2012? No Problem...but when?

[cogero]

Nini I did the same with mine for 2012 and 2013 and I don't like trip reports but love the planning aspect.

 

[Tinker_Tam]

I thought we were there the same time but Kathy's post mixed me up. Thought I might be mixing people up. That Kathy is always causing problems! (Just kidding I love Kathy to pieces!)

 

[babynala]

I was WAY behind but I am all caught up. Too bad Miss Mia won't be taking her first trip to Disney in December but hopefully she will be going with you guys next Oct for your birthday. It is probably better for mom and dad if she is a bit older. They will have to do some car trip training before then.

So frustrating that you lost all of your hard work on the daily plans. I ran out of time this year to do my final daily plan update pages that I usually bring. I was a bit lost without them and my mom was totally lost. I give her a copy and then she has an idea of what the plans for the day are, including where and at what time we are eating. I have to say it is a good thing for the MDE app or I would have been really lost this year.

I think your DH spoiled you with that van for your birthday last year. That is a hard one to top but the coat will probably come in handy in the next few days since it got so cold here. Sorry your DS won't be able to make your bday party and bonus points for biting your tongue.

Sounds like all your sewing should be done for your trip soon. We recycled a few shirts from our last trip this year because I ran out of time and ideas. It was fine except for some of Curtis's shirts were a little too small

You have some crazy logistics in your plan with grandprincess switching! It is very nice of you to watch her so your son and DIL can enjoy some grown up time on vacation.

Hope you enjoy your birthday weekend.

 

[DMGeurts]

Gee How do I get my family to that point, oh wise one???

Well, Tammie, it helps a lot that she has teens..... of course that doesn't explain how her husband is able to be at that point....

Hahaha... Well, I am that mother...

They started setting/clearing the table before/after dinner when they were about 3 & 4... It was their job... They also started feeding/watering the dog at about that age... We've rotated these two jobs every week for years - they still do these jobs to this day. They have never received allowance for these chores, they just do them as being part of our family. There are other chores around the house they can earn $$ for if they choose.

They were also responsible for their own dishes for other meals.

Once they hit 13 - I stopped doing their laundry and taught them to use the machines themselves (sick and tired of finding all the clean clothes I'd just spent hours laundering and folding on their floors in a pile). This is also a non-paid chore now. Although - occasionally I will throw them $5 to sort and pair socks...

Over the summers, I've taught them how to make basic meals... Mac n' cheese, grilled cheese... You know - easy lunch stuff... 3 summers ago - I stopped making lunch for everyone completely - including DH... Mostly - it was when I was still sewing in the diningroom, and I was tired of cleaning off the table for every meal... And once I was given my sewing room (hmmm... I wonder now if that was a ploy to get me to make lunch again?) I just never went back to making lunch. LOL

In the end, they've become self-reliant for 2 meals a day... I haven't made any of them breakfast since about 3rd grade... by then, they knew how to make a bowl of cereal/toast/eggs/pancakes...

I guess - we've just always had really strict rules about what is acceptable and what isn't... And slowly they've become very independant.

Now - if I could just get out of making dinner 7 nights/week... We've tried very hard to get the girls to take over one meal per week each - but so far we have been very unsuccessfull... I may try again soon though.

Honestly, I have the best girls in the world, and I am very lucky and proud they are growing up to be amazing individuals that make me very happy to be their mom.

My advice, take it slow... one thing at a time - by the time they are 13/14 - you'll be Dising all day long.

D~ <--- Sorry - that was much longer than inteneded.

 

[cogero]

I love all the things your kids do for you. I feel bad asking C to do much but honestly she is such a good kid she does without asking. I tried to teach her to cook but she makes me nervous with how she holds a knife I stopped.

 

[NiniMorris]

LOL...we have chores that are unpaid just because you are a member of the family...and my smart mouthed 13 year old asked where to go to be removed from the family! (she won't make that mistake again...at least not out loud! Dad did not take too kindly to that!)

I have a list on the refrigerator with chores and their 'pay'. Anytime they want to earn extra money they know what to do...I don't think the list has been touched in MONTHS!

Of course mine are only 12 and 13... funny, I remember that by the time I was 13 my mom had went to work. My chore was to have dinner on the table every night by 5...regardless of homework. When my older's were younger, they were responsible for one meal a week. (because I worked.) I think my kids have it a bit too easy...although once a week I do cook breakfast...other wise they fend for them selves...and lunch is pretty much a what ever you can catch type thing...

