~A XMAS STORY~decorations, crowds, pixies..AND A BLOODY NOSE~ACTUAL UPDATE 11/9 p190

[burly]

 

[jordanyosh]

Dawn,

Imagine this...

I'm reading of the story of Lucy and Rascal Flatts, Here Comes Goodbye is playing in the background. Result:

Dogs love us so unconditionally.....Obviously you have memories of Lucy that are mixed with some memories of the development of your relationship with Ray...

 

[LISAMWDW]

So sorry about Lucy! Great story and you are right, she was adorable!
Dogs are important members of the family and my thoughts are with you and yours!

 

[Lamping3]

 

[punkin413]

Those pictures of Luke are the best!!

With those big brown eyes and eyelashes that go on forever..........He's going to be a ladie's man.

He looks like someone goosed him in the last picture.

It's fun to see all the details they put into changing it into a christmas parade!

yeah, i know....they're gonna have their hands full in a few years! it was a lot like the normal parade but with jingle bells.

Dawn, I am really enjoying your tr. I enjoyed it before but now it is making me even more excited for our trip. We are going the Sunday after Thanksgivingand staying until the next Monday.

cool! glad i'm getting you excited for your trip. i'm sure you'll have a great time!

Great update! I loveee love loveee the Jingle Jammin Jungle Parade pics and video! I've never seen the AK parade so it was really cool to see it all Christmas-ed out especially since I want to see it when we're there in December. I really love the pictures of Luke's face too and him going through the parking lot. He's too much

Anna's WL pictures are beautiful too. I say it's definitely one of the best Christmas themed resorts (based on pictures because I've never actually seen them in real life LOL). I can't believe how good they all look after spending the whole day in the park! I think it was Tammy who said something once about looking homeless after a day in the parks...that's what I look like! They look like they just stepped out of their rooms all fresh and stuff

you guys will love it there at christmas.....so pretty and fun! yes, WL is so beautiful....i can't wait to see it with my own eyes all decked out for christmas! oh, we all looked homeless. i'm sure anna brought some makeup to freshen up and a change of clothes, a wash of the face and a little deoderant does wonders!

Luke has the most gorgeous eyes!

i agree! he's a cutie.

The parade looks like so much fun! I forgot that Minnie's bathtub smelled like hotccoco! I love the pics of Luke....they are priceless. The tree at WL looks amazing...I am planning on taking our Christmas pic from Disney and sending out my Christmas cards from there...you just gave me some good ideas of where to take the pic! I am planning on a TR...I think you have been to my PTR.

Any questions you have on prenatals...feel free to pm me...I'm a pharmacist and I work retail. I haven't heard of the one you mentioned...might be the regional difference. Most are all the same...all have at least 1mg folic acid. Some just "go down" easier than others. It has been so hard with all of the prenatals. I think 2 of the big manufacturers have went out of buisness so we keep having to switch some customers to other brands. I took some generic over the counter ones before I got pregnant. Once my morning sickness kicked in (and did it ever!) I found I could only stomach the Natelle brand (they have a generic also). They have a coating that made them easier to swallow. I don't know if you are looking for one with DHA also? Those are harder for some to take because they make some nauseous (I couldn't take them). There is one of the generics that smells like vanilla so it is well tolerated! I can't remember the name of it though....I will snif it out tomorrow at work and let you know.

Sorry this is so long!

anna used one of the pictures in front of the tree at WL as her christmas card this past year. i want to use one of me and ray at the osborne lights this year. i've probably been to your PTR....i can't keep up with all of them! i try though.

i actually found an over-the-counter one that i'm trying. the girl at the vitamin shoppe recommended it because it's easy to swallow. it's by twinlab and i got a 2-month supply for $21. i started it today and so far, so good. we'll see!

WL is my deluxe dream. I suspect I will never actually get to stay there so it will probably remain my dream

Luke is so stinkin cute!! He cracks me up.

My 2 cents on the prenatals thing...I would seriously ask your doc what is in the prescription ones that make them worth that kind of money. Personally, I always just took over the counter ones. My doc never even suggested that I might want/need something else.

i love WL too! you guys should look into buying DVC points next time if you want to stay there. it's cheaper than actually getting a room (usually).

i don't think my doctor realized they were gonna cost that much. i found some at the vitamin shoppe by twinlab that i'm trying. i talked to her nurse and she said that's fine. i just started on them today but so far no nausea.

The Wilderness Lodge is truly a beautiful place, and especially so at Christmas. I think you will love staying there. Nicole786 has stayed there a few times and just loves it.

