12/09/06 Cruise Continued ~ Pirating Bananas DIS Geekorama Part 2 Part 15

[elaineteresa]

An amazing thing happened at choir tonight. After I was told that the old SS president "would not sing in choir." and all of the other horrible things that have been happening....she appologized and asked for forgiveness. She was very humble. She teaches preschool at a Christian preschool. She told me she felt horrible teaching the children about Christian ways when she knew she wasn't treating me right. We talked for a long time. I feel like a huge weight was lifted from my life. I was anxious to tell all of you! Thanks for all of your support.

Brandi - I am so happy for you. I hope the rest of your presidency is really pleasant and you are able to make the contribution you wanted to make.
You should ask her to assist you with something. Thank goodness she decided to walk the talk.

 

[elaineteresa]

We are getting a little bit of snow this morning. It is just a little dusting...this is our first snow fall of any kind!!!!

we just got a tiny bit also but the kids were out trying to scrape together as many snowballs as they could. they were really happy to see it!!!

 

[elaineteresa]

Happy Birthday Giona & Jaea

thanks Carla - they had a nice day!!! and we had fun the night before going to see Annie - it's a great show.

they both got Heelies which were a big hit and a few surprise gifts including a big box of goodies from Devon!!

 

[elaineteresa]

morning all....

I can't sleep....so I got on the pc....I hear John holler from the bedroom...."what are we 90 days out from?"....duh, it's 180 days now dear, and nothing I just can't sleep.

that is a very sweet story - LOL!!!!

 

[elaineteresa]

morning all....

I have been wanting to send Samantha to K this year....one of the private schools around here is flexible with the age issue but they do have a selection process and the testing is at the end of this month. Seems kind of early to me for an August admission date.

They also want teacher's opinions recommendations from her current school....I am not sure about that either....is that normal for this age?

when does she turn 5? our cutoff is Dec. 1st.

Most of our schools start admissions in early March but any school that also tests would probably have to back that time frame up. Some schools start early so that they get more selection of candidates and probably so they can deal with applications for financial assistance.

They are looking to see if she would be a good fit for their program - usually a teacher recommendation is a requirement.

In our area a lot of people do private school for the first few years - especially K and then switch to public school for the services available.

most education literature recommends they be held back - better to be the oldest than the youngest in the class. I don't really buy this for every kid but that is what the literature says and our pre-school teacher was a big advocate of this philosphy.

it is definitely worth looking into I think.

 

[lbgraves]

An amazing thing happened at choir tonight. After I was told that the old SS president "would not sing in choir." and all of the other horrible things that have been happening....she appologized and asked for forgiveness. She was very humble. She teaches preschool at a Christian preschool. She told me she felt horrible teaching the children about Christian ways when she knew she wasn't treating me right. We talked for a long time. I feel like a huge weight was lifted from my life. I was anxious to tell all of you! Thanks for all of your support.

WOW! Glad that she literally saw the light. It shows that it was right of you to take the highroad in that situation because you have nothing to appologize for. I hope that she is sincere and things are more comfortable for you there.

 

[lbgraves]

We went to the funeral today, they are so sad! The cemetery was extremley cold and windy, it just seemed so bleak. Luckily for me, the grandkids all know me and came over to get thier coats zipped up and say hi! They are such a ray of light. It was like little beads of joy in a very sad situation. Sorry for waxing philisophical, just felt the need to say it.

John and Amy, I thought about little Sophia and her grandma and had the same thought about her. I bet she was just a little ray for you too.

Kim, we have attended several funerals with the kids and whenever we are concerned about them ruining the solemnity of the moment we have been told by family that their presence brings them happiness in the moment of sadness.

 

[lbgraves]

It looks like I may not be sailing with Todd OR PJ!. The Repo cruise is hanging out the window so that would leave the Halloween cruise with PJ. Since that is a week before NJ week, I am thinking of switching it over so the girls only miss the 3 days, or so we can do WDW a couple days before and still only miss 5 days.

Sorry to hear that, Caroline. Hopefully you will be able to switch to one of the next Geek cruises.

 

[elaineteresa]

Good Morning Everyone!

I actually got some sleep last night so hopefully I can think more clearly today. I actually am feeling better about things because I physically feel worse. Does that make any sense? I actually now am feeling more PMS-y than pregnant. I still don't quite know what is going on but I have at least a little more hope that this will turn out the way I want it to.

I hope it gets better soon!!! Keep a brown paper bag nearby for those panic attacks - they really help calm you down.

 

[lbgraves]

Today's mission was Target's toy sale. Well, I am bummed because our store caught up and did that yesterday. I did manage to find a couple things for nephew's Bdays and a few surprises for the kids. More puzzles for the game shelf too. I am debating what to do today. I would like to go crop for a while but I don't have a huge amount to get done....well, there is the holiday scrapbook & the bday ones. Maybe that will be good for a couple hours. I have been away from that too long. I would LOVE to have this year's cruise done by the time the Geek minimeet is held here in July.

 

[elaineteresa]

Do people dress up for Halloween all around the day or just at the party or on Halloween?

we usually don't go to the park during the day but arrive in the afternoon (4pm) for the party. I think people bring their costumes and put them in a locker if they are at the park during the day - a lot of people just come at party time with their costume on.

if it is really hot and humid - it can get really uncomfortable with the costume on - a lot of people just wear headgear or part of the costume.

