9/19/09 Western Magic

[Mrsjvb]

well it finally came live and I was able to DL and print everything. I had been using FF( Internet Exploited is not allowed in your house.. DH loathes it)

he also called with the official notice that his leave HAS been approved. He can leave the country! yay! Funny how they don't care about him leaving to go to war zones, but he has all these security protocols to go through to take a cruise to a fairly safe part of Mexico... especially since there's a better than decent chance we won't even get off anywhere but CC. Although he does want to hit Margaritaville.... our beer cozies from there are in sad shape and need replacing.

Have all the on board stuff printed off except the Meets..will wait until just before we leave in case there are changes to the plans. just have to order a towncar from SoG to MCO for our post cruise stay since I was able to get DME to Poly from the ship.

Oh anybody flying Southwest, I just read today that there is a change.. you can pay an extra $10 each way PP and be guaranteed A boarding Zone. after the FF and business types and Before families with young kids. it is valid on flights leaving like as of today i think. I still need to do some research and figure out how to do that for our flights. It's worth the extra $40 to us, especially on the way back.

I need to find a line drawing of a mickey head to DL and play with on my graphics program to add our names and whatnot. I already have Lime Green cardstock to print it on and magnetic sheeting to mount it on.

 

[dennismcneely]

Hi folks,

just read this on the main forum, thought you would find it interesting.

http://cnnwire.blogs.cnn.com/2009/09/03/man-rescued-after-falling-from-cruise-ship/

 

[mamajojo]

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgu...ario&hl=en&rlz=1T4SKPB_enCA300CA319&sa=N&um=1

Dennis next week I work Tuesday 9/8, I will be in Mexico with Donald. On Wednesday 9/9 I am in Future World from 3:45 to 10:15, unfortunately, I have no idea where until that day.


I will post my schedule on Sunday when I get it then.


What about Boardwalk, they have some shops and it is beautiful. you can also get to the Swan, Dolphin, Yacht and Beach Club by walking or rent a bike. My family always loves mini golf too.


I had no idea there was a London in Canada

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgu...ario&hl=en&rlz=1T4SKPB_enCA300CA319&sa=N&um=1

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgu...ario&hl=en&rlz=1T4SKPB_enCA300CA319&sa=N&um=1

 

[3boyslovediz]

Thanks for all the great DTD ideas, sounds like we will have more than enough to do for fun!!! I have taken good notes!

Now, Earl of Sandwich?! That is a new one

 

[kileybeth]

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/dining/diningdetail.cfm?Restaurant.ID=335

See if that link gets you there, otherwise, just google it up and you will find the DTD one.

Basically, they make a sandwhich fresh for you with excellent ingredients on artisan bread and it is grilled to heat it. Unbelievable taste, I can never decide which one to get! Even the PB&J on the kids menu is delicious!

good size sandwhich, sometimes my DH and I share if I'm feeling generous enough to do so Have had yummy soups there as well.

Not new, been there quiet awhile but can't remember how long??

 

[LCrain]

Hey Penny,
What about Disney Quest? It seems like a fun place to spend some time at. It is in Downtown Disney...
See you real soon! Tell your mom to gear up for bingo!!

Disney Quest was awesome when we went there 4 years ago. Fun for all ages. My sister and I both had a great time and my nephew who was 6 then enjoyed it as well.


Lisa

 

[gvivanco]

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgu...ario&hl=en&rlz=1T4SKPB_enCA300CA319&sa=N&um=1


http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgu...ario&hl=en&rlz=1T4SKPB_enCA300CA319&sa=N&um=1

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgu...ario&hl=en&rlz=1T4SKPB_enCA300CA319&sa=N&um=1

Jody, thank you for the geography lesson! I enjoyed looking at the maps! I've never been that far north!

 

[so_oregon]

ANGELAAAAAAAAAAAA.....

I am lacking names of parents/sister of Kirsten's mommy......the mysterious Jeannie is one of them, but not sure who she is...the sister or the mom. Pretty please?

