A Whole New WDWorld: A March PTR (NEW! 6/27 TR link!)

[oOJulieOo]

Congratulations on the Switzerland job! It's so cool to get an opportunity like that, whether you decide to take it or not.

And Hilton Head Island is really cool. We went there for a couple days when I was a kid. And we spent many vacations on Kiawah Island, which is close to Hilton Head. I want to take my boys there someday. Although if you go to Switzerland, just think of all the really cool European vacation spots.

Thanks! It is definitely cool and I think it's very flattering to my DH.

I feel like we're in one of those "Choose Your Own Adventure" books right now. If we go to Switzerland, life will be like this. And if we don't go to Switzerland, life will be like this.

When DH was out there for the interview, he picked up a bunch of brochures for weekend trips to all sorts of places. France, Italy, Czech Republic, Tunisia Germany, and the list goes on... We will definitely do more than our share of traveling if we go there.

 

[oOJulieOo]

The pictures from your Chicago blizzard were crazy! I am glad you weathered it okay!

Forgot to comment on this!

The blizzard was indeed crazy. But pretty cool at the same time. We were smart and stayed inside. Just watching all that snow pile up was amazing. We had 6 foot high snow drifts in some places in our yard! Shoveling all that snow was crazy too. I am still sore from my 1.5 hours of shoveling on Wednesday. I'm going to post some pics soon.

 

[oOJulieOo]

And we spent many vacations on Kiawah Island, which is close to Hilton Head. I want to take my boys there someday. Although if you go to Switzerland, just think of all the really cool European vacation spots.

I am going to check out Kiawah Island too! Thanks!

 

[MeMom]

That is EXACTLY what I mean about the money. For me, it's all about being able to see family enough. If there's not enough money for Claire and me to travel home 5-6 times per year and to fly my mom out a couple times a year, then it's not even worth considering.

If you get all that,
then this...

weekend trips to all sorts of places. France, Italy, Czech Republic, Tunisia Germany, and the list goes on... We will definitely do more than our share of traveling if we go there.

does sound very cool.

I approve.

 

[oOJulieOo]

I approve.

Good!

Now, let's hope my mom does too. I am dreading telling her about this, but it's so hard to not be able to talk to her about it. I just want that offer to come NOW so we can get on with things!

 

[TarzansKat]

Thanks, Julie!

And I have no idea how I missed it, but somehow I didn't see the news about the job! Congratulations, and I will keep you in my thoughts as you and your DH make this exciting decision.

 

[Native NYer]

Joining in!

Your daughter is just so cute.

 

[Charleston Princess]

There is a lot of golfing in Hilton Head, but we don't golf and never had any problems finding lots of other things to do while we were there. We went two summers in a row for a week each and had a great time there.

 

[oOJulieOo]

Thanks, Julie!

And I have no idea how I missed it, but somehow I didn't see the news about the job! Congratulations, and I will keep you in my thoughts as you and your DH make this exciting decision.

Thanks, TK!

Joining in!

Your daughter is just so cute.

Thank you and Welcome!!!

There is a lot of golfing in Hilton Head, but we don't golf and never had any problems finding lots of other things to do while we were there. We went two summers in a row for a week each and had a great time there.

Okay, that's good to hear. I don't golf and DH only golfs if he has to do it for work!

Hilton Head would actually be great because DH's grandparents live in Charleston and we could do a day trip over there so Claire could meet her great grandparents.

Thanks for the suggestion, Jackie!

 

[oOJulieOo]

I'm about 5 days late with these, but I am finally getting around to posting my blizzard pictures.

If you live in Chicago or saw anything about our blizzard on the news, you know that it was insane around here on Tuesday and Wednesday, and even Thursday. Virtually no one went to work on Wednesday. We were literally snowed in. There was no way we could have gotten out of our garage and out of our driveway until we spent a combined 3.5 hours shoveling ourselves out!

So here are some photos!

My little snow angel

Claire, DH, and Indy on our front sidewalk:

Part of our back yard. The snow drifted all the way up to the top of the fence in the back of our yard. That fence is at least 5 feet tall!

In this pic, you can see the path we had to shovel for the dogs so they could get outside into the back yard!

And here is the car that was not in the garage during the blizzard. We are currently trying to sell this one. I hope we don't have anyone coming to look at it soon because I DO NOT want to dig it out of all that snow!

Here's a pic where you can see how tall the snow drift is compared to Roxy, our white lab! Please disregard the patio furniture that my DH "hasn't gotten around to" yet!

And here is my big girl who is 10 months old today! If you can figure out a way to slow down time a little bit, please share it with me. I don't want her to get any older!

She got to meet her cousin Friday. Ruby was born 2 weeks ago. I absolutely can not remember Claire ever being that little!

And here is how I kept warm throughout all of this snow. Coffee and hot chocolate in my Disney mug!

Today, I am frantically packing and getting ready for our ski trip, for which we depart on Wednesday. When we return from the ski trip (next Monday), frantic Disney preparation will commence. DH actually said to me today, after I said I'm feeling overwhelmed with trip preparations, "What does Claire really need for traveling? Clothes and diapers, right?" Oy!

 

[DisMomAmy]

Wow - That's a lot of snow at once! We probably have that much snow too, but it has accumulated over several storms that have left about a foot each time.

Claire is so adorable! I hope I get to meet her in a few weeks. Sorry I don't have a secret potion to slow down time... I can't believe my babies are 7 & 10!

 

[ksl5f123]

Wow! That really was a lot of snow. It reminds me of my parents' pictures of the blizzard of '77. I was just a little bigger than your DD. Those drifts are amazing.

