20060902--Eastern Sept 2nd, 2006

[CourtneyMc]

Our family DH, DW and DD4 (Princess Beth) have decided to join the ranks on this cruise. My DW has been on me to go on a vacation and this was the choice. This will be our DD first cruise, but she has been to WDW 2 times and will be more than excited when we tell her. There is not a lot of time to review all the posts, but look forward to learning lots. We will be flying in from New Mexico on Saturday and taking the Disney Shuttle to the Port. I am very interested in learning what activities there will be for my DD4 (Princess Beth).

Hi Zcrew. Princess Beth will have to meet Princess Maggie (also 4). There seems to be a pretty good crowd of the 3-4 set on this board. Yea!

-Courtney

 

[CourtneyMc]

I did see your post there and wondered if you had gone over to the dark side! KIDDING! I'll stick with our group here because "the more, the merrier."

To answer the plane question: We get in at 12:45, as long as the strike doesn't delay us. VERY worried about that. And there's ONLY ONE earlier flight to switch to from our city which would only get us in 1/2 hour earlier. Not early enough to spend $100 to switch both of us. Considering looking at just flying out of Detroit, but would have to get up in the middle of the night to drive there if there's an earlier flight. It's about an hour and a half drive, plus getting there 2 hours before the flight. Would have a VERY cranky pirate on my hands if we have to do that, but I think he'd do fine because when I took him to Orlando a couple months ago, we had to leave home at 4am and he was running on the adrenaline of excitement, so didn't get grouchy, so we might be fine.

Sorry for rambling, but confusion and panic are sinking in!

Benedryl for the flight =) that will ensure a nap on the way!

 

[BigBlueMan]

They'd have to be really comfortable, because they sure didn't catch on for the stylish look! I haven't tried any on b/c they are like berkenstocks to me- I don't want to know they're comfy because then I'd want to wear them and I just can't see myself in them.

Amen Courtney! Around here, if you go to the hospital or ANY doctors office, all the nurses and some of the docs are wearing them. They MUST be comfortable!

Actually, we were at a mega-shoe store in Nashville yesterday, and some of these were on the shelf right NEXT to those ...ummmm... 'less than attractive' berkenstocks. It was almost an overwhelming case of ugly!

 

[CourtneyMc]

I will second the "aye aye Capt. Blue" =).

I would like to know, how is it that this board gets so busy on the weekends? I spent yesterday running errands and doing family stuff and logged on this morning to find myself 4 pages behind in the posts!

Are we up to 1000 posts yet?

I started laying clothes out in the guestroom yesterday. It will be interesting to see my DH fit it all into the suitcases. I'm in charge of laying it all out, he is in charge of actually making it fit into the bags! He's the engineer so he's way more spacial than I am. He is also in charge of packing the car for auto trips after I've filled the entire dining room with junk that has to get into the car with us. It's amazing to watch.

I've warned Dd about the lifeboat drill. We've had some bad moments with life preservers before (most recently an almost aborted tubing trip in WI) so I realized I'd better tell her in advance that everyone, even the babies have to put on their life vest and go to an assigned location to practice.

I guess that's all for now!

Courtney

 

[joshua121301]

Shelley has informed me that the shopping has ended, so the packing can commence!!!! We leave VERY early on Saturday for the airport and a busy work week means pack now or wait until Friday night. That is always a nightmare for us, so out come the bags!!

 

[HollyTyler]

Yup Courtney, the Crocs are the ugliest things I've ever seen! In fact, I almost returned them after wearing them for a while day because they're SO UGLY, but couldn't bring myself to because of how comfortable they are.

And benadryl DOES NOT work for Tyler. Nothing that's supposed to make you sleep works for him. In fact, he was getting no sleep a year or so ago while he had a terrible cough, so his doc gave him a cough suppressant with codeine in it and told me it would knock him right out in a few minutes. It couldn't have had the more opposit effect----he was running around like he was on crack! I seriously thought something was VERY wrong with him and never gave him that medicine at bedtime again! I actually used it right before he went to day care---I'm sure they loved that!

 

[tomspixie]

Yup Courtney, the Crocs are the ugliest things I've ever seen! In fact, I almost returned them after wearing them for a while day because they're SO UGLY, but couldn't bring myself to because of how comfortable they are.

