You Want Me to Sew WHAT? - Update! 4/26/12 - End of Day Four!

[mphalens]

Oh boy, I hope this works! :rolleyes1 I'm going to attempt to do this trip report "photo-journal" style . . . I have too many pictures and when I post to forums like this I tend to get lost when I have to start adding in all the image codes. I promise to "chat" in a normal way like this, but the "meat & potatoes" of my TR will be like the two "pages" you see below. Ok? Okay:thumbsup2

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/TitlePagejpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/TheRestoftheCastjpeg.jpg


Just in case you want to jump to the PhotoJournal pages and skip all of our humorous banter (although why you'd want to miss how hilarious we all seem to think we are is beyond me:confused3 !!!), here are some clickable links:

Let's Get Things Started! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43571136&postcount=2)

:teeth: More From Our First Morning at MK! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43576908&postcount=24)

End of Day 1 (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43588075&postcount=52)

Wrap Up of Day 1 & Day 1 Outfits (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43589844&postcount=62)

Day 2: Epcot & My Outfit (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43599014&postcount=77)

:) Morning At Epcot (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43613794&postcount=87)

Donde Esta _______? (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43623080&postcount=94)

Finn Joins The Army! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43664729&postcount=106)

End of Day Two (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43715856&postcount=125)

Animal Kingdom Here We Come! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43771390&postcount=166)

:)Second Half of Day Three - Animal Kingdom & DTD (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43782764&postcount=180)

One More Thing! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43786436&postcount=185)

Food & Fun :D (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43840232&postcount=204)

So You Want to be a Jedi (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=43909393&postcount=216)

Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A Pirate's Life for Me! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=44411625&postcount=246)

:teeth: The End of Day Four (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=44714352#post44714352)

[mphalens]

Some minor details before I post my first photo-journal pages. We stayed at CBR in Trinidad South in two connected pirate rooms. One room was supposed to be for Mimi & Papa and the other for the 4 of us. However, we all knew that at least ONE of the boys would wind up sleeping in Mimi & Papa's room almost every night. We definitely needed connecting rooms!!!
Mimi & Papa would be flying in from Rhode Island on Sunday, Nov 27th and would arrive at the resort sometime early afternoon.
Dave, the boys, and I planned to drive from Charlotte, NC. We like to drive "overnight" so that the boys sleep most of the way and we can get an early start (and insure a good night's sleep our first night in a hotel) in the morning, so we left Saturday night at 11pm and arrived at CBR at 7:00am.
Bryan, our CM at the Customs House, just happened to have grown up in Charlotte, and he was happy to work some magic when he discovered that although Mimi & Papa's room was ready, ours, on the other side of the connecting door, was not. He quickly switched our assigned room numbers and we were on our way to our Pirate Ships (Finn insisted they were Pirate Ships, NOT rooms) :woohoo:
Our plan was to head to The Magic Kingdom as soon as possible and then we'd come back and settle in once The Magical Express had delivered Mimi & Papa to the resort.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/resortmaps/cbrmap.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/real1stjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/2ndjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/Pinocchiojpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/charactersjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/1stjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/4thjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/CrystalPalacejpeg.jpg

[Grumpy's Wife]

I'm joining in. Can't wait for the pictures.

[blessedmom4]

I am HERE!!! :woohoo::woohoo: Thanks for letting me know you started...Now to go read...

[DMGeurts]

You KNOW I am in for this one.... And I'll probably claim it for my own, and hijack a few times. ;)

OK - Now I am gonna read! :)

D~

[DMGeurts]

Yay!!! All caught up... I love how you are doing this Marianne! It's so much fun to read and see all the pictures together...

You know, you can't "complete" this TR with out showing us pictures of the autograph quilt! :)

And I love your first day customs! Super cute!!!

D~

[blessedmom4]

Marianne! I truly love the style of your report and what a GREAT scrapbook/photobook or whatever else you want to make with this style to print off...you really ARE creative! (For those who haven't met her in person she looks EXACTLY like her pictures! Cute, Perky and Precious)!!!! I LOVE your outfit and the boys are adorable! YOU MUST TEACH ME!!! SERIOUSLY I MUST LEARN! I love the start of your trip and can't wait to read more! :goodvibes:yay::goodvibes

[mrsksomeday]

Great start to your trip, I love the way you are doing it. The look on your face in the Tink picture is awesome!! You look so happy :thumbsup2.

[WDWCP96]

Saw you posting on both Judy and D's PTR/TR and wanted to check out your photo journal. I love how you are chronicling your trip. Can't wait to hear more.

[Diz-Mommy]

This has got to be the prettiest trip report I've ever read! Neato!

[Corrine 1973]

Saw your page on D's page and thought it was so creative I just had to check it out for myself. Great job so far, so creative. Can't wait to read more.popcorn::

[NiniMorris]

Woo Hoo! Not only is it a great TR! (Wish I was creative enough to make one like this!) But I even saw my NAME!

I hope your quilt turns out perfect! (I decided mine needs some more autographs, so I am adding to it next trip!)


Can't wait to see more! (cracking the whip here...I mean it is not like you have anything else to do....right?)

Nini

[kha100399]

LOVE your pages! Can't wait to keep reading!

[VBAndrea]

AWESOME start Marianne! I am loving all the pictures!

[DMGeurts]

I nearly spilled my coffee this morning, racing to the computer to see more of Marianne's TR...

Hmmm... Marianne, did you forget to post more last night? ROFL I had blocked off a whole hour for you this morning. :surfweb: Maybe I'll text you to see if you're up??? :thumbsup2

D~ <---- :surfweb:

[kidneygirl]

I'm loving it so far and can't wait to read more!! :)

[nov02mom]

Yay! Now that you're not sewing....maybe we'll see you again!!! LOL

[mphalens]

Wow! I go to sleep and when I wake up y'all are already on page 2!:thumbsup2

I'm joining in. Can't wait for the pictures.

Yay! Welcome! And congrats on being the first to post!

I am HERE!!! :woohoo::woohoo: Thanks for letting me know you started...Now to go read...

I told you I'd let you know! And see that, you were second to post!

You KNOW I am in for this one.... And I'll probably claim it for my own, and hijack a few times.

OK - Now I am gonna read!
D~

I think that's only fair - after all, Andrea's trip is coming up, in what? 67 days or something? So you won't have to worry about her PTR any longer. . .
Will you keep with the photo-journal style or do up something different?


Marianne! I truly love the style of your report and what a GREAT scrapbook/photobook or whatever else you want to make with this style to print off...you really ARE creative! (For those who haven't met her in person she looks EXACTLY like her pictures! Cute, Perky and Precious)!!!! I LOVE your outfit and the boys are adorable! YOU MUST TEACH ME!!! SERIOUSLY I MUST LEARN! I love the start of your trip and can't wait to read more! :goodvibes:yay::goodvibes

Phalen keeps asking if I'm working on their scrapbooks when he sees me designing pages LOL... I think I just might have to print these off and put them in a book so he'll feel I'm accomplishing SOMETHING other than just "posting to my friends" :rolleyes1

So - Judy - when are we going to start these lessons? Did D~ tell you I bought another vintage machine? This one needs some work done first, but from what she tells me it will have a gorgeous satin stitch when I'm done with it! Then we could sew side by side at my dining room table while the kids play :)

Great start to your trip, I love the way you are doing it. The look on your face in the Tink picture is awesome!! You look so happy :thumbsup2.

Yay! Thanks! I TRIED really hard not to make weird faces when photos were being taken - but my mom & dad sure are great at capturing me at my "not-so-great"est :rotfl2: That Tink picture I love though - no "weird" look about it, just pure joy!

Saw you posting on both Judy and D's PTR/TR and wanted to check out your photo journal. I love how you are chronicling your trip. Can't wait to hear more.

Yeah - I'm shameless when it comes to advertising my TR :) Glad to have you along for the crazy ride!

This has got to be the prettiest trip report I've ever read! Neato!

Thanks! Hmm - although I still need to do more pages, don't I? :idea:

Saw your page on D's page and thought it was so creative I just had to check it out for myself. Great job so far, so creative. Can't wait to read more.popcorn::

Thanks for joining us! And by the way, did you know D's page is actually Andrea's page? :rotfl2: I guess it's mine, Cheryl & Lisa's too, but we're letting Andrea do the heavy lifting on that one. I've got my TR to do, Cheryl had movie production and Navy men invading her house and Lisa's jet-setting to various Disney locales . . . Andrea just has to keep up with work, laundry, and her daughter cracks the whip on new "AG & me" outfits for her and her doll :flower3:

Woo Hoo! Not only is it a great TR! (Wish I was creative enough to make one like this!) But I even saw my NAME!

I hope your quilt turns out perfect! (I decided mine needs some more autographs, so I am adding to it next trip!)


Can't wait to see more! (cracking the whip here...I mean it is not like you have anything else to do....right?)

Nini

I promised you a shout-out :) The quilts - yeah, I haven't touched the squares since we've been home (except to move the plastic bags around on my sewing space) . . . I definitely need to get on that in all my spare time! You know, in between TR pages and all :)

LOVE your pages! Can't wait to keep reading!

Thanks H! Are you doing a TR too?

AWESOME start Marianne! I am loving all the pictures!

Woohoo! Thanks Andrea! How is your matching outfits production going today? And that laundry? Oh, right, you have to go to WORK :( Darn it! Those pesky jobs really get in the way, don't they? Don't they understand we have things to do?

I nearly spilled my coffee this morning, racing to the computer to see more of Marianne's TR...

Hmmm... Marianne, did you forget to post more last night? ROFL I had blocked off a whole hour for you this morning. :surfweb: Maybe I'll text you to see if you're up??? :thumbsup2

D~ <---- :surfweb:

Sorry D~ I went to bed about 10 last night to read my book club book. It was such a creepy book that I just wanted to be done with it. Disturbing I tell ya! Lullaby by Chuck Palahniuk. I don't think I recommend it. I did read it in two nights (but I read pretty quickly). . .

Hmm - maybe I could do two more "pages" for y'all and THEN start my "de-Christmasing" of the house. . . :rolleyes1

I'm loving it so far and can't wait to read more!! :)

Yay! Thanks for joining us!

Yay! Now that you're not sewing....maybe we'll see you again!!! LOL

Hey there lady! I hope you had a fabulous time at your party! I hated that I missed it :( We still need to grab coffee and talk Disney! And wine! I need a wine night with the fabulous founders of CAM!

[Lidian]

I am totally hooked! Loving the photo TR! I'm secretly hoping for lots and lots of CBR pictures! And like D mentioned, you should totally share pics of the quilt pieces!! :goodvibes

[BridgetR3]

I'm in! Your scrapbook style is great!!! I can't wait to see more! popcorn::

[babynala]

LOVE your TR style. The words and pictures together make it really enjoyable. I hop you do print out the pictures to make a book for the boys - it would be perfect.

That is a great picture of the family in front of the castle. Can't wait to read about the rest of your trip. :surfweb:

[mphalens]

I am totally hooked! Loving the photo TR! I'm secretly hoping for lots and lots of CBR pictures! And like D mentioned, you should totally share pics of the quilt pieces!! :goodvibes

Yay! Glad you like it! I'll be sure to include some of the quilt squares at some point.

I'm in! Your scrapbook style is great!!! I can't wait to see more! popcorn::

Thanks!

LOVE your TR style. The words and pictures together make it really enjoyable. I hop you do print out the pictures to make a book for the boys - it would be perfect.

That is a great picture of the family in front of the castle. Can't wait to read about the rest of your trip. :surfweb:

I'm glad you like my photo-journal style! I've spent the morning making more pages instead of cleaning. . .

[DMGeurts]

I've spent the morning making more pages instead of cleaning. . .

:surfweb: Ahem... :surfweb:

D~

[mphalens]

Since y'all were so nice and got me to page 2 overnight, I made a few more pages this morning (when I should have been de-Christmasing my house). . . Hope you enjoy!


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/FirstRidejpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/Shortstuffjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/TheShoesjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/TomorrowlandSpeedwayjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/TeaCupsjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/FairyGodmotherJPEG-1.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/Paradejpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/1stParkDayoutfitsjpeg.jpg

[candielips]

Love your TR. very unique and very easy to read. I am not normally one to follow a trip report, but you've lured me in.

More, please! After your dechristmasing ;)

[mphalens]

:surfweb: Ahem... :surfweb:

D~

Ahem . . .
I posted them, you were just too quick for me ;)

Love your TR. very unique and very easy to read. I am not normally one to follow a trip report, but you've lured me in.

More, please! After your dechristmasing ;)

So glad you like it! Welcome aboard (although I'll warn you, some of the ladies in here, well, they're a little crazy - lovable, but crazy - so prepare for a fun ride!:rotfl2:

[mrsksomeday]

So sorry that Finn wasn't tall enough yet :sad2:, he was adorable in the picture though :thumbsup2.

Your shoes are AWESOME, wish they would have had better support for you.

Love the pictures of Finn and Phalen at the speedway, they look so happy. Also loved the one with you and the Fairy Godmother.

The Decoupage jeans are amazing, so cute.

I am really loving how you are doing this trip report, so creative and fun :goodvibes! I can't wait to read more... well after you de-Christmas :rotfl:.

[basketkat]

I love your trip report!!! It is so neat!!!! I can't wait to hear more about your adventures!!! :surfweb:

[hivemama]

Love how you're doing it! I may do it like this for our scrapbook! How fun! Can't wait to read more!

[nov02mom]

So glad you like it! Welcome aboard (although I'll warn you, some of the ladies in here, well, they're a little crazy - lovable, but crazy - so prepare for a fun ride!:rotfl2:

Whatever...you're the one who sewed 38 pieces of stuff!!!

I have Black Chicken free wine coupons when you're de-christmased!!!

[candielips]

So glad you like it! Welcome aboard (although I'll warn you, some of the ladies in here, well, they're a little crazy - lovable, but crazy - so prepare for a fun ride!:rotfl2:

Thanks!

And hey I'm a little crazy too! It makes life much more interesting.

Btw, I am super excited to see your autographed squares. I got a sewing machine a couple of years ago for Christmas but never had any lessons. I managed to teach myself how to sew a rag quilt, but I would LOVE to do a quilt with autographs. Last time we went we did the pillowcase thing, which my DD4 LOVES and sleeps with every night.

I think it would be neat to collect the autographs over a few trips and try to get as many as you possibly can! Maybe I will have to start doing that next month when we go.

[miprender]

:wave: I here too! Love how you did it journal style. How did you do it. This will be perfect to make a scrap book later on.




So glad you like it! Welcome aboard (although I'll warn you, some of the ladies in here, well, they're a little crazy - lovable, but crazy - so prepare for a fun ride!:rotfl2:

:rolleyes1 Who us?????

[DMGeurts]

So glad you like it! Welcome aboard (although I'll warn you, some of the ladies in here, well, they're a little crazy - lovable, but crazy - so prepare for a fun ride!:rotfl2:

Thanks for the warning... It's a little late though... Ya think you could have warned me any sooner??? :confused3 I could have been corrupted... :eek:

:rolleyes1 Who us?????

Yes, you. :rotfl2:

D~

[Corrine 1973]

Loving the update!!

The same parade started right in front of us while we were down there in May, and like you we couldn't resist the front row viewing.:thumbsup2

Those jeans are adorable and look easy to do once you explained it to me. Might just have to steal that idea. Don't you just love the Disney Outlet. It is so addicting.:lmao:

So there is a lot of crazy women around here huh . . . we should all get around just fine.:rotfl:

[Corrine 1973]

Thanks for the warning... It's a little late though... Ya think you could have warned me any sooner??? :confused3 I could have been corrupted... :eek:


Really D, who do you think you are talking to here? We all know that you are the one who is doing the corrupting. :lmao::rotfl2::worship:

[poisonapple_PRINCESS]

Wow! Love how you're doing your TR! Your boys are too cute! And I LOOOVE the Mickey shoes! :goodvibes

[BridgetR3]

Loving the posts!!! You are doing a great job on the "scrapbooking" of the TR!

I can't believe that you sewed 38 things to wear!!!! :eek:

One little note - if you are going to print these for your boys, the page about the Speedway has a typo. Instead of the it should be he. Just letting you know in case you are making an album! :confused3

[budafam]

love this idea and might just need to do this next time we do a trip report :) i like doing something different each time, great job!

[mphalens]

So sorry that Finn wasn't tall enough yet, he was adorable in the picture though.

Your shoes are AWESOME, wish they would have had better support for you.

Love the pictures of Finn and Phalen at the speedway, they look so happy. Also loved the one with you and the Fairy Godmother.

The Decoupage jeans are amazing, so cute.

I am really loving how you are doing this trip report, so creative and fun! I can't wait to read more... well after you de-Christmas.


Thanks!!! I feel like I learned a bunch on this trip . . .lots of what works and doesn't work for us. I guess that means we just have to go back so we can put all of that valuable knowledge to use, right?

I love your trip report!!! It is so neat!!!! I can't wait to hear more about your adventures!!!


Thanks!!! and Welcome!

Love how you're doing it! I may do it like this for our scrapbook! How fun! Can't wait to read more!

I totally didn't think about printing them out when I was done until everyone started asking if I was going to - but the more I think about it, the more I like the idea!

Whatever...you're the one who sewed 38 pieces of stuff!!!

I have Black Chicken free wine coupons when you're de-christmased!!!

WooHoo!!!! Does that read "FREE WINE" ???

And remember, we already KNEW I was crazy ;) We all are from "The Board that Must NOT Be Named", aren't we? We must be . . . :) There's no koolaid drinking going on with US any longer! :lmao:

Thanks!

And hey I'm a little crazy too! It makes life much more interesting.

Btw, I am super excited to see your autographed squares. I got a sewing machine a couple of years ago for Christmas but never had any lessons. I managed to teach myself how to sew a rag quilt, but I would LOVE to do a quilt with autographs. Last time we went we did the pillowcase thing, which my DD4 LOVES and sleeps with every night.

I think it would be neat to collect the autographs over a few trips and try to get as many as you possibly can! Maybe I will have to start doing that next month when we go.

I agree! A little crazy DOES make life much more interesting! :thumbsup2
After I de-Christmas (because although I cleaned up a bunch today, I can't get the ornament boxes out of the attic without DH and he was off golfing all day) I plan on pulling out the autograph squares and coming up with a plan. I'll take pictures of them then and post!


I here too! Love how you did it journal style. How did you do it. This will be perfect to make a scrap book later on.



Who us?????

:wave: Hi! Sounds like Judy & I and the kids will be driving up at some point - are you ready for the Star Wars/AG/Embroidery Playdate? Oh! And D~ are you flying in? Michelle isn't far from the PVD airport so picking you and Patience up won't be a problem :laughing:

As far as the journal pages - I'm making them in Pages on my Mac. I save them as PDF files and then crop them and save as a jpeg. I upload the jpegs to Photobucket and post the img link to the report :) Easy, right? :rotfl2:

And yes, you . . . and D~ . . . and all the rest of my crazy DIS friends (both from the boards and from real life before the boards) :)

Thanks for the warning... It's a little late though... Ya think you could have warned me any sooner??? I could have been corrupted...



Yes, you.

D~

oh yeah - totally should have warned you . . .uhhuh, yeah, gee - I seem to remember that YOU were part of the Disboutiquers BEFORE me, so who should have warned whom exactly? :rotfl:

Loving the update!!

The same parade started right in front of us while we were down there in May, and like you we couldn't resist the front row viewing.

Those jeans are adorable and look easy to do once you explained it to me. Might just have to steal that idea. Don't you just love the Disney Outlet. It is so addicting.

So there is a lot of crazy women around here huh . . . we should all get around just fine.

Yup - you'll be fine :)

I thought it was a fun little parade! Actually, I'm really glad we stayed, since it ended up being the ONLY parade we saw all week :( But I'll save those details for the TR. . . :rolleyes1

And Disney Outlet - well, I have a love/hate relationship with ours. It's at Concord Mills, which isn't so much an outlet mall like it used to be . . .so some stores ARE outlets and others aren't. . . and the Disney Store Outlet sort of straddles the line between outlet and regular. We get TONS of Disneyland merchandise and sometimes we get great outlet deals . . . but then there's always stuff that's sold in the regular Disney Store and at the same prices. But those shirts were a great deal - $4.99 a piece!

Really D, who do you think you are talking to here? We all know that you are the one who is doing the corrupting.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Wow! Love how you're doing your TR! Your boys are too cute! And I LOOOVE the Mickey shoes!

Aw! Thanks!!!! Glad to have you here!!!:goodvibes

Loving the posts!!! You are doing a great job on the "scrapbooking" of the TR!

I can't believe that you sewed 38 things to wear!!!!

One little note - if you are going to print these for your boys, the page about the Speedway has a typo. Instead of the it should be he. Just letting you know in case you are making an album!

Thanks! And yes - 38 things . . . if I counted correctly. . . might have been more. I know I sewed OTHER things during the same time period because I participated in Big Gives and made a couple of gifts for friends.
Ack! I tried to proof my own work - sometimes it just doesn't go as planned though! Thanks for pointing that out!

love this idea and might just need to do this next time we do a trip report. i like doing something different each time, great job!


Thanks! And welcome!!!


Okay - so you can all thank D~ for my lack of new pages tonight. I decided that I won't post any for at least the next 12 hours until she puts up the pictures of her newest creation. . . popcorn::

[DMGeurts]

Okay - so you can all thank D~ for my lack of new pages tonight. I decided that I won't post any for at least the next 12 hours until she puts up the pictures of her newest creation. . . popcorn::

I am only replying to this part tonight... Not to worry... I'll respond to the rest of you later...

No fair that you're holding your TR hostage with my PTR - I can only sew so fast girly ... :surfweb:

D~

[mphalens]

I am only replying to this part tonight... Not to worry... I'll respond to the rest of you later...

No fair that you're holding your TR hostage with my PTR - I can only sew so fast girly ... :surfweb:

D~


:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

You :love: me ;)

[erikawolf2004]

Loving your trip report so far and the jeans and shoes are adorable! Looking forward to seeing all those outfits!

