My First PTR or: How many people have to die before I get to the World????

[MisplacedTexan]

Ok, so here goes, my first PTR. I hope someone will read this or I will feel like I am talking to myself and no one is listening. Oh wait, I talk to my self daily, lol, Oh well.

As for the title, yes, how many more have to die before I can get to the World. Well at the rate we are going, at least one more, lol. This year has been a rough year for me in terms of losing loved ones, and not just family loved ones, but the ones that I have known since I was 3, and have grown up with and could never imagine my life without them. Since March we have lost 4 friends and family members and in September, we said goodbye to my best friend's husband. It was an expected event, but one that still caught us all off guard. And now, my BFF's daughter is fighting bone cancer and is in a fight for her life.
So, yes, I need a trip to Disney, just to forget about reality a little bit.

We originally planned on heading to Disney December 21 to December 27, and after some serious thought and discussion, we moved it up to December 10 to 15 for Free Dining. Soo, we will be in WDW December 10 to December 15 staying at Port Orleans Riverside.

So now that I have totally depressed and frightened off any potential readers, let me introduce this cast of characters:


First off is Me: Mommy, Mom, Babycakes, or just Amy. SAHM, Disney planner extraordinaire! Originally from Jersey, transplanted to Tx in 2003.

Then there is DH: Daddy, Daddy Adrian, Leppi, or just plain old Adrian. System Admin for a major cosmetics company as a contractor. Loves my kids like his own, and a Disney enthusiast, loves going, just wants to know where to go and how to get there. Let's me plan it all!

Next up in the crazy cast of characters is....

DD:16. She probably will not make an appearance as she lives in NJ with her dad, and doesn't like me right now, but she is a Disney princess, having grown up with every thing Disney

DS12: the love of my life and my biggest challenge, lol. Love my boy, but man he is trying my patience. He may or may not live to see 13

and lastly, DD10: my little bit of Sunshine, my Button, my Little Bit. Loves everything Disney, including helping mommy plan.


In 2009, I took hubby and the kids to Disney for the first time. I had been throughout my life, maybe 5 or 6 times, the last time was in 1991, before I started working at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind in St,. Augustine. It took us 22 hours to get there because LB puked majority of the way, and we took hubby's car which is a stick and I do not know how to drive. The poor guy never got a break, lol.

The best part of the whole trip was videoing my kids seeing the castle for the very first time. I cried, my daughter was speechless, and my son, asked: " Is that it????" I wanted to smack him, lol.

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

I am here! We will get you some more readers once we get your link working.

You are funny! Sorry about the sadness surrounding you right now. I lost my dad to cancer last Sept. I thought time would help; apparently, I was wrong. Well, it is just different now. Okay, now that I added to the depression...

Upbeat and Disney!!! I am glad you changed your dates. Not only because of free dining, but also because of crowds!!

I only have two girls, so I can't comment on the boy...sorry about the 16 yo. What a tough age--I teach 10th and 11th graders--so I have empathy.

It is nice that you 10 yo seems to not have the spunk of the 16 yo. My girls are a bit ahead and are a bit "sassy" - they sometimes act like I did at 13. (I apologized to my parents already.)

Can't wait to hear more.

 

[LauriM]

interesting start for your post.....cant wait to read more!

 

[MisplacedTexan]

I am here! We will get you some more readers once we get your link working.

You are funny! Sorry about the sadness surrounding you right now. I lost my dad to cancer last Sept. I thought time would help; apparently, I was wrong. Well, it is just different now. Okay, now that I added to the depression...

Upbeat and Disney!!! I am glad you changed your dates. Not only because of free dining, but also because of crowds!!

I only have two girls, so I can't comment on the boy...sorry about the 16 yo. What a tough age--I teach 10th and 11th graders--so I have empathy.

It is nice that you 10 yo seems to not have the spunk of the 16 yo. My girls are a bit ahead and are a bit "sassy" - they sometimes act like I did at 13. (I apologized to my parents already.)

Can't wait to hear more.

Thank you so much for the help with my link I swear sometimes underneath all this red hair, are lost brain cells trying to find their way back, lol. So sorry to hear about your dad. We lost my dad in March of 2003 and there are days that I just can't help but start crying. And here go the waterworks, lol. Ok, enough of that! Moving on to happier things!!!

I have some exciting news that I will post up later today!

Thank you again for all your help!

 

[MisplacedTexan]

interesting start for your post.....cant wait to read more!

YAY! Another reader!!! Thanks for joining in.

 

[MisplacedTexan]

YES!!! After driving my cousin crazy for the last three days, my ADRs are complete. First I didn't have enough meals, and then I was over by 6, gee what's a gal to do???

So, here is the plan, ready???

Saturday 12/10---Raglan Road
Sunday 12/11--- Ohana for breakfast
Monday12/12---counter service, no sitdowns
Tuesday 12/13--- Nine Dragons for all 4 of us and then Teppan Edo for hubby and I for a date night
Wednesday 12/14--Tusker House for lunch
Thursday 12/15- early lunch at Prime Time before we hit the road back to Tx.

I am stuffed already, lol.

