A Two Short, Too Different Spring Break Trip (Time to Say Goodbye)

[MeMom]

Seems like that does happen a lot around here

I think the kids will love the board games! I hope you have a good day and they aren't to wild since they were thinking and I'm sure wanting to be outside today.

Guess what?
I'm in my room Dising, and it's storming outside.
Seems like I just typed this same thing a few hours ago.
I hope it will start drying out sometime this weekend so we can do Field Day on Monday without it turning in to a Muddy Buddy event!

The kids had much fun. Connect Four is always a big hit, as is CandyLand. I also have a set of green army men that some of the boys played with in quite elaborate fashion. They had a very organized attack going. We did go outside for a while at the end of the day, too. It was a little muggy with all the moisture in the air, but they sure enjoyed being out there swinging, sliding, and being monkeys on the bars!

I have one of those except the settings are called - fireworks, cuisine, landscape, night, etc.

True, but as of now, we all have regular fireworks, pretty good cuisine, okay landscape, decent night shots. Let me know when you find one that says Spectacular Wishes, Incredible Disney Dining, Awesome Safari, Hard to Get Spectro, and so on.
I will purchase that one, and it looks like some others around here will, too!
Knowledgeable photographers like you can figure those settings out on your own, but I need the Photography for Dummies version that is totally Disney geared. Maybe I should get Drew started on creating one of those. He might make some money off of an invention like that!

Are you getting to be like me and hating all this stormy weather??? I am ready for sunny skies for the next three months (at least)! Have fun playing board games!

We are such early risers, aren't we?

I think the idea of a Disney camera is fantastic! I know I would buy one!

The early riser gets to hear the rain.
At least that's been the way it's been here this week.
It is doing more than pitter-pattering right now. It's coming down pretty good. I can hear the thunder, but I have seen no lightning strikes yet.

Board games and Ocho de Mayo snacks made it a Fun Friday!

Okay, if Drew invents the camera, he's already sold two.

We should start marketing a Disney Survival Kit. Special Camera, Crocs, Lanyards, The Perfect Park Bag.....

Make that three!
And it probably should have a special light fixture setting, too, huh?
Wouldn't that be a nice gift basket for a first time Disney visitor?!?!?

Great animal pictures again Memom. I love the lioness pictures.

I am glad that you got to spend time with all your kids together. And, I love how you turned your mall trip into a mini Disney trip!

Congratulations on your new rates Jill. I love it when the price of Disney trips goes down, because it means you can buy more "stuff".

By the way, I was wondering how Drew's hearing is now. I hope he has made a complete recovery.

Jill and I are weird like that. The boys will tell you that we can turn a trip to the refrigerator into a mini-Disney trip.

He doesn't seem to be too affected by it. He couldn't hear very well to start with because of the damage he already had, so I guess he's just gotten accustomed to it. He hasn't asked to have any surgery, so until he presses the issue, I'm not going to worry about it. He says it's like having water in your ear after a shower.

Jill....i will have to check out what your new camera is...i have a lot of Best Buy rewards to use up and there is a sale on the Nikon Cool Pix S230 that I am looking at...the commercials for it looked really cool but I have not found reviews on it yet.
Did John look at a lot of different cameras or was it one you already wanted?? I need a smaller one for Disney and my kodak one is nice but very bulky and DH did not want to carry it around at all when we were in Disney last so it sat in the room much of the time...but with a baby and a newphew this time there is no way that camera is sitting in the room!

You can't miss any opportunities for capturing the special moments you're going to have on Caleb's first trip!

We have one in Minnesota! It's at the Mall of America. We have a Wolfgang Pucks there too...I wish it were a WPE!

We just need an Earl of Sandwich.


And a Casey's.


And the Main Street Bakery.

Oh, and a Columbia Harbor House.

I think a Kona Cafe would be alright too.

You oughta be able to have a rockin' awesome pretend Disney trip then!!!
I'm going to make it to the Mall of America someday.

