Three Generations going to the World!

[SilverL]

That picture needs to go in a slideshow at his wedding someday! That's too funny.

 

[tarak]

SilverL - I always wondered what he was thinking in that outfit - maybe if he didn't cry, we take him out of it?

Jeckle started packing for disneyworld last night. She still doesn't know we're going in a few weeks, so I'm assuming this was for next Christmas. She packed away:
4 pairs of panties
2 1/2 pairs of socks. Maybe she thought the extra sock was lonely.
Dollhouse furniture - specifically a bathtub, refrigerator, and stove. The dollhouse baby was crammed inside the fridge.
Hat and bib for her baby Winnie the Pooh (or Pinnie Wooh, as our kids have always called him). Pinnie Wooh was no-where in sight.

Not a terrible start. I told her we'd put the suitcase away for a while and we can decide later what she needs to pack.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Your description of your son in your PTR reminded me of Jeckle to a certain extent - she will play with other children but has always excelled at entertaining herself. To the point where her pre-k teachers commented on it. They didn't see it as an issue, but thought it was unusual. Have you ever seen the movie Stripes? There's a scene where John Laroquette (sp?) is playing with his army men. He's doing the voices for the men and making the sound effects and having a great time. I think of that movie whenever Jeckle is playing with her toy castle.

I haven't seen Stripes in a while-I'll have to get it on netflix......Depending on what the other children are doing-sometimes you can be your own best company-it's not a bad thing to be able to do...

This is our son in an outfit they bought him for Christmas last year. I'm seriously thinking of making this our Christmas card for this year.

That is simultaneously so cute yet so funny I'm not sure whether to laugh, cuddle him or rescue him...


While this is another tangent, the owner is Greek, so that's why I thought of it.

I go off on tangents too-so I totally get it-I sometimes have almost stream of consciousness conversation...

SilverL - I always wondered what he was thinking in that outfit - maybe if he didn't cry, we take him out of it?

I'm sure his psyche is totally intact..


Jeckle started packing for disneyworld last night. She still doesn't know we're going in a few weeks, so I'm assuming this was for next Christmas. She packed away:
4 pairs of panties
2 1/2 pairs of socks. Maybe she thought the extra sock was lonely.
Dollhouse furniture - specifically a bathtub, refrigerator, and stove. The dollhouse baby was crammed inside the fridge.
Hat and bib for her baby Winnie the Pooh (or Pinnie Wooh, as our kids have always called him). Pinnie Wooh was no-where in sight.

Not a terrible start. I told her we'd put the suitcase away for a while and we can decide later what she needs to pack.

Hey-I'm impressed she had the socks and underwear-on DS's first go -he just had books and stuffies...

 

[tarak]

Hey-I'm impressed she had the socks and underwear-on DS's first go -he just had books and stuffies...

I was surprised she had the underwear at all. And books and stuffed animals can take you far in this world!

 

[pilferk]

So I’ve been perusing the proposed schedule for our September trip, and I really don’t have much. Which is odd considering how much time and attention I’ve put into planning this trip. How does that work? I’m starting to see some frightening similarities between our itinerary and the work I do as a lawyer. Spend hours and days researching and/or writing to come up with a document that is one page in length. But with any luck is at least lawsuit-proof. I don’t think my kids would file an action against me for negligent infliction of emotional distress, but you never know. My husband, FIL and SIL are all attorneys, so it sort of runs in the blood. I haven’t planned to spend any time at DHS, for example. Heckle loves the Tower of Terror. And she has convinced Jeckle that it’s “just like” the Frog Hopper ride at Hershey Park, which Jeckle loves. The Frog Hopper does bounce you up and down – three feet at the most, so any similarity to the ToT ends there. So if we don’t go, Heckle is mad. If we do go, Jeckle is upset because it’s not the Frog Hopper, but an elevator that will drop you a few stories at random intervals and she's now scared and feeling betrayed. Not a good combo in a 5 year old. You just can’t win.

