We're getting really close now, its a little over two weeks until the trip!
I can't believe that we're getting close to the single digit dance, mostly because of all the stuff I still have left to do before we leave!
I have made no progress on packing.
It has been usually warm here in CT, so we are still wearing our shorts, so I'm using that as my excuse.
Tonight I will go over my packing list to make sure it is current and updated, and then I will start the long, hard, slog of getting things together.
Wouldn't it be nice if Disney magic could make it work that you just showed up, and then magically everything you need would already be in your hotel room. That would be some powerful pixie dust!
I also still don't have a stroller. The place nearest my house that sells them still has them on backorder. I am going to visit a friend who lives across the state on Sunday, and there is an Uppababy retailer in her town, so if they are open on Sunday (I'm going to be sure to call first, I've learned my lesson!
), I'll go check it out.
I also wanted to give you guys a quick recap of our adventures in Sartoga Springs. Overall it was a good trip, but there were some happenings that make me a little wary about our upcoming trip. My parents new horse did not run, so that was a little letdown, but I think it was for the best (for the horse and Everett!)
Also I forgot my camera, so I pretty much don't have any pictures. This leads me to another purchase I might have to make before I leave on my trip. You see, when DH deployed, he took my point and shoot digital camera with him. He does have his own, but it is over 10 years old, really bulky and doesn't take great photos. So I told him to take mine instead.
This leaves me with our our digital SLR camera, but it is big and cumbersome, and while it does take great photos, I'm not sure how practical it will be for this Disney trip. Its going to be tough to wrangle Everett, the stroller and the diaper bag, let along a large, fragile, expensive camera. I'm seriously considering getting myself a new point and shoot, that way DH can keep my old one, I'll have a new one, and we can retire the dinosaur.
Now I just need to add researching and buying a new camera to my to-do list!
Well onto Saratoga!
We got up there on Saturday afternoon, with the plan being that Everett napped in the car on the way up. Well, that didn't work.
He still was in a surprisingly good mood, and we walked into downtown, shopped a little, and then went on to Congress Park and walked around and rode the Carousel. We then had dinner fairly early and despite everything, Everett was pretty good. There was another family seated next to us with two little girls, and they were having some serious issues. I can COMPLETELY sympathize, but I'll admit, it was nice, for once, not to have the worst behaved kid in the restaurant.
We did have the Ipad, and Everett nicely sat (in a REAL chair- no highchair!) and watched Dinosaur train and ate his food.
On Sunday we ran into some real problems at breakfast. We took him to the buffet, and since I knew there would be no waiting for food, I didn't take the ipad. I took some cars, and his new magnetic book, but that apparently wasn't enough. He was terrible at breakfast, making noise, trying to run around, and not listening at all.
I think that if I had brought the ipad it would have been an entirely different experience, so I learned a lesson there. I hate having him become zombie-child during meals, mindlessly staring at the screen, but I never let him do that at home, so I guess its not bad JUST during vacation, right? The whole thing just makes me feel guilty and like a bad mom, but I guess you got to do what you got to do.
After the breakfast ordeal we took Everett to the track and this is where some snafus occurred. I'm used to Everett being completely fearless, but he didn't want to get inside the bouncy house, he didn't want to ride the ponies, and he told me "I a-scared of horses".
Umm, Everett- we are at a racetrack FULL of horses!
We did eventually get him in the bounce house- which he LOVED and didn't want to get out off.
But things like being frightened of horses came out of left field. I'm a little worried he is going to be afraid of things at Disney also, things he has always loved in the past. I guess there is nothing I can do about it, but that doesn't mean that its not going to be frustrating.
We left the track after lunch, and Everett feel asleep in the stroller (good to know he'll still do that), but even better- I was able to transfer him to the pack and play when we got back, and he slept for another two hours. I'll have to keep that in mind if I need a break while he is napping.
We went downtown that evening, had a nice dinner (where Everett was well behaved with the aid of the Ipad), and then heard some bands play, which Everett LOVED. He is a dancing fool!
That night, things went from very good, to very, very bad. Everett decided he was not sleeping. I attempted to ignore him from 2:00-3:30, but at that point he was getting REALLY loud and disturbing my parents, who needed to drive home that day. I ended up taking him downstairs to the lobby, where we hung out from 3:30-6:30, after which we went and got my parents and got on the road.
I don't know what went wrong. I could blame the pack-n-play, but he slept great in it the night before and that day for nap! All I know is, I can't do that at Disney. I was a walking zombie the next day! I did try taking him into bed with me, but for him that is play time, and he won't sleep at all. At Disney we'll put him in his own bed, so if it was a comfort issue, that will be taken care of, and if he does try to pull another stunt like this, I can always call and see if I can get a crib rental.
Please tell me that this was a fluke, and not destined to happen again! All I could think while I was sitting up in the hotel lobby in the middle of the night was "should I cancel the trip- is this going to happen again?" I don't want to have to do this at Disney!
Day six continued in next post
I'm sorry!
I have a friend who lives 45 minutes away from WDW, and she's forever posting pictures from the Peoplemover, making me extremely jealous.
I'll send you a quick PM, maybe we'll end up updating our pages from the same park one day.
What a great tradition for Disney trips...what could be better than breakfast with Mickey?