 

[MisplacedTexan]

This morning in Tx it is 50 degrees and the heat is not working, so, while I wait for the repair guy to arrive, I will work out my plan for our trip.

The most frustrating part of this whole thing is not telling the kids and making sure they do not miss any school btwn now and Dec. Originally we were leaving the 20th, arriving on the 21st and then heading home on the 27th, which would mean the kids would not miss any school because of winter break. Well, after roaming around on the Disney site, I discovered Free Diningand realized we would save almost $1000.00 by going 11 days earlier.

Now here is the thing, our Asst. Principal is a nazi when it comes to attendance. My daughter walked into school one day at 755 and he made her wait to get a late pass because by the time she would have gotten to class she would have been late anyway, so why come all the way back. Needless to say, mom was not happy and we did eventually get it resolved, but still.

But, we are taking them out for the week before break, nothing much is happening, so they won't be missing much.

So, the plan is this:

December 9: Ship everyone off to practice, school and work. Our days start at 5 am, so we can get DS to school for athletics. Everyone out the door and off to where they belong by 8. Mom heads back home, finishes packing the van, hubby heads back home around 1, grabs a nap, and then we begin our rounds of carpool.

Get all the kids by 4, bags bought home, and put away, potty breaks, whatever. As for what to tell the kids, well, we have been promising to take them to NOLA for a weekend to visit the haunted hotels out there. That is our excuse.

Hit the road by 5, and by the time we hit NOLA, it will be 8. My kids sleep great in the car, so more than likely after a good dinner, some music and videos they will be asleep, and we can keep going.

So my plan is to keep driving as hubby and I will take shifts. It is 18 hours from my front door to POR, I will start, and drive till midnight and then hubby will drive till day break. I cannot drive at night, and he can, so it works for us, lol

Hopefully by 6 am we are close enough to Florida that when the kids wake up, they will figure it out and we will have some very excited children in the car.

 

[MisplacedTexan]

Well, since it is now 230 and the HVAC guy is STILL not here, I guess I will continue with my plans, lol.

So last I left off, we are hoping the kids will sleep majority of the way to FL, and wake in Fl for the surprise. Now providing all goes well, and we do not hit any major traffic or delays on our way, we should be pulling into POR around noon.

Last time we went we stayed at OKW, and while it was a nice resort, I didn't really enjoy it. There were alot of things that I hadn't researched, and I think that is why, but we still had a blast!

So now, here we are, Saturday afternoon, and hopefully arriving before 2 because.......... my BFF from 5th grade will be waiting there for us at 2!!!! I have not seen Liz in a very very long time. (I'd be dating myself here). She is a police officer, and the only day she is off is that Saturday, so she and her sons are going to drive two hours to meet us for dinner!!! I am soo stinkin' excited!!!! My husband thinks I am losing it!


We have dinner reservations for 830 at Raglan Road and from what I understand the food is really good. I am not a big fan of Irish food, heck, I do not even celebrate St. Patty's Day, or wear green on that day! But I digress.

So Day 1: Just hanging out at the pool and hotel. Dinner at Raglan Road, and probably wander around DTD

 

[disneydreamingdebby]

Get all the kids by 4, bags bought home, and put away, potty breaks, whatever. As for what to tell the kids, well, we have been promising to take them to NOLA for a weekend to visit the haunted hotels out there. That is our excuse.

My kids are very much like me...it is helpful for them to know what is going to happen. If I told them we were doing something they wanted and then changed it (even if it was to something much cooler like Disney) my kids would have a meltdown...

Just a thought...What about if you have clues for them that you give them each 100 miles or so? Just a thought...

Your kids may be nothing like mine, so it may not even matter.

 

[MisplacedTexan]

Get all the kids by 4, bags bought home, and put away, potty breaks, whatever. As for what to tell the kids, well, we have been promising to take them to NOLA for a weekend to visit the haunted hotels out there. That is our excuse.

My kids are very much like me...it is helpful for them to know what is going to happen. If I told them we were doing something they wanted and then changed it (even if it was to something much cooler like Disney) my kids would have a meltdown...

Just a thought...What about if you have clues for them that you give them each 100 miles or so? Just a thought...

Your kids may be nothing like mine, so it may not even matter.

Actually that sounds like a good idea. I need to come up with something. Maybe a hint for each state we drive through? LA, MS, AL, and then Fl. Hmmmm, time to dig through the creativity bin

 

[vdarrell]

I am reading
Sorry to hear of how your year has gone and the loss of family and friends. It is always so sad to loose loved ones.
And a Disney trip would do wonders to relieve the emotional stress you have been through.
I will keep your BFF's daughter in my prayers.

Looks as if you have everything planned and are ready to go,
it is so fun to plan. Your plans so sound fun and nice places to eat
I am usually a minute by minute planner as I don't want to miss one thing especially when in Disney so it is killing me to not plan ahead.

We will hopefully be there the same time frame Dec. 11th -17th staying at POP I haven't planned too many things as I am waiting on my dr. to medically release me. It has been a really hard year for us and a trip to Disney would bring some joy to my DH and myself.( health issues posted in my PTR)

I will be looking forward to following you through your PTR it will help me keep excited.

