2012? No Problem...but when?

[DMGeurts]

I will be here waiting...

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

Hmmm...over 24 hours after promised.. but yesterday was my first day 1) without a nap; 2)having to drive; and 3) with three hours worth of therapy for the kids!

By the time I got home I had put about 250 miles on the car and was totally exhausted. Being exhausted meant hurting more than expected and not being able to sleep!

Enough whinning! I'm going to Disney!

Since we flipped flopped a lot on the actual dates, going back and forth between September and November, things have been in a slight state of flux for almost an entire year! Add to that a few medical issues, and well, this trip has not come along as easily as I had hoped it would.
Since we will be going in November, our official trip countdown actually has a few extra days involved in it.
Our custom is to go out to eat the night before we go. We like to have a family meal of all those going, as well as those who are volunteering to watch our 4 legged family members that don’t get to go. (I have an almost 13 year old mini doxie who would not survive being boarded!)
It is a win/win for me. No cooking, no cleaning, and no forgetting to put away the clean dishes. (and no forgetting to take out the trash…nuff said!) I consider it to be the first expense of the actual trip. (and plan accordingly)

This year, since we are leaving the day after Thanksgiving at 3 in the morning (and our family Thanksgiving celebrations can last until 3 in the morning!)so we have a touch more planning to deal with!

This year, my daughter in law is hosting Thanksgiving. That means we will have it at her house, and she gets to choose the menu, style, and decide who brings what. At my house, we always go all out and have a very formal shindig that starts at breakfast and ends with a midnight snack. All the crystal and china is pulled out and it takes almost as long to clean us pas it does to cook! This year we are using…shudder…plastic utensils and paper products! A much less formal affair! LOL!

So for the purpose of this …Disney will actually start on Wednesday, November 21. On that day, I will put my famous Green Beans in the crock pot and my 12 year old, Miss B, will be in charge of making the family staple a fruit salad. It is an old family recipe. Made with every type of fruit we can find (some fresh some canned), cool whip, cottage cheese, mini marshmallows, and jello. This year she is adding a bit of shredded coconut to it as well. This is a recipe my step mother started back in the early 70’s…and truthfully, my kids have never had a holiday without it. I was hoping to forgo this treat this year, but I was outvoted! (Partly because this will be Miss B’s first time to be the official fruit salad maker!) While it is very good…it is a bear to clean up after its making!

That night we will make our normal trip to church, and then start Thanksgiving bright and early Thursday morning.
My daughter and her husband are in charge of breakfast this year and I can’t wait to see what they come up with this year! We have been treated to such things as homemade biscuits and gravy to homemade waffles and country ham. There is always some form of homemade pastry involved (did I mention my son in law is a fantastic cook!)

After breakfast, husband will go back to the house and start loading up the car. (hopefully remembering to LOCK the door this time!)

For lunch we will have some sort of appetizers…the kids favorites are raw veggies and dips. With the main event starting around 5 (a little early this year!). After a meal fit for royalty, we will be treated to video games of some sort. It is always a competition…but somehow everyone wins. (Probably because the teams always keep changing!)

At around 9, we will be kicked out. After all, this is only 6 hours before we leave…and the two drivers need to get some sleep!

My two youngest kids favorite part is the next 6 hours (which is why I am going into so much detail on this whole pre trip part!) They get to stay up! They get to put a Disney movie on and stay up as long as they want. The only things are they have to be quiet, and take a bath. At 2 in the morning, Dad and I will get up, and the kids have to be ready to go. At 2:30, they get to get in the car and get situated for the drive. They are usually asleep within 5 minutes, and don’t wake up until we get to Ocala for breakfast at 9!

In case they might wake up hungry before we are ready to stop, we will have some juice boxes and a cereal bar waiting on them.

In Ocala, we stop at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. The only time we ever eat here is when we are traveling. I personally don’t like the greasy food, but I am totally outnumbered on this one! The kids have already started studying the menu to see what they are going to order! It is one of the must dos on our trip!