ASHALOOOOOOOOOOOOO.......

Are you Ashley and what is the person's name with whom you will be honeymooning?

Karen

ps -- yes, I am persistent!!!!

 

[disneyfinatics]

Thanks for all the great DTD ideas, sounds like we will have more than enough to do for fun!!! I have taken good notes!

Now, Earl of Sandwich?! That is a new one

I plan on being at DTD Friday w/ my 2 boys. Maybe we will see you guys there. When you get there you'll find out that there's too much to do. We love to pin trade!!! I'm hoping DH will be able to go, but he's got flights Tues. & Wed. w/ backups on Thurs. & Fri. Here's hoping they go smoothly Tues. & Wed. He doesn't fly, he does something w/ testing the software. He's an engineer.

 

[cakesnjammom]

sinderelly - awwww I am sorry you are missing MNSSHP...I have been reading that Wishes Dessert Party is filling up quick. I wish they were offering the halloween party the night the boat returns to FL (9/26). I would rather go then to try and shield the BLOW of being thrown off the ship
Sawyer will have a ball when you take your trip!
I too have been in a new city/state since 2006...work relocation! You are so right about familiar places!

mrsjvb - so glad your dh got his official approval! and that you got your online cruise info done! whew!
sorry my mozilla info was of no assistance to you my dh does not use IE (exploiter)either!

so_oregon - you are so funny

my best to you all....hope things are going your way!
2 weeks from TODAY we will be in our car traveling to FL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Queenofthecastle]

Well folks, time is flying by so fast! We only have 2 weeks left so we must make a deadline for those who would like to participate in FE #2!

PLEASE POST OR PM ME OR KAREN(SO_OREGON) BY SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE ADDED.

We currently have 13 cabins participating so far. Please don't be shy and participate, especially if you are traveling with kids!

Thanks Everyone!
Wan(aka Queenofthecastle)

 

[LoriS]

Hannahquad-Earl of Sandiwch? Do tell. Am I missing something really yummy?

Kathy( who wishes for a Bippity Boppity Boutique for adults)

Thanks for all the great DTD ideas, sounds like we will have more than enough to do for fun!!! I have taken good notes!

Now, Earl of Sandwich?! That is a new one

We LOVE Earl of Sandwich, not only is it yummy, I think it is fairly reasonably priced, especially considering you are at Disney.

 

[carolrie]

I can't believe the cruise is almost here! I am also going through stages of excitement and panic that I am not even close to ready! Yea for those of you leaving soon for a WDW trip also! We are going to go for a few days after. Hopefully we can run into Lori if she is working after the cruise! I would prefer going to WDW before the cruise because the cruise is such a great high note to end a trip on, but then again the parks do take some of the edge off the sadness of having to get off (or being forced off) the boat.

I have been super busy with my new job teaching and supervising at my charter school. I totally understand those of you who are going through change right now and feeling a bit stressed about it! Sometimes I feel like I am just keeping my head above the water, sometimes like I am drowning. I am sure it will get better soon. It's just the beginning of the year with ordering curriculum for my families, new curriculum to teach, new paperwork to learn and fill out for the state for each of my families, etc. My first day teaching was a little rough. I went to bed at 2:30 the night before because there was still a lot to prep and plan for the class. I got up at 5:30 to get ready and get to my site about an hour away, met with some families that had to finish last minute enrollment and taught from 8:30-2:30. Cleaned up the room, met with some of the other teachers and more parents and got out of there around 4:00. I had to shop on the way home for my oldest daughter at a dance store on the way home. They don't have one closer to us and I had been promising her for two weeks we'd do it. She has had a growth spurt and has been dancing in tap shoes and a leotard that is way to tight. It's been almost like medieval torture! After we got shoes and a leotard we realized she needed a new bra. She hasn't had a strap leotard before, always one with sleeves so the bra wasn't an issue. Her teacher wants upper level Ballet to have no sleeves so she can see the arm and shoulder movement and correct it better. So now we have to go to the mall on the way home to get a bra that fits her. She has a smaller frame so it is hard to find one and to find a black one for her age/size but black would be the least noticeable with the black strap leotard. After walking around the mall for a while we finally found one at Nordstrom that worked. I was so tired I was getting dizzy and we were all starving. By the time we got home it was 8:00 at night and I walked into my kitchen to see a HUGE ant invasion! They must have started soon after we left in the morning because we had superhighways all around the room, in the trash, and in the pantry! After cleaning them up for an hour I finally made something to eat and then crashed on my bed. Fell asleep with clothes, makeup and all on. My DH would have cleaned up the ants and made dinner for me, he is always so great about just stepping up, but he works until 9-10 on Tuesday nights. I was so out I didn't even hear him come in. The good news is I have awesome families and a great class so I know once I get through all of this, it will be a great year! On top of all of this my photography business has gotten really busy as well. Good, but bad timing!