[DMGeurts]

Really D, who do you think you are talking to here? We all know that you are the one who is doing the corrupting. :lmao::rotfl2::worship:

Moi???? Now, what gave you that idea??? popcorn::

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

You :love: me ;)

:lovestruc :lovestruc :lovestruc

D~

[blessedmom4]

Thanks!!! I feel like I learned a bunch on this trip . . .lots of what works and doesn't work for us. I guess that means we just have to go back so we can put all of that valuable knowledge to use, right?

I want to go!!!



I totally didn't think about printing them out when I was done until everyone started asking if I was going to - but the more I think about it, the more I like the idea!

You definitely should, it was the FIRST thing I thought of..and you can teach me that while we sew, I have a MAC!



And remember, we already KNEW I was crazy ;) We all are from "The Board that Must NOT Be Named", aren't we? We must be . . . :) There's no koolaid drinking going on with US any longer! :lmao:
Must know what that means....I am nosy like that!


I agree! A little crazy DOES make life much more interesting! :thumbsup2
After I de-Christmas (because although I cleaned up a bunch today, I can't get the ornament boxes out of the attic without DH and he was off golfing all day) I plan on pulling out the autograph squares and coming up with a plan. I'll take pictures of them then and post!
That is what we were doing when Rachel showed me the "blotches" on Bandit...I love the autograph book plan!



:wave: Hi! Sounds like Judy & I and the kids will be driving up at some point - are you ready for the Star Wars/AG/Embroidery Playdate? Oh! And D~ are you flying in? Michelle isn't far from the PVD airport so picking you and Patience up won't be a problem :laughing:
I am READY...I can be packed in ten minutes!

And Disney Outlet - well, I have a love/hate relationship with ours. It's at Concord Mills, which isn't so much an outlet mall like it used to be . . .so some stores ARE outlets and others aren't. . . and the Disney Store Outlet sort of straddles the line between outlet and regular. We get TONS of Disneyland merchandise and sometimes we get great outlet deals . . . but then there's always stuff that's sold in the regular Disney Store and at the same prices. But those shirts were a great deal - $4.99 a piece!

I SOOOOOOOOO Agree with you on this, so frustrating since they can't carry some thing's since they are an "Outlet". You aren't too far form my house when you go to Concord MIlls...hint hint...



Thanks! And yes - 38 things . . . if I counted correctly. . . might have been more. I know I sewed OTHER things during the same time period because I participated in Big Gives and made a couple of gifts for friends.
Ack! I tried to proof my own work - sometimes it just doesn't go as planned though! Thanks for pointing that out!
PLUS SIX EXTRA Iron ONs for us, in addition to Lisa and Molly's capes!




Okay - so you can all thank D~ for my lack of new pages tonight. I decided that I won't post any for at least the next 12 hours until she puts up the pictures of her newest creation. . . popcorn::

ACCCKKKK, so much pressure on D~!!!!!

[miprender]

:wave: Hi! Sounds like Judy & I and the kids will be driving up at some point - are you ready for the Star Wars/AG/Embroidery Playdate? Oh! And D~ are you flying in? Michelle isn't far from the PVD airport so picking you and Patience up won't be a problem :laughing:

And yes, you . . . and D~ . . . and all the rest of my crazy DIS friends (both from the boards and from real life before the boards) :)



Sounds like a fun plan. :lmao: Maybe Andrea can come up too and check on her house:lmao: And I'll pick D up from the airport:thumbsup2




As far as the journal pages - I'm making them in Pages on my Mac. I save them as PDF files and then crop them and save as a jpeg. I upload the jpegs to Photobucket and post the img link to the report :) Easy, right? :rotfl2:





:lmao: You lost me at MAC:rotfl2:

[blessedmom4]

Wow!
So - Judy - when are we going to start these lessons? Did D~ tell you I bought another vintage machine? This one needs some work done first, but from what she tells me it will have a gorgeous satin stitch when I'm done with it! Then we could sew side by side at my dining room table while the kids play :)



I am SO READY!!! I have some fabric I can't seem to get anyone to make me anything with so I better learn myself....:lmao::rotfl2: If we could just score an embroidery machine....

[Corrine 1973]

And Disney Outlet - well, I have a love/hate relationship with ours. It's at Concord Mills, which isn't so much an outlet mall like it used to be . . .so some stores ARE outlets and others aren't. . . and the Disney Store Outlet sort of straddles the line between outlet and regular. We get TONS of Disneyland merchandise and sometimes we get great outlet deals . . . but then there's always stuff that's sold in the regular Disney Store and at the same prices. But those shirts were a great deal - $4.99 a piece!



I think I have the same Love hate relationship with our Disney Outlet. Our's is at the Gurnee Mills and our mall is going the same way as yours. It started out as an outlet, but not so much anymore.:confused3 We also get tons of Disney Land stuff in which I have found some really good deals, but it has Disney Land on the front I wont get it. I did just get some stuff there because they were having a great sale.:woohoo: I can usually get some kids t-shirts there for under $10 which is always a + in my book.:thumbsup2

[blessedmom4]

Sounds like a fun plan. :lmao: Maybe Andrea can come up too and check on her house:lmao: And I'll pick D up from the airport:thumbsup2



EXCELLENT IDEA!!!:thumbsup2:thumbsup2

[DMGeurts]

ACCCKKKK, so much pressure on D~!!!!!

Tell me about it... :rolleyes1

Sounds like a fun plan. :lmao: Maybe Andrea can come up too and check on her house:lmao: And I'll pick D up from the airport:thumbsup2


Thanks! :thumbsup2 At least I have a ride now... I owe ya one! :lovestruc Here I thought you'd all leave me at the airport. :confused3

D~ <--- Who updated her PTR just like she said she would... Where's your update Missy??? :surfweb:

[mom2rtk]

Sewing AND trip talk? I'm definitely in! Now back I go to catch up! :banana:

[mphalens]

Tell me about it... :rolleyes1



Thanks! :thumbsup2 At least I have a ride now... I owe ya one! :lovestruc Here I thought you'd all leave me at the airport. :confused3

D~ <--- Who updated her PTR just like she said she would... Where's your update Missy??? :surfweb:

See the next post - 6 new pages :) And we're not going out tonight for NYE, so I can do more pages if the boys cooperate ;)

Sewing AND trip talk? I'm definitely in! Now back I go to catch up! :banana:

Yay! Welcome along!

[mphalens]

Well, D~ updated her PTR with her newest FABULOUS messenger bag, so as promised, here are 6 new pages! I still have to do a page for our Ohana outfits and a wrap up of the day, but these six pages bring me to the end of my first day's worth of photos :)

Without further ado -

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/MimiPapajpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/SwordFightjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/PirateRoomsjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/Transportationjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/Ohanajpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/FirstNightjpeg.jpg

[DMGeurts]

Awww.... I love, love, love the update! I just love how stinkin' cute those boys are - those guys just tug at your heartstrings - my favorite is the boys each sound asleep on one of you - precious!

I think it's so awesome that you have such wonderful parents... Where your DH's parents are polar opposites, your parents make up for it. I am so glad you were able to spend this trip with them - the boys will remember it forever!

D~

[mphalens]

Awww.... I love, love, love the update! I just love how stinkin' cute those boys are - those guys just tug at your heartstrings - my favorite is the boys each sound asleep on one of you - precious!

I think it's so awesome that you have such wonderful parents... Where your DH's parents are polar opposites, your parents make up for it. I am so glad you were able to spend this trip with them - the boys will remember it forever!

D~

Thanks :hug:

That cuteness factor keeps me from completely losing it on days like today. They were really good at the mall until the end and then it was like crazy people had invaded!!! :sad2: I actually almost lost my phone (and we ONLY have cell phones, no house phone) because Finn was trying to break his neck and Phalen was just being uber self-absorbed. I dropped it in Barnes & Noble, didn't realize until I was in the next store and honestly thought this creepy dude had stolen it. Luckily this nice lady that works there saw my distress and offered to call it for me . . .we didn't hear it anywhere but the guy who worked at B&N and found it ANSWERED! Phew!
I put the boys in the car after retrieving my phone and told them we were going home for naps. Phalen listened, Finn did not. Little stinker kept coming out and asking for stuff. :headache:

Okay - so now that I've filled you in on my drama of the afternoon, I have to agree with you about my parents vs in-laws. Part of me (and Dave, as we've had this conversation too many times to count) wonders if our "view" of his parents is skewed because of HOW great my parents are . . . but no, his parents really are just that crazy. :rolleyes1 However, it does make us appreciate MY parents even more :lovestruc

For those of you who I'm friends with on Facebook - if you've noticed me posting ABOUT my Trip Report but NOT posting a link (and we know I'm all about the links), it's because my in-laws cyber stalk me - they have a folder on their desktop of all my facebook statuses for example - and I don't want them to follow me here to the Dis. This is my "safe place" from their craziness :)

[blessedmom4]

:hug::grouphug::hug: For the crazy in-laws! I am so sorry about that! YOUR parents seem like wonderful people and awesome grandparents. I LOVE the new update, the rooms are amazing!! O'hana sounds like it was a marvelous time, sorry about not getting the seat to see Wishes...sometimes I just want to say...WHY????:confused3

I am happy you found your phone, no phone if that had been gone.HOpe the little cuties settle down and you have a nice, peaceful night!

[miprender]

:cool1: Another update. We love OHANAs too. :cloud9:

:hug: That is just crazy that you IL have a folder on you. I remember when you posted that this summer. Honestly I think it always seems to be the hubby's side that is messed up:rolleyes1

That is why I tell my brother he can never get married because we will be the crazy inlaws.:lmao:

[aboveH20]

I've kissed the Blarney Stone.

I used to have a darkroom in my basement.

I :love: Disney.

It's like we're related.

I'm loving your trip report. It reminds me of when I used to go with two little boys :sad1: .



Thanks for joining us! And by the way, did you know D's page is actually Andrea's page? :rotfl2: I guess it's mine, Cheryl & Lisa's too, but we're letting Andrea do the heavy lifting on that one. I've got my TR to do, Cheryl had movie production and Navy men invading her house and Lisa's jet-setting to various Disney locales . . . Andrea just has to keep up with work, laundry, and her daughter cracks the whip on new "AG & me" outfits for her and her doll :flower3:



Wow! You pay attention.


So glad you like it! Welcome aboard (although I'll warn you, some of the ladies in here, well, they're a little crazy - lovable, but crazy - so prepare for a fun ride!:rotfl2:

So it wasn't just me that noticed that.


I think I have the same Love hate relationship with our Disney Outlet. Our's is at the Gurnee Mills and our mall is going the same way as yours. It started out as an outlet, but not so much anymore.:confused3 We also get tons of Disney Land stuff in which I have found some really good deals, but it has Disney Land on the front I wont get it. I did just get some stuff there because they were having a great sale.:woohoo: I can usually get some kids t-shirts there for under $10 which is always a + in my book.:thumbsup2

Gurnee Mills?? My husband and I will always have a soft spot on our hearts for Gurnee Mills. We spent a lot of time there when we went to Chicago for our son's boot camp graduation.

[mphalens]

:hug::grouphug::hug: For the crazy in-laws! I am so sorry about that! YOUR parents seem like wonderful people and awesome grandparents. I LOVE the new update, the rooms are amazing!! O'hana sounds like it was a marvelous time, sorry about not getting the seat to see Wishes...sometimes I just want to say...WHY????:confused3

I am happy you found your phone, no phone if that had been gone.HOpe the little cuties settle down and you have a nice, peaceful night!

Thanks!!! And I agree - sometimes, it's just a big ol' "WHY?" :confused3 :thumbsup2

:cool1: Another update. We love OHANAs too. :cloud9:

:hug: That is just crazy that you IL have a folder on you. I remember when you posted that this summer. Honestly I think it always seems to be the hubby's side that is messed up:rolleyes1

That is why I tell my brother he can never get married because we will be the crazy inlaws.:lmao:

:rotfl2:

I've kissed the Blarney Stone.

I used to have a darkroom in my basement.

I :love: Disney.

It's like we're related.

I'm loving your trip report. It reminds me of when I used to go with two little boys :sad1: .



Wow! You pay attention.



So it wasn't just me that noticed that.



Oh Cheryl - my mom is totally into Genealogy research and could probably figure out a way that we really are related. . . I had three friends in college that she met and within a week she had figured out how our family trees intersected :rolleyes1 Have any Mayflower descendants? :confused3

And your comment about reminding you of going with your own little boys :flower3: I bet those trips are ones they still look back on fondly!

and yes, I'd say quite a few of us have realized there's a little crazy goin' on around here ;)

[mphalens]

Oops! Meant to add -

I have one of my two pages complete but I don't want to post one without the other . . . I WILL get it done before 2012 though, I promise!!!

It's 9:51pm and Phalen is happily playing Wii Disney Universe (we borrowed it from Redbox for the night to see if we like it or not - so far he gives it a :thumbsup2 ). Finn is trying to go to sleep. Dave & I are trying to figure out what we've done with our younger, hipper selves :confused3

I'm about to go in the kitchen and make some rootbeer floats. Regular for Phalen and with Vanilla Vodka for Dave & I :woohoo: That's the extent of our bigtime partying tonight :rolleyes:

[ChefDisneyLu]

I am so loving this TR! Plus I love to see the Bears shirt on your DH!!! Go Bears! Can't wait for more


Oops!

It's 9:51pm and Phalen is happily playing Wii Disney Universe (we borrowed it from Redbox for the night to see if we like it or not - so far he gives it a :thumbsup2 ). Finn is trying to go to sleep. Dave & I are trying to figure out what we've done with our younger, hipper selves :confused3

I'm about to go in the kitchen and make some rootbeer floats. Regular for Phalen and with Vanilla Vodka for Dave & I :woohoo: That's the extent of our bigtime partying tonight :rolleyes:

It is 9:39 pm here and DH and DS are playing PS3 while I am here....reading about YOUR trip....makes me feel like I was never Hip! LOL! Rootbeer float sounds good though!

Happy New Year...Thanks for sharing!

Lisa

[mphalens]

I am so loving this TR! Plus I love to see the Bears shirt on your DH!!! Go Bears! Can't wait for more




It is 9:39 pm here and DH and DS are playing PS3 while I am here....reading about YOUR trip....makes me feel like I was never Hip! LOL! Rootbeer float sounds good though!

Happy New Year...Thanks for sharing!

Lisa

Go Bears! is right!!! :cool1: Although, I should probably also add, "Go Patriots!" and "Go Broncos" as I grew up (and still am) a Patriots fan and we all find ourselves rooting for the Broncos because we are HUGE Tim Tebow fans :love: DH was born in Chicago though, so we're Cubs, Bulls, Blackhawks & Bears fans :) We're also Gator fans, because he grew up in Gainesville, FL and would have gone there for school if his dad hadn't worked for the University and he didn't want to get away from his parents :) Wow! What a welcome I just gave you . . . sometimes my brain just makes my fingers type type type away and I don't realize how much I've just blurted out!
Go Bears!
and
:welcome:

Hope you stick around - I can't remember which other shirts DH wore off the top of my head, but I know he brought quite a few with graphics :)

[mphalens]

Well - it's 11:01pm EST and I think I'm about to make my last post of the year right here (of course, someone else might update a thread I'm following and I could just have to respond, but probably not). Not to be a total sap, but I cannot be more thankful for what 2011 has brought me in terms of all things Disney. If it weren't for planning a trip, I never would have signed back on to the DisBoards and found the Disboutiquers and The Big Give Group. I never would have meet (IRL) such fabulous people as D~ & Michelle & Judy & Nicole . . . I never would have had this community of women (and Tom) encouraging me to sew and try new things and reassuring me that I COULD make all the things I've made in the past year. We had a fabulous trip and I know it wouldn't have been the same (or gone as smooth) without The Dis and more importantly, The Disboutiquers :hug:

So - here you go - the end of Day 1 wrap up and the end of day outfit wrap up.


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/EndofDay1outfitsjpeg.jpg


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/WrapUpDay1jpeg.jpg

[DMGeurts]

First - Happy New Year!!!! We ended up having our neighbors over for wine - it's become a tradition - they are soooo hilarious!

I would have to agree with your sentiments of our Dis friends - this has been an amazing year of learning for me too, and I couldn't have done it with out the Disboutiquers, what an amazing time we have all had!!! Amazing friendships we have all made... It's made the whole "learning to sew" aspect of it, fun and challenging. I consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to participate in the Big Gives and the warm fuzzies it gives me to make someone else's trip brighter - not to mention the great friends we have made through that. And my texting buddy cheering me on... ;) I look forward to a wonderful 2012, full of friends, fun and creativity.

Awww... I love your latest update! As usual - I love the outfits... Beth did a great job on the shirts... I need to get my act together and send a few to her, as well. She is just THE BEST!

I ROFLed at your dad's swimsuits... Poor guy... And forgetting his Christmas photograph outfit.... I did LOL at your going to Target while in FL... I gar-un-tee that I won't set foot in a Target store while I am at WDW. LOL

Loved the boys' backpacks... Did they carry them every day in the parks????

I second your opinion on SerendipiD~! ROFL

And I think your mom is awesome... I have a family tree that dates back to the Mayflower... I wonder if we are related???? I've already found one of Josh's long lost relatives on The Dis (rather, she found me)... It's his 6th cousin, or something like that... And she is doing a PTR.... That's how we met. Funny, huh?

Anyways, better run over to "the other side" and check out all the PTRs I am following too....


D~

[mphalens]

First - Happy New Year!!!! We ended up having our neighbors over for wine - it's become a tradition - they are soooo hilarious!

I would have to agree with your sentiments of our Dis friends - this has been an amazing year of learning for me too, and I couldn't have done it with out the Disboutiquers, what an amazing time we have all had!!! Amazing friendships we have all made... It's made the whole "learning to sew" aspect of it, fun and challenging. I consider myself lucky to have the opportunity to participate in the Big Gives and the warm fuzzies it gives me to make someone else's trip brighter - not to mention the great friends we have made through that. And my texting buddy cheering me on... ;) I look forward to a wonderful 2012, full of friends, fun and creativity.

Awww... I love your latest update! As usual - I love the outfits... Beth did a great job on the shirts... I need to get my act together and send a few to her, as well. She is just THE BEST!

I ROFLed at your dad's swimsuits... Poor guy... And forgetting his Christmas photograph outfit.... I did LOL at your going to Target while in FL... I gar-un-tee that I won't set foot in a Target store while I am at WDW. LOL

Loved the boys' backpacks... Did they carry them every day in the parks????

I second your opinion on SerendipiD~! ROFL

And I think your mom is awesome... I have a family tree that dates back to the Mayflower... I wonder if we are related???? I've already found one of Josh's long lost relatives on The Dis (rather, she found me)... It's his 6th cousin, or something like that... And she is doing a PTR.... That's how we met. Funny, huh?

Anyways, better run over to "the other side" and check out all the PTRs I am following too....


D~

Yes, Beth is fabulous, isn't she?
And SerendipiD~ Boutique - all I can say is, "WOW!" I really should get my behind over to Etsy and leave lots of feedback. I keep forgetting because I talk about how awesome my bag is here on the Dis.;)

Aw! But the Target there has a HUGE Disney section full of stuff :) I know, no vehicle . . .

Who are you descended from on the Mayflower? I kid you not, at last count we had 3 or 4 lines we were descended from . . . All on my mom's side - she's what is referred to as a Swamp Yankee back home (her family has been there FOREVER). The funny part is that my Dad is the one that grew up there, but none of his relatives are from there (they were there b/c my grandfather was career Navy) . . . Mom moved there for Dad and she's the one with relatives (distant) left & right LOL.

The boys brought their backpacks most days, but often they ended up in the bottom of the stroller. I will say though, this trip they did a LOT better at NOT having a need to tote around a bunch of stuff - on our last trip they felt like they had to keep things on them at all times (which is why I did backpacks this trip). . .

[miprender]

Yes, Beth is fabulous, isn't she?
And SerendipiD~ Boutique - all I can say is, "WOW!" I really should get my behind over to Etsy and leave lots of feedback. I keep forgetting because I talk about how awesome my bag is here on the Dis.;)

Aw! But the Target there has a HUGE Disney section full of stuff :) I know, no vehicle . . .

Who are you descended from on the Mayflower? I kid you not, at last count we had 3 or 4 lines we were descended from . . . All on my mom's side - she's what is referred to as a Swamp Yankee back home (her family has been there FOREVER). The funny part is that my Dad is the one that grew up there, but none of his relatives are from there (they were there b/c my grandfather was career Navy) . . . Mom moved there for Dad and she's the one with relatives (distant) left & right LOL.

The boys brought their backpacks most days, but often they ended up in the bottom of the stroller. I will say though, this trip they did a LOT better at NOT having a need to tote around a bunch of stuff - on our last trip they felt like they had to keep things on them at all times (which is why I did backpacks this trip). . .



HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I second that this has been a wonderful year for Disney. It's funny how we all started sewing around the same time and have all become great friends. And though DH thought I was a little crazy (he doesn't get the DIS:rolleyes1) for meeting someone online at Joanne's I did show him you were real:lmao:

And I still can't believe I made at least one outfit a day for 14 days:scared1: But I couldn't have done it without everyone's encouragement either.:hug:

And we might all be related....:rotfl: (well not me but to DH) since his sister traced back their ancestry on his mothers side to Roger Williams and maybe the Mayflower too. I on the other hand I had my ancestors come from Italy and Canada.:upsidedow

[nov02mom]

Yay for Day 1!!!

You know, I should just lose enough weight to borrow all your cute clothes for this years trip! That would make my month long packing fun easier......

(Oh, and you know I continually roll my eyes at the IL's- sigh)

[VBAndrea]

Yay for the great updates! I have to correct you though.... while deco jeans aren't hard they are a bit time consuming, especially if you add embroidery to them.

And here is your deal of the week offered by me:
Free embroidery lessons on my machine if you teach me to make Mac pages like you do! Let me know what day and time you plan to arrive :)

[basketkat]

Happy New Year!!!! :cool1:

What a fabulous first day you all had!!! I love the pirate room! It looks perfect for your boys! pirate:

We haven't tried Ohana for dinner yet, but it is for sure on our must do list! :thumbsup2

[Piper]

I am loving your trip report. You should definitely print off the pages and bind them!!

