Stop Making Me Laugh Or I'll Pee My Pants! Go Back! I Lost My Shoe! Trip Report!

[mickeystoontown]

Originally Posted by aaaateamsgrandma

Just got back from Football Jamboree. A lot of fun. Beautiful evening out there tonight. Sheri got to go home and cook steaks for 4 hungry boys. Aust calls at 4 and says "hey mom can you cook for me tonite?" Of course she says yes and then he says "hey mom can Joel, Brock and Josh come too?" How do you turn them down.

Love the beginning of this trip. Of course I couldn't see all those pretty sites. I'm locked up in the trunk. I do kind of remember crossing the river. I could hear the water. And I do remember hearing John singing but I couldn't understand the words.

Keep up the good report.

I once cooked for every kid, their siblings and their parents after a football game. We intended to just cook for a couple of families but then word got around and it turned into a huge party.

John thought your comments about being in bad hilarious. He said next time he'll type out an itinerary and the words to all of his songs so you can keep up with what's going on.

Originally Posted by hhockman

Love the pictures so far. It's been a long time since I've been over the Mississippi River. A REALLY long time.

I hope your dates do change. Our might change just a little too. Depends on a lot of things. I know I want to be there for Christian's birthday, but our current dates have us leaving on a Tuesday. If I can swing it, we'll leave earlier. Like Sunday. But I'm not sure how much $$$ we can put into the trip less than a year later. Partly depends on whether SeaWorld et al offers the Buy 3/Get 2 free thing again too. We going over to the other side of Orlando for part of the trip next time (please, please, PLEASE let Harry Potter World be open by then!), but we also have to do Star Wars weekends. And I want to actually be at Disney for Christian's birthday. We might do Universal/Sea World first. Don't know. Depends on the friends I'm supposed to be meeting, and the specials that are offered.

Hopefully we can make ONE day overlap at least.

Waiting to see McDonald's!

We used to do Sea World and Universal and Disney World. John's not a big fan of Sea World so we haven't done that in yers. We might would do Universal again. I don't know. I'm going to play around with the dates on the Disney site and see what kind of rates I get.

Originally Posted by MadilynnsMomma

Hi Lisa - did I miss a post somewhere..? Did you get a bounceback offer? How did this upcoming (2010) trip evolve?

Sorry if you covered it already, feel free to point me in the direction of the post

We did get a bounceback but the dates were just for 2009. We've been going to Disney for 12 years now and have no intention to stop any time soon. It's a yearly thing for us. So, on the drive back home, we started planning for 2010.

[mickeystoontown]

Originally Posted by Backstage_Gal

Hopping on board, great start!

Welcome aboard! I hope that you have a great time reading about our Disney adventures!

Originally Posted by dismagiclover

Oh the fun of roadtrips It seems like you are totally prepared and everyone is having a fun time.

Sometimes I think I am too prepared. I had way too many snacks in the snack box and we didn't eat them all. But.....they were there if we needed them.

Originally Posted by deedeew80

I love that you took pictures of being on the road!!! I'm a big fan of all the little details!!!

I think I have a few more "on the road" pictures.

Originally Posted by MaleficentMama

I love your TR! Can't wait for more. I am also a paralegal and know JUST what you mean about clients changing the documents (1,000 times) at the most inconvenient times! I laughed out loud when you threatened to scalp her. I've had those exact same thoughts myself!

Then you know exactly what I mean. Sometimes, I think they make changes just to upset me and/or their soon to be ex's.

[mickeystoontown]

Originally Posted by aprilisis

Yes! I feel much more comfortable posting here, too. I can't wait to see a photo of Oddball!
I love your trip report & all the time & detail you put into it. I'm looking forward to reading more!

I am going to try to get another installment up sometime this weekend so you'll have more to read.

Originally Posted by uprivermama

I totally get the tradition thing. That's how family memories are made! "Remember how we always used to stop in Vicksburg...." I can't even tell you how many times we say things like that amongst my siblings when we get together now as adults. We do a little of the same thing with our Disneyland road trips. Like, we always stop in Woodburn, OR on the way down because it's the perfect distance and they have good I-5 access to restaurants and gas. And when we get to Buttonwillow, CA, I always have to pretend I have a British (probably more like a cockney) accent, and repeatedly say "Buttonwillow" with this accent. Everyone loves it! I'm sure everyone loves it as much as me!

