A Tale of [family madness in] Two Cities - Final Thoughts & PTR Link!

[TyRy]

As many of you know, we have arrived in New York City! I have so many details and stories to share...

and a trip report to finish...

and I better finish it before September 3rd because...

WE JUST BOOKED A TRIP!!!!

I cannot recall off hand if I mentioned it here, but the buyer for our DVC flaked out and it's a good thing because we are KEEPIN' THAT BABY!

Joe got an awesome job here which allows us to keep our DVC and take a September trip! We are currently booked for 2 nights at the Boardwalk and wait listed for 3 nights. It's a shorter trip, but it's a trip!!

I WILL be back on and WILL reply and finish this TR. I am currently still surrounded by cardboard boxes, so the necessities of life prevail; however, very, very soon you will see our faces here again!

WOW - FANTASTIC news on being able to keep DVC...I'm really happy that Joe's job will allow that. I know how much you enjoyed your membership and now you get to keep it and an upcoming trip!!

I'm glad that you'll finish this too (after you toss the 968 boxes ) as I want to see the New Orleans photos!

 

[pooh'smate]

Just wanted to let you know that I dropped by your blog and I loved Henry's update. So cute. I am praying that you find a church soon where you feel comfortable.

 

[Vexorg]

Man, I seriously need to catch up (I've seen a few tweets here and there, but not much else.) I actually did a 3-day trip to Disneyland back in May, and I've been meaning to write up some stuff on that, but given the speed at which my last TR came out, it might be a while....

Good to hear things are going well...

 

[CJsMom]

Great news all around - so glad everything has worked out for you, especially keeping your DVC!!!

 

[blessedby3]

Just wanted to let you know that I dropped by your blog and I loved Henry's update. So cute. I am praying that you find a church soon where you feel comfortable.

How do I find your blog??

 

[OhMari]

My dh company just finished up the pipeline in Thief River Falls MN. I went with him to help close the job site down. The job came in under budget, got done earlier than expected and my dh got a nice bonus for a job well done. He handed me the check and said Disney or Tuition. I had to pick tuition-I can't strap my kids with those high interest loans. It would be really nice to meet you guys in Florida-I was suppose to be there for the Tri-athalon-over Labor Day weekend, but they moved the date to last Mother's Day-so I missed it. Hopefully next year.

 

[PopArtGal]

yay another trip for Dut Dut's family!

 

[jenseib]

I am so happy for you. I was so bummed when you said you were going to sell DVC. I am happy that it all worked out in the end.

 

[blessedby3]

How do I find your blog??

Nevermind--I found it--answered my own question

 

[MHTeacher]

I'm so happy that y'all are getting settled into NYC and that you didn't have to sell your DVC.

I know you are all excited for your Sept. trip. I can't wait to see some updates of Henry. I know he's growing up!

 

[Panotchr]

So glad you did not have to sell your DVC!!! I saw your blog too and love seeing Henry

Congratulations on it all

Kelly in NC

 

[A.Mickey]

OH THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!!

I am sooo happy that you are still owners and are going back to the world!

 

[brookelizabeth]

i actually catch u with the green light on!

Good luck church hunting....I've gone to my church a few times over the last few months and while it's been good, it feels funny to go and NOT work. I will praying that God leads you to a nice church family.

I know what you mean about the DIS for sure. Everyone here has been a source of comfort and support. I don't even know how to thank everyone properly....

Well I'm glad you're around. I'll take what I can get of you.

Isn't that green light so pretty? I've been on the DIS a lot lately, attempting to catch up!

Thank you for the prayers on church hunting. We have visited one twice now and this past Sunday I put Henry in the children's church and stayed with him to see what/how they teach - it was great. So, we are going to check out their small groups and possibly a worship service and this just might be "home".

It's probably a GREAT thing to go to your church and just be. It'll take some getting used to, but I bet it will be the best thing for you. You are going to worship, not for work. I'm sure that mindset will be hard to break though!

I have a PM from you that I need to read/reply to...I've been taking one thing at a time being back on.

