"Honey are you awake?" "Mumble Mumble" - 6/17 [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

thewesterberg

04-10-2008, 09:44 PM

So I woke up this morning to get some DISsing done before everyone else in the house woke up. I grabbed myself a bowl of cereal, turned on the TV to Golden Girls for some background noise, and I was in my happy place. :surfweb: Spent some time scanning the community board, checked out a couple threads on the budget board, when something caught my eye.

Free Dining.

Yes, I'd heard of this beast before when we planned a trip last September. However, we were going with my mom, dad, and sister. We decided an off-site house would be a better fit for our situation. But this time it would just be the 3 of us. I had tried to ignore the rumors, but temptation got the best of me and I opened one of the threads. IT STARTS TODAY. I wonder what it would cost to do a value for a week???

I started crunching some numbers. Those numbers were looking good. Really good. We almost have enough in our vacation fund to do this and we'd have a few more months to save.

DH was still sleeping as my wheels were turning. Hmmmmm...... maybe I should go get some laundry to wash out of our bedroom. Where DH was sleeping. Oops. I banged into the dresser.

The lump under the covers rolls over.

"Sorry Honey, did I wake you?"

"Mumble, mumble."

"I was just grabbing the laundry. Sorry about that."

"Mumble, mumble"

"Well since you're up... Say, I was just checking out some stuff on the DIS. Guess what I found out? Free dining starts today. If we went, it would only cost us $XXXX.XX for air, tickets, lodging and our food. What do you think?"

"Mumble, mumble. Disney? Mumble, mumble. When? Mumble, mumble."

"End of August, over Labor Day weekend. It's just a crazy thought. It could be my mother'sday/30thbirthday/anniversary/yourbirthday/christmas/arborday/easter/justbecauseyoulovemesodarnmuch present. But I know it's a long shot."

"Mumble, mumble. We could do that. Mumble, mumble"

WHAT???? Get OUTTA HERE!!! Did you just say let's go for it?!?!?!?!? :faint:
Get your butt outta bed and let's book this bugger quick before they run out of rooms or more importantly, before you wake up completely and change your mind!!

(Okay, flashback. The last time I woke him up like this was a little over 5 years ago. He was sound asleep when I came into the room saying:

"I've got two lines."

"Mumble, mumble. What? Mumble, mumble. Two lines? Huh?"

Yeah, I had taken a pregnancy test and it was positive. He tells me now he was glad this morning was Disney and not two lines!)

Back to present day....

But wait, my job is no problem to take time of off. His job, another story. He's an x-ray tech at a clinic. He is a department of one. If he's gone, there's someone that can cover for him, but she also covers other areas. If she's gone or a bunch of other people are gone it's no dice for vacation. It's Labor Day we're looking at. At this late in the game, I better not get too excited.

Yeah right. I was so past that.

So I started the online booking process... Pop Century, 7 nights, free dining (okay, it was already half done before he got down the stairs) while he called work. NO ONE WOULD ANSWER THEIR PHONES! Come one people! He called a bunch of people to check the vacation schedule and no one would pick up the phone!:headache:

I continued booking, getting all the way to the payment page when...

....cue heavenly music...

The PHONE RANG!

And caller id stated it was someone from the clinic. If it had been a telemarketer I most likely would have flipped out.:rolleyes1

It was a go! He could get all the time off! And the gal he talked to asked me to e-mail her the info because she was thinking it was time for her family to take a little va-ca. Nothing like sharing some pixie dust! :wizard:

Once again, trying not to get my hopes up too much because for all I know the rooms with free dining may be already gone. So I sat with my fingers crossed, my toes crossed, heck... I think I even crossed my eyes for luck as I waited for the screen that said "we're going to take extra long time to process this, not because everyone and their cousin is trying to book this, but really because we just want to drive you to the brink of insanity" to go away.

And good ol' Disney came through. :cheer2:

We're booked. We're booked. WE'RE BOOKED! We're going to WDW!

:cool1:

Who woulda thunk? Surely not me when I woke up this morning that I would be going to WDW in just a few months.

Man, do I love my husband. :love: I think this one is going to be held over my head for awhile. :rolleyes1

The happiness and overwhelming joy consumed me...

and then panic struck...

ADRs.

stagemomx3

04-10-2008, 10:14 PM

He tells me now he was glad this morning was Disney and not two lines!

:lmao:

Congratulations on your trip.

thewesterberg

04-11-2008, 07:43 AM

:lmao:

Congratulations on your trip.

Thanks!! I'm pretty dang happy! I barely slept last night thinking about everything!

thewesterberg

04-11-2008, 08:22 AM

Like I said in my first post, last year when we went we stayed off site at Emerald Island in a great house.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/P9210400_384.jpg

A friend of ours from church has a sister and brother-in-law that own a house there and they gave us a great deal on it. We knew traveling with my parents and sister, we'd like to have room to spread out. This place was a 4 bedroom, 3 bath place with swimming pool, laundry, game room - we loved it!! Plus, we ate most of our meals there. The only ADR we made was for Chef Mickey's. I made sure I called at exactly 180 days out to get my "perfect" time.

However, this was not the case yesterday. Once the shock settled a bit that we were actually taking this trip, I realized:

We're doing free dining.

That means table service.

When lots of other people are wanting table service.

Which means making ADRs.

And at this time in the game, we're way past the 180 days.

Which also means I've got to plan our park days...

Like NOW! :eek:

Thank goodness last month I decided to re-up my Tour Guide Mike subscription. I had found the site full of good info to help my obsessive complusive need to plan our trip last year. The winter was getting awfully long up here in Northern Minnesota and I needed to dream of warmer places and start making me some plans so I re-upped. (We're talking about doing a DCL trip with some friends in a couple of years.) Man, was I glad that I had gotten my renewal all worked out so I could just log on and make it work.

So while my co-works met in the kitchen for coffee and donuts, I politely declined. Chocolate donuts would have to take a back seat today - GASP! - and I hopped onto TGM, grabbed a pen, and I went nuts! I had my little piece of paper marked out with AM and PM, days of the week, and filled in with which parks were green, yellow, and red on which days. Last year this took me forever to figure out which parks on which days. Lots of hemming and hawing. I remember sitting at the YMCA with my papers and charts and color coded markers figuring it all out while our son did his swim lesson. I must have looked like such a nerd. But this time there was no time for hemming and hawing. The pressure was on. I needed to make those ADRs PRONTO!

The pressure must be good for me as in a few moments I had circled which days we'd do which parks. I was feeling like a pro at this point. All hail the schedule queen! :worship:

This is where I was glad I have spent hours reading about restaurants and TRs on the DIS. I had a good idea where we wanted to go. My DH had only one request - LeCellier, especially after hearing one of the kids from church (a 5th grader at the time) rave about his steak. This kid is a foodie and his opinion carries weight. Most of the meals we were going for the fun/atmosphere factor. Gotta keep the 5 year old entertained. Okay, let's see what I can do!

Here's what I came up with quickly:

Tuesday - SciFi Dinner for supper the night we get in.
Wednesday - Crystal Palace for lunch
Thursday - LeCellier whenever
Friday - Prime Time - whenever
Saturday - our day off from the parks, so Whispering Canyon seemed like a good idea
Sunday - Ahhh, Spoodles, maybe?? I didn't know what to do for this day.
Monday - 'Ohana's for dinner

Time to quickly get on the phone. Yes, I was at work, but I figured if I multi-tasked by typing some e-mails while on hold, I could justify my actions. Much to my surprise a friendly CM answered the phone immediately...:headache: You thought I would have been happy, but there went the justification right out the window!

We started out... Yup, we can do that time... Yup, we can do that... Wow! :wizard: This was way easier than I thought it would be!

We came to LeCellier. I asked for dinner and she went. "Ahhhh... Oh. Yikes." Uhhh... care to explain??? The numbers were actually in the negatives for ADRs and she'd never seen that before. So I'm guessing dinner there that night is a NO. But, lunch was available still! :woohoo: Fine by me, but how early do I want a steak?? Before noon, no. 1:30 sounds much better. The hubby will be happy. It's the least I can do since he agreed to this trip!

The rest of my requests were met with a "Yup, we can do that" as well. She was so friendly and helpful. Why was this not harder???? :confused3 The internal voices started saying, "Maybe you made bad choices? Maybe this wasn't really a Disney CM and somebody is playing a joke on you by just pretending to take your ADRs?" STOP, voices I say! Let me be happy that things went easy according to plan!!

Time to head home for lunch and share the news with DH!

And for the big question... how long would it take me to fall to the ADR-Change-Call-Disney-Dining-a-Thousand-Times-Before-the- Trip pressure that dominates the PTRs and Restaurant Board?

Any guesses??

Anyone?

stagemomx3

04-11-2008, 08:32 AM

Thank goodness last month I decided to re-up my Tour Guide Mike subscription. I had found the site full of good info to help my obsessive complusive need to plan our trip last year. The winter was getting awfully long up here in Northern Minnesota and I needed to dream of warmer places and start making me some plans so I re-upped. (We're talking about doing a DCL trip with some friends in a couple of years.) Man, was I glad that I had gotten my renewal all worked out so I could just log on and make it work.

:thumbsup2 Love TGM! :love:

Your ADRs look good. So how long did you wait to call back? As soon as you got home? :lmao:

thewesterberg

04-11-2008, 02:40 PM

Thank goodness for a snow day to enable my planning obsession. Also, it's helping me think of warmer days that are ahead as we look out the window at a foot of snow coming down in wind gusts between 55-65 mph. For crying out loud, the snow was already gone!

But, I'll finish up yesterday's planning shennanigans before I move into todays.

Well, the ADRs last all until I got home 20 minutes later and I realized that I had us going into parks 6 days when the tickets we were getting were 5 day park hopper plus tickets. Oops. I guess that's what happens when you try to plan your entire itinerary in 15 minutes. Something's gotta change. So we talked it over. DH checked out the menus and as he drooled over the keyboard, we figure out our new plan of attack.

Time to get back on the phone with Disney Dining. And once again, got a super friendly CM!

The day we arrived we would no longer go to Sci Fi for dinner and go to Fantasmic. Instead, we'll head to DTD, go to Disney Quest and grab a counter service there. Any recommendations?? This is probably better because I haven't booked our air yet and have no clue when we'll be getting to Orlando. This way we aren't rushing to make an ADR and can enter this vacation relaxed.

Since we really wanted to go to Sci Fi we decided to drop Spoodles. We'll be going to AK in the morning and duh, I forgot we're getting Park Hoppers (didn't have those last time), so we could head to a different park for dinner. Like DHS. At the Sci Fi. Perfect!

We then had one more TS to use and we thought, we had fun at Chef Mickey's last year. Here's a picture of DS4 and DH there (I'm down in the corner on the first picture).

Our little guy was sad because Mickey had to go back to the kitchen to check on breakfast before he got to our table. Pluto came over and DS wanted nothing to do with him. He wanted Mickey. Well, bless Pluto's puppy heart, he started "sniffing" DS rear-end! :lmao: That got DS warmed up, then laughing and end made him a happy camper the rest of the meal.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/P9190290_278-1.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/P9190291_279.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/P9190292_280-1-1.jpg

Since we had happy memories there, we decided to try for a breakfast there the day we leave. Once again, no airfare at this point and our choices were 8:30am or before or 10:30am or after. Yikes. 8:30 seems early, but 10:30 seems late. I went with the 8:30am. I'm hoping I don't regret this. We're planning on getting a car so it's not an issue in theory of getting there. It's just the getting out of bed and getting there, if you know what I mean!

Disney was once again able to accommodate our requests (for the most part, except the early Chef Mickey's time, but I can deal with that!) So that's the plan for now. We'll see if it sticks!

thewesterberg

04-11-2008, 02:40 PM

:thumbsup2 Love TGM! :love:

Your ADRs look good. So how long did you wait to call back? As soon as you got home? :lmao:

DING DING DING... we have a winner!! (regarding TGM and when I called!)

thewesterberg

04-12-2008, 07:05 AM

So yesterday was a Disney obsessed planning day. It made the raging blizzard outside seem a bit more bearable. Check out these pictures (http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/photography/includes/gallery.cfm?id=581) from our "pleasant spring" day

We have our room reservation, our which park/which day plan, our ADRs (subject, and highly likely, to change).

What's next??? TRANSPORTATION!:car:

Both DH and I are pretty darn close to earning a free ticket on NWA. With this trip and a few more e-reward surveys, we should be good to go for our tentative trip in 2 years. For this reason, we want to stick with NWA. Plus, all those airlines that give the good deals I'm always reading about (SWA, Jet Blue) don't come anywhere near MN.

We're in Northern Minnesota and our closest airport is Duluth. Usually Duluth is WAY more expensive than Minneapolis so we drive the couple of hours to the Cities. When we took our trip last year, we were lucky that Midwest Airlines went into Duluth and there was a bit of a price war (NWA had been the only carrier since American Eagle had left a few years previous so they had a monopoly on the market.) This price war hit right as we were booking our tickets so we nabbed them out of Duluth. However, this time we wouldn't be as lucky as Midwest packed their bags and headed out after putting in less than a year in Duluth. It's back to NWA being the lone carrier (except if we wanted to fly to Orlando via Las Vegas - Allegiant air flies only to Las Vegas a couple of times a week, but I'm thinking this probably isn't too practical!)

So back to crossing my fingers, toes, and eyes when it came to airfare. Not so lucky this time. Must only work for Disney room reservations. It way over $400/person to fly out of Duluth! :scared1:... Double :scared1: :scared1:

So I punched in MSP. WHAT??? Over $300/person?!?

Now I start panicking. This was suppose to be a budget trip and all of a sudden airfare is close to $100 more per person than what I had hoped. My only consolation is that it's early. I'll keep watching airfares like a hawk and hope and pray and cross my fingers, toes, and eyes religiously that those prices come down.

In a moment of desperation, I went to google maps to see how far it would be for us to drive. One way, One Day + 1 hour. Hmmmmm.... we almost went nuts on a 5 hour drive to the Wisconsin Dells last weekend. (DS flipped out part way through the ride). I think at this point I'd rather _______________ <------- insert the worst creative punishment you can think of here (it's too early for me to come up with something funny) THAN ride in a car with him for over 2 days straight when you make it a round trip. We'd likely cut our losses and leave our car in FL and fly home, if we even made it there in the first place. While it would be cheaper, it doesn't sound like the way to start our vacation, plus DH doesn't have enough time off of work to make this happen. :love: Thank goodness.

Then there was the great debate about a car :car: Last time we had a rental car (since we were offsite) and it was pretty nice.

Here we are at Cocoa Beach, in my Dream Car :lovestruc
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/P9170146_140.jpg

We were thinking we'd go that route this time too (not the covertible, something small and practical and cheaper) since we're staying at POP and not too sure about the whole Disney-transportation thing.

I started punching in stuff for a rental and those too are expensive! More than I'd like to pay. After looking for codes and coupons on Mousesavers and trying a bunch of different sites/agencies, I wasn't having any luck. My transportation mojo is off today.

I think we're kind of leaning to just use Disney transportation and deal. Any thoughts on this as we head there over Labor Day weekend???

Birdrav

04-12-2008, 07:52 AM

thewesterberg

04-12-2008, 08:00 AM

How very exciting. Your DS will have soooo much fun!

We are leaving in one week!!! I am in West Virginia with my DD13 and my mother, and we are driving to orlando on friday and my sister lives in Wisconsin ( she also got the snow and is not happy about it at all!! ).
She and her daughter are flying out of duluth and meeting us there.

:welcome:
Welcome to the DIS!! I feel so honored that your first post is on my PTR!! :goodvibes

Are you super excited for your trip?!?! All packed, ready to go, just biding your time until Friday?? Have a ton of fun! Where are you staying? Thank goodness this snow got out of the way and that spring weather is in the forecast before your sister leaves on Friday. I know the flights yesterday were all postponed until today, poor folks!

Birdrav

04-12-2008, 08:07 AM

thewesterberg

04-12-2008, 08:19 AM

Thanks!!! I only posted because I can relate to where you are.

We ARE super excited. We also made the decision to go out of the blue. It was not in the plans at all for this year, but somehow here we are getting ready to go!
We are staying off property and we will have my car to get around. I know you are debating about getting a rental, and I think it is a good idea if you think you may get disney overload!! I know it sounds crazy, but it does happen.

We stayed off-site last year and loved it! We liked being able to sneak away and it never seemed like a hassle (except our first day, at MK - we got a little carried away about being there! Got there for rope drop, and had full intentions of going back for a rest in the afternoon, then returning for Spectro and fireworks. But one ride led to another and another and another...pretty soon we didn't have enough time to head all the way back to the TTC, get in the car, get back to our place and repeat it all in reverse. By the time Spectro started, our DS4 had a meltdown and I felt like the worst mom in the world.) I hope not to repeat that mistake this trip!

With the rental, I think I'll just play the waiting game. See how much our airfare works out to be, and if I can get it for what I'm hoping, then we can spring for a car. Most of the rental coupons are only good until June (I think) at this point so maybe some good deals will come about as we get closer. We'll see!

PrincessAlways

04-12-2008, 08:24 AM

Birdrav

04-12-2008, 08:27 AM

thewesterberg

04-12-2008, 08:40 AM

We totally plan to do the same. Get to MK at rope drop, leave as the parade starts at 3:00 (we will have already seen the parade/we are doing MK in 2 days) and head back to the park at about 8:00 (do you think thats too late?)for spectromagic and wishes.

I would like to stay in the park straight through, but my sister's daughter is only 2 years old and I am very scared of that meltdown that WILL come by the time
spectromagic starts.

When you went last year did you use the photopass? We pre-purchased the CD and I want to make sure it will be worth our money!

I think the break is the KEY to a happy WDW experience, especially when traveling with kids. How fun for your niece to get to go!!

What time is Spectro? I know people started lining up at least an hour before. We joined the crowds doing this as we found a ledge for my parents to sit on, we got food and ate while we waited worked pretty good!

We did Photopass... I got in on a share over at the Tour Guide Mike site with some other families. It worked out great and it was fun adding the little "extras" to the pictures when we got home. I don't know if we'll do it this time, since we were just there a year ago and I'm trying to keep our costs to the bare minimum. Another one of those "we'll see's"!

thewesterberg

04-12-2008, 08:45 AM

WOW!!! You're in hyper speed, aren't you?!?!?! :hyper: I don't blame you. How exciting!!:yay: Your questions about Disney's transportation, I've stayed at Pop a couple of times & their buses are absolutely wonderful! They do not go to any other resort & there is only one area where the buses stop! Quick & efficient!! There's a bus stop for each park. You just go into that que & wait for the bus.....which arrives pretty darn quickly! Plus the ME to & from the airport just can't be beat! You arrive at the airport, go to the ME, get on the bus & start your vacation! No worries!!! :woohoo: Can't wait to hear more of your planning!

Oops.. missed your post! Thanks for dropping in! This is my first attempt at a trip report... glad to see some people are reading it! :goodvibes

Thanks for the tips on the bus! My DH at first was wanting a car but once I told him we wouldn't have to share the bus with another resort and people said POP is one of the better resorts when it comes to disney transportation.

Any other tips about Pop? This is our first time staying on-site... I'm excited!!

janjandis

04-12-2008, 08:51 AM

janjandis

04-12-2008, 09:03 AM

[QUOTE=thewesterberg;24408732]Thank goodness for a snow day to enable my planning obsession. Also, it's helping me think of warmer days that are ahead as we look out the window at a foot of snow coming down in wind gusts between 55-65 mph. For crying out loud, the snow was already gone!

But, I'll finish up yesterday's planning shennanigans before I move into todays.

Well, the ADRs last all until I got home 20 minutes later and I realized that I had us going into parks 6 days when the tickets we were getting were 5 day park hopper plus tickets. Oops. I guess that's what happens when you try to plan your entire itinerary in 15 minutes. [QUOTE]

Did you know that you can add another day to your tickets for very little money? Its only 2.10 to add another day. You can do this when you check in or at one of the theme parks.

thewesterberg

04-12-2008, 10:36 AM

Don't worry, your flights and car rentals will go down as it gets closer to your trip! I saw 133 for Detroit to Florida for Northwest for September but its leaving a day too late for me. Just crossing my fingers for a good Northwest rate too!

That's what I'm hoping too! $133? I'd LOVE that!!

Did you know that you can add another day to your tickets for very little money? Its only 2.10 to add another day. You can do this when you check in or at one of the theme parks.

Isn't it crazy how cheap it is to add days?? We're getting some special tickets through an education experience and we aren't able to add anything on to them, but that's okay. We could use our 1 day passes that we bought to get the free dining, but I'm thinking we'll hang on to those until our next trip in a couple years. I think our new plan will actually work better for us by not having an ADR the day we get there. Easier to go with the flow and do a CS that night instead in DTD.

PrincessAlways

04-12-2008, 11:41 AM

Tips on Pop???? Well, I was lucky enough stay in the 50's Tramp section--that's Tramp like in Lady & the Tramp!!! :lmao: :lmao: Anyway it was close enough to the food court & bus area & pool without having to pay for "preferred rooms". The one room faced the pool & I was surprised that it wasn't louder. It was on the 3rd floor. The food court was convenient & good. Take time to walk around the resort & enjoy all the theming. It's great!

thewesterberg

04-12-2008, 12:05 PM

Well, I was lucky enough stay in the 50's Tramp section--that's Tramp like in Lady & the Tramp!!! :lmao: :lmao:

:lmao: :rotfl: :rotfl2:

Wait until I tell DH about this! He oversaw me typing "Swap" and he was like "What are you doing?!?!" Honey, it's all about fridges. Wait until I tell him the "Tramp" section is being recommended at the hotel!

ETA: Thanks for tips on where to stay!

PrincessAlways

04-12-2008, 12:09 PM

:lmao: :rotfl: :rotfl2:

Wait until I tell DH about this! He oversaw me typing "Swap" and he was like "What are you doing?!?!" Honey, it's all about fridges. Wait until I tell him the "Tramp" section is being recommended at the hotel!

:lmao: :rotfl: :rotfl2: :laughing: You'll have to tell us his reaction!!! :lmao:

thewesterberg

04-12-2008, 07:19 PM

Hmmm... How did I spend my day? On the DIS of course. :thumbsup2 Sure I shoveled, vacuumed, and made dinner. Also spent some time with DS, but a majority of the day I parked my butt in the computer chair, gathering up information. :surfweb:

My DH told me that I needed some sort of support group. I told him, "I do - the DIS!" He politely informed me you're all not a support group, you're enablers. :confused3 What's that suppose to mean?

What did I do today around here? Well, I started a fridge swap for Pop! I needed one and there were no available dates so I grabbed the bull by the horns and made it happen with the help of janjandis. (thanks by the way!) So, if anyone's looking for a fridge, I know where you can find one! :thumbsup2

Took some time to put our TGM recommending touring days and ADRs into a handy dandy spreadsheet. Also found the items available for snack credits, and copied our restaurant menus into a Word file so we could drool, plot, and plan our selections.

What else? A change of ADRs of course! DH got on the DIS last night (he had to read my PreTR and see if I was representing him in an accurate manner. What? No faith in me?) He hopped on to the menus and he decided that Coral Reef sounded better than LeCellier, especially in the terms of having something for our DS to watch while we wait for our food. Okay. I can do that.

We also decided to drop 50s Prime Time Diner in exchange for Hollywood and Vine's Fantasmic package. Buffets are more friendly to our son where we can get in, get our food without waiting, and he can have a choice. Plus, then we won't have to get to Fantasmic quite so early that night.

Well, I got on the phone and my ADR mojo was working again! We got everything we wanted at perfect times for us!

Coral Reef at 5:10pm.
H&V at 5:10 (which amazed me - I figured we'd get something like 3:30)

Plus, I asked if there was an in between time for Chef Mickeys (yesterday 8:30 was the latest earliest time - does that make any sense? - and the next were after 10:30.) Today there was an opening at 9:25! This way if we don't get a rental car, we can still make it there using Disney transportation. :thumbsup2

I also had them note that we'll be celebrate our 9th anniversary on this trip as well as DH's 38th birthday. The trip is the week in between these two special events, so that ought to be special!

While I was on the phone, I asked if they would put a request in for our room location - asked for the top floor as the most important request, and then something in the 50s building. Couldn't quite ask for the Tramp section... I think I would have laughed too hard! (PrincessAlways - you know what I'm talking about! All this talking about swaps and now tramps was making my DH eyebrows raise! He did get a kick out of it when I told him the suggested section... and his arms pumped up in the air... until I kicked him. Amazing we've made it 9 years!:rolleyes: )

So needless to say DH is getting into this trip too (and thankfully more than just swaps and tramps). Man, I love this guy! :love: (I hope he reads this installment! :laughing: That oughta earn me some brownie points!)

Oh, the other thing I haven't told you guys... we're going to try to keep this a secret from our DS! (Which we almost blew to pieces tonight... That almost didn't take us long!) I think we're going to burst - before DS, DH would always convince me to open up our Christmas presents at least week early! We'll see how long we can make this secret last!

Birdrav

04-12-2008, 07:57 PM

thewesterberg

04-12-2008, 08:23 PM

Sounds like your days are alot like mine!! I am so glad to know that your DH refers to us as "enablers" yet is involved in the process already.

We are leaving my boyfriend (of 7 years) behind, and yet he was completely into the Travel Channel show last night with Samantha Brown. ( I think he secretly wants to go!) Men are so cute!

My sister wants to know if you scrap book and if you shop for supplies at True Colors.

