11/24/07 We are Better Than Leftovers!!! Nana Head reunion Part 2

[lvstitch]

Are you guys going to do the Captain Nautica with us?

I am going to call Capt. Nautica if I don't get an e-maily by 2 pm. I also e-mailed Disney to see if we can book a private excursion through them. I also asked them, if we can book a private one does just one person book it, or how does that work? I'll let you know. Hopefully, they will answer quickly.

Yes, I will book it just in case we don't get the group rate. I can always just cancel it. Let me know what you find out.

 

[mruhaak]

Question- You get to book tonight?

I think we cannot book until August 24. Is it because you've been on more cruises than us or something? (We've been on one..)

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Hey guys-
I need opinions.

DH & I had a discussion last night on whether to bring our youngest DS who will be 18 months along on the cruise. We had planned all along that we were going to. (We've applied for his passport.)

But after this last camping vacation I am having second thoughts. He did a lot of crying while confined to his carseat and frankly I spent most of my time comforting him and trying to keep him happy and out of danger.

I know we would miss him terribly. But I also know he would get nothing out of it that he would retain in his memory and would probably be just as happy staying in his own house with Grandma taking him to his regular daycare every day.

So I think we're both a little torn. I mean, we are a family and all along we felt we just didn't want to take a vacation without him.

I know the 4 year old will have a wonderful time and I'm sure he's going to love going to the clubs and seeing the characters and shows.

I've read lots of threads of people trying to make this same type of decision and I know it's ultimately up to us... but anyone have anything to offer here?

Ok, I will voice my 2 cents worth. I may have a different prospective of this since I have raised 4 kids through many vacations and have taken grandkids as young as 18 months on a disney cruise. In other wards i am OLD and been there, done that!!

I would take him. We had our 18 month grandson with us on one cruise. He was afraid of the characters and NEVER went to Flounders, but we woke up with a big smile and it stayed their until he fell asleep at night. You couldnt wipe it off no matter what!!! He had a blast, he loved the shows and the splash area (Mickey ear) and all the food and attention from people.

Yes he was a lot of work for us, but the awesome memories we have are so worth it!!! Now I will admit his parents were there too but we had him 90% of the time and he even slept with us in our cabin some.

Even remembering the good and not so good of family trips with our kids when they were younger, now even the Not so good are the best memories we have. I wouldnt change them for anything.

We were like Jeff, we took the kids everywhere. Mostly camping trips. Our oldest was camping before age one and yes it was work for us but seeing her have fun was so worth the extra work.

Now it is just us and we can have all the alone time we want and we do love our times together, but the memories we have you just cant put a price tag on. Yes I went through a lot of excedrin a couple of times
just my opinion, but I would never turn down the chance to make more family memories for myself. That is precious and nobody can ever take that from you.




Christine,
he wont have a car, but thought I would ask. Hope you feel better soon.
I am much better than last night but still not good.
I am off to look for my picture of the day to post.
Kathy

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Quiet Cove Cafe.

 

[jd99]

Ok, I will voice my 2 cents worth. I may have a different prospective of this since I have raised 4 kids through many vacations and have taken grandkids as young as 18 months on a disney cruise. In other wards i am OLD and been there, done that!!

I would take him. We had our 18 month grandson with us on one cruise. He was afraid of the characters and NEVER went to Flounders, but we woke up with a big smile and it stayed their until he fell asleep at night. You couldnt wipe it off no matter what!!! He had a blast, he loved the shows and the splash area (Mickey ear) and all the food and attention from people.

Yes he was a lot of work for us, but the awesome memories we have are so worth it!!! Now I will admit his parents were there too but we had him 90% of the time and he even slept with us in our cabin some.

Even remembering the good and not so good of family trips with our kids when they were younger, now even the Not so good are the best memories we have. I wouldnt change them for anything.