[mrsksomeday]

Wow such a wonderful first day. We love Ohana, it is Bill's favorite restaurant. It is so wonderful that you and your children get to experience the parks with your parents. You are very blessed to have that option. I can't wait to see what your next day had in store :goodvibes.

[NiniMorris]

Too funny about the Mayflower!

Last year (around this time) I started tracing our ancestry. Only because of some of the things I heard growing up. My grand mother's family always thought my grand father wasn't good enough for her. His comment was always, "even though your family may have come over on the Mayflower, MY family was nicely ensconced in a castle at the time!" (you would have to have known my grandfather to completely get the comment. He grew up in Europe and didn't come to the US until he was a grown man. He always had a very proper English accent)

The research I was able to do showed he was right! My grandmother's family did not come over on the Mayflower, but very shortly after...and my grand father's family did indeed include some royalty.

But....we are all really related....remember that guy called Noah?

Nini

[kimmylaj]

wow i love the style of your trip report. and the clothes are amazing. i too started sewing because of the wonderful disboutiquers (although nowhere near as many as you did... i am impressed). your kids are so cute. does your sons girlfriend vannah have a mommy who blogs, and sews disney clothes too? because if it is..... sebastian is one of the first big gives i ever did and have followed the blog ever since :). if not just ignore me :lmao: cant wait to read more:)
:3dglasses my 5 year old is next to me and asked me to add this little 3d guy to my post . she is loving your report too. ps she is only hit 40 inches this summer at 5 and she is my lil daredevil so she was quite sad on many trips when she couldnt reach the height requirement, but it was extremely exciting when she did, she had been waiting so long

[mphalens]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I second that this has been a wonderful year for Disney. It's funny how we all started sewing around the same time and have all become great friends. And though DH thought I was a little crazy (he doesn't get the DIS:rolleyes1) for meeting someone online at Joanne's I did show him you were real:lmao:

And I still can't believe I made at least one outfit a day for 14 days:scared1: But I couldn't have done it without everyone's encouragement either.:hug:

And we might all be related....:rotfl: (well not me but to DH) since his sister traced back their ancestry on his mothers side to Roger Williams and maybe the Mayflower too. I on the other hand I had my ancestors come from Italy and Canada.:upsidedow

I think it's pretty awesome too :) :hug:

Funny story that your comment about your husband not knowing if i was "real" or not:
About 12 years ago my Dad joined an online forum started by the Taunton Press for one of their building publications. At that time the only online forums I really had any knowledge of were religious in nature and he talked about other members "as if they were real people" :rotfl2: NONE of these people lived near my parents . . . they were all around the world. It became the family joke to refer to his online forum as "The Cult" . . . next thing I knew, my parents were planning a trip to Indiana or somewhere for a long weekend for a "Cult Get Together" :scared1: My mom had backup plans for her backup plans, but my Dad was determined to go and meet these people. People came from as far away as Australia!!!! Canada, Florida, Seattle, Rhode Island. . . They still get together at LEAST once a year, changing the meeting place from one hometown to the next. My parents have hosted once and they're hosting again this summer. . .
So I love that we have our own little "cult" with the Disboutiquers :hug: But man! does my Dad like to give me a hard time :laughing:

Yay for Day 1!!!

You know, I should just lose enough weight to borrow all your cute clothes for this years trip! That would make my month long packing fun easier......

(Oh, and you know I continually roll my eyes at the IL's- sigh)

Sounds like a plan! I still have them all washed and ready to go :) I'm around a 6/8 (more towards the 8) at the moment :)

ILs . . . :sad2:

Yay for the great updates! I have to correct you though.... while deco jeans aren't hard they are a bit time consuming, especially if you add embroidery to them.

And here is your deal of the week offered by me:
Free embroidery lessons on my machine if you teach me to make Mac pages like you do! Let me know what day and time you plan to arrive :)

Yes, I agree, deco jeans are more time consuming but they look so cool when you're done, they're worth it :)

And as for your offer - DEAL! :woohoo: When should I leave? You're how far of a drive from Charlotte???

Happy New Year!!!! :cool1:

What a fabulous first day you all had!!! I love the pirate room! It looks perfect for your boys! pirate:

We haven't tried Ohana for dinner yet, but it is for sure on our must do list! :thumbsup2

Thanks! Yes, the boys LOVED the Pirate rooms! And really, we had plenty of room even if we hadn't had the two connected rooms :thumbsup2

And, as you can tell, we LOVED Ohana!!! I highly recommend you put it towards the top of your list :)

I am loving your trip report. You should definitely print off the pages and bind them!!


Thanks!!! :lovestruc

[mphalens]

Wow such a wonderful first day. We love Ohana, it is Bill's favorite restaurant. It is so wonderful that you and your children get to experience the parks with your parents. You are very blessed to have that option. I can't wait to see what your next day had in store :goodvibes.

Thank you! Yes, we know we are very lucky to have the relationship we have with my parents :goodvibes

Too funny about the Mayflower!

Last year (around this time) I started tracing our ancestry. Only because of some of the things I heard growing up. My grand mother's family always thought my grand father wasn't good enough for her. His comment was always, "even though your family may have come over on the Mayflower, MY family was nicely ensconced in a castle at the time!" (you would have to have known my grandfather to completely get the comment. He grew up in Europe and didn't come to the US until he was a grown man. He always had a very proper English accent)

The research I was able to do showed he was right! My grandmother's family did not come over on the Mayflower, but very shortly after...and my grand father's family did indeed include some royalty.

But....we are all really related....remember that guy called Noah?

Nini

LOL - yes, Noah! :)

And that is a fabulous genealogy story! My mom would LOVE it!!!

wow i love the style of your trip report. and the clothes are amazing. i too started sewing because of the wonderful disboutiquers (although nowhere near as many as you did... i am impressed). your kids are so cute. does your sons girlfriend vannah have a mommy who blogs, and sews disney clothes too? because if it is..... sebastian is one of the first big gives i ever did and have followed the blog ever since :). if not just ignore me :lmao: cant wait to read more:)
:3dglasses my 5 year old is next to me and asked me to add this little 3d guy to my post . she is loving your report too. ps she is only hit 40 inches this summer at 5 and she is my lil daredevil so she was quite sad on many trips when she couldnt reach the height requirement, but it was extremely exciting when she did, she had been waiting so long

Hey Tracy - look! Another "Hey, are you Amber's friend?" run-in! :rotfl2:
Tracy "found me" in my PTR because she'd seen Phalen & Finn's pictures on Amber's blog :hug:


Okay - let me explain :) Yes, Finn's girlfriend is Savannah. Savannah is the youngest sister of Sebastian. Sebastian is Phalen's best friend. Sebastian, Siennah & Savannah's mom is my bestie. Seb had cancer a few years ago and was granted a Wish Trip to DisneyWorld and they were adopted by The Big Give.

So, REALLY, I have the Disboutiquers to thank along with Seb & Amber for Phalen's idea of "If you go to Disney "for real" you're supposed to have matching custom outfits" because The Big Give group and Seb's Wish Trip pictures were Phalen's first experience with outfits like that :)

Kimmy, you might remember in Amber's blog about Sebastian's Wish Trip Send-Off Party his friend that insisted on also wearing a helmet and gave him a toy Buzz Lightyear phone so they could "keep in touch" on their trip? Well, that was my son, Phalen. :) It's actually because of Seb and his experience with The Big Give that I got involved with the group. I wanted Phalen to have a service project that he could understand and I knew how much he grasped of what The Big Give does for people.
And yes, Finn & Savannah discuss their wedding on a regular basis. They tend to give us little updates in drips and drabs. But both insist it will be at WDW :)

So cool to "meet" another "Amber connection" through The Dis! :thumbsup2






I am THRILLED and HONORED to have so many people following my Trip Report! I'm so glad you like my crazy style!!! I promise to get to crank out another set of pages asap!

Until then, what are you missing from my TR? What things am I forgetting to tell you? Or do you want to know more about? Let me know!!!

[ireland_nicole]

I'm late, but at least I made it- I figure since I'm probably make a cameo in this report, I'd better swing by and keep an eye on you LOL

[mphalens]

I'm late, but at least I made it- I figure since I'm probably make a cameo in this report, I'd better swing by and keep an eye on you LOL

:cool1: WOOHOO :cool1:
Nicole's here!!!

And yes, you probably should keep an eye on me :) and you tell that darling daughter of yours she can come hang with us anytime! You too, of course! ;)

You are just in time for a little 2 page update to kick off Day 2!

[mphalens]

Here we go - I'm sorry it's not a bigger update, but the boys & I spent the day at a friend's house "grazing" on yummy foods and having fun. Dave joined us around 4:30 (and just in time for some Wii games). We finally made it home by 7:30 and sent the boys to bed. Dave & I decided we'd watch shows in bed and I brought the laptop to check in on things . . . He fell asleep, so I did these two pages, but I'm about to hit the hay myself, so the rest will have to wait until tomorrow :)

And now, I give you "DAY TWO: Epcot"

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/DayTwoEpcotJPEG-1.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/MyOutfitday2jpeg.jpg

[mphalens]

Ouch! Can't believe that the font size in the first page is so much smaller than the second page (they were the same size when the pages were created). I can't fix it tonight, but I'll try tomorrow :)

[kimmylaj]

Thank you! Yes, we know we are very lucky to have the relationship we have with my parents :goodvibes



LOL - yes, Noah! :)

And that is a fabulous genealogy story! My mom would LOVE it!!!



Hey Tracy - look! Another "Hey, are you Amber's friend?" run-in! :rotfl2:
Tracy "found me" in my PTR because she'd seen Phalen & Finn's pictures on Amber's blog :hug:


Okay - let me explain :) Yes, Finn's girlfriend is Savannah. Savannah is the youngest sister of Sebastian. Sebastian is Phalen's best friend. Sebastian, Siennah & Savannah's mom is my bestie. Seb had cancer a few years ago and was granted a Wish Trip to DisneyWorld and they were adopted by The Big Give.

So, REALLY, I have the Disboutiquers to thank along with Seb & Amber for Phalen's idea of "If you go to Disney "for real" you're supposed to have matching custom outfits" because The Big Give group and Seb's Wish Trip pictures were Phalen's first experience with outfits like that :)

Kimmy, you might remember in Amber's blog about Sebastian's Wish Trip Send-Off Party his friend that insisted on also wearing a helmet and gave him a toy Buzz Lightyear phone so they could "keep in touch" on their trip? Well, that was my son, Phalen. :) It's actually because of Seb and his experience with The Big Give that I got involved with the group. I wanted Phalen to have a service project that he could understand and I knew how much he grasped of what The Big Give does for people.
And yes, Finn & Savannah discuss their wedding on a regular basis. They tend to give us little updates in drips and drabs. But both insist it will be at WDW :)

So cool to "meet" another "Amber connection" through The Dis! :thumbsup2





[/COLOR]

yes i do remember that
i guess it really is a small world after all;)

[OrangeJax]

I'm in! I haven't subscribed to a TR in months, but yours has me hooked! I can't wait for updates! :goodvibes

[BridgetR3]

LOVE your MH jeans!!! I'd love to have the MH Epcot for our Epcot day shirts. Did you sew around them as well or just iron them on?

Your Christmas photo looks great!!! Sad that you didn't get to use it.

[Lidian]

Totally love the shirts and the pants! OMG they're adorable! Now I want some. :lmao:

[DMGeurts]

As usual, you are all so adorable!!!

This was one of my favorite outfits - I just love the MHs on your jeans - they really did turn out cute.

You should have brought a pair of shorts with you that day - you could have sold the jeans to the highest bidder. LOL :)

Great update - I just love it!

D~

[miprender]

Love that EPCOT outfit.:love: Too bad the MH are peeling off.:sad2:



I think it's pretty awesome too :) :hug:

Funny story that your comment about your husband not knowing if i was "real" or not:
About 12 years ago my Dad joined an online forum started by the Taunton Press for one of their building publications. At that time the only online forums I really had any knowledge of were religious in nature and he talked about other members "as if they were real people" :rotfl2: NONE of these people lived near my parents . . . they were all around the world. It became the family joke to refer to his online forum as "The Cult" . . . next thing I knew, my parents were planning a trip to Indiana or somewhere for a long weekend for a "Cult Get Together" :scared1: My mom had backup plans for her backup plans, but my Dad was determined to go and meet these people. People came from as far away as Australia!!!! Canada, Florida, Seattle, Rhode Island. . . They still get together at LEAST once a year, changing the meeting place from one hometown to the next. My parents have hosted once and they're hosting again this summer. . .
So I love that we have our own little "cult" with the Disboutiquers :hug: But man! does my Dad like to give me a hard time :laughing:



:lmao: That is too funny.

As usual, you are all so adorable!!!

This was one of my favorite outfits - I just love the MHs on your jeans - they really did turn out cute.

You should have brought a pair of shorts with you that day - you could have sold the jeans to the highest bidder. LOL :)

Great update - I just love it!

D~

:thumbsup2 She could have had extra spending money when she joins you in March:rotfl2:

[basketkat]

Your shirt and pants are ADORABLE! :thumbsup2

[mphalens]

yes i do remember that
i guess it really is a small world after all;)

Yes, yes it is :)

I'm in! I haven't subscribed to a TR in months, but yours has me hooked! I can't wait for updates! :goodvibes

That makes me so happy! I must be doing something right! :cool1:

LOVE your MH jeans!!! I'd love to have the MH Epcot for our Epcot day shirts. Did you sew around them as well or just iron them on?

Your Christmas photo looks great!!! Sad that you didn't get to use it.

Thanks!
Yes, I did sew a satin stitch around the edge of the design. I used silver thread for the silver part and black for the ears. That was one of the reasons I wanted to save these for when I was really sure of myself - the silver thread can be tricky!!!

Totally love the shirts and the pants! OMG they're adorable! Now I want some. :lmao:

Thanks!!! One day I hope to have an embroidery machine and make myself some embroidered MH Flag jeans!!!

As usual, you are all so adorable!!!

This was one of my favorite outfits - I just love the MHs on your jeans - they really did turn out cute.

You should have brought a pair of shorts with you that day - you could have sold the jeans to the highest bidder. LOL :)

Great update - I just love it!

D~

I should have! I actually had two CM's in the "Duffy Store" tell me I should talk to Disney and make a clothing deal with them - they loved the boys & my outfits so much :rotfl2:

Love that EPCOT outfit.:love: Too bad the MH are peeling off.:sad2:




:lmao: That is too funny.



:thumbsup2 She could have had extra spending money when she joins you in March:rotfl2:

Thanks!!! I'm bummed the MH are peeling off, but for now you can't tell b/c it's just the edges of a couple . . .

Darnit! I should have, shouldn't I??? :rotfl2:

Your shirt and pants are ADORABLE! :thumbsup2

Thanks!!!!









Sorry no update as of yet today :( I'm in a bad mood and this has bee my first chance to sit in front of a computer all day. We did "de-Christmas" the house though! :cool1:
I still need to fix the font on that page from last night too :rolleyes1

[mphalens]

Well, I fixed the mistakes (and too small font) and I knocked out another five pages this morning while Phalen did his school work (after having AT&T send us a new modem because I'm sick and tired of rebooting ours every day!).

Here are our pictures from the morning at Epcot!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/CharacterSpotjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/MickeyGoesGagajpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/DonaldsPagejpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/FindingNemojpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/AndsoitgoesSoarinjpeg.jpg

[basketkat]

Pictures with the Fab 5 are a must!!! :thumbsup2 I love that Mickey was so excited about your jeans! What a fun memory!!! ::MickeyMo

We love riding Nemo too! Its so nice to get to sit down and just ride along!

Oh no...poor Finn! :sad1: Soarin' is one of our favorites!!!!

[babynala]

Love your Epcot MH jeans and the boys pants are so cute. How cool that Mickey loved your jeans too. :cool1:

What a bummer that Finn was too short. My DS hated being too short when he was 3, he screamed like crazy (no tears) when he saw those logs coming down Splash Mountain and he couldn't go. You'll just have to plan another trip when Finn is 40".

[DMGeurts]

OK - seriously - something must have been wrong with The Dis earlier... I came on and specifically checked your PTR and there was nothing here... I just don't get it???

OK - Love the pages... But I'll bet you can't guess my favorite.... He is soooooo adorable!!!!

I just love how happy your boys are... You need to start planning for the trip when Finn is tall enough to ride these rides!

Thanks for the amazing update! :)

D~

[mphalens]

OK - seriously - something must have been wrong with The Dis earlier... I came on and specifically checked your PTR and there was nothing here... I just don't get it???

OK - Love the pages... But I'll bet you can't guess my favorite.... He is soooooo adorable!!!!

I just love how happy your boys are... You need to start planning for the trip when Finn is tall enough to ride these rides!

Thanks for the amazing update! :)

D~

:lmao: yah, sure ;)

Just glad you enjoyed it :)

[ireland_nicole]

Actually, I think D's telling the truth this time- I had the same problem earlier today. I really love those pants- I think they're even cuter in person though :)

[DMGeurts]

Actually, I think D's telling the truth this time- I had the same problem earlier today. I really love those pants- I think they're even cuter in person though :)

Thanks for backing me up Nicole. :thumbsup2

D~

[mphalens]

Well, I would have had this update posted last night, but for some reason one of the pages didn't want to upload to photobucket. I tried changing things, etc. but it still wouldn't go. Finally this morning I gave up and just uploaded it to Facebook and I'll borrow my image link from there.



http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/SpaceshipEarthPapajpeg-1.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/Schoolworkjpeg-1.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/ThisKidHatsjpeg-1.jpg

http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/399648_10150470219946188_623451187_8879795_5183085 41_n.jpg

[basketkat]

There is SO much to learn at Epcot!!! Thankfully my oldest daughter (who is in 1st grade this year) has a great teacher who also loves Disney. Her teacher had her make a journal of all she learned while at Disney. It is a great keepsake now! :thumbsup2

[DMGeurts]

awesome update Marianne!

D~

[miprender]

[FONT="Comic Sans MS"]
http://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/399648_10150470219946188_623451187_8879795_5183085 41_n.jpg

He's on our list to see on our next trip. DS6 was so sad we didn't get to see him last time that I even have our outfits planned for that day:rotfl:

[babynala]

Great update and love the picture with Party Donald!

[aboveH20]

Great update. I love the sombrero photo.

I never knew either of my grandfathers and always wonder what it would have been like to have them. It's touching when grandparents are so involved with their kids.

[729tink]

Love your TR so far - I'm getting such great ideas for my trip this summer!! BTW, I LOVE the boys' names! Cute family!

[VBAndrea]

You can come over anytime -- I think it's a six hour or so drive so you should be able to make it by this evening. You can get your jeans redone with embroidery and then I will steal them from you b/c we are about the same size.

I love all your pictures. I regret not taking more on our trip b/c so many turn out crappy -- I just have a P&S though. Once you buy my house I think I would like a Rebel. I videoed a lot but have yet to watch any of it (never mind our trip was tow years ago).

[mommy2mrb]

love your TR Marianne! so creative! will be back to check up on the other updates later!

[mphalens]

I'm so sorry I haven't updated! I'm off to work on some new pages now!!!

Good to "see" you, Lisa!!! :hug:

[mrsksomeday]

I'm so sorry I haven't updated! I'm off to work on some new pages now!!!



YAY!!! :banana::banana:

[729tink]

It's official - I'm addicted to this report!! Can't wait to see more!

[mphalens]

So I couldn't go to bed without giving y'all at least ONE new page.

I know, I know, you're thinking, "What?!?! Just ONE?!?!?" but it's an excellent ONE, I promise! It has tons of "AW!" factor and I even made it bigger than the normal pages :lovestruc


I'm sorry I've been slacking on the updates. I've had to work on Phalen's birthday invitations and Finn hasn't been sleeping well, so that means lots of lack of sleep for me at night, which in turn means instead of working on new pages while the boys have 'nap time' in the afternoons, I've been napping too. Which is why, instead of staying up late again tonight, I'm going to post this and then go to sleep - so hopefully I can get more pages done tomorrow :woohoo:




http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/Mulanjpeg.jpg

[mrsksomeday]

A-DOR-ABLE!!!! Oh my goodness, such a great memory. I love how Vannah is always in Finn's thoughts :love:.

I can't wait for more updates. So sorry Finn hasn't been sleeping well.

[DMGeurts]

Awwwww factor is right!!! That Finn is so adorable - and I just love his love for Vannah - it's the sweetest thing ever. I've always loved that picture of Finn with the lips on his cheek- it's one of my favorite.

Thanks for the great update - I hope you got some good sleep last night - and Finn too.

D~

[babynala]

Sooooo cute. What a sweet little boy.

[miprender]

:goodvibes Awe what a cute update.

[Lidian]

OMG I love it! I'm hoping to see Mulan! It's one of my fave movies ... and now I'm wondering if my kids have seen it! :scared: Perhaps I should rent it before we go! Maybe make a list of movies I don't think they've seen. :lmao:

Anyway ... absolutely adorable story and pictures!!!!!! :love: :cloud9:

[mphalens]

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/RainRainGoAwayjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/RingRingRingjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/Princessesjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/MagicalMomentsjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/LookAtThoseCheeksjpeg.jpg


Now, i will tell you - there is a TR page missing here if I'm going in chronological order . . . but I had a choice to either post these and wait until I had the time to devote to the page to post it, or I could wait on and post them all in order. Since it's been so long between updates already, I thought you'd rather see these and get one out of order later than not :confused3 Was I right?

[Lidian]

Oh, what an amazing update, as always!

I'm game for it being out of order, so long as it remains as precious as it has been. :thumbsup2

Waiting for more! :cloud9:

[DMGeurts]

Awww... That little Finn.... I just love how he loves "his Vannah" so much -that little pirate would meet the princesses for her....

What a great update... I still love that pic of you with your VB umbrella... Did I ever tell you that I have the matching Hipster to that? LOL

Thanks for the huge update - it was really awesome. And I agree with Liddy - they can be out of order, as long as they are adorable. :)

D~

[mommy2mrb]

Your little guys are just so cute! love seeing them having fun with their papa and mimi, wonderful memories!

sounds like Savannah is one lucky little girl to have Finn visit all the princesses for her!

love all your outfits, esp your Epcot day!

[basketkat]

Oh my word- Finn is so adorable!!! I just love how the characters never miss a beat!!!