Jeckle has her heart set on finding “that plant lady” at Animal Kingdom. Which I’m gathering from reading other TRs is easier said than done. The girls know that we’re going next year, so my planned response to complaints that they want to do something this time around is “we can’t do everything this year, but we can try for next year.” I’m assuming that this will not go over well, since statements like “I know you want to go to the mall, but it’s 9 o’clock and it’s past your bedtime, the stores are closed and we can’t go before Saturday, anyway" are met with either stony silence, or a dramatic drop to the floor and a pronouncement that the world, and I, am not fair. Not fair at all. And let’s face it, when you’re young, time moves at a glacial pace. It’s only when you’re old like me that a year passes at what seems like breakneck speed.

I know my mom wouldn’t sue me. She’s not the type. She’d just shrug her shoulders and sigh. Honestly, I’d rather be sued.

Nice to know it's not just MY 7 year old who is besieged by "the drama".

 

[pilferk]

While this is another tangent, the owner is Greek, so that's why I thought of it.

Has he been asking for a Red Ryder BB gun, too?

All I can think when I see that photo is the Bunny Suit Ralphie wears at the end of "A Christmas Story".

Though the above "suit" is much cuter....

 

[pilferk]

But I digress. I do that a lot. Which you may have noticed if you’ve read any of this PTR.

Isn't digression the better part of valor??

Loving the PTR, so far.

 

[Flossbolna]

I somehow missed all these lovely updates you did in the recent days! They are a lot of fun. Your son looks so cute in that snowman outfit!!

I am glad you finally got paid for your job, what a horrible situation not getting paid for the work you do (I guess it is stil better than loosing a job, but nevertheless!). It's good that they started paying you in time for the trip.

I had to laugh at your comment about doing lots of research for very little output. I am like that, too! But I think after a few Disney trips having detailed plans seems much less important than for the first trips. I find myself planning much more for our January trip than for the last because it will be my sisters first trip, so I feel that we need to see a lot.

 

[tarak]

Isn't digression the better part of valor??

 

[tarak]

I somehow missed all these lovely updates you did in the recent days! They are a lot of fun. Your son looks so cute in that snowman outfit!!

I am glad you finally got paid for your job, what a horrible situation not getting paid for the work you do (I guess it is stil better than loosing a job, but nevertheless!). It's good that they started paying you in time for the trip.

I had to laugh at your comment about doing lots of research for very little output. I am like that, too! But I think after a few Disney trips having detailed plans seems much less important than for the first trips. I find myself planning much more for our January trip than for the last because it will be my sisters first trip, so I feel that we need to see a lot.

Thanks for the comments on my son. I feel bad leaving him behind with my husband. The last time I took the girls somewhere without him, he wanted nothing to do with me for a few months - only my husband could put him to bed, he didn't want me to hold him. He was seriously ticked off at me.

There are times that Jeckle tempts me to take him instead of her because he's so generally easy going and she is bull-headed as can be. And DH says no way is he going to swap. Jeckle is a clone of her father, BTW.

This is my mom's first trip to WDW as well - I'm just hoping that I'm not building it up too much for her.

 

[tarak]

Well, I did pay off the balance on our trip. Well, sort of. I guess I really should have typed that the trip was charged to my card. It will be paid off next month when I get the bill.

Jeckle has been loading the trip planning DVD into the downstairs computer several nights in a row now. She and Heckle have been busy telling me what rides they will and will not go on. Heckle is insisting that she does not want to go to the Festival of the Lion King. I told her she loved it last time and that we were all going. She said she’d just wait outside. I said no. She said she’d just take the bus back to the resort. I said no. She stormed out of the room.

I’m thinking that if Heckle wants to go on Splash Mountain, she’s going to Festival of the Lion King, which she will love. I’m not a big fan of SM, but since I’m the only one who will be there to go on it with her, I’m going. It will be a trade off. She’s not sure about Expedition Everest yet. I know my mom and Jeckle will not go near it. I’ve never been and really want to go. So we'll see what happens. She still thinks we're going in several months, as opposed to weeks, so I don't know how keen she'll be on it when it's confronting her.

For the most part, Heckle really likes the roller coasters (she loved Thunder Mountain when we went last year and she was just barely tall enough to ride). She wanted to go on the Comet at Hershey Park and my husband took her, but it was a bit much for her, I think. It's one of those older, wooden coasters. Not too terrifying, but I think bouncing her chin on the lap bar and making her lip bleed sort of took the shine off coasters for her. I like the Disney coasters because of the theming and detail (although I had no idea there was a story behind Thunder Mountain until I read about it in a guide book). I'm not a big fan of the big drop (hence my lack of interest in Splash Mountain).

