2/15/2013 - 8 Night Western Cruise, Galveston, TX

[KPetty725]

I threw most of our things in the case last weekend. Hmm, not sure whatshoes dd9 has except for her sneakers, no sandals or shoes to match her dress for formal night. I dont want to buy one though. I'm anxiously waiting for my ergo baby carrier to arrive and my swim shorts.

We got DD6 some flip flops in December on clearance but they were already out of little ones. We've been stalking all the walmarts and targets in the area waiting for more summer stuff to arrive (it's coming in bit by bit). Finally found small flip flops at target which means only I need shoes now! Not going to worry about dress shoes for the girls. They're bringing casual dress clothes and will just wear sneakers if they come to dinner. I want to wait for the spring sales to get their dress shoes for spring/summer!

 

[duck_widow]

Two Weeks!!! FEs are not done, packing is not done, work that must be finished before we leave is not done. The diet went out the window. Its going to be a busy next 12 days. We fly out on the 14th. So far, I have managed to keep it a surprise from my son.

Me too. Diet and all! lol.

I am seriously stressing about FE gifts now. One thing I ordered for all the kids I'm not happy with. Still not settled on what to do for each family, haven't made the FE for the door. Haven't started making door decorations. Etc. Etc. Time is running out.

To All - I know it's personal choice, but wondering if I should label the FE gifts to say who their from. What are others doing? I am tempted to do one drop-off but it might be more fun for the kids to get things spread out over several days, but some individual items just aren't suitable for labeling. I'm probably over-thinking and over-stressing, but would love to hear some opinions.

To All - For the meet on the first day, we'll try to make it if we can, but we have a 12:30pm boarding time so I don't know if we'll make it, especially if the kids want to swim right away. If we miss the first one, we'll try to come to the second one. I'd really like to meet everyone.

Jeff - Thanks for the lime green Mickey heads!!!! Now I need to unbox my laminator and get crackin'.

 

[FSU88]

Me too. Diet and all! lol.


Jeff - Thanks for the lime green Mickey heads!!!! Now I need to unbox my laminator and get crackin'.

No problem. I just found another graphic someone made.


oh my goodness, that is bigger than I anticipated. The ones I made with this image were only the size of a normal name tag.

I intend to drop off our FE gifts ASAP, probably on Saturday. I am putting a card with our name in with the gifts we drop off so you can tell which ones are from us.

I have one more FE gift to finish for each cabin. I have the master copy made I just need to get 15 copies printed out now.

We will be hard pressed to make the first day meet, as our boarding is not until that time, but if we get in early, we will be there.

I know how some feel about meeting people in person after befriending them over the internet. Several years ago I was very active in a poker website with folks from all over the country. When I first told my wife I was driving to Chicago to meet up with about 2 dozen others for a weekend of poker and poker chip trading (hint - DH FE gift in this vein), she thought I was nuts and feared for my safety and sanity. Those folks are still some of my good friends and we still try and get together each year. Just saying I have a feeling like that with this group too.

Cheers,
Jeff

 

[FloridaFun]

I plan to drop one of my gifts off the first night and the others through out the cruise. Most of my things are labbled with who they are from, but I also have some small items that I was going to just drop in the FE.

After I printed up some of the cards I used to label one of my gifts, I realized that I should have put on there to flip it over as you can write on the back side. I don't want to give away what it is, but I hope everyone remembers to flip the card over.

Thanks, Jeff, for the Lime Green DIS items. I like the idea of easily being able to pick out the people in our group. I second how Jeff feels about this group. It has been so much fun chatting with everyone ahead of time and I am really looking forward to meeting everyone.

 

[dgmommie]

I know how some feel about meeting people in person after befriending them over the internet. Several years ago I was very active in a poker website with folks from all over the country. When I first told my wife I was driving to Chicago to meet up with about 2 dozen others for a weekend of poker and poker chip trading (hint - DH FE gift in this vein), she thought I was nuts and feared for my safety and sanity. Those folks are still some of my good friends and we still try and get together each year. Just saying I have a feeling like that with this group too.

Some of my best friends are a group of ladies I have known online for 15 years. There are about 10 of us. We got together once in Outer Banks a few years back - great weekend and not like strangers at all.

 

[tryin]

I am not labeling our gifts. I am a procrastinator, so we will be dropping off our gifts mid-cruise. That way, there will be more days to look forward to finding gifts.

I bought a camera yesterday, somewhatof an impulse buy. A nikon coolpix, but i will be returning it today. It doesn't receive that great of reviews. I also bought my magnet paper so i will be printing that off. So much to do today and i have to go to a superbowl party. I would love to cancel going, but dont want any hurt feelings.

 

[KPetty725]

To All - I know it's personal choice, but wondering if I should label the FE gifts to say who their from. What are others doing? I am tempted to do one drop-off but it might be more fun for the kids to get things spread out over several days, but some individual items just aren't suitable for labeling. I'm probably over-thinking and over-stressing, but would love to hear some opinions.

We're dropping off the "family" gift the first night and the kids' gifts sometime later. I've labeled all of ours so they say from:the Petty family and have my dis name.

 

[Gina]

For those of you looking for flip flops and such, Payless has a bunch of them! Super cute. Got me some sparkly new ones yesterday.