On an aside, thanks, lisalonglash! I got my siggy fixed, and I know other people were looking for that info too!

There's absolutely nothing special about the Vicksburg McDonald's. It's just the place we always stop at and it seems to make it official that we're on the road to Disney. Isn't it funny how you remember some things that are so insignificant.

Originally Posted by swankybeth

I'm in! Great start, looking forward to more.

Hi! I'm glad that you're hear to read along.

[mickeystoontown]

Morning all,

It's been a busy morning already and it's not quite 11:00 a.m. I was up and at 'em at 7:00 a.m. this morning. I put a load of clothes in the dryer, swept the floor, mopped the floor and just finished waxing them.

John is outside putting a coat of sealer on the end of the house. We live in a log home and one end of the house is exposed to the boiling hot Louisiana sun. So, about every two years, we put a coat of sealer on it. It takes a lot of time to do it since the logs are round and you have to do it with a paint brush so you can get in every little nook and cranny.

Hunter and I are about to get ready to go to the music store. He has been chosen to learn how to plan a viola. Lord help us all! I'm praying that he'll pick it up pretty easily otherwise I feel certain we'll be hearing a lot of squeaking and squalling every night. Lacey laughed and said thank goodness he plays football to balance out playing the viola.

Lacey called yesterday to say that her grant will even pay for her enrollment fees and her books. Sweet! She starts classes next Tuesday. They used to take online classes but now that they've switched colleges, she'll be attending actual classes. She's really excited about that.

Oh, I almost forgot, I also have to find my boss a birthday present. His birthday is next week. What the heck do you get a man who needs nothing? I'm sure I'll find something.

Chat with ya'll later.

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Originally Posted by mickeystoontown

Morning all,

It's been a busy morning already and it's not quite 11:00 a.m. I was up and at 'em at 7:00 a.m. this morning. I put a load of clothes in the dryer, swept the floor, mopped the floor and just finished waxing them.

John is outside putting a coat of sealer on the end of the house. We live in a log home and one end of the house is exposed to the boiling hot Louisiana sun. So, about every two years, we put a coat of sealer on it. It takes a lot of time to do it since the logs are round and you have to do it with a paint brush so you can get in every little nook and cranny.

Hunter and I are about to get ready to go to the music store. He has been chosen to learn how to plan a viola. Lord help us all! I'm praying that he'll pick it up pretty easily otherwise I feel certain we'll be hearing a lot of squeaking and squalling every night. Lacey laughed and said thank goodness he plays football to balance out playing the viola.

Lacey called yesterday to say that her grant will even pay for her enrollment fees and her books. Sweet! She starts classes next Tuesday. They used to take online classes but now that they've switched colleges, she'll be attending actual classes. She's really excited about that.

Oh, I almost forgot, I also have to find my boss a birthday present. His birthday is next week. What the heck do you get a man who needs nothing? I'm sure I'll find something.

Chat with ya'll later.

I once cooked for every kid, their siblings and their parents after a football game. We intended to just cook for a couple of families but then word got around and it turned into a huge party.

The parents club cooks on Thursday nights for all the players (90) for the pre game feed. Two of the churches in town have volunteered to do it this year so they are working that out. It would be great. We don't know many people that can hold 90+ people.

John thought your comments about being in bad hilarious. He said next time he'll type out an itinerary and the words to all of his songs so you can keep up with what's going on.

You tell John I would appreciate that. Words I pretty much know (well, except for his words) it's the tune I can't carry. I bet if I sang loud enough you would have opened that trunk and got me out. Of course, you might have left me stranded along side the road somewhere and who knows what would have happened to me. I felt all safe, warm and cozy in that luggage.

You have had a very busy morning. Don was cooking biscuits about 9:30 and Sheri called to see if we wanted to go eat breakfast. We don't turn down a meal. The biscuits got done and we were out of here.

Then we headed to Wal Mart, Fall Apart and got 2 new stadium chairs. My big butt hurts on those metal bleachers. Our old bleachers were wood and at least they had some give in them.

When we got home the neighbors 6 pit bulls were out roaming. So I'm waiting on the sherrif to get here. Has been a terrible week with those dogs. Law says no more than 4, our covenant reads no outside dogs and no dogs left out all night. They don't follow rules real well. The attorney is working on it. Thursday afternoon when Don got home they had torn down part of the fence and were all in my back yard. The poor Princess about had a stroke.