And kisses on the cheek??? So sweet! :lovestruc

[babynala]

We will take out of order if we get to see your little guys having a great time in Disney. Even a little damp you kids are such cuties.

[mphalens]

Glad you guys like the last update! I'm going to work on some more pages today, I promise!

I had my first day of work today since before Thanksgiving! 6 Soccer Shots demo sessions back to back for 2-5 year olds! Phew! Takes a lot out of a girl - but I can't wait to get a paycheck again! Maybe it will help improve my mood :confused3

[DMGeurts]

Awww... Miss Marianne... To make you feel better, you can start planning our trip to WDW next year. :)

D~

[mommy2mrb]

Glad you guys like the last update! I'm going to work on some more pages today, I promise!

I had my first day of work today since before Thanksgiving! 6 Soccer Shots demo sessions back to back for 2-5 year olds! Phew! Takes a lot out of a girl - but I can't wait to get a paycheck again! Maybe it will help improve my mood :confused3

Awww... Miss Marianne... To make you feel better, you can start planning our trip to WDW next year. :)

D~

yay for getting a paycheck again!

or you can plan some activities when we come to Charlotte this summer :cool1:

[aboveH20]

So I couldn't go to bed without giving y'all at least ONE new page.

I know, I know, you're thinking, "What?!?! Just ONE?!?!?" but it's an excellent ONE, I promise! It has tons of "AW!" factor and I even made it bigger than the normal pages :lovestruc


I'm sorry I've been slacking on the updates. I've had to work on Phalen's birthday invitations and Finn hasn't been sleeping well, so that means lots of lack of sleep for me at night, which in turn means instead of working on new pages while the boys have 'nap time' in the afternoons, I've been napping too. Which is why, instead of staying up late again tonight, I'm going to post this and then go to sleep - so hopefully I can get more pages done tomorrow :woohoo:




http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/Mulanjpeg.jpg

You're right about the awwwwwwwwwww factor. How precious. (Gotta go across the hall now and pat my 24 year old on the head. :sad1:)

OMG I love it! I'm hoping to see Mulan! It's one of my fave movies ... and now I'm wondering if my kids have seen it! :scared: Perhaps I should rent it before we go! Maybe make a list of movies I don't think they've seen. :lmao:

Anyway ... absolutely adorable story and pictures!!!!!! :love: :cloud9:

When my son and his girldfriend were home over Christmas she wanted to watch Mulan -- her favorite. I hadn't seen it for years. I have to say it must resonate with you or not. I'm a 'not' :confused3.

[mphalens]

Awww... Miss Marianne... To make you feel better, you can start planning our trip to WDW next year. :)

D~

:goodvibes: Oh how I wish! :goodvibes:

yay for getting a paycheck again!

or you can plan some activities when we come to Charlotte this summer :cool1:

That's right!!! Oh! How much fun is THAT going to be!!! When are you coming this summer again? I think we need to get D~ to make the trip at the same time :goodvibes:

You're right about the awwwwwwwwwww factor. How precious. (Gotta go across the hall now and pat my 24 year old on the head. :sad1:)



When my son and his girldfriend were home over Christmas she wanted to watch Mulan -- her favorite. I hadn't seen it for years. I have to say it must resonate with you or not. I'm a 'not' :confused3.

They grow up fast, don't they? I was just thinking tonight about Phalen's first trip and how much of a big boy we thought he was then . . . and now he'll turn 7 in a couple of weeks :scared1:

I honestly don't think I have ever seen Mulan in its entirety :confused: I think Finn & I might need to have a movie & popcorn date sometime soon and borrow it from the library to watch. Mulan the character was on our "must see" list because she's the Warrior Princess and I think it's important for the boys to see girls in roles like that :)

I apologize again for not having an update for you . . . I ended up spending the morning running errands with my bestie (a much needed outing for both of us as we have had a major disconnect lately and today we were finally able to spend some time together) and then my demo sessions for work that I thought would be cancelled turned into a wonderful afternoon reading to 6 classrooms of children :) Tonight I had dinner with a couple of friends nad then it was our monthly BUNCO game. Long story short, I am sitting in front of computer now and it's midnight... So - let's hope I have some time tomorrow afternoon after work and a focus group for Britax carseats (woohoo :woohoo: for Britax and their parent advisory group - I take the boys to try out their new carseats and we get a free one :woohoo: for our time!)....

[DMGeurts]

:goodvibes: Oh how I wish! :goodvibes:

Me too...


[That's right!!! Oh! How much fun is THAT going to be!!! When are you coming this summer again? I think we need to get D~ to make the trip at the same time :goodvibes:

We would all have a blast... Ya never know - I might be able to swing it for a weekend or something...

Lisa - when are you going?

[They grow up fast, don't they? I was just thinking tonight about Phalen's first trip and how much of a big boy we thought he was then . . . and now he'll turn 7 in a couple of weeks :scared1:

I honestly don't think I have ever seen Mulan in its entirety :confused: I think Finn & I might need to have a movie & popcorn date sometime soon and borrow it from the library to watch. Mulan the character was on our "must see" list because she's the Warrior Princess and I think it's important for the boys to see girls in roles like that :)

I apologize again for not having an update for you . . . I ended up spending the morning running errands with my bestie (a much needed outing for both of us as we have had a major disconnect lately and today we were finally able to spend some time together) and then my demo sessions for work that I thought would be cancelled turned into a wonderful afternoon reading to 6 classrooms of children :) Tonight I had dinner with a couple of friends nad then it was our monthly BUNCO game. Long story short, I am sitting in front of computer now and it's midnight... So - let's hope I have some time tomorrow afternoon after work and a focus group for Britax carseats (woohoo :woohoo: for Britax and their parent advisory group - I take the boys to try out their new carseats and we get a free one :woohoo: for our time!)....


I know how you feel... I have a few besties and it's so hard sometimes to maintain relationships - especially when, for a while, you don't have a lot in common... My next door neighbor and I used to be great friends, with no hard feelings we just grew apart a couple of summers ago - and our friendship was really strained - when we were together - we really had to work hard at finding common ground. This last summer, I noticed that she was really great friends with another neighbor, and it really hurt my feelings - so I made a conscious effort to try harder to be a better friend... That didn't go so well - as we still didn't have much in common. Finally, I just gave up - I know that sounds horrible - but it's not exactly what you're thinking - I just stopped trying so hard to make an effort (becaise I felt like I was the one making all the effort) and decided to let the chips fall where they may. In the last few weeks, we have done quite a bit together again (Christmas shopping, New Years....) and things seem much better - easier. HOpefully it continues that way, if not, I am OK with that, as I am happy with my life - the hobbies I have - the friends I have - and I guess that's what I had to realize in the first place. Does that make any sense?

^ Sorry 'bout that - in an effort to relate, I wrote a book. :rolleyes1

That is really awesome about the car seat - Britax is the best - at least it was when my girls were little. I am not sure how their quality is with their product at Target, since they started carrying their seats though???

D~

[mphalens]

Me too...

We would all have a blast... Ya never know - I might be able to swing it for a weekend or something...

Lisa - when are you going?


Oooh! Lisa - do you see this??? I think we need to work on D~ coming to Charlotte this summer while you & Megan are here! :cheer2:


I know how you feel... I have a few besties and it's so hard sometimes to maintain relationships - especially when, for a while, you don't have a lot in common... My next door neighbor and I used to be great friends, with no hard feelings we just grew apart a couple of summers ago - and our friendship was really strained - when we were together - we really had to work hard at finding common ground. This last summer, I noticed that she was really great friends with another neighbor, and it really hurt my feelings - so I made a conscious effort to try harder to be a better friend... That didn't go so well - as we still didn't have much in common. Finally, I just gave up - I know that sounds horrible - but it's not exactly what you're thinking - I just stopped trying so hard to make an effort (becaise I felt like I was the one making all the effort) and decided to let the chips fall where they may. In the last few weeks, we have done quite a bit together again (Christmas shopping, New Years....) and things seem much better - easier. HOpefully it continues that way, if not, I am OK with that, as I am happy with my life - the hobbies I have - the friends I have - and I guess that's what I had to realize in the first place. Does that make any sense?

^ Sorry 'bout that - in an effort to relate, I wrote a book. :rolleyes1

Books are perfectly fine :hug: Novels, encyclopedias, short stories . . . all A-Ok :thumbsup2 Someone has to add to this TR and it doesn't appear to be me posting new trip pages at the moment! :rolleyes1


That is really awesome about the car seat - Britax is the best - at least it was when my girls were little. I am not sure how their quality is with their product at Target, since they started carrying their seats though???

D~

Britax is still right up there in the carseat hierarchy . . . I've learned a lot being a part of this panel. . . they have different cover fashions for their various seats - so usually a cover you would get on a seat from Target you wouldn't see anywhere else. . . Babies R Us has some like that too . . . but the seat itself is the same seat across the board :)
I'm just excited that Finn will finally get to pick out his "big boy" car seat. We needed the last focus group freebie seat for Phalen and there's no way we could buy Finn a new seat like he wants . . . so he knows he had to wait until we got to do another focus group panel. :goodvibes

[mphalens]

It's just three pages, but at least it's an update!!! I'm going to work on some more pages until I need to leave for my MNO (mom's night out) . . . this week is pretty crazy - I'm never out this much and suddenly I have something every night of the week!



http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/DuffyJoinsthefamilyjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/endofdaytwojpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/OutfitsDayTwojpeg.jpg

[DMGeurts]

What an awesome update Marianne! I love the Duffy bear - he's so cute! And I love the outfits the boys chose.

And, of course, I love your Epcot outfits - those were just fabulous!

D~

[miprender]

:cool1: More updates YEAH! Love how Phalen wanted to go see the princesess:cloud9:

OT: But so far neither of the Joanne's near me have the StarWars Cotton fabric.:sad2: Looks like I am going to be stalking the store until they come in.:lmao:

[mphalens]

What an awesome update Marianne! I love the Duffy bear - he's so cute! And I love the outfits the boys chose.

And, of course, I love your Epcot outfits - those were just fabulous!

D~

:cool1: More updates YEAH! Love how Phalen wanted to go see the princesess:cloud9:

OT: But so far neither of the Joanne's near me have the StarWars Cotton fabric.:sad2: Looks like I am going to be stalking the store until they come in.:lmao:


Wow! Y'all are fast! I got up from the computer to go make sausage dip for MNO (we're having a crock pot cook off) and come back to update the links page and you've already posted! :grouphug:

Michelle - that really stinks that they still don't have it! Hopefully it comes in soon!!!!

[mommy2mrb]

Good thing the boys each chose different outfits for Duffy so they can share!

sorry about the rain the missing the parade...one of my fav's too!

have fun tonight with your friends!!

[hjohnson6]

Great trip report so far Marianne! I am looking forward to the rest. BTW your Figment bag is cool!

[mphalens]

Good thing the boys each chose different outfits for Duffy so they can share!

sorry about the rain the missing the parade...one of my fav's too!

have fun tonight with your friends!!

Yeah - the boys are good at things like that - of course, they won't REALLY share :sad2: but they could :headache:

I hope your day was filled with good memories. I've thought about you a lot today! :hug:

Tonight was a lot of fun! lots of laughs and yummy food and great company!

Great trip report so far Marianne! I am looking forward to the rest. BTW your Figment bag is cool!

Thanks Heather!!!! and thanks about my Figment bag! Isn't it just awesome??? I LOVE :love: LOVE it!

[disneydancer429]

lurker her posting to say that your boys are adorable!!! I'm really enjoying your report :D keep up the good work (those outfits are amazing!!)

[Lidian]

Awesome update (as usual!)!!!! Very precious! :cloud9:

Sorry you missed MSEP. :guilty:

[momminnie]

I just started your TR and I am all caught up. I love the scrapbook style. It makes reading it so much easier. No to mention that I am a scrapbook girl and love to look at everyone's photos. Can't wait for the next update. Your boys are just too precious.

[babynala]

Love the update! Too bad everyone missed seeing the electrical parade. That is the only thing I dislike about going to Disney at Halloween or Christmas time - all the party nights make is so they only run the regular parades on a very limited basis.

I'm impressed that you got any pictures at all with Finn on your shoulders. What a great memory.

[DMGeurts]

Oooh! Lisa - do you see this??? I think we need to work on D~ coming to Charlotte this summer while you & Megan are here! :cheer2:


LOL I need some dates... and some extra $$

[Books are perfectly fine :hug: Novels, encyclopedias, short stories . . . all A-Ok :thumbsup2 Someone has to add to this TR and it doesn't appear to be me posting new trip pages at the moment! :rolleyes1

LOL I can't imagine how long it must take you to make each of your pages... I am actually surprised you are posting them as fast as you are. :banana:



[Britax is still right up there in the carseat hierarchy . . . I've learned a lot being a part of this panel. . . they have different cover fashions for their various seats - so usually a cover you would get on a seat from Target you wouldn't see anywhere else. . . Babies R Us has some like that too . . . but the seat itself is the same seat across the board :)
I'm just excited that Finn will finally get to pick out his "big boy" car seat. We needed the last focus group freebie seat for Phalen and there's no way we could buy Finn a new seat like he wants . . . so he knows he had to wait until we got to do another focus group panel. :goodvibes

Excellent factoid... Just glad you get a free seat... They are so expensive and it always made me feel so much better that we had good car seats - thankfully we never needed them, but you just never know.

D~

[NiniMorris]

Mini Soapbox moment...

Good car seats are so important! That is the only reason Mr D is still alive today! His car seat broke into, but he survived. My husband uses that seat in his classes to show why they are so important...and yet, people STILL buy them at garage sales!!!!!


Off the soapbox now!


I love reading your tr! They are worth the wait...

Nini

[mphalens]

lurker her posting to say that your boys are adorable!!! I'm really enjoying your report :D keep up the good work (those outfits are amazing!!)

thanks! and welcome out of lurkdom! :)

Awesome update (as usual!)!!!! Very precious! :cloud9:

Sorry you missed MSEP. :guilty:

Thank you!!!

I just started your TR and I am all caught up. I love the scrapbook style. It makes reading it so much easier. No to mention that I am a scrapbook girl and love to look at everyone's photos. Can't wait for the next update. Your boys are just too precious.

Aw!! Thank you! I'm definitely enjoying making this trip report! Glad others are enjoying it!!!

Love the update! Too bad everyone missed seeing the electrical parade. That is the only thing I dislike about going to Disney at Halloween or Christmas time - all the party nights make is so they only run the regular parades on a very limited basis.

I'm impressed that you got any pictures at all with Finn on your shoulders. What a great memory.

Yeah - it was the only night we were there that the electrical parade was happening :( I was so bummed to miss it!!!

Lucky for me, Finn knows how to keep himself steady on my shoulders so I can snap a few pictures. . . unfortunately for me, how he does this usually results in some major neck pain for me after he's down from his perch :(

LOL I need some dates... and some extra $$



LOL I can't imagine how long it must take you to make each of your pages... I am actually surprised you are posting them as fast as you are. :banana:





Excellent factoid... Just glad you get a free seat... They are so expensive and it always made me feel so much better that we had good car seats - thankfully we never needed them, but you just never know.

D~

Yes - Lisa - when are you heading to Charlotte this summer?

The pages don't really take that long (the smaller ones without a lot of text anyways) - It's pretty much the same format on every page and on a mac when you know the shortcuts it's really quick . . .

I'm super glad the seats are free too - the last two seats we purchased were NOT cheap and basically were super super expensive birthday gifts for the boys. But, since Phalen turns 7 in a couple of weeks and is STILL in a 5 pt harness and will be for at least a couple more years (until he outgrows his seat for height & weight - and his seat goes to 85lbs harnessed and 57" tall - seated height 20" and THEN becomes a high back booster seat) it was worth the investment. Same with Finn's last purchased seat - if he hadn't started getting car-sick last summer he would still be rear-facing. We had to turn him forward-facing but his seat goes to 70lbs harnessed and 49" tall or 16.75" seated. This is the kid that's 36" tall and maybe 30lbs. He's not outgrowing that seat any time soon. However, he is DESPERATE for a "big boy car seat like Phalen's" . . . so since it was his turn to get the free car seat, he chose a Frontier 85 in Maui Blue.

Mini Soapbox moment...

Good car seats are so important! That is the only reason Mr D is still alive today! His car seat broke into, but he survived. My husband uses that seat in his classes to show why they are so important...and yet, people STILL buy them at garage sales!!!!!


Off the soapbox now!


I love reading your tr! They are worth the wait...

Nini

Nini - Feel free to have soapbox moments like that ANYTIME in my TR! :hug: I'm a bit of a crazy person when it comes to car seats. Thankfully, I've never had first hand experience of a crash that put my seats to the test, but I know too many people who have. We had a crash here in Charlotte last year where the mother (and her unborn child) didn't survive their injuries from a crash, but the daughter was fine because her car seat protected her. I really don't understand why car manufacturers aren't required to do more in the way they design car seats - if you look at the stats, my MOM should be in a booster seat to be properly restrained in a car.

[mommy2mrb]

LOL I need some dates... and some extra $$


D~


No dates for our trip to Charlotte as of yet....waiting on Judy to get the schedule for the girls summer camps...hope Megan will be able to join them for one of the camps...will hopefully know in the next couple of months, but will probably be late June (megan gets out of school june 21) to early July...we also hope to go down to Charleston , Megan was born there and maybe down to Atlanta to visit some other friends.

will keep you all posted when we are going!

D~ just keep sewing those amazing bags and you will make enough to come play too!

[DMGeurts]

I'm super glad the seats are free too - the last two seats we purchased were NOT cheap and basically were super super expensive birthday gifts for the boys. But, since Phalen turns 7 in a couple of weeks and is STILL in a 5 pt harness and will be for at least a couple more years (until he outgrows his seat for height & weight - and his seat goes to 85lbs harnessed and 57" tall - seated height 20" and THEN becomes a high back booster seat) it was worth the investment. Same with Finn's last purchased seat - if he hadn't started getting car-sick last summer he would still be rear-facing. We had to turn him forward-facing but his seat goes to 70lbs harnessed and 49" tall or 16.75" seated. This is the kid that's 36" tall and maybe 30lbs. He's not outgrowing that seat any time soon. However, he is DESPERATE for a "big boy car seat like Phalen's" . . . so since it was his turn to get the free car seat, he chose a Frontier 85 in Maui Blue.[/SIZE][/FONT]


OK... I have to vent too - even though mine is a distant memory... While Josh was in Iraq, MN passed the new car seat laws - I can't remember the exact requirements anymore - but it was sooo frustrating, because the manufacturers DID NOT MAKE a car seat to fit the state law requirements. My bff and I searched for months for a car seat to fit Allison, and it was impossible. Most of them were too narrow (and she was not huge by any means), and it was so frustrating. We did end up finding ONE car seat - and she only used it for a year before she out grew it... I don't know if things have changed, now that so many states have changed their laws, but I found it totally impossible to find a car seat to fit Alli properly, and it really angered me that I couldn't properly protect my child... Honestly, they'd still be in car seats if I could find one to fit them... Even though Allison is 4" taller than I am now. :rolleyes1

No dates for our trip to Charlotte as of yet....waiting on Judy to get the schedule for the girls summer camps...hope Megan will be able to join them for one of the camps...will hopefully know in the next couple of months, but will probably be late June (megan gets out of school june 21) to early July...we also hope to go down to Charleston , Megan was born there and maybe down to Atlanta to visit some other friends.

will keep you all posted when we are going!

D~ just keep sewing those amazing bags and you will make enough to come play too!

Well, keep us updated.

Josh already told me that most of my sewing $$ now needs to go into our family budget (after this trip) - he saw all the dough I've been raking in (really, not so much, if you figure the math) and feels it should be part of our income now. :confused3 So, less $$ for play, more $$ for bills. :cool1: <---- Sarcasm.

D~

[mommy2mrb]

OK... I have to vent too - even though mine is a distant memory... While Josh was in Iraq, MN passed the new car seat laws - I can't remember the exact requirements anymore - but it was sooo frustrating, because the manufacturers DID NOT MAKE a car seat to fit the state law requirements. My bff and I searched for months for a car seat to fit Allison, and it was impossible. Most of them were too narrow (and she was not huge by any means), and it was so frustrating. We did end up finding ONE car seat - and she only used it for a year before she out grew it... I don't know if things have changed, now that so many states have changed their laws, but I found it totally impossible to find a car seat to fit Alli properly, and it really angered me that I couldn't properly protect my child... Honestly, they'd still be in car seats if I could find one to fit them... Even though Allison is 4" taller than I am now. :rolleyes1



Well, keep us updated.

Josh already told me that most of my sewing $$ now needs to go into our family budget (after this trip) - he saw all the dough I've been raking in (really, not so much, if you figure the math) and feels it should be part of our income now. :confused3 So, less $$ for play, more $$ for bills. :cool1: <---- Sarcasm.

D~

I had problems when Megan outgrew her car seat early, she was in a booster with the back, just using the seat belt by age 3 since she was so tall....lucky for us she never tried to unbuckle herself! my mom's neighbor does the car seat check at thelocal police station, she is shocked how many are not installed correctly!


Well paying off bills is a good thing too! maybe if you could find a really cheap airfare he will let you come play!

[blessedmom4]

Marianne...LOVING the updates; you are SOOOOO far ahead of me on the reporting..and you just got back (or so it seems to me). I am in LOVE with your figment bag. D~ Has done such an AMAZING job on all of her bags and she told me several weeks ago she was in the planning stages for wheel chair bags...I could put them all to good use!

Marianne, the boys are simply precious and I love all of the outfits, I am SOOOO in awe of your skills. The trip report looks so wonderful and I LOVE the sweetness with Mulan. :love::love:

Jazz Camp dates will not be announced until Late February...and that is the one that theater camp is planned around...so HOPEFULLY I can answer that question soon so we can have a big old party in Charlotte...Michelle, do you want to come too...We could have a great time and we can double up at our house so nobody would need a hotel...We have a guest room and our class room has a daybed with a popup twin bed...Plus I can always pitch a tent in the back yard for you all...:rotfl2::lmao: Anybody else want to join us! (You might WANT to sleep outside, my house isn't fancy). :rotfl:

Marianne...slow down, you are putting me to shame! :guilty::guilty::guilty:

[DMGeurts]

Marianne...LOVING the updates; you are SOOOOO far ahead of me on the reporting..and you just got back (or so it seems to me). I am in LOVE with your figment bag. D~ Has done such an AMAZING job on all of her bags and she told me several weeks ago she was in the planning stages for wheel chair bags...I could put them all to good use!