We have made a bit of progress on the electronics part of the trip planning. Miss B has found her Kindle and her camera! They have both been missing in action since our June trip! Now if she can just find her cell phone all will be good...especially if she thinks Dad is going to spring for an iPod Touch for Christmas! I have Mr D's camera all charged and waiting, and we bought him a new iPod and have filled it with his favorites. Since he got a new DS for his birthday it is still in good shape.

I really hate that Mr D is not more careful with his stuff...but it is one of the many things we have to adjust our ways to with him. We go through a DS about every 3 or 4 months. But he is gaining so much eye hand coordination we believe it is a necessary part of him. We tried the Otterbox for one of his DS...but he didn't like the way it 'felt'. And anyone with a sensory kid knows if it doesn't 'feel' right it will never work.

Now on my list is to find him some headphones that are not too chunky. The ear buds that come with the iPod are to small... and only last a day or so.

And packing! I bought those lovely packing cubes from ebags...and I am HOOKED! I love those things! I was able to put all of our shirts in one cube each. Mine and husband's are in a larger cube and the kids are in a medium cube! And the luggage has so much more room...it is unbelievable. I think we could probably get away with one less suitcase this trip...except for the fact that both Mr D and Miss B think its gross to have their clothes touching the other's! LOL!

And our Disney documents are on their way! (which is the nice thing about knowing your TA so intimately!) And our Magic Bands will be shipping on Nov 1.


And now for my biggest news...

Mr Max will probably go to boarding school while we ate at Disney! For those who don't know, Mr Max is a 120 pound 2 year old German Shepherd who has atrocious manners! He thinks he is still a puppy and refuses to mind anyone but me...and only then when he wants to! We know he is smart...he is just so stubborn he refuses to behave.

Our last German Shepherd went to this same boarding school when he was a little over a year old. He came back a much nicer dog who was welcomed to be a part of the family! He went because he was supposed to become a drug dog and that fell through...and I made him a giant lap dog!

Mr Max's problem is that both Dad and Mr D do not think they should be made to make him mind...so they don't! LOL! Hopefully with him having the background with the intensive training at boarding school, he will be a bit easier for me to contain!

Mr D is not happy about it...until we explained that just like he got tired of home school, Mr Max needed to go to 'public' school so he can learn more things and play well with others... so Mr D is now concerned that Mr Max will forget him so he is not letting him out of his sight. I give that another couple of hours and they will be tired of each other!

But his boarding school will take care of the problem of who is going to watch the dogs while we are gone. My middle son is unreliable (at best), and oldest son will be with us. We are still not 100% sure about my daughter...they are thinking again (oh no!) and since Miss Mia is getting better about traveling and strangers...who knows!


I am celebrating my birthday this whole weekend! Tonight is my family birthday dinner, tomorrow is Trunk or Treat...where husband and I are sending the two younger ones with their sister and we are going out for an adult only meal! The Sunday we are going to try and take a short trip to the mountain city of Helen for a quick look at the fall color. Followed by another dinner out!


I have decided that getting old has its privileges...I get to celebrate 3 days in a row and pretend I don't remember...




Nini

 

[KatMark]

Nini, in case I don't get here over the weekend:

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

​

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Hopefully I will "see" you around over the weekend but in case I don't... HaPpY BiRtHdAy!!!! You'll be counting the days till your birthday and I'll be counting the days until REVEAL DAY!!!!

 

[babynala]

I think we could probably get away with one less suitcase this trip...except for the fact that both Mr D and Miss B think its gross to have their clothes touching the other's! LOL!



Hope you are enjoying your birthday weekend. Have fun on your adults only night out.

 

[DMGeurts]

Just stopping by to wish you a HAPPY BIRTHDAY Nini!!! I hope you are having a fantastic weekend!

D~

 

[cogero]

Happy Happy Birthday to Miss C's Birthday Buddy!!!!!

 

[NiniMorris]

Just spent a good hour with a great update on my birthday weekend...and my internet went out ...when it came back it was all gone!

Hopefully my new router will be in tomorrow. it is almost NOT worth trying to do anything on the internet with this stupid thing going on right now!


GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR


I will try to get back after I drop Mr D off at school!

Nini

 

[DMGeurts]

I hope you had a great birthday... It seems like you have been waiting for that darned router forever~!