I am in awe of how fast everything happened for you! Like you said, God's plan, not ours! LOL!!

can't wait to hear more details! How does Henry like it??

Exactly! We have been in awe as well! Henry so far really likes it. Today he spoke about the old house - I don't think he quite gets it that we don't live there still too. And the other day he said he wanted to see two of his friends. Hopefully he'll make some new buddies quickly!

Yes! You can take the LIRR, you have switch trains along the line and there's only a few trains a day but you can get here!

Oh that is awesome!!!! Joe is a BIG beach guy. He wanted to go this past weekend, but he was on call for work - so we are looking at this weekend. I'll send you a PM if we end up planning it, I don't know where the good beaches are yet!

Have found your blog, loved Henry's own update!
And looks like we might be on for a Dismeet because we arrive on the same day! Looks like there are others too.

Yes!!! We should definitely meet up! Where are you staying, what are your plans?

I plan on doing more updates from Henry's POV - everyone seemed to really enjoy it and it was fun to write!

WOW - FANTASTIC news on being able to keep DVC...I'm really happy that Joe's job will allow that. I know how much you enjoyed your membership and now you get to keep it and an upcoming trip!!

I'm glad that you'll finish this too (after you toss the 968 boxes ) as I want to see the New Orleans photos!

We are SO excited about being able to keep DVC! We really didn't think it was possible - and then to have it not selling, it was frustrating! But, it looks like it was all for the better anyway.

The boxes are GONE. Well...except there are a few new ones from Ikea goods we purchased this week. But I can still update!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Just wanted to let you know that I dropped by your blog and I loved Henry's update. So cute. I am praying that you find a church soon where you feel comfortable.

Thank you! That update from Henry was really fun to write - I'll do more like that in the future too. I have an update I need to write from our adventures this past weekend, but I figured I would update here a bit first. And thank you for the prayers! We, so far, really like one we have visited twice now. Hopefully it will be that quick and it will be our church home.

Man, I seriously need to catch up (I've seen a few tweets here and there, but not much else.) I actually did a 3-day trip to Disneyland back in May, and I've been meaning to write up some stuff on that, but given the speed at which my last TR came out, it might be a while....

Good to hear things are going well...

Hey there! I try to remember to Tweet and not just update Facebook, since they are linked, but I forget about it a lot. Are you on Facebook too? If so PM me and we can link up there too! I've been VERY far behind on my blog reading, so I haven't been caught up on yours either. I hope you do write a TR - no worries on taking your time...I have no room to complain there.

Great news all around - so glad everything has worked out for you, especially keeping your DVC!!!

Thank you! It really has been a whirlwind past couple months, but in a GREAT way. Now I'm just counting the days until September...

How do I find your blog??

It's here: www.joeandbrook.com

My dh company just finished up the pipeline in Thief River Falls MN. I went with him to help close the job site down. The job came in under budget, got done earlier than expected and my dh got a nice bonus for a job well done. He handed me the check and said Disney or Tuition. I had to pick tuition-I can't strap my kids with those high interest loans. It would be really nice to meet you guys in Florida-I was suppose to be there for the Tri-athalon-over Labor Day weekend, but they moved the date to last Mother's Day-so I missed it. Hopefully next year.

Niiiiiiiiiiice on the bonus! You are a good Mom for choosing tuition though, that is VERY nice. Hopefully your children will get very good high paying jobs due to their college education and then can treat you to a trip to Disney! It would have been great to meet you! Do they usually have a Tri-athalon over Labor Day? My goal someday is to at least compete in a 5k. First I need to be able to run for more than 2 minutes though...

yay another trip for Dut Dut's family!

YEP! Except now he really says "Donald Duck". Sigh. Oh...but for a long while he couldn't say Goofy, so he'd just do Goofy's laugh. It was the funniest thing! He's big into Monsters Inc and Toy Story right now - even McQueen has taken a back seat.

I am so happy for you. I was so bummed when you said you were going to sell DVC. I am happy that it all worked out in the end.