Awww... Thanks Judy! :lovestruc I do have a wheelchair bag in the planning stages (it's still in my head, not on paper)... If you ever find some free time - could you please send me a list of "the ideal wheel chair bag"... Like what kind of pockets - inside or out or both... zippers, flaps - that sort of thing... I would even reward you greatly for your effort. :lovestruc

[Marianne, the boys are simply precious and I love all of the outfits, I am SOOOO in awe of your skills. The trip report looks so wonderful and I LOVE the sweetness with Mulan. :love::love:

Jazz Camp dates will not be announced until Late February...and that is the one that theater camp is planned around...so HOPEFULLY I can answer that question soon so we can have a big old party in Charlotte...Michelle, do you want to come too...We could have a great time and we can double up at our house so nobody would need a hotel...We have a guest room and our class room has a daybed with a popup twin bed...Plus I can always pitch a tent in the back yard for you all...:rotfl2::lmao: Anybody else want to join us! (You might WANT to sleep outside, my house isn't fancy). :rotfl:

Marianne...slow down, you are putting me to shame! :guilty::guilty::guilty:


I would happily stay at anyone's house... Gosh, we would all have a blast... Seriously... I could probably make it happen this summer, especially if I could impose on everyone - it would be so much fun!!! Could someone pick me up from the airport??? D~ would need a ride - she doesn't do well driving in strange locales. :rolleyes1

OK - now I am excited abou this trip too....

D~

[mommy2mrb]

Awww... Thanks Judy! :lovestruc I do have a wheelchair bag in the planning stages (it's still in my head, not on paper)... If you ever find some free time - could you please send me a list of "the ideal wheel chair bag"... Like what kind of pockets - inside or out or both... zippers, flaps - that sort of thing... I would even reward you greatly for your effort. :lovestruc



I would happily stay at anyone's house... Gosh, we would all have a blast... Seriously... I could probably make it happen this summer, especially if I could impose on everyone - it would be so much fun!!! Could someone pick me up from the airport??? D~ would need a ride - she doesn't do well driving in strange locales. :rolleyes1

OK - now I am excited abou this trip too....

D~



a wheelchair bag sounds wonderful!

if you can get to Charlotte getting you at the airport is easy! Charlotte's pretty easy to get around from what I can remember!

[miprender]

Jazz Camp dates will not be announced until Late February...and that is the one that theater camp is planned around...so HOPEFULLY I can answer that question soon so we can have a big old party in Charlotte...Michelle, do you want to come too...We could have a great time and we can double up at our house so nobody would need a hotel...We have a guest room and our class room has a daybed with a popup twin bed...Plus I can always pitch a tent in the back yard for you all...:rotfl2::lmao: Anybody else want to join us! (You might WANT to sleep outside, my house isn't fancy). :rotfl:

Marianne...slow down, you are putting me to shame! :guilty::guilty::guilty:


I would love to come but we have to go shopping at that fabric store everyone talks about and I will bring my embroidery machine and D can bring Patience:goodvibes

[DMGeurts]

a wheelchair bag sounds wonderful!

if you can get to Charlotte getting you at the airport is easy! Charlotte's pretty easy to get around from what I can remember!

Does that mean you're volunteering to pick me up Lisa??? :cool1:

I would love to come but we have to go shopping at that fabric store everyone talks about and I will bring my embroidery machine and D can bring Patience:goodvibes

That would be awesome Michelle... You should definately come! Not sure about Miss P. though... She has flight issues. :confused3

D~

[blessedmom4]

We have HIJACKED Marianne's thread!

I will pick you up D~ I am VERY good at getting to and from the airport!:lmao: I go out there several times a week (EVERYTHING David does seems to be out that way) and Marianne lives fairly close to the airport as well.

Michelle, I would LOVE it if you (and your embroidery machine) could come...I am already drooling at the prospect! I understand about Patience D~...But I do have some fabric I picked up cheap if we could get Marianne's machine. AND we could go to all the fabric stores and Wal-mart's with fabric....We could have a BLAST!

D~, I will be happy to share some ides on what I like in a wheelchair bag! There are NEVER enough pockets! They always make them like a big, open sack...I LIKE to be organized! And you wouldn't be imposing if you stayed at our house...I offered. :goodvibes

Rachel just called me...Now I must go examine Bandit's poop...all those years of nursing school put to great use with The Miracle Dog....

[blessedmom4]

a wheelchair bag sounds wonderful!

if you can get to Charlotte getting you at the airport is easy! Charlotte's pretty easy to get around from what I can remember!

I just had to say...HA! The crowds these days can be quite :scared1::scared1: of course, I am a native and remember when...

[DMGeurts]

We have HIJACKED Marianne's thread!

Yah, she should probably stop fussing with all these wonderful Pixie Dustin's she's making us, and come play on The Dis. :thumbsup2

[I will pick you up D~ I am VERY good at getting to and from the airport!:lmao: I go out there several times a week (EVERYTHING David does seems to be out that way) and Marianne lives fairly close to the airport as well.


AWESOME!!! I snore though... Just thought I'd forewarn. :rolleyes1


[Michelle, I would LOVE it if you (and your embroidery machine) could come...I am already drooling at the prospect! I understand about Patience D~...But I do have some fabric I picked up cheap if we could get Marianne's machine. AND we could go to all the fabric stores and Wal-mart's with fabric....We could have a BLAST!

This would be so much fun!!! I could help everyone refurb their vintage machines that they'll have by then. :thumbsup2

[D~, I will be happy to share some ides on what I like in a wheelchair bag! There are NEVER enough pockets! They always make them like a big, open sack...I LIKE to be organized!

Keep the ideas coming... I am copying everything you say into a Word doc. Inside pockets, outside pockets - dimensions (deep/shallow?)... Is there something you've always wanted a pocket for, but never get??? I really want to customize this bag for what people need. :thumbsup2

[And you wouldn't be imposing if you stayed at our house...I offered. :goodvibes

Yay!!! :banana:

[Rachel just called me...Now I must go examine Bandit's poop...all those years of nursing school put to great use with The Miracle Dog....

Ack - I hope everything is still OK. :hug:

D~

[mphalens]

Y'all crack me up! And like Judy said, I'm 15 minutes TOPS from the airport, so I'm happy to pick people up too. We have a guest sofa bed (it's in the playroom) that is available for dibs also :) I think it would be so much fun if y'all came to visit this summer!!! And yes, D~ , you can help me refurb. that machine if I haven't gotten to it by then!!!

I'll even go so far as to promise trips to Mary Jo's, any and all area Walmarts with fabric departments, Jo-Ann's, Hancock Fabrics, Hobby Lobby and the quilting shops like Sew Much Fun and Queen Bee . . . We could easily fit four machines around my dining room table too :)

Michelle - I still think we need to get everyone to RI too . . . hmm . . . I know:idea: Lisa, Megan & D~ can all fly here and then everyone can road trip it to RI together!!! We can take them to BOTH Just Fabrics locations, RYCO, etc!

Andrea - are you getting in on any of these trips???

So - I've been a busy girl today. This morning I had a nice facebook chat with D~ and then took the boys to Sebastian's 7th Birthday Party at the Bowling Alley. After that we stopped at Hancock Fabrics because I needed thread to be able to finish the major pixie dusting I was doing for D~ and her girls. They had the Maxi-Lock cones on sale for $1.99! :woohoo: My machine really likes that thread - especially for satin stitching. I was able to get every color I needed in a cone except for blue.
Then I came home and while Phalen rode his bike I battled with Finn to take a much needed nap . . . all the while I was working on that pixie dust! I'd LOVE to show y'all a picture of the finished product, but then D~ wouldn't be surprised . . . :rolleyes1 I DID take pictures though . . .
I then had to find a box for this pixie dust. Searched high and low, found one, put everything inside - taped the box shut, wrapped the box in brown postal paper, taped it up. . . and then realized I hadn't put the shirt D~ had me pick up for her at the Disney Outlet in :headache:
There was no way I was unwrapping that box . . . so I put the shirt in a gallon ziploc bag and taped it to the box and then wrapped the whole thing in MORE brown postal paper and taped it up. I'd love to share pictures, but they're on my phone and it doesn't want to cooperate with my computer.

[DMGeurts]

Y'all crack me up! And like Judy said, I'm 15 minutes TOPS from the airport, so I'm happy to pick people up too. We have a guest sofa bed (it's in the playroom) that is available for dibs also :) I think it would be so much fun if y'all came to visit this summer!!! And yes, D~ , you can help me refurb. that machine if I haven't gotten to it by then!!!

Wawesome!!! I don't care whose house I sleep at, as long as it's free... This would be such a fun trip!

[I'll even go so far as to promise trips to Mary Jo's, any and all area Walmarts with fabric departments, Jo-Ann's, Hancock Fabrics, Hobby Lobby and the quilting shops like Sew Much Fun and Queen Bee . . . We could easily fit four machines around my dining room table too :)

This would be a blast too... So, you actually want me to bring $$? LOL Here I thought you all just wanted to meet Patience?

Obviously, this will have to be an extended weekend trip...

So, are we going to do a sew along??? That would be tons of fun... we could all make the same thing to commemorate the weekend. :thumbsup2

[Michelle - I still think we need to get everyone to RI too . . . hmm . . . I know:idea: Lisa, Megan & D~ can all fly here and then everyone can road trip it to RI together!!! We can take them to BOTH Just Fabrics locations, RYCO, etc!

Andrea - are you getting in on any of these trips???

How about if we rotate years??? Every year, we could all get together at someone's house. :cool1: I am sure that no one would mind sleeping under my sewing machines on the floor. :lovestruc

[So - I've been a busy girl today. This morning I had a nice facebook chat with D~ and then took the boys to Sebastian's 7th Birthday Party at the Bowling Alley. After that we stopped at Hancock Fabrics because I needed thread to be able to finish the major pixie dusting I was doing for D~ and her girls. They had the Maxi-Lock cones on sale for $1.99! :woohoo: My machine really likes that thread - especially for satin stitching. I was able to get every color I needed in a cone except for blue.
Then I came home and while Phalen rode his bike I battled with Finn to take a much needed nap . . . all the while I was working on that pixie dust! I'd LOVE to show y'all a picture of the finished product, but then D~ wouldn't be surprised . . . :rolleyes1 I DID take pictures though . . .
I then had to find a box for this pixie dust. Searched high and low, found one, put everything inside - taped the box shut, wrapped the box in brown postal paper, taped it up. . . and then realized I hadn't put the shirt D~ had me pick up for her at the Disney Outlet in :headache:
There was no way I was unwrapping that box . . . so I put the shirt in a gallon ziploc bag and taped it to the box and then wrapped the whole thing in MORE brown postal paper and taped it up. I'd love to share pictures, but they're on my phone and it doesn't want to cooperate with my computer.

Yes... that was a nice little chat. :)

I am dying to see what's inside of the box, seeing as I know what's outside the box. :rotfl2: BTW... That was so nice of you to send me a picture of the box... :lovestruc Just wait until the next time you take a trip... popcorn::

D~ <--- who is uber tired and can't keep her eyes open any longer, but I had a can of diet Cherry Coke with dinner tonight, and dd #2 is babysitting at the neighbor's... I don't like going to bed with out all my kidlets all tucked into bed. :surfweb:

[mphalens]

:lmao::cool1::lmao::cool1::woohoo::cool1::lmao::co ol1::lmao:

Guess what I just did?
I posted pictures on my Facebook wall of the surprise I made for D~ and her girls and SHE CAN'T SEE THEM!!!! I blocked her from seeing the pics!!!!!:rotfl:

So - mosey on over and check them out!!!

[mommy2mrb]

Sounds like this is going to be quite the adventure this summer! D~ hope you can make it out!

hmm hobby lobby I'll hit the scrapbooking area :woohoo:....so when's everyone coming to WA? I don't have lots of space....Megan's room has a queen bed, have a blow up single and the couch too! so we could be cozy!
love the idea of going to visit other friends each year!


will have to go take a look at your FB page....I can see it! D~ is going to love it!!!

[DMGeurts]

:lmao::cool1::lmao::cool1::woohoo::cool1::lmao::co ol1::lmao:

Guess what I just did?
I posted pictures on my Facebook wall of the surprise I made for D~ and her girls and SHE CAN'T SEE THEM!!!! I blocked her from seeing the pics!!!!!:rotfl:

So - mosey on over and check them out!!!

Cruel... I wanna see.... :surfweb:

Sounds like this is going to be quite the adventure this summer! D~ hope you can make it out!

hmm hobby lobby I'll hit the scrapbooking area :woohoo:....so when's everyone coming to WA? I don't have lots of space....Megan's room has a queen bed, have a blow up single and the couch too! so we could be cozy!
love the idea of going to visit other friends each year!


will have to go take a look at your FB page....I can see it! D~ is going to love it!!!

YOu guys can wait till the girls move out to visit us...Then you all can have the girls' beds. I am sure Josh will go to the lake... rather than being over come with women, obsessed with Disney and their sewing machines. :rotfl2: His worst nightmare. LOL

D~

[mphalens]

Cruel... I wanna see.... :surfweb:



YOu guys can wait till the girls move out to visit us...Then you all can have the girls' beds. I am sure Josh will go to the lake... rather than being over come with women, obsessed with Disney and their sewing machines. :rotfl2: His worst nightmare. LOL

D~


No you don't :) You want to be surprised! :D

I was, however, giggling like crazy last night when I figured out how to post those pictures without you being able to see them :rotfl2:

Today I have to excavate my room and hallway from the piles of laundry (at least a lot of it is clean and just needs to be put away). I also need to clean up my sewing area (have to deal with the laundry first as DH thought my sewing area was a good place for clean clothes) and make an attempt to clean the rest of the house ... and all of this has to be done AFTER church (which doesn't start until 10:40). My little sister (sorority, not blood, but might as well be) called on Friday to say she wanted to stop and see me on her way back from Raleigh on Monday!!! We have totally lost touch the last couple of years and I miss her.

[miprender]

Y'all crack me up! And like Judy said, I'm 15 minutes TOPS from the airport, so I'm happy to pick people up too. We have a guest sofa bed (it's in the playroom) that is available for dibs also :) I think it would be so much fun if y'all came to visit this summer!!! And yes, D~ , you can help me refurb. that machine if I haven't gotten to it by then!!!

I'll even go so far as to promise trips to Mary Jo's, any and all area Walmarts with fabric departments, Jo-Ann's, Hancock Fabrics, Hobby Lobby and the quilting shops like Sew Much Fun and Queen Bee . . . We could easily fit four machines around my dining room table too :)

Michelle - I still think we need to get everyone to RI too . . . hmm . . . I know:idea: Lisa, Megan & D~ can all fly here and then everyone can road trip it to RI together!!! We can take them to BOTH Just Fabrics locations, RYCO, etc!

Andrea - are you getting in on any of these trips???



That is not fair:mad: that you have so many places for fabric shopping.

But we definitely will take them there to Ryco's and Just Fabric. RI is great in the summer:goodvibes

But I really want to go to NYC and shop in the Garment District. My mom went last year and only got to go in a few stores.




No you don't :) You want to be surprised! :D

I was, however, giggling like crazy last night when I figured out how to post those pictures without you being able to see them :rotfl2:


:rolleyes1 D you are going to love it :love:

[DMGeurts]

No you don't :) You want to be surprised! :D

You're right, I do. :lovestruc But I can still complain about it.

[I was, however, giggling like crazy last night when I figured out how to post those pictures without you being able to see them :rotfl2:


You're awfully sneaky...

[Today I have to excavate my room and hallway from the piles of laundry (at least a lot of it is clean and just needs to be put away). I also need to clean up my sewing area (have to deal with the laundry first as DH thought my sewing area was a good place for clean clothes) and make an attempt to clean the rest of the house ... and all of this has to be done AFTER church (which doesn't start until 10:40). My little sister (sorority, not blood, but might as well be) called on Friday to say she wanted to stop and see me on her way back from Raleigh on Monday!!! We have totally lost touch the last couple of years and I miss her.


Sorry, but that'll teach DH to use you're sewing space for clean clothes storage, because you'll just pile everything on the bed. :rotfl2:

Have fun with your little sister today. :thumbsup2 Glad you'll get time to reconnect.

D~

[mphalens]

That is not fair:mad: that you have so many places for fabric shopping.

But we definitely will take them there to Ryco's and Just Fabric. RI is great in the summer:goodvibes

But I really want to go to NYC and shop in the Garment District. My mom went last year and only got to go in a few stores.



:rolleyes1 D you are going to love it :love:

OMG! That's it! We're going! My mom & I have been planning a trip to NYC for fabric shopping this summer. . .you're going to have to come with!
Anyone else want to join us? I'm telling you, if I could become a travel agent for the Disboutiquers I could maybe actually afford this fabric addiction :)

And, I can tell you, there is no place on earth that I've found so far as Just Fabric. I would be in SERIOUS trouble if I lived in RI full time!!! Even Mary Jo's, while beyond awesome, cannot hold a candle to Just Fabric's Disney stuff (and Just Fabrics beats anyone's prices that I've found!).

You're right, I do. :lovestruc But I can still complain about it.



You're awfully sneaky...




Sorry, but that'll teach DH to use you're sewing space for clean clothes storage, because you'll just pile everything on the bed. :rotfl2:

Have fun with your little sister today. :thumbsup2 Glad you'll get time to reconnect.

D~

Hehehe - The problem is the table in my sewing area. . . I try to keep it cleaned off so it's ready to go when I need it . . . it also happens to be on DH's side of the bed so it becomes his 'catch-all' . . .

okay! must run! DH made pancakes!!!

[Blyssfull]

I LOVE! your trip report. It's so much fun to read. I could just squeeze your boys to pieces. Thanks for the sweet words!


I WANNA COME!!!! I'll bring my PE770 so y'all can burn it up. ;) I have a nephew that lives in Concord with his Mama. And my parents have a second home in Hayesville, NC we go to ALLL the time since my middle brother lives there. I really love NC, I think if I didn't live in Georgia, that would be my next choice. And I have ALWAYS been a HUUUUUGE Duke Blue Devils (basketball) fan.

Then y'all are welcome to ATL to stay with me. Lets pick a week when my hubby is out of state/country with business and you can even bring your kiddos. We have five bedrooms so there's plenty of room for everyone. We'll order pizza and live on Disney movies. :) We don't really have great fabric stores here tho so we'll have to buy all our fabric in NC and then sew it all up here. hehe!! Or just site see. :)

[mphalens]

I LOVE! your trip report. It's so much fun to read. I could just squeeze your boys to pieces. Thanks for the sweet words!


I WANNA COME!!!! I'll bring my PE770 so y'all can burn it up. ;) I have a nephew that lives in Concord with his Mama. And my parents have a second home in Hayesville, NC we go to ALLL the time since my middle brother lives there. I really love NC, I think if I didn't live in Georgia, that would be my next choice. And I have ALWAYS been a HUUUUUGE Duke Blue Devils (basketball) fan.

Then y'all are welcome to ATL to stay with me. Lets pick a week when my hubby is out of state/country with business and you can even bring your kiddos. We have five bedrooms so there's plenty of room for everyone. We'll order pizza and live on Disney movies. :) We don't really have great fabric stores here tho so we'll have to buy all our fabric in NC and then sew it all up here. hehe!! Or just site see. :)


yay! another recruit for our girls weekend trips!!!! :woohoo:

Glad you're liking the TR! Thank YOU for helping make my Disney outfits a reality in time for my trip!!! :hug:

[mommy2mrb]

I LOVE! your trip report. It's so much fun to read. I could just squeeze your boys to pieces. Thanks for the sweet words!


I WANNA COME!!!! I'll bring my PE770 so y'all can burn it up. ;) I have a nephew that lives in Concord with his Mama. And my parents have a second home in Hayesville, NC we go to ALLL the time since my middle brother lives there. I really love NC, I think if I didn't live in Georgia, that would be my next choice. And I have ALWAYS been a HUUUUUGE Duke Blue Devils (basketball) fan.

Then y'all are welcome to ATL to stay with me. Lets pick a week when my hubby is out of state/country with business and you can even bring your kiddos. We have five bedrooms so there's plenty of room for everyone. We'll order pizza and live on Disney movies. :) We don't really have great fabric stores here tho so we'll have to buy all our fabric in NC and then sew it all up here. hehe!! Or just site see. :)


Megan and I might be going down to ATL after we visit Charlotte (have 3 other friends , one is a DISer, that live in the ATL area!
maybe we can meet up!

[DMGeurts]

I LOVE! your trip report. It's so much fun to read. I could just squeeze your boys to pieces. Thanks for the sweet words!


I WANNA COME!!!! I'll bring my PE770 so y'all can burn it up. ;) I have a nephew that lives in Concord with his Mama. And my parents have a second home in Hayesville, NC we go to ALLL the time since my middle brother lives there. I really love NC, I think if I didn't live in Georgia, that would be my next choice. And I have ALWAYS been a HUUUUUGE Duke Blue Devils (basketball) fan.

Then y'all are welcome to ATL to stay with me. Lets pick a week when my hubby is out of state/country with business and you can even bring your kiddos. We have five bedrooms so there's plenty of room for everyone. We'll order pizza and live on Disney movies. :) We don't really have great fabric stores here tho so we'll have to buy all our fabric in NC and then sew it all up here. hehe!! Or just site see. :)

Ooooh - that sounds fun!!! We could do that... Lets not do Disney movies, lets just take a road trip to Disney... :rolleyes1

Beth, I have a whole list of things I could do with that machine of yours. :thumbsup2

Megan and I might be going down to ATL after we visit Charlotte (have 3 other friends , one is a DISer, that live in the ATL area!
maybe we can meet up!

Um.... Hello???? Minnesota???? MSP.... Intl. airport... D~...... :woohoo:

D~

[NiniMorris]

Megan and I might be going down to ATL after we visit Charlotte (have 3 other friends , one is a DISer, that live in the ATL area!
maybe we can meet up!