Needless to say, I am so looking forward to relaxing on the cruise-I hope I can. We seem to go go go just to squeeze every drop of fun out of it.

So Killeybeth-I understand the stress issues-sending some your way.

Mamajojo-I understand your frustration with typing and then having it disappear! I also did that with our "reveal" and I haven't had the strength to do it again! BTW you are a stud for pushing through all your changes like you did to you too!

There have been so many posts since I last posted that I would like to respond to, but for now just a big to us all for being only two weeks away from our cruise! I think we all need a "de-stress" meet somewhere. Jacuzzi? Rainforest? Massage? I am up for it!!

 

[mamajojo]

Ok. Here is my second attempt posting the big reveal. It will not be as detailed at the first one that I wrote but will give you the idea. Let's hope it works this time! I will write it in two parts because it will be long. The first part will be the Disneyworld reveal and the second will be the cruise reveal. We were able to video the whole thing and I took some picture but not as many as I would have liked too. They were running through everything so fast.

Here is a picture of the envelope. It is the first one that I could get a picture of before they ripped it apart

We had everything ready for when the kids when they woke up. We had placed the starter clue on the table under the remote. It said " OPEN ME " . The kids sat down and started eating breakfast and we finally had to tell them to turn on the tv. They then found the clue and were very excited. This is what is it said:

STARTER CLUE:


A surprise you have found,
look for clues all around.
If you both work together,
at the end you'll find treasure.

This is what the clues looked like

This is the kids when they read the starter clue. Brooklyn read it to herself so Bishop did not know what was going on at this point.

They asked what the treasure would be and we told them that they would have to finish the treasure hunt to find out. We then said that when they were finished breakfast they would be able to start looking for clue number one. Bishop took a couple of bites and saw the clue right away ( the plates are see through altough you can't tell from this picture. ) Clue number one was hidden under Brooklyn's plate and clue number two was hidden under Bishop's.


CLUE NUMBER ONE:

You have found the first clue,
and a couple of letters.
When you come to the end,
you will put them together.


There was a couple of letters in each envelope. They had to collect them all and spell out some words at the end



CLUE NUMBER TWO (under Bishop's plate):


Now head to the stairs,
the ones that go down.
There you will find,
what needs to be found.


They ran to the stairs and Tony had built a track that ran from the top of the stairs to the bottom. At the beggining of the track was a hulk car (representing Universal and Islands of Adventure) with a card that said " Push me." The kids pushed the car and it flew down the stairs with their next clue attached to the back of it by a string.

They opened up the next clue and found this


CLUE NUMBER THREE:

Now for the next clue to be found,
you want to finish going down.
Don't be silly, don't be a goof,
look up and find, your clue on the roof.

When they went into the basement there was a string attached to the ceiling. When they pulled the string a clown nose (representing Cirque) came down along with clue number four.


CLUE NUMBER FOUR:


There is a place that spins round and round,
this is where the next clue is found.
As tricky to you as this may seem,
this is where our clothes get clean

They ran to the washing machine and found a car and a map (representing the drive down) and clue number five


Clue number five


This is where Daddy's tools are kept,
In the winter your bikes have also slept.
Don't be nervous, nothing to fear,
Daddy also works out in here.

