08 DEC 2007 - 7 Day Eastern Magic

[brack]

We don't want to spend too much time on the beach, but might like to spend a bit of time on one of the islands, and, of course, there's always Castaway Cay!

Beth

Right! With CC then is no need for any other beach.

 

[brack]

OK, here's a prototype--still needs a lot of refining, I'd like to put a border around it (maybe candy canes and DCL logos?) so that it will stand out from the actual shirt.

Please feel free to make suggestions, edit, etc.

I like it.

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

The Butterfly Farm is fairly cool.

That is a neat photo. Cole (DS1) would probably run through the Butterfly Farm scaring all the butterflies. He is ALL BOY! So, we will have to wait until he is a little older for that one. Just another reason to take another Disney Cruise. There's so much to see and do at the ports.

 

[brack]

When are you heading home? Is Annette with you? Does she need a shopping buddy during the day while you are busy? I'd be more than happy to bring her to Grapevine Mills or Stonebriar Mall. I don't need my arm to be twisted too much to shop. I am a stay at home Mom. So, I am pretty flexible, but would have the kids in tow. Just let me know. Thanks!

I wished we had talked earlier. We went to North Richland Hills to a scrapbook store. After that we went to Grapevine Mills today and had lunch at the Rain Forest. Then we went to the Disney Outlet store and bought a bunch of stuff.

Tomorrow we travel to Oklahoma City for a couple of doctors and then Wednesday I go to the Cooper Clinic for a physical. We leave for NC on Friday.

We could still find a time to "meet" before Friday.

 

[WIFamily]

We are still not 100% sure what excursions we want to do on the cruise. Anyone on here have any plans? I keep going back and forth on our itinerary. I guess it also depends on what is available. From all our research, we are narrowing it down to. . .

St. Maarten - 12-Metre Regatta (SANS CHILDREN!)
St. Thomas - Coral World/Coki Beach (on our own in a taxi w/the children)
Castaway Cay - Couples Cabana Massage
OR
Vista Spa Villa - Villa for Two

The Regatta sounds like a lot of fun! Anyone want to join us? Initially, we were planning on relaxing on a beach in St. Maarten. But, the Regatta got us excited to try something new and totally NOT us.

Description from the DCL site: 12-Metre Regatta
Be a part of the most exciting water sport event in the Caribbean! Whether you're a beginner or an expert, put the wind in your sails and become a crew member on a vessel that's competed in America's Cup. Train to grind a winch, trim a sail and punch a stopwatch just like the experts; or just sit back, enjoy the spectacular view and feel the wind on your face

Port of Call: St. Maarten Activity Type: Water Sports Activity Level: Active Duration: 3 hours Price: Adult: $75 (ages 12 and UP)
Child: N/A Ages: 12 And Up Additional Information
No previous sailing experience necessary.
At the completion of the excursion, Guests may walk into the downtown area or return back to the ship.

I was looking into a snorkel type adventure for the 8 of us to St John. For St Marteen, we'll probably just shop and hang at the beach. All I want to do is get some quality cigars... if you know my brand

Then we'll probably do some excitement at Castaway Cay... DW has been talking about the parasailing. For me, I want that special hammock that's closest to the bar, from what I remember it's on the far side of the Adult beach.

 

[WIFamily]

For me, I want that special hammock that's closest to the bar, from what I remember it's on the far side of the Adult beach.

Looking back through, it looks like it's on the far side of the family beach, close to the sports area. Perfect - just like my hammock at home, except the island in the Caribbean, the sand, the salt water, the warm weather in December, the bar, the waitstaff, and Disney.

 

[MrsMork]

AAAHHHH. The hammocks. I plan to be off the ship bright and early for some quality hammock time while the group snorkels. Then some snorkeling for me while they enjoy the hammock. Then about 11 am a Konk Kooler, then lunch, Serenity Bay, another Konk Kooler before we have to head back to the ship.

 

[cinderellyintx]

oh boy have i missed ALOT!! Remember me!! I am the quiet one! HA! We also got our little planning packet - it was so fun to get it! I almost cried! We are getting our passports done this week! Fill me in on the new logo thingy Beth created.....Please!

 

[JsMom2]

oh boy have i missed ALOT!! Remember me!! I am the quiet one! HA! We also got our little planning packet - it was so fun to get it! I almost cried! We are getting our passports done this week! Fill me in on the new logo thingy Beth created.....Please!

Good luck with the passports. Be sure to have official copies of your birth certificates on hand in case you don't get them back in time!

The logo is for the lime t-shirts we purchased from the Disney Store. I added the logo prototype to the cruise blog, so it's more easily accessible.