And after reading pilferk’s TR from 2007, I’m wondering if in the future, we might have to spend a night at the Nick Hotel. They would love it, I think.

 

[DevonsDisneyMom]

Hey there fellow PA Lady!!! Loving the report!! Your children are so cute! It's funny that you call your DS "Dude"! I call my son that too!!!

How awesome that you got to squeeze in a trip before your Dec 2010 vacation. Have you been to Disney around the holidays? It's awesome! It is my far my favorite time of the year to travel there!

We are looking forward to MNSSHP as well! Absolutely love that event!

 

[Flossbolna]

Have you decided when you will tell them about the trip? Will you keep it a secret until you arrive at the airport? It's fun how your daughter's are talking about their "next" trip not realizing that this the trip after the next trip.

I am sure Heckle would do fine on EE. The ride itself is fast, but very smooth. I don't like those old wooden coaters either, but EE is lots of fun!! But she might be scared by the Yeti...

 

[tarak]

Hey there fellow PA Lady!!! Loving the report!! Your children are so cute! It's funny that you call your DS "Dude"! I call my son that too!!!

How awesome that you got to squeeze in a trip before your Dec 2010 vacation. Have you been to Disney around the holidays? It's awesome! It is my far my favorite time of the year to travel there!

We are looking forward to MNSSHP as well! Absolutely love that event!

Welcome! Even my daughters call him the Dude. I'm hoping that if I bring home a big Mickey for him, he'll forgive for not taking him.

We went to WDW last year in December, so we saw some of the Christmas decorations. I've never been there at Halloween, though. Do they have Halloween decorations around the park? I wasn't sure I wanted to do the MNSSHP, but everyone I know who's gone raves about it.

Have you decided when you will tell them about the trip? Will you keep it a secret until you arrive at the airport? It's fun how your daughter's are talking about their "next" trip not realizing that this the trip after the next trip.

I am sure Heckle would do fine on EE. The ride itself is fast, but very smooth. I don't like those old wooden coaters either, but EE is lots of fun!! But she might be scared by the Yeti...

I think you're right that Heckle will be fine on EE. Jeckle was already to go on EE until she realized it was a roller coaster. She thought the Yeti was cool.

I'm thinking I'll either just tell them where we're going on the drive to the airport, or let them guess. DH is going to drop off the Dude at day care as he normally would and we'll just hope he doesn't suspect anything (unlikely). I think my MIL will take us to the airport, since it's only about 20 minutes from the house. They'll definitely know something is up when they aren't going to school that day (and the fact that my mom will be with us). I'm betting that Heckle will guess right away.

On a related note, I know that taking kids out of school for vacation is a sore subject for some, so I won't belabor that point. Heckle is going to be in first grade, so she'll probably have homework to take with or catch up on when we get back; Jeckle misses the age cut-off for kindergarten by about 2 weeks, but we're putting her in a private kindergarten for the year and we'll see if she'll be ready for 1st grade next year or if she'll repeat public kindergarten). I plan to take math and reading workbooks along and Heckle will spend time each night on them and keep a journal of what she's doing. I know at some point, we won't be able to take them out for a week with no adverse effects. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Heckle's godmother dropped off some back to school toys for the girls last night and Jeckle got a coloring set. She drew all over her legs and feet and when I asked her why, she said it was because she wanted a tattoo. DH just about died.

 

[disneygirlinnj]

Sounds like a great plan for the surprise!

And just to reassure you a little (if you need it...lol)...my parents took me out of school when i was young for a week each year to do Disney and stuff. Probably up until 4th grade or so, maybe later than that. I still graduated high school with honors...didn't miss a beat when I came back. The flight allowed me to catch up on all my homework and a little downtime in the hotel. The kids will be perfectly fine I know it's a touchy subject but every kid is different and you know your kids!

 

[tarak]

Sounds like a great plan for the surprise!

And just to reassure you a little (if you need it...lol)...my parents took me out of school when i was young for a week each year to do Disney and stuff. Probably up until 4th grade or so, maybe later than that. I still graduated high school with honors...didn't miss a beat when I came back. The flight allowed me to catch up on all my homework and a little downtime in the hotel. The kids will be perfectly fine I know it's a touchy subject but every kid is different and you know your kids!