And benadryl DOES NOT work for Tyler. Nothing that's supposed to make you sleep works for him. In fact, he was getting no sleep a year or so ago while he had a terrible cough, so his doc gave him a cough suppressant with codeine in it and told me it would knock him right out in a few minutes. It couldn't have had the more opposit effect----he was running around like he was on crack! I seriously thought something was VERY wrong with him and never gave him that medicine at bedtime again! I actually used it right before he went to day care---I'm sure they loved that!

Holly,
Can totally relate to the opposite effect of meds...my youngest has that same issue. Think I do too. My mom gave me Dexatrim when I was 16...a lifetime ago...and I was knocked out for two whole days! Freaked my folks out. Our youngest had his circumcision when he was about 3. The docs wanted him to lay around and do nothing. None of my kids know a thing about doing nothing. So they gave him good drugs to keep him very laid back...he was literally bouncing off the walls! Not good. They switched to different drugs and I practically had to peel him off the ceiling! We stopped giving him anything!

 

[tomspixie]

By the way, Good Job to all you guys who are praising your wives for the packing! But, did you ever think that she forgot those items on purpose so that it would inspire you to pack for yourselves???? I say this as our official packer. I love the whole process though...and have over limited our weights so now weigh them on a scale ahead of time. I am not obsessive compulsive till it comes to packing.
I am beginning to think of delegating some of the responsibilty so that the kids will learn what it takes. Someday!

tif

 

[tomspixie]

Monstro:
Hey, Ashlee had her first High School softball game today. She is on the JV team. We beat our cross county rival. She played a pretty good game.

Congrats on the game!!! Very exciting! Abby has had three matches for golf already! I am amazed at how early they get everything going!!! In two large tournaments she has come in number one for the school and number two. The team has placed 5th overall in both. She is loving the girls on the team and they are helping get her ready for this week and all she will need for high school!!!

 

[CaptainJack]

My DDs would pack their own stuff if we let them, BUT they would maximize the number of stuffed animals they would bring and minimize the amount of clothes. So, DW does all of her oacking, all of their packing, and most of mine. The trade-off is that she does not do any of the driving. I do. Everyone is really excited about getting their. My daughter, Raquel, wants to be the first on the ship. And, although I have told her check-in does not begin until 10 or 10:30, she keeps insisting that we should get up at 8 am and head right to the port so we will definitely be the first in line.

 

[tomspixie]

Okay, now I am jealous!!! I do ALL of the packing and usually ALL of the driving! No, I didn't audition for the Superhero wannabe reality show! Home is central Illinois down to central Florida home. About 1150 miles, give or take! DH occassionally helps on the drive down...if he can get off. Unfortunately it is more common for him to fly in and out. So that leaves me. Abby is fourteen...yet I fear that in a couple of years when she is old enough to make the drive I won't want her to! She will also have more restrictions on her time anyway. It is hard as they get older!!!!

As to getting to the port early, we do! We agree with your daughter! We wait in line in the parking lot and then we love getting in to the terminal a bit early. We have made friends with some of the cast members port side and so we socialize a bit, though. But, we would still get there early!

 

[CaptainJack]

Is anyone staying at the Radisson the night before the cruise? And, if I want to get the early shuttle from the hotel, should I call now or can I wait until I get there on September 1?

 

[CaptainJack]

Congrats on the game!!! Very exciting! Abby has had three matches for golf already! I am amazed at how early they get everything going!!! In two large tournaments she has come in number one for the school and number two. The team has placed 5th overall in both. She is loving the girls on the team and they are helping get her ready for this week and all she will need for high school!!!

So, did either of you get any grief from your daughters about missing sporting events while on the cruise because I got a little. While the girls are really excited about going on the cruise, they are missing a figure skating competition on the Sunday before Labor Day. They both started about a year ago, and have now been in 3 competitions and are quickly progressing toward freestyle level. They love the DCL, but are kind of disappointed about missing a competition with most of their friends entering.

Since I missed our last vacation in early July because they were a competition in Augusta, I told them I would miss the cruise only if US Figure Skating called, said they could skip all of the tests, elevated them to Juvenile Freestyle and that they are going to the Nationals, but they have to skip the cruise for all of this to take effect. I got the obigatory groan (in stereo) and no further grief about missing one skating competition.