I appreciate the cast members who seem to enjoy the roles they play in the parades. I'm sure it has to get tiring doing the same parade day in and day out, but the fact that they look like they are having such a good time, even if they might not be, is nice for those of us who don't see it every day.

i'm so looking forward to staying at the WL! only a year and 5 months to go!!!!

i agree about the cast members. it's so disney to me for them to go above and beyond what they have to. nowhere else does that happen!

Another great update. I sure hope we see the Jammin' Jungle Parade this trip.... it looks so fun. Sorry you missed seeing the WL, I hope to stay there some holiday season, it looks so pretty!

As for the vitamins... I just took Dr Samples or the store brand... sorry!

you're at disney world right now!!!!!!!! i hope you're having a blast. i need to get over to your TR to see what you guys are doing today and imagine i'm there with you.

I love the update! I still have never been to AK!!!

I want to wish Luke a happy late birthday....

Happy Birthday Luke!!!!

how have you never been to AK? oh, you guys have got to go there!!!! maybe this december? hollie would love seeing all the animals! i will pass your birthday wishes along to luke!

Wow, I am joining your TR w-a-y late, but I have to tell you that you are one amazing Trip Reporter. I've been looking for Christmas TRs to help planning my December trip and yours just hits the spot. I am amazed by how much you got done in 4 days and by how many great photopass pics you got in that amount of time. I am getting so excited reading your TR. Amazing firework pics. Thanks for uploading all the video, love it! I hope it is not as cold when we go as it sounds like your trip started out being. Boy you all did get soaked that first day.

I'll be sticking around to hear more about MVMCP. It's worth the wait.

awwww....thanks so much! we did get a lot done in 4 days but by the 4th day everyone (but me) was exhausted! it's better to go for a longer time and take your time. oh, wait until you see the fireworks pictures i got at MVMCP. they are so much better!

Hey Dawn,
Wow, such a good update I don't know where to begin. LOVED the pics of Luke's face during the parade, they were precious pictures! The parade looked great, can't wait to see it some day - can't believe it really smells like chocolate. Loved your videos.
The guy playing the monkey. . .when I saw him I immediately thought he looked familiar, then I started thinking and went back to my old photo albums - he was the guy in Festival of the Lion King 2 years ago who pulled Lauren out into the show and danced with her - cool!
The WL decorations are GORGEOUS! So happy Ray promised you a stay there some day, it really is such a great resort.
Well, gotta go get ready for church. Have a good one, can't wait for another update!
Lesley

thanks! so cool that that's the same guy that picked lauren to be in the show! he seems like he really loves his job.

Stinks that your med's are cheaper than the stupid co-pay. I have a RX like that where it's a tier 3 and so the insurance pays like $8....sucks!

Those close up pics you have a Luke are PRECIOUS!!!! Such a sweet face!

Oh that's alright you don't have or need to remember . Actually I just looked at the calendar and he will be in LA the week before. They always go do inventory the week after Thanksgiving. So it usually means he's gone on my B-day ....BUT THIS YEAR I WON'T CARE!!!

We might be able to work something out. I say that lightly (and small) b/c he likes to be at work the week after since they are reconciling all the #'s and really it's his baby. But we had discussed going this year and he said well maybe I could go the week after....so who knows???? Hopefully he will have his job (which is the biggest thing overall) and it could be something we have to 'work out'

When you think about it, it really is crazy it cost you guys 20 bucks to get back to your resort. Cabbies do make some $$$$ don't they???

And you will LOVE it!!!!! I have stayed there before and it is such an AWESOME place!!

I do have to say IF we could make it work I'm pretty sure we wouldn't be staying here, but we could come visit a LOT!!

i actually started on an over-the-counter kind today. it's by twinlab and my doctor's nurse says it sounds like the ingredients are fine. no nausea yet but i just started today. we'll see! by the way i got your e-mail and just haven't had time to respond yet!

gotcha (about matt). i totally understand. some things in life are unfortunately more important than trips to disney world! if you guys did go and we overlapped days or whatever we'd definitely do some meals together and maybe some park touring. fun! and of course you'd be welcome to visit us!

The pictures of Luke watching the parade are priceless - you can totally tell he loved it! The ones of him walking back to the car are adorable, too!

As far as prenatals go, I took the Target brand ones. My doc said it was no problem at all! Its just that some prenatals will sit better with one person then another... just like with any other vitamins!

he's such a ham! i love that kid.

i actually started a new prenatal today. it's by twinlab and so far, so good. it was only $21 for a 2-month supply.