Wasn't the show last night fun to watch? Our DS wandered into the living room at one point and curled up on my lap to watch it with us. I asked him "hypothetical" questions, like "IF ;) we were to go to WDW again, what rides would you want to go on?" Test Track and BTMRR are still a nope, but he did say he'd go on Goofy's Barnstormer a hundred million times (which greatly surprised me since he only did it once last year and every ride after that he'd ask us with a touch of panic in his voice, "Is this a rollercoaster??")

I managed to stay up until midnight last night when it was on again so I could make sure we recorded it. I'd like to watch it again.

Does your sister frequent True Colors? I've been there a few times. My scrapbooking I've found goes better when I do it digitally, and our house is pretty tiny and my true passion is quilting. What little storage space I have is full of material! What town does your sister live in, if you don't mind me asking?

Birdrav

04-12-2008, 08:37 PM

She lives in Barnes which near Hayward WI.

We watched the show "together" via the phone, as only you can from West Virginia to Wisconsin. We did not particularly enjoy the Disneyland parts, as we know very little about it.

The History Channel just had a good show tonight about Walt Disney. I did not watch all of it, because I was on the phone with My sister ( again).
We keep saying" This time next week we will be...."

Birdrav

04-12-2008, 08:40 PM

I don't know how you will manage to keep such a secret from your DS, but
if you can hold it in, it will be truly magical when you do tell him.

I am such a geek, because when I think of a child's face when the surprise of
a Disney trip is revealed it gives me a lump in my throat!

thewesterberg

04-13-2008, 08:06 AM

She lives in Barnes which near Hayward WI. I know where that is!

The History Channel just had a good show tonight about Walt Disney. I did not watch all of it, because I was on the phone with My sister ( again).
We keep saying" This time next week we will be...." Missed this one. Darn. Isn't it fun to be able to be able to say I'll be standing there in just a few days?!

I don't know how you will manage to keep such a secret from your DS, but
if you can hold it in, it will be truly magical when you do tell him.

I am such a geek, because when I think of a child's face when the surprise of
a Disney trip is revealed it gives me a lump in my throat!
I'm hoping we can pull it off. A challenge for us, but I think it'll be totally worth it. My DH is very creative so I think we'll have to put our heads together and come up with a fun reveal. Some friends of ours picked up their kids from school with their van all packed and asked the kids what they wanted to do that weekend. Then mom said, how about Disney World? The kids went wild!

Charleston Princess

04-13-2008, 08:33 AM

I'm here and loving your PTR! Can't wait to read more!

You had me with your first post about asking DH while he was sleeping if you could go to Disney. I did the exact same thing last year (March 18, 2007) for last year's summer trip -- sprang it on him while he was fast asleep so I could get the answer I wanted! :thumbsup2

Sounds like you are going to have a blast!

Also, I think the DIS is a support group :), but my DH would say the same thing as yours!

PrincessAlways

04-13-2008, 08:35 AM

Hmmm... How did I spend my day? On the DIS of course. :thumbsup2

Sounds like a day well spent to me!! :rotfl:

My DH told me that I needed some sort of support group. I told him, "I do - the DIS!" He politely informed me you're all not a support group, you're enablers. :confused3 What's that suppose to mean?

What does that mean???:surfweb: I just can't figure that out!! :lmao:

Great about all of your ADRs!! :woohoo:

Birdrav

04-13-2008, 08:56 AM

Charleston Princess... Are you referring to Charleston SC or WV?

Charleston Princess

04-13-2008, 09:06 AM

Charleston Princess... Are you referring to Charleston SC or WV?

South Carolina :goodvibes

stagemomx3

04-13-2008, 09:19 AM

He did get a kick out of it when I told him the suggested section... and his arms pumped up in the air... until I kicked him.

:lmao: :rotfl2: :lmao:

Birdrav

04-13-2008, 10:11 AM

I am from the Charleston WV area that is why I asked :cutie:

brookelizabeth

04-13-2008, 02:01 PM

Awesome PTR! Loving your updates-you are a great writer!

I am from Central Minnesota, it's supposed to be 70 by Tuesday. I swear it, you can get frost bite and sunburn in the same week in this state!!!!! :sad2: It's pretty nice today too, the snow is melting....again.

I would LOVE to pull off a Pop/Free Dining long weekend. But, my DH just ignored me when I mentioned it - we are going in November, so I think it would be just too much for him...but not for me! :laughing:

Lady Lallie

04-13-2008, 02:25 PM

thewesterberg

04-13-2008, 02:34 PM

I'm here and loving your PTR! Can't wait to read more!

Thanks for stopping in!

You had me with your first post about asking DH while he was sleeping if you could go to Disney. I did the exact same thing last year (March 18, 2007) for last year's summer trip -- sprang it on him while he was fast asleep so I could get the answer I wanted! :thumbsup2

Also, I think the DIS is a support group :), but my DH would say the same thing as yours!

I'm glad we can share our devious ways here on the DIS to get our trips! :lmao:

Awesome PTR! Loving your updates-you are a great writer!

I am from Central Minnesota, it's supposed to be 70 by Tuesday. I swear it, you can get frost bite and sunburn in the same week in this state!!!!! :sad2: It's pretty nice today too, the snow is melting....again.

Hey, another Minnesotan! Don't you just love it here?? Our DS has been praying since, hmmm... January?... "Dear God, please make the snow go away so the butterflies can come back!" He's been wondering why God won't answer his prayers! Time for some theological discussion...

I would LOVE to pull off a Pop/Free Dining long weekend. But, my DH just ignored me when I mentioned it - we are going in November, so I think it would be just too much for him...but not for me! :laughing:

Try when he's sleeping... it seems to be a popular method! :thumbsup2

thewesterberg

04-13-2008, 02:36 PM

brookelizabeth

04-13-2008, 03:26 PM

Hey, another Minnesotan! Don't you just love it here?? Our DS has been praying since, hmmm... January?... "Dear God, please make the snow go away so the butterflies can come back!" He's been wondering why God won't answer his prayers! Time for some theological discussion...

:rotfl2: Love it! Kids are so beautifully innocent. But, his butterflies will come back - in God's perfect timing! (please soon, Lord, please soon!)

I am SO ready for the butterflies though! This winter has just been vicious. We got hit with that icy/slushy/snowy/rain junk this past week. I told my husband I was 100% convinced the weather was from satan.

You live in Duluth? (Da-loot!) I :love: Duluth! (in the summer)

I'm sorta near St Cloud, otherwise, in the middle of Nowheresville, MN.

Try when he's sleeping... it seems to be a popular method! :thumbsup2

:laughing: You are right, I AM gonna try this! Labor Day weekend would be perfect - if that airfare comes down!

Mom2Max

04-13-2008, 03:29 PM

HI! I love your report! Can you believe the weather up here? :sad2: I makes me want to go NOW! We will be at ASMo Sept 20-27 for FD. :cool1:

thewesterberg

04-13-2008, 10:17 PM

I am SO ready for the butterflies though! This winter has just been vicious. We got hit with that icy/slushy/snowy/rain junk this past week. I told my husband I was 100% convinced the weather was from satan.
AMEN!

You live in Duluth? (Da-loot!) I :love: Duluth! (in the summer)

I'm sorta near St Cloud, otherwise, in the middle of Nowheresville, MN. Yup, we're up in Duluth. And Nowheresville... that's where we told our son we'd be heading when he caught on last night that we might be going somewhere! Any tourist spots you'd recommend there???;)

:laughing: You are right, I AM gonna try this! Labor Day weekend would be perfect - if that airfare comes down!
Good luck with that! And if you find some cheap airfare, let me know (and I'll do the same for you) You know, it's all about supporting (cough, cough... enabling) each other!

HI! I love your report! Can you believe the weather up here? :sad2: I makes me want to go NOW! We will be at ASMo Sept 20-27 for FD. :cool1:
I know, enough with this snow already! It's making me want to wish away the summer so August/September will get here! But you know, there will be a brief moment when we're in super, duper hot, sticky and humid Florida that we'll be wishing for some snow to go roll around in!

thewesterberg

04-13-2008, 10:31 PM

A monumental occasion occurred today... no changes in ADRs!! I guess that's what happens when you're away from the computer for most of the day! Spent some time at my parent's this afternoon with DS and our dog. They both enjoyed running around outside and sampling some of the fresh maple syrup from the trees my dad had tapped in their backyard. (Clarify - DS enjoyed the maple syrup... the dog did not try it!) All the fresh air did us good after being stuck in the house for the last couple of days.

But Disney planning did occur. But not for this trip.

There's another couple of families at our church that :love: Disney too. In the past year a bunch of us have taken trips and it's always fun to swap stories. After we went last September and another family went in October we got to joking that we should a Disney cruise. Then a year got attached to the joke - 2010. Be careful when you joke of such matters.

It has been moving from joke to reality! Some of the us families did a "practice" run last weekend with a trip to the Wisconsin Dells to see if we could handle being together for an extended period of time. There were 25 of us, 6-7 families with our kids. We had a fabulous time - swimming, laughing, watching our kids play together.

This morning after worship, I got to talking with one of the gals we went to the Dells with about our cruise plans (After I confessed about our surprise decision to do this trip!) and she decided I was in charge since I love planning and finding deals. Okay, I can deal with that! (She may show up here as she's around the DIS and I told her I was writing a PTR :wave:)

Now the great debate begins as to what we should do - DCL or something else, just going to the parks, when to go, where to stay, etc. Sounds like a fun challenge to me! Something to keep me occupied!:surfweb:

brookelizabeth

04-14-2008, 07:08 AM

Yup, we're up in Duluth. And Nowheresville... that's where we told our son we'd be heading when he caught on last night that we might be going somewhere! Any tourist spots you'd recommend there???;)

How about the roaring town of Darwin, Minnesota? It's a teeeeeeeeeny little town, but boats the Largest Twine Ball. Nice tourist attraction! :rotfl:

Good luck with that! And if you find some cheap airfare, let me know (and I'll do the same for you) You know, it's all about supporting (cough, cough... enabling) each other!

Sounds like a plan! :thumbsup2 [/quote]

brookelizabeth

04-14-2008, 07:10 AM

After we went last September and another family went in October we got to joking that we should a Disney cruise. Then a year got attached to the joke - 2010. Be careful when you joke of such matters.

Exactly the same story here-just one family though, not 6-7 :eek: !!! Our year attached is 2009. I picked it! And then asked one of the little boys "Do you want to go on a Mickey Boat?" He just sorta stared at me, but his Mom goes, "I do!" :laughing:

This morning after worship, I got to talking with one of the gals we went to the Dells with about our cruise plans (After I confessed about our surprise decision to do this trip!) and she decided I was in charge since I love planning and finding deals. Okay, I can deal with that! (She may show up here as she's around the DIS and I told her I was writing a PTR :wave:)

Awesome! That would be so much fun!!

Lady Lallie

04-14-2008, 07:41 AM

Mocharilla

04-14-2008, 08:43 AM

I'm joining for the ride :)

We're going to Pop, and are putting in the same room request as you (50's, top floor, Tramp). I want to see the fireworks!

thewesterberg

04-14-2008, 03:54 PM

I'm joining for the ride :)

We're going to Pop, and are putting in the same room request as you (50's, top floor, Tramp). I want to see the fireworks!

Howdy! Thanks for stopping in! I see you be there a bit before us... have a great time!! You'll have to let me know if you get your request and how it was.

thewesterberg

04-14-2008, 03:56 PM

That is so great about the cruise. I really want to do one, maybe 2009 or 2010, I'm really not sure. We do have a "maybe" trip planned to Disneyland Feb 1 -6, 2009. It's a maybe trip since we aren't quite sure, we really want to go but it depends on airfare and such. We do have the hotel booked but we have time to cancel that if we decided against it. You should do a PTR for the cruise!

We're kind of excited about the cruise. We honestly thought that was going to be our next trip, but then I sprung this one on my DH. Good to keep your irons in the fire with the room reservations and hope that airfares work out in your favor!

thewesterberg

04-14-2008, 04:39 PM

thewesterberg

04-15-2008, 01:08 PM

Okay, I need everybody's opinions. Airfare dropped today (out of MSP) to $202/person plus tax and fees. It works out to $239/person. Do I jump on this or wait???

brookelizabeth

04-15-2008, 04:30 PM

I think it's a very good rate, esp with gas prices the way they are....but, I have only looked up MSP to Orlando a handful to times, so I'm not super experienced in the trip to know for sure.

I mentioned to my DH about the Value/long weekend/free dining/$240 flight...he told me I was crazy. :rotfl: I want him to go nap and I'll spring it on him again!!!! He laid down for about 10 minutes, but got back up! :sad2: :laughing: ;)

Maybe I can do a girlfriends trip...I have a close friend who's DH has NO interest in going to Disney ever. Hmmm....:idea:

thewesterberg

04-15-2008, 04:38 PM

Last year when we went I kept getting travelocity fare watcher updates sent to my inbox - a bad thing because rates kept dropping after we'd bought our tickets! (Out of MSP though, we left from Duluth and those prices never went down below what we bought at. It just would have been more cost effective to drive to MSP when they dropped to the levels that they did) I think it's one of those things that once you buy (if you're going with an airline that doesn't do credits) is to not look again. You'll only beat yourself up! Last year I remember they went below $200 (before tax). But the gas prices/economy/merger all make me wonder if this will be as good as it gets! But then I'm thinking it's only been 4 days since I planned this trip and I have over 100 days left until we leave.

In other words, I'm driving myself crazy!!:upsidedow

I really should get back to work!

brookelizabeth

04-15-2008, 04:43 PM

Last year when we went I kept getting travelocity fare watcher updates sent to my inbox - a bad thing because rates kept dropping after we'd bought our tickets! (Out of MSP, we left from Duluth) I think it's one of those things that once you buy (if you're going with an airline that doesn't do credits) is to not look again. You'll only beat yourself up! Last year I remember they went below $200 (before tax). But the gas prices/economy/merger all make me wonder if this will be as good as it gets! But then I'm thinking it's only been 4 days since I planned this trip and I have over 100 days left until we leave.

In other words, I'm driving myself crazy!!:upsidedow

I really should get back to work!

:lmao: I totally understand! I do the same thing. We booked for NYC (out of Chicago b/c we are going to see family in Chicago first), and while we got a decent rate, I'm sure it went below that. I purposely did NOT look again. Maybe I will now though...hoping it's outrageously expensive! ;)

NWA.com guarentees the lowest price - I think there is a 24 hour time window (not 100% sure though), so if you are looking on Travelocity this trip too-check out NWA.com, maybe you'll get an even better deal!

Under $200 is AWESOME though...wow! I should really begin my search for our November trip...

thewesterberg

04-15-2008, 04:54 PM

I mentioned to my DH about the Value/long weekend/free dining/$240 flight...he told me I was crazy. :rotfl: I want him to go nap and I'll spring it on him again!!!! He laid down for about 10 minutes, but got back up! :sad2: :laughing: ;)

He must have known you were up to something. :lmao: Has he been lurking on the DIS????

Maybe I can do a girlfriends trip...I have a close friend who's DH has NO interest in going to Disney ever. Hmmm....:idea: It is fun going with friends - I've been able to do DL twice this way. We've had a work conference just down the street and both times I went with friends and we spent the day. A blast!

thewesterberg

04-16-2008, 08:07 AM

I'm going to have to watch what I type here now even more... my DH signed up for his own account on the DIS yesterday! Beware of someone named Bubba_mouse. What a dork! :) LY/MI, honey! :lovestruc

Back to the airfare debate...We hemmed and hawed last night about airfare. Do we buy? Should we wait? It lingered in the back of my mind all evening. I hope while I was leading a meeting last night I didn't accidentally get too distracted!

DH posted on the transportation board (his first post!), asking MSP travelers if they thought it was a good rate. This morning the post was filled with replies of GRAB IT! So, I went to nwa . com this morning and guess what? The flight home we were hoping for (a 5pm flight), the price had gone way up!! WHY??? So back upstairs this morning I went to wake up DH. What should we do? Pay more or come home early? We decided to do the 1:15pm flight instead and come home earlier. So the purchase has been made. Our trip is officially official!

Since our airfare was a bit more than we were hoping to spend, we decided to drop the idea of a rental car and use Disney Transportation. I hopped on the phone this morning and added Magical Express to our package. And for the first time the CM told me to have a "Magical Trip":wizard: I'd been waiting to hear those beautiful words in all the phone calls I've made!

This decision for taking the earlier flight time has thrown a wrench in our other plans though. Those ADRs I thought were set? Yeah, not so much anymore. A 9:30am reservation at Chef Mickey's ain't gonna work no more since we'll have to be boarding the Magical Express bus around 10am. So we have one TS that we're going to have to work in somewhere else. Maybe the day we arrive? My hopes to keep that day relaxed without a set plan may not work anymore. I'll have to look it over and see what I can come up with.

Here ends the saga of this morning!

Disneychix

04-16-2008, 08:23 AM

brookelizabeth

04-16-2008, 05:48 PM

We soley used Disney transportation and it was excellent. The ME was so nice, just skip baggage claim, get on your bus, relax, watch a little Disney movie and before you know it, you are at your resort! And you can just check your luggage right at your hotel-so, so nice! We checked it in the morning, then went for lunch and about our day, didn't see the bags until we arrived in Minneapolis that night. I REALLY look forward to this feature having a baby on our trip.

The busses were prompt, even at night at closing time. You do have to plan a bit extra when gonig resort-to-resort, but it's really not bad at all. I really enjoyed taking the boats and the monorail!

thewesterberg

04-16-2008, 08:02 PM

I still wouldn't count out a rental car. I made reservations in advance through Alamo last year and as the time keep getting closer the rates dropped dramatically and I was able to change my booking to even cheaper rate. This was maybe 2 weeks before we left!
DH is not a fan of ME. Every year we plan on taking it but then at the last minute we "find" the money for a car. Can't say I've ever regretted making that purchase.

You're trip sounds awesome and I can't believe you made all those great ADRs without any trouble. Have fun!

We had a car last year and it worked out great (Granted, we were staying off-site so it was necessary). I think this time we're going to give ME a whirl and see how it works for us. I'm a little nervous with how crowded it maybe, but we'll see.

We soley used Disney transportation and it was excellent. The ME was so nice, just skip baggage claim, get on your bus, relax, watch a little Disney movie and before you know it, you are at your resort! And you can just check your luggage right at your hotel-so, so nice! We checked it in the morning, then went for lunch and about our day, didn't see the bags until we arrived in Minneapolis that night. I REALLY look forward to this feature having a baby on our trip.

The busses were prompt, even at night at closing time. You do have to plan a bit extra when gonig resort-to-resort, but it's really not bad at all. I really enjoyed taking the boats and the monorail!

Thanks for letting me know how it worked for you. Were you there during a busier or slower time?

Lady Lallie

04-16-2008, 08:04 PM

thewesterberg

04-16-2008, 08:08 PM

Boy was I glad I bought the airfare this morning. I spent so much time on the computer this morning figuring out if we should go with that airfare, that I never got a chance to read the paper. When I got home later, my DH handed me the front page.
The headline? Northwest merger or not, fares are set to rise
I think that was a sign that I made a good decision!

I dropped the Chef Mickey's ADR and added the Donald breakfast buffet thingy at AK (Why can't I remember the "real" name??) for the morning of our AK day. 8:30 should be pretty good and not put us behind much for the day. We'll have an earlier evening the night before as it's our free day - we'll probably hit a waterpark that. Any suggestions on what's better for a 5 year old boy? He loves water, but not so much waterslides.

Just when I think I have everything set, I think about something and have to make changes! A tweak here, a tweak there!

PrincessAlways

04-16-2008, 08:10 PM

Sorry that your flight home has messed up your ADR. However, the day you get there why not just do Chef Mickey then? What better way to kick off the excitement than with Mickey, Donald & Goofy??? :banana:

bubba_mouse

04-17-2008, 02:43 PM

So I am the DH in this whole saga. I am very much looking forward to this trip back to WDW (the trip not the heat). Having been there a year ago we can relax a lot more on this trip. We just have to convince our DS that just because it is a rollercoaster it isn't that scary. Is it wrong to pay your child a dollar to go on the rides? ;)

I am hoping that this time I get picked to be in one of the shows, last time my DW and DS got to be picked to be pirate: in the Captain Jack Sparrow skit, and then my DW was picked to portray Stinky Pete in the Woody's round up skit (she was kind of sweaty but was about 400 degrees that day).

I am sure we will go on the Buzz Lightyear ride about a bazillion times again hopefully my DW won't cheat again this time (I know you caused to ride to stop where only you could shoot the 10,000 point target) and we are excited to try the new Toy Story ride at HS. Well I should say my wife and I are, our DS still does not know we are going. I think we should wake him up the morning we are leaving with mouse ears on and ask him if he wants to go to WDW again.

Well I will let my wife take her trip report back. I will keep an eye on her posts though just to make sure she doesn't cast me in a poor light.

thewesterberg

04-17-2008, 09:03 PM

Sorry that your flight home has messed up your ADR.

Yeah, didn't Northwest know that they were messing with my important Disney plans?!? I'm trying to look on the positive side of things... we'll get back to MN now at around 4pm (instead of after 8pm) and then we have about a 3 hour drive home, which will get us back at a decent time since DH has to go to work the next morning. Poor guy!

brookelizabeth

04-17-2008, 09:17 PM

Thanks for letting me know how it worked for you. Were you there during a busier or slower time?

We were there in what is considered a 'normal' season - but, it seemed the crowds were pretty light.

I would hope that Disney would have ample extra busses for the busy time the free dining will surely cause....! We did have to wait on our ME bus for a while, we were the first flight onto the bus, but it was still great enough that we plan to do it again.

brookelizabeth

04-17-2008, 09:18 PM

Thanks for the review of the transportation! I have never used the Magical Express and am looking forward to it! What resort did you stay at? I am a little nervous about getting to some of my ADR breakfasts at other resorts.

No problem. :goodvibes We were at the AKL, it was excellent-we probably planned about 45 minutes to get to another resort and always ended up arriving early.

brookelizabeth

04-17-2008, 09:20 PM

brookelizabeth

04-17-2008, 09:23 PM

thewesterberg

04-17-2008, 09:31 PM

So I am the DH in this whole saga.

I knew he'd show up!! Any secrets I have I can't share here now since they'll end up in his inbox!

I am hoping that this time I get picked to be in one of the shows, last time my DW and DS got to be picked to be pirate: in the Captain Jack Sparrow skit, and then my DW was picked to portray Stinky Pete in the Woody's round up skit (she was kind of sweaty but was about 400 degrees that day).

Pictures are always good in a TR. I haven't had any for awhile so here are a couple from the pirate show and my debut as Stinky Pete. (and honey, don't think I didn't notice you pointing out that I was all sweaty... you better watch what you say! :cool2:

Pirate Show... (DS and I are in the tye-dye)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/P9150025_024-1.jpg

and just because my dad took this awesome picture...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/P9150022_021-1.jpg

And me as the sweetest smelly Stinky Pete there ever was...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/HPIM0974.jpg

I am sure we will go on the Buzz Lightyear ride about a bazillion times again hopefully my DW won't cheat again this time (I know you caused to ride to stop where only you could shoot the 10,000 point target)
Sounds like someone is a poor LOSER!!!:laughing:

I think we should wake him up the morning we are leaving with mouse ears on and ask him if he wants to go to WDW again.
He's such a bugger to wake up sometimes, I can very easily hear him saying, "Mumble, Mumble. No, I just want to go back to sleep. Mumble, Mumble." Hmmmmm.... I wonder who he gets this from???:idea:

I will keep an eye on her posts though just to make sure she doesn't cast me in a poor light. That sounds like a dare...:rolleyes1

lacy1101

04-18-2008, 12:03 PM

Hello!

We are staying at Pop over labor day weekend as well! What fun. We are going 8/30 - 9/5. I am super excited, it's the first time I am staying on property and it's my birthday. Woo Hoo!! :woohoo:

Great report!! :thumbsup2

We'll be at Pop 08/29-31! These last-minute trips are fun to plan, aren't they?!? My biggest question at this point is what park to do on Saturday? Mind if I ask if you have a game plan?

Lady Lallie

04-18-2008, 02:47 PM

We'll be at Pop 08/29-31! These last-minute trips are fun to plan, aren't they?!? My biggest question at this point is what park to do on Saturday? Mind if I ask if you have a game plan?

We are flying in on Saturday, hopefully around noon time. We have an ADR at Rose & Crown for 8pm. After we get settled in we are going to explore Epcot and then dinner and fingers crossed, hopefully watch Illuminations from their outdoor seating.

thewesterberg

04-24-2008, 08:48 PM

We'll be at Pop 08/29-31! These last-minute trips are fun to plan, aren't they?!? My biggest question at this point is what park to do on Saturday? Mind if I ask if you have a game plan?

According to my handy-dandy spreadsheet, we're taking Saturday off from the main parks. I think we'll head to Blizzard Beach for awhile, maybe hang out around the hotel, and then we're going to Whispering Canyon for supper. Ketchup, anyone??

thewesterberg

04-24-2008, 09:14 PM

It's been a slow week in the Disney planning area of life. No changes. Notta one. Same ADRs. No thoughts on changing hotels. Nuthin. I've enjoyed listening to my DH share all the little tidbits of info he's gathered around the DIS. He's buying into the addiction, people! WAHOO!! Now he contributes to the Disney conversations instead of politely nodding his head as I ramble on and on about this and that!

Last Friday night we went out to dinner with a group of friends from church (we do this once a month and the church secretary has volunteered to watch our kids back at the church - she feeds them and everything! Bless her heart!). Anyway, in this group there are other Disney fanatics. Somehow we all ended up sitting by each other (there were about 22 people there) and one of the gals had just gotten back from a trip with her 2 kids (their first time!). And she brought pictures!! I think about 95% of the meal our discussion revolved around Disney. The other 5% was figuring out what to order. (I had cheese stuffed mannicoti, in case if anyone cares.) The three of them had an awesome time. Both kids ended up getting to participate in the Jedi Training Academy. Her DD got on the first show and they ended up going to all 5 shows (in one day!) before her DS was picked. Just hearing about their amazing time got me even more revved up for our trip (and I thought I was pulling some pretty high Disney RPMs before that!)