If you haven't had a chance yet, please checkout the link in my signature and you'll see all the info. It looks like you're not on the Secret Santa/Fish Extender list. Would you like me to add you?

Wendy

 

[BethC1952]

Cinderellyintx: JsMom2 created the logo, I just fancied it up a bit. I showed it to my granddaughter last night (she's my artistic advisor at the ripe old age of 7). She loved it, but commented that there are no "ugly green Mickey heads on it". I'm going to see where I can squeeze a few in, and I'll repost the logo later on. Of course, now she wants me to take her on the cruise because she helped with the logo! It's very hard to keep the surprise that she'll be cruising late next spring. I don't want to be the one to blow that!

Beth

 

[BethC1952]

OK, I've had enough of adding endless columns of numbers and people with really strange questions.

I took a quick "mental health break" and came up with a few changes to the logo. I'll do a much better job once I get home and have the actual layered copy in Paint Shop Pro to work on.

Beth

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

I wished we had talked earlier. We went to North Richland Hills to a scrapbook store. After that we went to Grapevine Mills today and had lunch at the Rain Forest. Then we went to the Disney Outlet store and bought a bunch of stuff.

Tomorrow we travel to Oklahoma City for a couple of doctors and then Wednesday I go to the Cooper Clinic for a physical. We leave for NC on Friday.

We could still find a time to "meet" before Friday.

You are busy people! The only time it looks like you have available is Thursday and we can't that day. Sorry. We'll wave to you from the overpass (Post Oak/Shady Shores) on I-35E (north of Lewisville Lake) as you head to Oklahoma City. We had Emily's 4th Birthday Party at the Rainforest Cafe in Grapevine Mills Mall. Was the Disney Outlet having any great sales? Then again, they always seem to be having a sale of some sorts. Bill's niece is an accountant at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas. Good luck with the physical! Again, I'm sorry we missed meeting you and Annette in Dallas. We'll see y'all in December. - Jennifer

 

[TheTXTaylors5]

oh boy have i missed ALOT!! Remember me!! I am the quiet one! HA! We also got our little planning packet - it was so fun to get it! I almost cried! We are getting our passports done this week! Fill me in on the new logo thingy Beth created.....Please!

RE: Passports
We went to the Post Office in Flower Mound to apply for our passports on June 18th (Bill has one, mine expired and the kids have never been issued one). We had to wait a little over an hour in line to get into the room to process the paperwork and pay the fees. They told us we should get them in 12 weeks! I have never spent over $400 at the Post Office before! I received confirmation from the US Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs that they have received the paperwork. So, it is a relief to know they have the paperwork. However, they also have our original Birth Certificates. Luckily, when the kids were born I requested two copies of their Birth Certificate. So, I still have an original Birth Certificate for them. Mine is another story. It will take only four weeks for another copy of my Birth Certificate to get here (TX) from Connecticut. So, I am requesting one to be safe. Otherwise, I will be waving to my family from the dock at Port Canaveral.

So, I would suggest applying SOON for your passports without having to pay the extra expedition fee. Otherwise, you will be driving down to Houston in December for your passports. You don't NEED a passport for the cruise this year, but would need one to fly out of the Caribbean in case of an emergency. That is why we applied. Plus, I don't want the kids in a foreign country without any legal "picture" id's. I am surprised we don't have any "universal" id system in this country for minors. Good luck!

 

[brack]

You are busy people! The only time it looks like you have available is Thursday and we can't that day. Sorry. We'll wave to you from the overpass (Post Oak/Shady Shores) on I-35E (north of Lewisville Lake) as you head to Oklahoma City. We had Emily's 4th Birthday Party at the Rainforest Cafe in Grapevine Mills Mall. Was the Disney Outlet having any great sales? Then again, they always seem to be having a sale of some sorts. Bill's niece is an accountant at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas. Good luck with the physical! Again, I'm sorry we missed meeting you and Annette in Dallas. We'll see y'all in December. - Jennifer

I am sorry we missed each other this trip. We did wave on the way by going and coming back.

The Disney store had a 50% off sale on a lot of good stuff. I also got a CJS t-s**** for $2.99.

The physical is not my favorite thing to do but I am required to do it every 5 years. Cooper Clinic is the best there is for it and I get to visit my DS as well.

 

[brack]

RE: Passports
We went to the Post Office in Flower Mound to apply for our passports on June 18th (Bill has one, mine expired and the kids have never been issued one). We had to wait a little over an hour in line to get into the room to process the paperwork and pay the fees. They told us we should get them in 12 weeks! I have never spent over $400 at the Post Office before! I received confirmation from the US Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs that they have received the paperwork. So, it is a relief to know they have the paperwork. However, they also have our original Birth Certificates. Luckily, when the kids were born I requested two copies of their Birth Certificate. So, I still have an original Birth Certificate for them. Mine is another story. It will take only four weeks for another copy of my Birth Certificate to get here (TX) from Connecticut. So, I am requesting one to be safe. Otherwise, I will be waving to my family from the dock at Port Canaveral.