-gina-

Sent from my Galaxy S Blaze using DISBoards mobile

 

[CalgaryFam]

Wow, you guys are hard core. Im learning so much reading all of your posts. Im not part of the FEE but I will try and meet for one to the greets. I do have some questions being a first timer:
What is the Spa Raffle?
When we are at Castaway Cay, how do you keep your stuff safe when we are feeding and swimming with the stingrays?
Are there blow dryers in the room or should I bring my own?
What do you do with younger kids (DD5 and 7) when you are at the adult activities at night?

Im sure I will have more questions, Im starting to stress a little with all this information.

Thanks
Kim

 

[KPetty725]

For those of you looking for flip flops and such, Payless has a bunch of them! Super cute. Got me some sparkly new ones yesterday.

-gina-

Sent from my Galaxy S Blaze using DISBoards mobile

Yay!!! Thank you!! There's not a Payless near us so I never go there but if I know they have them, it's worth a trip.

 

[KPetty725]

Wow, you guys are hard core. Im learning so much reading all of your posts. Im not part of the FEE but I will try and meet for one to the greets. I do have some questions being a first timer:
What is the Spa Raffle?
When we are at Castaway Cay, how do you keep your stuff safe when we are feeding and swimming with the stingrays?
Are there blow dryers in the room or should I bring my own?
What do you do with younger kids (DD5 and 7) when you are at the adult activities at night?

Im sure I will have more questions, Im starting to stress a little with all this information.

Thanks
Kim

LOL! Just wait...one cruise and you'll understand the madness.

I can answer a few of your questions:

Spa raffle - I've never actually made it but I believe they raffle spa treatments. The Vista spa is amazing! It's where I spend 90% of my kid-free time on board!

Castaway Cay - never fed the stingrays but we only bring our KTTWC (key) off the ship along with sunscreen, beach toys, etc. nothing valuable. We'll have my husband's iPhone this year since he got a waterproof case (rather than buying a waterproof disposable like we used to do) but it should be safe enough in our beach bag. Maybe that's naive/trusting of us but we've never had an issue leaving our stuff at the chairs while we swim.

Unless they've changed hair dryers, they have tiny travel ones that get so hot you can't hold them so I always bring my own. Much more efficient and safe!

Our kids are 6 and 3 so we won't be doing the adult activities. The kids' clubs are open until midnight and they have mats and a quiet area for little ones who fall asleep. A lot of kids go in their pjs at night so they can crash and their parents just put them straight to bed. Our kids go to bed really early (7:30) so just going to the late show is pushing it for them. We figure there will be plenty of time for late night grown up fun when they're older. Lots of kids stay though and they've got tons of stuff for them to do in the clubs until closing time.

 

[juliefsu]

Wow, you guys are hard core. Im learning so much reading all of your posts. Im not part of the FEE but I will try and meet for one to the greets. I do have some questions being a first timer:
What is the Spa Raffle?
When we are at Castaway Cay, how do you keep your stuff safe when we are feeding and swimming with the stingrays?
Are there blow dryers in the room or should I bring my own?
What do you do with younger kids (DD5 and 7) when you are at the adult activities at night?

Im sure I will have more questions, Im starting to stress a little with all this information.

Thanks
Kim

Bring your own hair dryer. They provide one but it is worthless. Your hair would dry faster out on your veranda.

To answer someone else's question about kids at the spa raffle both cruises we brought our kids in for the raffle and they didn't say anything. I think that must be the only time they let kids in.

 

[MKCQuilt]

From an experienced grandmother = Buy cheap tennies (KMart, WalMart) and jazz them up by covering them with glue and glitter. Fancy metallic laces added complete the glitz! Iron-on gems work wonders on fabric tennies too. If you really get carried away - you can buy iron-on Disney patches at fabric and craft stores for on the toes.

 

[the great cornholeo]

Old navy has some flip flops out too. I cant believe we only have one weekend left. So much to do but I'm soooooooo excited

 

[juliefsu]

Anyone planning on doing the Castaway Cay 5K? I didn't do it last cruise and really regretted it. Am doing it this time for sure.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

Old navy has some flip flops out too. I cant believe we only have one weekend left. So much to do but I'm soooooooo excited

Went to Old Navy yesterday too. Pleasantly surprised flip flops were 2 for $5.

I've also noticed Gymboree and Children's place have summer stuff out.

I'm feeling stressed. FE not done, FE gifts not in gift bags (bags not even bought), no one is packed, etc. I should be doing something instead of sitting here catching Cars for the 10 millionth time with the boys. Lol.

 

[CalgaryFam]

Thanks so much for all the answers. Looking forward to meeting you all.

 

[KPetty725]

Old navy has some flip flops out too. I cant believe we only have one weekend left. So much to do but I'm soooooooo excited

Gah! One weekend!?!? Hadn't thought of that!!! Panic mode just officially set in!!!

 

[tryin]

From an experienced grandmother = Buy cheap tennies (KMart, WalMart) and jazz them up by covering them with glue and glitter. Fancy metallic laces added complete the glitz! Iron-on gems work wonders on fabric tennies too. If you really get carried away - you can buy iron-on Disney patches at fabric and craft stores for on the toes.

great ideas!
my son's passport nor birth certificate has come. i cant remember if i have a second copy of his bc. i will check around for one. we are in trouble if neither comes in time. trying not to panic.

 

[KPetty725]

great ideas!
my son's passport nor birth certificate has come. i cant remember if i have a second copy of his bc. i will check around for one. we are in trouble if neither comes in time. trying not to panic.

You can usually go to the county office for a birth certificate. It's crazy expensive to get one printed but its better than missing the cruise!