After breakfast (we plan on at least an hour to an hour and a half stop) we have only one hour and a half (or basically a short movie) until we get to DISNEY!

We will be traveling in 2 cars. Four in ours and four in my son’s. After the breakfast stop, my grand princess will probably switch over to our car so she can watch movies with the kids.

Upon arrival at Disney, we will head over to Coronado Springs for check in. While my daughter in law and I are checking in, the guys will take the kids for a potty break and a short walk. Of course, the check in process is not really long enough for much of a walk, since we always do online check in!

 

[NiniMorris]

From here our plans split off into two directions, coming together every once in a while.

Our plans
Friday Nov 23 – Magic Kingdom CS lunch and dinner
Saturday Nov 24- Epcot with Biergarten for dinner
Sunday Nov25 – Church followed by Magic Kingdom and Crystal Palace for lunch, CS for dinner along with MVMCP
Monday Nov 26- Disney Hollywood Studios with Hollywood and Vine for dinner followed by Osborne Lights
Tuesday Nov 27- Animal Kingdom with Boma for dinner (also my oldest turns 35 today!)
Wednesday Nov 28- Break day with Chef Mickey’s for dinner
Thursday Nov 29- Epcot with Garden Grill for dinner
Friday Nov 30- Disney Hollywood Studios with Akershus for dinner (today my daughter and her husband will be joining us)
Saturday Dec 1 – Animal Kingdom with Coral Reef for dinner (today my son and daughter in law are heading back home)
Sunday Dec 2- Church followed by Magic Kingdom and Be Our Guest for dinner
Monday Dec 3 – Check out with O’Hana for breakfast then the long trip home.

Son and DIL’s schedule
Friday Nov 23- Magic Kingdom with Be Our Guest for dinner
Saturday Nov 24-Animal Kingdom with Akershus for dinner
Sunday Nov 25- Magic Kingdom with Tony’s for dinner and MVMCP
Monday Nov 26- Hollywood Studios with Hollywood and Vine for dinner followed by Osborne lights
Tuesday Nov 27- Magic Kingdom with Crystal Palace for dinner (Shawn’s birthday)
Wednesday Nov 28- Hollywod Studios with Chef Mickey’s for dinner
Thursday Nov 29- Epcot with Biergarten for dinner
Friday Nov 30- Magic Kingdom and Garden Grill for dinner (will be joined by daughter and her husband)
Saturday Dec 1- Check out and return home

Daughter and SIL’s schedule
Friday Nov 30- arrival Magic Kingdom and ? for dinner
Saturday Dec 1 – Animal Kingdom and Biergarten for dinner (CP dinner package)
Sunday Dec 2 – church followed by Magic Kingdom
Monday Dec3 –
Tuesday Dec 4 – Amanda’s birthday

Truthfully, I have no real clue as to their current plans. Just a generalized idea of where they will be when I am there. LOL

 

[babynala]

That sounds like an exhausting day and so many miles on your car.

Your plans sound great. I was wondering how you handled the three am departure. I know my kids would be wide awake for the entire ride and VERY crabby but having them stay up sounds like it works good. That will be a very crazy turkey day but fun!

 

[babynala]

Oh my! Hose are alt of plans to keep track of. Sounds like you got it all figured out. Have you been to the Christmas party before? I thought I recall that you have been to MNSSHP.

 

[NiniMorris]

We went to the Christmas Party 2 years ago. It was only 10 weeks after my neck surgery and I did not enjoy myself. This is a do over...hoping it will he better!

I have never been to the Halloween party, but last year we did get stuck in it as we were leaving CRT on our last night there. It was a MADHOUSE! It was a Friday night and a sell out.

Being a military wife for 20 years... I know LOTS of things to make traveling easier with kids! We used to get one vacation a year that was for 4 weeks. We had to travel from where we were stationed, to Missouri to see his parents then to GA to see mine. (and that was in the days before portable DVD players! LOL)

Tuesdays are hard days for us anyway...but we had to add a trip to the doctor in Decatur. So I started in Monroe, drove to Grayson then to Decatur then to Athens then home. Hubby said he thinks it is longer than 250 round trip, but I think I am pretty close.

