11 days to go! I can almost taste single digits!
We’re getting so close, so I’ll update you on some happenings around here (good and not so good), and give you all the rundown on day seven of our trip!
I truthfully haven’t been doing too much to get ready, I’m a terrible slacker. No packing has been done to date, but I did make a target run and picked up just about everything we need. Now its just putting it all in the suitcase.
I still don’t have a new stroller, and if I can’t get my hands on it next week, I’m just going to bring my full sized stroller. It may be bigger, but it is easier to push one handed, and that will be important when I’m trying to control Everett and not take out any tourists.
I also have one more shot at practicing sleeping in a hotel before vacation! We’re leaving today to go spend the weekend up in New Hampshire. There is a memorial 5K walk/run in honor of Karolina (my brother’s finacee who passed away last summer from a brain aneurism) and we are going up to participate. My mom, Everett and I will be at the hotel (my dad will be staying with my brother so he can be part of “guys night” poker), and we’re going to give it another shot. We’re going to bring our bedrails, and put Everett on a rollaway and see if he does any better. The plan at Disney is to put Everett on the daybed in the Contemporary, so I think this is a pretty close approximation. Please cross your fingers that it goes OK, and that Everett sleeps like a baby.
There have also been some really challenging things going on at home, and I feel like you guys are friends and that this is a safe place to discuss my frustration, so here goes.
I knew that this deployment and living at home would be challenging, and I knew that the most challenging aspect would be dealing with my inlaws. They are difficult people and quite frankly, have not been very nice to me in the past.
While I was visiting with them this past week, they told me that they were going to crash the April vacation with my family, so that they could take DH away in the mornings to spend one-on-one time with him (what kind of crazy statement is that anyway!).
When I told them that that wouldn’t work for us, (I think DH is going to want to spend his time with his kids and wife, thanks), and that we would work out another time for a visit, my MiL flipped out and went on a screaming tirade about how I can’t keep Dh away from her and then on a whole tangent about how she never gets to spend time with DS.
This was completely unacceptable for many reasons, first of all it was completely disrespectful towards me, but this isn’t the first time I’ve dealt with her verbal abuse.
Also, I’ve been making sure that they get plenty of time to visit with DS. I’ve made sure that we’ve been over for dinner every week since we’ve been home, and every weekend that there hasn’t been a conflict, we’ve gone to the children’s museum, to the park and to a local festival.
Also last week DS started a kiddie sports class that I signed him up with my FIL, so we will be seeing them at least twice a week all through the fall. I have done all the planning, not once have they asked to see him or suggested any activities. On top of all that when I do try and make plans they are very wishy-washy, telling me that ‘we’ll see” or “we’ll have to get back to you”, hardly the response of someone dying to spend more time with their grandson.
The fact that they called the time we do spend together “nothing” hardly makes me want to put any more effort into it. I always appreciate when people take time out to visit me, when my friends stop by I thank them, when my brother visits me and Everett I let him know how much it means to me. I guess I shouldn’t expect that same level of common courtesy from them. On top of that, twice a week visits are a lot of time together, I don’t know anyone else who spends that much time with their in-laws. I know that if I lived alone with DS, I wouldn’t see my parents any more often (and probably less!).
I know they are the type of people who only concentrate on the negative and will never be happy, but screaming at me is completely unacceptable, and if they do it again, I’m not going to be seeing them.
I have been putting the effort in because I know that its good for Everett to have a relationship with his grandparents, but it is not good for Everett to see someone treating his mother with such rudeness and contempt. He needs to know that it is not acceptable behavior.
Dh is really angry right now, and is at a loss to explain his parents behavior. He feels terrible that I have to deal with this alone. I am very thankful to know I have his full support but I just wish he wasn’t so far away.
Needless to say, I really need this vacation- so lets go on to Day 7.
Oct 1st
This is another day I don’t have a ton of concrete plans. A lot of what I’m going to do depends on what Disney had planned for the day. They’ve been pretty mum about it, but I’m hoping for at least a re-dedication ceremony.
No matter what I plan on being at the gates very early, like 5am-ish because I want to be sure to get some of the limited edition merchandise. I don’t know how crowded it will be since the big event will be the day before, but I’d still rather be safe than sorry.
I’m going to be going solo this morning, letting my mom and Everett sleep in and then meeting up with me at Epcot later.
Really what I want to do this day is all of the “classic” attractions, or ones that somewhat resemble the attractions of the golden age of Epcot. Spaceship earth,
living with the land,
This is the extent of my Land photos!
Universe of Energy,
the movies in France
This is close-ish to where the movie is- right!
and China,
Malestrom (with the movie!).
Its sad that those are pretty much it.
I don’t have any ADRs planned, which means more time at F&W, I’ll probably try and visit my favorite booths one last time since this will be the last full day of our vacation.
That evening I have some very exciting plans for Illuminations. I’ll be joining my friend Shane and his Comminicore online peeps for a dessert party. We’re going to have a great place to view the show and (hopefully) a special 30th anniversary tag!
After that we’ll head out, I’ll finish up packing, because the next day we’ll be heading home- boo!
I just hope that your Saratoga trip was indeed a fluke.
I'm feeling a lot of mommy guilt lately about everything I've put the poor guy through, and worrying that I'm turning his brain to mush through too much screen time is just part of that. I think I need to chill out! 
There is nothing you can do though, and staying home won't change that! Ugh. IDK what to say about the ipad in restaurants, we haven't yet had to do that, but I can totally see how wonderful they will be to have. And what works, works, and don't worry what others are thinking. Cute about Everett behaving so well at the restaurant - don't you just love that feeling!!! Especially when you have been THOSE parents with the ill behaved child Hahahhaa
