I think it's a great idea, too! On our last cruise, we all posted family pictures so that we could recognize each other right away in the terminal, at the first DIS meet, and just along the way. We really did run into the DIS people quite a bit and even scheduled some events together--margarita tasting, beer tasting, wine tasting (we don't drink wine, though). I had some people recognize me from my posted pics who were just lurkers and had never even posted on the thread!! We also linked our ressies so that we could be sat at the same table or at least near each other for both the early and late dining groups. We had requested APL rotation for our late dining with probably at least 5 other families, and we were all right together. Our family had a table just for 4, though, so we didn't get to "bond" like some of the other families did. There was also a group of early dining families that were linked and were sat together, too. Maybe keep that in mind if anyone wants to do it.
DH thought it was weird at first and didn't want to "meet" anyone else and feel obligated to do stuff together, but it wasn't like that at all! We did schedule an excursion with 3 other families (Cap'n Marvin's on GC), but other than that, we all went our separate ways and did things with our own families. If we happened to be in the same place at the same time, GREAT! At least we had someone else to talk to that we "knew."
Here's some scoop on us. We celebrated our 10th anniversary last April on the Magic, but we dated for 7 years before we even got married (I was still in high school, and DH was just out of college when we started dating). We were both born and raised right here in Grand Island, Nebraska (just under 50,000 people), and we'll probably never leave. I own a medical transcription service and work at home for the last 10 years. I also just recently signed up as a Mary Kay consultant about three weeks ago so I can get my stuff at a discount and maybe make some money in the process. DH is 1 of 5 partners at a tool & die shop and does designing, engineering, and production of metal stamping dies, etc., and the company also designs and builds plastic injection molds. DH & his partners slowly bought out the original owners starting in 1999, and they did the last of the buyout about 2 1/2 years ago--a week after DH had a kidney removed due to cancer.
(His 35th birthday present was the cancer diagnosis, but he's doing great and has had no recurrence. He's a SURVIVOR!!!) He started out sweeping the floors at the shop on weekends while he was in college and worked his way up when he was offered the incredible opportunity of the buyout. Our boys are 6 & 4. Hudson's last day of kindergarten was yesterday, and Lennon finished his MWF preschool on Wednesday. He'll turn 5 in August and could go to kindergarten in the fall, but Hudson had such a great experience with the preschool's Monday through Friday program that we would like Lennon to do it, too. They both got awards this week for perfect attendance at school this year, which is why I'm so bummed about having to take Hudson out of school for the cruise, which I thought I had planned around the last day of school, but they're extending the dismissal date a few days next year for some reason and have spoiled my "perfect" plan.
I do a lot of activities with the kids' schools--driving for field trips, helping with special activities, room parent for holiday parties, etc., but my main "hobby" is TV. I'm an addict!
Tivo is the BEST INVENTION EVER!
I like to cook, too, when I have the time, and I'm pretty new to flowers. We put in landscaping about 3 years ago after we built our house, and I definitely don't have a green thumb.
I can't figure out why some things aren't surviving. Maybe starlawyermom can give me some pointerss!
Justin is pretty busy with his hobbies. He loves music, electronics, and motorcycles. He's a DIY guy that builds almost everything that he can from his own audio equipment to a custom motorcycle that he just finished in Janurary (it's sweeeeeet!). Hudson's hobbies are Wii and computer games. Lennon loves his bike and his new
scooter--and helping with anything he can (especially cooking with me and helping Justin in the garage). I'll post some pics of us when I get on my other computer.
It sounds like
big changes were all for the better for Sherry (Nik's Mom) and starlawyermom and your families! What great stories you have!!!
Here's our formal night last year outside the Walt Disney Theater. DH & I haven't changed, so maybe tomorrow I'll find some good photos of the boys that are more recent.
Here's the boys and their favorite stuffed "friends." Hudson is on the left, and Lennon is on the right.