Jill I triple dog dare you to follow through on that threat


Somehow I don't think that will happen!


I love this picture - too funny!!!



Congrats on getting such good rates!!



My camera that I bought before our last Disney trip is a Canon too. I love it. I carry it in my purse all the time so I can take pictures anytime I want!!!

You know you're out of line going straight to the triple dog dare!
There's a method to the daring sequence, according to Ralphie, and you stepped way out of order!!!

Our cameras go with us pretty much everywhere, too.

What about your budding artist? Has she drawn any new Disney pictures lately? We'd love to see them, if she has.

All your Disney Party games are wonderful! It And all the decorations look fantastic!
looks like so much fun!
I've always really enjoyed throwing kids partys!

Glad you had a great Mother's Day dinner at RC!

Congrats on the grade change!

And the AP discount sounds great!

The Girls just look adorable!
Brooklynn looks so grown up next to Bella!

We've been thinking about what we're going to do for a June party.

I am very happy about getting the grade change. I've been boxing up (tubbing up, actually), tossing out, and giving away all week.

I think there are some discounts going around for AP holders to give to other people who are getting AP's, too. I've got to check into that. It would be nice if I can get 10% off of an AP with a discount coupon. I don't know details, but I'm heading over to another thread in a minute to get the details.


****************************

It seems to be a Stormy Saturday here.
Jill and family are here to attend John's brother's college graduation later today. I don't know if they are leaving tonight so they can be home for Mother's Day or if they're staying another night. Trent thinks he has picked up another client that he toured yesterday, and he may have a few more high school athlete coming in next week, so he is in and out constantly. Drew left with his buddy, Richard, for the weekend. He'll show back up sometime Sunday night or Monday during the day. I'll just be the boring, but content Mom - grocery shopping, cooking non-gourmet meals, doing laundry, giving the cat a bath, and such.
I'm pretty happy with that, though. Overall, I think I've got it pretty good!

 

[kschafer]

DIBELS? You know about DIBELS?!?!?
That's funny.

We use it as a verb.
When I'm finished DIBELing, I can finish report cards.
I have to go DIBEL some more after lunch.

They do DIBELS at my son's school too. since you were talking standardized tests, I just have to brag on Patrick a bit. They did ITBS (Iowa test of basic skills) this year. They only did the reading section because 2nd grade is the first year for doing this test but he brought home straight 99th percentile scores! Of course he doesn't understand what this means and his reaction was "I wish I had gotten 100" He felt better when I told him that wasn't possible. Yes, he is one determined guy! I hope that keeps up as he gets older.

 

[CanadianWDWfan]

Funny you said you are content being boring. I just said that yesterday to a co worker. I like my life with as little "drama" as possible. I feel blessed for what I have.

I have an easy weekend ahead, I just have to work this evening.

I'm hoping our weather is good tomorrow so we can visit the Tulip festival.
My DMom loves anything horticultural, she would be happy just messing in her garden all day.....and she does!

I would gladly pay Drew to give me a course in Disney photography. Maybe that's an idea for a DIS meet/ info session. : I bet he would have a full class.

Have a Super Saturday!

 

[TCKK]

Jill and I are weird like that. The boys will tell you that we can turn a trip to the refrigerator into a mini-Disney trip.

Too funny

You know you're out of line going straight to the triple dog dare!
There's a method to the daring sequence, according to Ralphie, and you stepped way out of order!!!

I'm sorry, but that's just the way I am. I've always done things out of order!! Ok. How's this. Jill, I dare you! I double dare you and now I triple dog dare you! Is that better?

Our cameras go with us pretty much everywhere, too.
What about your budding artist? Has she drawn any new Disney pictures lately? We'd love to see them, if she has.

No she hasn't gotten to draw much Disney stuff lately. She did add color to some of the ones she had drawn before. But her Art Class at school is keeping her pretty busy with assignments so she doesn't have time to do the fun Disney stuff right now. Maybe this summer. Although if you could see the schedule she has for summer, you'd know she doesn't have much free time then either. Between going go her camp and then counseling about about 3 other camps and then a missions trip to West Virginia, I think her summer is about filled up.

