09/15/07 Early Check in September 15, 2007 Eastern

[Lisa0503]

Well I have spent the evening catching up on all I have missed... DH was watching Borat and it is not my type of movie...

Anyway, Congrats to Kammy on Liam's birth!!! He is just a beautiful little boy. Megan & Patrick...Congrats on setting the date. I love your website and the video of the proposal was great!!!! "O My God" Very sweet!!! I am sad to see that a few of us have had to change our plans and won't be cruising with us. I was looking forward to meeting Tom & Lois but I understand family comes first... I did some work on the Cruise Roster tonight and think I updated with everyone who has posted on this thread but if I missed someone or need to make changes feel free to PM me and I will be happy to update it!

 

[nikkistevej]

DD will be almost 4 at cruise time, and she will be in the 3-4 room.

My DD will love having some little friends, she will be turning 5 the week before the cruise, we will be at WDW for that, but I think I will keep her in the 3-4yo area. She is pretty independent (has been in full time day-care since age 2- and loves it), so I think she will be OK in the clubs, but she is small for her age, and I don't really want her to be in the club with 5-7 yo. I feel that would be a little old for her by herself. Thanks for the offer, she will be so excited.

 

[Bareacuda]

Welcome back Lisa !! We all missed you

The roster looks great!

 

[LoriS]

DD will be almost 4 at cruise time, and she will be in the 3-4 room.

My youngest dd will turn 4 while we are on the cruise.

 

[captaincrash]

Hi folks...

... just visiting to say ... 'ello. My FIL is responding to the medication. We are experiencing a significant reduction in symptoms which leads up to expect a shrinkage of his tumors. However, the prognosis is for extended survival - not cure. Any gains though are a victory. On the flip side of things MIL is fading a bit. I'll just leave it at that. And we have good friends our age - with a new 1 year old boy... and the Mom had a kidney removed last year due to cancer. Well... they just had a scan and found some spotting in the lungs and a couple elsewhere. That is not conclusive that the cancer was not caught and had spread but the existance of spotting at all is not very encouraging. It's so sad and shocking to us. So... it's a mixed bag of small victories and threatened losses.

Well... actually 3 days ago one of our closest cousins had her Dad (our Uncle) pass. He had an anurism in the brain... no warning... no event causing or triggering it. So - I guess we have just had a loss.

At any rate... not trying to be somber or a dampener on things... just wanted to say hello. Let ya know we're still feeling the weight of an embattled year evolving. We're still husbanding vacation time (no trips planned for 2007) to keep for medical emergencies or to help family members in need. We're waiting for the final arrangement news for the Uncle now.

At any rate... the kids are enroled in Parks and Rec Karate (Mama and older daughter in a shared class), both girls in gymnastics, and younger on in a split soccor and T-ball class. All told... 5 classes for the grand sum of $204 for about 8 weeks of weekly activities. Just 3 weeks ao we were about to enroll in a Karate class that would have cost us $200 a month per person... and gymnastics class that were about $189 per daughter for an 8 week session. So the comparative costs are $769 for 2 in Karate and 2 in Gymnastics... versus $204 for 5 activities spilt up among 3 persons! I just look on it as saving $565 every 2 months.... or about $3,390 in savings. How can I complain?

OK... gotta run for now... my left over late nite snack is coolin'....

Hope all are well... initial scan of recent posts look fairly decent...

TTFN!

 

[Lisa0503]

Welcome back Lisa !! We all missed you

The roster looks great!

Ann - Thanks for the Welcome Back! I am going to try to keep up better around here. The roster is my first attempt at a web page but it will at least provide the basics.

Lori - I will add your DD's B-day to the cruise roster.

Captaincrash - I am sorry to hear about your FIL and everyone's illnesses in your life. It certainly does make you reflect on your mortality and be thankful for your health and blessings.

Some people had mentioned excursions in previous posts. We were thinking of booking the sailing regatta in St Martin. Has anyone done this? How was it?

As per St. Thomas, I was thinking of booking my tour thru the SunnyLipton Tours. Has anyone heard of him? I found info on him on the Cruise Critic Boards and at $25 pp it seems like a deal. He will also drop you off at a beach for a couple of hours. Does anyone have any recomendations for a beach on St Thomas?

 

[Jennifer48]

I have discovered DigitalScrapbooking and it has become an addiction for me.

Lisa0503--Tell me more about Digital Scrapbooking. I'm a wee bit curious! and thank you for keeping that cruise roster!

captaincrash--You and your family will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[Lisa0503]

Lisa0503--Tell me more about Digital Scrapbooking. I'm a wee bit curious! and thank you for keeping that cruise roster!

Ohh..Digital Scrapping!!!! I just LOVE it! I liked traditional scrapbooking but never did it too much because it just seemed to much of a PITA having all the 'stuff' and two little kids. Then a friend turned me on to digital scrapping and I have not looked back. It is alot like graphic design. The first thing you need to have is a decent computer with at least 1 gig of RAM. When I first started it, I only had 512 MB RAM and the computer ran so SLOW I really couldn't do anything (It took me awhile to figure out that my RAM was the problem) Once I added more RAM, I was good to go. Next you need a program to create your layots in. Most people use Photoshop (VERY EXPENSIVE) or Photoshop Elements (much more affordable). I personally use Paint Shop Pro which is also popular and more affordable. There are many great digital scrapbooking sites all over the internet with Tutorials on how to use the programs to create layouts. There are also TONS of free kits and elements (and ones you can pay for) all over the web to get you started. As an example here is one of my favorite pages from our trip this past Sept:

Check out this thread to see more digital pages that I have done and pages from other, more experienced DigitalScrappers here on the DisBoards:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1369373

 

[Jennifer48]

Much thanks Lisa! I do have Paint Shop Pro on my laptop. I'll have to check the RAM. I'm just a beginner though, trying to learn enough for my cruise door signs. Hopefully when I'm finished, I'll be starting a digital scrapbook!