D~

 

[babynala]

Just spent a good hour with a great update on my birthday weekend...and my internet went out ...when it came back it was all gone!

Hopefully my new router will be in tomorrow. it is almost NOT worth trying to do anything on the internet with this stupid thing going on right now!

GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

I will try to get back after I drop Mr D off at school!

Nini

Whaaaaa. So annoying. I hope your router is up and running and all your issues are fixed.

Our Internet was out for a few hours about a month ago and it is amazing how much we rely on it. I figured it was a good chance to sew but the tutorial I wanted to use was online. Not sure what happened but the orange cable line is still running down the street and not burried???? I hope no one accidentally pulls it out and it makes it thru Halloween.

 

[NiniMorris]

Now that it is all old news, here is the update for my Birthday last weekend…and yes, I celebrated all weekend long!

On Friday, all five of my kids showed up to one of my favorite places. Olive Garden…which I always call Garden Grill. (I know, NOTHING like that…but in my old mind it always comes out as Garden Grill!)

We had a great time and I really enjoyed myself. The Grand Princess is getting so big. She did not set with her mom and dad, and insisted on giving her order to the waitress herself. Everytime her mom would say something, she told her mom “It is rude to interrupt people when they are talking, I am sure you didn’t MEAN to do that.” (can you tell she has heard that a couple times at school?) In Life Studies at school they are learning how to order at restaurants. They had to bring in a menu from their favorite restaurant…and she choose Garden Grill (otherwise known as Olive Garden!) and they learned how to order their favorite food and how to listen to the waitress and answer their questions.

To those who do not know the Princess, she is very shy. To actually speak to a non family member is a huge deal! For her to actually order her own food and to answer the waitress’ questions…well this is huge for her.

And of course, Miss Mia was also a hoot! She has just started eating solid foods. She had a nice dinner of Butternut Squash, made fresh in mommy’s kitchen. She normally is happy with her portion, but was very upset that her food was gone and everyone else was still putting food in their mouths! So, her mommy started giving her spoonfuls of water! She was so happy. After a while she was happy just playing with the spoon…until the cake came! She managed to get her hand into the chocolate icing…but did not like the feel of it on her hand. (she is like her mommy…can not STAND to have her hands dirty!

On Saturday, we did a bit of shopping, finding some items we needed to get for Disney and checked out a few things for Christmas gifts. Husband decided the kids are each getting a new tv for Christmas. He wants one with a DVD included. At Target we found a pretty good deal, but they only had one…and we needed two. Not to mention we had the kids with us!

After we dropped the kids off at my daughter’s house for Trunk or Treat, we stopped by Wally World and found the same model of tv…and they only had 2 left, so we put it on layaway. When we checked out we found out that both TVs were on a bigger sale than we thought…and saved another 40 bucks!

For dinner that night I wasn’t all that hungry, so I was treated to a dinner for two at our local hamburger joint! This was a big deal for me! I LOVE this place…they make all their burgers fresh…and cut their own fries…and make them up for you while you wait! They are most known for their open pit BBQ…but for me it is their hamburgers that keep me coming back!

At the Trunk or Treat, My daughter and her husband and baby won for best costume! Miss Mia’s aunt had bought her a cute Purple and pink octopus costume. My daughter did not like it much, but could not find anything that would fit…so they decided to build on that. My daughter took two pink hoodies and made her own Octopus costume, and my son in law was the fisherman. They were the Fisherman and his lucky catch!

She did not remember to get a picture of them together, but I have a picture of them each separate. I am working on getting them uploaded so I can add them to this post.

On Sunday, after church services, we took a short scenic trip up to the North GA Mountains. We normally try to go this time every year. In the past we have been plagued with the drought and resulting poor color, and were expecting the gazillions of gallons of rain this year to have a pleasant effect on the color.

BOY, WERE WE WRONG!

Either the color just hasn’t made it her yet, or the leaves are going from green to drop! I did get a few good pictures, but nothing spectacular.

Of course, no one can go to (or even through) Cleveland, GA without stopping at Babyland General! I warned husband that if we went I was going to have to get Miss Mia a baby for Christmas. I was thinking a small soft chewable one…She is only 6 months old…but husband chose a really cute blonde girl…very similar to the one her mommy had as a baby. Add to that the fact that her mommy was born in 1983 (the very start of the Cabbage Patch Dolls) and this was a 30th anniversary edition with a date of 1983…and had the name of Amelie… it was meant to be! I will still get her a new Minnie Mouse doll while we are at Disney to actually play with…but his will be her keepsake doll.