You asked in another post if she still is planning to go to college in Florida. Yes she does. The college is in Lake Wales, Florida which is about hour or so drive south of Disney. Plans are for her to get an AP next year so she can go with us in the summer and then go back an visit if she has a free weekend now and again! I know I'll be so jealous.

I am very happy about getting the grade change. I've been boxing up (tubbing up, actually), tossing out, and giving away all week.

Congrats on getting the grade change!!

 

[pooh'smate]

You oughta be able to have a rockin' awesome pretend Disney trip then!!!
I'm going to make it to the Mall of America someday.

Memom I bet you would be able to drive to Mall of America and not have to stay at a single hotel. You could stay with Disers the whole trip. I would love to have you and yours at my home. I would take you to our zoo, we have one of the best in America. http://www.omahazoo.com/ I am sure Brooklynn would love it. Lexi does.

They do DIBELS at my son's school too. since you were talking standardized tests, I just have to brag on Patrick a bit. They did ITBS (Iowa test of basic skills) this year. They only did the reading section because 2nd grade is the first year for doing this test but he brought home straight 99th percentile scores! Of course he doesn't understand what this means and his reaction was "I wish I had gotten 100" He felt better when I told him that wasn't possible. Yes, he is one determined guy! I hope that keeps up as he gets older.

Congrats to Patrick.


TCKK I stoped by your blog. I think you have a great family.

 

[xoktenox]

Hey MeMom, hope you have a great weekend and Mother's Day! I'm sure you are probably hoping that Jill, John and the girls stay with you another night so I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya.

Congrats on getting the great AP rate on your rooms for August, thats a really great savings which only means one thing, MORE TRIPS TO WDW!

 

[MeMom]

They do DIBELS at my son's school too. since you were talking standardized tests, I just have to brag on Patrick a bit. They did ITBS (Iowa test of basic skills) this year. They only did the reading section because 2nd grade is the first year for doing this test but he brought home straight 99th percentile scores! Of course he doesn't understand what this means and his reaction was "I wish I had gotten 100" He felt better when I told him that wasn't possible. Yes, he is one determined guy! I hope that keeps up as he gets older.

Good job, Patrick! I know your Mom and Dad and teachers are all proud of you! That's a great accomplishment! I'd love to have you in my class!

My fear of moving to second grade is just what you mentioned - it'll be my luck to move down and they'll start doing TCAP at that level next year.

Funny you said you are content being boring. I just said that yesterday to a co worker. I like my life with as little "drama" as possible. I feel blessed for what I have.

I have an easy weekend ahead, I just have to work this evening.

I'm hoping our weather is good tomorrow so we can visit the Tulip festival.
My DMom loves anything horticultural, she would be happy just messing in her garden all day.....and she does!

I would gladly pay Drew to give me a course in Disney photography. Maybe that's an idea for a DIS meet/ info session. : I bet he would have a full class.

Have a Super Saturday!

Enjoy the Tulip Festival. I guess your mom loves Living with the Land, then, huh? I want to do the Behind the Seeds Tour someday. Even though I am horrible with plants, I would love to have a great vegetable garden.

Too funny


I'm sorry, but that's just the way I am. I've always done things out of order!! Ok. How's this. Jill, I dare you! I double dare you and now I triple dog dare you! Is that better?


No she hasn't gotten to draw much Disney stuff lately. She did add color to some of the ones she had drawn before. But her Art Class at school is keeping her pretty busy with assignments so she doesn't have time to do the fun Disney stuff right now. Maybe this summer. Although if you could see the schedule she has for summer, you'd know she doesn't have much free time then either. Between going go her camp and then counseling about about 3 other camps and then a missions trip to West Virginia, I think her summer is about filled up.

You asked in another post if she still is planning to go to college in Florida. Yes she does. The college is in Lake Wales, Florida which is about hour or so drive south of Disney. Plans are for her to get an AP next year so she can go with us in the summer and then go back an visit if she has a free weekend now and again! I know I'll be so jealous.



