For those of you who can’t wait for your next fix of video from the Martin-Keller Family, we have a bit of technical news: We’re moving our hi-definition videos to Motionbox.

Earlier this year, we started sharing video on the Vimeo website, because it offered really pretty pictures with unlimited storage space (although there was a modest weekly upload limit). But late last month, Vimeo unilaterally scaled back uploading privileges and eliminated a lot of the helpful categorizing options. To get them back, I have to buy a pro account.

Faced with Vimeo’s extortion, I looked around for another site, and found Motionbox, which I like a whole lot better. Read the rest of this entry »

Actually, we were having plenty of fun in Disneyland, and we didn’t really need much in the way of rescuing. In fact, the Buzz Lightyear AstroBlasters ride wasn’t even on our radar before we arrived at the park. Bu we accidentally discovered what turned out to be one of our favorite rides.

We went on it at least four times, and loved its interactivity. Essentially, you ride along in your spaceship while shooting electronic targets and defeating the evil Emperor Zurg. You actually get points for accuracy, and it was fun to improve our scores each time.

It was also fun to video tape. Here’s a compilation of video from some of our trips through space:

For some reason, Disney’s California Adventure theme park is much-maligned. We’re not sure why, because we’ve always seemed to enjoy it — although I admit we haven’t really spent a lot of time there.

But we did enjoy the attractions, including the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail, which had some fun rope bridges and a really awesome fire jumping tire swing:

In addition to that, we had fun trying the roller coasters. Felicia loved Mulholland Madness as much as Jocelyn did five years ago, and Jocelyn was also very excited to ride California Screaming (although it took a while to warm up to the idea).

And Karen and I both like the Tower of Terror, but we couldn’t get Jocelyn to try it. Maybe next time? Once every five years?

After starting the day at American Girl Place, we transitioned to Disneyland for Sunday afternoon and evening.

Although Karen passed on the inaugural first ride of our trip – something about Tea Cups ingrained in her mind from Papa’s tales of Magic Kingdom employment – the rest of us started our Disney experience right here.

Felicia identified this cup as being Shark colors, so we chose it and enjoyed a spin! From here, we scoped out the Matterhorn (for future rides) and took-in several of the rides in Mickey’s ToonTown and then Tomorrowland.

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As an extra bonus, I am testing out a new video sharing (and editing) website called Motionbox. This video is also available in HD from Motionbox, if you want to check it out.

As part of our gift-giving for Jocelyn’s 10th Birthday, we surprised the girls with a trip to Southern California for the extended Veteran’s Day weekend this year.

You can debate whether the primary purpose of the trip was to visit the fancy American Girl Place store in Los Angeles … or if that was just a convenient excuse to visit Disneyland for a few days, too. I either case, the visit to AG Place on Sunday morning was a real blast for Karen and the Girls. You can follow some of the events as Twittered, or via pictures at Flickr. Or you can wait to hear all about it from one of them.

The visit included lunch at the American Girl Cafe for Jocelyn — with newly acquired Julie (1974) — as well as Felicia (she brought Kaya) and Mommy.