Love the viola. Sandi played it for 9 years. She was in the youth symphony, first chair all thru school. We paid a lot of money for a new one her junior year. After about 5 years she hocked it. I was not happy but it was hers. So about 3 years ago, what does she do but go buy a cheap one and start playing again. You know you musical people it is in alto cleff not treble like most string instruments.

Awesome about Lacey's news. I am so glad for her and for you. Getting to save some money for you. (makes more Disney money)

Have a great weekend. I'm gonna post some jamboree pics in a bit.

Ginny

[vladimir10]

[QUOTE=mickeystoontown;33245326]


It took me a few minutes, but I finally figured out what it was in this picture that seemed so familiar:

That's the same faucet we used in out kitchen!

I think we got it from Lowes earlier this year.

Small world.

Loving the report so far, patiently waiting for more...


Thanks for sharing!

[Mom2apirate&princess]

Hi Lisa,

I just wanted to de lurk and say hello. I started reading your last TR right before you left for this year's vacation. I loved it!!!! I can't wait to read this one either. I just love it when I find an entertaining writer to keep me smiling... I count on these boards to to give me my Disney fix until we can get back there.

[mickeystoontown]

Originally Posted by aaaateamsgrandma

The parents club cooks on Thursday nights for all the players (90) for the pre game feed. Two of the churches in town have volunteered to do it this year so they are working that out. It would be great. We don't know many people that can hold 90+ people.




You tell John I would appreciate that. Words I pretty much know (well, except for his words) it's the tune I can't carry. I bet if I sang loud enough you would have opened that trunk and got me out. Of course, you might have left me stranded along side the road somewhere and who knows what would have happened to me. I felt all safe, warm and cozy in that luggage.

You have had a very busy morning. Don was cooking biscuits about 9:30 and Sheri called to see if we wanted to go eat breakfast. We don't turn down a meal. The biscuits got done and we were out of here.

Then we headed to Wal Mart, Fall Apart and got 2 new stadium chairs. My big butt hurts on those metal bleachers. Our old bleachers were wood and at least they had some give in them.

When we got home the neighbors 6 pit bulls were out roaming. So I'm waiting on the sherrif to get here. Has been a terrible week with those dogs. Law says no more than 4, our covenant reads no outside dogs and no dogs left out all night. They don't follow rules real well. The attorney is working on it. Thursday afternoon when Don got home they had torn down part of the fence and were all in my back yard. The poor Princess about had a stroke.

Love the viola. Sandi played it for 9 years. She was in the youth symphony, first chair all thru school. We paid a lot of money for a new one her junior year. After about 5 years she hocked it. I was not happy but it was hers. So about 3 years ago, what does she do but go buy a cheap one and start playing again. You know you musical people it is in alto cleff not treble like most string instruments.

Awesome about Lacey's news. I am so glad for her and for you. Getting to save some money for you. (makes more Disney money)

Have a great weekend. I'm gonna post some jamboree pics in a bit.

Ginny

Did you get the pit bull situation taken care of? I'd be a bit worried if they were just roaming around.

We got a viola ordered. They were running a special for just $159.00! It was normally over $400.00. The music store was packed with kids renting/buying instruments.

I hate to put too much money into it until I know for sure that he will want to keep playing. If he's good at it and wants to keep playing, I know we'll be making another trip back to the store and getting a better one.

[QUOTE=vladimir10;33264879]

Originally Posted by mickeystoontown

It took me a few minutes, but I finally figured out what it was in this picture that seemed so familiar:

That's the same faucet we used in out kitchen!

I think we got it from Lowes earlier this year.

Small world.

Loving the report so far, patiently waiting for more...


Thanks for sharing!

Our faucet started leaking last year and we made a run to Lowe's to get a new one. It's really hard to find something that goes with a log home. I don't want fancy and the ones that look old timey are really really expensive.

Originally Posted by Mom2apirate&princess

Hi Lisa,

I just wanted to de lurk and say hello. I started reading your last TR right before you left for this year's vacation. I loved it!!!! I can't wait to read this one either. I just love it when I find an entertaining writer to keep me smiling... I count on these boards to to give me my Disney fix until we can get back there.

Thanks for coming out of lurkdome.