 

[punkin413]

Dawn, still loving all you reports...you are making me consider a trip to WDW near Christmas to see all the decorations!

As for pre-natals...I only took the otc Materna brand. My doctor never even mentioned a prescription vitamin. I am not a great "pill taker" and these were no problem for me. I do live in Canada so I am sure there are some brand/name differences, but they are made by Centrum so there must be some comparable! And the $$ was CONSIDERABLY less...I think they were about $25 for 100. Hope you can find something that works out for you.
And good luck!!!

thanks! i actually got some OTC prenatals by twinlab. i started them today and so far, so good. they were $21 for a 2-month supply.

Congrats on the new car, Dawn! I had a CR-V before our latest car and LOVED it!

Great updates -- love the Christmas parade photos at AK -- Luke is such a precious boy! Wilderness Lodge is just gorgeous with all those decorations!

thanks! i really love it.

thanks again! the parade was really cute. i can't wait to see those decorations with my own eyes one day!

Awesome update Dawn! Those parade pics are so good and the ones from WL are great too. It's so pretty over there at Christmas. I wish we could have met on this trip! These past few times we were there at the same time and missed one another.

You were asking about prenatal vitamins. The first time I used them I miscarried. The second and third times I used them as soon as I started I would bleed and have complications. With my last baby I didn't find out I was pregnant 'til @ 13 weeks. I had never taken vitamins with him. Never a glimpse of blood. Then the day I started taking them that night it appeared. I stopped the vitamins immediately and the bleeding stopped. Why this never clicked before I don't know. I just figured I was clueless. They figured out the vitamins were more harm for me than good. DD was a twin and I lost that baby too. I'm just sayin...you don't have to take a vitamin to get a healthy baby. Sometimes the additives can do more harm than good. You need to drink a LOT of OJ and eat healthy. If you do that you don't need them!

thanks! if i'm remember correctly we really didn't "know" each other until after we returned in december. so when we were there the same time in september and december we didn't even know it. such a bummer!

that's so crazy about the prenatals for you! i'm so sorry to hear about your miscarriages. i had a friend go through that and i asked her once if anything anyone said to her made her feel any better and she said no, just say you're sorry for the loss and go about your business because no one will understand how it feels. i will definitely stop taking them if i see any spotting. crazy! i try to eat healthy but i can't do the OJ - it gives me heartburn plus i don't really like it. i eat more fruit than i drink fruit juice.

OMG I just love the close ups of Luke watching the parade his eye lashes are beautiful!!!!

Over here we're just advised to take folic acid prenatally, I just bought off the shelf ones which were pretty cheap. Then if once we're pregnant we need iron or anything we're then prescribed it. Just eat healthy and you'll be fine

isn't he a cutie?

i got a prenatal over the counter the other day that was $21 for a 2-month supply and so far it's working okay. we'll see!

Still totally bummed that I missed you by a week! Hopefully next time. Now why is it that you don't get to go for 2 years? I thought it was a one year break?

I must know... where is the banana smoothies? I have never heard or seen them before.

We were supposed to eat at Tusker House for breakfast and I cancelled it to hang with DIS friends. Next time! It looks really yummy!

I've been gone for awhile... but am really excited to catch up on all of my DIS friends TR's! Can't wait for the rest... but it makes me want to go back.

i know! i wish i could coordinate trips with all my dis friends!!! well, technically now it's 1 year, 5 months and some-odd days. but at the time we were there it was 2 years until we are returning. the reason is because we're going to try to get pregnant starting in august and i figure, best case scenario, i'll have a baby in may. ray wants to go back for christmas again so i figure we'll have a little one but that'll be fine - we'll just take it slow and do what we want and no commando touring. and staying at the VWL it will be great!

the banana drink isn't really a smoothie. it's more of a frozen coke but instead of coke it's banana-flavored. the ones we always get are at the herbie's drive-in kiosk outside of cars motors action at DHS.

tusker house was GREAT! i highly recommend it for the food and the characters. well, except for goofy. he was a little off that day.

Ditto Jo!

Folic is what is recommended for sure before you get prego... and no drinking. As for a prenatal I couldn't take them but ate a children's chewable instead with low iron. I get extremely sick with hyperemesis and need to have a PIC line feeding me anti nausea and rehydration meds... but I'm not normal.