We were like Jeff, we took the kids everywhere. Mostly camping trips. Our oldest was camping before age one and yes it was work for us but seeing her have fun was so worth the extra work.

Now it is just us and we can have all the alone time we want and we do love our times together, but the memories we have you just cant put a price tag on. Yes I went through a lot of excedrin a couple of times
just my opinion, but I would never turn down the chance to make more family memories for myself. That is precious and nobody can ever take that from you.


Kathy

Kathy - I loved reading this. Believe me when we are struggling through a tough morning or afternoon with the kids I think about an "alone" vacation all the time. But in the back of my head I always thought that God willing we'll have that time when the kids are grown and I didn't want to regret ever having them along for things like this cruise. We usually take one weekend trip a year for just the two of us (we've been going to NYC the last few years) but hope to branch out a bit as the littlest one gets a little older and maybe do one short cruise or long weekend trip somewhere warm and tropical in the midst of winter soon.

 

[dsparks]

Good afternoon everyone! I went outside first thing this morning to MOW THE GRASS! It rained enough to mow, first time since the first part of June! It actually was fun to make the lawn pretty again! Usually by this time of year, I am tired of it!

Kathy, It's stuff getting sick...messes up the whole day. I think I read on the other thread your pending trip to Oregon. So happy for you.

Capn Nautica...Sorry we won't be able to do this. I have booked with Sunny Liston and I probably wouldn't physically be able to do this anyway.

My vote about the young one is to take him also. I took my children every step and now the grandchildren. Christian's first trip to WDW and Key West was when he was 2 1/2 months old! Skylar was almost 1--he walked for the first time to Pooh! What a memory. They were almost 2 and 3 when we went to Hawaii and so on. I am already begging to take Elizabeth (now 10 months) with me. I'm hoping next summer! She (and her mother) were at WDW at 2 months! She loved the sights and sounds!
But obviously, do what YOU feel comfortable with.

Check up with you fellow bananaheads later.

 

[lvstitch]

Question- You get to book tonight?

I think we cannot book until August 24. Is it because you've been on more cruises than us or something? (We've been on one..)

I purchased the Romantic Escape package so I can book 105 days out. I purchased the package on our late cruise and loved it. I think it's worth it just for the early booking but we also get full breakfast delivered to our room one morning and use of the rainforest in the spa the entire time. I think we get some other stuff too but not sure because the package is always changing.

 

[mruhaak]

Hmmm... I never knew that.

Good to know.

 

[joelidol]

HATe to break it to you Josh, but the Steel Mills pretty much closed down in the 1980s. Shows how far Pittsburgh has to go to overcome its old image.

That's actually why I like them. Sort of like ghost mills, images of the greatness they once beheld. I'm not sure why I like them...

Oh, and Sarah, I envy you. I wish I could see the shuttle launch. Anyone would suffice, but we've only seen them at the launch pad. Next launch is in October. The ISS has come a long way. Dont forget that EVA#1 is tommorrow at 12:31P! I'll be watching (I hope...)

i forgot,

Welcome Rachel,

glad you have started posting. we have a few teens now that are active on this thread

Kathy

Dont forget me Kathy! I'm an original teen on these threads. I've been here since the beginning.

Did I post a picture today? Here's another one:

Boy, this couple sure seems familiar. My family too are spies, so your not alone Bill

Well, Im off to do... nothing...

- Josh

 

[J&C's Mom]

Kathy and Greg: So you are not creeped out like we are stalkers or something-Chelsea was actually the next one in line-DH was video taping-that is how we have pictures of our last cruise anyway--you remember....I Lost our Camera....WITH 250 DISNEY PICTURES ON IT

We can't decide what excursions to do-we have snorkeled every time-want to try something different....has anyone ever done the kayak tour in St. Thomas?? -- I want to have fun, not kill myself paddleing

Gonna be cooler her tomorrow.... ...I of course am working

Have a good one......

 

[dsparks]

I GOT MY PASSPORT! Hopefully, the boys are right behind in the mail tomorrow!

