Yesterday, I wrote about the DreamWorks How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular show.  Our fun didn’t begin, or end, with the show, however.  We were treated to the full VIP Experience.

Our VIP treatment began as we were allowed in early.  We were given VIP badges, gift bags with some How To Train Your Dragon merchandise, and even an exclusive 3D poster.

After this, we were guided to an area where we got to don Viking apparel and weaponry.

Once we were all dressed up, we posed in front of a green screen.  Our picture was taken and, magically, we were transported to the Isle of Berk.

After removing our Viking paraphernalia, we moved on to another closed off area.  Here, we waited for a bit until a familiar pair of Vikings arrived.

Yes, we got to meet Hiccup and Astrid.  NHL was so excited, I almost had to hold him back from charging up to them to hug them.  After a short while, we were able to take a photo of all of us with them.

Soon, it was time to take our seats for the show.  Once the show was finished, as everyone else left, we headed towards the front of the arena.  It was time for Dragons 101.  Our tech teacher was Ben (aka Ben The Bold, Ben The Brave, or Ben The Beautiful… his words, not mine.   )

Here, while the crew worked on the dragons in the background, Ben explained about dragons, rigging, pyrotechnics, and more.  It was amazing to hear just how much work went into the show.  Both of my boys asked interesting questions.  JSL asked how they made fire without hurting people.  (They use gas filled boxes which the operators set off to create fireballs.  However, the boxes have sensors to detect if someone is too near and won’t go off if someone is.)  NHL asked how big the Red Death dragon was.  (So big that it doesn’t fit in the backstage or through the opening they have.  They actually deflate and inflate it like a balloon.)

The VIP Experience turned a magical show into an over-the-top amazing experience.  Thanks to everyone that was involved.

Tour dates and tickets can be found by going to http://www.dreamworksdragonslive.com/tickets.php.  In addition, you can save 25% off the cost of select seats by using the promo code "MOM".

Disclaimer: I received tickets to the How To Train Your Dragon Live Spectacular and VIP Experience for me and my family.  However my opinions (and excitement) are my own.

Wednesday was the Snowpocalypse.  After a decent snowfall on Tuesday, and a ton of snow still on the ground from previous snowfalls, we were scheduled to get about 15 inches of snow.  Needless to say, schools were closed and everyone hunkered down.  I wound up working from home since the commute into work would have been hazardous to say the least.

B shoveled our walkway, sidewalk, cars and driveway out while I worked.  She came back in, sore from the shoveling and I made sure that a cup of hot chocolate from our new Keurig was waiting for her.  Sadly, I didn’t get to play with the boys as much as I’d have liked to.  After all, I was “at work” even if I was technically in my bed.  Before it got dark out, though, I decided to take a break from working, bundle up and head outside.  You see, we have a problem with ice dams and so the snow on the roof needed to be removed.

For those of you who don’t know what ice dams are, picture a roof covered in snow.  The heat from the house warms the roof which melts the snow.  The melted snow runs down the roof to the portion of roof that isn’t over a heated room.  Since that portion of roof is colder, the snow re-freezes into ice.  As more and more water runs over the ice, the ice gets bigger and bigger.  When the ice dam gets big enough, the water can’t get over the ice and pools up.  When this happens, the water can back up under the shingles and into the house.  Needless to say, this is a bad thing.

So out I went with my roof rake, a very long handled implement used to pull snow off from the roof.  I did all around the house, but the best part was when I did the front of the house.  JSL was able to see me from his bedroom window.  Since I had little room to work in, the snow kept coming down on my head.  JSL thought this was the funniest thing he had ever seen!  Don’t take my word for it, though, B shot a video.  See if you can tell where my pockets filled with snow.  I didn’t realize this until much later.

After I was done with this, I headed for the side of our house where I had to step in snow drifts that were, if you’ll excuse the expression, crotch-high.  Nothing like being half-covered in snow to make you cold!  I had heard that snow was insulating and that tunneling in snow should keep you warm.  Apparently, my toes didn’t get the memo though because they were going numb.  Granted, that might have been because the snow went into my boot, melted and soaked my socks with cold water.

After finishing the roof on the side, came another fun

part: walking in the backyard.  As you might expect, we don’t shovel our backyard.  So this would show me just how deep the snow really was.  So, how high was it?

Knee-high, which for me is about 22 inches deep.  Yes, we have a video of this too!

I cleared our roof as much as I could before noticing that the roof rake had broken.  Nothing major, just a nut that had come loose somewhere.  (You think a needle in a haystack’s hard to find?  Try finding a nut in a yard full of snow!)  A quick trip to Home Depot today and the roof rake’s all fixed.  Of course, after I was done roof raking, I had to go back and shovel up all the snow I had dumped off our roof.

With snow you basically have two kinds.  Heavy, wet snow is good for snowballs/snowmen but is a pain to shovel.  Light, powdery snow is easy to shovel but doesn’t stick together enough for snowballs/snowmen.  This snow was heavy.  Very, very

heavy. Somehow, though, it was powdery also.  Yes, this snow was a pain to shovel and also wasn’t good for snowballs/snowmen.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: TOO MUCH SNOW!  In fact, here is a little message for Old Man Winter:

My Aloha Friday question for today is: Did you get any snow by you?  If so, how much?  Also, are you sick of the white stuff yet?

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 McLinky there if you are participating.

Aloha #73

This morning, we were greeted with a walkway full of snow.  This led to a sidewalk full of snow, a driveway full of snow and a car… well, not *full* of snow (all the doors and windows were closed), but certainly covered in snow.  This would have been bad enough, but our driveway full of snow led to a street full of snow.  No snow plow had been through yet.  There was no way I was going to get shoveled out and get to work.

I called up and asked to work from home.  My boss allowed it, provided I could be productive.  I holed myself up in the bedroom with a laptop and a VPN connection while B kept the kids busy and relatively quiet.  Except for the occasional interruption when the boys forgot that I “wasn’t home” and was “in the office,” it worked out nicely.  I got a lot of work done and was able to take a shoveling break as well.

My first trip out shoveling led to my fingers going from cold to numb to hurting.  I took that as a sign that I should head in.  On my second trip out, I brought my camera for a few quick shots and then went back to shoveling snow.

For one shot, I decided to send the snow a message.  I’m sure many from the Northeast would agree with me.

If you live in the snowy east, how was your Monday?