I've often said that trip reports and pictures are what keep me sane until our next trip to Disney.

[lisalonglash]

Kids have no appreciation of stellar musical ability Tradition is a good thing! John is funny Ironing?!??! I haven't ironed anything for well over 10 years - my dh is much better at it than I am

[LuvsTinker]

Hi Lisa,

I haven't been around in a few weeks and now see you're back from another great trip!

Glad your family had fun - y'all look so happy

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Good deal on Hunters viola. We will hope he likes it. In our school system in order to be in high school band you have to start in the 4th grade. Everyone does the recorder then the 5th grade you get an instrument. No strings. We only have band. You have to stay in through middle school. It stinks if anyone moves in when in high school cause they don't let them in. Our band is the top rated in the state. They always take first in the competions. They are called The Cutting Edge. Andrea was in band till last year and dropped out. (along with a lot of other things)

I'm going to meet with the subdivision attorney tomorrow (he is in the same building where I work) and take him the timeline and film that Don has made. It is so frustrating. The older couple on the south side of them (he is on a walker and she a cane) can't even go in their back yard they are so afraid. And I had said earlier in the year the flea problem we had even with Don spraying every 2 weeks. Totally ridiculus.

[mickeystoontown]

"Deep rither! My home is over Jordan." That was what John was singing as we made our way over the mighty Mississippi river. One State down, two more to go. Three if you count Florida.

You'll remember that our tummies were rumbling and we were about to make a pit stop at the Vicksburg, Mississippi McDonald's. It's a tradition.

I'm a really good orderer. I know what we want before we get to the speaker. I say the order really slowly and pause in between each person's order. I'm good. Well, Mr. Order Taker wasn't. He'd repeat the order back to me and there'd be something wrong with it every time. He had it screwed up so bad and then he'd get flustered and start mumbling. It was so comical that John and the kids were actually giggling. I had to fight back a laugh or two myself so that I could respond to his questions. Finally, the screen had everything correct and he told us to pull around.

We get to the window. I pay $17.82 and they hand us our drink tray. Four drinks. That was right. Then, they hand out two happy meals (one for Hunter and our big eater, Lacey). Next, they hand out a bag with John's two Big Mac sandwiches, a fry and Hunter's extra burger. And, they close the window. Wait a minute, where's my food? They finally open up the window and ask what is wrong. I told them that we were missing another happy meal (for big eater, me). She said it wasn't on the order. I said, "Then why did you give me three child size drinks that go with happy meals?" She yells (not at me but to the back of the store) "Shontrell, why you didn't get this lady's order right? You stupid ****). Then she turns to me sweetly and says "What did you order 'cause Shontrell didn't make you pay for it but you gonna get it?" I told her and she turned around and started yelling back at Shontrell again. It was hilarious!

We finally get our food and we were back on the road. John kept telling me that my chicken nuggets were going to make me sick because I hadn't paid for them. I told him that it wasn't my fault that Shontrell was a stupid "beep" (I didn't say the word...just "beep").

I usually fill up the car the day before or the day we leave but this time I didn't 'cause I already had a good bit of gas in the car. I knew I didn't want to pull off the interstate and fill up in Jackson, Mississippi and I didn't want to wait until Hattiesburg, Mississippi to get gas. So, before we got back on the interstate, we pulled into a gas station and filled up. Cost was just $20.00.

I don't know about ya'll but I don't let my gas tank get below 1/4 of a tank. John, on the other hand, will run on fumes forever. I don't like it. Because we've been driving to Disney for years and years, we pretty much know where the next big town is and when do we need to stop and get gas.

I don't have any more road trip pictures for the first day because they were doing road construction in Jackson, Mississippi and I was busy maneuvering through traffic. The kids continued watching movies in the back. John and I talked in the front. When we get to Hattiesburg, we hit more road construction and it seemed to take us forever to get through town. John and I both saw the lightening at the same time. And, at the same time, we turned to each other and said "I hope it doesn't rain on us all the way there." We never did get rained on. Thank goodness.

Nothing exciting happened all the way through to Mobile, Alabama. Just lots of road and a whole lotta nothing. In Mobile, we go through the tunnel and, of course, the kids have to roll down the windows and yell to see if it'll echo. I don't think they'll ever grow out of that.