We've tried to be sneaky about getting our DS's opinion on the trip. I had him watch some YouTube videos of the Jedi Training Academy after we told them about our friends getting to do it. DS is a Star Wars fanatic at the tender age of 4. Daddy has taught him well.

An aside: DH is a huge Star War's fan. When we met, he had a HUGE collection of stuff. Tons. Rare stuff. Just tons of stuff. One of my childhood friends went to study in London while in college and I was missing her terribly. DH sold all of his collection to buy us plane tickets to go visit her and the fine country of England. Now that's love :love:

Back to today... DH has shared his love of Star Wars with our little guy. And man can that little guy talk :darth: /:chewy: /:ewok:/ :yoda: like nobody's business. He's also learned that mom has a very little knowledge of all this stuff so conversations go further with Dad. He's asked repeatedly to watch the video again and again with requests to see if he can try to get on stage. I'm thinkin' we'll be willing to sit through 5 shows in one day too if that's what it takes to get him up there! Of course, DH was quite disappointed when he learned he was too old to fight Darth. We'll have to find something else for him to look forward to!

Oh, this is completely not related to the trip, but it is Disney related so I can add it in. It's my PTR after all. And it's valuable knowledge that other's may benefit from. I learned an important lesson this week. It's probably not the best idea in the world to let your 4 year old watch Finding Nemo on the day he has a dentist appointment. :scared1: It was on the Disney Channel on Monday and I let him watch it while I was doing some housework.

Never crossed my mind.

Until we entered the dentist office.

When he asked to see the fish.

(Those of you that are parents... do you ever have those moments where you're just tooling along with the mundane day to day and all of a sudden you finally figure out something about your kid? Unexplained behavior that all of a sudden has an explination. Yeah, it was one of those "ah-ha!" moments for me. That would explain the somewhat nervous vibes he was giving off before we left that seem to come out of nowhere. Finding Nemo is not just about fish in the ocean.:fish: :fish: Duh. They're in the dentist office where Darla screams her head off in the chair. Not the dentist office image we were going for. Our dentist got a chuckle out of though.)

Yup, I'm an observant mom, aren't I?

brookelizabeth

04-27-2008, 03:23 PM

I wish my DH would get into the DIS! 2 people scouring the boards=more tidbits of info and 'insider' secrets! :banana:

That is really sweet of that woman to watch the kids so the adults can have an afternoon together! And hilarious that everyone ended up talking Disney!! :lmao:

You guys get snow up there? We got hit on Friday night/Saturday and had some monster-sized flakes coming down today, but today's stuff didn't stick and most of Friday/Saturday's is melted...but yesterday was just icky!! Where is Spring?!?! :sad2:

thewesterberg

04-27-2008, 03:43 PM

I wish my DH would get into the DIS! 2 people scouring the boards=more tidbits of info and 'insider' secrets! :banana: It is nice that he's jumping on the bandwagon! I think on our last trip I would start talking non-stop at times. I couldn't stop and I was afraid I was annoying him until no end! Now he's the one this morning asking me if he should record the Disney travel channel episodes that aired originally the last couple of Friday nights!:happytv:

That is really sweet of that woman to watch the kids so the adults can have an afternoon together! And hilarious that everyone ended up talking Disney!! :lmao: We all just love our once a month night's out and so many friendships have formed because of getting to sit by someone new each month (and we don't always talk Disney - sometimes those of us that obsessed get split up!). You learn so much more by sitting next to someone for an hour and a half than the 10 second conversations that happen on Sunday morning.

You guys get snow up there? We got hit on Friday night/Saturday and had some monster-sized flakes coming down today, but today's stuff didn't stick and most of Friday/Saturday's is melted...but yesterday was just icky!! Where is Spring?!?! :sad2:

Yes. It can stop anytime now. Yesterday morning our son got up and almost started crying when he saw all the snow on the ground! He keeps saying "Snow, Snow Go Away. Don't come back until next winter!" I think he still had it in his mind of playing outside on Wednesday when it was in the 70s. I have a love/hate relationship with Spring - I love it because it means winter is over but I hate it because it keeps reminding me that it's not quite summer yet and it can still dump snow on us at any moment! Since we live down at the bottom of the hill in Duluth (the blessing of winter's warmer by the lake mentality), our snow didn't stick. Up on top of the hill they got more. Has yours melted yet?

brookelizabeth

04-27-2008, 03:56 PM

It is nice that he's jumping on the bandwagon! I think on our last trip I would start talking non-stop at times. I couldn't stop and I was afraid I was annoying him until no end! Now he's the one this morning asking me if he should record the Disney travel channel episodes that aired originally the last couple of Friday nights!:happytv:

We all just love our once a month night's out and so many friendships have formed because of getting to sit by someone new each month (and we don't always talk Disney - sometimes those of us that obsessed get split up!). You learn so much more by sitting next to someone for an hour and a half than the 10 second conversations that happen on Sunday morning.

Yes. It can stop anytime now. Yesterday morning our son got up and almost started crying when he saw all the snow on the ground! He keeps saying "Snow, Snow Go Away. Don't come back until next winter!" I think he still had it in his mind of playing outside on Wednesday when it was in the 70s. I have a love/hate relationship with Spring - I love it because it means winter is over but I hate it because it keeps reminding me that it's not quite summer yet and it can still dump snow on us at any moment! Since we live down at the bottom of the hill in Duluth (the blessing of winter's warmer by the lake mentality), our snow didn't stick. Up on top of the hill they got more. Has yours melted yet?

I totally understand the 10-second Sunday morning discussions. I've made some more relationships because of Henry now though! Being in the nursing/crying baby room forms friendships! :laughing:

Our snow is almost all melted, just a few patches here and there...it's still dreary and cool out though. :guilty: Your poor little guy, I bet he's itching to get out and PLAY. I know I am! :rolleyes1 Glad to hear your snow didn't stick-ours ALL better melt quickly. But, we are in Minnesota-I'm guessing it'll be 80 at some point this week. :rotfl:

thewesterberg

05-02-2008, 08:02 AM

Another piece of the puzzle has been filled in!

My latest dilemma has been lodging the night before we leave. We'll be driving a few hours to get to Minneapolis and needed a hotel with the park-stay-fly option. Going down to the Cities on the day-of departure isn't going to work as our flight goes out at 7am. Plus, parking for a week at the airport is just as expensive as staying at a hotel. Might as well get a somewhat good night's sleep before we leave! I started poking around and everything seems so expensive! It's hard to cough up over $150 for a Days Inn! Especially when I'm so used to playing the Priceline Game and have stayed at even nicer hotels for under $50!

I've been asking lots of people if they know of any deals. One of those people is a dear friend. He's from the same teeny tiny hometown as DH, I went to camp with him in junior high, and all 3 of us worked at the same camp in college. In fact he's the one that convinced my DH to come work at the camp, which means I got to meet DH, fall in love, yadda, yadda, yadda! I really owe this friend now that I come to think of it!

Anyhow, he lives in Minneapolis and when I asked him about hotels I put in a disclaimer we weren't looking for them to put us up for the night. I felt very guilty about the 4am wake up call they'd have to endure to get us to the airport. At least we get to see Mickey at the end of that early morning. He just gets to go to work tired. Of course, being the good friend that he is, he ignores my e-mail disclaimer and offers to host us. I, still feeling guilty that I'm taking advantage of his friendship at such awful early hours, came up with an alternate plan. We'll hotwire a hotel room that has free shuttle, we'll visit with him that evening, he'll ride back to the hotel with us after dinner, and then take our car back to their place for the week. Then he'll either drop the car off at the airport the day we get back or he'll pick us up. YEA!!! We get to save over a $100 bucks AND get to see our dear friend!

WHEW - the latest dilemma has a solution! Now what will I worry about???

Otherwise there hasn't been a ton of Disney planning going on. I've been busy at work and also had to finish a queen sized quilt I made for a quilt auction that starts today. Last night I also made a little cosmetic bag thing to put in the silent auction. It felt good to get the sewing machine out and make something again. I love to quilt but having a little boy doesn't allow the time to pursue this hobby as much as pre-baby. It'll be fun to see how much money they raise.

This weekend I'll be attending meetings so planning will have to continue taking a back seat... Too bad I don't have a laptop and I could work some DIS time in! Maybe if things get dull I'll have to sneak in an Unofficial Guide in my binder...:rolleyes1

Have a great weekend, everybody!

stagemomx3

05-19-2008, 12:54 AM

popcorn::

bubba_mouse

05-19-2008, 07:46 AM

My DW says I am supposed to be doing this :banana: :cool1: :yay: :cheer2: :dancer: party: :jumping1: :jumping3: :jumping2: :mickeyjum :goofy: since we are down to 99 days until we leave.

thewesterberg

05-19-2008, 08:59 AM

Thanks for the bump... it's been awhile since I've felt like I've had anything interesting to write, plus life has been a tad busy the last few weeks. But since someone was kind enough to know they're still interested:cool1:, Here we go!

I've been thinking, I need to come up with a better way to refer to our DS4! The last few weeks he's been all about Indiana Jones. In a big way. Our glass door knob on the closet comes apart and we've had to go searching for it since it's the "crystal skull". A jump rope was tied to the porch so he could swing like Indiana Jones. The best was the other day when we pulled out some clothes so he could even look the part.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/HPIM1386-1.jpg
He wore it all day. To work with me. To the store. Everywhere.

Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, the name. So I'm thinking I'll refer to him not as Indiana (because that's the dog's name you know! ;) ) but as Junior. It's become our little joke this week that I'll call him Junior and he'll say "No, my name is Indiana!"

Trying to keep this trip a secret from Junior, yet have his input has been tricky!! Since we have this tenative trip planned with friends in 2010, we use that as our "cover story". That way I feel like we can get away with watching YouTube videos of rides (so we can hopefully go on a few more things than Fantasyland rides - he has said yes to Goofy's Barnstormer and even BTMRR!)

The other night the 3 of us were playing Go Fish! Junior decided that whoever won got to pick a trip to anywhere. Well, it was a 3 way tie at the end, so we let him decide where we should go. And the smart boy that he is, he picked Disney World. I'm been training him well, methinks!

"Let's pretend we're going on some rides," he says.

So he hops up on the couch between us and DH put his legs over our laps. We've got our safety bar, all our items have been carefully stowed... let's get some rides on!

First up - GOOFY'S BARNSTORMER!

Picture Junior and I with our arms up in the air, leaning this way and that, as I point out things on the ride... we're going up a hill, and now we're going DOWN! WHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!! A corner to the right, now the left, look out there's the barn! And we're done.

Next up - BTMRR!

Picture, well, the same as above except insert there's a man in the bath tub for the barn!

We got some roller coaster screaming practice in and our dog looked as like we were nuts. He actually whined and looked a little scared. He should be used to us by now. He's pretty weird himself... who is he to judge us?!?!

**************************
And we're shifting gears...

Yesterday we celebrated Junior's 5th Birthday with four of his friends and some of our family. It was a pirate party and boy did we have fun!!

I tend to get into party's for him. I think it's that planning gene in me. We decided on a pirate theme and it took off from there! We had a little pirate treasure hunt for different things that pirates would need. The party was held at our church (where I'm an employee) since our house his teeny-tiny for having many people over, namely four 3-5year olds!

They each received a treasure map (a placemat from Oriental Trading Company) with 8 X's on it.

First X - They had to prove they were pirate material by following commands

· "Scrub the decks!"
All the kids get down on the floor and give it a good clean...

· "Climb the rigging!"
Up to the top of the rope ladder they go.

· "Walk the plank!"
Kids must walk heel-to-toe in a straight line, with arms outstretched.

· "Shark attack!"
Kids put one hand on their back with their elbow in the air and zoom
around like sharks, showing their teeth!

· "Land ahoy!"
Everyone puts one hand above their eyes to protect them from the sun,
standing with legs apart and swaying from side to side to check the
horizon.

· "Marooned!"
Kids sit on the floor and pretend to row to freedom from a desert island.

With successful completion of those activities, they received some pirate headgear. A bandanna to be more exact! At this point they looked like little gangsters with their bandannas on.

Then they followed dashed lines put on the floor (DH's idea since I was not feeling witty with written clue) to their next stop...

Second X - Pin the Eye Patch on the Pirate. For successful completion, they received their own eye patch.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/HPIM1388-1.jpg

Third X - an eye glass to look for pirates that were down the hall (playmobile pirates set up in "attack" mode!)

Fourth X - Looking for treasure hidden in the youth room. (I had sewn up these gold velvet-like bags and in them were jewels, and beaded necklaces.)

Fifth X - Try to fill up a treasure chest with gold coins by doing a coin toss. They received gold coins for their bags for this one.

Sixth X - Then they were off to WALK THE PLANK! I set up a board supported by 2 stage sections pulled apart, so they were maybe 5 inches off the ground. Underneath the plank was a blow up crocodile and bunch of rubber ducks dressed up like pirates! They got to pick out a duck after they went over the plank.

Seventh X - After that they did a ring toss (rolls of masking tape trying to land on 2-liter bottles of pop) - you know, to work on casting nets. Their reward for the ring toss? A Ring Pop!

Eighth X - The last stop was their table, where they received pizza to give them energy.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/HPIM1392-1.jpg

And there was pirate cake.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/HPIM1413-1.jpg

I have to admit, 5 may be a much better age for Junior. There was no whining yesterday, no "fights" with one of his buddies (they tend to hug, which turns into a wrestling move, and one gets hurt and cries. The other feels bad, so he starts crying. They apologize, make up with a hug. And it starts all over again.) They were all so good and made me so proud!

Junior received lots of nice presents - Pirate stuff, Indiana Jones stuff, and Star Wars stuff. He was in 7th Heaven. Then there were all the clothes that the grandparents bought... He'd dig through them to make sure there wasn't anything else good in the box/bag before moving on to the next present!

There was one clothing item he got excited over... a Lego Star Wars t-shirt that yours truly picked out! (Makes me feel like a good mom that I nailed this present!) I'm thinking he'll have to wear it to the Jedi Training Academy to increase his chances of getting picked. DH is still bent out of shape that he's too old to go fight Darth Vader!

Well, a tornado looks like it blew through the house with all the new presents so I best use my home-alone time to get things back in order. Or I could could just sit and procrastinate on the DIS some more... I'll let you know tonight how that self-battle goes!

Oh, and it's DOUBLE DIGIT DANCE TIME!!!!
:cool1: :cool1: :cool1: :cool1:
:dance3: :dance3: :dance3: :dance3:
:cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:
:yay: :yay: :yay: :yay:

99 DAYS TO GO!!

thewesterberg

05-19-2008, 09:28 AM

My DW says I am supposed to be doing this :banana: :cool1: :yay: :cheer2: :dancer: party: :jumping1: :jumping3: :jumping2: :mickeyjum :goofy: since we are down to 99 days until we leave.

Somebody's DISing at work!:rolleyes1

thewesterberg

05-19-2008, 03:15 PM

I was just sitting at the computer, checking my e-mail when I heard the doorbell ring. Who could it be???

Hmmm... is it going to be the 3 mystery kids that I've never seen before that stopped by last night asking for some pop?

Or will it be the neighbor girl wanting to play with Junior?

Or will it be someone selling magazine subscriptions to fund their way to Timbucktoo?

Or will it be the neighbor bringing our dog back because she spoils him rotten and rewards him for sneaking out of our backyard by bringing him into her house and petting him and giving him snacks? Nope, he's in the house and DH finally figured out how he was sneaking out and blocked it off.

Who could it be?

Opening Door....

Well, hello Mr. Friendly Substitute Mailman!

With a piece of registered mail.

IT'S OUR DISNEY TICKETS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

:jumping1: :jumping3: :jumping2: :Pinkbounc :Pinkbounc :dance3: :cheer2: :cheer2: :yay: :yay: :woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo: party:

Talk about an awesome present on this Double Digit Dance Day!

I nearly kissed that mailman. (Don't worry honey, I didn't!)

Honestly, I didn't think they were going to be delivered today because I had heard him come up the front stairs and then leave without having me sign for anything. About 10 minutes later he came back. Way to mess with my mind! :)

I told him I was happy he brought me this. He said he likes delivering things that make people happy. I whispered... it's our Disney tickets, a surprise for our little Junior!

He smiled and then nodded to someone behind me. That sneaky little Junior... Thankfully he didn't hear me!

It's a good day. :thumbsup2

janjandis

05-20-2008, 03:57 PM

stagemomx3

05-20-2008, 09:08 PM

Congrats on the good mail day!:goodvibes

Charleston Princess

05-20-2008, 09:22 PM

Disney Mail! It's the best! :woohoo:

thewesterberg

05-22-2008, 11:20 AM

Hi! Just catching up on your pre-trippie. Welcome Mr. thewesterberg, there's no turning back now! I did the same thing with my Northwest airfare, ended up grabbing 189.00, Last year it was 99.00, but I doubt if we'll see that this ear. Thanks for welcoming DH! It's fun to have his input around here!

$99??!?! That's awesome! $189 is pretty good too. Hearing all those discount SouthWest prices makes me jealous since they don't fly up here. I have this bad habit of going back to NWA and seeing if it drops anymore. So far it's gone up and then back down to the price we paid, so I'm feeling pretty good!

Congrats on the good mail day!:goodvibes

Disney Mail! It's the best! :woohoo:

I know!!! Any Disney mail is good mail!! Even when the little bill comes letting you know your balance, I'm still happy! When those Magical Express tags show up, the whole neighborhood is likely to hear me squealing with delight!!

mom3sonstt

05-22-2008, 12:56 PM

I don't want to rain on your parade - but your dates look like you are going in late Aug - early Sept??? Wil there be Jedi Training academy's going on then? I thought they were only during Star Wars week-ends which are usually in June. I could be wrong....it's happened before.....more than once :rolleyes: but I thought I'd mention it so there wouldn't be too much disappointment if they aren't taking place when you get there.

Charleston Princess

05-22-2008, 01:11 PM

The Jedi Academy is year-round now. :)

mom3sonstt

05-22-2008, 01:22 PM

It's year-round now?? Cool! Wow - I didn't know they did that. We didn't see any taking place last fall when we were there, but then, my kids are too old to participate so maybe I just didn't notice.

thewesterberg

05-22-2008, 01:34 PM

Today's a day I've been looking forward to for quite some time...

The new Indiana Jones movie will be playing in a theater near me and I'm going to be there, in that theater, tonight!!

I remember my first Indiana Jones movie experience in a theater - it was with a friend named Amy, who invited me to go with her. It was one of the first times I ever went alone to a movie with a friend, with no parent. This had to be around 5th grade?? We got there late, the movie had started, and we had to sit in the very front row. And I remember the floor being filthy. Not just your normal gross movie floor, but really disgusting. Why this memory is stuck in my head, I don't know. I even remember the exact scene that was playing when we got there.

Tonight's show will be with a bunch of friends. Actually we all work as youth directors for churches in our area and we all were at a conference out in Anaheim this past February. Since our hotel was only a mile from Disneyland, where do you think I roped everyone into going?? One gal and I spent all day Friday there (before the workshops started so we weren't skipping!) and then when things got done on Saturday (okay, we skipped one session that day!), 2 different friends were going to go with me. Well the friend that went on Friday with me decided it wouldn't be fair to send in odd number into the parks for rides and everything, so she decided to "take one for the team" and come for another day!

We had a blast. I've enjoyed sharing the experience with our son last September, but it's so different going with friends. No whining or begging. Or if they do, you can just walk away and not worry about being reported to the authorities! One friend had never been to any sort of Disney park. Ever. How cool was it to introduce her to everything! One of the others was actually going with her DH and DKids to WDW about a week after we got back so she was feeling pretty fortunate to get to both parks within the same month! Lucky duck.

Why all this and Indiana Jones? I do have a point. Really, I do.

One of our favorite rides at DL was the Indiana Jones ride. I so wish they had this at WDW. When we got off it, we decided that when the new movie came out, we'd all have to see it together as sort of a tribute to our awesome Disneyland day. The pact was sealed over a Pineapple Dole Whip. That's gotta be better than a pinky swear.

So today's the day! And we're all able to make it, even the friend that lives an hour and a half away! Because I'm always planning, I took on organizing this little gathering.

Here's THE Plan:

Thursday AM - Board a flight to Anaheim.

Arrive in Anaheim, drive to DL and ride Indiana Jones, drive back to airport.

Board flight back to Minnesota.

Thursday 5pm - meet for dinner in Canal Park.

Thursday 6:45pm - Watch Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

Well... since I'm sitting in my office during my lunch typing this, you can guess part of the plan didn't materialize. Something about the whole flying to California sounded good, but not logical. Whatever. :confused3

Doesn't hurt to try!!

There's also an additional motive for going to the movie tonight. Our Junior's official birthday is tomorrow and there's nothing more that he would like to do than to see this movie. However, we've got to do some investigating to make sure it's okay for him to see. So going to see it tonight is part of my parental duties.;) Ya Gotta Do Watcha Gotta Do!

But, I should get down to the theater to buy our tickets so we don't have to wait in line tonight.

Can't wait! :woohoo:

Charleston Princess

05-22-2008, 01:38 PM

Oh, I am so right there with you -- as soon as I get off work, I am buying tickets for tonight. I have been doing the happy dance all day long for Indy 4.

thewesterberg

05-22-2008, 01:40 PM

It's year-round now?? Cool! Wow - I didn't know they did that. We didn't see any taking place last fall when we were there, but then, my kids are too old to participate so maybe I just didn't notice.

I think they started it late last fall. We were there Sept 14-21 last year and it wasn't going on. We had some friends that went in April and they went to every show one day, trying to get both of the kids a chance. The girl got in the first show, but it was her brother that really wanted to be in it. Finally, the last show of the day they picked him! It was cool seeing the video. We realize that the chances are slim, but it would be neat!

thewesterberg

05-22-2008, 02:00 PM

Oh, I am so right there with you -- as soon as I get off work, I am buying tickets for tonight. I have been doing the happy dance all day long for Indy 4.

Have fun tonight!!

I went and got the tickets. Well, sort of got the tickets. I bought for the 3 Disney gals and one husband that's coming with. As for DH and I, we're using those Dr Pepper/Kmart things (Buy 4 - 2liters Dr. Peppers and KMart, get $7 off your ticket to the movie.) I went down there yesterday and the assistant manager had problems trying to sell me the tickets. She figured that maybe they couldn't be used until the day the movie was released. Okay. So I went back today. It was her and the manager trying to figure this thing out. No dice. So the manager sent me on my way with the other 4 tickets and told me to ask for him when I came back tonight. He said he'd either have it all figured out and have my tickets or he'd just get us in. I then let it slip that I have 3 more of these at home I'm planning on using Friday!

(Guess what's in my coffee mug while I type this... DR PEPPER. :surfweb: Figure it out - 5 free tickets x 4 bottles a ticket = 20 - 2 liters of Dr Pepper!! We used some of them for Junior's birthday party, but I have a feeling come the end of the summer I'm never going to want Dr. Pepper again!)

thewesterberg

05-24-2008, 09:19 PM

I'm exhausted tonight. Completely. Wiped. Out. :faint:

We worked on siding our garage today. I've never sided anything before, but now I can add this skill to my resume! Did you know that when you drive the nails in to the vinyl siding, you're suppose to leave about a dime's width of space so there's room for it to move and expand? Me, being the smarty pants, told my DH and DDad that I didn't have a dime, but did have 10 pennies... would that work?? :lmao: I thought if I acted incompetent that maybe they'd let me out of the work... Yeah, that didn't happen.

Before we got going this morning, I hopped on the phone with Disney Dining. Hadn't done that for awhile and I missed them! :wave:

We thought about shifting a couple of times - we had good times, but thought if a couple of them were a little earlier it would make things easier. The one was our night at O'hana... we thought if we were able to move our time up to around 5pm, then Junior could go to the Neverland Club to spend a few hours so DH and I could head into the park and hit Space Mountain, BTMRR, and Splash (rides that Junior probably won't want to go on) and we could make it back to the Poly to pick Junior up and watch the fireworks at the beach. Well, there was nothing until like mid-night (okay, okay, 8:45pm maybe??). The other ADR we were looking to bump up was for breakfast and it was a no-go too. No biggie. We just hadn't messed with things for awhile and I was feeling bored!

After I hung up, DH and I re-grouped and evaluated the plan. We really wanted to have Junior do something extra this trip to give us grown-ups a couple of hours to bum around together. All the pirate cruises didn't work with our schedule no matter how many times I looked at the schedule. And by the time we got done at O'hana, it was going to be too late to buzz back to MK, do some rides, go back to the Poly and watch the fireworks together as a family on our last night. It didn't feel right to ditch the little guy on our last night in the World and see Wishes without him.

THEN DH's lightbulb went off:idea: ...

How about our first day at the MK Junior goes to the Club? (Why didn't I think of that??) We have no ADRs that night as we're eating at the Crystal Palace for lunch. We could drop him off at 6pm, hit some rides using FP's collected earlier, grab some CS for dinner (Junior would get supper at the Club), and we could make it back in time to watch the fireworks from the beach (and maybe the electrical water pageant too!)

So back to the phone I went to chat with Disney Dining, since it had only been, what? 5 minutes?? Answered the questions, gave 'em the credit card number, and got the confirmation number

Junior is now signed up for an evening at the Club!

I think he'll love it. And I know the two of us will enjoy a couple of hours to hit some of our favorite rides.