If you think Thanksgiving is big...you should see our Christmas...it is at my house this year. Less than 4 weeks after we get back from Disney! I am not happy unless there are impossible deadlines to be met!

==========

My daughter was supposed to have told the last people she wanted to tell in person last night...so it is official. I can now make the announcement I have waited for 29 years to make! My daughter and her husband are expecting their first child in May! This little bundle is actually the reason they changed their mind and decided to go with us to Disney. It will be his/her 'first' trip to Disney. They are already planning on making quite a few purchases for the baby while they are there! (yes, this is my Disney hating daughter!)

 

[cogero]

Congrats Nini.

those plans are wild. I can't believe your Thanksgiving . that scares me LOL

 

[DMGeurts]

First of all.... CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am so excited for you!

And wow... OK - I want to come to your house for TG, and can I just hang out with you for the following week as well? You don't have to make me any shirts or anything, unless you have the time (of course), otherwise, I can just bring my own.

Your trip to Florida sounds like a blast!! I actually enjoy traveling a lot... I just get so nervous before we go. LOL

Love all of your plans, and honestly - I am so excited to hear more about this trip!!!

Here's hoping you are all back to normal by then.

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

UGH!!!!​

I seriously hate the bad news I have had to deal with this morning. I really need to vent, but can't on FB....and really shouldn't here either.

My son and daughter in law's first trip to Disney was during the time they had custody of her sister's two kids. Logan was 18 months and Lucas was 6 months. Lucas stayed behind with my daughter and her husband.

The bio mom has a severe drug problem. The process she had to go through was over a year long. Just to get her two precious little angels again. You would have thought she learned.


She has never been able to hold a job...or a car...or a place to live...the only things she can manage was a phone and drugs. She managed to snag an invite from my son and dil a month ago when she moved back to the state and had no place to live.

She was stealing my grand princess' pain meds. Unfortunately there was no way to prove it. Since she didn't need it any more they pour it all down the drain. My DIL just had a kidney stone removed surgically last week. She did not like the pain meds they gave her, because she doesn't like to feel drugged...so she put them in a dresser drawer.

On Monday, she went back to work. On Tuesday, she discovered that 8 of the pills were missing. Before she could confront her sister that afternoon...another 8 disappeared.

DFACS will be going over today to take custody of the kids and cart her off to jail. It is causing a huge rift between my son and his wife. My DIL feels guilty. Somehow it is HER fault that her SISTER stole drugs from her.

If they (my son and DIL ) take custody of the kids, they will not be able to go to Disney in 5 weeks...adding 2 kids to the trip is way more money than they can come up with right now.

If they (my son and DIL) don't take custody of the boys, neither of them will be able to enjoy Disney. The boys will go into foster care.

Once upon a time, we were on the emergency list for foster care...we have already gotten a call... there is no way we can take them.

This has been a really unpleasant situation for a couple of weeks. It has put both my husband and son in danger...they are both law enforcement officers. To NOT report this puts them on the hook. While I am selfishly glad that it is finally coming to a head...I am so scared of how this is going to play out. Right now it is not looking like a fun trip...

 

[DMGeurts]

Oh Nini- I don't even know what to say... Except you are all doing the right thing, and some how it will all work out.

(((Hugs)))

D~

 

[aboveH20]

We went to the Christmas Party 2 years ago. It was only 10 weeks after my neck surgery and I did not enjoy myself. This is a do over...hoping it will he better!

I have never been to the Halloween party, but last year we did get stuck in it as we were leaving CRT on our last night there. It was a MADHOUSE! It was a Friday night and a sell out.

Being a military wife for 20 years... I know LOTS of things to make traveling easier with kids! We used to get one vacation a year that was for 4 weeks. We had to travel from where we were stationed, to Missouri to see his parents then to GA to see mine. (and that was in the days before portable DVD players! LOL)

Tuesdays are hard days for us anyway...but we had to add a trip to the doctor in Decatur. So I started in Monroe, drove to Grayson then to Decatur then to Athens then home. Hubby said he thinks it is longer than 250 round trip, but I think I am pretty close.