So, I would suggest applying SOON for your passports without having to pay the extra expedition fee. Otherwise, you will be driving down to Houston in December for your passports. You don't NEED a passport for the cruise this year, but would need one to fly out of the Caribbean in case of an emergency. That is why we applied. Plus, I don't want the kids in a foreign country without any legal "picture" id's. I am surprised we don't have any "universal" id system in this country for minors. Good luck!

I am SO glad that I got our passports BEFORE all of this hassle started.

 

[MrsMork]

I am SO glad that I got our passports BEFORE all of this hassle started.

Yep, got ours last year. The rest of our crew will be using birth certificates. They will not likely travel again for a few years. We are on the Canal Cruise so knew we would need them.

 

[WIFamily]

OK, I've had enough of adding endless columns of numbers and people with really strange questions.

I took a quick "mental health break" and came up with a few changes to the logo. I'll do a much better job once I get home and have the actual layered copy in Paint Shop Pro to work on.


Beth

I think that it looks fine... since it's going to be printed onto an iron on from a bubble jet printer, then ironed onto a teeshirt, I would think that it's sharp enough.

 

[BethC1952]

OK, if we're all happy with the logo--

What size should it be? I can make a couple of sizes if you'd like, or you can resize it yourself. I'll post some final, full-sized copies within the next day or so. I'll put them on my website so that you can download at your leisure and it won't clog up this thread.

I got my cruise package yesterday! I didn't know it was there until I found Jim reading about renting a tux! He was going to buy a new one, but decided that, since we're camping beforehand, he'll just rent one this time. He wants me to make him a two bow ties and cummerbunds, one with a Christmas theme and one with a Disney theme, and matching wraps for my gown for formal night. It's a good thing a I know how to sew! His idea is to get as many pictures taken in our formal wear as possible, since we have no formal pictures of us. Our wedding pictures were destroyed many years ago in a flood in our garage, so an anniversary picture would be really nice!

Beth

 

[cinderellyintx]

RE: Passports
We went to the Post Office in Flower Mound to apply for our passports on June 18th (Bill has one, mine expired and the kids have never been issued one). We had to wait a little over an hour in line to get into the room to process the paperwork and pay the fees. They told us we should get them in 12 weeks! I have never spent over $400 at the Post Office before! I received confirmation from the US Department of State - Bureau of Consular Affairs that they have received the paperwork. So, it is a relief to know they have the paperwork. However, they also have our original Birth Certificates. Luckily, when the kids were born I requested two copies of their Birth Certificate. So, I still have an original Birth Certificate for them. Mine is another story. It will take only four weeks for another copy of my Birth Certificate to get here (TX) from Connecticut. So, I am requesting one to be safe. Otherwise, I will be waving to my family from the dock at Port Canaveral.

Well we have our appointment at the Rowlett USPS on Friday - I hope they get here!!! My friend's daughter did order hers in plenty of time but had to go pick it up in Houston anyway! She was going on her $7000 honeymoon!! She was stressed!
Well our plane tickets have been ordered!!!! We got a really great price on American.
Ok - about the logo....we have our tshirts - are we supposed to print that off on iron on paper or what do we do. We only have a B & W printer
BTW - the logo is adorable!
Ok - all for now! taking the kids to a movie

 

[BethC1952]

Thanks for the compliment! JsMom2 gave the logo a great start. I'm not very good at coming up with an idea, but once someone gets it started I can run with it.

I can print some transfer sheets in color for anyone who needs them, but I won't get too it until the end of August. I've got a big project just started, and then I'm going to a Teddy Bear Artists convention in the middle of the month. I have a friend who has recently published a wonderful book of aboriginal Australian folk tales involving koalas, and she invited me to help her sell the book at this event. We're also in the process of working on a book together, she will be writing and I will be illustrating! That one doesn't involve teddy bears, but involves a humorous look at being an older woman.

Once I get back from that trip I will be getting into "moderate vacation planning" mode, and I'll be doing my own shirts (and a tote bag) and will gladly print some transfers for any of you. They'll be done before the end of September, because I have two business trips coming up--one in October and one in November. At least the time will go quickly!

BTW, we finalized the last part of our vacation. Instead of going to the Wilderness Lodge for two nights after the cruise, we decided on Port Orleans Riverside for three nights! We thought we might be a bit tired of the whole wilderness theme after a week at the campground, and Port Orleans Riverside really is our current favorite resort, and we can add an extra night.

Beth