Atlanta! Yes!


Sorry, didn't mean to shout.... I'm about an hour outside Atlanta...on the east side...closer to Athens....


Nini

[mphalens]

I am LOVING these summer trip plans, ladies! FAB-U-LOUS!!!!

I'm going to work on some more TR pages tonight . . . hope to get them uploaded to photobucket and posted tonight, but if not, sometime tomorrow :)

We are in the beginning of another crazy storm here in Charlotte tonight :confused3 I don't understand WHAT is going on with the weather!


OH! And I mailed D~'s pixie dust this morning . . . as it turned out, the cheapest way to send it was in the medium flat rate priority shipping box . . . so all of my crazy packaging was for naught. I DID just slip the whole thing INTO the flat rate box though, so hopefully when D~ gets it on Thursday she'll take some "un-wrapping" pictures :)

[DMGeurts]

:surfweb: Can't wait for the next installment. :surfweb:

D~

[mphalens]

When we last left our cast of characters, they had ended Day 2 in the Magic Kingdom. Moving on to Day 3 - Animal Kingdom:

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/AKHereWeComejpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/PureJoyAK2jpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/TuskerHouseCharactersjpeg.jpg


Sorry there aren't more tonight . . . Here's to hoping I have time for more tomorrow!

[mommy2mrb]

the boys definately look happy and excited!! love the Jamba juice :thumbsup2

[DMGeurts]

Awww.... I love this update too!

Finn looks all tired on Mimi's lap - so cute. And Pha looks like he is ready to take on the day.

OK, just for curiosity, we have an 8:05 TH breakfast ADR... What time did they actually let you into the park for yours? I've heard that it's a 10-15 min walk to get there after you are in the gates.

And I love your AK outfit - I was planning on doing a similar one to go with my zebra shoes. :) I really want to do a Donald Duck head - but there is no such thing like there is a Mickey, so I am not sure what I am going to do yet??? Ideas?

Oh, and are those little Keens that Phalen is wearing? They are so cute! Victoria is actually wearing hers (which is good) - Allison's are still in the box in her room, I keep telling her that she needs to break them in, or she is going to be in a lot of pain. But the are definately "not cute" she says - and I think they are adorable... Grrr....

D~

[Lidian]

I am totally diggin' those shades!! :lovestruc

Love the update! I'm looking forward to (well, sorta) our TH lunch in March. (Looking forward to being there with the characters, not so much the food. I'm not very adventurous with a sensitive tummy.)

That's cute that you were worried about being late and arrived before the lot even opened! :thumbsup2

[mphalens]

the boys definately look happy and excited!! love the Jamba juice :thumbsup2

Phalen keeps asking if I will make Jamba Juice :confused3 and even though I asked SEVERAL times what was IN the juice (for two reasons, 1) because he liked it so much and 2) because I was worried it might have banana in it and a rash covered kid or mommy was NOT how I wanted to spend our vacation -my kids break out in a rash from bananas and I haven't eaten one in any form since I was a kid because even the smell makes me ill) but I can't remember :rolleyes1 Does anyone know what the "recipe" is for Jamba Juice?

Awww.... I love this update too!

Finn looks all tired on Mimi's lap - so cute. And Pha looks like he is ready to take on the day.

Poor Finn - this was a big "allergy day" for him. His little nose just didn't stop dripping. Thank goodness for Boogie Wipes! At least using those his nose doesn't get quite as raw as with regular tissues . . . but his allergies do take a lot out of him. He perked up later in the day though, no worries!


OK, just for curiosity, we have an 8:05 TH breakfast ADR... What time did they actually let you into the park for yours? I've heard that it's a 10-15 min walk to get there after you are in the gates.

I don't remember exactly what time they let us in, but pretty much the first seating of people are all hanging out in front of the turnstiles in the morning. I know we were AT Tusker House a few minutes before 8:00 though, so they must have let us in by 7:45??? :confused3



And I love your AK outfit - I was planning on doing a similar one to go with my zebra shoes. :) I really want to do a Donald Duck head - but there is no such thing like there is a Mickey, so I am not sure what I am going to do yet??? Ideas?

I could have put some of that Zebra in the box for you!!! What about a zebra print MH with Donald's blue hat? I bought that zebra print at Jo-Ann's - I liked that it was the zebra stripes with the zebra heads part of the pattern.
My shirt & skirt both came from Target, btw :) Merona knit skirt that was on clearance and C9 shirt.


Oh, and are those little Keens that Phalen is wearing? They are so cute! Victoria is actually wearing hers (which is good) - Allison's are still in the box in her room, I keep telling her that she needs to break them in, or she is going to be in a lot of pain. But the are definately "not cute" she says - and I think they are adorable... Grrr....

D~

yes - those are keens! This is the second year both of the boys have had a pair. . . they pretty much LIVE in Keens unless it's too cold. They're awesome shoes for kids. I never pay full price for them though . . . I wait until they go on super clearance at REI at the end of the season and then I buy a size ahead. This MIGHT be the year it doesn't work, because Phalen's feet keep growing . . . but I have my fingers crossed that the navy blue ones I bought this past fall will fit come spring :)



I am totally diggin' those shades!! :lovestruc

Love the update! I'm looking forward to (well, sorta) our TH lunch in March. (Looking forward to being there with the characters, not so much the food. I'm not very adventurous with a sensitive tummy.)

That's cute that you were worried about being late and arrived before the lot even opened! :thumbsup2

I have a sensitive stomach too - I've never been to TH for lunch, so I'm not sure what's on the menu, but breakfast has never given me a problem :)

The whole "arriving early" thing came back to bite me later in the week :( But at the time, I agree, it was pretty funny!

[mommy2mrb]

think the jamba juice has..orange, papiya, mango but not sure? it is tasty though!

D~ I know the park gates have a special turnstile marked for early ADR's to go through and will open about 15 minutes before the first scheduled time.

need to find some really comfortable water proof walking sandels for our HI trip, will check out the keen's for us!

[babynala]

What a fun start to the AK day. We have never done Tusker House because we are not big breakfast eaters but I think I need to add this to my future to-do list. Everyone looks so cute in their AK outfits but I hope you do another post with some more detailed pictures of your outfits!

Atlanta! Yes!


Sorry, didn't mean to shout.... I'm about an hour outside Atlanta...on the east side...closer to Athens....


Nini
I agree with Nini!

[Blyssfull]

Megan and I might be going down to ATL after we visit Charlotte (have 3 other friends , one is a DISer, that live in the ATL area!
maybe we can meet up!


Sounds good. Let me know when you're going to be here, I'd love to meet y'all.

Marianne you look so CUTE! for your TH breakfast. We had an ADR for there our last day, I hadn't been to Disney since they built AK so I was super excited, but my little one just had a complete meltdown so we just left for home. :( I hope we get to do AK again one day. I don't really want to go back to Disney until they have Beast's castle done tho... I'm SUPER! excited about that one. I hope they have a restaurant there. My mom, Hannah and I missed out A LOT! on MK because we did BBB and CRT with Hannah, but it was worth it. So I'm ready to spend about a week just in MK. :)

[NiniMorris]

Sounds good. Let me know when you're going to be here, I'd love to meet y'all.

Marianne you look so CUTE! for your TH breakfast. We had an ADR for there our last day, I hadn't been to Disney since they built AK so I was super excited, but my little one just had a complete meltdown so we just left for home. :( I hope we get to do AK again one day. I don't really want to go back to Disney until they have Beast's castle done tho... I'm SUPER! excited about that one. I hope they have a restaurant there. My mom, Hannah and I missed out A LOT! on MK because we did BBB and CRT with Hannah, but it was worth it. So I'm ready to spend about a week just in MK. :)

The restaurant already has a name!!! It is Be Our Guest! Supposed to be open late 2012...this year! I am so hoping it will be open when we are there. There has been a lot of discussion about if it is a TS or CS or both (TS at dinner and CS for lunch) But the latest word from Disney is they are still planning on having two separate restaurants...one CS and one TS...but that is subject to change. Also, it is not supposed to be a character meal, but the promo for it shows Belle and Beast...so who knows!

(can you see I'm excited about that?)


Glad to know you enjoyed TH...we are planning on that for one of our AK days next trip...I haven't been there since it became a TS. We enjoyed it as a CS.



Nini

[mommy2mrb]

Sounds good. Let me know when you're going to be here, I'd love to meet y'all.

Marianne you look so CUTE! for your TH breakfast. We had an ADR for there our last day, I hadn't been to Disney since they built AK so I was super excited, but my little one just had a complete meltdown so we just left for home. :( I hope we get to do AK again one day. I don't really want to go back to Disney until they have Beast's castle done tho... I'm SUPER! excited about that one. I hope they have a restaurant there. My mom, Hannah and I missed out A LOT! on MK because we did BBB and CRT with Hannah, but it was worth it. So I'm ready to spend about a week just in MK. :)

I will keep you updated!! :yay:

can't wait to see all the new stuff in Fantasyland...we aren't planning on going until 11/2013 though

[miprender]

Love your AK update. I was disappointed that Donald doesn't sign but we were able to track him down at CampMinnie Mickey later in the day along with Minnie since she wasn't at breakfast either.



OMG! That's it! We're going! My mom & I have been planning a trip to NYC for fabric shopping this summer. . .you're going to have to come with!
Anyone else want to join us? I'm telling you, if I could become a travel agent for the Disboutiquers I could maybe actually afford this fabric addiction :)

And, I can tell you, there is no place on earth that I've found so far as Just Fabric. I would be in SERIOUS trouble if I lived in RI full time!!! Even Mary Jo's, while beyond awesome, cannot hold a candle to Just Fabric's Disney stuff (and Just Fabrics beats anyone's prices that I've found!).


My mom has been dying to go back to NYC and DD wants to go to the AG store but if thinks work out right I am hoping to go for a few days on April vacation.

:love:And I do love Just Fabrics... did I tell you I ended up buying the last of the SW Fabric:rolleyes1 She only had a little left. I hope she stocks up on some more awesome Disney fabric too she was running a little low:lmao:

[OrangeJax]

We LOVED Tusker House (We = DH and me!) The breakfast was great and we thought the characters paced themselves nicely without rushing!

[DMGeurts]

I don't remember exactly what time they let us in, but pretty much the first seating of people are all hanging out in front of the turnstiles in the morning. I know we were AT Tusker House a few minutes before 8:00 though, so they must have let us in by 7:45??? :confused3

That's good to know. Do the busses still start running early for the early ADR times?




I could have put some of that Zebra in the box for you!!! What about a zebra print MH with Donald's blue hat? I bought that zebra print at Jo-Ann's - I liked that it was the zebra stripes with the zebra heads part of the pattern.
My shirt & skirt both came from Target, btw :) Merona knit skirt that was on clearance and C9 shirt.

Hmmm... That is a very excellent idea m'dear.... At the rate I am not working out this week (or several other weeks over the last few months) - I won't get into any of the clothes I have planned. I really need to kick my own butt. :rolleyes1



yes - those are keens! This is the second year both of the boys have had a pair. . . they pretty much LIVE in Keens unless it's too cold. They're awesome shoes for kids. I never pay full price for them though . . . I wait until they go on super clearance at REI at the end of the season and then I buy a size ahead. This MIGHT be the year it doesn't work, because Phalen's feet keep growing . . . but I have my fingers crossed that the navy blue ones I bought this past fall will fit come spring :)

I love the Donald Keens I got - and I love how they look on my feet - they have the Cinderella effect (makes your feet look small). The only problem is that they really hurt the bottom of my feet after a day at work (the rest is super comfortable), so I ordered a pair of orthotics from the same company that makes my favorite flip flops, and I am praying like crazy that they will help... I just don't know what I am going to do if my feet don't stop acting stupid before we go - because I refuse to get a cart.


The whole "arriving early" thing came back to bite me later in the week :( But at the time, I agree, it was pretty funny![/SIZE][/FONT]

I am worried about this too! We have a few early days.

D~ I know the park gates have a special turnstile marked for early ADR's to go through and will open about 15 minutes before the first scheduled time.

Thanks for letting me know Lisa. :)

need to find some really comfortable water proof walking sandels for our HI trip, will check out the keen's for us! Yes, check into the Keens... they really are awesome - and if I didn't have "stupid feet", they would be the most comfortable shoe I own... I just love them.

D~

[mphalens]

Not sure why I didn't quote everyone . . . I hope I don't forget anything!

Atlanta (and surrounding area) ladies - We definitely need to plan a meet this spring or summer!!! Nini - I'm thinking you must be between Beth & I, right? At least I think that's correct, since visiting my cousin at UGA was always closer than visiting my cousin that was living in Buckhead at the same time.

Michelle - I LOVE the AG NYC store! So awesome! I wish I had a little girl to take there :( And you did NOT tell me that you bought the last of the Star Wars fabric from Just Fabrics . . . did she say that was definitely the end of it? Did I tell you that I have at least 6 yards of it? I didn't know I had more than a yard or so, but when I started my fabric folding project I found two large pieces I'd tucked away! :woohoo:

Lisa - I want to wait to go back to WDW until the Fantasyland Expansion is complete . . . lucky for me we want to wait for another family trip until Finn is 40" so I have quite a while :rolleyes1

D~ - Okay, we really need to figure out your Keens . . . I don't know that if I hadn't had my Waimei flip flop Keens first if my Newport H2's would have been as comfortable right off the bat for me . . . I do think the footbed takes a little getting used to. . . :confused3

Mr Rocket should be able to satin stitch a few MHs (with the additional Donald hat of course!) onto those $3 shirts you scored today :) Just do assembly line production - cut all your MHs and hats, iron them in place, satin stitch (and have your spools and bobbins all ready to go before you start). . . that's what I had to do to get all mine done and it's what I did to get your pixie dust done too :)

Which - did I tell y'all? D~'s pixie dust that i sent should arrive at her house TOMORROW :woohoo: Let's hope priority mail from CLT to MSP is speedy quick like it should be!!!


I'm in a funk . . . so, what do y'all do to get yourselves out of a funk?

[mphalens]

Okay - when I saw just how few pictures I had left from Day 3 I knew I had to get their pages done and posted tonight before I'd be able to sleep. Especially since I also looked at how many pictures I have to share from Day 4 (and oh! what wonderful pictures they are!) and I know it will take me a while to get those pages done, even in small batches. So, here are the last 6 pages of Day Three of our trip!



http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/FestivaloftheLionKingjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Phalenjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/WhatACharacterAKjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/KaliRiverRapidsjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/AnimalKingdomOutfitsjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/DayThreeWrapUpjpeg.jpg

[mrsksomeday]

I can not tell you how many times we have had a Tusker House breakfast reservation and never made it, we are horrible. I want to try it so much because everyone seems to love it. I need to try that Jamba juice.

That pure joy picture of Phalen's face is fantastic.

I love the outfits, they are great!

A perfect picture of Finn with the castmember at Lion King. He looks so happy.

Wow look at all the characters you got to see, that is amazing. I want a picture with Thumper!!

Phalen took a great picture at Raglan Road, we have never gone there either, you make me want to try it.

Your trip looks like so much fun, I am still so bummed we didn't get to meet up with you. We had some issues with the wheelchair and it messed up our schedule :sad2:.

I can't wait to read more!!

[DMGeurts]

Not sure why I didn't quote everyone . . . I hope I don't forget anything!

Atlanta (and surrounding area) ladies - We definitely need to plan a meet this spring or summer!!! Nini - I'm thinking you must be between Beth & I, right? At least I think that's correct, since visiting my cousin at UGA was always closer than visiting my cousin that was living in Buckhead at the same time.

OK, I am confused... is this supposed to conincide with my/Lisa's trip out that direction???

[Lisa - I want to wait to go back to WDW until the Fantasyland Expansion is complete . . . lucky for me we want to wait for another family trip until Finn is 40" so I have quite a while :rolleyes1

I wanna go back for this too... Dumbo is "scheduled" to be open the week we are there, and so is the great Goofini, but they'll probably both get pushed back again.

[D~ - Okay, we really need to figure out your Keens . . . I don't know that if I hadn't had my Waimei flip flop Keens first if my Newport H2's would have been as comfortable right off the bat for me . . . I do think the footbed takes a little getting used to. . . :confused3

It's not the Keens, I promise you, it's my feet. I can totally see where they would be so comfortable - and they are for me, most of the day. But they irritate my PF, so when I take them off - that's when the real pain starts, and then it takes a couple of days of me wearing my Orthaheel flip flops to get my feet pain free again. That's why I ordered the Orthaheel inserts, so I can just slip them into my Keens. The problem is that I need a super high arch with a deep heel cup, and the Keens just don't have that much support - they have a lot more than any other normal shoe, but just not enough for me. Make sense? Otherwise, they are super duper comfy.

[Mr Rocket should be able to satin stitch a few MHs (with the additional Donald hat of course!) onto those $3 shirts you scored today :) Just do assembly line production - cut all your MHs and hats, iron them in place, satin stitch (and have your spools and bobbins all ready to go before you start). . . that's what I had to do to get all mine done and it's what I did to get your pixie dust done too :)

Well, I know that I am going to get an AK shirt - I am not sure the girls even want one??? I should probably ask. LOL

[Which - did I tell y'all? D~'s pixie dust that i sent should arrive at her house TOMORROW :woohoo: Let's hope priority mail from CLT to MSP is speedy quick like it should be!!!

I will be stalking the mail man today... popcorn::


[I'm in a funk . . . so, what do y'all do to get yourselves out of a funk?

Write a PTR... LOL

OK - so your update was fantastic! I love it!

I am so glad that Finn got to participate in FoLK - poor little guy, I feel so badly for him. I remember our first trip and V was too short - but she had no desire to ride those types of rides anyways, she was always so scared. I dunno what happened to her, because she is now a thrill ride junky. All it took was one bribe of cotton candy to ride a roller coaster and the rest was history. :wizard:

Awww... And that picture of little Phalen... A-d-o-r-a-b-l-e!!!! You just have the cutest boys ever!

I can't believe all the characters you got to see... This is one of the main reasons I love AK so much. :lovestruc

Yay for Kali! ROFL that you got soaked on your first ride... Yah - if you are sitting in the seat that's closest to the bottom of the hill when going down - you're in some big trouble. And there is not a thing you can do about it at that point because the vehicle doesn't turn... You just know your're gonna get it. :eek:

Loved all of your AK outfits, thanks for the idea of helping me out with mine... Seriously - I was really stuck on that. I still need to get a black T though, they didin't have them in my size in that color yesterday. I might have to check other stores when I am out and about tomorrow.

Raglan road looks awesome - I will have to notate that for our next trip.

Great update! :)

D~

[mphalens]

I can not tell you how many times we have had a Tusker House breakfast reservation and never made it, we are horrible. I want to try it so much because everyone seems to love it. I need to try that Jamba juice.

That pure joy picture of Phalen's face is fantastic.

I love the outfits, they are great!

A perfect picture of Finn with the castmember at Lion King. He looks so happy.

Wow look at all the characters you got to see, that is amazing. I want a picture with Thumper!!

Phalen took a great picture at Raglan Road, we have never gone there either, you make me want to try it.

Your trip looks like so much fun, I am still so bummed we didn't get to meet up with you. We had some issues with the wheelchair and it messed up our schedule :sad2:.

I can't wait to read more!!

I'm still bummed we didn't get to meet too! :( I feel like I know you more than just through the computer screen :hug:
I'm glad you liked the update so much! We definitely do make time to stop and see as many characters as we want to see. It doesn't make for a good "military precision" schedule, but we have fun and have great memories of the characters!
Raglan Road is a "can't miss" for me . . .I LOVE Irish pubs and Irish fusion cuisine and the atmosphere is just great. Plus, I figured we owed it to my dad to eat at the Irish Pub since he wanted to go to Ireland instead of Disney (and obviously got out-voted).


OK, I am confused... is this supposed to conincide with my/Lisa's trip out that direction???

I wanna go back for this too... Dumbo is "scheduled" to be open the week we are there, and so is the great Goofini, but they'll probably both get pushed back again.

It's not the Keens, I promise you, it's my feet. I can totally see where they would be so comfortable - and they are for me, most of the day. But they irritate my PF, so when I take them off - that's when the real pain starts, and then it takes a couple of days of me wearing my Orthaheel flip flops to get my feet pain free again. That's why I ordered the Orthaheel inserts, so I can just slip them into my Keens. The problem is that I need a super high arch with a deep heel cup, and the Keens just don't have that much support - they have a lot more than any other normal shoe, but just not enough for me. Make sense? Otherwise, they are super duper comfy.

Well, I know that I am going to get an AK shirt - I am not sure the girls even want one??? I should probably ask. LOL

I will be stalking the mail man today... popcorn::


Write a PTR... LOL

OK - so your update was fantastic! I love it!

I am so glad that Finn got to participate in FoLK - poor little guy, I feel so badly for him. I remember our first trip and V was too short - but she had no desire to ride those types of rides anyways, she was always so scared. I dunno what happened to her, because she is now a thrill ride junky. All it took was one bribe of cotton candy to ride a roller coaster and the rest was history. :wizard:

Awww... And that picture of little Phalen... A-d-o-r-a-b-l-e!!!! You just have the cutest boys ever!

I can't believe all the characters you got to see... This is one of the main reasons I love AK so much. :lovestruc

Yay for Kali! ROFL that you got soaked on your first ride... Yah - if you are sitting in the seat that's closest to the bottom of the hill when going down - you're in some big trouble. And there is not a thing you can do about it at that point because the vehicle doesn't turn... You just know your're gonna get it. :eek:

Loved all of your AK outfits, thanks for the idea of helping me out with mine... Seriously - I was really stuck on that. I still need to get a black T though, they didin't have them in my size in that color yesterday. I might have to check other stores when I am out and about tomorrow.

Raglan road looks awesome - I will have to notate that for our next trip.

Great update! :)

D~

I don't know - should we add an ATL visit while you're here??? Hmm, maybe we need a little more than a long weekend :)

I think we need to plan a girls disney weekend for after the Fantasyland expansion is complete :woohoo:

I can't wait for you to open the pixie dust package!!! What time does the mailman usually come by? What time do the girls get home from school?