We have made part of the garage into a workout room. In here they found a globe ( representing Planet Hollywood) and the next clue

CLUE NUMBER SIX:


The two of you are good at this,
working together, nothing will be missed.
Go to the living room and there you will see,
If you can find what's in the tree.


We have a really big plant in the living room. On the dirt in the pot I had placed all kids of animals (representing AKL) and clue number seven.


CLUE NUMBER SEVEN:

Next is a place where you lay your head,
Is it a car or is it a bed?
Bishop is the one that knows,
Since this is the room that he has chose.


Bishop has a car bed. In his room.

Here they found a dinosaur ( representing T-Rex) and the next clue

CLUE NUMBER EIGHT:


Next is a place that is purple and frilly,
Pull up the blankets, so you don't get chilly.
This is the spot Brooklyn lays down her head,
Upon her pretty princess bed.


In Brooklyn's room they found a halloween decoration (representing MNSSHP)
and clue number nine.


CLUE NUMBER NINE

There is another spot you will find,
it's the place where we have our sleepy time,
Mommy and Daddy share this place,
It also holds a pillow case

To settle the kids down, about an hour before the kids go to bed, we all pile in our bed and read stories and talk about our day. They call it sleepy time. Here they found a mask that we had bought when we in New Orleans
( representing POR. We are staying there for a night ) and the next clue.


CLUE NUMBER TEN:


You have both done very well,
Now put letters together and see what they spell,
When you are done doing that,
The computer is where you treasure is at!

They put all of the letters together and this is what is said:

They then ran down to the computer and Tony had made an amazing power point presentation. Each screen also represented thing that we will be doing and said stuff like "for adventure..." "for high flying acts " etc

This was the first screen:

This was the last:

As all of the characters stared popping out, "When You Wish Upon A Star" started playing. Their mouths dropped open. After we told them when we were going (they thought that we were leaving right away) and talked for a couple of minutes, we took them upstairs to look at the scrap book that I had made, to show them everything that we are going to do at DW. On the very last page was................ CLUE NUMBER ELEVEN

 

[gvivanco]

I can't believe the cruise is almost here! I am also going through stages of excitement and panic that I am not even close to ready! Yea for those of you leaving soon for a WDW trip also! We are going to go for a few days after. Hopefully we can run into Lori if she is working after the cruise! I would prefer going to WDW before the cruise because the cruise is such a great high note to end a trip on, but then again the parks do take some of the edge off the sadness of having to get off (or being forced off) the boat.

I have been super busy with my new job teaching and supervising at my charter school. I totally understand those of you who are going through change right now and feeling a bit stressed about it! Sometimes I feel like I am just keeping my head above the water, sometimes like I am drowning. I am sure it will get better soon. It's just the beginning of the year with ordering curriculum for my families, new curriculum to teach, new paperwork to learn and fill out for the state for each of my families, etc. My first day teaching was a little rough. I went to bed at 2:30 the night before because there was still a lot to prep and plan for the class. I got up at 5:30 to get ready and get to my site about an hour away, met with some families that had to finish last minute enrollment and taught from 8:30-2:30. Cleaned up the room, met with some of the other teachers and more parents and got out of there around 4:00. I had to shop on the way home for my oldest daughter at a dance store on the way home. They don't have one closer to us and I had been promising her for two weeks we'd do it. She has had a growth spurt and has been dancing in tap shoes and a leotard that is way to tight. It's been almost like medieval torture! After we got shoes and a leotard we realized she needed a new bra. She hasn't had a strap leotard before, always one with sleeves so the bra wasn't an issue. Her teacher wants upper level Ballet to have no sleeves so she can see the arm and shoulder movement and correct it better. So now we have to go to the mall on the way home to get a bra that fits her. She has a smaller frame so it is hard to find one and to find a black one for her age/size but black would be the least noticeable with the black strap leotard. After walking around the mall for a while we finally found one at Nordstrom that worked. I was so tired I was getting dizzy and we were all starving. By the time we got home it was 8:00 at night and I walked into my kitchen to see a HUGE ant invasion! They must have started soon after we left in the morning because we had superhighways all around the room, in the trash, and in the pantry! After cleaning them up for an hour I finally made something to eat and then crashed on my bed. Fell asleep with clothes, makeup and all on. My DH would have cleaned up the ants and made dinner for me, he is always so great about just stepping up, but he works until 9-10 on Tuesday nights. I was so out I didn't even hear him come in. The good news is I have awesome families and a great class so I know once I get through all of this, it will be a great year! On top of all of this my photography business has gotten really busy as well. Good, but bad timing!

