A Host of Hokies Head Back to the World!!!

[PrincessAmongPrinces]

Those ADR's sound yummy! And the Epcot passports sound really neat!

September is just around the corner!!

 

[SideshowBob]

Hope that you have a fantastic time whilst here!

Originally from Charleston area (and attended C of C) and Hokie fan so caught my eye.

Looks like you have a great itinerary planned out!

 

[kokotg]

Subscribing....we'll be there the same week as you!

LOVE the countdown calendar

 

[mickeygirl14]

Those ADR's sound yummy! And the Epcot passports sound really neat!

September is just around the corner!!

Thanks - I'm really excited about the passports. It's something new for the kids this year and I'm hoping that it will help them enjoy the WS as much as DH and I do. And yes - SEPTEMBER IS ALMOST HERE and then we're off!!!

Hope that you have a fantastic time whilst here!

Originally from Charleston area (and attended C of C) and Hokie fan so caught my eye.

Looks like you have a great itinerary planned out!

Thanks - and welcome, SideshowBob! Glad to meet another Chucktown and Hokie fan! Do you get back to the area often? It's funny, DS likes to "boo" all of the Clemson and Gamecock stickers on the back of other peoples' cars. I don't know where he could've gotten that from.

Subscribing....we'll be there the same week as you!

LOVE the countdown calendar

Yeah, kokotg! I love going in September...I'm going to miss it next year. I don't think we can get away pulling the kids out of school much longer. But the weather's not bad (assuming of course, that you're able to avoid the hurricanes), the crowds are so manageable, and you can't beat value season! And thanks - the kids are loving the countdown...they look forward to it every day. I actually got to sleep in a bit on Saturday and it was so cute. They waited until I got up to do their trivia question! DH said they were about to lose their minds! I'll have my LGMH on my bag, so if you see one, say hello!

 

[RooRach0906]

Joining In. Can't wait to hear more of your plans!
The Hokie thing caught my eye since I live in Va.

 

[mickeygirl14]

Joining In. Can't wait to hear more of your plans!
The Hokie thing caught my eye since I live in Va.

Welcome, RooRach0906! Just got back this weekend from a visit home to Virginia (southwest VA). That drive does make me a bit homesick...

So, we're 10 days out today! Did online check-in this morning. The kids are still enjoying their trivia questions...funny to watch in the mornings. Some days the questions are pretty easy and they roll their eyes at me and then others they are a lot harder and even DH is stumped!

I haven't had any luck trying to get earlier ADRs for Crystal Palace on our last morning. I'll keep trying, but 9:15 isn't bad. But I really would LOVE to get one well before park opening, like we usually do. That'll teach me to try to buck tradition!

Haven't started packing yet...which is unusual for me. This time last year, I had our bags packed and ready to go. I swear all the sports and after-school stuff is wearing me out. And homework seems to have doubled this year. It's gone from taking about 30 minutes to almost an hour and a half some nights.

Definitely ready for our trip - can't wait for these last 10 days to fly by!

 

[mickeygirl14]

So - today marks an important day...

The SINGLE-DIGIT DANCE DAY!!!!!


So excited! And so much to do! I've got to get the kids goody bags made and ready, gotta get laundry done and get everyone packed, got to pack my park bag and trying to decide if we want to finally break down and buy a GPS for my van. I've resisted until now - saying I could always use the maps on my phone if I was stuck somewhere. Well, driving to Virginia this past weekend (LABOR DAY WEEKEND!), I was stuck in quite a bit of traffic. My phone GPS doesn't have that cool "Reroute" feature to route me around traffic. Thinking that might be nice to have on our trip. But I have no idea what to look for or which ones are any good...so if you have any thoughts, I'd love to hear them!

