V's BDay SURPRISE with 99 Characters and Costumes Galore Update May 19th Happy BDAY V

[nannye]

WELCOME!!!!

I’ll start off with a picture of Victoria (V) and myself from our August 2011 Trip to Disney. V was 4 years old when we went!

V is my charge, I’ve been her nanny for 4 years.

V is a whole ball of things She can be timid when she wants to, and shy; Or completely outgoing. I think she gets a bit nervous meeting characters, so she really doesn’t talk to them much. It depends on if they engage her or not, however we had some fabulous character interaction and one comment from her that sent everyone into hysterics!

She LOVES Princesses, however she WILL NOT watch Disney Movies. When I say she is timid I mean EVERYTHING scares her in movies. The only princess movie that is sort of ok is Cinderella. She refuses to watch movies, no fairies or Tangled. She’s seen Tangled and most of Tink once, but won’t watch them again. She was terrified during Brave, yet she still likes the movie.

V LOVES Pink! It is by far her most favourite color! She also loves purple and anything glitzy and girlie.

She is starting Senior Kindergarten at a Bilingual school and LOVES school. She also loves playing with her friends, choir, dance class, gymnastics, oh and Disney!

And me? I’m Erin her Nanny. I’m 29, and since Aug 2011, a Disney Freak!

The final Details
July 5-12th 2012, 7 nights and 8 days
Port Orleans Resort Riverside Royal Guest Room (Oak Manor Requested)
Just V and I
Regular Dining Plan with lots of character meals and Fun things!

Are you along for the ride? How did I surprise V? What costumes did she have? Did she like them? Was she surprised to go to Disney? And how did we meet 99 characters!! Jump aboard and hold on for the ride!

 

[nannye]

Chapter Links!
Use these to skip the chit chat!

Prologue
Prologue Part 2
Elizabeth Ava Payne

Day One July 5, 2012
Part One: The Surprise ~ added 2/9/12
Part Two: Home ~ added 18/9/12
Part Three: Off to Wonderland ~ added 28/10/12
Part Four: A Shopping We Will Go! ~ added 4/11/12
Part Five: A Sweet Treat! ~ added 25/11/12

Real Life : V's Cruise Dress & Pictures of her Christmas 2012 Disney Dream Cruise

Day Two July 6, 2012
Part One: A Grumpy Breakfast ~ added 04/01/13
Part Two: Off to Africa added 14/01/13
Part Three: OMG You have a Drizella Doll!
continued~ added 24/01/13

Day Three July 7, 2012
Part One: It's A Bibbiddi Bobbiddi Boo Kind of Day
continued~ added 27/01/13
Part Two: Royalty at their Finest
Continued ~ added 04/02/13
Part Three: Princesses & a Parade
Continued ~ added 04/07/13
Part Four: Meeting the Prince! ~ added 5/19/13

 

[nannye]

I’ll give some back-story on us since this is a bit more of a unique relationship.

My History with V! (Geeze it’s long!)

We live in Ontario Canada.

Who’s V you might ask? V is a spectacular little girl whom I have had the pleasure of taking care of since she was 11 months old. She was born May 17, 2007 on Victoria Day and was named Victoria.
In January 2008 I left my current nanny position to do my practical teaching full time in the public school System and I began interviewing for a new nanny position to start in May 2008. V’s mom replied to my ad on the online classifieds, and I didn’t really want the job. They lived 30 minutes away from me and only had 1 child. It was double the commute I was hoping for and I was worried I would be bored with only one child. V’s mom really wanted to interview me so I said yes; I didn’t want to be rude even though I really didn’t want the job. Am I ever glad for my lack of guts to decline that interview! 10 Minutes into my interview I knew this was the right family for me. They were onboard with everything I was looking for in a job and with everything I wanted to do. They wanted her out and about doing activities daily and were prepared to enroll in any classes I wanted. I took the job!

The contract was for a year. I graduated from teachers college but did not get a job with my local school board. Naturally in May 2009 we extended another year and then another in May 2010.
Sept 2011 V started Junior Kindergarten and I moved to part time picking her up afterschool and caring for her from 3:30 to 6. I also started with a 9 month old boy Gray during the day and that November I FINALLY got an interview with the school board. I was praying I got a job as a supply teacher because my job with Gray was NOT working out well.
There were some delays with lost paperwork, (It would only happen to me!) but FINALLY in March 2012, (3 months after the rest who were hired started) I was officially hired by the school board and I started supply teaching during the day and continued with V after school. It was the best of both worlds. That is continuing now.