Finn - that little guy sure can pull on the heartstrings! He was an eager participant in any show he could work his way into on our trip. At Tusker House he took off with Daisy for the musical parade, of course the FoLK participation, he wanted to get up on the stage at Raglan Road and put on his own show, and the list goes on . . .

The pictures of Phalen really struck me last night. . .I can't get over how big he's getting, even more so when I went back through our 2008 trip pictures to add one of those to the page.

Kali - well, let me tell you, Dave & Phalen were actually in the bottom seats, but they managed to miss the water altogether. My Dad & I were in the next seats to the right and we got drenched. :sad2: Oh well! At least it was a nice day :) I loved it as much as I thought I would too!

Raglan Road - yes! But go for lunch (and prepare for it to be your big meal of the day!!!) - I like the lunch menu even more than the dinner menu!!!

Okay - is the mailman there yet??? popcorn::

[mommy2mrb]

what a sweet photo of Phalen...and how cool Finn got picked for FoTLK!
I always get soaked on Kali (and similar rides)

might need to try Raglans next trip too....love Baileys and Creme' Brulee, what better than to combine them!

we are planning on going to WDW Thanksgiving 2013 with a bunch of the DIS scrapbook families....you all can join in too!

I'm up for our NC trip to extend to ATL since we already are planning on going down anyways :thumbsup2 will probably drive, so D~ you can hitch a ride with us if you want too!

[mphalens]

One more "Day Three" page!


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/OneMoreThingjpeg.jpg

[basketkat]

Tusker House looks like a great time!!! It is one of the only character meals we haven't tried yet! We will have to go there in November!!:thumbsup2

I love the outfits for the day!!! So perfect!!!:cool1:

I always get soaked on Kali too! It was so hot when we were there in September so it felt good. But it was also SO humid I felt like I would never dry! :rotfl:

[miprender]

Love all the new updates:goodvibes

And you did NOT tell me that you bought the last of the Star Wars fabric from Just Fabrics . . . did she say that was definitely the end of it? Did I tell you that I have at least 6 yards of it? I didn't know I had more than a yard or so, but when I started my fabric folding project I found two large pieces I'd tucked away! :woohoo:



I went on a Saturday so she wasn't there but I did buy the rest that was out. I am hoping she does get some more but I am still stalking my Joanne's for the other SW Fabric.:lmao:

I can not tell you how many times we have had a Tusker House breakfast reservation and never made it, we are horrible. I want to try it so much because everyone seems to love it. I need to try that Jamba juice.


:upsidedow Now it will cost you $10/pp for any ADR not cancelled in 24 hours:sad2:

One more "Day Three" page!


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/OneMoreThingjpeg.jpg

:love: Love this outfit

[disneydancer429]

One more "Day Three" page!


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/OneMoreThingjpeg.jpg

Love the outfit, especially the shirt!!! I bought the SAME exact one for our trip coming up :lovestruc :banana: I can't wait to wear it to Chef Mickeys :love:

[DMGeurts]

I don't know - should we add an ATL visit while you're here??? Hmm, maybe we need a little more than a long weekend :)

I was thinkin' that too... :rolleyes1

I think we need to plan a girls disney weekend for after the Fantasyland expansion is complete :woohoo:

Totally agree!!! :thumbsup2 I cannot wait to see how everything turns out. :surfweb:

I can't wait for you to open the pixie dust package!!! What time does the mailman usually come by? What time do the girls get home from school?

Yup - I got the pkg already. :rotfl2: Even posted pics in my PTR for you. :cloud9: I'd post some here - but there are so many... Here's a couple though...

The shirt Marianne made for my oldest dd:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/dmgeurts/IMG_259514.jpg

And my youngest dd:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/dmgeurts/IMG_259615.jpg

And for me:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/dmgeurts/IMG_259413.jpg

And a whole box of goodies:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/dmgeurts/IMG_258013.jpg

We loved everything!!! Thank you soooo much!!!! :lovestruc



Finn - that little guy sure can pull on the heartstrings! He was an eager participant in any show he could work his way into on our trip. At Tusker House he took off with Daisy for the musical parade, of course the FoLK participation, he wanted to get up on the stage at Raglan Road and put on his own show, and the list goes on . . .

ROFL... and he loves the spotlight??? How adorable is that??? :lovestruc


The pictures of Phalen really struck me last night. . .I can't get over how big he's getting, even more so when I went back through our 2008 trip pictures to add one of those to the page.

I KWYM... I look back at the girls too, and I wonder where all the time went - you get so busy going from day to day and you realize it's almost over, they'll be gone before you know it. And I really enjoyed (not) the dinner table discussion the other night, about my age... Yah, no thank you - there is no way I am that old. :rolleyes1


Kali - well, let me tell you, Dave & Phalen were actually in the bottom seats, but they managed to miss the water altogether. My Dad & I were in the next seats to the right and we got drenched. :sad2: Oh well! At least it was a nice day :) I loved it as much as I thought I would too!

Hmmm... I wonder if they changed how you get wet on the ride, to throw previous riders off???


Raglan Road - yes! But go for lunch (and prepare for it to be your big meal of the day!!!) - I like the lunch menu even more than the dinner menu!!!

Definately going to have to try it next time.


Okay - is the mailman there yet??? popcorn::

Yep - he came yesterday>>> :rotfl2:

One more "Day Three" page!


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/OneMoreThingjpeg.jpg

This is probably one of my favorite outfits that you wore... I just love how it turned out! I think I may have to case it, if I can find a skirt... :rolleyes1 I need to figure out what I am going to do with those pirate strips??? Maybe I can add them to the bottom of a jean skirt, kind of like how you did this one???

D~

[blessedmom4]

You know you are getting old when you are SURE you posted responses on a TRand yet when you go back they are missing...:rolleyes1:rolleyes1 I LOVED all of D~ and girls Pixie Dust and I have one question...WHERE did you get those cookies?!? YUMMY!!! and how did I not know you could applique???? (Okay, it was two questions and boy do I want to put you to work...:lmao: Not like you need one more thing to do or anything) ;)


I LOVED your last update and that outfit is too cute! You really are adorable and I am just again amazed at all of your talent! :flower3:

[poisonapple_PRINCESS]

catching up on your TR! I love how you're doing it! I love, love, LOVE all the outfits! And your boys are too stinkin' CUTE!

[babynala]

what a fun day at AK. Great idea to add the picture of Phalen from his first trip. The AK outfits look awesome and I LOVE the set you made with the Mickey shirt. :lovestruc

The shirts you did for D~ and her girls are fantastic :worship:

[Blyssfull]

I'm inviting myself to the trip for the Fantasyland expansion as well!! :) I guess I better re-start my Disney Piggy Bank.

I actually live south of ATL in a town called McDonough, so I'll be glad to drive up somewhere closer to Nini if/when y'all want to get together.

All your outfits so far have turned out super cute!! I'm not really a skirt wearer...but I really like the way they look on everyone else. :woohoo:

[miprender]

:wave: Are you as excited as we are ......


THE PATRIOTS ARE IN THE SUPERBOWL :dance3:

[miprender]

Since Andrea took over D's PTR report maybe I should take over here:lmao:

But I had to share these cute little smiley's I found::rotfl:

http://forums.superherohype.com/images/smilies/StarWarsJabbaHutLeia.gif

http://forums.superherohype.com/images/smilies/smiley-sw017.gif

http://forums.superherohype.com/images/smilies/hunterrider.gif

[mphalens]

You know you are getting old when you are SURE you posted responses on a TRand yet when you go back they are missing...:rolleyes1:rolleyes1 I LOVED all of D~ and girls Pixie Dust and I have one question...WHERE did you get those cookies?!? YUMMY!!! and how did I not know you could applique???? (Okay, it was two questions and boy do I want to put you to work...:lmao: Not like you need one more thing to do or anything) ;)


I LOVED your last update and that outfit is too cute! You really are adorable and I am just again amazed at all of your talent! :flower3:


I got the cookies at Goofy's Candy Shoppe - we had 22 snack credits left on our last day so I picked up a bunch of goodies that i knew would keep :-)

If the two of us could ever coordinate our schedules, maybe I could start you on those sewing lessons!

Thank you so much for the kind words :)

catching up on your TR! I love how you're doing it! I love, love, LOVE all the outfits! And your boys are too stinkin' CUTE!

Thank You!!!!:flower3:

what a fun day at AK. Great idea to add the picture of Phalen from his first trip. The AK outfits look awesome and I LOVE the set you made with the Mickey shirt. :lovestruc

The shirts you did for D~ and her girls are fantastic :worship:

Thanks! :cutie:

I'm inviting myself to the trip for the Fantasyland expansion as well!! :) I guess I better re-start my Disney Piggy Bank.

I actually live south of ATL in a town called McDonough, so I'll be glad to drive up somewhere closer to Nini if/when y'all want to get together.

All your outfits so far have turned out super cute!! I'm not really a skirt wearer...but I really like the way they look on everyone else. :woohoo:

We will definitely have to work out the logistics of this fabulous get together this summer!!! And glad you're signing up for the Fantasyland Expansion Trip :) I need to start saving also!!! Hmm, maybe I need all of the unexpected expenses in my life to stop popping up - it'd go a long to helping me be able to save!!! :sad2:

:wave: Are you as excited as we are ......


THE PATRIOTS ARE IN THE SUPERBOWL :dance3:

Since Andrea took over D's PTR report maybe I should take over here:lmao:

But I had to share these cute little smiley's I found::rotfl:

http://forums.superherohype.com/images/smilies/StarWarsJabbaHutLeia.gif

http://forums.superherohype.com/images/smilies/smiley-sw017.gif

http://forums.superherohype.com/images/smilies/hunterrider.gif

Awesome smilies!!! Yes, we are very excited that the Patriots are in the SuperBowl! Did you know that the Patriots won the SuperBowl the year Phalen was born? He was a SuperBowl Sunday baby born at 5:02pm - he was all cleaned up and snuggled in time for kickoff!!!:cheer2:

[Lidian]

Since Andrea took over D's PTR report maybe I should take over here:lmao:

But I had to share these cute little smiley's I found::rotfl:

http://forums.superherohype.com/images/smilies/StarWarsJabbaHutLeia.gif

http://forums.superherohype.com/images/smilies/smiley-sw017.gif

http://forums.superherohype.com/images/smilies/hunterrider.gif

DO IT!

Totally love the smilies!

[babynala]

I guess it is a good thing Phalen wasn't born after the superbowl or you would have had to name him Tom;)

[mommy2mrb]

I got the cookies at Goofy's Candy Shoppe - we had 22 snack credits left on our last day so I picked up a bunch of goodies that i knew would keep :-)

If the two of us could ever coordinate our schedules, maybe I could start you on those sewing lessons!

Thank you so much for the kind words :)



Thank You!!!!:flower3:



Thanks! :cutie:



We will definitely have to work out the logistics of this fabulous get together this summer!!! And glad you're signing up for the Fantasyland Expansion Trip :) I need to start saving also!!! Hmm, maybe I need all of the unexpected expenses in my life to stop popping up - it'd go a long to helping me be able to save!!! :sad2:





Awesome smilies!!! Yes, we are very excited that the Patriots are in the SuperBowl! Did you know that the Patriots won the SuperBowl the year Phalen was born? He was a SuperBowl Sunday baby born at 5:02pm - he was all cleaned up and snuggled in time for kickoff!!!:cheer2:

bet your DH was happy he was born before kick-off and you too :lmao:
maybe he will bring some good luck to the Patriots....we are rooting for them too, Megan's school mascot is the Patriots!

[mphalens]

bet your DH was happy he was born before kick-off and you too :lmao:
maybe he will bring some good luck to the Patriots....we are rooting for them too, Megan's school mascot is the Patriots!

Funny story about that, actually!

The midwife had my due date incorrect with Phalen. They insisted on going by the ultrasound measurements instead of listening to me. So, based on my calculations, Phalen was born at 38weeks exactly. Based on theirs, he was 36 weeks and change.
Okay - so what, right? Well, by my calculations, he was still "two weeks early" and of course Feb 6th was literally one of the few days Dave's work had joked with me "Do NOT have the baby on this day!" because they had a huge tournament. After the tournament we were all supposed to go to his boss's house for a HUGE Super Bowl Party - to which we were bringing the chili.
So, when I had to call DH at work and tell him he definitely needed to come home, not a lot of people realized he was gone because they were all so super busy with the tournament.
I KID YOU NOT, about 15 minutes after kickoff, DH's phone rang. It was one of his co-workers calling. The conversation went like this:
Barry: Hey, Stern, aren't y'all coming to Joe's?
Dave: Um, no, man, we're at the hospital. Marianne had the baby.
Barry: Oh, yeah. That's right. Congratulations!
Dave: Thanks. Y'all have fun!
Barry: Oh, yeah. So, uh, does that mean you're not bringing any chili over
here?
Dave: :eek: :sad2: No, sorry. I didn't have time to make any chili today.

:rotfl2::lmao::rotfl2:

I'm working on another update . . . I promise I will post at least a few new pages tonight :)

[Lidian]

Funny story about that, actually!

The midwife had my due date incorrect with Phalen. They insisted on going by the ultrasound measurements instead of listening to me. So, based on my calculations, Phalen was born at 38weeks exactly. Based on theirs, he was 36 weeks and change.
Okay - so what, right? Well, by my calculations, he was still "two weeks early" and of course Feb 6th was literally one of the few days Dave's work had joked with me "Do NOT have the baby on this day!" because they had a huge tournament. After the tournament we were all supposed to go to his boss's house for a HUGE Super Bowl Party - to which we were bringing the chili.
So, when I had to call DH at work and tell him he definitely needed to come home, not a lot of people realized he was gone because they were all so super busy with the tournament.
I KID YOU NOT, about 15 minutes after kickoff, DH's phone rang. It was one of his co-workers calling. The conversation went like this:
Barry: Hey, Stern, aren't y'all coming to Joe's?
Dave: Um, no, man, we're at the hospital. Marianne had the baby.
Barry: Oh, yeah. That's right. Congratulations!
Dave: Thanks. Y'all have fun!
Barry: Oh, yeah. So, uh, does that mean you're not bringing any chili over
here?
Dave: :eek: :sad2: No, sorry. I didn't have time to make any chili today.

:rotfl2::lmao::rotfl2:

I'm working on another update . . . I promise I will post at least a few new pages tonight :)


So why didn't you make the chili? :confused3 Those poor, poor chili-less people. :guilty:

:lmao::rotfl2::lmao:

[miprender]

Funny story about that, actually!

The midwife had my due date incorrect with Phalen. They insisted on going by the ultrasound measurements instead of listening to me. So, based on my calculations, Phalen was born at 38weeks exactly. Based on theirs, he was 36 weeks and change.
Okay - so what, right? Well, by my calculations, he was still "two weeks early" and of course Feb 6th was literally one of the few days Dave's work had joked with me "Do NOT have the baby on this day!" because they had a huge tournament. After the tournament we were all supposed to go to his boss's house for a HUGE Super Bowl Party - to which we were bringing the chili.
So, when I had to call DH at work and tell him he definitely needed to come home, not a lot of people realized he was gone because they were all so super busy with the tournament.
I KID YOU NOT, about 15 minutes after kickoff, DH's phone rang. It was one of his co-workers calling. The conversation went like this:
Barry: Hey, Stern, aren't y'all coming to Joe's?
Dave: Um, no, man, we're at the hospital. Marianne had the baby.
Barry: Oh, yeah. That's right. Congratulations!
Dave: Thanks. Y'all have fun!
Barry: Oh, yeah. So, uh, does that mean you're not bringing any chili over
here?
Dave: :eek: :sad2: No, sorry. I didn't have time to make any chili today.

:rotfl2::lmao::rotfl2:

I'm working on another update . . . I promise I will post at least a few new pages tonight :)


:rotfl2: Why couldn't you have made chili before you went into labor:rolleyes

I was in the hospital with Noah when they played the Giants in regular games for their perfect season. I was in so much pain from the Csection and after baby contractions that I thought I was dying but nobody cared :sad2:because the nurses kept coming in to watch the game:happytv:

Sadly that year they lost :sad:

[NiniMorris]

When my middle child was born, we lived in DC. My husband became a Redskin fan. At Walter Reed they had just put tvs in the labor rooms (my DD is 29). While I was in labor, my husband and the doctor were watching the game. Luckily my daughter had the good sense to be born during half time...otherwise I would have had to deliver her myself!

(of course, the following week was the Washington/Dallas game...I really would have had to deliver her my self if she had waited until that day!)

I can so relate!

Nini

[mphalens]

Hey Y'all! I know it's been a few days since my last update, and I apologize!
I've been working on a million different things and I finally had some time today to do some more photo-journal pages.

One of the things I've been working on has been to get my computer and my iphone to communicate with one another. iLife '11 has been giving me fits and you don't realize how much you use the programs in it until you can't use them to your expectations. When i finally got them talking again, I was able to upload the pictures I'd taken on my phone while we were at Disney. So, please forgive me for back-tracking a bit while I add a few random pages to my trip report :)


http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/FoodGloriousFoodjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/DisRuninjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/GrandMarnierjpeg.jpg

Okay - I'm 99% sure I'm caught up now! I have some more iphone pictures, but I haven't gotten to their "places" in this trip report yet :)

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/HollywoodStudios1jpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/HandyMannyjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/JakeOsojpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/TeamMcQueenjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/95jpeg.jpg

[mommy2mrb]

hope they finally forgave you for not bringing the chili :lmao:

I was induced with megan...had my ultrasound on a Thursday and it was showing her to measure around 9 pounds :scared1: but my due date was still 10 days away, so they wanted to induce me...they couldn't get me a bed for that night and they didn't induce on the weekends....
so okay Monday right, nope Jim had a HUGE meeting at the golf course Tues morning...Jack Nicklaus and all the big wigs from the country club were coming in and he had to be there...so I had to wait until Tuesday night....I drove myself to the hospital and checked in at 4pm....Jim showed up at 545, induced at 6pm, megan was born at 703am on Wed morning...a longgggg, hard labor and 3 hours of pushing!
after she was born they said she was at least a week over due....came to find out they kept measuring me wrong, even though I told them I knew when I got preggers....megan was 8lb12oz and 21 1/2 inches!! thankfully we didn't have any complications with either of us :goodvibes


so back to your wonderful photos.....the boys are so cute with their outfits! love that Papa loves Mandy too, how sweet!
I'm a bacon girl too....that's usually how my buffet plates look :lmao:
and way to work your car photo girl!!

[DMGeurts]

LOve the update Marianne!!!

So awesome that you got to have a Dismeet... You are so lucky that you've had so many!

That drink of yours looks mighty tasty... Where might I locate one of those???? LOL

OK - I just have to say that I am in love with the boys' outfits, and especially how they match with LMQ... How adorable! That is just a perfect picture!!!

And as for your outfit... It looks adorable... Do you have a close up of your shirt?? Is that your Disboutique one?

I also think you should have made some chili for those poor guys... What were you thinking? :rofl

I won't bore you all with my birthing stories... But Allison was 2 weeks late (had to be induced) she was born 9lbs 1.5oz 21.5 in long. Victoria, otoh, we couldn't keep her in... She was born 1 week early at 9lbs 2oz and 21.5in long... Which I think is ironic... Because Allison is early for everything... And we are constantly waiting on Victoria. LOL

D~

[mphalens]

hope they finally forgave you for not bringing the chili :lmao:

I was induced with megan...had my ultrasound on a Thursday and it was showing her to measure around 9 pounds :scared1: but my due date was still 10 days away, so they wanted to induce me...they couldn't get me a bed for that night and they didn't induce on the weekends....
so okay Monday right, nope Jim had a HUGE meeting at the golf course Tues morning...Jack Nicklaus and all the big wigs from the country club were coming in and he had to be there...so I had to wait until Tuesday night....I drove myself to the hospital and checked in at 4pm....Jim showed up at 545, induced at 6pm, megan was born at 703am on Wed morning...a longgggg, hard labor and 3 hours of pushing!
after she was born they said she was at least a week over due....came to find out they kept measuring me wrong, even though I told them I knew when I got preggers....megan was 8lb12oz and 21 1/2 inches!! thankfully we didn't have any complications with either of us :goodvibes


so back to your wonderful photos.....the boys are so cute with their outfits! love that Papa loves Mandy too, how sweet!
I'm a bacon girl too....that's usually how my buffet plates look :lmao:
and way to work your car photo girl!!

I had a little chuckle at the "couldn't induce Monday night" . . . it's totally a "Golf World" thing, isn't it? The things DH has missed because of golf . . . a lot of people just don't understand. If the course had had their way the day Phalen was born . . . One of the guys above him actually asked if he really needed to go home right then or if he couldn't work a while longer:rotfl: Poor guy was single and just didn't understand. As it was DH did have to go into work for portions of the day every day that I was in the hospital with Phalen and he was back to work regularly the day after we came home.

Yes, bacon . . . we all love bacon in our house, but I think Phalen & I both could eat it for every meal (provided it was cooked to perfection) and not complain for at least a week! Bacon sandwiches are my personal favorite. :cutie:

LOve the update Marianne!!!

So awesome that you got to have a Dismeet... You are so lucky that you've had so many!

That drink of yours looks mighty tasty... Where might I locate one of those???? LOL

OK - I just have to say that I am in love with the boys' outfits, and especially how they match with LMQ... How adorable! That is just a perfect picture!!!

And as for your outfit... It looks adorable... Do you have a close up of your shirt?? Is that your Disboutique one?

I also think you should have made some chili for those poor guys... What were you thinking? :rofl

I won't bore you all with my birthing stories... But Allison was 2 weeks late (had to be induced) she was born 9lbs 1.5oz 21.5 in long. Victoria, otoh, we couldn't keep her in... She was born 1 week early at 9lbs 2oz and 21.5in long... Which I think is ironic... Because Allison is early for everything... And we are constantly waiting on Victoria. LOL

D~

Ah yes, the DIS meet . . . I think Dave thought I was totally off my rocker when I said, "I know that outfit!" and ran over to introduce myself to a total stranger who WASN'T wearing said outfit :rotfl2: But if I hadn't, I would have been kicking myself the rest of the trip. All of my DIS meets have been by chance though . . . look at how we met! I got bumped off my flight home and asked if you wanted to come pick up your pattern in person :) I got to meet Judy because she needed help with her shirts :) Kristen I met when (well, actually, it turned out we'd met before the DIS) I delivered her fabric purchases to her. Tami I met because she offered to give me a hand when I was learning how to applique. And now look! This summer we're going to get to meet ALL KINDS OF DISers!!!! :woohoo:

The drink - I could so go for one right now! And yes, it's only 8:09am. The little wooden drink stand by the water in France. I think it was in the $9 range, but they didn't skimp on the alcohol and it was very yummy!!!!