On another note, had a rough day yesterday. Jack seems to be struggling with school this year - his teacher says it's attention problems. In talking to/fussing at Jack yesterday about not paying attention, he eyes start to get teary and he tells me that his friends work faster than he does and his teacher is going too fast for him. Some background - Jack has apraxia - which is a motor-neurological disorder and it manifests itself in his speech and fine motor skills. To look at him today, even to talk to him for a bit, you'd think he's a normal little boy. But he's not. He struggles with things that most kids just can do naturally and things take him longer because he has to be deliberate about them - like holding a pencil, forming letters, letter placement, holding scissors, (yes, I know some wonder, how can you hold scissors wrong - you'd be surprised at the convoluted position he held his hand to cut) etc. And he has trouble processing multi-step directions/commands. He's in speech therapy and occupational therapy. The problem is that he is a SMART little boy and he WANTS to learn. But now, he's starting to be self-conscious about the fact that he's a little different and struggles with things that are so easy for the other kids. So, he's beginning to not want to go to school, he's getting frustrated and his teacher is giving him silent lunch and taking away part of his recess because his work isn't finished and because he's not paying attention. And I know part of it is him not paying attention/following directions, but I also know that a bigger part of it is his not understanding and being able to process the directions or work fast enough. Breaks my heart. And I don't know what to do...going in to meet with his teacher for the 2nd time in 3 weeks of school. Please just send my little man some , and prayers and hopefully we can get him on track this year.

 

[RooRach0906]

Horray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to the single digits!!!!! I personally like the Mallegean Roadmate because you can look up resturants, gas stations, and etc that are nearby without having to cancel your route. (not all do that)

I will be sending thoughts and prayers for your little boy.

 

[mickeygirl14]

Horray!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! to the single digits!!!!! I personally like the Mallegean Roadmate because you can look up resturants, gas stations, and etc that are nearby without having to cancel your route. (not all do that)

I will be sending thoughts and prayers for your little boy.

Thanks, RooRach0906...the thoughts and prayers are appreciated. I'm really stressed about this right now, and now our Disney trip and missing a week of school is stressing me. I sent an email to the principal asking for a meeting to sit down and discuss his IEP and whether or not moving him to a different class would be a better fit. So, let's keep our fingers crossed that we can get it worked out.

 

[kokotg]

Aww, I'm sorry he's having a hard time! My eight year old has some focus issues, too. I hope you and the school can come up with some good ways to help him. And, who knows? maybe a week away from the stress of school will be a good thing and he'll come back ready to get a fresh start.

And hooray for being so close!!!!

 

[PrincessAmongPrinces]

I'm so sorry to hear that Jack is struggling at school. I know as a Mother, that has to be so heartbreaking to watch. I'm glad to hear that you have a meeting scheduled, you're his greatest advocate! Hopefully this meeting will bring about a solution that will help your little man the most!

And -- HOORAY FOR SINGLE DIGITS!!!!!

 

[mickeygirl14]

Thanks, kokotg and PrincessAmongPrinces. It is hard to watch your child struggle with anything, and its been a long road for Jack with lots of intensive therapy. Saying lots of prayers at this point that everyone can put aside egos, red tape and politics and focus on doing what's best for Jack. Thinking Disney is going to be a great escape from all of this for a little bit anyway. Down to under a week!!! This time next week, we'll be in the happiest place on earth!

 

[mickeygirl14]

Well - down to 2 more sleeps and then we'll be on the road! So excited...I've been packing and getting everything together and ready for Saturday. And for the first time, I made t-shirts for us! Can't wait to surprise the kids with them and have at least one day that we all match for pictures. I love the DISigners! Took some advice from the boards and used the transfer sheets from amymickey.com and they worked great! So easy to do and they look really cute.

Got a picture from my brother today...my niece was with the Cat in the Hat at IOA. Sounds like they're having a great time. I can't wait to hear all about my sister-in-law's impressions of WWOHP...she's as die-hard a fan as I am.

Some of the very stressful issues with Jack and school seem to be at least beginning to work themselves out. Which I'm very thankful for. But I'm still very upset with the way it has all been handled on our principal's part. I feel that it's taken me sounding alarms to get a response and that shouldn't happen. I feel like he isn't looking out for what's best for my child and he's not supporting his teacher either. I don't get it. Very frustrating...but I'm hoping that a meeting when we get back will help us all get on the same page.

Almost to the point of counting HOURS at this point instead of days so I'm starting to get that "Christmas Eve" feeling...where you're so excited with anticipation that you just don't think you're going to be able to stand it!