(A short note here. In 1982, I found a cute pattern put out by McCalls. It was for Blossom Babies. This was the same year that Xavier Roberts started hand making the Cabbage Patch Dolls. The pattern he originally used was VERY similar to this one. I made one during the summer for the baby I was expecting…but it turned out that he was a boy. So I kept the doll for the next one which was my first girl a year later. When the toy manufacturer started mass producing the dolls in 1983…and the craze was on…we were able to get one for my daughter at the PX…one with nice yellow yarn hair.

She loved it so much, that I started making them for everyone… during the next 3 years I made at least 50 dolls. The Cabbage Patch doll was always very special to me. )

Being in the mountains all day and smelling the wonderful fires everywhere, I really wanted some BBQ!! So, on the way home we stopped off to get some BBQ for dinner. While it was good, it was not as good as I had hoped.

So…that was my birthday weekend.

Next year I am celebrating for a full 10 days! AT DISNEY!

 

[cogero]

sounds like a beautiful weekend. My mom is buying Sami her first AG doll a bitty baby but we can't decide which one to get because I can't decide what color hair Sami has

I also started Christmas shopping this weekend. I want to get a start though I just remembered that I am having the kids portraits taking on the 9th.

 

[NiniMorris]

OK...now that the long one is done I will post a tiny update on our trip...but first, THANK YOU for the birthday wishes! I was so over whelmed by all the wishes on here and Facebook! We had a great weekend and can not wait for the Big Birthday Bash next October!

My router (second one) finally came in. I thought I had it all set up, and then it started failing...one thing at a time. Not sure if it is something in the settings that I missed or if it is the modem going out. This is different from what it was doing...so I am guessing the modem has gotten jealous and decided to go. Of course, the external hard drive is not showing up like it should, so for now I can not be sure everything is backing up right. Before I download any more designs I want to make sure it is backing up right!

We got Mickey Mail! I am so excited! Yup...I KNOW we don't really NEED the Mickey Mail. We are driving and don't get the ME tags, and the coupon book is something we rarely use...but Hey! It means we are getting closer!

But our Magic Bands should be mailed on Friday! THAT is one very exciting thing! I can hardly wait for this one!

And one of the more exciting things...I sen the last monthly email to our party today! See, I send monthly emails out to remind them of things to do and ask about things they want to do. Last year they were more fun...at the 12 week mark I started adding a Disney Trivia question to them. The first person to answer correctly (without using the internet!) got a point. On the day before we left, the person with the most points won a $25 Disney Gift Card!

I had more adults last time so it was more fun...this trip it is only my son and his wife...since they would already know it was them...not as much fun!

Now I only have a couple more emails to send out and then we go!

 

[DMGeurts]

SOunds like a fantastic birthday weekend!!!

I love that the Grand Princess did all of her ordering at OG!!! How cute...

And little Mia - she is just adorable!

Awesome that you have some of your Chrsitmas gifts figured out already - we have NO idea what anyone is getting this year... Except for the Stockings.

LOL about Cabbage Patch Kids... I don't have my original one... His name was Weber Marcel - I had him until I was about 22, and then my (then) Step-mother donated all of my childhood belongings I still had stored at my Dad's house - and I lost everything. A few years ago, I started "Weber" shopping on Ebay and a doll collecter friend of mine heard of my search - low and behold - she had a similar Weber doll in her collection - so she sent him to me... It's not exactly Weber - but he is close, and I was very touched by her sentiment. I still hope to find his original clothes on Ebay one day.

Also, on that note, my grandmother and aunt used to make CPKs from a pattern... Again, my original one (Sarah) was donated, so one of my cousins gave me another of my Grandmother's dolls... She is a cute little African American one - so not exactly the look-a-like one I had as a child, but at least it's one of my Grandmother's dolls. I loved her's the most, because they had the cute little noses and the fabric faces which she hand stitched all herself. Do you have any pictures of yours? Just curious if they are the same?

OK - better get a move on today - I have lots to do before I have to leave for Target. Have a fantastic day Nini!!! And I am very glad you had a great birthday!

D~

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Sounds like someone had a great birthday weekend!! See, it pays to turn 29!!!

 

[KatMark]

Glad you had a great birthday weekend!

I can't believe you are still having router problems.

Can't believe our trips are fast approaching.