(Side note... my "luck" has continued by not being wished a magical day. Both conversations only netted me a "have a nice day". :sad1: Maybe that's why I had "issues" with the hammer today... :headache: Right, blame Disney for my hammer operating errors. Yes, error is plural. I hit my thumb numerous times. I also learned to make sure there's nothing on the top of the ladder (say, a hammer left there by your husband) before you move said ladder. I felt like the mole in Whack-a-Mole when that bugger landed on my head.)

Since I'm barely functioning (could it be lack of sleep, the physical activity of the day, or that I have a slight concussion from a hammer landing on my head????) I think I'm going to collapse into bed, with instructions for my DH to make sure to wake me on a regular schedule to make sure I'm still conscious. Because I know we'll be back out there siding again tomorrow when the sun comes up!:sunny:

brookelizabeth

05-25-2008, 02:11 PM

I'm all caught up on your Pre-TR again, slowly but surely catching up on all my subscriptions. LOVE the Pirate party! How creative, I bet the kids had a blast.

And woo-hoo for some adult time at WDW!

I also learned to make sure there's nothing on the top of the ladder (say, a hammer left there by your husband) before you move said ladder. I felt like the mole in Whack-a-Mole when that bugger landed on my head.)

Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwie!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you are OK! :headache:

froglover2

05-25-2008, 04:25 PM

Loving your PTR we will be at POP at the same time!!!
I have my ADR's I think they are going to be okay got everything that we wanted some of the times are a little off but we'll deal????
Not sure what days to do what though??
:banana: :banana: :banana:

thewesterberg

05-25-2008, 05:21 PM

I'm all caught up on your Pre-TR again, slowly but surely catching up on all my subscriptions. You almost need a vacation after your vacation to catch up!

LOVE the Pirate party! How creative, I bet the kids had a blast. Thanks! They seemed to have a good time - they were laughing, having fun, and they got along!

And woo-hoo for some adult time at WDW! I can't wait for it! Last year we were fortunate to get to see Wishes, just the two of us, when my parents took care of him one evening. It was wonderful!

Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwie!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope you are OK! :headache: It may (or may not) have knocked some sense into me!

Loving your PTR we will be at POP at the same time!!!
I have my ADR's I think they are going to be okay got everything that we wanted some of the times are a little off but we'll deal????
Not sure what days to do what though??
:banana: :banana: :banana: Thanks for stopping by my PTR! Don't be a stranger!

Maybe we'll see you around the Hippy Dippy Pool! How many days is your trip? Aren't ADRs fun to figure out and play with?!? I found Tour Guide Mike to be very helpful in figuring out our park days, otherwise I know I would over-analyze that too! Helps me keep my sanity!

brookelizabeth

05-27-2008, 08:26 PM

It may (or may not) have knocked some sense into me!

:rotfl2:

princessjv

06-10-2008, 01:54 PM

thewesterberg

06-10-2008, 04:39 PM

I just stumbled upon this PTR and thought I'd drop you a hello:wave2: from one MN mom to another. It was great reading your PTR. I love how you told your dh. We also had a pirate party for my ds. It was a huge hit! I look forward to more posts. Happy planning!

Hello and welcome to my PTR! Nice to hear from a fellow Minnesotan! "You guys" are awesome! ;)

I'm going to have to get back into the swing of things here - life has been a tad busy with work stuff - it's the middle of VBS this week, have kids from church going to camp in a couple of weeks, and then I'll be bringing a group to Kansas City for a mission trip - I'm very much looking forward to all these things, but also the 4th of July which means my busy work-related time of the summer will be done!

thewesterberg

06-16-2008, 04:52 PM

It has been awhile. What have I been up to?

Well, the last couple of days coming to grips with entering a new decade. I'm 30.

No, let me say that with more confidence and pride... I'm 30!
So far, so good!! Except that my dear son told me the other day that I was getting old. Gee. Thanks.

DH took me car shopping on Saturday for my birthday down in Minneapolis. :car: Grandpa and Grandma took the little guy. A whole day of just grown up time. YEA!!

We spent hours driving around, looking at cars. More of a selection down in the BIG city. Or so we thought. (Remember that) We thought we were going to go with a Jeep Patriot. Until we got in one and drove it a bit. Decided it wasn't the right car for us. Our car shopping is first determined by what DH fits in. He's 6'5" and is a bigger guy. That rules our A LOT of the super fuel efficient vehicles. Plus Junior is growing like a weed and I'd rather all this limbs be contained IN the vehicle instead of hanging out. (For example he grew at least an inch since April. :scared1: Forget saving for college, I think the food bill is more of a priority these days as that's all he wants to do.)

Sitting in the same row as the Patriot, was a Chevy Equinox, something we looked at awhile back after I had a rental for a conference out in Anaheim. For some reason we moved away from that car and had thought maybe an '09 Subaru Forester, but it's pushing how much we'd like to pay.

We sat in the Equinox again and thought maybe this was the route we should go. So we proceeded to hit every dealership we could find, searching for the perfect Equinox. Either they had too many miles, were all scratched and stained up inside, or the salesmen were too "used-car-salesmanny", and our quest was starting to loose steam. Soon it was 6pm and the dealers were closed. The only way we'd be going home with a car at that point would be to hot wire one and we didn't think that would probably be the best idea.

But I had an idea :idea:

We're in Minneapolis, by Bloomington, which means the Mall of America, which has a Disney store...

"Honey, since it's my birthday and you didn't buy me a new car today, could we go to the Disney Store?" <insert batting of eye lashes and guilt>

He fell for it hook, line, and sinker. So off to the Mall we went. We made a few purchases and got in on the $5 t-shirts for our trip...

(side note before you see the pics... we needed a new camera. We found one we liked at Walmart, but then found it WAY cheaper at Circuit City and we ordered it for pick up the next time we went to Minneapolis, where there closest store is. It's a Kodak Z712, a model from last year. It's got lots of fun features and has the ability to be tinkered with when it comes to settings. Not quite a Digital SLR, but more than a point-n-shoot. Plus it came with a free Epson printer that we'll sell, so the thing will cost us about $60 in the end. I felt pretty happy with that deal! -- Why am I tell you this? Well, it's my PTR and I can do that if I want to:), but it's what I used to take the pictures with. I'm loving it so far! Here's a picture I took of one of sister's flowers while I was experimenting with it...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/102_0004.jpg)

So without further ado, our purchases...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/000_0042.jpg
A Goofy and Mickey we'll use in surprising our son with the trip. We're thinking maybe one of the wake-up phone calls from Mickey that you can purchase along with a note from Goofy, inviting Junior for a ride on Goofy's Barnstormer, the ride he keeps talking about wanting to go on again.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/000_0043.jpg
Here are the t-shirts... Junior and I will have matching ones and they didn't have them for guys so he got the Grumpy one instead. Not that it says anything about his personality.... :) LY/MI, honey!

And my special birthday purchase...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/000E0062.jpg
a Mickey headband! I'm wearing it right now and love it!

So the day wasn't a total bust. We tried going to a favorite neighborhood pizza place, but there wasn't a parking spot to be found and the line was out the door. Too bad. Instead we went to Bucca di Beppo for dinner. It was so yummy.

By this point it was late and it was time to get on the road for our 3 hour drive north. We encountered nasty weather along the way. I had fallen asleep (which in case if you were worried, I wasn't driving at that point!) and I couldn't for the life of me figure out why DH was driving like such a psycho. Oh, flashing lightening, crazy wind, and rain... that makes sense. It was after 11:30pm when we got home.

Remember how I said that we thought there'd be more choices down in the Cities for cars? Here's where that came to bit us in the butt... Before going to bed, I check a local dealership. That has the exact car we want. Brand new. At a used price. About $6000 off. Go figure, that we drove south 3 hours while our perfect vehicle was sitting 5 miles away. To our credit we weren't looking for this vehicle when we started our journey. But we're off to the car dealership tonight.

On a non-car note, there's other happy birthday news... I think my MIL is getting me the Wishes CD for my birthday. So I can get my "fix" until we get to see it in person. Hmmmmm.... maybe on the 4th of July I'll have it playing and I can hook up a zip line off the roof of the house to the garage to pretend I'm Tink. What do ya think?!

Oh, and on that music note... I've been craving not only Wishes music but music from the attractions. I'm trying to curb the spending since this new vehicle is in our future. On a whim I checked the library and they had the Disney Happiest Celebration On Earth CD. :cloud9: On our way home we cranked up the Space Mountain music... the next best thing to being there!

Okay, I've got to get supper on the table so we can go look at this car.

stagemomx3

06-16-2008, 05:22 PM

Hmmmmm.... maybe on the 4th of July I'll have it playing and I can hook up a zip line off the roof of the house to the garage to pretend I'm Tink. What do ya think?!

:lmao:

Love the headband!

thewesterberg

06-17-2008, 06:55 AM

:lmao:

Love the headband! Thanks!! A subtle Mickey accessory...

Charleston Princess

06-17-2008, 06:57 AM

Great Disney purchases!!! Hope you had a great birthday!!! 30 isn't really that bad! :thumbsup2

thewesterberg

06-17-2008, 07:11 AM

We did it.

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0017.jpg

We are the proud owners of a new 2008 Chevy Equinox. The 'Nox. The 'Noxinator. Gotta work on a nickname for it.

Good buy almost 10 year old minivan. :wave2: I'll miss your non-working cruise control and all your other little quirks... NOT!

Junior weeped as we left the van behind. He was such a little trooper last night - over 3 hours at the dealership as we wheeled and dealed. He was so well behaved. Makes me think something's wrong!! Part of the problem of the lengthy visit was they couldn't find the keys... on Saturday a woman accidentally put her car through the side of the dealership. :eek: Sent the computerized lock box for the keys sailing through the showroom floor right between a Corvette and another truck-like vehicle whose name is escaping me. Thankfully no one was hurt. The keys were all mixed up from having been launched. Finally they came up with them.

So I had to accessorize it this morning...

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0016.jpg

:thumbsup2 Bought these in February when I was at Disneyland. Didn't want to waste them on a vehicle I new we'd be trading in within 6 months. So at the crack of dawn this morning I was out there putting them on the car. It's official. I'm obsessed.

Charleston Princess

06-17-2008, 07:13 AM

Great car! Love that you put your Disney family decals on it! Now you need a Mickey antenna topper! :thumbsup2

thewesterberg

06-17-2008, 07:15 AM

Great Disney purchases!!! Hope you had a great birthday!!! 30 isn't really that bad! :thumbsup2

Thanks for the birthday wishes! So far, so good! DH will be 40 in a couple of years, so I feel better by teasing him... hee, hee! I'm his younger, trophy wife! :rotfl2:

thewesterberg

06-17-2008, 12:21 PM

Great car! Love that you put your Disney family decals on it! Now you need a Mickey antenna topper! :thumbsup2 My old van had a Mickey antenna topper, but the Equinox has a big chubby antenna coming off the back top of the roof. Sort of reminds me of a Teletubby... It won't fit on it. :sad: Believe me, I tried!

Do you have an antenna topper on your vehicle? Aren't they fun?! A friend has one of the princess ones on her van. Whenever her DH drives the van, he takes it off! We tease him that he's not "secure" enough! :lmao:

Charleston Princess

06-17-2008, 12:24 PM

Thanks for the birthday wishes! So far, so good! DH will be 40 in a couple of years, so I feel better by teasing him... hee, hee! I'm his younger, trophy wife! :rotfl2:

:lmao: Sounds like our house -- DH is 38 and I'm 33 so I am always making comments like that!

My old van had a Mickey antenna topper, but the Equinox has a big chubby antenna coming off the back top of the roof. Sort of reminds me of a Teletubby... It won't fit on it. :sad: Believe me, I tried!

Do you have an antenna topper on your vehicle? Aren't they fun?! A friend has one of the princess ones on her van. Whenever her DH drives the van, he takes it off! We tease him that he's not "secure" enough! :lmao:

Too bad about the antenna topper :(.

I seem to be amassing quite the collection. So far, I have a soccer Mickey head, a Ghost Mickey, a YOMD Mickey head, and this trip I got a 4th of July one. It's all red, white, and blue and quite cute.

I really like your Mickey family -- I may have to do that next. :thumbsup2

thewesterberg

06-17-2008, 12:29 PM

:lmao: Sounds like our house -- DH is 38 and I'm 33 so I am always making comments like that!

Too bad about the antenna topper :(.

I seem to be amassing quite the collection. So far, I have a soccer Mickey head, a Ghost Mickey, a YOMD Mickey head, and this trip I got a 4th of July one. It's all red, white, and blue and quite cute.

Something for every holiday/season! They are just so cute!

I've got to figure out a way to use it. DH found in the accessory catalog that you could purchase a skinnier antenna. He suggested it getting it just so I could display my Mickey head! It's a disease I tell ya!!

thewesterberg

06-17-2008, 12:33 PM

:lmao: Sounds like our house -- DH is 38 and I'm 33 so I am always making comments like that!
DH mentioned his younger trophy wife and DS asked "Who's that?!" Thanks, buddy.

PrincessV

06-26-2008, 11:24 AM

Okay, I'm only read-up through the second installment, but I'm HERE! :yay:

I can't believe you got all your ADRs - wooo hoooo! Rock on. Cool beans. and other sayings that mean CONGRATS! :thumbsup2

I'll be back....

ETA: Well, the ADRs last all until I got home 20 minutes later and I realized that I had us going into parks 6 days when the tickets we were getting were 5 day park hopper plus tickets.

:rotfl2: So much for the first round of ADR Roulette!

thewesterberg

06-26-2008, 12:07 PM

Okay, I'm only read-up through the second installment, but I'm HERE! :yay:

Thanks for stopping by!

The first TR I ever read was one of yours and reading your TRs were my inspiration, the wind beneath my wings, blah, blah, blah to do this PTR. Cue the music. My TR Mentor is here! Warm, fuzzy feeling! :)

Was writing that totally weird, creepy, stalker-ish? :blush: Oops. Didn't mean it that way!

I can't believe you got all your ADRs - wooo hoooo! Rock on. Cool beans. and other sayings that mean CONGRATS! :thumbsup2

I'll be back....

ETA:

:rotfl2: So much for the first round of ADR Roulette!
It's like you get to a certain point in the vacation planning - the hotel is picked out, the flights are paid for, the touring plan is sort of there... what else is there to mess with??!! ADRs!! Makes me feel at one with the trip - "I haven't forgotten about you, my sweet little vacation!"

thewesterberg

06-26-2008, 04:26 PM

What is a girl to do?

Starting Saturday, I'll be taking a group of girls from church on a trip for a week. Should be tons of fun, but I came to a realization this afternoon.

I'll be gone for 6 days.

Without internet access.:eek:

Which means...

NO DIS!! :sad:

I know I'll go through withdrawal. Honestly, I should start the weening now.

It's an addiction.

It has been a whirlwind of a summer so far. On Sunday, my parents took us to a Twins game down in Minneapolis. It was Junior's first experience at a major league baseball game. He was most concerned about when the cotton candy guy would come back into our section. Sigh.

He did luck out though. The cotton candy guy did come back. And he got lucky with some other stuff too. We got their super early as DH was hoping we'd catch some batting practice (we were sitting in the Homerun Porch). They were already done, which meant we had an hour to kill before the game started. With an antsy 5 year old. Oh joy.

So I hit the concourse with Junior. Dodging people precariously carrying large quantities of beer, while trying to hang on to Junior. Fun. What's that I spy? Face painting? With a minimal line? Ahhhhh..... that will buy us some time - waiting in line and then getting it painted! After talking him out of the Alien and convincing him a baseball themed painting would be best, this is what he chose...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0070.jpg (As I post this picture, it reminds me of all of jordanyosh's pictures on his TR!)

Child and Mother Approved! :thumbsup2

From what I gather, the Twins won, although the only part of the game I actually was able to concentrate on was when my mom took Junior for a walk. The little stinker convinced her to buy him a stuffed dog with a Twins jersey on. Grandma's a sucker. He also was given a game used ball by an usher in the concourse when he was with her. This made DH and my Sister's BF very jealous as neither of them had ever received such a coveted item in all their year's of going to games. When asked by DSis's BF if he could buy the ball from him, Junior replied he needed to go get his own.

Then the highlight of the day was after the game... It was a Kid's Day and they let the kids run the bases! So DH and I took him onto the field and got in this ginormous line. Thankfully we were sitting near where you walked onto the field so we didn't have to wait too long.

It was awesome seeing his face as we walked around the warning track. "His" can be interpreted as Junior and/or DH. :)
(You can see the line wrapping around the outfield and see three aisles of people waiting to get on the field.)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0081.jpg

Here he is taking off of first base...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0083.jpg
And coming across home plate (and some random lady's arm)...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0085.jpg

We got home late Sunday night and Monday it was time to hop in the car again! We were off to Camp to visit some of my kids from church. This trip would be for just me and Junior. He :love: camp. So much that when I told him he had to clean his room before we would go, he actually cleaned it. And quickly. Hmmmmm.... I'll have to remember that. Also, he refused to eat lunch because he thought it meant that we'd get to leave quicker. Sorry kiddo, but mom's still gotta eat!

This camp has a special place in our hearts as it's where DH and I met, drove old rickity vans hauling canoe trailers and stinky canoe guides to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, and fell in love. Here's a picture of the cabin where I lived for 2 summer, right on the shores of Lake Vermilion. I miss listening to the waves lapping the shore and the loons calling out and the friends I lived with... At the top of the trail to the cabin is where DH stole a first kiss and where he ended up proposing to me! :love2: :lovestruc

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0092.jpg

The weather was absolutely perfect. Although we just got to spend one night, we had a great time.

Him doing Kung Fu Panda moves with a stick...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0105.jpg

Meditating? I have no clue what possessed him to do this Tuesday morning, but I got a picture of it...

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0114.jpg

Showing off his "muscles" (I use the term loosely!)
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0115.jpg

And swimming...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0098.jpg

Oh, and you Focker Watchers, you'll love this shot!!
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0116.jpg

He did this totally on his own (he was pretending to be a lifeguard and was "watching me" he said. I about fell in the lake from laughing so hard when he did it!)

And I spent time sitting on the dock, catching up with friends who were also visiting kids from their churches (but I didn't know they were going to be there. BONUS!) But sitting on the dock with my blinding white skin meant I got a little crispy on the legs. Why do I think I might actually tan on of these years? Has it ever happened? Nope. Combine the sunburn with the million of bug bites (mosquitoes, no-see-ums, AND black flies - a winning combo!), my legs feel miserable. I look like I have measles, mumps, and chick pox. I slept on the couch last night and put one of the tweed-like pillows between my ankles and used it to itch the itchies! I feel for the kids that are up there all week!

And now I'm in desperate need of doing laundry and packing for the trip I leave for on Saturday morning. Deep Breath. I'm not stressed. But once the 4th of July hits, my summer will slow down. So that's the date I'm shooting for and those fireworks that night will be a welcomed sight!

Charleston Princess

06-26-2008, 07:01 PM

Sounds like you have been having a great time this summer so far!

Too funny about Junior's obsession with the cotton candy -- isn't that just like a child? :lmao:

The face painting is very cool -- you cracked me up with urging him to get a baseball-themed one -- I would have done that, too! Always theming the outings!

The camp looks like so much fun!

Have fun on your church trip! Can't wait to hear all about it! popcorn::

thewesterberg

06-26-2008, 07:25 PM

Sounds like you have been having a great time this summer so far! We sure have and it's not even the end of June yet... I'm just longing for a day at home, all by myself. Sounds heavenly!

Too funny about Junior's obsession with the cotton candy -- isn't that just like a child? :lmao: They only had one guy selling it in the lower level of the stands so he started in center field, worked around to the 1st base foul post and then FINALLY came back. I spent more time scooping out his location then watching the game!

The face painting is very cool -- you cracked me up with urging him to get a baseball-themed one -- I would have done that, too! Always theming the outings! Is that wrong???!! :confused3 He would have picked something like hockey pucks if they would have had them!

The camp looks like so much fun! It is... he's been coming up there with me since he was 2 so we can check in on the kids from church. Next summer he'll be old enough to do a half day, which he's a little put out by because "I've spent the night lots Mom. Why can't I next summer?" He told us he wants to go to camp all by himself, but mom can come too. Aaaaa... the ebb and flow of wanting mom/pushing mom away as you grow up!

Have fun on your church trip! Can't wait to hear all about it! popcorn:: Thanks! It should be a blast! These girls were in 1st/2nd grade when I started working at the church and they're so cool! The 9 of us gals should have a grand ol' time! I'm sure there will be some good stories!

Charleston Princess

06-26-2008, 07:47 PM

We sure have and it's not even the end of June yet... I'm just longing for a day at home, all by myself. Sounds heavenly!

I can understand that -- sometimes it is so nice to just sit and relax!

They only had one guy selling it in the lower level of the stands so he started in center field, worked around to the 1st base foul post and then FINALLY came back. I spent more time scooping out his location then watching the game!

When Chelsea and Connor become fixated on something, everyone hears about it until they get to do it!

Is that wrong???!! :confused3

Not in my eyes! ;)

It is... he's been coming up there with me since he was 2 so we can check in on the kids from church. Next summer he'll be old enough to do a half day, which he's a little put out by because "I've spent the night lots Mom. Why can't I next summer?" He told us he wants to go to camp all by himself, but mom can come too. Aaaaa... the ebb and flow of wanting mom/pushing mom away as you grow up!

Too sweet!

Thanks! It should be a blast! These girls were in 1st/2nd grade when I started working at the church and they're so cool! The 9 of us gals should have a grand ol' time! I'm sure there will be some good stories!

It's amazing how quickly they grow up, isn't it?

thewesterberg

06-26-2008, 08:01 PM

When Chelsea and Connor become fixated on something, everyone hears about it until they get to do it!

I was going to say, "that's kids!" but then realized, I'm a tad guilty about it myself (especially when it comes to Disney!)

Not in my eyes! ;) Good to know we're not alone!! :cool1:

Too sweet!::yes:: and it's those moments that I'm clinging to tonight as I chant "Serenity now,serenity now" over and over. It's been a L ---- O --- N --- G day with a moody 5 year old who has pushed every button I've got and then some! I think I have some bald patches from ripping my hair out.

It's amazing how quickly they grow up, isn't it?::yes:: I threaten them that I'm going to pinch their cheeks!

stagemomx3

06-27-2008, 09:14 AM

Here's what he wrote back:

"Well we have 8 weeks left until we go, since I work 5 days a week so they really don’t count so that leaves only 20 days. You have to take out the 4 days for the Crawl because we will be busy so that leaves 16 days, we are going camping at Katrina and Matt’s for 3 days so they don’t count that brings us to 13 days. 9 of those days are Sundays and that is a day of rest so they don’t count that leaves us with 4 days. One of those days I will be busy working on the Jeep so that brings us to 3 days. Today has all ready started so we can’t count that so that brings us to 2 days. And one of those days we will be driving down to the cities so we can fly out so that brings us to 1 day. So that must mean we are leaving tomorrow."

There's some Disney Math for ya!

:lmao: That's awesome!

stagemomx3

06-27-2008, 09:15 AM

Hey how did my post get up above yours? That is just weird!:scared1:

bubba_mouse

06-27-2008, 09:16 AM

For those wondering what the Crawl is, it is an off-road event called Rock Crawlers Unite to Crawl 4 the Cure. Over the past 3 years we have raised $81,000 for the Minnesota MS Society. And we have given away a Jeep.

My job these past few weeks has been to try and keep my DW from going insane because the trip is pretty much planned the way we want it but we have 60 days until we leave (or 1 if you follow my disney math). We have looked at changing ADR's, she found code that would have allowed us to spend one night at AKL (a place I would love to stay) but we decided against it, and many other ideas have come and gone.

Junior still does not know about the trip. I am excited to see what his reaction will be when we wake him up at 4:30 am to tell him we are going. He will either be excited or he will say "I wanna sleep, leave me alone".

thewesterberg

06-27-2008, 09:31 AM

This morning I logged on to TGM and he told me it's only 60 days until our vacation! 2 months!! WAHOOOOOOOOOOO!!!:dance3: :yay:

I sent an e-mail to DH to share the excitement.

Here's what he wrote back:

"Well we have 8 weeks left until we go, since I work 5 days a week so they really don’t count so that leaves only 20 days. You have to take out the 4 days for the Crawl because we will be busy so that leaves 16 days, we are going camping at Katrina and Matt’s for 3 days so they don’t count that brings us to 13 days. 9 of those days are Sundays and that is a day of rest so they don’t count that leaves us with 4 days. One of those days I will be busy working on the Jeep so that brings us to 3 days. Today has all ready started so we can’t count that so that brings us to 2 days. And one of those days we will be driving down to the cities so we can fly out so that brings us to 1 day. So that must mean we are leaving tomorrow."

There's some Disney Math for ya!

PrincessV

06-30-2008, 11:20 AM

The first TR I ever read was one of yours and reading your TRs were my inspiration, the wind beneath my wings, blah, blah, blah to do this PTR. Cue the music. My TR Mentor is here! Warm, fuzzy feeling! :)

Was writing that totally weird, creepy, stalker-ish? :blush: Oops. Didn't mean it that way!
Not even remotely stalker-ish... I feel hugely complimented and am very appreciative! Thanks so much for your kind words :hug:

I'm going back to catch up now....

PrincessV

06-30-2008, 03:14 PM

Oh, and you Focker Watchers, you'll love this shot!!
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0116.jpg
:lmao: You're raising that boy RIGHT! :thumbsup2

Guess what? I'm all caught up! :yay:

brookelizabeth

06-30-2008, 11:33 PM

Gah! I've missed a few of your updates. :sad2:

Woo-hoo on the new car and Disney shirts! And a very happy, and belated, birthday to you!