 

[Lisa0503]

Jennifer - I have PSP too so if you need any help feel free to PM me. I would be happy to help if I can.

 

[twinmom2]

hi everyone! my family and I will also be on this cruise and we are sooo excited

It will be me, DH, and DD's both 3. This is our first cruise. We relocated to FL about nine months ago and have been addicted to Disney ever since. We have made 2 trips to WDW and out 3rd will be mothers day weekend. Maybe I am the one addicted since Im choosing Disney as my mothers day gift

Anyway, we are thrilled and can't wait.

 

[Lisa0503]

Hi TwinMom2 - Welcome to our group!!!! I am in charge of the cruise roster so if you give me your names & info if you would like, I would be happy to add you to our Roster. If you want to take a look at who else in cruising with us at a glance, there is a link to the list in my siggie! I look forward to getting to know you over the next few months!!!!

 

[twinmom2]

Thanks Lisa. Here is my info to add to the board.
Me--Kelly
DH
DD -2.5
DD -2.5

We are on deck 8 with early seating.
This cruise is a gift for DD's 3rd birthday (which is in August), 7th anniversary (also August) and my birthday 9/17--on board celebration.

 

[Bareacuda]

Capt. Crash,
Hope things are going well for your family. Just talking with friends... so far, this year is very tough. I know we will all make the best of what we are all given, good or bad, we will all make it. My prayers are with you and your family and a big . Don't be a stranger... check in when you can!

Twinmom2 !

We are thinking of the regatta thing in St Martin too. It's something right up our ally... water... boats and getting wet!

Lisa...
was it you that said a while back something about designing a lanyard for our group? And if you need $ I can help... PM me.

Ann

 

[LoriS]

Lori - I will add your DD's B-day to the cruise roster.

Thanks Lisa, we will actually be celebrating 3 birthdays, Courtney will be 4 on 9/20, Cassidy will be 7 on 9/25 and I will be 35 on 10/2.

Also thanks for all the info on the digital scrapbooking, that sounds like it would be right up my ally. Now I just need to find the time to investigate it all.

 

[Lisa0503]

Thanks Lisa. Here is my info to add to the board.
Me--Kelly
DH
DD -2.5
DD -2.5

We are on deck 8 with early seating.
This cruise is a gift for DD's 3rd birthday (which is in August), 7th anniversary (also August) and my birthday 9/17--on board celebration.

Hi Kelly - Thanks for the info... I have updated the roster with it.

Lisa...
was it you that said a while back something about designing a lanyard for our group? And if you need $ I can help... PM me.

Ann

Hmmmm...It wasn't me. I don't even remember reading about it but I was MIA from this thread for a few months over the holidays so I could have easily missed it. It does sound like a cute idea but I would have no idea how to go about putting that together.

Thanks Lisa, we will actually be celebrating 3 birthdays, Courtney will be 4 on 9/20, Cassidy will be 7 on 9/25 and I will be 35 on 10/2.

Also thanks for all the info on the digital scrapbooking, that sounds like it would be right up my ally. Now I just need to find the time to investigate it all.

Lori - I update the roster with your info. As per the digital scrapbooking, I have found it to be so much fun... Definately check it out if you think you would like it...

 

[captaincrash]

Captaincrash - I am sorry to hear about your FIL and everyone's illnesses in your life. It certainly does make you reflect on your mortality and be thankful for your health and blessings.

captaincrash--You and your family will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

Capt. Crash,
Hope things are going well for your family. Just talking with friends... so far, this year is very tough. I know we will all make the best of what we are all given, good or bad, we will all make it. My prayers are with you and your family and a big . Don't be a stranger... check in when you can!

Ann

Lisa/Jennifer/Ann:

Thanks for your supportive thoughts...

... Our cousin in Hawaii just lost her Mom a few years ago and she wrote that it feels like she lost both parents in the blink of an eye. I know how that must feel... I still miss my Mom a little and it's been a long time that she's gone. When we called last week we did not know what had happened but I noticed instantly how guarded her husband was - until he mentioned (quickly I might add) what had happened. I guess this is all a part of life. Sad - but it just brings back into focus - to not squander the days we all have to use.

Warmest regards to all for a wonderful week, pleasant conversation and safe comings and goings in our routines...

TTFN!

 

[Kimberly815]

I just wanted to say. . . .


WOOHOO!!! 6 months from today we will be on our way!!!


It's coming a lot quicker than I thought it would!!

 

[Bareacuda]

great news !!!

ONE DAY CLOSER TO VACATION !!!
with the weather we're having here ... today is going to be 99 !!!

Im so ready for the cooler weather of the carribean !

 

[Lisa0503]

Well, I am looking forward to the WARMER weather... It may be 99 in Arizona but I live in the north east and am looking out my window at a big snow storm!!!! It is pretty though and I don't mind as long as I don't have to go out in it. DH will have some shoveling to do when he gets home from work (normally I would probably have shoveled some but my DS and I have an aweful stomach virius today...DD had it on Tuesday so I assume DH will get it over the weekend...gotta love the germs kids bring home!)