 

[elaineteresa]

That sounds like a good idea, Becka. Why get more stuff that she wont notice for a while after all the Christmas goodies? With DS's birthday a month before Christmas I use to cut back on Christmas and the Easter Bunny would bring a few gifts with the basket. This helped to space out the age appropriate toys and also spaced out the gifts so he wasn't overwhelmed in a month's time.

this is a good idea - I usually buy things that they can use during the summer and do outside on our deck - like art supplies, craft kits etc. and other toys that are just better outside - like playdoh

we have the same problem with the Jan. birthday - whatever I buy for xmas I just split in half and give for either bday or xmas. other things that they want - we always get lots of art supplies - I give them when summer comes.

I like Lisa's idea of spacing out the toys because of the age range. There were several things they wanted this year like a magic kit, more science kits, that I just decided to wait on until next year when they will have stopped playing with some of the things they do now and will be more interested in the older kids stuff.

I like to ask for gift certificates to stores like Barnes and Noble or Michael's because we are always buying things there anyway so even if there isn't anything we need right now we can use it later as a shopping treat.

I would probably rather buy the bedroom stuff myself so I got what I wanted for the room instead of a mishmash. unless there are some specific things you can point to that you were planning on buying.

 

[lillygator]

when does she turn 5? our cutoff is Dec. 1st.

Most of our schools start admissions in early March but any school that also tests would probably have to back that time frame up. Some schools start early so that they get more selection of candidates and probably so they can deal with applications for financial assistance.

They are looking to see if she would be a good fit for their program - usually a teacher recommendation is a requirement.

In our area a lot of people do private school for the first few years - especially K and then switch to public school for the services available.

most education literature recommends they be held back - better to be the oldest than the youngest in the class. I don't really buy this for every kid but that is what the literature says and our pre-school teacher was a big advocate of this philosphy.

it is definitely worth looking into I think.

Florida's cut off is age 5 by September 1st. When I started K it was Dec...as my birthday is late november and I started school at age 4...my main concern is that she is in the "last" room at preschool and all her buddies will be leaving come August...then the curriculm starts over...I just don't want this to lead to any behavior issues due to boredom. I have nothing to "back that up", she is very very good at school...not like home.

 

[lillygator]

and for anyone interested in visiting WDW before June:
NEW DISNEY PACKAGE OFFER!
This is a discounted Magic Your Way Package for 6-nights/7-days at a select Disney Value Resort in a standard room. This package also includes a 7-Day Disney Ticket with Free Park Hopping and Water Parks Fun & More option

From $561 per adult, $225 per Junior, $186 per Child

Magic Your Way Package - ZEY
Magic Your Way Package + Dining - ZFC


Booking Dates: 1/11/07 – 2/18/07
Travel Dates: 4/15/07 – 6/02/07 (requires 3 night minimum length of stay)
Blockout Dates: None


I called to get quotes this morning but I am not sure with AP's if it would be a deal for us.
7 nights value with dining plan and 1 day ticket was $1611.76 though just for an idea.

 

[lillygator]

also, talked to John about the repo last night...his thought was why couldn't we book it onboard in December....do you think it would be available and would you still get onboard credit and 10% off?

 

[lbgraves]

Florida's cut off is age 5 by September 1st. When I started K it was Dec...as my birthday is late november and I started school at age 4...my main concern is that she is in the "last" room at preschool and all her buddies will be leaving come August...then the curriculm starts over...I just don't want this to lead to any behavior issues due to boredom. I have nothing to "back that up", she is very very good at school...not like home.

Maybe you can talk to the teacher about how to handle this. Maybe she can have some extra little responsibilities since she will be the experienced one in the class. Does she like helping the other kids? Repeating the subject matter should help to reinforce the basics for her, which will help in Kindergarten. I can totally understand your concern about bordom and issues arrising from that. I still have that concern about William and his teacher and I are working on something for him to do now to counter that issue. She could get a few more challenging worksheets when they work on the letters and numbers perhaps. Maybe some simple math worksheets? Anything to keep her busy while the other kids are still working on their worksheets.

 

[lbgraves]

also, talked to John about the repo last night...his thought was why couldn't we book it onboard in December....do you think it would be available and would you still get onboard credit and 10% off?

Vanessa, last time these cruises booked fast and the price went up every hour due to the demand. IMO the price you will get in December will be higher than what you can book when it opens this month even after the 10% & credit are applied.

 

[MrsMork]

Vanessa, last time these cruises booked fast and the price went up every hour due to the demand. IMO the price you will get in December will be higher than what you can book when it opens this month even after the 10% & credit are applied.

Huge problem with that first PC cruise was people sending multiple requests that first day which drove the price up. That did not seem to happen on the Med repros or on the special itineraries this year. However, I plan to book the westbound repro the day they open, then check onboard for better rate in December. I think you could cancel and rebook on board if it would save you some money and get that onboard credit.

 

[klineyqueen]

Oh yeah...Brandi? Going to AC and not giving me a buzz??

It was very last minute!!! Sorry!!!!

 

[klineyqueen]

Look out everyone. I am finally uploading my cruise pics to shutterfly. I will be boring the life out of you will my pics!!!!