Back to the Fyootcha!

So I figured to commemorate the last months of this blog’s existence, I’d go back to the theme I started out with. Sweet memories. Or something like that.

This Christmas break was just awesome. Got spoiled with all the lovely gifts from my family, the future in-laws, and Jenn. Got the LEGO Grand Carousel, a safety razor shaving kit from Jenn (I am all that is man), some killer binoculars with a built-in digital camera, assorted gift cards, and some very comfy slippers, among other things. I got Jenn the Eternal Love Cross pendant from James Avery, and she wears it every day now. It looks amazing on her. Oh, and we got a Wii! And Jenn got Wii Fit+ and that Jenny McCarthy workout game that comes with a camera that watches to make sure you’re doing the exercises right. Kinda creepy, but it should be fun. Haha!

One of the best things about Christmas this year, hands down, was that we finally got a White Christmas!

It snowed like the dickens on Christmas Eve. Like, blowing sideways and prohibiting your vision… dickens. Yeah, anyway, it calmed down overnight, but it was still BEAUTIFUL for Christmas Day. That was such an awesome treat. Wish it would snow again, as cold as it is outside. We’re supposed to see the coldest temperatures in a loooooong time around here starting tomorrow night. Like, wind chills around 0 degrees in the evenings. Yay!

We went to City Streets in Sundance Square for New Year’s Eve. It was fun to do some dancing with Jenn (and Misty made a friend that she danced with all night, hehe). And at midnight, Jenn and I looked at each other and said, “Now we can finally say ‘We’re getting married this year!'” LOL

Speaking of that, we got the tuxes picked out for me, the groomsmen, the dads, and the ringbearers. They look pretty dang slick, I can’t wait to see how we all look together. Along with that, over the holiday, Jenn’s also been working on some paper mache letters for a couple of the tables at the reception. She has some that spell out “WE DO” for the cake table, and “love is sweet” for our candy buffet table. They look really pretty, she’s done an excellent job with them.

Got some pretty big stuff ahead of me in the next couple months. Not only am I applying to graduate, but I’m going to be taking the TExES on February 6th. For those of you who don’t know, that’s the state certification exam that all Texas teachers have to take. And I’m taking it a month from tomorrow. Whoa! Talk about surreal, huh? I can’t believe I’m finally at this point. I get butterflies thinking about it. After ten years of jackin’ around and not knowing what to do with my life, I’m finally about to step into not only married life, but a full-on professional life. I think I may go get some of those paper mache letters, spell out “paraprofessional” with them, and burn them in a celebratory bonfire. 🙂

Anyway, say a prayer for us. These five months leading up to graduation and the wedding are going to be completely crazy, and Jenn and I are gonna need all the support we can get.

Oh, and we saw Sherlock Holmes. Frickin’ SWEET movie. I so want the soundtrack.

Legoland Discovery Centre Coming to Grapevine!

$12 million Legoland planned for Grapevine Mills

BY ALESHIA HOWE
October 27, 2009

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A new $12 million entertainment venue soon will be built at Grapevine Mills shopping mall – in more ways than one – as the property has announced the addition of Legoland Discovery Centre, a two to three-hour indoor Lego experience.

The latest addition to Grapevine’s growing entertainment, shopping and educational venues was announced on Oct. 27.

Global leisure giant Merlin Entertainments will build the attraction as part of an aggressive worldwide growth strategy.

Work is expected to begin on the project in June 2010, with the Legoland Discovery Centre set to open in March 2011. Models for the Grapevine site will be made in Merlin’s specialist studios and shipped in during construction, although plans and designs are already being drawn up, according to a release. According to the announcement, Legoland Discovery Centre will offer an interactive and educational experience aimed at families with children 3-12 years old. Based on the Lego bricks, Legoland Discovery Centres provide a range of interactive play areas including 4D cinema; master classes from the Lego Master Model Builder; Lego rides; special party rooms for birthdays and other celebrations; as well as a Miniland exhibit

Merlin currently holds 59 attractions in its portfolio – eight of those in the United States including Legoland California and Legoland Chicago as well as Madame Tussauds attractions in New York, Washington, D.C., Las Vegas and Hollywood, and a Sea Life aquarium alongside Legoland California and Underwater Adventures Aquarium in the Mall of America in Minneapolis. The Grapevine attraction is one of three Merlin projects set to open in 2010 and 2011.

“We believe Grapevine is exactly the right location for a Legoland Discovery Centre,” said Glenn Earlam, managing director of Merlin’s Midway Attractions Operating Group, which includes the LDCs, in a release. “It is ideally situated between Dallas and Fort Worth, and is already a popular destination for family visitors.”

Grapevine Mayor William D Tate said the attraction will “become one of the most unique and best family attractions in Texas. In developing Grapevine as a top destination city, we have pursued very unique and exclusive attractions and hotels. Clearly Merlin Entertainments is one of the best visitor attraction companies in the world, and the Legoland Discovery Centre will be recognized as a unique and integral part of Grapevine’s visitor appeal.”

Simon Property Group, which is working with Merlin Entertainments on a number of projects in the USA, helped to facilitate the deal.

Original story here.

Nathan Sawaya

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This is Nathan.

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Nathan is a professional LEGO sculpture artist.

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Pretty sweet, huh? Well, check out what I just found on his site.

O SNAP! (click for gallery)

How friggin’ sweet is that!? I totally wanna build one of those.

Steak ‘n Dawgs.

How was your Memorial Day weekend? Mine was pretty nice. Friday night, Jenn and I went to the Parks Mall so she could find a dress. She managed to find exactly what she wanted at the very first store we went to, which was just awesome. Had dinner at Buck n’ Loon’s after that. Tried their Frito Pie, which was quite delicious. Tried their queso for the first time, too. It was VERY good.

Saturday, Jenn went to a wedding shower for a girl at church. I had some “man time” while she was gone. Munched on leftover Frito Pie while watching “Band of Brothers” on the History Channel. Yep, MAN TIME. LOL! It was a nice relaxing afternoon. After the wedding shower, she and I went back up to Frisco to the LEGO Store, so I could get my bag of goodies for volunteering at the grand opening event. I got a gift card as part of my swag, so I used that toward a couple of LEGO sets for Jenn and me. I’ll have a post about the big set we got later on, because I’m waiting on an email from her with what she wants to say about it. 🙂

Anyway, had dinner out there at California Pizza Kitchen, which was pretty sweet. I had their Buffalo Chicken Pizza. It was pretty amazing, except for the celery. Made it taste, like, Chinese. I wasn’t really feeling it, so I picked them off. The best part, hands down, was that the pizza had Gorgonzola cheese on it instead of mozzarella. WOW.

Sunday was a pretty good day. We met Misty, Chris, Sarah, and Amber (w/baby Wyatt) for lunch at the new Which Wich? in South Arlington on 360. I had The Wicked, which consisted of five meats and three cheeses, along with the veggies I had added on. Definitely my new favorite. I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to convince myself to try anything else there from now on.

Yesterday, Jenn’s parents and aunt and uncle came over to eat for Memorial Day. Jenn’s dad and I grilled steaks and hot dogs, and we had quite a spread like we always do on holidays. Plenty of leftovers too, so Jenn and I are gonna have chili dawgs for dinner tonight. 🙂

Well, now that I’ve pretty much done nothing but blog about food, I’m going to get eat lunch. Adios.

Photo Booth Shot of the Day:

Ooooh, Poooong.