The boys outfits - yes, those outfits are one of my favorites from the trip! Finn will still wear his to school, etc. but sadly, Phalen says "No" :sad2: I just loved that we got so many great pics with LMQ and Mater. We were VERY disappointed that Finn McMissile wasn't added though. . . Finn especially!!!!

My outfit - I do have a closer picture of my shirt - yes! you're right! It is my Disboutique one!!! You'll have to wait for more updates though before you get to see the closer pic of the shirt :)

Those poor guys - yeah, I was one of the few females connected to that bunch. . . I think I was the only WIFE of anyone that socialized in the group (The top boss was married, but no one else). . . I did a lot of things for those boys :rolleyes1 but DH is the one that makes chili in our house and although he did start to make it, he never finished it OR turned on the crock pot, so let me tell you what THAT mess was like when he got home the next day - :eek:

As for birth stories - I'm a birth story junkie :rolleyes1 Honestly, if Dave had a different career or we could afford a babysitter at the drop of a hat, I'd probably train to be a doula. If we ever get into a situation where I could become one, I probably will. . .

[mommy2mrb]

wow D~ how ironic the girls were so similar in their sizes!

yes the golf course world works on its own schedule... we actually had to schedule our wedding around another visit from Jack Nicklaus and didn't get a honeymoon until Christmas time. never could plan anything to far out in the schedule either!

Jim missed so much of the little things of Megan's life with his crazy schedule and we could never take vacations during the summer...only winter ones!
I was almost always the "token" girl since most of the wives didn't travel with their hubby job to job, but that's not what we wanted for our family, of course once Megan got into school, that all changed, but Jim always got it in his contract for travel time to come home everyone few weeks.

I need to try one of the slushies on our next trip!
love my bacon nice and crispy!

can't wait to meet up with you all this summer! I love my friends in the box! and we've been so blessed to meet so many of them this past year!

[miprender]

:thumbsup2 Love the updates. I'm afraid to make the bowling shirt pattern though I have it for about 2 years now:confused: But it came out great.

Get use to them not wanting to wear your outfits outside of Disney:sad2: The only one who will wear things is my little one.

Love hearing all the baby stories. WOW you all had some big babies.:lmao:

[basketkat]

Love the update!!! Mmmm that food all looks so yummy! I want to eat it right now!!!

Random Dismeet??? How FUN!!!!

As long as I'm longing for things I will take a Grand Marnier slush as well! :drinking1

[nannye]

awesome trip report. Your boys are so adorable, looking forward to more.

[Pocahontis]

I found 'ya!

Your TR is great!! And we soo have the same taste! I ordered the flags of All-nations fabric (yes, discontinued - I have mine coming from Korea) to make the same shorts for my little guy, and dresses for my girls. Not to mention your HS outfits are also exactly what I was planning for my little guy. The cars and blk/wht bowling shirts (thats what I call them, ha.) I promise I am not stealing your ideas, great minds think alike :)

[mphalens]

I found 'ya!

Your TR is great!! And we soo have the same taste! I ordered the flags of All-nations fabric (yes, discontinued - I have mine coming from Korea) to make the same shorts for my little guy, and dresses for my girls. Not to mention your HS outfits are also exactly what I was planning for my little guy. The cars and blk/wht bowling shirts (thats what I call them, ha.) I promise I am not stealing your ideas, great minds think alike :)


Welcome!!!


The boys HS outfits are CarlaC's Bowling Shirt pattern and CarlaC's easy fits pattern :) CASE away!

I got lucky with my flags of all nations fabric - MaryJo's is close by and they still had a bolt - I ordered lots :) Don't have a ton left now, so it's in my "do I really want to cut this?" stash :laughing:

[mrsksomeday]

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/GrandMarnierjpeg.jpg



I loved your update!! The clothes were amazing! I had to comment on this picture. I showed it to Bill because he makes fun of me when I take a picture of my favorite creation the Grey Goose Slushie!! I adore it, I love it, yummy!! Can't wait to have another one in May :goodvibes.

[mphalens]

I loved your update!! The clothes were amazing! I had to comment on this picture. I showed it to Bill because he makes fun of me when I take a picture of my favorite creation the Grey Goose Slushie!! I adore it, I love it, yummy!! Can't wait to have another one in May :goodvibes.

Gotta love the drink shots! and the food! I could go on and on with the crazy pictures I wanted to take :rolleyes1 Then there are also the pictures that HOW I took them was a little crazy (like using the trash cans in Epcot as a tripod :confused3 who did that? oh yeah, me! :laughing: )...

Hope you like the latest update!!!

[mphalens]

Well, let's see . . . when we last left our fearless band of travelers they were just leaving Lightning McQueen's Headquarters in Hollywood Studios. Where did they head to next, you ask? Well . . . to see what crazy things the second most fabulous pair of brothers (because we all know OUR P & F brotherly combo is the MOST fabulous pair! ;) ) were getting into!

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/PhineasFerbjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/StarToursjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/TheBananaBlasterjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/JediTrainingAcademyjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/SpeederShotsjpeg.jpg

Coming up in the next installment . . .
Yo Ho! Yo Ho! A Pirate's Life For Me!

[mommy2mrb]

thanks for the great laugh! love the Banana Blaster :banana::banana::banana::banana:
what a great time your boys had! we've never done it since Megan has no real interest in Star wars, but love the photos!

the P & F photos are so cute and sweet with your P & F!!!

[DMGeurts]

How adorable!

I love the story of Finn with the banana blaster and Darth. :)

And Phay sure looks like he gets into JTA - what fun. I've never been to this, since my girls do enjoy SW, but not that much. I do want to get on ST, we have never been on that either and I've heard great things about it.

I still love their outfits for this day - they just look so comfy and so "boy"... You did such a great job with everything. I know you drove, but just for curiosity - how many suitcases did you fit into??? ;)

D~

[Lidian]

How precious! (As always!)

I'm so looking forward to the kids doing JTA. They really enjoyed your pictures! I love that your DS was shooting "Dark" Vader with a banana! (My DS calls him "Dark" Vader.)

We're also looking forward to meeting P&F! :woohoo: Even DH is looking forward to this, as he's even a fan of the show!

Do you recall what time P&F make their appearance? I know in 2009, we happened to walk out of Muppets and were first in line for Cars. But I don't remember what time it was. :confused3

[mphalens]

thanks for the great laugh! love the Banana Blaster :banana::banana::banana::banana:
what a great time your boys had! we've never done it since Megan has no real interest in Star wars, but love the photos!

the P & F photos are so cute and sweet with your P & F!!!

Glad to provide some giggles! I think a certain level of love for Star Wars is needed to enjoy the JTA show, that's for sure! My kids seem to have that in spades though :rotfl2:

How adorable!

I love the story of Finn with the banana blaster and Darth. :)

And Phay sure looks like he gets into JTA - what fun. I've never been to this, since my girls do enjoy SW, but not that much. I do want to get on ST, we have never been on that either and I've heard great things about it.

I still love their outfits for this day - they just look so comfy and so "boy"... You did such a great job with everything. I know you drove, but just for curiosity - how many suitcases did you fit into??? ;)

D~

Phay gets SO into JTA!!! He really wanted to bring his entire Anakin costume to wear for it, but then we reminded him that might be confusing for people, seeing as Darth Vader might make an appearance and they are the same person. :confused: Luckily, he agreed, and just went with his Jedi Academy shirt instead (although I cringe when I see some of the pictures from later in the day with that shirt and his Cars jeans . . . they SO don't go together :scared1: ).

You HAVE to do Star Tours! Maybe twice if you can - as the new version there are different missions!!!! :love: it!

How precious! (As always!)

I'm so looking forward to the kids doing JTA. They really enjoyed your pictures! I love that your DS was shooting "Dark" Vader with a banana! (My DS calls him "Dark" Vader.)

We're also looking forward to meeting P&F! :woohoo: Even DH is looking forward to this, as he's even a fan of the show!

Do you recall what time P&F make their appearance? I know in 2009, we happened to walk out of Muppets and were first in line for Cars. But I don't remember what time it was. :confused3

P&F I think came out at 9:45, but I could be wrong . . . I know Phay & Dave went right from there to his JTA check in, so that seems about right timing wise.

[Lidian]

Glad to provide some giggles! I think a certain level of love for Star Wars is needed to enjoy the JTA show, that's for sure! My kids seem to have that in spades though :rotfl2:

Phay gets SO into JTA!!! He really wanted to bring his entire Anakin costume to wear for it, but then we reminded him that might be confusing for people, seeing as Darth Vader might make an appearance and they are the same person. :confused: Luckily, he agreed, and just went with his Jedi Academy shirt instead (although I cringe when I see some of the pictures from later in the day with that shirt and his Cars jeans . . . they SO don't go together :scared1: ).

You HAVE to do Star Tours! Maybe twice if you can - as the new version there are different missions!!!! :love: it!

P&F I think came out at 9:45, but I could be wrong . . . I know Phay & Dave went right from there to his JTA check in, so that seems about right timing wise.

Thanks for the time estimate! That sounds about what I was expecting.

I agree about ST! It's a MUST! We plan to ride it no less than twice. But I'm hoping to get up into the teens!

We rode it twice in May, and got the exact same mission BOTH times. I know the odds are just outstanding! But we got it twice in a row. Well, not really in a row... we rode right before lunch and then right after dinner. Same mission both times. :sad2:

So I'm just going to keep riding until we can get a different mission. :lmao::rotfl2:

[NiniMorris]

Last trip we rode Star Tours so many times I forgot! Our goal was to ride at least enough times to see each of the different 'parts' We managed to ride all except one of the middle parts. (I hope that doesn't give too much away!)

Mr D was the Rebel spy four times! Three of those times he was wearing his Happy Birthday button...

Nini

[Lidian]

Last trip we rode Star Tours so many times I forgot! Our goal was to ride at least enough times to see each of the different 'parts' We managed to ride all except one of the middle parts. (I hope that doesn't give too much away!)

Mr D was the Rebel spy four times! Three of those times he was wearing his Happy Birthday button...

Nini

I don't even know what all the parts are! I just know the only differences in our two rides were the spy. :lmao:

That's awesome that Mr. D was the spy four times!!!! :woohoo:

[babynala]

What a fun update. Your Star Wars pictures are so fun, from Papa to Finn it looks like everyone is enjoying themselves. I'm enjoying your food pictures too.

PS - who are you currently making a pirate outfit for?

[basketkat]

What a fun update!!! It looks like everyone was having SO much fun!

[miprender]

Love the Star Wars update. http://forums.superherohype.com/images/smilies/smiley-sw017.gif.

It is really cool on how they do this and I think DH is a little sad that they don't have it for adults too:rotfl: We are trying to convince DS4 that he needs to try it but he said he is scared of Vader.:eek:

[mrsksomeday]

The Phineas and Ferb pictures were great!!

I love the Banana Blaster story, Finn was really into it, so cute.

Phalen is an awesome Jedi, wonderful pictures!!

I can't wait to read more!

[blessedmom4]

Wiping the egg off of my face and wondering WHERE my last post on here is because I KNOW (I KNOW) I wrote about that banana blaster and your adorable guys and dad...but I don't see it....:confused3

As you well know, your boys are simply adorable and look SO CUTE in anything they where and EVERYTHING they do! :flower3: Rachel wants you to make that cars outfit for her...but ONLY with Mater, her one true love...:rotfl2::rotfl2: I keep teasing her is this what I have to look forward to for a boyfriend for her (when she gets old enough to have one)...but at least Mater has a heart.

I don't really know anything about P&F except my children love them...me?? I don't know them, I have gotten REALLY good over the past 21 years tuning cartoons, etc, out...and I NEVER, EVER see the commercials...now why did I tell you that :confused3...I am in a weird mood...:upsidedow:upsidedow My neck is starting to hurt hunched over my Dear MIL computer set up...

Anyhoooo... :love::love::love: all of the updates, the pics and your adorable family! Thanks for sharing! :goodvibes:love::goodvibes

[blessedmom4]

Dear Marianne, I just saw on D's PTR about Gabriel and his family. I am SO SORRY, that really hits close to home for me. :grouphug::grouphug: I pray you can find some solace in a situation that has none. :hug::hug:

[DMGeurts]

Sooo... I have a story to tell...

First of all... Marianne donated some fabric squares from her leftover squares when she made Phay and Finn's decoupage Mickey jeans... If you'd like to see what I did with them, they are on the last page of my PTR. :thumbsup2

Ok - on with the story...

So, yesterday, I was telling Victoria about how adorable Marianne's boys are, prompted by the blue squares of fabric she sent me. Now, I know I talk about Marianne all the time, because we are always texting, but they've never met Marianne.

This morning, V walks into the office while I am doing my "morning posting ritual" on The Dis, and she asks to see pictures of Phay and Finn... Immediately, I went to my FB page, because Marianne just posted pics of little Finn all packed in a wheelie bag to go with me on my trip. :lovestruc When I went to show V the pic - I couldn't find it (darned FB)...

Well, this afternoon, I go out to get the mail, and there's a card from Marianne - with the most adorable picture of P & F inside - it was perfect timing... BOth of the girls just loved the pictures and think that P & F are so sweet...

So, the end of the story is.... Thanks Marianne and family for the adorable card! :lovestruc Those boys of yours are just precious - and the girls just loved their outfits. :)

The End...

D~

[mphalens]

Sooo... I have a story to tell...

First of all... Marianne donated some fabric squares from her leftover squares when she made Phay and Finn's decoupage Mickey jeans... If you'd like to see what I did with them, they are on the last page of my PTR. :thumbsup2

Ok - on with the story...

So, yesterday, I was telling Victoria about how adorable Marianne's boys are, prompted by the blue squares of fabric she sent me. Now, I know I talk about Marianne all the time, because we are always texting, but they've never met Marianne.

This morning, V walks into the office while I am doing my "morning posting ritual" on The Dis, and she asks to see pictures of Phay and Finn... Immediately, I went to my FB page, because Marianne just posted pics of little Finn all packed in a wheelie bag to go with me on my trip. :lovestruc When I went to show V the pic - I couldn't find it (darned FB)...

Well, this afternoon, I go out to get the mail, and there's a card from Marianne - with the most adorable picture of P & F inside - it was perfect timing... BOth of the girls just loved the pictures and think that P & F are so sweet...

So, the end of the story is.... Thanks Marianne and family for the adorable card! :lovestruc Those boys of yours are just precious - and the girls just loved their outfits. :)

The End...

D~

Aw! Yay! :woohoo: And now I'll go find said pic of Finn in the wheelie bag :)

[mphalens]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/383269_10150452491146188_623451187_8783032_1883993 934_n.jpg

He's still ready and raring to go, D~

[mommy2mrb]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/383269_10150452491146188_623451187_8783032_1883993 934_n.jpg

He's still ready and raring to go, D~

OMG that is just too adorable :love:

can't wait to meet you all this summer! Megan will have fun with your little men!

[DMGeurts]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/383269_10150452491146188_623451187_8783032_1883993 934_n.jpg

He's still ready and raring to go, D~

LOL... OK definately need to show V this pic when she gets home from school today. It's so cute! :)

D~

[miprender]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/383269_10150452491146188_623451187_8783032_1883993 934_n.jpg

He's still ready and raring to go, D~

:lmao: That is too adorable!

[204charity]

Subbing! You are an amazing momma, doing all that beautiful sewing AND homeschooling your son! Good job!

[blessedmom4]

PLEASE send Finn to Lisa...HOW ADORABLE!!!!!

http://dl6.glitter-graphics.net/pub/1949/1949626jkkzemxarh.gif (http://www.glitter-graphics.com)

[mommy2mrb]

http://dl7.glitter-graphics.net/pub/3234/3234817o4vyprhlxm.gif (http://www.glitter-graphics.com)

[blessedmom4]

For those who were wondering...Marianne, who has been missing from her own TR lately, is in fact still here ::yes::::yes::, I saw her today. :goodvibes:goodvibes:goodvibes She is just one busy lady. :faint:

AND, if it is possible, her little men were even more adorable in person than the last time I saw them! :flower3::flower3:

[DMGeurts]

Awww... How awesome that you got to see them today! :) I hope you'll tell us all about it. :)

D~

[mommy2mrb]

Hi Marianne....hope you are all okay this morning and have no damage from the tornado's :hug::hug::hug:

talked to Judy, they are ok and no damage they can see!

please check in so we know you are safe!

[mphalens]

You're so sweet for checking! I haven't looked around outside yet, but Dave's at work and the boys & I are a-ok!

The storm kicked in around 1am . . . lucky me :rolleyes1 Finn was asleep in my bed when I got home from book club and I didn't have the heart to move him. This morning when he woke up at 5am I was wishing I had . . .


I PROMISE I'll do an update on here soon!!! Things have been a little crazy here lately and I haven't had a lot of time to just sit and work on pages :(

[mommy2mrb]

You're so sweet for checking! I haven't looked around outside yet, but Dave's at work and the boys & I are a-ok!

The storm kicked in around 1am . . . lucky me :rolleyes1 Finn was asleep in my bed when I got home from book club and I didn't have the heart to move him. This morning when he woke up at 5am I was wishing I had . . .


I PROMISE I'll do an update on here soon!!! Things have been a little crazy here lately and I haven't had a lot of time to just sit and work on pages :(

happy you are okay! hope your area isn't damaged much!

no worries on an update know you've been busy!....I did get my DLR tour posted though, its on my OCT thread if you want to check it out!

[blessedmom4]

Hi Friend, just wanted to say
http://dl4.glitter-graphics.net/pub/1008/1008414yho1ux8996.gif (http://www.glitter-graphics.com)

[VBAndrea]

Oh my! Am I behind or what?! I have only been able to skim that last several pages but I see you all have been doing some trip planning without me!!!

Marianne, I love all your pics -- it's great that both your kids will pose with all the characters (my ds wanted nothing to do with them). I love seeing all your outfits in action as well.

You like birth stories? Alexa was born in our living room. My dh delivered her as we were the only ones home :)

Actually, we had a planned home birth, I just expected a long labor like I had with ds (36 hours) but instead she thought a quick labor (5 hours) was in order so we didn't call the midwife in time (the midwife knew we were in labor and was in route and arrived about 30 mins after dd was born). We also did a water birth with her.

DS's 36 hour labor started with my water breaking and I pushed for four hours (we totally lied to the hospital about when my water broke so I wouldn't get an unnecessary c-section). DD was born in her sac (broke it when her arm came out) and I did three pushes.

Anyway, I promise I am going to try to keep up with your tr this time!!!!

I am supposed to be going to HD for more mulch and instead I'm catching up on you tr!

[mphalens]

Can you believe it? I am finally posting the next installment of my trip report! You'll see why it took me so long - this installment has 14 pages alone!

When we last left our band of travelers Papa, Finn & I were headed to the MK for Finn to do Pirate's League . . .

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/APiratesLifeForMejpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/PeterPanjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/ShowMeYourPirateFacejpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/MeetFrancisjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/PirateNickjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/PresentingFrancisjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/GoofyPiratejpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/APiratesGottoEatjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/Apiratemustbepreparedjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/CanYouKeepASecretjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/CaptJackChoosesFrancisjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/PirateTutorialjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/PiratesoftheCaribbeanjpeg.jpg

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a71/mphalens/Trip%20Report%20Pages%202011/WordsforPiratesLeaguejpeg.jpg


Until next time - when we discover the rest of Adventureland . . .

[aboveH20]

I love all your pirate photos. I think one of the very best parts of Disney is how it "forces" family time and you're right, long after the pirate makeup is washed off, the clothes don't fit any more, and the sword takes a place of honor on a shelf or in a toy box, he'll remember his pirate escapades.

pirate: pirate: pirate:

[DMGeurts]

Awww... Marianne - I just have tears in my eyes!!! Llttle Francis is the best pirate I have ever seen... and all those magical memories for him are just priceless!

Those are the memories that last forever, and he will certainly never forget becoming part of Capt. Jack's crew - what an amazing adventure for him! :lovestruc I am so glad that he got to have his moment, and I am sure that he created many magical memories for those around him too.

How amazing!!! Thank you so much for such an incredible update! :wizard:

D~

[Lidian]

Awww... Marianne - I just have tears in my eyes!!! Llttle Francis is the best pirate I have ever seen... and all those magical memories for him are just priceless!

Those are the memories that last forever, and he will certainly never forget becoming part of Capt. Jack's crew - what an amazing adventure for him! :lovestruc I am so glad that he got to have his moment, and I am sure that he created many magical memories for those around him too.

How amazing!!! Thank you so much for such an incredible update! :wizard:

D~

^^^ This. ALL this. And more! ^^^

Wow, what an amazing post! :love: I loved little pirate Francis and all the pixie dust he received! How amazing!!!!!! :cloud9:

[mommy2mrb]

Awww... Marianne - I just have tears in my eyes!!! Llttle Francis is the best pirate I have ever seen... and all those magical memories for him are just priceless!

Those are the memories that last forever, and he will certainly never forget becoming part of Capt. Jack's crew - what an amazing adventure for him! :lovestruc I am so glad that he got to have his moment, and I am sure that he created many magical memories for those around him too.

How amazing!!! Thank you so much for such an incredible update! :wizard:

D~

^^^ This. ALL this. And more! ^^^

Wow, what an amazing post! :love: I loved little pirate Francis and all the pixie dust he received! How amazing!!!!!! :cloud9:



and I totally agree with D~ and Liddy!

what an amazing day for Francis :goodvibes he looks so dang cute all pirated up! and that he got to share it with his Papa is even better :love:
the way you tell the story makes me feel like I was there! I am so loving how you are doing your TR! looking forward to the next installment of your adventures!!!