 

[mruhaak]

Congratulations!!

 

[magicsgirl]

Hey, everyone!

Dawn...glad to hear about your Passport...now you can concentrate on other fun.

Okie, WHERE did you get the sparkly Mickey picture??? Love it.

We've talked a lot about the marvelous mojito, but may I suggest a BUSHWACKER??? If you like milkshakes, you'll LOVE frozen bushwackers...my friend who lives in St. Tommy turned me on to them. OH, MY! It seems that they have about nine liquors and liquers in them. Don't ever order one stateside unless the bartender has worked in the islands. Great dessert after the dessert you just ate at lunch...ha!

 

[mom x4 grandma x4]

Josh,
I could never forget you. Now that could be for good reasons or for bad reasons. Gives you something to think about huh?

Gee whiz you and Bill have more photos of us than I do

Okie,
I think I prefer you were a stalker, it makes me feel important that people would be stalking me At my age I will take what I can get

Dawn,
Thats great news!! I'm sure the boys will be there within a couple of days.


well I have been in bed all day. It looks like I will be doing the same all day tomarrow too


Who has plans for the weekend??

Kathy

 

[J&C's Mom]

Hey, everyone!


Okie, WHERE did you get the sparkly Mickey picture??? Love it.

I'm not sure, I found it somewhere on the internet and copied-I use it at my desktop picture...

Dawn how long did it take for your passports? I know you talked about this before....but I forget

Kathy: hope you feel better...you too Christine.

Stay cool

 

[dsparks]

I'm not sure, I found it somewhere on the internet and copied-I use it at my desktop picture...

Dawn how long did it take for your passports? I know you talked about this before....but I forget

Kathy: hope you feel better...you too Christine.

Stay cool

I was in the post office April 3rd. So 4+ months or 18 weeks.

Not much going on here. Will probably check in later.

 

[woogal]

Slow day on the board. And here I thought being Friday we'd all be going NUTS! But work always gets in the way. Seems like my TO DO list gets longer instead of shorter! I swear I keep marking things off ...

Sent Mutt out for some OJ and Diet Squirt, got the Absolut Mandarin in the freezer ... gonna start the weekend with an oldie but a goodie!

 

[magicsgirl]

Yep, Shell, folks are busy today. However, Judy and I have just dropped the girls at a movie and have begun happy hour. Discussing our spa visits, Palo ressies, etc. What else is there to talk about??? The good news is that when we are old and repeat ourselves all the time, at least it'll be Dis-talk. Good to know.

Judy is excited to hear about Capt. Nautica...her Mickey ears are twitching. Please rescue her with info ASAP.

 

[woogal]

**Soak some fruit (pineapple, grapes, marachino cherries, etc) in the brandy or schnapps overnight and garnish when serving (or enjoy a la carte)
**Sit back, pretend your on Deck 9 with friends (old AND NEW), when you start to feel like you're walking in high heels with 20ft waves crashing against the ship, STOP

I was reviewing your recipe, and have to tell you a story. Years back, when I was young and could drink with no regard to anything , we had a friend that would make a special punch. He would soak fruit in GRAIN ALCOHOL -- moonshine! -- for a couple of days, then mix it with fruit punch and other ingredients. Well, for some reason, the grapes absorb a tremendous amount of the grain alcohol and the skin must have kept it in, so any time you ate a grape, it was like take a shot of pure grain alcohol

. There's a night I'll never get back ...

Kim: can't WAIT for Deck 9 people watching and cocktails!!!

 

[woogal]

Robin and Judy: The company I work for is a developer/contractor/property management company. We have several properties out your way in Wilmington, Shallotte, and 2 new ones in Burgaw and Winnabow. Hey, maybe I'll get out there eventually before the cruise (they keep sending me to San Antonio though! I'll be out there most of next week. Can't complain ... I LOVE San Antonio!).