Thank you!!! We are very glad too! It really didn't seem like it would ever be possible a few months ago. It's really amazing how quickly things turned around for the better.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Nevermind--I found it--answered my own question

Oh, good! I hope to get an update done in the next couple days there too.

I'm so happy that y'all are getting settled into NYC and that you didn't have to sell your DVC.

I know you are all excited for your Sept. trip. I can't wait to see some updates of Henry. I know he's growing up!

It's nuts how quickly he's been growing up! The sentences are pouring out of him...along with the 3 year old attitude. "Mommy, I'm not talking to you!" and he turns away...

So glad you did not have to sell your DVC!!! I saw your blog too and love seeing Henry

Congratulations on it all

Kelly in NC

Thank you! It's been a busy few months, but things are starting to settle again. Both Joe and I are blessed to know what our situation was just a few months ago as to what it is today!

OH THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!!

I am sooo happy that you are still owners and are going back to the world!

Thanks Shanan! Us too! I priced so many Value trips, hoping to squeeze one in, and then with the new job and all, we are completely on the other side again - able to keep DVC and go on a trip! Now those wait lists better come though...!

Unfortunately, we won't be able to do the Chicago/St. Louis trip because we will be having visitors in NYC during that time - and, its just too soon to save that much for it after all these moving expenses. But, we DO want to come to Chicago sometime, so perhaps next spring/summer...

 

[Connie96]

Goodness girl! Filling up entire pages with replies! Look at you go.

Since you've been away, I've just been lurking, but I'm so glad to see you back and that everything has worked out, what appears to be, PERFECTLY!

Looking forward to updates on the trip and life in NYC! Congrats on everything!

 

[Flossbolna]

Oh, you are going to stay at the Boardwalk (at least that's what I guess from your ticker...) - how wonderful!! That's really a resort I would love to stay at one day!!

 

[jordanyosh]

I love that you're around more.

Great news about the church..I'll lift you up right now....

Ok done....

I went to my home church yesterday...it was good.....

 

[PopArtGal]

But can I still call him Dut Dut? hehe

 

[brookelizabeth]

Tuesday, December 29, 2009

If anyone can remember (I couldn't, I had to look it up!) we left off as Grammy, KK and I watched the amazing and breathtaking Holiday Wishes from a great spot right in the hub. We are all gushing on the bus ride home about how beautiful and incredible they were. I'm certain we all crawled into bed with smiles on our faces that night.

The morning dawned and we kept sleeping. Well, Grammy was up - she is an early bird even when she's out late. The first picture that morning is of the Savannah. It was so welcoming in the morning light.

It was about 9:00 am and we were on our way to Animal Kingdom.

A brief stop in the lobby...why? I probably could have told you 4 months ago, but well...

While the sun was shining, it was still cold. Joe was feeling a bit meh this day, but took some meds and was doing alright.

And out to the buses.

Henry would always say "Wheeee!" as we went down and around the ramp with his stroller. It was cute.

I like the Mickey ballooned windows.

Waiting and snacking. He looks chilly with that red nose!

And tiiiiiiiiiiiiiired.

Arriving at Animal Kingdom we were greeted with their beautiful tree.

Even though we had complete success the previous days with securing a wheelchair for Poppa, I was still always a bit nervous. Especially when crowds looked like this:

And it was also about the time we were gazing up at the tree that Joe realized he left his AP back in the room.

Well, this isn't the first time we have been to the AK Guest Relations due to Joe's missing AP. At least this time it was only back in the room and not in another state!

The crowds were intense. And we were barely inside the gate. While Joe and I did the AP thing, Poppa and Grammy secured a wheelchair without a problem. We shimmied our way through this crowd and found them, which at the time truly did seem like a miracle. I was already frazzled!

Things calmed down a bit after we were out of the entrance area and into the Oasis.

How could this not be calming? So beautiful!

We moseyed along when what did Henry spy?

DUCKS! Of course! There really is something very exciting about Disney ducks, aren't there?

He picked up his Donald Duck and said, "Same!!"

It was pretty stinkin' cute.

But...then he wanted Donald to join his friends...

We convinced him otherwise.

Continued in next post