Congrats on getting the grade change!!

Very good. You have to start out slow and then build up to the granddaddy of them all, the old triple dog!

I peeked in on your blog today.
I appreciated you sharing the saying about not knowing, but it being okay, because you know the One who does know. There are many times I need to remember that to be comforted and to relieve my worries.

Sounds like you guys have a busy summer!

Memom I bet you would be able to drive to Mall of America and not have to stay at a single hotel. You could stay with Disers the whole trip. I would love to have you and yours at my home. I would take you to our zoo, we have one of the best in America. http://www.omahazoo.com/ I am sure Brooklynn would love it. Lexi does.



Congrats to Patrick.


TCKK I stoped by your blog. I think you have a great family.

We may take you up on stopping by for a visit someday. Not overnight, though, because I've been told that my snoring can blow the roof off of a house, and I wouldn't want to be responsible for any repairs that might have to be made after we left.

I'll second the sentiment about the TCKK family!

Hey MeMom, hope you have a great weekend and Mother's Day! I'm sure you are probably hoping that Jill, John and the girls stay with you another night so I'll keep my fingers crossed for ya.

Congrats on getting the great AP rate on your rooms for August, thats a really great savings which only means one thing, MORE TRIPS TO WDW!

Jill and John have gone to eat supper and walk around the mall for a while without little girls. Trent blew up Brooklynn's bouncy house and we sat out in the backyard and watched her play in that while Ben ran around in the yard.

Brooklynn is asking to push some smilie faces before I get off of here, so here she is.



bbrropklynn

I asked her if there was anything else she'd like to say,
and she said,
"Yes...orange and purple."

So, there you go. From our house to yours, orange and purple, everybody!

 

[micandminforever]

Orange and Purple back at you Brooklynn.

To MeMom have a great Mother's Day tomorrow.

 

[kschafer]

Congrats to Patrick.

Thanks Pooh'smate, I'm very proud of him!

Good job, Patrick! I know your Mom and Dad and teachers are all proud of you! That's a great accomplishment! I'd love to have you in my class!

HA, you say that now but wait until he flips off the guidance counselor because another kid dared him or he gives a kid a wedgy because he heard other kids talking about it and he thought it would be funny Oh yes, both of those events have happened this year!

 

[k_reile]

You can't miss any opportunities for capturing the special moments you're going to have on Caleb's first trip!

Definitely will not miss those moments. I just ordered the Nikon Cool Pix S230 in Plum color. I think it will be a cool color and not many people have colored cameras. I'm not sure how DH will be taking pictures with a Plum colored camera but he is colorblind...so I will tell him its RED!
I'm going to make it to the Mall of America someday.

me too!



giving the cat a bath, and such.

How well does your cat take a bath?? My cat would completely freak out...good thing we had a shower door and we would just open one end...turn the shower part on...get him in and shut the door real quick and move the shower head to get him. Not an easy process. We only gave baths if he got sick and had an accident!

I'm pretty happy with that, though. Overall, I think I've got it pretty good!

I think you have it pretty good too...you got a pretty great family!

[/QUOUTE]

Happy Mothers Day Memom and Jill!

 

[DisKate]

Happy Mother's Day to all the Disney Mom's out there!

 

[TCKK]

Memom I bet you would be able to drive to Mall of America and not have to stay at a single hotel. You could stay with Disers the whole trip. I would love to have you and yours at my home. I would take you to our zoo, we have one of the best in America. http://www.omahazoo.com/ I am sure Brooklynn would love it. Lexi does.
Congrats to Patrick.
TCKK I stoped by your blog. I think you have a great family.

Pooh'smate, thanks for the sweet compliment and for visiting my blog. I've been having so much fun writing it and meeting people through it. Also, I agree, Memom you could stop by our house if you come that way. We have a nice zoo too.

Very good. You have to start out slow and then build up to the granddaddy of them all, the old triple dog!