If you think Thanksgiving is big...you should see our Christmas...it is at my house this year. Less than 4 weeks after we get back from Disney! I am not happy unless there are impossible deadlines to be met!

==========

My daughter was supposed to have told the last people she wanted to tell in person last night...so it is official. I can now make the announcement I have waited for 29 years to make! My daughter and her husband are expecting their first child in May! This little bundle is actually the reason they changed their mind and decided to go with us to Disney. It will be his/her 'first' trip to Disney. They are already planning on making quite a few purchases for the baby while they are there! (yes, this is my Disney hating daughter!)

Your Disney plans are exciting, but THE NEWS is even more exciting.

Congratulations to you -- and I suppose to your daughter and son-in-law as well.

 

[aboveH20]

UGH!!!!​

I seriously hate the bad news I have had to deal with this morning. I really need to vent, but can't on FB....and really shouldn't here either.

My son and daughter in law's first trip to Disney was during the time they had custody of her sister's two kids. Logan was 18 months and Lucas was 6 months. Lucas stayed behind with my daughter and her husband.

The bio mom has a severe drug problem. The process she had to go through was over a year long. Just to get her two precious little angels again. You would have thought she learned.


She has never been able to hold a job...or a car...or a place to live...the only things she can manage was a phone and drugs. She managed to snag an invite from my son and dil a month ago when she moved back to the state and had no place to live.

She was stealing my grand princess' pain meds. Unfortunately there was no way to prove it. Since she didn't need it any more they pour it all down the drain. My DIL just had a kidney stone removed surgically last week. She did not like the pain meds they gave her, because she doesn't like to feel drugged...so she put them in a dresser drawer.

On Monday, she went back to work. On Tuesday, she discovered that 8 of the pills were missing. Before she could confront her sister that afternoon...another 8 disappeared.

DFACS will be going over today to take custody of the kids and cart her off to jail. It is causing a huge rift between my son and his wife. My DIL feels guilty. Somehow it is HER fault that her SISTER stole drugs from her.

If they (my son and DIL ) take custody of the kids, they will not be able to go to Disney in 5 weeks...adding 2 kids to the trip is way more money than they can come up with right now.

If they (my son and DIL) don't take custody of the boys, neither of them will be able to enjoy Disney. The boys will go into foster care.

Once upon a time, we were on the emergency list for foster care...we have already gotten a call... there is no way we can take them.

This has been a really unpleasant situation for a couple of weeks. It has put both my husband and son in danger...they are both law enforcement officers. To NOT report this puts them on the hook. While I am selfishly glad that it is finally coming to a head...I am so scared of how this is going to play out. Right now it is not looking like a fun trip...

Whoops. I saw this after my previous excited post.

So sorry for what you are dealing with. Here's wishing you strength and courage to get through it.

 

[NiniMorris]

Well, the boys are in foster care and seem to be happy. Bio mom is on her own. She has a court appearance on Monday where they will outline what she has to do to get them back. They have already let her know it will be at least a one year process...maybe more.

My DIL's whole family is so upset...but would never offer to help in any way. I just wish they could see this was brought on my the bio mom's choices and this is not something that was done TO her.

To give my DIL something to do...we are going to head to the Quilt Expo in a few minutes. We are hoping to do a little damage to the pocket book...since it is practically bare...there is little damage that can be done! LOL... But I need some more stabilizer...and I have to get 2 Disney gift cards...the reloadable kind.

I am saving over 20 in shipping and getting an outing in the mix...so I figure it is worth it! We will hit the expo...go have a nice lunch...then head to the mall and the Disney store. This trip will have enough fun so that all the kids can find something in it for them and I get my shopping done...and I don't have to drive!

Have a great Saturday!

Nini

 

[DMGeurts]

Have a great time today Nini!!! I hope you'll post photos of your loot!

