids.

Then, the staff member corrected me and let me know I *could* go on almost everything.

As the kids raced to each item, I accompanied them from time to time.  NHL and I bounced on the trampoline together.  JSL buried me in the foam pit and I chased him through the bounce house.  (I did sit out the zip line, though, as that was one of the not-for-adults items.)

In all of the bouncing, foam-climbing fun, I worked up quite a sweat.  After the play portion of the party was over, I joked with the staff member that they should open the place up at night for adults.

As I thought about it more, I began to wonder.  How many grown ups, like me, hate the idea of a gym with lines of stationary bikes, treadmills, and other "boring" exercise equipment?  How many adults would love to feel like a kid again as they bounce along a trampoline, crawl through a foam pit, and climb up a rope bridge?

My Aloha Friday question for today is: Would you go to an indoor playground for grown ups?

P.S. If you haven’t already, try out my Twitter applications: FollowerHQ and Rout.

Thanks to Kailani at An Island Life for starting this fun for Friday. Please be sure to head over to her blog to say hello and sign the linky there if you are participating.

Aloha #127