Thanks for the reassurance - my sister and I were never out of school for vacation, but we were always just visiting relatives, so timing wasn't an issue. I think for me, it's more a matter of the heat and humidity than the crowds. I tend to want to hibernate in the summer rather than the winter.

 

[Flossbolna]

Jeckle sounds like a handful! But the tatoo story sounds like she would love to get one of those face paintings at WDW!

I think letting them figure out themselves is a grea plan. I would love to be surprised that way myself! I can very well understand your problem with taking your kids out of school. My mother was a teacher so she really was against that. And then in Germany it is actually a misdemeanor is the parents take their kids out of school. But I absolutely understand not wanting to go in the worst of the heat! I guess only you as parents know what your kids can deal with and Heckle sounds like a smart kid who will have no problem catching up with one week. I missed about 1/5 of my first grade due to chronic tonsilitis and still was doing ok!

 

[tarak]

We had 1st grade orientation earlier this week. The policy for vacations is 5 days a year and there is supposed to be an "educational component." Hmm. Not sure about that part. We're doing at least one day at AK and probably two at Epcot. We're not going to be commando at the parks, but will take our time to see things and appreciate them. AK can definitely be educational and Epcot as well. Not sure we can make an argument for MK. The principal didn't seem really fussed about it one way or another.
Flossbolna - I used to get tonsillitis a lot as a kid, but not often enough that they'd take them out. That sort of annoyed me as a kid.

 

[tarak]

So I once again have not much to report. I have, however, decided to suck it up and take the double stroller we already have. It still works, even though it’s just about impossible to move when both girls are sitting in it. I’d rather have it if we need it (especially towards the end of our stay when energy levels will be lowest) than have to rent one. So there’s money saved right there! Yay me! Can I count it against the money I’ve decided to spend on a Grand Welcome from Mickey?

I took the girls to get their hair cut a few weeks ago. Five minutes after we got home, Jeckle went to the bathroom. About 15 minutes later, we realize she hadn’t come out yet. Granted, the child is like molasses about doing just about anything. But she usually doesn’t take that long in the bathroom. Unless she’s up to no good. My husband checked on her and she decided she’d try to improve on her haircut with a pair of nail clippers. Needless to say, she failed. I'm not sure if the expression on her face is because she was mad that I wanted a picture or that we were less than thrilled with her handiwork.

So I made an appointment to get her hair cut again in the next week and the lady did a lovely job of fixing it. She also explained to her why we shouldn’t try to cut our own hair. Her next appointment is scheduled for a week or so before we leave on this trip. Haircuts are tricky in my family. My MIL is sort of obsessed with their hair being cut. And it’s one of the few things I will absolutely flip out and see red over – someone cutting my child’s hair without my permission. And she knows this. She has an unfortunate tendency to ignore it and thinks she can get away with it. She never does. Fortunately, Heckle knows to run in the opposite direction when she sees Yia Yia approach with a scissors. Jeckle, not so much, so I have to make sure it’s cut on a regular basis or she’ll “just trim the bangs.” Which translates roughly to “make the bangs uneven enough to be completely obvious to anyone with eyes and make them feel badly that this poor child has one of those moms too cheap to have a professional do the job.”

The Dude was bald until just a few months ago, but the second she even hinted that she was going to cut his hair, I just did it myself for fear she’d make good on the threat and a blood feud would erupt.

Here is the results of the second haircut – sort of Dorothy Hamill-ish. I’m pretty sure I had that same haircut back in the 70’s.

After reading PracPerfPatricia’s review of Sanaa, I decided to make an ADR for it. I was able to get lunch on Saturday – I’m hoping I’ll be able to get something else earlier in the week. My kids would eat there, but might grumble a bit and I think it would be fun to have a dinner with just my mom and they can play at Simba’s club, which they would probably prefer to Sanaa.

 

[tarak]

Has he been asking for a Red Ryder BB gun, too?

All I can think when I see that photo is the Bunny Suit Ralphie wears at the end of "A Christmas Story".

Though the above "suit" is much cuter....

I forgot to post a response to this earlier - that's exactly what I thought of when I saw the snowman suit.