The camp looks awesome - I have never been to the BWCA but have always wanted to. So, so pretty!

Have fun in KC-I look forward to the details when you return! :yay:

And I love the Disney math! :teacher:

thewesterberg

07-05-2008, 10:30 PM

Not even remotely stalker-ish... I feel hugely complimented and am very appreciative! Thanks so much for your kind words :hug: Whew... I wrote it and then got worried I'd freak you out and you'd run away! :)

:lmao: You're raising that boy RIGHT! :thumbsup2
I laughed so hard and knew instantly that it was going in the PTR!

Gah! I've missed a few of your updates. :sad2:

Woo-hoo on the new car and Disney shirts! And a very happy, and belated, birthday to you!

The camp looks awesome - I have never been to the BWCA but have always wanted to. So, so pretty!

Have fun in KC-I look forward to the details when you return! :yay:

And I love the Disney math! :teacher: Thanks for all the happy vibes! I'm back and I'm exhausted. A very good trip, but whew! I definitely don't have the same energy level as I did when I started this job almost 7 years ago! I'm going to get writing on the trip...

thewesterberg

07-05-2008, 11:13 PM

June has been crazy-nutso for me when it comes to my job. A week of vacation bible school, which involved over 100 kids, leading very aerobic songs, and me with dry ice experiments; kids at camp and getting to visit them with Junior, and our mission/servant trip to Kansas City. Got back last night from that last one. And I'm wiped. But I've got some funny stories, so I've just gotta share!

We left last Saturday at 7am. There were 7 girls on the trip in the 7th-10th grade range (boys were invited, but foolishly they passed up their opportunity to hang out with some awesome girls for the 10+ hour van ride. Which actually made my job easier, now that I think about it.)

Now the 7am was met with a little bit of resistance, but 4 of the girls went on our trip last year to Colorado and we flew (I had gone the summer before on a bus trip to San Antonio with the kids from church and was not subjecting myself to another cross country road trip so soon!). Our flight left at 7am, which meant being to the airport at 5:00am. With that history a 7am departure sounded mighty good.

So we pile into two vehicles so we could drive the 2+ hours to Minneapolis to pick up a 12 passenger van. All the big beast vans in Duluth were rented or could not be driven through Iowa. :confused3 Our church is a 1/2 mile off of I-35 and the church we were staying at in Kansas City, MO was about that far off of I-35 too. A straight shot and no maps necessary. And the only thing standing between Minnesota and Missouri was Iowa. That was not a detour I was willing to make. So we had to get our van down by Minneapolis.

On our drive down to Minneapolis, Avis called. When I saw their number pop up on my cell phone I started to freak. I have a tendency to jump to the worst possible senarios and this one went like this: They've rented our van to someone else.

See, they hadn't instilled much faith in me. I reserved the van back in November. Then in April I called to see if we could leave our 2 personal vehicles at their site for the week. Ends up the Avis location we were renting from had closed and they had transferred my reservation to a different location, about 40 minutes away. AND THEY NEVER TOLD ME!!! That's the kind of information that's kinda nice to know...

So you could imagine my fears when the guy asks me if I'm still coming for the van. "Uh, yeah. I called and confirmed yesterday. It's still a half hour until we're scheduled to pick it up and that's about how far away from your office we are." Ends up we had the last 12 passenger van in Minneapolis and people were on the hunt for it.

Back off people... it's MINE!!!!

Crisis averted. Deep breath.

As we're filling out the paper work, we find out that the Avis guy didn't lock the vehicles up for the overnight and they had a guest that decided to sleep off his inebriated state in the back of a convertible. He was still breathing (I asked) and at one point had taken off his shirt to get more comfortable. Good place to sleep it off.

After checking to see if we had any stowaways in our van (nope), I piled the girls in with ALL their luggage. How many times did we talk about packing light?? I would have hated to see how much stuff they would have brought if I hadn't had that discussion with them! We had stuffed tucked into every nook and cranny of that van.

"If anyone opens the back van door, their punishment will be being tied to the top of the van while said culprit's luggage will reside in their former seat." Got it girls????

And we were off!!

The drive was pretty uneventful until we got south of Minneapolis. The sky got very dark. Like it was night. And it started to get windy (lots of fun in a top heavy huge vehicle). And then it rained. No, make that, it POURED. At one point I looked out to my right and saw fields. And a truck pulling some weird contraption behind it on a dirt road. I looked at the other adult with me and we both said "TWISTER!" at the same time! No, there was not some large funnel cloud getting ready to sweep us away (thank goodness!), but the movie. I was just waiting for a cow to go floating overhead.

After white-knuckling it for awhile, we got out of the storm and it was time for our first potty break. And of course buying things at the truck stop gas station. They're girls - they have to shop. So a stuffed dog was now joining us on the trip - a Boxer who had these eyes that seemed like they were always watching you. It was a tad creepy. Couldn't bring myself to take a picture of it.

(Shopping side note: During the first leg of the trip, 2 of the girls riding with me fell asleep. They were out. As we passed an outlet mall, the two girls sat up from a dead sleep and said, "Outlet Mall". Freaky, weird teenage girls connection to the mall.)

Shooed them out of the truck stop. Back in the van. There was more driving. A game of Apples to Apples happened at some point.

It's lunch time! Wendy's was the popular choice. No pictures of the food, but I'm sure most of you know what a junior bacon cheeseburger and a frosty look like. :thumbsup2

And there was more shopping because the Wendy's was attached to a gas station. One pair of flannel pants now joined us in the already crowded van. (although this was a necessity as this girl forgot to pack pj's. Nothin' like some gas station pajamas!)

And then there was more driving. We're in IOWA! Cornfields. A game of Catch Phrase. Giggling. Song requests. Look - MISSOURI! A stop for gas (I have never put so much gas into one vehicle or paid so much) And more driving. A rest area. And more driving.

At this point I'm starting to feel like we'll never get there. Every mile we drive seems to take at least 10 minutes. All I want is to see the Hyatt Place that we'll spend our first night at.

Will we ever get there? Where will we eat supper? Will my trend in weird vehicle occurances while traveling along I-35 for youth trips continue? Have I rambled on and on and on because I'm so exhausted? (Highly probable, especially that last one.)

Charleston Princess

07-06-2008, 06:43 AM

brookelizabeth

07-06-2008, 06:56 AM

...and me with dry ice experiments

:rotfl: What the...? :rotfl:

A straight shot and no maps necessary.

I hope that's not some foreshadowing going on...

They've rented our van to someone else.

:scared1: I woulda flipped!

As we're filling out the paper work, we find out that the Avis guy didn't lock the vehicles up for the overnight and they had a guest that decided to sleep off his inebriated state in the back of a convertible. He was still breathing (I asked) and at one point had taken off his shirt to get more comfortable. Good place to sleep it off.

Oh.my.word. That is HILARIOUS! Seriously! I can just see it, everyone is talking about the trip "And before we left we saw a passed out, half naked drunk in a convertiable where we rented the van!" :lmao: :lmao: :lmao:

After checking to see if we had any stowaways in our van (nope)

Whew!

They're girls - they have to shop. So a stuffed dog was now joining us on the trip - a Boxer who had these eyes that seemed like they were always watching you. It was a tad creepy. Couldn't bring myself to take a picture of it.

That's so true. Girls have to shop! We always put these half creepy truck stop stuffed animals on my parent's dashboard, they were the "navigators". I'm sure my folks just loved it.

(Shopping side note: During the first leg of the trip, 2 of the girls riding with me fell asleep. They were out. As we passed an outlet mall, the two girls sat up from a dead sleep and said, "Outlet Mall". Freaky, weird teenage girls connection to the mall.)

:rotfl: :lmao: :rotfl2: :rotfl: :lmao: :rotfl2:

I cannot even fathom how much you spent in gas money! Eeep!

Great start to the trip, looking forward to more! :thumbsup2

thewesterberg

07-06-2008, 08:04 AM

That's too funny about the girls and their need to shop at every gas station!!! The outlet mall comment totally cracked me up!

Can't wait to read more about your adventures with the girls! I have to say that they sound pretty well-behaved for that age group! :thumbsup2
When we got to the south side of Minneapolis, their shopping radar kicked in again: "Isn't the Mall of America nearby?"

They were AMAZING!! They made me so proud - they were silly, hard workers, deep thinkers, and so passionate about what they were doing. I'm planning on writing notes to their parents to let them know they've done an amazing job raising their daughters! I loved spending a week with them and getting to know them better. They were all in about 1st/2nd grade when I started working at the church and it's been so neat watching them grow up into so awesome young women. I'm going to start crying again!!

:rotfl: What the...? :rotfl: Yeah, dry ice. Here's some background: I had to stand in front of all those kids and put dry ice into a glass bowl that had warm water in it. Then I had to rub dish soap around the edge of the bowl and then drag a piece of material soaked in dish soap across the top of the bowl to try to form a giant bubble. What was suppose to happen was a film of soap would form across the bowl with the dry ice smoke building underneath it and then it would burst and over flow. (Representing our hearts overflowing with God's love)

It sorta worked (the kids just loved the dry ice effect and they didn't know what I was exactly trying to do to make the bubble... I instead got a bazillion bubbles overflowing EVERYWHERE), but I was flustered because I practiced before the kids came in making the bubble, minus the dry ice. I had to rinse the bowl out and get rid of all the soap. So picture a wet, slippery with soap slime glass bowl and my non-grace persona trying to go up a couple of steps. Of course I stumbled and the bowl shot outta my hands like a greased pig and broke into a million pieces moments before the kids came in. Thankfully it went forward and none out into the crowd. And they all thought us cleaning up the stage was part of the skit. :rotfl2: Oh, and then the bowl froze to the table and it took a lot to get it unstuck. It was a stressful morning.

There was also a "Will It Float" segment one day! Limes, a can of regular coke, and a bowling ball more than 10 lbs: SINK.

Oranges, lemons, a can of Diet Coke, and a bowling ball less than 8lbs: FLOAT.

I love my job!!

I hope that's not some foreshadowing going on...
:confused3 ;)

:scared1: I woulda flipped!::yes::

Oh.my.word. That is HILARIOUS! Seriously! I can just see it, everyone is talking about the trip "And before we left we saw a passed out, half naked drunk in a convertiable where we rented the van!" :lmao: :lmao: :lmao: Yeah, I see that coming up when we share with the congregation about our trip!

That's so true. Girls have to shop! We always put these half creepy truck stop stuffed animals on my parent's dashboard, they were the "navigators". I'm sure my folks just loved it. :lmao: Too funny!! The Boxer ended up on the dash briefly too but it was too traumatic for one of the girls so he had to go away. This same girl brought with a creepy stuffed clown that she's had since a child that she sleeps with. Believe me, we had some fun with it and a flashlight one night!! I'm surprised we all didn't have nightmares!!

I cannot even fathom how much you spent in gas money! Eeep! It took way over $100 to fill the tank. In fact, 2 gas stations I went to cut me off before I could fill it! I understand for gas drive offs, but I was paying at the pump. Unfortunately $75 worth of gas doesn't go far to fill the belly of these beasts!

Great start to the trip, looking forward to more! :thumbsup2 Thanks! :goodvibes

thewesterberg

07-06-2008, 09:01 AM

We finally reach Kansas City and there's much rejoicing in the van. We decide to stop for dinner before we check into the hotel.

Now, back in the day, the summer after I graduated from high school, 3 friends and I traveled via Amtrack to Atlanta to visit a friend and to check out the Olympics. While there we discovered the Waffle House. Minnesota is lacking these fine establishments. We became obsessed. We even had a Waffle House handshake: Hold up 3 fingers (Looks like a W) and then lay your W perpendicular to your friend's W. The way your fingers criss cross looks like a waffle. Okay, I know what you're thinking: We're a bunch of nerds. You're right on.

So while in Colorado last summer (where there are Waffle Houses :worship: ) I shared my passion/obsession with the youth group. And guess what Missouri has? WAFFLE HOUSEs too!! The closest ones to our Land of 10,000 Lakes and Zero Waffle Houses. And there happened to be one right next to our hotel for the night!:cool1:

So we piled out of the van and enjoy so greasy goodness in the form of grilled sandwiches, hash browns, and waffles while listening to some fine music selections from the jute box like Special Lady at the Waffle House and other assorted Waffle House songs. I wonder if you can buy those songs on CDs anywhere??

We ran into a bit of a problem when we got out of the van though. The girls needed to get some money/cameras out of their luggage. When they went to shut the door, the latch on one of the back doors (where all the luggage was) wasn't latching. Great. We monkeyed with it and got no where before we ate so we just sat in the restaurant where we could see the van. After we got done eating we tried so more, to no avail. A guy in a truck gave us some wire to try to latch it closed, but there was nothing to attach it to. So we sent the girls to walk to the hotel while Chris climbed into the back seat to hold the door shut while I drove over to the hotel.

As you can tell, this isn't going to work for the rest of the trip.

I was on the phone with Avis ASAP and we were only a couple of miles from the Kansas City airport. They wanted us to drive it over. Uh, no can do. It takes 2 adults to make this work and I'm not taking the girls on the free way in a van in this condition. I'm also not leaving them un-chaperoned at a hotel. They're good girls, but there was also a bazillion boys their age at the hotel who were playing in a baseball tournament. Even if the boys hadn't been there, I wouldn't have left them alone.

Me and the Avis dude went round and round about stuff and the whole time I thought to myself "Isn't their slogan 'We Try Harder'?" I was not feeling that.

Finally I told Avis how it was going to be: they were going to send people over to get our van and one of their people could hold that door shut while driving, they were going to leave either a big van for us to use (which they were out of, of course) or 2 smaller vehicles, and they were going to fix this latch before Friday or they were going to have to find us another 12 passenger van to drive home in. We could use 2 vehicles while we were in town, but when it came time to go home, one vehicle was going to be needed so we could take turns driving.

A half hour later they showed up (which in the mean time, we had to clean the windows of the van because we had used glass chalk to "pretty up" the van windows. It was red and it looked like the van was bleeding as we washed it up.). They couldn't fix it so they left a different 12 passenger van (that they use as a shuttle vehicle I came to find out) and told me to call the next morning at 8am.

In the mean time I'm reminded of every time I've traveled south on I-35 for youth group trips, I've had transportation issues. Cue music that indicates we're traveling back in time....

The Winter of 1997: In college on a mission trip to Mexico. We take I-35 from one end to the other. It's the week between Christmas and New Years and we're on a big OLD coach bus. An hour and a half from home, the bugger has issues that take a mechanic. Our bus driver's name: Christian. His wife who was with and whose parents owned the piece of junk: Angel. And the mechanic that looked at the bus: Mr. Bible. (It may have been spelled different, but that's how it was said.) We thought we were golden! Yea, not so much.

We had issues the whole way of the bus not starting or it would stop at inappropriate times. The worst? Stalling on a train track outside of Monterrey. We all had to pile off the bus so a semi could push the bus off the tracks. :scared1: Also, the power steering went out and it took both the driver and his wife hanging off the steering wheel to make the corners in Nuevo Laredo on the Sunday evening after New Years (which means the streets were packed with everyone heading home after the holiday). I have a picture of me kissing U.S. soil, I was so thankful to at least be back in my own country.

Summer of 2006: Driving I-35 to San Antonio in newer coach buses for our church's national youth gathering. The drive down? Very cool. In both ways the word can be used. The ride home? Well, let's just say the air conditioning quit working as we left San Antonio. In July. And we're driving straight through to Northern Minnesota. It was over 100 degrees in that bus.

Our amazing bus drivers rigged the windows open. The "best" part? We're driving through Kansas in the middle of the night when the window I'm sitting by let's loose. I was sitting with another youth director and her and I had to physically hold the window shut while we zip along to the next exit. Which was something like a thousand miles away. She actually fell asleep while holding the window (ends up she was pregnant and you now how those early days make you feel exhausted). We drove to Kansas City where we got a new bus. With Air. It was beautiful.

So here we are present day in Kansas City once again and my condition has continued! I think I'm going to have to stay away from the I-35 corridor in the future.

Will the van get fixed? How's the hotel? Will my camera ever let me upload the pictures to make this report more interesting?

brookelizabeth

07-06-2008, 11:21 PM

This same girl brought with a creepy stuffed clown that she's had since a child that she sleeps with. Believe me, we had some fun with it and a flashlight one night!! I'm surprised we all didn't have nightmares!!

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: I cannot wait for that update!

Sorry about the van trouble, I'm glad you told Avis how it would be! You are the customer!

I haven't ever tried Waffle House, but I've heard many, many stories of it's goodness. Next time we are in a State with it, DH and I will make it a "Must Do". Minnesota is lacking in Waffle House and Dunkin' Donuts. Sigh.

PrincessV

07-07-2008, 09:08 AM

First off, you deserve some kind of award for submitting yourself to chaperone a gaggle of teenage girls in a van to anywhere! :worship:

So we piled out of the van and enjoy so greasy goodness in the form of grilled sandwiches, hash browns, and waffles while listening to some fine music selections from the jute box like Special Lady at the Waffle House and other assorted Waffle House songs. I wonder if you can buy those songs on CDs anywhere??
Get out - they seriously have their own music?! :rotfl:
It's the week between Christmas and New Years and we're on a big OLD coach bus. An hour and a half from home, the bugger has issues that take a mechanic. Our bus driver's name: Christian. His wife who was with and whose parents owned the piece of junk: Angel. And the mechanic that looked at the bus: Mr. Bible. (It may have been spelled different, but that's how it was said.) We thought we were golden! Yea, not so much.
:lmao: If this isn't a case of irony, I don't know what!

I don't know about anyone else on this TR, but I'm styaing the heck away from I-35! ;)

thewesterberg

07-07-2008, 12:30 PM

Sorry about the van trouble, I'm glad you told Avis how it would be! You are the customer! Their first suggestion was to just bring it in the next morning. I asked them, "So you really want me to leave your van unsecured with the back door swinging in the breeze?" They quickly changed their mind and came out within a half hour. :rotfl2:

I haven't ever tried Waffle House, but I've heard many, many stories of it's goodness. Next time we are in a State with it, DH and I will make it a "Must Do". Minnesota is lacking in Waffle House and Dunkin' Donuts. Sigh. You'll have to give 'em a try - they're just fun! Minnesota is missing out on a lot of stuff... I was so happy to see a Sonic being built in Rogers. Chick-fil-a (I guess there's the one at the U of M campus), and being up north we lament over the fact that the closest Chipotle in the northern suburbs of the Cities. And Panera. We finally got an Olive Garden within the last few years. We're movin' up in the world, baby!

First off, you deserve some kind of award for submitting yourself to chaperone a gaggle of teenage girls in a van to anywhere! :worship: Why thank you. They were actually awesome to travel with... they weren't shriekers, no cat fights amongst themselves- just silly, respectful, hard working and a whole lot of fun.

Get out - they seriously have their own music?! :rotfl: Check it out for yourself... WAFFLE HOUSE SONGS (http://www.wafflehouse.com/musicmachine.asp). My personal favorite is the Waffle Do Wop. And a person can buy a CD :cool1: ... hmmmmm.... I'm thinkin' Christmas present for my equally obsessed friend that I traveled with in High School...

I don't know about anyone else on this TR, but I'm styaing the heck away from I-35! ;) Travel at your own risk (or don't bring me with since I seem to be the back luck charm!)

thewesterberg

07-09-2008, 10:43 PM

Okay, so I know that a lot of you that have joined in on this PTR are parents, so I have a story that maybe you'll appreciate.

Today Junior was at our friend's house for day care. Our friend had a meeting and so her daughter was going to watch him. (She was on the trip with me last week - awesome girl!) Her first time watching him solo. DH came home from work early and we were running some errands before we went to pick him up. While at Target my phone rings. It's the mom. Her DD called her to say that Junior was playing with a water blaster and put his pointer finger into the hole where the water goes in. And it's stuck.

Like really stuck.

They tried greasing it up with vegetable oil.

Nope.

Ice to bring down the swelling.

Nope.

She had broke the water gun away from the water reservoir, so all that was left was that reservoir on his pointer finger.

So we fly through the check-out (grabbing a ring pop candy thing for Junior to hopefully distract him) and head to their house about 10 minutes away.

We get there and he's chowing down on Freezies while tears run down his face. I sit him on my lap, give him the Ring Pop and DH tries to pull.

Nope.

He tries to twist it off.

Nope.

Yup, it's stuck.

Junior cries and says, "Just leave it. I'll grow up with it on my finger."

DH, joking to try to diffuse the situation, says "But how will you pick your nose?"

Junior thinks (this is a habit we're trying to break - maybe leaving it on his finger is an okay thing.... Hmmmmm....:confused: )

Junior, not wanting to give this bad habit up, realizes he has another option and holds up the pointer finger on his other hand. "I'll just use this finger."

SIGH.

:sad2: Anybody got another water blaster we can stick on that finger???

Well, we weren't having any luck there so we decided to bring him home. DH found a pair of side cutters and carefully cut the reservoir off his finger so all that was left was the threaded ring. And oh so carefully that was trimmed off.

:wizard: TA-DA!! ER visit avoided!

Daddy is the HERO!!! :cool1:

His finger was so swollen, but after icing it for a bit, it returned closer to normal and he was off playing with the neighbor kids.

Life is good again.

PrincessV

07-10-2008, 09:02 AM

Oh no! Poor Junior... and poor Mom! Kids get into the wackiest predicaments, don't they? I think all parents can relate.

I know I can. Thanks to a Dr. visit for my DS a couple eyars ago... in which they did the usual check of the ears... and found a purple pencil point lodged in his ear drum. :headache:

BTW, I meant to tell you - guess what Leo's thinking of being for MNSSHP? Indiana Jones! If this actually pans out, I may have some costume questions for you!

thewesterberg

07-10-2008, 10:19 AM

I know I can. Thanks to a Dr. visit for my DS a couple eyars ago... in which they did the usual check of the ears... and found a purple pencil point lodged in his ear drum. :headache: :lmao: That's hilarious! Must've had an itch in there and what better thing to use than a colored pencil! Isn't it nice to be able to look back on stuff like that and laugh! I have to admit I really wanted to grab the camera and take a picture yesterday, but A. I didn't want to escalate the situation for prosperity's sake and B. The camera batteries were charging. I'll admit, B was more of a factor than A.

BTW, I meant to tell you - guess what Leo's thinking of being for MNSSHP? Indiana Jones! If this actually pans out, I may have some costume questions for you! That's awesome!! He'll make a very handsome Indiana Jones. :)

brookelizabeth

07-10-2008, 10:17 PM

THERE IS A SONIC IN ROGERS?!?!?!?!?!

thewesterberg

07-11-2008, 04:54 AM

THERE IS A SONIC IN ROGERS?!?!?!?!?!

:rotfl2: :rotfl2: :lmao: :lmao: I lost you at the mention of Sonic... A little excited?! (me too!)

Well, as of mid June, there was the foundation of one! It was right by the Chipotles (our obsession when we head to the Cities) and I about flipped when I saw it! There's a Sonic in St. Paul that's open, I guess, that I found out. It's off of I94 between I-35E and I-694. Here, this map (http://www.sonicdrivein.com/locator/locMap.do?transaction=locMap&recordId=5950&search1=0&search2=0) will help you get to the tots!

thewesterberg

07-11-2008, 03:20 PM

Today is Day 46 in the countdown and I just got off the phone with Disney Reservations - we are paid in full!! Now to just wait for the pretty envelope with all our ME stuff!

Yesterday Junior and I hit the mall and picked up some new Crocs for him. He's wore his pair smooth on the bottom and we wanted to give him some time to break a new pair in. Had to go up 2 sizes because the bugger is growing so fast! He loves his new blue Crocs, and I felt nice and sprung for a couple of Jibbitz - Donald and Mickey are the ones he picked out! (What a smart boy!)

Also, the case of the missing flip flop has been solved in our house. I bought him a pair of Teva Mush ones in May. He wore them a couple of times and one went missing. :headache: They were a good deal, but not that good of a deal that I was happy about it missing. We looked under the couch, under the radiators, in the closet, under our bed, in his room. Well, at 4am this morning, the light bulb hit that I hadn't seen a bag he brought to daycare for awhile. Maybe it was with it. Sure enough, there it was by the washing machine, buried under something else!

Now he'll have a couple pairs of good summery shoes to wear on our trip! Because heaven knows it's not summery here in Duluth this week. Granted on Sunday we hit something like 95. Monday, it was 60. Tuesday and Wednesday we maybe got to 70. Today? ummmm, try 50.

Yes, 50. And that's the high. :eek:

On the plus side, we haven't had to run the air conditioner more than 2 days so far this summer. That = :cool1: electric bills.

On the down side, I would like to be at least somewhat conditioned to the hot, steamy Orlando weather we'll be encountering in 46 days. I'm thinking hanging out in the sauna at the YMCA while dressed in my winter gear each day until the trip may be a solution... you know, kinda like a tanning booth? 1 minute today, 5 minutes the next time, maybe working up to a 1/2 hour.

Charleston Princess

07-11-2008, 03:38 PM

Hurray for being paid off in full!!! Isn't that a great feeling? :banana:

I can't believe it is only 50 there!!! :eek: That's why I could never live up North! I would just curl up and freeze!!!

thewesterberg

07-11-2008, 03:55 PM

Hurray for being paid off in full!!! Isn't that a great feeling? :banana: :goodvibes uh, huh!

I can't believe it is only 50 there!!! :eek: That's why I could never live up North! I would just curl up and freeze!!!
Yeah, it was suppose to be in the low 80s here today. Someone goofed.