D~

 

[EEs*Mommy]

Hope you enjoy your day Nini!
i am so sorry about the boys but it sounds like it played out like it needed to. Will say an extra prayer. If you need to vent you know the door is always open. Hugs

 

[cogero]

Sending prayers for the boys and especially your DIL. IT can't be easy to turn in a loved one but she is doing what is right.

Hope you had a great time at the sewing expo.

 

[NiniMorris]

The quilt show was a bust!

Marathon thread was not there...only one other thread supplier was there, but it is one I already buy wholesale from and did not want to pay retail!

The exhibition hall appeared to be the same size as in previous years, but it was laid out differently...all the quilts were in the middle...stretched out to take up a ton of room. The merchants were scattered among the outlaying areas. I was terribly disappointed!

I was also looking for fabric and ideas for baby quilts (I wonder why?) and the only fabric they really had were fat quarters...at $3 each ... While they did have some pretty fabrics, nothing that made me want to stop and even give a second look. There are usually bolts and bolts of all manner of delicious fabrics...

So very very disappointing. There are two Expos held here each year. In Spring, focusing mainly on sewing; and in the Fall, focusing mainly on quilting. Usually no matter what the 'focus' was, the other was well represented. I did not go to the last year's Fall show, and will not bother going to the next Fall show. I guess I am doomed to only visit the Spring shows from now on. Bummer!

At the Disney Store I was a bit disappointed...they always have T shirts on sale. I can usually find several that I like. I was on a mission. I really need to get a shirt specifically to wear to Be Our Guest on our last night there.

Can you believe, that other than a couple of Princess sets, there was no Belle merchandise in the whole store. They had their Halloween costumes out...but no Belle! Not a single Beauty and the Beast shirt in the room!

I DID manage to find a beautiful Mickey Mouse Coffee Mug! It was the stainless steel looking one with classic Mickey on it...Since it was marked down, and all clearance was another 30% off...I decided $3 was a good price for him and brought him home. I am drinking my coffee from him right now!

I also had 2 gift cards to get. One was for the money Miss B has saved for the trip. She still had $98 so I added two dollars to it and got her a $100 gift card. It was important to me to be able to get a re-loadable one...in case she earns more money in the next 33 days!

We are also having a trivia contest going on in our family. I send out weekly trivia questions. The first one to respond with the correct answer gets a point...at the end I will add up all the points and award a $25 gift card to them. With only 5 weeks left...my DIL is ahead. In second place is my son...so the gift card will be going home with one of them...so I made sure it was the one with the Princess' on it...because that is what my Grand Princess would like best...(LOL...I know that is who will end up with it!)

After we returned from our epic fail shopping trip and lunch...I had the whole gang over last night for Chili and Football. My SIL is a huge Alabama fan, and we are huge Georgia fans...so both TVs were on and everyone that cared wandered back and forth to see the action. I was glad the games ended early and meant I got in bed at a reasonable time! LOL!


Nini

 

[DMGeurts]

What a bummer about the quilt expo... But I am glad you got to get out and have the diversion.

And a bummer about no Belle/B&tB items at TDS... Glad you got your gift cards though.

Love the trivia idea!

D~

 

[cogero]

That stinks about the quilt expo and I find the Disney Store either hit or miss.

Great deal on the coffee cup.

 

[aboveH20]

Nini, I have a two part question for you.

I've saved a bagillion embroidery files on my computer -- mostly free ones. I don't know when I think I'll use them all, or what projects they'll go on, but like collecting fabric it's an addiction. I remember you've mentioned that you have a lot of files as well.

Both of my questions relate to how much space I'm sure they're taking up on my computer.

Q1. After downloading zipped files do you unzip them and delete the formats you can't use? Or do you just save them zipped? I honestly don't know which takes up less space.

Q2. Do you save your files to CD (or DVD or USB) and then delete them from the computer?

Thanks for your insight -- and I'm excited that your trip is getting closer. I'll probably do my annual solo trip the end of February, but nothing planned yet. I can't wait to see the new Fantasyland and eat at Be Our Guest. I love Beauty and the Beast -- I saw it twice on Broadway.

<---- not off topic any more