 

[tomspixie]

Be prepared for more obligatory groans! Abby didn't have to miss anything this summer, and this upcoming cruise is Mommy and Daddy's cruise. We can appreciate everyone elses children, without having to keep track of our own. We take a week every year. It has been good. She did miss a couple of basketball games last Christmas...and that didn't go over too well. But coach missed too...it was DH! She survived. We do hear on a regular schedule how we ruin her life and that she never gets to do what she wants. As you know, we basically bend over backwards to accomodate all three kids and their wishes to be with friends, head to movies, etc.!!!!

As to the Radisson, a lot of people have really enjoyed staying there. We stayed there once, and didn't sleep well. Probably just us.

OH...if you are driving to the port...they have raised the cost of parking at the port to $84 for the week instead of $70.

 

[CourtneyMc]

Yup Courtney, the Crocs are the ugliest things I've ever seen! In fact, I almost returned them after wearing them for a while day because they're SO UGLY, but couldn't bring myself to because of how comfortable they are.

And benadryl DOES NOT work for Tyler. Nothing that's supposed to make you sleep works for him. In fact, he was getting no sleep a year or so ago while he had a terrible cough, so his doc gave him a cough suppressant with codeine in it and told me it would knock him right out in a few minutes. It couldn't have had the more opposit effect----he was running around like he was on crack! I seriously thought something was VERY wrong with him and never gave him that medicine at bedtime again! I actually used it right before he went to day care---I'm sure they loved that!

See what I mean about the shoes- that's why I won't even try them on!

As for they benedryl, DH is like that too, but so the kids seem to be like me- if it says it can make you drowsy, it does. Phew!

 

[CourtneyMc]

By the way, Good Job to all you guys who are praising your wives for the packing! But, did you ever think that she forgot those items on purpose so that it would inspire you to pack for yourselves???? I say this as our official packer. I love the whole process though...and have over limited our weights so now weigh them on a scale ahead of time. I am not obsessive compulsive till it comes to packing.
I am beginning to think of delegating some of the responsibilty so that the kids will learn what it takes. Someday!

tif

The problem is, if you delegate it, you'll get there and discover you have to spend a bunch of $ to buy whatever they 'forgot' to pack! Oh, gee mom, you mean I needed more than just a swimsuit and a pair of PJs to last me a week?

 

[tggrbuny]

Okay, now I am jealous!!! I do ALL of the packing and usually ALL of the driving! No, I didn't audition for the Superhero wannabe reality show! Home is central Illinois down to central Florida home. About 1150 miles, give or take!

Hey, I am right there with you, I have to do all the packing and all of the driving. Whenever DH drives on long trips he get bored and lets just says drive unsafely. It amazes me that he can drive to work and yet on vacation he looses the skills....I think I being conned

 

[CourtneyMc]

Hey, I am right there with you, I have to do all the packing and all of the driving. Whenever DH drives on long trips he get bored and lets just says drive unsafely. It amazes me that he can drive to work and yet on vacation he looses the skills....I think I being conned

I think for sure you're being conned!

we're almost to 1000 posts. would it be annoying if I just posted a couple more useless items just to get us there

Just a request, but would people possibly be willing to post real names with their notes now (or at least if you're going to try to meet us in person)? I'd love to start having a few more names to go with the screen names- or do you want to be refered to as 'tiggerbunny' all week If not, that's ok too, it was just a thought.

 

[CaptainJack]

I don't mind posting our names--Lionel, Becky, Rebekah, and Raquel (or Rachael--it depends on her mood). I do have a question about the get together on Saturday. If I recall correctly, we were going to have some "goodies" for the kids. Am I correct? And, if so, is anyone organizing that? And, do they need us to bring anything?

 

[bielen]

By the way, Good Job to all you guys who are praising your wives for the packing! But, did you ever think that she forgot those items on purpose so that it would inspire you to pack for yourselves???? I say this as our official packer. I love the whole process though...and have over limited our weights so now weigh them on a scale ahead of time. I am not obsessive compulsive till it comes to packing.
I am beginning to think of delegating some of the responsibilty so that the kids will learn what it takes. Someday!

tif

My wife does the packing. She does a great job. We just purchased new Samsonite Spinners suitcases which have four wheels.