Actually, the current temp in Minneapolis (a little over 2 hours away) is 89. I just looked up the towns along I-35 between here and Minneapolis to see how it changes:

Duluth - 54
Cloquet (20 miles away) - 63
Moose Lake (40 miles away) - 79
Pine City (80 miles away) - 81
Minneapolis (150 miles away) 89

40 degree temperature change in those 150 miles! It ridiculous I say! Lake Superior is a good air conditioner. Sometimes too good. I joked with DH that I'm going to have to cover the tomato plants tonight so they don't freeze!

I'm wearing my polar fleece jacket over a t-shirt, jeans, and, in protest, - my flip flops! I have chilly toes, but gosh darn, it's summer by the calendar!

Charleston Princess

07-11-2008, 03:56 PM

I'm wearing my polar fleece jacket over a t-shirt, jeans, and, in protest, - my flip flops! I have chilly toes, but gosh darn, it's summer by the calendar!

:rotfl2: I've been known to do things like that when I feel like it should be warmer than it is!

brookelizabeth

07-12-2008, 04:23 PM

:rotfl2: :rotfl2: :lmao: :lmao: I lost you at the mention of Sonic... A little excited?! (me too!)

Well, as of mid June, there was the foundation of one! It was right by the Chipotles (our obsession when we head to the Cities) and I about flipped when I saw it! There's a Sonic in St. Paul that's open, I guess, that I found out. It's off of I94 between I-35E and I-694. Here, this map (http://www.sonicdrivein.com/locator/locMap.do?transaction=locMap&recordId=5950&search1=0&search2=0) will help you get to the tots!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!

Every time my DH sees one of those commercials he says "Gosh, I wish we had that." AND NOW WE DO! :banana: :dance3: :yay: :woohoo: Yes! I'm SUPER excited! Next time we go to the Cities, we are sooooooooooo hittin' up Sonic!

I love me some Chipotle too. Barbacoa...drool...

brookelizabeth

07-12-2008, 04:29 PM

GREAT JOB on being paid in full!! It's so nice to go on vacation knowing you don't have to come home to a giant credit card bill.

That is nuts about the weather! It's warm down here today (we are about an hour west of Mpls and have similar weather). In the 80s I think. Yesterday a tornado touched down about 45 minutes away in Willmar, I have friends that live veryyyy close to where it destroyed some turkey barns. DH, Henry and I were at the mall at the time and sirens here in Hutch went off so we were stuck in the mall for a while! It was so dark out and the wind and the rain were incredible. You couldn't see 2 feet out in front of you.

I hope the weather gets better. Keep wearing those flip flops! :rotfl:

thewesterberg

07-12-2008, 07:10 PM

That is nuts about the weather! It's warm down here today (we are about an hour west of Mpls and have similar weather). In the 80s I think. Yesterday a tornado touched down about 45 minutes away in Willmar, I have friends that live veryyyy close to where it destroyed some turkey barns. DH, Henry and I were at the mall at the time and sirens here in Hutch went off so we were stuck in the mall for a while! It was so dark out and the wind and the rain were incredible. You couldn't see 2 feet out in front of you. How scary!! I'm glad you guys are okay. It was crazy seeing all the warnings and watches filling up the map yesterday.

I hope the weather gets better. Keep wearing those flip flops! :rotfl: Today was much better, well in the low 70s, but that beats 50! Actually went swimming in a lake today! Had a friend's 40th b-day party at a cabin and we went for a swim - it was very refreshing!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!

Every time my DH sees one of those commercials he says "Gosh, I wish we had that." AND NOW WE DO! :banana: :dance3: :yay: :woohoo: Yes! I'm SUPER excited! Next time we go to the Cities, we are sooooooooooo hittin' up Sonic!

I love me some Chipotle too. Barbacoa...drool... :lmao: I'm so there with you! We actually keep a map we printed off the internet of all the Chipotle locations in the Twin Cities in our glove compartment!! Can you tell we need our fixes when we head south?!

thewesterberg

07-12-2008, 07:29 PM

Things are a cha-cha-cha-changing yet again!

Couldn't leave well enough alone!

But it's not my fault. Honest. I'm blaming it on the airlines. Really, it's their fault.

When we booked our flight back in April I was hoping to take the last flight out of MCO, which put us into MSP around 8pm, which meant we wouldn't get home until around 11pm. More time in Disney is a good thing, right?!

Well, that flight ended up being more the day I booked, so we went with the cheaper flight before it, which put us in MSP around 3:45 and we'd be home before 7pm.

I was disappointed, but dealt with it. And it ended up being a good thing because DH couldn't get the day after our trip off and getting home earlier meant he'd be more well rested for the next day. I was completely at peace with the earlier flight. Even thankful that we had that one booked.

Well, NWA upset that peaceful feeling tonight when I got the e-mail. Guess what? Our flight has been changed. To the later flight. So, trying to stay positive, I guess that means more time to be at Disney! Even if it means a sleepy DH had work the next day!

This opened a whole world of opportunities in my eyes (after I checked to see if there would be any earlier flights that would work better. That would be a nope. We'd have to leave SUPER early to have an indirect flight to get back at nearly the same time.)

Guess what? It's time for some changes to the ADRs!!

Hard to believe, huh? You know you'd do it too!

After drooling all over my keyboard while gazing at Tonga Toast pictures (and actually sitting down with the schedule to figure out which morning I could sneak into Captain Cook's for an order on our way to MK), it looked like a TS could be just what we need for our last day! Instead of being picked up by ME at 10am, we'll now be around until after lunch! :cool1:

"Hello Disney Dining, can you make my tonga toast dreams come true?"

"We sure can!"

:lovestruc :banana: <------- that would be the banana I'll be finding in my Tonga Toast in about 50 days!

It was sort of funny, the CM asked me during the course of the conversation what room I was staying in. "A good one???" was my reply. She laughed and said she forgot which conversation she was in.

At the end, she wished me a good trip.... and that good room I was hoping for. I told her if she had any pull, could she make that happen? She said she'd note it! :laughing: I've got my fingers crossed!

Charleston Princess

07-12-2008, 07:54 PM

Yeay for Kona Cafe and Tonga Toast -- when we ate there in April for breakfast, I knew I was tasting a little slice of heaven! Tonga Toast...mmmmm!!! If you are a coffee drinker, try their Kona coffee! It's delicious!

brookelizabeth

07-12-2008, 09:43 PM

It's good that you booked when you did for flights too-they are SO expensive right now. :sad2:

We are doing the same thing, Tonga Toast on the day we head home! I am super excited for the yummy banana-goodness. And the coffee. I am very, very excited about the coffee. :cloud9:

brookelizabeth

07-12-2008, 09:45 PM

How scary!! I'm glad you guys are okay. It was crazy seeing all the warnings and watches filling up the map yesterday.

Today was much better, well in the low 70s, but that beats 50! Actually went swimming in a lake today! Had a friend's 40th b-day party at a cabin and we went for a swim - it was very refreshing!

:lmao: I'm so there with you! We actually keep a map we printed off the internet of all the Chipotle locations in the Twin Cities in our glove compartment!! Can you tell we need our fixes when we head south?!

That is hilarious about the map of Chipotle's! I love it!!

Glad to hear the weather was better today....I was mostly indoors today, but right now it's PERFECT out, nice breeze...ahhhh....

thewesterberg

07-13-2008, 09:04 PM

I need to get this in writing, documented, signed by a notary public and out there for the whole world wide web to see.

Yesterday DH asked me:

"Honey, if we get one of those bounce back offers while we're there and it's a good deal, do you think we should book a trip for just the 2 of us next year for our 10th anniversary?"

Pinch me, I must be dreaming :cloud9:

Uh, are you serious?!! Sign me up!!!

I think "someone" has been bit by the Disney bug too! (Either that or he's going to ask to buy a new Jeep and hold this over my head... :confused3 ) We'll cross that bridge when we get to it...

brookelizabeth

07-13-2008, 09:07 PM

Charleston Princess

07-13-2008, 09:07 PM

Definitely get it in writing and make sure to add the disclaimer, "Cannot be held against me in an attempt to procure any large item of great expense." :thumbsup2

stagemomx3

07-13-2008, 09:13 PM

thewesterberg

07-13-2008, 09:27 PM

Either way you get to go back!!! :cool1:

That is SO sweet of him!! I really hope you get a bounceback offer....and maybe, even if you don't, you can convince your DH to do it anyway. Major points for him, he's gotta know that! ;)

Definitely get it in writing and make sure to add the disclaimer, "Cannot be held against me in an attempt to procure any large item of great expense." :thumbsup2

:woohoo: How awesome!:lovestruc

It kind of surprised me when he mentioned it! We'll have to see how the expenses look this next year and whether or not we can swing it. I must chant to myself "Must be responsible. Must be responsible."

I was trying to squeak a trip out (which is maybe why this was brought up). My sister's boyfriend proposed to her on the 4th of July and we were talking wedding stuff and asking her what she was thinking. I threw out "How about a Disney wedding?!" She liked the idea, her fiance was so-so, and my mom said "No way since we're footing a portion of the bill!" Oh well, I tried.

thewesterberg

07-14-2008, 06:39 AM

Charleston Princess

07-14-2008, 07:30 AM

:lmao: :rotfl2: :rotfl: I love it, but have not had enough coffee to be creative enough to come up with a caption.

brookelizabeth

07-14-2008, 07:55 AM

I posted this over on brookelizabeth's PTR, but thought I'd post it here too.

Her picture of her little boy that in her signature inspired me to create this last night:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/DancingMickey.jpg

Anyone got any ideas for a funny caption???

I LOVE IT!!!!!

I too haven't had enough coffee to come up with a caption-I'll try to brainstorm in between troubleshooting software today at work. ;)

That is just awesome! :thumbsup2 :thumbsup2 :thumbsup2

PrincessV

07-14-2008, 08:07 AM

I need to get this in writing, documented, signed by a notary public and out there for the whole world wide web to see.

Yesterday DH asked me:

"Honey, if we get one of those bounce back offers while we're there and it's a good deal, do you think we should book a trip for just the 2 of us next year for our 10th anniversary?"

:banana: :cool1: :yay: :woohoo: :cheer2:

Dude, it's posted on the DIS. Public domain. Much better than a notarized document. ;) We've got your back!

thewesterberg

07-14-2008, 08:12 AM

:lmao: :rotfl2: :rotfl: I love it, but have not had enough coffee to be creative enough to come up with a caption.

I LOVE IT!!!!!

I too haven't had enough coffee to come up with a caption-I'll try to brainstorm in between troubleshooting software today at work. ;)

That is just awesome! :thumbsup2 :thumbsup2 :thumbsup2 Thanks! I'm thinking it's time to change my avatar. I'm trying to get the file small enough.

Drink some coffee and put on your thinking caps!!

:banana: :cool1: :yay: :woohoo: :cheer2:

Dude, it's posted on the DIS. Public domain. Much better than a notarized document. ;) We've got your back! I knew I could count on you all!

thewesterberg

07-15-2008, 06:51 AM

So the "No Dancing" creation inspired me to get in gear last night to design some window clings to hang on our window at POP. Here's what I came up with:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/CantBelievemyeye-1.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/GoofyBirthdayWIsh-1.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/Incredibles9thAnniversary-1.jpg

Was all ready to print them off and was kindly reminded by the printer that we're almost out of one of the ink cartridges. In my best sing-song voice: "Oh DH, can you stop at the store today on your lunch break?" Thanks! :)

thewesterberg

07-15-2008, 06:53 AM

I just realized that with that last post, I've hit 500 posts and obtained DIS Veteran status! :yay:

stagemomx3

07-15-2008, 08:17 AM

I just realized that with that last post, I've hit 500 posts and obtained DIS Veteran status! :yay:

:thumbsup2 Congrats!

PrincessV

07-15-2008, 10:05 AM

I just realized that with that last post, I've hit 500 posts and obtained DIS Veteran status! :yay:

Wooo hoooo!!!

And the window clings are super cute! :thumbsup2

brookelizabeth

07-15-2008, 01:24 PM

Thanks! I'm thinking it's time to change my avatar. I'm trying to get the file small enough.

I like your new avatar! I was reading another thread that you post on (possibly Michelle's TR?) and read your comment and didn't realize it was you until I saw the "No Dancing". :rotfl:

I should really put a picture of our family, or me, or something, in my avatar. But I really like Red. She rules.

So the "No Dancing" creation inspired me to get in gear last night to design some window clings to hang on our window at POP. Here's what I came up with:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/CantBelievemyeye-1.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/GoofyBirthdayWIsh-1.jpg

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/Incredibles9thAnniversary-1.jpg

Was all ready to print them off and was kindly reminded by the printer that we're almost out of one of the ink cartridges. In my best sing-song voice: "Oh DH, can you stop at the store today on your lunch break?" Thanks! :)

Super cute! You are so creative!!! How do you print on window clings? Is there speical 'paper' for them, like the Avery Iron ons? Where do you get the art for them? I wanted to make DH a Pixar Lamp t-shirt, but wasn't sure where to get the icon.

I just realized that with that last post, I've hit 500 posts and obtained DIS Veteran status! :yay:

WOO-HOO! Congrats!!!!!!!! :woohoo:

thewesterberg

07-15-2008, 01:56 PM

Wooo hoooo!!!

And the window clings are super cute! :thumbsup2

:thumbsup2 Congrats!

Thank you!

I like your new avatar! I was reading another thread that you post on (possibly Michelle's TR?) and read your comment and didn't realize it was you until I saw the "No Dancing". :rotfl:
Sorry to confuse you! I tried putting the No Dancing in but it ended up so tiny (in order to fit the size regulations) that you couldn't even see what it was! Needed something quick and that was the first picture I found on the computer.

I should really put a picture of our family, or me, or something, in my avatar. But I really like Red. She rules. Yeah, she is pretty cool.

Super cute! You are so creative!!! How do you print on window clings? Is there speical 'paper' for them, like the Avery Iron ons? Where do you get the art for them? There is special stuff - I bought some window decals transparent film at Michaels yesterday. Here's a link (http://www.theroyalstore.com/index.php?cat=41&p=33) to what the item looks like. I used my 40% off coupon so it wasn't too expensive.

I'll print the design reversed and then I read to spray acrylic white paint onto the printed side so the white areas are actually white and not clear and that it makes the colors brighter too. Then when you peel the paper off the film, you'll see the image the correct way with the white behind it. I did just find out that acrylic spray paint is hard to come by... We'll see if I can find some or figure out something else to do.

This is my first time doing the window clings - I'm excited to see how it turns out!

I wanted to make DH a Pixar Lamp t-shirt, but wasn't sure where to get the icon. Is this what you're looking for?
http://www.hxsd.com.cn/images/News/2005/200511/10/pixar_10.jpg

I used google and msn to search for images. I found that the ones that are to be used as wallpaper for your desktop work really good because they're large enough files. So many are small files and get all distorted when you make them bigger.

Let me know if you have something in mind and I could try to make something, if you'd like.

Charleston Princess

07-15-2008, 06:07 PM

Super cute window clings!!! Keep us posted on how they turn out!!! I might be adventurous enough to try them for the next trip.

brookelizabeth

07-17-2008, 09:47 PM

Is this what you're looking for?
http://www.hxsd.com.cn/images/News/2005/200511/10/pixar_10.jpg

I used google and msn to search for images. I found that the ones that are to be used as wallpaper for your desktop work really good because they're large enough files. So many are small files and get all distorted when you make them bigger.

Let me know if you have something in mind and I could try to make something, if you'd like.

I was thinking just the lamp, by itself-looking out. No words, no nuffin', just the lamp on the chest of a gray t-shirt. Pretty basic! :rotfl: That is a good idea on using wallpaper for the designs...I still haven't figured out what we are wearing, there are too many ideas I like! But when I do figure it out, if the lamp idea makes it, I'll let ya know and if you could help out this very non-crafty gal....:rolleyes1 :teeth:

thewesterberg

07-17-2008, 10:29 PM

Super cute window clings!!! Keep us posted on how they turn out!!! I might be adventurous enough to try them for the next trip. They turned out great and were easy to do. They use a ton of ink, but it'll be worth it.

Here's one more that I came up with...

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/MINE2.jpg

I was thinking just the lamp, by itself-looking out. No words, no nuffin', just the lamp on the chest of a gray t-shirt. Pretty basic! :rotfl: That is a good idea on using wallpaper for the designs...I still haven't figured out what we are wearing, there are too many ideas I like! But when I do figure it out, if the lamp idea makes it, I'll let ya know and if you could help out this very non-crafty gal....:rolleyes1 :teeth: Let me know! That sounds like a cool idea... :thumbsup2

stagemomx3

07-17-2008, 11:02 PM

That is so cute!

brookelizabeth

07-18-2008, 07:49 AM

Here's one more that I came up with...

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/MINE2.jpg

Let me know! That sounds like a cool idea... :thumbsup2

I love the "Mine" window cling! You should put these over on the DISigns boards-but I bet you'd be flooded with requests, you are so creative and talented!

I will let you know about the lamp shirt once I decide on everything. I haven't done any Disney planning lately due to BIG changes at work (25 employees got laid off :sad1: , so it's been nutty with procedure changes and all that), planning our camping trip :banana: , and planing Henry's 1st birthday. :) :sad2: :guilty: :confused: (a mix of emotions). Hopefully Disney planning will be back in full swing SOON!

thewesterberg

07-20-2008, 04:41 PM

I love the "Mine" window cling! You should put these over on the DISigns boards-but I bet you'd be flooded with requests, you are so creative and talented! :blush: thanks!

BIG changes at work (25 employees got laid off :sad1: , That's gotta be rough. Is your job looking pretty stable for the time being?

planing Henry's 1st birthday.
Fun! I bet this year has just flown by for you!! I remember dreaming about when DS would enter K - it seemed light years away, but here we are, looking for backpacks and lunch bags!

thewesterberg

07-20-2008, 04:53 PM

We went camping for a couple of nights and when we got home today, sitting in our mailbox was none other than.... (drum roll, please).....

Our Magical Express info and luggage tags!! (when I first typed this sentence I put a period there. How wrong was that of me?? That sentenced deserves some exclamation points, more than one to be exact!)

Oh Happy Day!!

Picture a small child giddy with excitement at Christmas and that was me receiving this coveted piece of mail!

I grabbed that beautiful white envelope and headed upstairs to hide behind the bathroom door to open it so Junior's little eyes wouldn't see. :rolleyes: Like he'd know what it was but I was a tad too excited and thought I'd give it away!

So now we just wait. 37 days according to the calendar. :cool1: I'll have to check with DH to see what that looks like with his calculations... ;)

I have been having issues with finding a hotel in Minneapolis. Priceline has not been cooperating with me. Usually we snagged some awesome hotel rooms down there for around $40-50/night. I've bid up to $60 + the fees and have been rejected for 2 1/2 star hotels! Then I discovered that the National Republican convention starts the day we come home from our trip and hotel room prices are expected people to be coming into town early. :headache: Grrrr.... This is the last missing piece in the whole Disney Trip puzzle. We do have an offer to stay with a friend who will be babysitting the car while we're gone, but we were hoping to have a pool and make it a "mini" vacation before we go. I hate spending tons of money on hotel rooms...

thewesterberg

07-31-2008, 12:26 PM

The summer is just flying by! We're down to 26 days before our trip starts - wowzers!!

What's new in the trip planning? Well, DH finally found us a room the night before we leave. No luck with Priceline, but got a room through Hotwire. Which ended up costing the same as if we would have booked it through the hotel. :rolleyes: So much for getting a "deal" this time around! It has a pool and 24 hour shuttle to the airport. That's all we need! Oh, and a bed to sleep in (just a minor detail!)

All the fun packages from Disney have shown up - our ME stuff, our luggage tags, vouchers, etc. What a happy day to get those things in the mail!

The decorations for the window at Pop are all squared away - we've got window clings, and Mickey heads, suction cups, and fun streamer things I found at Dollar Tree. I roped a friend into my Disney obsession - she has a Cricut thingy for scrapbooking and she cut out Mickey heads for me as well as letters to put on each Mickey head. She ended up cutting out TONS of Mickey heads - I have no idea what I'm going to do with all of them, but I'm sure I'll figure out something! She got way into it! THANKS Stacey!!

So far the trip is still a secret from Junior, but no thanks to my aunt. We saw her last weekend and the first words out of her mouth to him were "I hear you're going to Disney World soon."

:eek: :scared1: :headache: :eek: :scared1: :headache: (That would be me on the inside)

On the outside, I just calmly said "In a couple of years we are, with some friends from church."

She gave me a very :confused: look and I mouthed to her, "We're surprising him!"

Crisis adverted. I gave myself a pat on the back for staying so cool, calm, and collected!

Last night Junior, out of no where, wanted to write a letter to Mickey before bed. It was so sweet. He told Mickey that he loves him and can't wait to see him again. He'd like to go to the waterpark and go on slides with him. And he can't wait to give him a big hug. :hug: Isn't that sweet?

The whole time I kept thinking, "You're going to be able to do that in just a couple of weeks!" Well, everything but the waterslide piece. Don't think that's too likely!

I've rounded up a bunch of the little items for packing and I think we're pretty well set. It's just a matter of getting it all into the suitcase without little eyes seeing. On Monday I have the day off and Junior's going to daycare to make up a day. I may have to drag the suitcase out and start squirrling things away in it.

:woohoo: WOOHOO!! I'm getting even more excited!!

PrincessV

07-31-2008, 02:55 PM

The summer is just flying by! We're down to 26 days before our trip starts - wowzers!!
YAAAAAY!!!!! :woohoo:

So far the trip is still a secret from Junior, but no thanks to my aunt. We saw her last weekend and the first words out of her mouth to him were "I hear you're going to Disney World soon."
D'OH! :headache:
On the outside, I just calmly said "In a couple of years we are, with some friends from church."
NICE save! :thumbsup2
Last night Junior, out of no where, wanted to write a letter to Mickey before bed.
Awwww! :goodvibes

brookelizabeth

08-01-2008, 12:58 AM

Is your job looking pretty stable for the time being?

Fun! I bet this year has just flown by for you!! I remember dreaming about when DS would enter K - it seemed light years away, but here we are, looking for backpacks and lunch bags!

Yep-my job is pretty stable for right now. Because of the department I work in, it would be a HUGE mistake to lay off any of us, we are actually short staffed in my area... But hopefully no more lay offs AT ALL. :sad2:

Yes, this year has gone by SO FAST! 1 more month until Henry is 1!

AND YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! about all the Disney mail and getting the hotel (even though you didn't get a good deal). :yay: :yay: :yay:

And very nice save on your Aunt spilling the beans, glad your little guy didn't pick up on it. :thumbsup2

thewesterberg

08-04-2008, 07:05 AM

D'OH! :headache:

NICE save! :thumbsup2
And very nice save on your Aunt spilling the beans, glad your little guy didn't pick up on it. :thumbsup2 Thanks! Her and I had a little "chat" after he ran off playing. Using quotes on chat makes it look like I busted up her knee caps or something... Honest, I didn't. Really.

Yep-my job is pretty stable for right now. Because of the department I work in, it would be a HUGE mistake to lay off any of us, we are actually short staffed in my area... But hopefully no more lay offs AT ALL. :sad2: Glad your job is safe and secure, but rough for all those other families.

thewesterberg

08-04-2008, 07:14 AM

Another piece of plan came into place this morning. I set up the phone call that will let Junior know that it's our turn to visit Mickey! Went to Disney's Enchanted Phone Calls (https://secure.uvoxnetworks.com/disney/affhome.html?affno=66), clicked on Mickey, Good Morning, and Going on a Trip. Here's what the Big Cheese will say:

Good morning, pal! It's me, Mickey.

Your parents told me you've got a real big day planned.

And that you're taking a trip!

Oh boy! That sounds like fun! Gee Pluto, what should we do today? Guess we could go fishin' or visit Donald and Goofy or go on a picnic with Minnie. I think he wants to do all three. Guess Pluto and I better get movin' then.

Welp, I hope you have a swell day, pal! And I'll see ya real soon!

Hope he says "Well" and not "Welp". Or is Welp a Mickey thing?? If it is, then I don't mind! :) This is gonna be perfect! We've talked about how Mickey will call when it's our turn... I wonder if he'll catch on right away, or if it will take the Mickey t-shirt and Mickey plush we got him at the Disney Store to reinforce the call... I'm thinking having the camcorder going at this point will be a must!

Me being the person that is constantly scouring the internet for the best deal noticed that there was a spot in the check out for a promotional code.

Hmmmmmmmmmmm.... time to Google!

And believe it or not, I found a way to get a free phone call! Signed up for Disney Movie Rewards (free!:thumbsup2 ) and you got to pick from a few different free perks. Didn't even look at what the others were, but a free phone call was one of the options.

I'll take that, please! Didn't save big on a hotel room, so I'll take the $2.49 here!

brookelizabeth

08-04-2008, 08:08 AM

Thanks! Her and I had a little "chat" after he ran off playing. Using quotes on chat makes it look like I busted up her knee caps or something... Honest, I didn't. Really.

:lmao: :rotfl: :rotfl2: Surrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre. ;)

Glad your job is safe and secure, but rough for all those other families.

I know it. I feel just terrible for them. :guilty:

VERY cool about the Mickey phone call (and even better that you got it for free! :woohoo: ) If Henry even knew WHO Mickey Mouse was, I'd get in on this fun. Maybe for DH, just to see him roll his eyes at me again. :rolleyes1

thewesterberg

08-04-2008, 08:20 AM

:lmao: :rotfl: :rotfl2: Surrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre. ;) Honest! She was walking when she left! Well, there was maybe just a slight limp... :)

Maybe for DH, just to see him roll his eyes at me again. :rolleyes1 Isn't that about 96% of the fun in planning these trips, to get those reactions?! Matching shirts, lime green, hand signals, TRs, laminated schedules... all ways to get the eyes rolling! (Although DH has been sucked in here and is starting to suggest his own ideas!)