I peeked in on your blog today.
I appreciated you sharing the saying about not knowing, but it being okay, because you know the One who does know. There are many times I need to remember that to be comforted and to relieve my worries.

Sounds like you guys have a busy summer!

We may take you up on stopping by for a visit someday. Not overnight, though, because I've been told that my snoring can blow the roof off of a house, and I wouldn't want to be responsible for any repairs that might have to be made after we left.

I'll second the sentiment about the TCKK family!

Brooklynn is asking to push some smilie faces before I get off of here, so here she is.



bbrropklynn

I asked her if there was anything else she'd like to say,
and she said,
"Yes...orange and purple."

So, there you go. From our house to yours, orange and purple, everybody!

Okay, I'm so glad I got the order of that thing straightened out. Now I'll be able to rest peacefully tonight!

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I appreciate the visit. It is so true. I don't have to know because I know the One who does! With life the way it can be sometimes, it's so wonderful to know that One and to know He is in control.
You can stop here in Ohio on your way to Pooh'smate's on the way to Mall of America! We'll take care of you and snoring doesn't bother us, because we do it too. In fact, we don't travel without earplugs because of it. Those are the neatest little things and keep us from killing each other when we're all 4 staying in a small Disney room together!!

Happy orange and purpleto Brooklynn!!!
Happy Mother's Day!!!!!

 

[declansdad]

Happy Mother's Day!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Happy Mother's Day, MeMom and Jill!

 

[MeMom]

Orange and Purple back at you Brooklynn.

To MeMom have a great Mother's Day tomorrow.

Just being Mom and MeMom makes it great already!

Thanks Pooh'smate, I'm very proud of him!



HA, you say that now but wait until he flips off the guidance counselor because another kid dared him or he gives a kid a wedgy because he heard other kids talking about it and he thought it would be funny Oh yes, both of those events have happened this year!

Don't worry. I've seen worse. I know those aren't things you want to be his highlights of the year, but I'm sure he's had a lot more shining moments than he has had lapses in judgement like those.

Definitely will not miss those moments. I just ordered the Nikon Cool Pix S230 in Plum color. I think it will be a cool color and not many people have colored cameras. I'm not sure how DH will be taking pictures with a Plum colored camera but he is colorblind...so I will tell him its RED!
I'm going to make it to the Mall of America someday.

me too!



giving the cat a bath, and such.

How well does your cat take a bath?? My cat would completely freak out...good thing we had a shower door and we would just open one end...turn the shower part on...get him in and shut the door real quick and move the shower head to get him. Not an easy process. We only gave baths if he got sick and had an accident!

I'm pretty happy with that, though. Overall, I think I've got it pretty good!

I think you have it pretty good too...you got a pretty great family!

[/QUOUTE]

Happy Mothers Day Memom and Jill!

The cat doesn't like a bath, but he succumbs to it. When I've got him in the bathroom with the door shut, he knows what is coming and starts meowing in protest. Once I get him under the running water, though, he is still. He let's me shampoo and scrub and rinse. I try to do it pretty quickly. When it's over, she shakes off the water and licks at himself for hours, as if to let me know he could have taken care of things in his own way! I just think he needs the no flea shampoo every so often, just to be sure we don't ever allow fleas to get started.

Happy Mother's Day to all the Disney Mom's out there!

I will second that happy thought!

Pooh'smate, thanks for the sweet compliment and for visiting my blog. I've been having so much fun writing it and meeting people through it. Also, I agree, Memom you could stop by our house if you come that way. We have a nice zoo too.


Okay, I'm so glad I got the order of that thing straightened out. Now I'll be able to rest peacefully tonight!

Thank you for stopping by my blog. I appreciate the visit. It is so true. I don't have to know because I know the One who does! With life the way it can be sometimes, it's so wonderful to know that One and to know He is in control.
You can stop here in Ohio on your way to Pooh'smate's on the way to Mall of America! We'll take care of you and snoring doesn't bother us, because we do it too. In fact, we don't travel without earplugs because of it. Those are the neatest little things and keep us from killing each other when we're all 4 staying in a small Disney room together!!