Needless to say, I am so looking forward to relaxing on the cruise-I hope I can. We seem to go go go just to squeeze every drop of fun out of it.

So Killeybeth-I understand the stress issues-sending some your way.

Mamajojo-I understand your frustration with typing and then having it disappear! I also did that with our "reveal" and I haven't had the strength to do it again! BTW you are a stud for pushing through all your changes like you did to you too!

There have been so many posts since I last posted that I would like to respond to, but for now just a big to us all for being only two weeks away from our cruise! I think we all need a "de-stress" meet somewhere. Jacuzzi? Rainforest? Massage? I am up for it!!

Wow - Carol - what a day!! Yikes!! I hate bugs! That would have been a nightmare for me! You're a trooper!! I know it will get better!

 

[LoriS]

Carol, you certainly had quite the day. I am with you on relaxing on the cruise.

Jody, WOW, what a great reveal story, I can't wait to read part 2.

 

[gvivanco]

Jody - Wow - what a story! I can't believe how much time and effort you had to put into that! That is truly amazing!

 

[mamajojo]

Thanks! It did take a long time to plan but that's waht I love to do. I do stuff like this all of the time for them. We are always planning little trips and surprises for them. This is a picture of Bishop getting his tickets to go see the Toronto Maple leafs play.

Tony also does stuff like this for me all of the time as well. You should see some of the surprises that he has pulled off !!!

 

[so_oregon]

Jody.....

made me cry. What a great memory for the kids.

 

[mamajojo]

So after we read the scrap book they found clue number eleven.


CLUE NUMBER ELEVEN:

I bet you thought that you were done,
Well guess what? We have lots more fun.
A map will now be given to you,
See if you can find the clue.

They were given this map and they went outside to their sandbox to dig up their clue. They found a treasure box with this inside....ouest is WEST in French (which the kids speak).

They also found another clue.

CLUE NUMBER TWELVE:

The next place that you need to look,
is in the spot we use to cook.
It's black and built into the wall,
and makes yummy food for us all.

We have a built in oven. They found clue number thirteen and a picture of Dora ( representing Cozumel )

ClUE NUMBER THIRTEEN:

This is it, you're almost done!
Hasn't it been so much fun?
You will find your treasure soon,
If you look in the downstairs bathroom

In the bathroom they found one more clue and a picture


CLUE NUMBER FOURTEEN:

Since wishes really do come true,
There is one more clue for you.
Open the front door for your surprise,
I bet you won't believe your eyes!

When they opened the door there were two boxes that I bought at the Disney store. They had balloons attached to them. Brooklyn's balloons were pink and said " princess" and Bishop's were blue and said "Prince". On top of the box was their last clue

CLUE FIFTEEN:

Bring your treasure back inside,
before you open the lid up wide.
For all that you are and all that you do,
Mommy and Daddy really love you!

THANKS FOR BEING SUCH GREAT KIDS!!!

After they opened up the last clue, they opened up the box. The balloons flew up and on the sting was a silver envelope with their name stenciled in black letters. The box was also filled with presents. It's hard to see in these pictures but it did work well

In the envelop was an invitation ( that I got off of the creative board) for them to cruise. I printed it on photo paper.

And that's the end of the big reveal!!