PrincessV

08-04-2008, 09:21 AM

Hope he says "Well" and not "Welp". Or is Welp a Mickey thing??
Sure is! I believe Mickey is from Western PA - my family form there also uses "welp".
I'm thinking having the camcorder going at this point will be a must!
::yes::
I'll take that, please! Didn't save big on a hotel room, so I'll take the $2.49 here!
Excellent - Fuzzy Disney Discounting! :thumbsup2

snowbell

08-05-2008, 11:26 AM

Just came upon your pre-trippie. I am looking forward to hearing all about your trip...

thewesterberg

08-05-2008, 11:39 AM

Sure is! I believe Mickey is from Western PA - my family form there also uses "welp". Thanks for explaining:lmao: ... see, up here in northern Minnesota, my ear is more in tune with the Strange Brew dialect being in close proximity to the Canadian border.

This I would have understood: "Eh, I hope you have a swell day, hoser! And I'll see ya real soon, ya sure you betcha."

Just came upon your pre-trippie. I am looking forward to hearing all about your trip... :welcome: Thanks for stopping by!

PrincessV

08-05-2008, 12:56 PM

This I would have understood: "Eh, I hope you have a swell day, hoser! And I'll see ya real soon, ya sure you betcha."

:lmao: I speak Canadian, too, eh?! We totally had that Strange Brew in Buffalo, too. ::yes::

bubba_mouse

08-05-2008, 01:30 PM

thewesterberg

08-05-2008, 01:41 PM

No honey that would be "Have a gooday eh ya hoser."

You didn't even like the movie so what are you doing trying to talk like the Mackenzie brothers. :confused3

So take off eh ya big hoser! ;)

Three weeks from now we should be checking in to the Pop and getting the room decorated. :yay: :banana: :cool1:

Just because I didn't like the movie, doesn't mean I can't try to talk like them! I was actually using your speech as a model when we go up to your mom's... I can always tell we're creeping further north as your "accent" picks up! :lmao:

So there, ya big hoser! ;)

(Love ya honey!)

brookelizabeth

08-05-2008, 10:08 PM

Honest! She was walking when she left! Well, there was maybe just a slight limp... :)

:rotfl:

Isn't that about 96% of the fun in planning these trips, to get those reactions?! Matching shirts, lime green, hand signals, TRs, laminated schedules... all ways to get the eyes rolling! (Although DH has been sucked in here and is starting to suggest his own ideas!)

YES! It's hilarious seeing him roll his eyes, but as I talk to watch him get excited about it all. And 20 minutes later ask what is going on on the DIS. I don't think I could get him on here though!

Thanks for explaining:lmao: ... see, up here in northern Minnesota, my ear is more in tune with the Strange Brew dialect being in close proximity to the Canadian border.

This I would have understood: "Eh, I hope you have a swell day, hoser! And I'll see ya real soon, ya sure you betcha."

:lmao: :lmao: :lmao: OH MY GOODNESS! Too funny. I think I only watched part of that movie, but I remember the speak well!

No honey that would be "Have a gooday eh ya hoser."

You didn't even like the movie so what are you doing trying to talk like the Mackenzie brothers. :confused3

So take off eh ya big hoser! ;)

Three weeks from now we should be checking in to the Pop and getting the room decorated. :yay: :banana: :cool1:

Just because I didn't like the movie, doesn't mean I can't try to talk like them! I was actually using your speech as a model when we go up to your mom's... I can always tell we're creeping further north as your "accent" picks up! :lmao:

So there, ya big hoser! ;)

(Love ya honey!)

I can FEEL the love! ;) :rotfl2:

And :woohoo: on 3 weeks!!!!!!!!!!

princessjv

08-05-2008, 11:09 PM

I am all caught up.

Ohh bummer that you fly in during the convention. I think the Twin Cities will be on LOCK DOWN, from what I understand. (I am fortunate enough to have a SS Man living down the street, who from what I understand is running much of the show).

I know you are going to have such a great time. I am hoping there is a bounce back, so you can go for your 10th!

I got your back on the strange brew dialect. :thumbsup2 ya,surrrr yous betcha.

thewesterberg

08-06-2008, 11:00 AM

Ohh bummer that you fly in during the convention. I think the Twin Cities will be on LOCK DOWN, from what I understand. (I am fortunate enough to have a SS Man living down the street, who from what I understand is running much of the show). If there's anything to be nervous about on this trip, this is what is starting to creep into my mind - that things will be so insane at the airport that things will be way backed up. We're get in around 8pm, then we'll have that 3 hour drive. I hope and pray we can get home before midnight so DH can at least get a few winks of sleep before going to work the next day. He'll be going in to work with a Disney Hangover!

I know you are going to have such a great time. I am hoping there is a bounce back, so you can go for your 10th! Me too!! We've already started getting the "You're going AGAIN?!" comments from people for this trip, I could just imagine.... :)

I got your back on the strange brew dialect. :thumbsup2 ya,surrrr yous betcha. "Yous guys" are the best! Thanks for the support since I wasn't getting any on the home front!

I think I only watched part of that movie, but I remember the speak well! Watching just part of it is WAY more than enough in my book! I'm pretty sure we have the video somewhere... I have a feeling DH will be dragging it out soon after all this talk... Oh goody. :rolleyes:

I can FEEL the love! ;) :rotfl2: Cue the music... Which reminds me of another movie, one that DH has NEVER seen! Can you believe it?! :idea:Maybe I'll stop at the library this afternoon to pick it up and circumvent the watching of Strange Brew...

And :woohoo: on 3 weeks!!!!!!!!!! :yay: :yay::yay:

bubba_mouse

08-06-2008, 01:40 PM

If we watch the Lion King then we watch Strange Brew. Or maybe I will just go out to the garage or as you say "The Man Cave" and watch Strange Brew all by myself.

brookelizabeth

08-06-2008, 11:40 PM

If we watch the Lion King then we watch Strange Brew. Or maybe I will just go out to the garage or as you say "The Man Cave" and watch Strange Brew all by myself.

Problem solved! ;)

:rotfl:

Just kidding of course! :)

Some more Minnesota lingo...
Don't forget to warsh your clothes, but take your billfold out of your pants and put it on the counter near the cupboard.

I'll just set right here on the davenport.

I'm going to the store, do you want to come with?

I'm going fishin' in the crik.

Davenport took me forever to figure out - that's an OLD school Minnesota word though, not widely used.

And btw, it's SODA, not pop! I still have my Chicago lingo on that one!!! :banana: Whenever "pop" accidently escapes my lips I say to my DH, "Oop, sorry there honey, I said the P-Word." :rolleyes:

thewesterberg

08-07-2008, 09:33 AM

Problem solved! ;)

:rotfl:

Just kidding of course! :)

Some more Minnesota lingo...
Don't forget to warsh your clothes, but take your billfold out of your pants and put it on the counter near the cupboard.

I'll just set right here on the davenport.

I'm going to the store, do you want to come with?

I'm going fishin' in the crik.

Davenport took me forever to figure out - that's an OLD school Minnesota word though, not widely used.

And btw, it's SODA, not pop! I still have my Chicago lingo on that one!!! :banana: Whenever "pop" accidently escapes my lips I say to my DH, "Oop, sorry there honey, I said the P-Word." :rolleyes:

:rotfl2: Thanks for the laugh this morning!!

Davenport... haven't heard that one for awhile. That's what my grandma used to always call it!

And I have to disagree... it is POP! ;)

brookelizabeth

08-09-2008, 01:19 AM

:rotfl2: Thanks for the laugh this morning!!

Davenport... haven't heard that one for awhile. That's what my grandma used to always call it!

And I have to disagree... it is POP! ;)

:lmao: I've only heard davenport from my Grandma and her brother too. I was just soooooo confused on what they were talking about that first time I heard the word.

SODA! :rolleyes: DH loves it when I slip up...

Do you say the word "Aunt" like ant? Or the other way?
Is it "Duck, duck, gray duck"? Or "Duck, duck, goose"?

thewesterberg

08-09-2008, 07:45 AM

:lmao: I've only heard davenport from my Grandma and her brother too. I was just soooooo confused on what they were talking about that first time I heard the word.

SODA! :rolleyes: DH loves it when I slip up...

Do you say the word "Aunt" like ant? Or the other way?
Is it "Duck, duck, gray duck"? Or "Duck, duck, goose"?

No "ant", do it the other way about 99.9% of the time

And the whole gray duck/goose dilemma... I grew up saying gray duck. I wanted to pass that tradition on to DS, (I know, totally corny) but he's saying goose and will have nothing to do with gray ducks! It's a sad thing. ;)

thewesterberg

08-13-2008, 07:31 PM

I think I need a sedative or something... My mom just called to let us know that the Samantha Brown Disney Favorite Thing show was on. I'm was sitting next to DH and kept doing happy feet dance and whacking him on the shoulder with excitement as I proclaimed "We'll be doing that in less than 2 weeks!!"

I've been since banished from the living room and the Olympics are back on.

Oops.

thewesterberg

08-13-2008, 08:24 PM

Okay, I've calmed down slightly. Well, there was a slight "flare up" while watching the Olympics and they were profiling Karch Karai and they showed him playing at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and I did the Happy Feet - Shoulder Whack deal. (3 friends and I went to those Olympics and happened to go to Beach Volleyball and saw him play... good memories. Called home and had my parents record it when we saw NBC was there. Ended up seeing ourselves when we got home and watched the tape! My .15 seconds of fame!).

The list making has begun... Well, actually, it's come, things have been crossed off, and more has been added.

What to wear? I think we're going simple on this trip. I'll make Junior the "I can't believe my eye" t-shirt I designed for the day we leave and reveal the trip and we have an orange Yoda shirt for him to wear to hopefully increase his odds of being picked for Jedi Training. We'll bring our Mickey tye dyes from last year, and the shirts we picked up at the Disney Store sale this spring and the rest we'll just wear whatever. I feel like I'm wimping out. Last time Junior's underwear had things like Nemo, Star Wars, Cars, etc on them... As I was packing them I realized, "These match the parks we're going to!" I was such a nerd and coordinated them to our park days. Bring on the big groans. :sad2: I told a couple of friends and they still tease me about this.

What to bring for snacks? Some crackers and (fake) cheese packets for Junior, craisins, raisins, fruit snacks, and pringles. Oh, I've got to still buy gum. My parents have had a good year in their garden and I have a bunch of raspberries to use up... I'm thinking I'll make some muffins and pack those for breakfasts that we eat in the room. Sounds better than a cold pop tart to me! Also the zucchini are taking over... maybe some zucchini bread could come with us too. We'll see how ambitious I am in the kitchen next week. Oh, and caramel rolls. Yum. I gotta make us some of those. We'll see.

What suitcases to use?
We've had a tough year on the suitcases here in our household. DH lost a wheel before his flight home from Chicago in November on one of our good, big suitcases. Then my trip to California in February resulted in the pull handle coming off the only other big suitcase we own as I pulled it up and over the curb at the car rental place on the way home. :headache:

My parents have agreed to let us borrow their big suitcase. They may regret it after our string of luck. :rolleyes1

The shopping list... Gum. I'm sure there's something else. I couldn't be that ahead of the game... This list was longer last week, but we hit Target and Wal-mart the other day and cleaned it up.

We're thinking we'll head to the Disney Store at the Mall of America the night before we leave to see if they have any lanyards and pins left that have been real cheap. I would sort of like to introduce Junior to pin trading, but the possible expense scares me! If they don't, we'll probably skip it this trip.

The it's buried somewhere in the house so we shouldn't have to buy another one list... things like a power strip, some Christmas lights for our window (I just pray they still work...), and all the random carp that I've been stocking up on and hope that it's still in the closet where it's suppose to be. Please let it all still be in there.

Well, I'll see if more things get added. That's all I got right now.

brookelizabeth

08-13-2008, 10:48 PM

princessjv

08-13-2008, 11:12 PM

Ohh Goodness! First of all, I didn't see any lanyards or pins at the MOA Disney store. If you want to start Jr. then I would get one of the started kits for him. I'd pick one great treat that you think will travel well and make that one item. No matter how much you think you'll eat things from home... once you are on vacation and see something YUMMIER, you'll go for that!

I am so excited for you! It is almost time!

thewesterberg

08-14-2008, 06:52 AM

Good idea on the food-the raspberry muffins sound super tasty. :thumbsup2

That is so great about your very short "to buy" list! I feel like I'm always frantically finding a trillion things at the last second. Hopefully that won't happen this time considering I have been planning since Feburary!

:banana: TWO WEEKS!!!! :banana: I'm sure the "to buy" list will get added to, but I was sort of surprised when typing that we're doing pretty good so far!

Ohh Goodness! First of all, I didn't see any lanyards or pins at the MOA Disney store. If you want to start Jr. then I would get one of the started kits for him. I'd pick one great treat that you think will travel well and make that one item. No matter how much you think you'll eat things from home... once you are on vacation and see something YUMMIER, you'll go for that!

I am so excited for you! It is almost time!
Thanks for letting me know about the lanyards! Bummer.

As for the food, I'll be just baking enough to cover our breakfasts that we don't have ADRs for... the rest will get frozen (I've got to use all this fresh produce up ASAP and muffins and breads will be the easiest way to get it done, plus we can bring a little bit with! The kitchen looks like a farmer's market with all the carrots, potatoes, beans, etc sitting out there!) Looking back at my other post, it does sound like I'm packing a whole suitcase of breads and muffins! Maybe I could sell them at the airport! :) We have to really watch our extra costs on this trip and some of the snacks/breakfast items will cover the gaps in the dining plan.

bubba_mouse

08-14-2008, 08:05 AM

and all the random carp that I've been stocking up on and hope that it's still in the closet where it's suppose to be. Please let it all still be in there.

I think there is something a little fishy about your whole packing list. Are you planning on having a Coy Pond in our hotel room as decoration?

thewesterberg

08-14-2008, 08:09 AM

I think there is something a little fishy about your whole packing list. Are you planning on having a Coy Pond in our hotel room as decoration?

Oh, I didn't tell you about that???

Your suitcase is going to be filled with water and fish.

:fish: :fish: :fish:

I'm making little mickey ears for them to wear while they swim around in our bathtub at POP...

Hope you don't mind...

bubba_mouse

08-14-2008, 02:43 PM

Yeah we know how long fish last at our house. :scared1:

thewesterberg

08-14-2008, 03:46 PM

Here's what I'm thinkin'.....
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/MickeyEarFIsh.jpg

POP QUIZ TIME:
I really need to...
A. Go do laundry
B. Make a grocery list
C. Get a life
D. All of the above.

Charleston Princess

08-14-2008, 06:24 PM

I don't see the option that should be listed:

Forget chores and DIS!

That's the one I always choose! :lmao:

thewesterberg

08-14-2008, 06:56 PM

I don't see the option that should be listed:

Forget chores and DIS!

That's the one I always choose! :lmao:

Yeah, that's my most popular choice! Which would explain while I spent time this afternoon searching for images of the perfect goldfish head shot and photoshopping it to add Mickey ears.

:lmao:

I've noticed that the one ear is crooked, so you know I'm going to have to correct that now!

thewesterberg

08-14-2008, 06:59 PM

Hey Honey, I notice you've only need to post one more harassing message to me in order to PM!

bubba_mouse

08-14-2008, 07:08 PM

I need to make this post so I can put a picture in my next one.

thewesterberg

08-14-2008, 07:08 PM

I need to make this post so I can put a picture in my next one.

Oh no. I'm scared...

bubba_mouse

08-14-2008, 07:10 PM

This is more accurate for our house:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v59/cjbubba/MickeyEarFIsh.jpg

thewesterberg

08-14-2008, 07:12 PM

This is more accurate for our house:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v59/cjbubba/MickeyEarFIsh.jpg

:rotfl2: :rotfl2: :lmao: :lmao: :rotfl: :rotfl:

GOOD ONE! :thumbsup2

PrincessV

08-15-2008, 08:11 AM

What to wear? I think we're going simple on this trip.
And don't forget loose and light-weight - it's HOT down here! :faint:

Also the zucchini are taking over... maybe some zucchini bread could come with us too.
OMG, even the mere mention of zucchini bread makes me salivate! :lovestruc
What suitcases to use?
I know it's kind of late in the game now, but if you guys need replacements, ebags is running some GREAT sales lately!

POP QUIZ TIME:
I really need to...
A. Go do laundry
B. Make a grocery list
C. Get a life
D. All of the above.
:rotfl2:
I don't see the option that should be listed:

Forget chores and DIS!
:thumbsup2

thewesterberg

08-16-2008, 08:46 PM

And don't forget loose and light-weight - it's HOT down here! :faint: I know we're just going to wilt. Do you have any pull down there to cool it down a bit?! Pretty please?!

We had our first taste of "hot" for the summer today... went to the county fair and it was in the upper 80s. It was a good day to build up the endurance.

OMG, even the mere mention of zucchini bread makes me salivate! :lovestruc I made a couple of loaves and they turned out super yummy... the recipe has crushed pineapple and raisins in it. :lovestruc I think I may have to go get me a piece now that I wrote about it...

I know it's kind of late in the game now, but if you guys need replacements, ebags is running some GREAT sales lately! Thanks for the heads up! We'll be moochers for this trip and then we'll have to invest in some better stuff. Guess the Target clearance rack didn't hold up it's end of the bargain! :confused3

thewesterberg

08-16-2008, 09:33 PM

The realization that summer is quickly coming to an end hit today.

It's hard to believe that in April when we booked this trip, August seemed like it was Forrrrrrrrrrrrrever away. Having this trip to look forward to has been amazing, but at the same time, I've wished my summer away for it to get here!

We've had a fun and busy summer and as I was uploading some pictures today, I thought I'd share with you what we've up to:

Junior's first professional baseball game... GO TWINS!
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0081-1.jpg

One night at camp will do this to you...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0142.jpg

He ran in his first quarter mile race... and I only had to run 1/2 of the race with him... Which reminded me I need to get my butt back to the YMCA pronto.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0325.jpg

DH came down with strep the day before we were going to go on a road trip to visit friends who had just moved to their new place, so I did a 4+ hour road trip with Junior. Alone. The thought of beingtrapped in the car by myself with him for that long, well, it made me a tad nervous because he sometimes isn't the best traveler. He was a saint and he proved he's growing up... there is hope! We had fun taking pictures in a town with all these crazy sculptures:
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0364.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0365.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0367.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0368.jpg

This was in a different town, but we were on a roll so we had to stop...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0371.jpg

Our prize at the end of the trip was seeing some dear friends- We all used to live in Duluth, but the other 2 families have moved some distance away. It was fun to see their kids and have a fun weekend together of swimming and getting caught up.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0341cropped.jpg

Then a couple of weeks ago a bunch of families from church went to a family's cabin. The kids wore themselves out swimming, kayaking, and kept their energy up by filling up on s'mores.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0389.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0411.jpg

And today we went to the fair with some friends. My friend has 3 daughters and her 2 oldest were visiting grandparents and her DH was off golfing. My DH had plans so we took her youngest and mine, hit some rides, ate some good food, checked out the animals and had fun.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0429.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0427.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0417.jpg

And now I know why I'm tired! It has been a good and fun summer! And to think we still have a Disney trip to be the icing on the chocolate cake of a summer! :cool1:

LuccaDrake

08-17-2008, 06:56 AM

I know what you mean about wishing the summer away. And how come the last month always seems the longest before you go on vacay? :confused3 I still have lists to make and things to buy! I know I'll be rushing around the night before as usual.

~Beka~

Charleston Princess

08-17-2008, 06:57 AM

Fun photo montage of your summer! You have been busy! Can't believe you are almost under a week for Disney! Hurray! :banana:

princessjv

08-17-2008, 08:31 AM

The wait is a bummer...At least you have kept yourselves nice and busy this summer! Now we know summer is almost completed, the nights are cooling down and the STATE fair is almost here! Will you get a chance to go before your trip?

brookelizabeth

08-17-2008, 12:26 PM

Ohh Goodness! First of all, I didn't see any lanyards or pins at the MOA Disney store.

When I was at the MOA Disney Store a few months ago I was sorely disappointed. There were no lanyards, no pins, only like 3 adult t-shirts, none of which were on sale. And only a couple baby shirts as well. :sad2:

I think there is something a little fishy about your whole packing list. Are you planning on having a Coy Pond in our hotel room as decoration?

:rotfl: I didn't even catch the "carp" reference!!!!!!!!!

Here's what I'm thinkin'.....
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/MickeyEarFIsh.jpg

POP QUIZ TIME:
I really need to...
A. Go do laundry
B. Make a grocery list
C. Get a life
D. All of the above.

Love the fish! :lmao:

I don't see the option that should be listed:

Forget chores and DIS!

I'm with CP! (Matter of a fact, it's exactly what I'm doing right now...)

This is more accurate for our house:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v59/cjbubba/MickeyEarFIsh.jpg

:rotfl2: :lmao: :rotfl2: :lmao:

http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0364.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0365.jpg
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0367.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0368.jpg

This was in a different town, but we were on a roll so we had to stop...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0371.jpg

Our prize at the end of the trip was seeing some dear friends- We all used to live in Duluth, but the other 2 families have moved some distance away. It was fun to see their kids and have a fun weekend together of swimming and getting caught up.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0341cropped.jpg

Then a couple of weeks ago a bunch of families from church went to a family's cabin. The kids wore themselves out swimming, kayaking, and kept their energy up by filling up on s'mores.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0389.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0411.jpg

Ahhhh...gotta love Minnesota. Weird large sculptures, lots of lakes and bonfires. :cloud9:

I love your summer photo collage. I HATE that summer is coming quickly to a close. Usually I'm ready for fall by mid-August, but this year we didn't get summer until late June/early July! 6 stinking months of snow. :sad2: It better not be that way this winter. Ugh.

You went to the fair---the State fair? Has that started yet? I can't recall the dates you said you were going...:headache: If so, what did you eat on-a-stick?

thewesterberg

08-17-2008, 10:16 PM

Fun photo montage of your summer! You have been busy! Can't believe you are almost under a week for Disney! Hurray! :banana:
TODAY IS SINGLE DIGIT DANCE DAY!!!!
:dance3:
:cool1: :cool1: :cool1:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
:banana: :banana: :banana:
:yay: :yay: :yay:
:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:
:dance3:

The wait is a bummer...At least you have kept yourselves nice and busy this summer! Now we know summer is almost completed, the nights are cooling down and the STATE fair is almost here! Will you get a chance to go before your trip? We thought about going the day before we leave, DH couldn't get off of work until noon so we won't get down there until 3pm and we didn't want to wear ourselves out knowing what we'll be doing the next day. I'll miss going... I was a 4-Her growing up (not a livestock kind of 4-Her, we were city folk!) and spent many days wandering the fair with friends and nights in the dorms up on the top floor of the 4-H building. Good times, good times.

When I was at the MOA Disney Store a few months ago I was sorely disappointed. There were no lanyards, no pins, only like 3 adult t-shirts, none of which were on sale. And only a couple baby shirts as well. :sad2: That stinks. I was seeing all these threads talking about super cheap pin/lanyard starter sets at Disney Stores so I was hoping we'd have the same luck. :sad1:

:rotfl: I didn't even catch the "carp" reference!!!!!!!!! He lets no typo go un-noticed...

Ahhhh...gotta love Minnesota. Weird large sculptures, lots of lakes and bonfires. :cloud9: ::yes:: Where is that largest ball of twine? We gotta get ourselves there one of these days!

Some friends of ours always find some weird large sculpture type thing each year and have their Christmas card photo taken with it. They're hilarious to get!

I love your summer photo collage. I HATE that summer is coming quickly to a close. Usually I'm ready for fall by mid-August, but this year we didn't get summer until late June/early July! 6 stinking months of snow. :sad2: It better not be that way this winter. Ugh. I second that!

You went to the fair---the State fair? Has that started yet? I can't recall the dates you said you were going...:headache: If so, what did you eat on-a-stick? It was the Carlton Co fair, my "home" county, my 4-H stomping grounds. Believe it or not, I had nothing on a stick... just a burger, some mini-donuts, and a super yummy fresh squeezed lemonade.

brookelizabeth

08-17-2008, 10:23 PM

TODAY IS SINGLE DIGIT DANCE DAY!!!!

:dance3:
:cool1: :cool1: :cool1:
:rotfl: :rotfl: :rotfl:
:banana: :banana: :banana:
:yay: :yay: :yay:
:woohoo: :woohoo: :woohoo:
:dance3:

Woo-hooooooooooooooooo! (and I'm totally jealous!)

::yes:: Where is that largest ball of twine? We gotta get ourselves there one of these days!

It's VERY near my house, only about 30 minutes away located in Darwin, Minnesota. It's super neat-o, espeically when you listen to the Weird Al song while traveling to the Twine Ball. :laughing:

Some friends of ours always find some weird large sculpture type thing each year and have their Christmas card photo taken with it. They're hilarious to get!

What a fantastic idea!!!!! I love it! So far DH and I have had both years done with a computer since we are techy nerds.

It was the Carlton Co fair, my "home" county, my 4-H stomping grounds. Believe it or not, I had nothing on a stick... just a burger, some mini-donuts, and a super yummy fresh squeezed lemonade.