Let’s backtrack a little to January 2011 and our first trip to Disney. V’s mom asked me if I wanted to go with them to Florida in August 2011. They own a house in Bradenton that they go to a few times a year and V’s grandparents stay for 6 months out of the year.
I decided to give it a whirl and it took a few days but I got up the guts to ask if I could take V to Disney for a day, they said yes! A one day turned into two and staying overnight, and finally we ended up staying 4 nights and 5 days at Pop Century. Since it was my idea I expected to pay, but V’s parents paid most of our trip. We had free dining but they paid for everything else. I paid for all souvenirs and BBB. V’s parents dropped us off and picked us up. We had a Wonderful time. It was V’s first trip to Disney and although I had been when I was 6, I don’t remember it so I considered our trip, my first trip as well.

Fast Forward to December 2011, V’s parents were discussing their plans for the summer and when they would go to Florida for their two week holiday. I emailed asking if whenever they decided to go if I could steal V for a few days and take her to Disney. I would fly into the airport where they would meet me and I would surprise V with going to Disney world for a few days and they would pick V up a few days later and I would fly home. I knew I could not ask nor expect them to pay so I said I was paying this time. I REALLY wanted to go back to Disney and there was no one I would have rather gone with! I also knew if I was the one paying they may be more likely to say yes. (Of course I really did not realize just how expensive it was going to be!). They said Yes! They tried to convince me to just fly with them and stay at the house, but I didn’t want to. I wanted to just fly in and out and I REALLY wanted to go to Universal Studios but in the end, flights and such just did not work out so we agreed I would fly with them and stay for the full two weeks.
I planned 7 nights at Disney for us and was super worried V’s mom would say it was too long. She may have been a little hesitant, but she said YES! Best of all, this trip was a SURPRISE!!!! V's birthday was in May and I decided that I wanted to celebrate her birthday at Disney. Last year I was so worried about spending too much money and this year with more time to save and such (ya right) I said screw it, we are going all out! We are going to do whatever we want and have a blast!

The trip planning Began!!!! The dates chosen were July 5-12th 2012. V’s dad could only get holidays this time and even though it was Hot and peak season, I still wanted to go. As soon as I saw the mock ups for the princess rooms, I knew I was booking one and I got a 10% off room Pin. Eventually I was able to upgrade to a 20% off Garden View Royal Room at Port Orleans Riverside. We added regular dining. No water parks or Park hoppers, to try and keep the cost down.
Shortly into the planning I discovered the Disboutiquers thread and became determined to make V some costumes for the trip. Only problem was that I didn’t sew. I enlisted my mom to help and we made some costumes for V telling her they were for her friends’ birthday since we had to get her to try them on. She never actually saw any of the costumes complete, except for Alice. Alice was the only one she knew what it was. The sewing blossomed from three costumes into more customs and with the help of disboutiquers advice V ended up with an outfit for every day. She also ended up with an American Girl doll and several costumes for her as well! Oy, this trip turned from as cheap as possible into going all out!
Many of you may ask are her parents crazy? They let the nanny take their daughter to Disney World? No they aren’t crazy, they just trust me a lot! Disney World and the like just isn’t really their thing. At home I’m the one that takes V to amusement parks, museums, bowling, the park and other fun stuff. They are older parents and they don’t like crowds. They work long hours during the week and are just content to take it easy on weekends with her. They are just set in their ways. They have taken the plunge and booked a Cruise on The Dream for this Christmas! (I wish I was going!)
Finally the end of June was here and we were ready to go!
The final Details
July 5-12th
Port Orleans Resort Riverside Royal Guest Room (Oak Manor Requested)
Just V and I
Regular Dining Plan with lots of character meals and Fun things!
Are you along for the ride? How did we surprise V? What costumes did she have? Did she like them? Was she surprised to go to Disney? And how did we meet 99 characters!! Jump aboard and hold on for the ride!

Before we get started, here are a couple pictures of V growing up and from our Disney 2011 trip. I kept mostly to Birthdays since there are literally THOUSANDS of pics on my computer to choose from.

This is V, 3 weeks after I started taking care of her. She turned 1!

She is almost 2 in these pictures, around 22 months I think,

Her 2nd Birthday!! THis picture is at her family party.

I planned a 2nd birthday for her with friends at a Chucke Cheeses. It was a princess themed party with a cool cake. She wasn't to thrilled with the Cheese!

She's Two!

We were shopping at Sears one day and the photographer asked to take V's picture for free!

V had a Tinkerbell Tea Party for her third birthday!

After school one day we stopped at a Wedding dress store to see my friends dress and V got to model her tiara!

She had a Strawberry Shortcake Party with Friends for her 4th Birthday!

We went to lunch with friends on her birthday (I made this cake)

And had family dinner, with mom and dad and grandma and grampa that night! (Made this cake) Yes.... The kid had 4 cakes for her birthday!

Canadian Cutie!!! Canada Day 2011

DISNEY!!!!
Chatting with Cinderella about her necklace

The BBB Reveal

On Safari!

Chef Mickeys

Spintastic!