We cross over the water and we continue to see the lightening. Still no rain. Last year, we stopped in Crestview, Florida at a Jameson Inn and we hoped to do that again this year. We stopped at the rest area in Pensacola, Florida so we could walk around a little bit and maybe get a book with the hotel coupons in it. There were none. Lacey stayed in the car and dozed while the rest of us tinkled and walked around. I told Lacey that I had seen a Yoo Hoo in the vending machine and asked if she wanted one. Of course, she did. The child loves chocolate. John got coffee. Hunter and I got a coke out of the ice chest in the back.

After our pit stop, we hit the interstate again. I wasn't really sure if we were going to be able to make it all the way to Crestview since all of us were pretty tired. But we did and found a Jameson Inn just off the interstate. We pulled into the parking lot at exactly 1:00 a.m.

Before John went in, I told him something I had read about. You go into the hotel (the later in the day the better), tell them what you need and if the price is too high, just turn around and leave. From what I hear, most times, they'll call you back and give you a better price.

John put his own variation in the mix. He went in and said "What's the cheapest you can give me a room with two doubles?" Was he in luck? Yep, we got a room for just $74.19 tax and all.

I always pack a "first night" bag. This is the bag that has just our sleep clothes and the clothes we are wearing the next day. This way, we don't have to unload everything in the car. We grabbed the first night bag, the last minute bag, Lacey's laptop and Hunter's backpack. I certainly wasn't going to leave any valuables in the car. Oh, and we got the small soft sided ice chest so that we could replinish the ice.

The room was nice and the beds were comfy. We finally went to bed at 1:15 a.m. Yes, we were quick to get in and ready for bed because everybody was beat. Then, the giggles hit. Hunter said something funny, then John did, then Lacey and I started laughing. Thus, the first time I said... "Stop making me laugh or I'll pee my pants". Around 2:00 a.m., we wound down and were snoozing away.

Saturday, August 6, 2009:

Lacey and I got up first (as usual) at 7:00 a.m. and started our morning routine. Next, I woke up Hunter and John. While they started getting ready, Lacey and I went down to the breakfast offered. They didn't have too much to offer. They did have a waffle maker but there was only a half cup of waffle mix left. We got John a mini-skinny waffle and a couple of danishes. There was bread and bagels to toast so I made some toast. I got Hunter some cereal and milk. Not too much of a breakfast bar but it was free.

We ate in our room and packed up the few things we brought in. A few trips to the ice machine and our ice chest was ready to go.

While we waited on slow poke John to get dressed, Lacey and I decided to see if there was anything to take pictures of. A short walk to one end of the hall and we could see the interstate. A walk to the other end and we could see another hotel. Hum...nothing picture worthy.

Lacey said my name and then turned a cartwheel in the hallway. I didn't have my camera turned on so I told her to do it again. For those of you wondering.....we aren't "those" kind of people who stay in a hotel and are super loud and rowdy. She turned her cartwheels very gently and quietly.







And one more for good measure:



By the time Lacey had finished her gymnastics exercise for the morning and we got back to the room, John was dressed and everybody was ready to go. Once last "do you have to pee?" call and it's time to load up the car.

Here's a picture of Lacey in the parking lot:



And, in this one, she's trying to make it look like she's holding up her Dad and Hunter:



My family thinks it's hilarious that I find money just about everywhere we go. I look down and there's a penny in the gravel behind the car. Good luck for the day? I hope so.


******Up next, the last stretch to Disney and a horrific tragedy.

[hhockman]

LOVE the cartwheel pics! You guys are just too fun.

I know that Jameson Inn. I think I've mentioned on Connie's TR that Matt and I are from Fort Walton Beach, FL. So we always turn off at the Crestview exit when we're going "home" (where his family and my grandparents and various second-cousins still live).

The words "horrific tragedy" have me a little I hope everything is okay!

[aaaateamsgrandma]

Love that trip. I'm glad I was not in the first night bag or I would have been left behind. Our thing at night is the Goodnight John Boy. We start that nonsense and there is no stopping us. We always try for adjoining rooms. We all love to be together.

That Lacey is a tricky gymnast. Love all the pictures but I'm ready to get on the road. Let's go.

[MadilynnsMomma]

Lacey is too funny! The anticipation of seeing the Welcome to WDW sign is too much to bear!!!

I am a little nervous for the horrific tragedy...