Happy orange and purpleto Brooklynn!!!
Happy Mother's Day!!!!!

I'm putting it on a list - Mall of America and TCKK's zoo. If we ever go anywhere except south straight to Lake Buena Vista, you may find us knocking at your door. Brooklynn loves zoos, and we all love malls!

My kids thought it would be funny to buy the economy pack of airplane level earplugs, and they were sure to let me know about it!


***********************************

Today is a special day set aside to celebrate mothers. In recognition of that, I thought I'd throw out some thoughts that some of you other moms might be able to relate to.

Our kids bring so many different things to our lives.

Like spitting up on their clothes in the car on the way to church.
And then smiling about it.

The excitement of feeling the first tooth.
The cost of having teeth fixed.

Toys on the floor, writing on the walls, gnarled up toothpaste tubes, and empty drink boxes under the bed.

Bruises, broken bones, stitches, knocked-out teeth, and a variety of boo-boos from tiny scrapes to nearly life ending accidents.

Stick figure pictures in which the cats, dogs, camels, and elephants all look pretty much alike. The snakes do usually manage to be recognizable.

Matchbox cars lined up in a row ready for a race.

A lovingly handcrafted birthday banner.

Flowers on the first day of school.

Water left in the tub.
Refrigerator doors left open.
The television playing too loudly...
to no one in the room.

Countless hours of rebounding basketballs in an empty gym.

The inability to ever find a hammer when you need one.
Finding three hammers when you are looking for a screwdriver instead.

Pretty dresses on banquet nights.

Calls from girls.

Saying a prayer for the safety of a vehicle pulling out of the driveway that is manned by a teenage boy.
Saying the same prayer for the vehicle that is pulling out of the driveway, driven by a teenage boy that doesn't belong to you but is carrying your daughter in the passenger seat.

Chills and smiles when their names are announced for a variety of awards in academics and in sports.

Tears when they have stepped on your heart and hurt you.
Tears when they have done something that has hurt their own hearts.

From tiny onesies to graduation gowns, kids fill our lives with so many things great and small. The greatest is love. I am so unworthy to have ever experienced the love I have felt for and received from my kids, but I am eternally grateful to God for blessing me and letting me experience it anyway!

Moms, have a great day with your family and friends! In our family, we just like to honor all women and girls on Mother's Day. We'd like to thank all of you for the friendships you give to us here on these boards. We feel very privileged to know you.

Especially to the new moms: Have the happiest Mother's Day ever, and a lifetime of greater ones ahead!

 

[CanadianWDWfan]

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

HAVE A GREAT DAY LADIES, YOU DESERVE IT!!!

 

[DisneyJoo2008]

Hi MeMom (and everyone!)
Here is Toby!
xxx

 

[CanadianWDWfan]

Happy New Mommies Day to you DisneyJoo2008!!!
Toby is too cute to be a pirate....enjoy him he is a keeper!

 

[k_reile]

DisneyJoo---Toby is adorable! Happy 1St Mothers Day!

 

[punkin413]

writing on the walls

anna still has some circles luke drew on her dining room wall when he was little. she won't clean them or paint over them because she was so impressed with what good circles they were for his age.

Bruises, broken bones, stitches, knocked-out teeth, and a variety of boo-boos from tiny scrapes to nearly life ending accidents.

this describes my brother to a T.

Refrigerator doors left open.

my husband still does this and he's 37 years old.

Moms, have a great day with your family and friends! In our family, we just like to honor all women and girls on Mother's Day. We'd like to thank all of you for the friendships you give to us here on these boards. We feel very privileged to know you.

Especially to the new moms: Have the happiest Mother's Day ever, and a lifetime of greater ones ahead!

you are so sweet, memom!!!! i hope you have a nice, relaxing day today since you've already technically celebrated mother's day. i hope the sun is shining where you are.