DH actually said to me today, after I said I'm feeling overwhelmed with trip preparations, "What does Claire really need for traveling? Clothes and diapers, right?" Oy!

My DH thinks like that too. He has told me before, that if we forget something, we can just buy it when we get there. Yeah. If we forget the bib, we are going to leave the park, drive to the store, buy a bib and go back? Really?

 

[TarzansKat]

Ha! I love what your DH said. Too cute.

I feel for you on the snow. We've got more than that in New England and it's insane. There's just nowhere to put it anymore.

Claire looks so sweet! I know what you mean about wanting to freeze time, especially when I look at the baby and then look at my oldest! Yikes, where does it all go???

 

[Charleston Princess]

Wow! That picture of the snow beside the fence is crazy!

Happy Ten Months to Claire today -- she is such a cutie!

 

[WDWCP96]

Those blizzards pictures are crazy!

Happy 10 months to Claire! My little guy turned 11 months on Friday and I totally understand what you mean about wanting time to slow down. I can't believe I am planning his first birthday party for next month already.

 

[Cat0727]

Wow that's a lot of snow! It's so white and clean It doesn't stay like that long in the city here, that's for sure!

Oh btw thank you for mentioning to me you watch Rick Steves' shows on Hulu...I had no idea he was on there! I was having fun last night watching a couple of his episodes.

 

[oOJulieOo]

Wow - That's a lot of snow at once! We probably have that much snow too, but it has accumulated over several storms that have left about a foot each time.

Claire is so adorable! I hope I get to meet her in a few weeks. Sorry I don't have a secret potion to slow down time... I can't believe my babies are 7 & 10!

We definitely plan on being at the Small World DIS meet, so we'll all get to meet each other then!

I am so ready for this snow to stop already. We got a couple inches yesterday on top of what was already here. I've had enough!

Wow! That really was a lot of snow. It reminds me of my parents' pictures of the blizzard of '77. I was just a little bigger than your DD. Those drifts are amazing.



My DH thinks like that too. He has told me before, that if we forget something, we can just buy it when we get there. Yeah. If we forget the bib, we are going to leave the park, drive to the store, buy a bib and go back? Really?

I keep running into those snow drifts when I back my car out of the driveway! I guess we should have shoveled a bigger path.

I am half tempted to tell my DH he should pack Claire's suitcase for the ski trip and we'll see what happens. Can you imagine?!

Ha! I love what your DH said. Too cute.

I feel for you on the snow. We've got more than that in New England and it's insane. There's just nowhere to put it anymore.

Claire looks so sweet! I know what you mean about wanting to freeze time, especially when I look at the baby and then look at my oldest! Yikes, where does it all go???

I will be so happy when this winter is OVER!

I have no idea where the time goes...the days go quickly, the weeks fly by, and the months seem to be over in the blink of an eye.

Wow! That picture of the snow beside the fence is crazy!

Happy Ten Months to Claire today -- she is such a cutie!

That snow leading up to the fence is starting to freeze on the top. I am praying that my little dog doesn't run up that snow drift and jump over the fence!

Those blizzards pictures are crazy!

Happy 10 months to Claire! My little guy turned 11 months on Friday and I totally understand what you mean about wanting time to slow down. I can't believe I am planning his first birthday party for next month already.

What are your plans for the first birthday party?!

Wow that's a lot of snow! It's so white and clean It doesn't stay like that long in the city here, that's for sure!

Oh btw thank you for mentioning to me you watch Rick Steves' shows on Hulu...I had no idea he was on there! I was having fun last night watching a couple of his episodes.

Our snow is starting to get all dirty and yucky. So gross!

I'm glad you found the Rick Steves shows! I just love him! I think it weirds my DH out, too!

 

[WDWCP96]

We are just doing a small party at home with family and two of our close friends unfortunately unlike DS1 we didnt do any playgroups with DS2, it is just too hard when there is more than one. Poor kid. I am having a hard time with a theme though so I think I will just do it's fun to be ONE!

 

[PirateKate]

I know one secret to make time slow down- get pregnant with a second baby. Those nine months will drag by and your first born will seem to not age at all.

That's a lot of snow. Kind of ironic that you all are about to go on a ski trip.

 

[CandleontheWater]

Hi there!

I know I'm a little late getting on board with this PTR, but I'm really excited to be here! I took my little man three times last year at 4, 6 and 10 months, and each time was an adventure with its own high and low points. You sound like you are going in with the right expectations (i.e. expect the unexpected) so I'm sure you'll have a great time. Life with a baby is always pretty crazy, you might as well be crazy at Disney, right??!!

Have you gotten Claire one of those snack traps? We had one for Everett on his 10 month visit and it worked great. I filled it with cheerios and puffs, and he would chow down while we were waiting in lines and touring around the parks. I'd also look into on of the tether straps, so you can tie down the snack trap so it doesn't go flying out of the stroller.

I'll also share with you Everett's favorite plane toy http://www.vtechkids.com/product.cfm/Rhyme_Discover_Book/1624/ You can get the book at Walmart. I don't think we'd make it through a plane flight without this book. Flying with Everett is like flying with a sack of weasels, I need all the distractions I can get. Some people mentioned that toys that make noise might not be good on the plane, but I promise, once the engines start up, your plane neighbors will not be able to hear this toy. It is tried and tested!

And if I can make another suggestion, you might want to request the Mansions side of POR (Magnolia Bend), because the alligator bayou side does not have elevators, and the last thing you want is to be stuck in a second floor room and have to carry the stroller up and down stairs every day!