So pretty at night!

Goodbye Magic Kingdom

For V's 5th birthday her mom and I went to lunch with V and 3 of her friends and got pedicures & manicures. She wanted a princess cake, so I did a pillow cake. We also had lunch with her grandparents and she had wanted a pinkalicious cake so I did a pink cake with a giant pinkalicious cupcake on top. Sadly we all forgot to take a picture of it!

 

[AimeeMichele]

Subscribing! Wow isn't V a lucky girl and you must be the best nanny ever!!! I can't wait to hear all about your trip

 

[DMGeurts]

I am here! Sorry I can't do long replies from my phone, but I promise to catch up when I get home!

D~

 

[jennyjinx3]

I'm in!!

 

[nannye]

Ha ha, D, you're here and I haven't advertised it yet or even finished the first post! Photobucket was being a pain and so I just gave up last night. I am back now to finish and add the rest of the photos.

Welcome Jennyjinx and AimeeMichele!

Edited to Add: I finished uploading the photos in the prologue

 

[nannye]

July 1, 2012 - Look out Florida here we come!
On Sat June 30, V’s parents picked me up (and my VERY heavy bags) and we headed to Toronto. We had dinner somewhere then went to the hotel.

V and I went to bed. It was 8:30, and I’m pretty sure I was asleep before she was. I was so tired. I had pulled an all nighter the night before, aside from an hour long nap from 6-7 am.
I had to do the all nighter, I had so much to do. I had to pack and organize V’s costumes and make Mickey Tye Dye shirts. I was so tired. I realize that I can't do all nighters like I used to. I felt so sick and I was so dumb.

The only problem with falling asleep at 8:30 pm was waking up at 4 am Sunday morning and not being able to fall back asleep. Argh! The bright side, when V fell out of bed at 4:15 am i was awake. I picked her up and struggled to get her back on the bed and she says, "Ow, That hurt" and promptly starts snoring. Oh to be five! and yes Dolly I bet that did hurt!

Ah well we were up early had breakfast at the hotel and headed to the airport, parking and beginning the long treacherous walk through the airport with my heavy suitcases. My carry on was packed entirely with V’s costumes. There was then the spillover into my suitcase. This wouldn’t have been a huge problem except I am very short, barely 5 feet. V’s parents are TALL with LONG LEGS! Her dad is 6.6 and her mom around 5.6. I was basically running to keep up. Thank you god when we finally stopped!

Waiting for our plane at Toronto Airport!

My view

The flight was uneventful we landed in Sarasota, got the rental car and drove to the house. The next few days were uneventful. V was still none the wiser about our trip to Florida. I spent as much time as possible making plans for our days as well as planning the surprise. I had been so busy with customs, costumes and work up until this point that I hadn’t had time to plan our days and that left me very nervous. I tried as best as I could to write lists of where characters could be found and the times because V and I are big character hunters.

V riding her bike

On July 4th, I packed V’s suitcase while she was swimming. I repacked mine and wrote up the surprise and hid the clues after she went to bed that night. The next morning I woke up and V was already having breakfast. Her dad was on a conference call for work and once he was done I hid the last few clues and the surprise began!!!

Just how did I surprise V? Keep reading to find out! (and maybe see too!)

 

[mom2rtk]

Yeah! Thanks for letting me know about your TR. Can't wait to read along!

 

[mommy2mrb]

what a lucky little girl Miss V is to have you in her life! what fun you two must have together!

can't wait to see the "surprise" revealed!!!

 

[Caretames1]

Thought I'd join in for another trip with ya!

 

[solana131]

Joining in! I linked over from D's TR. This looks like so much fun! Can't wait to hear more and how you surprised her

 

[petals]

joining in.

 

[Disneymom1218]

Joining in as well, Can not wait to read more.

 

[Sandite]

Just read the start to your trip! There is a little boy in my daughter's piano class who has a nanny full time much like you are. Their relationship is just so precious and it sounds like you and V's is as well! Can't wait to read more!

 

[alyssaswish]

I can't wait to read about all of your fun together! V is precious!

 

[mousetravel]

Can't wait to hear about your trip! Love all the pics of her through the years. She looks like she has grown so much since last year's trip!!

 

[nannye]

Can't wait to hear about your trip! Love all the pics of her through the years. She looks like she has grown so much since last year's trip!!

I believe she grew 3 inches since last summer! Looking at the pictures, I think it's the age 3 to 4 that is the biggest difference to me.

 

[addictedtonostalgia]

Oh your relationship with V is too cute! I love that your her nanny and you guys get to spend so much time together doing fun things! Also that was pretty great that her parents footed most of the bill the first time around!

She is too cute with that gorgeous red hair, like a little Ariel! Can't wait to read the rest of the TR, curious to see how she handles the heat!

 

[TinkNH]

Joining in