 

[MisplacedTexan]

I am reading
Sorry to hear of how your year has gone and the loss of family and friends. It is always so sad to loose loved ones.
And a Disney trip would do wonders to relieve the emotional stress you have been through.
I will keep your BFF's daughter in my prayers.

Looks as if you have everything planned and are ready to go,
it is so fun to plan. Your plans so sound fun and nice places to eat
I am usually a minute by minute planner as I don't want to miss one thing especially when in Disney so it is killing me to not plan ahead.

We will hopefully be there the same time frame Dec. 11th -17th staying at POP I haven't planned too many things as I am waiting on my dr. to medically release me. It has been a really hard year for us and a trip to Disney would bring some joy to my DH and myself.( health issues posted in my PTR)

I will be looking forward to following you through your PTR it will help me keep excited.

welcome!!!! Thanks for joining in! If you are able to make it, we would LOVE to meet up!!! It would be so cool to meet some fellow Dis'er's. Hubby thinks I am insane, lol.

Thank you for the prayers. it has been a rough year, but on the plus side, for every death, there has been news that a new baby is on the way form someone, so I will have many littles to spoil in the upcoming year.

 

[vdarrell]

We love to meet Dis'ers we have done this in the past and have met the most wonderful people.
As soon as we find out if I am released medically to go we can maybe plan on doing a meet or possibly a "wave".

new little ones how wonderful.

 

[Lady Lallie]

Your title totally grabbed my attention and I'm here to read along!

I love the idea of clues for the trip, that would be super awesome and help break up the trip a bit I bet.

 

[MisplacedTexan]

Your title totally grabbed my attention and I'm here to read along!

I love the idea of clues for the trip, that would be super awesome and help break up the trip a bit I bet.

And thanks for joining in!!! Congrats on your little one! I am sure you are anxiously awaiting the 25th to get here!!! Here is some pixie dust for a great pregnancy!

We may have had to make some changes to our trip, I will know in a few hours, but yes, I really like the idea of the clues. Now I have to use the brain to think,

 

[Lady Lallie]

And thanks for joining in!!! Congrats on your little one! I am sure you are anxiously awaiting the 25th to get here!!! Here is some pixie dust for a great pregnancy!

We may have had to make some changes to our trip, I will know in a few hours, but yes, I really like the idea of the clues. Now I have to use the brain to think,

Thank you very much!

All I could think of was an orange because Florida is known for it's orange juice??? Too easy?? Too hard?? I don't know.

 

[MisplacedTexan]

Ok, so, since I do not know to post pics yet, ya'll will have to use your imagination, lol. Seriously though, we started movie nights about two weeks ago, the first movie being Aladdin. We had PBJ shakes, and watched one of our favorite movies. To date we have so far watched POC 1,2 and tonight 3. Now with Halloween just days away, I am thinking that we wil be watching Nightmare before Christmas on Friday, two halloween parties on Saturday, and then haunted houses on Sunday, and maybe, trick or treating on Monday.

I was looking online tonight and found some Jack Skellington cookie pops, and some green juice punch thing, that I am going to make for the kids. Somce whilte paper lanterns that I will paint Jack faces on, and if I can find one, a brain jello mold. I need to make desserts for Saturday, although I have no idea what that will be. I am thinking maybe some Chex Mix halloween mix for one party and maybe something gross for the other, depends on what strikes my mood.

 

[vdarrell]

Ok, so, since I do not know to post pics yet, ya'll will have to use your imagination, lol. Seriously though, we started movie nights about two weeks ago, the first movie being Aladdin. We had PBJ shakes, and watched one of our favorite movies. To date we have so far watched POC 1,2 and tonight 3. Now with Halloween just days away, I am thinking that we wil be watching Nightmare before Christmas on Friday, two halloween parties on Saturday, and then haunted houses on Sunday, and maybe, trick or treating on Monday.

I was looking online tonight and found some Jack Skellington cookie pops, and some green juice punch thing, that I am going to make for the kids. Somce whilte paper lanterns that I will paint Jack faces on, and if I can find one, a brain jello mold. I need to make desserts for Saturday, although I have no idea what that will be. I am thinking maybe some Chex Mix halloween mix for one party and maybe something gross for the other, depends on what strikes my mood.

Can I come over and join the fun

 

[MisplacedTexan]

Can I come over and join the fun

Absolutely!

 

[MisplacedTexan]

This morning, I learned that we lost another beloved aunt last night. I have not seen her since my dad died in 2003. She was a beautiful lady and waited a very long time to go home and be with her husband. I am sure she was surrounded by her children, all of who I am truly blessed to call my cousins. All of my great grandmother's children are gone, and only two spouses are left. It is very surreal to me, that they are all gone now. Some were my age when I was born, and they have always been a part of my life in some way shape or form. Our once large family has gotten smaller in the last year. I have tried very hard to keep their memories alive for my children, but it is difficult to explain each persons personality, laughter, beliefs, and stories. I only hope that I will be able to leave an impression on someone's life, like my family members did.