(Homer Simpson voice) Mini-donuts...mmmmmmm

brookelizabeth

08-19-2008, 07:52 AM

As I was making my breakfast just a few minutes ago I was thinking about the lack-o-lanyards and discount tees at the Disney Store at the MOA. I found myself wishing we lived closer to Albertville-the GIGUNDA outlet mall....thinking they must have an outlet store there. I Googled it, only to find they don't! :eek: The closest one to us appears to be in Baraboo, WI (by the Dells). :sad2:

thewesterberg

08-19-2008, 08:37 AM

It's VERY near my house, only about 30 minutes away located in Darwin, Minnesota. It's super neat-o, espeically when you listen to the Weird Al song while traveling to the Twine Ball. :laughing: ROAD TRIP!:car:

So far DH and I have had both years done with a computer since we are techy nerds. :rotfl: Love it!

As I was making my breakfast just a few minutes ago I was thinking about the lack-o-lanyards and discount tees at the Disney Store at the MOA. I found myself wishing we lived closer to Albertville-the GIGUNDA outlet mall....thinking they must have an outlet store there. I Googled it, only to find they don't! :eek: The closest one to us appears to be in Baraboo, WI (by the Dells). :sad2: We went to that one at the Dells this past April when we went with a group of friends to the Wilderness! We bought Junior a couple of t-shirts and we found a Red Power Ranger action figure for a couple of bucks, something Junior had been longing for. All the friends we were there with were the friends we're thinking about doing a Disney trip with.... we went to the Outlet Mall, split up and did our shopping, but all managed to end up at the Disney Store at the same time! It was calling to us.... :)

brookelizabeth

08-21-2008, 08:29 PM

We went to that one at the Dells this past April when we went with a group of friends to the Wilderness! We bought Junior a couple of t-shirts and we found a Red Power Ranger action figure for a couple of bucks, something Junior had been longing for. All the friends we were there with were the friends we're thinking about doing a Disney trip with.... we went to the Outlet Mall, split up and did our shopping, but all managed to end up at the Disney Store at the same time! It was calling to us.... :)

:rotfl: It's funny how it does that to us!

I am thinking of saving my "blow fund" money that I get and taking DH to the Kalahari waterpark/hotel in the Dells for his birthday in April. We'd have to make a side-trip to Baraboo!

bubba_mouse

08-22-2008, 09:13 AM

thewesterberg

08-22-2008, 09:26 AM

:rotfl: It's funny how it does that to us!

I am thinking of saving my "blow fund" money that I get and taking DH to the Kalahari waterpark/hotel in the Dells for his birthday in April. We'd have to make a side-trip to Baraboo!
The Outlet down there is about 5 minutes, if even that, from all the waterparks! We could practically see it from The Wilderness!

thewesterberg

08-22-2008, 10:00 AM

Well last night was our 9 year anniversary so I surprised my DW by coming home 6 hours early from the conference I had been attending all week. Only to find she wasn't home. So I gave her a call and we met up and went out for dinner. While eating we realized that at the same time next week we would be eating at the Coral Reef at Epcot. :banana: :banana:

So a little more about this...

DH was in Sioux Falls all week for a work conference. The day before he leaves, he was washing clothes and folding laundry (earning lots of "good hubby" points!) and packing his stuff for both trips. He came upstairs after one load with a look of panic/disgust. In his hand was his cell phone.

It was all nice and shiny.

And water may have been dripping out of it.

He forgot to check his pockets and his cell phone went through the spin cycle. And soak. And agitate. The water had worked it's way into every nook and cranny. We took it apart and dried it out over night.

The next morning I put it back together and crossed my fingers as I turned it on...

IT WORKS!!!! :cool1:

He loaded up the car and headed out.

Later in the day Junior wanted to tell him about the new school clothes Grandma bought him, so we try calling. It rings. No answer. We tried throughout the day without luck. Hmmmmm... maybe it's not working. I'm thinking they have cell phone reception in South Dakota!

So I called the hotel number he left me around the time I thought he'd be getting in. "What was the name again? How do you spell that?" They have no one by his name registered. :scared1:

:eek: Where is my dear husband?! And how can I get in touch with him?! Did he run off to Wall Drug to drink free water and pretend he's on his honeymoon to get a free donut? :eek:

A few minutes later an e-mail pops up in my inbox from him. He made it safe and sound. His phone is acting all whacky. And the hotel had misspelled his name.

Whew.

So staying in touch this week was tricky with his messed up phone. We had to communicate the "old fashion way" if he called me - using a *gasp* phone card!

Around 11am yesterday he left me a message from his cell phone - it was working momentarily! "They were taking an early lunch and he'd see me late tonight." Tried calling him back with no luck. The phone wasn't working again.

He told me the night before he wouldn't be leaving until around 5pm and it's a 6 hour drive. Since he wouldn't be home until that late and Junior was spending the night at my parents, I decided to run a bunch of errands, go home and eat breadsticks and marinara sauce for dinner, and work on packing. The evening was all mine! :woohoo:

So I'm standing outside the Sprint store about to get our old phone re-activated so DH can have a reliable, working phone for our trip next week. My phone rings and it's our home number on the caller id.

Now mind you, the only being that should be in our home at this point is our dog. I don't know what to be more scared about: that some stranger is in our house calling me or that the dog has figured out the finer skills of dialing a phone.

It was neither. It was DH, wanting to surprise me on our 9th anniversary. He had all these grand plans of ringing the doorbell and asking me to dinner.

Oops. He needs to tell me these things!

So my evening alone plans were foiled.

But a nice, child-free, adult conversation dinner with my husband was a wonderful alternative.

Happy Anniversary Bubba Mouse! :love:

So instead of packing last night, I packed this morning. I've got pretty much everything in the bags, minus clothes. I'm heading home from work around noon and I'll pack Junior's clothes this afternoon while he's still at grandma and grandpa's house. Then I'll gather my things together this weekend. Probably after my first DIS-meet with brookelizabeth and her family tomorrow while they're up north camping! Can't wait!! :dance3:

:laundy: (Oh, and did DH learn anything about checking pockets after washing his cell phone? Well, let's just say the next load he switched around, he came upstairs holding a dripping wet checkbook.:sad2: Maybe this is an evil ploy of his so that I'll never let him do laundry again... Sorry buddy, doesn't work that way! :laughing: ):laundy:

princessjv

08-22-2008, 10:10 AM

A DIS Meet! Yippee! :cool1:

We are heading up nord in a few days too. What has the weather been like?

You are on the count down! I am so excited for you!

bubba_mouse

08-22-2008, 10:39 AM

Hey I put clothes in the washing machine last night and I checked all the pockets. :laundy:

If I had called and told you I was coming home that would have kind of ruined the surprise.

Yes we are onto the count down. Just a few days left. Those few hours of work on Monday are going to be killer. But it will be worth it.

thewesterberg

08-22-2008, 10:58 AM

A DIS Meet! Yippee! :cool1:

We are heading up nord in a few days too. What has the weather been like?

You are on the count down! I am so excited for you!

If you like cooler summer weather, Duluth has been the place to be! Mid 70s to low/mid 80s and there hasn't been much humidity. Nights have been cooling off. It's been the perfect summer in my book! (which means next week will be a huge adjustment in hot, humid FL!)

Where are you heading?

princessjv

08-22-2008, 03:13 PM

Where are you heading?

We ALMOST were heading to Cove Point Lodge on the North Shore... BUT they were plum out of accommodations that would fit us. So we are heading to a resort in Nisswa. I am very excited!

thewesterberg

08-22-2008, 09:41 PM

We ALMOST were heading to Cove Point Lodge on the North Shore... BUT they were plum out of accommodations that would fit us. So we are heading to a resort in Nisswa. I am very excited!

Have lots of fun! The Brainerd area is so neat - DH and were just remembering our trips to Causeway on Gull from years past when his parents had a time share there.

(and of course, after I said it hasn't been humid at all, it was all sticky today... :headache: Should have kept that to myself...)

bubba_mouse

08-24-2008, 10:38 AM

Well we are about 24 hours until we leave home to drive to the Twin Cities to spend the night before we catch our plane early on the 26th. Bags are pretty much packed, house is getting tidied up, junior is watching Scooby Doo blissfully unaware that in 2 days he is going to be getting a phone call from none other then Mickey Mouse himself telling junior it is time to come back to Disney World.

It is hard to believe after all these months of waiting that it is almost time to leave, and that we have managed to keep it a secret from Junior. There have been some close calls but all in all he is totally unaware we are leaving.

I have to say this trip has been a lot more fun to plan. I know what I am getting into. We were there less than a year ago so we don't need to see and do it all again. And I have been a lot more involved in the planning. Plus I am super excited to get to eat at all of these super cool restaurants. We can relax, have fun, and enjoy the trip.

Charleston Princess

08-24-2008, 11:12 AM

Have an absolutely magical vacation!!! Can't wait to hear all about it when you all return!!!

thewesterberg

08-24-2008, 09:44 PM

So here we are, the night before we leave! :cool1:

The bags are mostly packed, the itinerary note cards are printed, the tickets are in the bag!, and I'm racking my brain to think of what else I should be doing. Oh, there's stuff to do, but I'm slowly fading. My body feels like it's 2am and it's only 9:45!

There's all the little things to do in the morning - go to the bank, return the movies to the library, mail some bills, wash the last bit of dishes.

We had the perfect thing happen yesterday to get us in the Disney mood - We had our DIS-meet with brookelizabeth and her DH & DS! We had a wonderful time eating ice cream at Coldstone Creamery and then we went on a little walk along the Lakewalk next to Lake Superior. We ended up on a rocky beach where the 3 big boys (Junior and the dads) threw rocks and us gals and Henry sat and chatted. It was the perfect Minnesota evening and what a better way to spend it than chatting with a new friend! We watched the sunset and then it was time for us to head our separate ways. The two hours just flew by.

Thanks for visiting with us brookelizabeth!! Henry was absolutely adorable and you guys were so easy to chat with. We enjoyed our visit a lot. :goodvibes

I've got a couple of pictures, but I'm not going to have time to upload them before we leave. I'll save it for the Trip Report when we get back!

On that note, I'll "see" you all after Labor Day!

:mickeyjum Look out Micky, here we come!!!!:mickeyjum

thewesterberg

08-25-2008, 12:49 AM

Okay.

I lied.

I'm still up and I found time for the pictures.

I'm just too excited to sleep! Delirious, yes, but excited.

Here are some pictures from our DIS-meet yesterday. Well, actually make that 2 days ago since it's almost 1am. Man, I need to get to bed.

We got to our meeting spot a little early, so Junior got to go to his favorite place on the lake - the beach with all the rocks. He could throw rocks in the water for hours.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100b0451.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100b0443.jpg

Here we are after we had ice cream. We were too excited about eating at Coldstone to take pictures I guess. brookelizabeth and her DS are on the left and Junior and I are on the right. Even with the age difference, the boys had fun interacting.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0463.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0462.jpg

And here's a shot of the beautiful sunset we enjoyed...
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0459.jpg http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0465.jpg

On that note... I'm heading to bed! :faint: Time for some sweet dreams about all the things I'm afraid I'll forget!

teruterubouzu

08-25-2008, 08:33 PM

I'm a latecomer to your thread, but a fellow Minnesotan. Just wanted to wish you bon voyage. I hope you have a wonderful trip!

princessjv

08-25-2008, 08:49 PM

I may have missed you... but happy send off from MN! Have a fabulous time. What a difference in temp you will experience. It is almost fall like out there (here in MN). Safe travels!

brookelizabeth

08-25-2008, 10:17 PM

The Outlet down there is about 5 minutes, if even that, from all the waterparks! We could practically see it from The Wilderness!

Oh goodness, I have to start saving for that trip!

...He came upstairs after one load with a look of panic/disgust. In his hand was his cell phone.

It was all nice and shiny.

And water may have been dripping out of it.

He forgot to check his pockets and his cell phone went through the spin cycle. And soak. And agitate. The water had worked it's way into every nook and cranny.

:rotfl: Oooooh, I recall this reference during our meet and I mentioned I did the same thing to Joe's work phone...:rolleyes1 I didn't realize this had JUST happened!

So I called the hotel number he left me around the time I thought he'd be getting in. "What was the name again? How do you spell that?" They have no one by his name registered. :scared1:

That is scary!

Did he run off to Wall Drug to drink free water and pretend he's on his honeymoon to get a free donut? :eek:

:rotfl2:

My phone rings and it's our home number on the caller id.

Now mind you, the only being that should be in our home at this point is our dog. I don't know what to be more scared about: that some stranger is in our house calling me or that the dog has figured out the finer skills of dialing a phone.

:lmao: Too funny! I read this to Joe and he cracked up too. I totally pictured a dog dialing the phone.

It was neither. It was DH, wanting to surprise me on our 9th anniversary. He had all these grand plans of ringing the doorbell and asking me to dinner.

SO SWEET! Awwww!

But a nice, child-free, adult conversation dinner with my husband was a wonderful alternative.

:thumbsup2 A very nice anniversary dinner!

A DIS Meet! Yippee! :cool1:

We are heading up nord in a few days too. What has the weather been like?

The weather was really nice! It was chilly in the morning and during the nights, but we expected that. During the day it was warm and really beautiful.

Hey I put clothes in the washing machine last night and I checked all the pockets. :laundy:

Good job! :thumbsup2 ;)

Well we are about 24 hours until we leave home to drive to the Twin Cities to spend the night before we catch our plane early on the 26th. Bags are pretty much packed, house is getting tidied up, junior is watching Scooby Doo blissfully unaware that in 2 days he is going to be getting a phone call from none other then Mickey Mouse himself telling junior it is time to come back to Disney World.

He is going to be soooo surprised! I cannot wait to hear from you guys on how it all went. I can just see his eyes lighting up and getting all wide...:goodvibes

We had the perfect thing happen yesterday to get us in the Disney mood - We had our DIS-meet with brookelizabeth and her DH & DS! We had a wonderful time eating ice cream at Coldstone Creamery and then we went on a little walk along the Lakewalk next to Lake Superior. We ended up on a rocky beach where the 3 big boys (Junior and the dads) threw rocks and us gals and Henry sat and chatted. It was the perfect Minnesota evening and what a better way to spend it than chatting with a new friend! We watched the sunset and then it was time for us to head our separate ways. The two hours just flew by.

Thanks for visiting with us brookelizabeth!! Henry was absolutely adorable and you guys were so easy to chat with. We enjoyed our visit a lot. :goodvibes

We had an awesome time too! It was fantastic meeting you, Bubba Mouse and Junior. I told DH as we were driving there "Remember, Junior doesn't know about the trip, so we can't talk about it." and he wondered what we would chat about...I did too, but once we met, there were no problems!! The time just disappeared on us as the sun set. Thanks for taking the time out to meet up-maybe we will see you again sometime if you road trip down to the Twine Ball! :laughing: ;)

Okay.
I lied.
I'm still up and I found time for the pictures.
I'm just too excited to sleep! Delirious, yes, but excited.

:rotfl: :rotfl2: :lmao: I LOVE IT!

Your pictures turned out awesome! I love the ones of Junior skipping rocks. The light and colors are amazing. We downloaded ours and looked at them all, but I haven't made it as far as Photobucket yet. I totally didn't even think about taking the food pics with the ice cream, I just dove right in! I had been taking food pics all weekend (even my s'more!), yet I didn't even think about it. Too excited, good conversation, good ice cream=no pictures I guess! :)

PrincessV

08-26-2008, 08:49 AM

Oh no, I just missed you! Hope you guys are a having a wonderul time - we made sure to leave plenty of magic there for you! :goodvibes

brookelizabeth

08-27-2008, 10:49 PM

I know you guys are still in Disney World, but I just wanted to pop in and say hello and I hope you are having great time! Joe and I were looking over pictures of our trip (again) and just talking about how fun it was to meet your family. :goodvibes

thewesterberg

09-03-2008, 10:13 AM

We're Back!

That's said with happiness and sadness all mixed together.

It was a great trip... can't wait to write about it! We got home super late last night and I've been hanging out in my jammies this morning. GOtta run to work for a bit and then later I'll replay and start writing!

snowbell

09-03-2008, 11:18 AM

I cannot wait to hear all about your trip!!!

Charleston Princess

09-03-2008, 11:24 AM

Welcome home! Looking forward to reading all about it!!! :goodvibes

PrincessV

09-03-2008, 01:07 PM

Welcome back - can't wait to hear all about it!

brookelizabeth

09-03-2008, 10:46 PM

I can't wait to read all about it! I see your green light on...hopefully you are writing right now....;)

thewesterberg

09-04-2008, 07:13 AM

Thank you to all for the Welcome Homes! It's good to be home, but it's a tad hectic because...

Our baby starts Kindergarten TODAY! :sad1: /:)

Last night was the back to school picnic and meeting his teacher (and getting the supply list which was a little different from what I found on the internet before our trip so it meant a late night run to Wal-mart. And an early morning trip to Walgreens to find the crayons they were out of at Wal-mart.) He's excited to get to go to school - he'll be exhausted since it's all day-every day kindergarten at our school. He can't believe he'll get to play on the playground EVERY DAY with FRIENDS! :)

All the pictures are in the computer, but haven't made their way to photobucket yet. That's the next step and then it's TR time. :woohoo: How does that work - do I start a new one on the TR board or just keep going with this one?

Charleston Princess

09-04-2008, 07:14 AM

Thank you to all for the Welcome Homes! It's good to be home, but it's a tad hectic because...

Our baby starts Kindergarten TODAY! :sad1: /:)

Last night was the back to school picnic and meeting his teacher (and getting the supply list which was a little different from what I found on the internet before our trip so it meant a late night run to Wal-mart. And an early morning trip to Walgreens to find the crayons they were out of at Wal-mart.) He's excited to get to go to school - he'll be exhausted since it's all day-every day kindergarten at our school. He can't believe he'll get to play on the playground EVERY DAY with FRIENDS! :)

All the pictures are in the computer, but haven't made their way to photobucket yet. That's the next step and then it's TR time. How does that work - do I start a new one on the TR board or just keep going:woohoo: with this one?

The lists always seem different, and it drives me nuts!!! :headache:

Good luck with the first day of kindergarten!!!

You can start a new TR or just keep going on this one -- I have seen both ways done.

Pluto_fan

09-04-2008, 09:38 AM

Welcome home!
I'm just joining in...I'm all caught up on the pre-trip :surfweb: and can't wait to hear what happened!
You've made me :rotfl2: several times already--thanks for writing!

bubba_mouse

09-04-2008, 03:07 PM

Well there was fun, adventure, heat, a little rain, lots of awesome food and you can read all about it soon. It will soon be presented in a digital multimedia presentation that will dazzle you all (that means we have some pictures and video that we will share with you all.)

thewesterberg

09-04-2008, 08:09 PM

We're going to give this TR a try as the Dynamic Duo. He doesn't want me to have all the fun reliving the trip and he'd like to add his own witty charm. For the sake of clarity, I'll be writing in pink and DH will be blue.

And without further ado....

DRUM ROLL, please........

THE FIRST INSTALLMENT OF OUR TR!!

The day we had all been waiting for had finally arrived. The planning, the packing, the whispers, the hours “wasted” on the DIS – it was all coming together for this moment!

Being too excited to sleep (and thinking of things to add to “the list”) I found myself still up at 1am. I spent time typing up jokes from a Disney Joke book we found at the library to bring with for line entertainment. Which would explain the title for this installment. I'm thinking we'll start each installment with a joke. So in case if we're not funny, there's a guarantee ha-ha moment. Well, maybe. The jokes are kind of bad. But they're Disney jokes, so you've got to at least chuckle. (I think that there will be more eye rolling then anything else, they are really bad jokes)

Anyhow, DH came downstairs at about 12:30 and informed me that I really needed to go to bed. (The whole time I was thinking of the Disney commercial where the parents and the children all say "But I'm to excited to sleep", I was too but I knew that we would need some sleep for the drive to the cities, but not too much so we could go to sleep early since we needed to get up at 4:30 AM to get things ready for the reveal.) I smiled at him and said “You’re right dear” but on the inside I was sticking my tongue out at him and saying “You’re not the boss of me” so out of defiance I stayed up another half hour. While drifting off into slumber, I kept a notebook by the bed to jot down all the little things that I needed to do that would keep me up all night if I did the mental checklist.

The next morning DH got up to go to his LOOOOOOOOOOONGest 4 hours of work EVER! (Yes sitting at work for those 4 hours was horrible, thankfully I was busy so the time flew by. Well if you count spending time on the Dis, checking the weather in Orlando and getting my fantasy football draft order all set busy.) We hoped to get the suitcases out to the car before Junior woke up so he wouldn’t think it odd that we were bringing 3 big suitcase and 2 carry-ons to Minneapolis for a 1 night hotel stay (I wasn't worried. Junior is a male, a young male but still a male and males don't tend to focus on all of the details, we miss a lot of things.). I may over pack a bit, but that would be pushing it! Of course, he woke up before that could happen so I quickly steered him back upstairs with promises of getting to watch cartoons in our bedroom. He fell for it hook, line and sinker. Whew.

The luggage was loaded, DH left, and I got crackin’ on the list – dishes to wash, house straightened up, and grabbing more last minute things. Finally around 10:30 it was time for Junior and me to run assorted errands. We grabbed the dog and we were off

Library – check.

Bank – check.

Post Office – check.

Next stop – my parents. They live about 20 minutes south of Duluth, in the town where DH works. They would be getting our dog and DH’s car to babysit for the week. DH met us there around 12:15 and we were officially off!! WAHOO!

The next 2.5 hours were laid back as we headed off to Minneapolis. Barely any road construction and Junior was content. Life was good. Through out the ride I would interject with things I had forgotten to pack.

*The extra SD card for the camera. DOH! It got put in the camcorder case, which we ended up deciding we wouldn’t need.

*Junior’s swim goggles (which were important as he said next time we went to WDW he’d only ride Splash and Kali if he had them to wear. Hey, if it works, I’ll take it.)

*A chapter book to read to Junior when he gets antsy on the plane.

Not too bad. So a trip to Wal-mart was in order. And Target to find swim goggles.

And then it was time for Junior’s dream destination, the thing that he thought would be the highlight of his trip to Minneapolis. When we asked him what he’d like to do on our trip, he said he wanted to go to…

Ikea.

Yup, this kid loves the blue store with the yellow letters. Not for the shopping, mind you, but for the fun play area he gets to hang out in for an hour while we go wander.

Enter time machine and go back a year with me... He loves it so much that last year DH won unlimited ride passes for the Park at MOA. We went there, rode the carousel (which DH and I had to stand on because you couldn’t ride the animals unless if you could fit the seatbelt around you - we're talking like maybe a small 3rd grader was the biggest person to fit in one of these tiny seatbelts. This would not be DH or me. You gotta hate those bucking carousel horses throwing off full grown adults) Then he refused to ride another ride. Nothing. Not one. No bribery or anything. He wanted to go to Ikea and play in the balls.

:headache:

If we would have bought those passes, it would have been a $75 carousel ride. If we would have shelled out that kind of money, he would have been strapped to a ride, kickin’ and screamin’ and would’ve had fun.

Yup.

Since they were free, we relented and thought some grown-up browsing time would be a welcomed change from arguing with a 4 year old. As we left the park some kids were drooling over our unlimited ride passes. If I could have slipped it over my hand and give it to them, I so would have.

So back to present day… his dream was becoming a reality and we were at Ikea. He had a blast and was flushed faced when we picked him up and with a grin from ear to ear.

And why are we spending thousands of dollars to go to Disney???:confused:

Oh yeah, 'cause mommy's got an obsession that she tries to pass off as "it's for the kid." (I knew it.)

Next stop: MOA Disney Store.
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0470.jpg

Our little guy needed a lunch bag for school and they had a cool Mickey one for $5. I picked up a reusable tote bag for a couple bucks. The whole time DH and I were grinning something giddy behind Junior’s back. Our shopping trip was an appetizer of things to come!

Soon it was time for dinner. We were meeting up with some friends. One of them would be babysitting our car for the week. The other was a dear friend we hadn’t seen in 9 years. The car babysitter, long lost friend, DH, and me all had worked at a camp together “back in the day”. It was so good to sit and catch up. Friend-we-hadn’t-seen-in-forever has a son a year older than Junior and the 2 of them hit it off immediately. It was like they were best friends! We had a great dinner and the boys were sad to leave each other. We talked in code about the trip (although Junior was so involved with Ben that if Mickey and the gang had walked through the restaurant, he wouldn’t have noticed.)

We headed back to the hotel so Junior and DH could swim http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0472.jpgand I could sneak the luggage up to the room with the help of Car-Babysitting Friend. We hid the luggage behind the curtains. (pretty clever, huh?!) and commented on what a sketchy hotel it was looking like.

Now if you remember from my planning, we had a hard time finding a hotel room in Minneapolis due to the State Fair and the Republican National Convention. Everything was pricey and no deals to be found using my friend Priceline.

We ended up staying at a Days Inn. Which we paid just as much for as our room at Pop. Seeing pictures of the hotel, the outside looked not so great, but the rooms look pretty nice. Yeah, a camera can't catch all the details. (This was the only part of the trip that I was in charge of and from the results I don't think I will get any responsibilities on the next trip. But in my defense we did do Hotwire so I didn't know what hotel it was going to be.)

The doors were all wonky and so there was a space at the top where you could see light out in the hallway. The bathroom vanity must have been cut off at one point and to "finish" off the rough edge, they put a piece of masking tape. And the some of the tiles in the tub had been replaced. With tiles that looked NOTHING like the originals. Oh, but the pretty duvet on the bed, cushy carpeting and nice furnishings almost distracted me from the wallpaper peeling off the walls and random holes from where things use to be hung. Let's just say the dead bolt was locked that night and I kept reminding myself we were leaving at 5:20 in the morning and it was already time for bed.

We let Junior fall asleep and then it was time to plan for the big reveal!
http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd257/minneostacuke/100_0476.jpg
Little does he know what awaits him in the morning!

And the answer to the joke of the installment...
Snow White and the seven Drawfs playing baseball. :lmao: