A little of this, a little of that, WDW US IOA SeaWorld Legoland Oct 12 PTR

[oboedm]

love the Pizza Planet logos on the delievery boxes! Such a good idea! Do you come up with all these ideas youself? or do you use DIS information/Google searches?

 

[Chelley00]

Thanks everyone, for the compliments on all the movie nights. The kids are really enjoying (even the bigger boys, but they'd never admit it!

I've been totally slacking on the Disney obsessing right now because we are SO busy with everything else. DS16 was in a travel soccer league and there were a lot of out of town games towards the end. DD and little DS are in karate 3 days a week. Throw in work, youth group, getting DS16 everything he needs for his mission trip to Belize next week, researching places to go for our anniversary trip, getting DS19 ready to leave for college in August getting ready for our yard sale last weekend (which was awful because the main road to our addition is closed and no one drives past our main entrance right now) and everything else going on in just regular life, and it's been pretty crazy here.

Here's our week this week....and when you read this, you'll see DH's name is missing from everything. His plant chose this week to force a bunch of overtime

Today: drop DS16 off at the high school for soccer at 8am, taking DS7 with me and leaving a feverish DD home with DS19. Drive 20 minutes, pick up work bag at bank, drive to work, take DS7 in for VBS, work, pick up DS at 12, drive 20 minutes back to high school to pick up DS16, grab lunch because we have no food because we had community yard sale Saturday instead of grocery shopping, home to take care of DD, straighten house and do laundry, make dinner etc. This is the first time I've actually sat down all day, after no sleep last night listening to poor miserable DD

Tomorrow: Take 3 youngest kids to work with me. Send DS16 to work VBS and the little ones in for VBS (unless DD is still running this temp, which hasn't broken yet, then she'll lay in my office with the door closed watching movies) Right after VBS take DS16 to license branch for written test to get his license Leave directly from there to take him to travel club tryouts. Home to make dinner, do dishes and then take DD to tryouts if she's feeling better, and take little DS to karate

Wednesday: little kids to VBS (possibly take DS to soccer if big brother needs their car) work, home from VBS, DS to tryouts, then to the chiropractor. Oldest DS will have to take DD to tryouts so DS and I can go to his final mission trip meeting.

Thursday: little kids and DS16 to VBS, work, home from VBS (sending youngest DS on a playdate) and packing DS for his mission trip and the smallest 2 kids for grandma and grandpas, then take little kids to karate.

Friday: clean house as oldest DS's girlfriend, mother and best friend are coming down. Both older boys and girlfriend and her friend are going to a concert. Take DS16 to chiropractor. I'll visit with girlfriends mom and pack for DH and I in the evening.

Saturday morning: leave at 6:30am to drive 20 minutes to meet mission team, then drive 3 of them to the airport (25 minutes back) Take DD and little DS to ILs and then DH and I are headed out of town kidfree for our anniversary If I survive the week, that is.

 

[DrMomof3]

That's quite a week! When are you going to eat, sleep, and breathe?
I think you'll need a Disney trip after that!

Amanda

 

[silverhaze269]

Wow, what a week! I agree with the PP...you will need a Disney vacation after that!

Love the green alien cupcakes! So cute!

 

[lbuzz52]

Mulan was our theme for last night. I was super excited because it meant Chinese takeout and no cooking for me!


I found fortune puzzles at the Dollar Tree in Chinese take out containers, so the kids each got one.

DD

DS

DS's fortune

DDs

We ordered lots of little sized things so we could have a buffet. We had Arizona green tea with ginseng as a drink. Is it sad that everyone used the chopsticks for dinner (including the 7 year old) but I didn't. I'm not chopstick proficient.

Those little puzzles are really neat!

i can't use chopsticks either- well, i can get the food to my mouth, but i don't use proper technique, so i never do it in public with anything besides sushi. that's big enough i don't have to pinch properly LOL


love the green cupcakes for TS too!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

Yikes, those are some crazy plans...way too busy IMHO...remember to take care of yourself...none of this gets done unless Mom is up to it all....hope it all goes well for you...

BTW, loved those alien cupcakes...too cute!!

 

[Chelley00]

Tonight was Dumbo night at our house. DS7 was so happy to hear it was movie night again. Since DH and I were gone last weekend, we skipped a week and he really missed it. I don't know what he's going to do when we get back from our Disney trip and don't do movie nights anymore!

Clown Minnie

Table

If I see an elephant fly

Table settings

Menu and activity sheet

buffet line (we had some standard circus fair: hot dogs, popcorn, fruit, veggies, peanuts, animal crackers and cupcakes for dessert and lemon shake ups to drink)

fruit and veggie clowns

Peanuts and animal crackers

Big Top cupcakes

Activity #1, bean bag toss

Activity #2 pin the nose on the clown

This little brat was cheating. She could see and didn't tell us, and then we noticed she got a direct bullseye.

Next week is either Bugs Life, Cars or Princess and the Frog.

 

[PixieMama]

While I am usually not a fan of clowns, this Disney night is too cute!

 

[Chelley00]

That's quite a week! When are you going to eat, sleep, and breathe?

I didn't eat sleep or breathe. It was crazy!

Wow, what a week! I agree with the PP...you will need a Disney vacation after that! !

I wish we could have taken a Disney trip last week to recover. We did get out of town at least thought

i can't use chopsticks either- well, i can get the food to my mouth, but i don't use proper technique, so i never do it in public with anything besides sushi. that's big enough i don't have to pinch properly LOL

DS7 can eat fried rice with chopsticks. I don't even try.

Yikes, those are some crazy plans...way too busy IMHO...remember to take care of yourself...none of this gets done unless Mom is up to it all....hope it all goes well for you...!

Thank you. We made it.



So our last week was stupid crazy. Friday night ILs picked up the littlest 2 kids and took them to their house. Saturday morning early DS16 boarded a plane for his mission trip to Belize and DH and I took off for a 2 night stay at a cabin out of town. It's near a small artist colony with lots of shops and studios, however, we only made it into town twice....once to shop for an hour and once to have dinner.

Our first stop was a local winery that sells bread, cheese, sausage etc and has local restaurants bring in vendor carts to sell lunches. They'll open a bottle of wine and provide paper goods for picnics.

Next we drove to the college town to scope out DS's dorm for next year, then headed to check into the cabin

We had 2 stories...the bottom level had porch swings, spare bed, pool table and pinball machine. The top floor had 2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, bathroom, and deck with hot tub, table and grill.

View of sunset from the hot tub

It was nice to get away. The place was so quiet. We loved it so much we extended our stay one more night

DS16 has safely returned from Belize and is now full force into soccer, the little kids just promoted in karate, and now I'm ready to get back to planning for our trip (yay)

The first thing I have to deal with is work

I'm the accountant for a large local church. Before when I left for vacation, a retired bookkeeper would come in and volunteer her time to take over the things that can't be left undone (deposits, payroll etc) Most of my job can sit and I can just catch up when I get back, but some has to be done. Unfortunately, my volunteer died in March after battling sweat gland/breast cancer. At this point, I haven't found anyone skilled enough that has the time to come in and do my job. The office manager can do the deposit, but I hate to unload my job on her, especially for 2 weeks.

So I need to find someone ASAP, or I may have to shorten our trip a little so I can be back to work

 

[Chelley00]

My trip to-do list so far:

1. Buy Universal tickets
2. cancel any extra ADRs
3. make autograph books
4. Make tshirts? (I usually make at least one day matching shirts)
5. Pirate costumes for family MNSSHP
6. Costumes for first MNSSHP??
7. Place grocery order
8. Fill out passporter pockets
9. make Epcot passports?
10. make travel days reservations
11. Contact special diets, add allergies to reservations
12. Call WBC with room view request
13. Preorder photopass plus

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

That looks like a lovely weekend getaway! You gotta recharge once in awhile!

Good luck getting someone to fill in for you....it's gotta be hard to have a job where so many people rely on you. I work with tons of people and am able to take my vacations without worrying about someone filling in....I can't imagine what that kind of pressure would feel like..so good luck!!!

 

[silverhaze269]

I just love reading about your movie nights

Your little get away sounds wonderful! It makes me wish I had something like that planned

 

[lbuzz52]

I just love reading about your movie nights

Your little get away sounds wonderful! It makes me wish I had something like that planned

me too!!!!!!

 

[Chelley00]

Good luck getting someone to fill in for you....it's gotta be hard to have a job where so many people rely on you. I work with tons of people and am able to take my vacations without worrying about someone filling in....I can't imagine what that kind of pressure would feel like..so good luck!!!

It's really not bad, other than that one deposit a week. After that it just piles up and I catch up as I can.

Your little get away sounds wonderful! It makes me wish I had something like that planned

You should. We try and do at least one night away for our anniversary each year. It's honestly the only time we see each other

me too!!!!!!

Okay, that's it. Everyone needs to go plan a night away with their significant other right now. Maybe I'll plan another. I'm sure my ILs/babysitters and budget will love it.



So, it's been quite the crappy week here. The littlest ones were being such turkeys that I made DD go to work with me Wednesday and literally do my job. I thought if she had to see what I do to make things possible for her to have a nice life, she might appreciate them a little more. Not sure it worked, but she was "me" for 2 whole hours and thought she was going to die P

The teen's car died ($630) and then our garage door spring snapped ($169) Get all of those things taken care, and woke up yesterday morning with a 101.6 degree temp, which has gotten as high as 102.2 today. (something going around work)

Today the icing on the cake: State Farm is opting not to renew our home owners insurance because of a house fire in August.

The bright side is my 2 youngest went to my ILs for the night to play, the bigger 2 went to their bio dad's family for a pre-4th party, and DH has to work all weekend. I'm going to be here mostly alone, with chick flicks, ice cream, Tylenol, a bottle of wine left from our anniversary weekend and my big fluffy blanket.

I totally need the Disney trip, but it just seems like it's getting farther away, harder to pay for and more complicated than it should

 

[silverhaze269]

So, it's been quite the crappy week here. The littlest ones were being such turkeys that I made DD go to work with me Wednesday and literally do my job. I thought if she had to see what I do to make things possible for her to have a nice life, she might appreciate them a little more. Not sure it worked, but she was "me" for 2 whole hours and thought she was going to die P

The teen's car died ($630) and then our garage door spring snapped ($169) Get all of those things taken care, and woke up yesterday morning with a 101.6 degree temp, which has gotten as high as 102.2 today. (something going around work)

Today the icing on the cake: State Farm is opting not to renew our home owners insurance because of a house fire in August.

The bright side is my 2 youngest went to my ILs for the night to play, the bigger 2 went to their bio dad's family for a pre-4th party, and DH has to work all weekend. I'm going to be here mostly alone, with chick flicks, ice cream, Tylenol, a bottle of wine left from our anniversary weekend and my big fluffy blanket.

I totally need the Disney trip, but it just seems like it's getting farther away, harder to pay for and more complicated than it should

I hope you're feeling better soon! And that things are looking up soon too! I feel that a is needed in addition to .

 

[oboedm]

Argh! What frustrating complications. I hope that you feel the Disney trip is back on the "fun" list soon and not the stressful one! Having to take money from the Disney fund to pay for life is no fun!

I love that you took your DD to work with you! That is hysterical. Hopefully she appreciates what you do!

 

[ash-n-brensmom]

So, it's been quite the crappy week here. The littlest ones were being such turkeys that I made DD go to work with me Wednesday and literally do my job. I thought if she had to see what I do to make things possible for her to have a nice life, she might appreciate them a little more. Not sure it worked, but she was "me" for 2 whole hours and thought she was going to die P

The teen's car died ($630) and then our garage door spring snapped ($169) Get all of those things taken care, and woke up yesterday morning with a 101.6 degree temp, which has gotten as high as 102.2 today. (something going around work)

Today the icing on the cake: State Farm is opting not to renew our home owners insurance because of a house fire in August.

The bright side is my 2 youngest went to my ILs for the night to play, the bigger 2 went to their bio dad's family for a pre-4th party, and DH has to work all weekend. I'm going to be here mostly alone, with chick flicks, ice cream, Tylenol, a bottle of wine left from our anniversary weekend and my big fluffy blanket.

I totally need the Disney trip, but it just seems like it's getting farther away, harder to pay for and more complicated than it should

Yikes! And I thought I had a bad week!! You definitely need one of these!!

I hope that everything works out. DH and I were afraid to make a claim on our home owner's insurance last year because of a wind storm that somehow cracked our skylight. We have state farm too, in Canada though. When we asked about possibly being dropped after she asked if we had ever had a claim, which we hadn't and she said, well that's what your insurance is for. So we went ahead...so far so good, although now I need to make a claim on my car insurance, same company...wonder what's gonna happen then? It sucks that you pay for soooooo many years and when you collect on that service that you have already paid for, they drop you like a hot potato. I think that should be illegal!

Good luck, and here is some hopefully it will help!!

 

[PixieMama]

Hope this week is a better one for you!

 

[Chelley00]

I hope you're feeling better soon! And that things are looking up soon too! I feel that a is needed in addition to .

Thank you. I could use the hug

Argh! What frustrating complications. I hope that you feel the Disney trip is back on the "fun" list soon and not the stressful one! Having to take money from the Disney fund to pay for life is no fun!

thankfully we haven't had to take money from vacation fund yet, but if things keep going........

It sucks that you pay for soooooo many years and when you collect on that service that you have already paid for, they drop you like a hot potato. I think that should be illegal!

You sound like my husband. He's so livid. My ILs have been with our insurance agent since 1968, and DH has had every car/house/motorcycle insured there since he started driving.

Hope this week is a better one for you!

Oh, me too!



My weekend was unbelievably quiet. The 2 younger ones were at ILs, the big ones at their bio dad's family, DH was working, and I took turns napping, watching movies, napping, eating and napping. So pathetic. I only left the couch to go to bed. I was too lazy to even get up and find the wine!

I did spend some time on Pinterest, pinning recipes for Movie Nights and a few things to my Orlando trip board (travel games, crafts etc) http://pinterest.com/shellodyb/orlando-trip-stuff/ I'll have some time this weekend to start putting things together for our trip.

It's about time for me to start freaking out. We are quickly coming up on double digits.

 

[DrMomof3]

I'm sorry for all of your stress! We've had a similar time in the last few months with unexpected expenses which may end up costing us our August trip. (Although we just had a great trip so I can't complain at all). You have lots of hugs and sympathy from me!

Amanda