Good Luck Kiddo!

thanks! i got an over-the-counter prenatal a few days ago and i started it today. it's by twinlab and it's easy to swallow. so far, so good!

First of all........so sorry to hear about Lucy. I think it's beautiful that you are putting in a butterfly bush to remember her by...

Latest TR entry...
I love the JJ Parade! That "monkey guy" is the best!!! I've never seen him in that role before, but I think he used to be part of the FOTLK. I know I've seen him before! Luke's close-ups were too cute!

Sorry that you didn't get to see the WL (yet!). BUT....it will be so worth it when you stay there. It is one of my favorite places that we've stayed so far...just gorgeous!

Can't wait to hear about the PARTY!

thanks for your sentiments about lucy.

yeah, i think that guy was in FOTLK. lesley said he pulled her little girl out of the audience to be in the show awhile back. seems like he loves his job!

 

[punkin413]

So sorry for your sadness.
I will cry many tears when my sweet, but set-in-his-ways cat goes.
Planting the bush will be special and a sweet way to remember Lucy.

I'm so sorry! I know what it's like to lose a beloved pet, even when you know it's coming. There are times I still cry about my first dog even though he died many years ago. Our next family dog is probably not going to be around much longer and I'm not sure what I'll do.

Anyway, I'm so sorry you lost your Lucy. Those photos are adorable. She looks like such a sweet dog. And you guys were so young! It's sweet of you to commemorate her by planting something.

Sweet Lucy!!!

You have told me that story a few times...but it is SO sweet!!! And I love that Ray fell in love with all his babies from the Fox and the Hound

I hope you guys are doing ok, and that is very sweet you are planing the butterfly bush there. I like that idea!

So sorry for the loss. I love the story of how she became apart of the family! Hold those memories in your heart.

I'm so sorry to hear you lost your precious Lucy.

The pics of her are so sweet. I can see why your MIL didn't want to part with her and let Ray take her.

It's so heartbreaking to loose a beloved pet. I feel for you.

I love how you will honor her with the butterfly bush. So touching and beautiful.

I remembered the story of how you got Lucy, it's just the cutest thing.

Sorry for you loss . Lucy was a cutie.

So sorry to hear about that. I love the old pics you posted of you guys and of course the story is so cute. You told me once before. Sweet story.

Aw, that's such a cute story of how you got Lucy. I'm so sorry!

I'm so sorry!

so sad to hear about Lucy, but what a great way to to remember her with the bush

Oh no, sorry to hear about Lucy.

Even though she had a rough time for the past few years, she still looked very cute and very much loved.

Oh Dawn, I'm so sorry to hear about Lucy.

That is such a sweet story. I am so sorry to hear that Lucy passed away.

Aw I'm so sorry about Lucy, I know how hard that can be

Awww so sorry to hear about Lucy's passing. That must be really hard.

I love the pictures of you and Ray from the 90s with Lucy. You guys look like babies and of course Lucy's adorable

Dawn, sorry to hear about Lucy.

What a sweet story! Sorry for your loss. I love the idea of the bush, they attract such wonderful visitors every year!

awww. RIP Lucy. Sweet little thing.

I am so sorry to hear about Lucy

so sorry Dawn..what a sweet dog!!!

Dawn,

Imagine this...

I'm reading of the story of Lucy and Rascal Flatts, Here Comes Goodbye is playing in the background. Result:

Dogs love us so unconditionally.....Obviously you have memories of Lucy that are mixed with some memories of the development of your relationship with Ray...

So sorry about Lucy! Great story and you are right, she was adorable!
Dogs are important members of the family and my thoughts are with you and yours!

thank you all SO MUCH for your kind words and hugs (some of which i deleted so i could have only 25 images in this post!). i really appreciate it. like i said before, i knew it was coming. i got upset when i first heard and then i was okay after that. i guess i had already accepted it really. when we went over to ray's mom's house to plant the butterfly bush on monday she said, "you just don't know how much i miss her." i'm so sad she's gone but she was a good dog and had a good life. we will miss her!

jordan - believe it or not, i don't know that song. i know, i know - i'm from nashville and therefore should know every country song by heart. but despite my heritage i never have embraced the whole country music thing. anyway, i'm sure it's a great song if it made you boo hoo! and you're right - i do connect memories of lucy with our relationship in those early years. good memories.

this is one of my favorite quotes and i just thought it would be appropriate to share here.

My goal in life is to be as good of a person as my dog already thinks I am. ~Author Unknown

 

[punkin413]

so as you all know, we went over to ray's mom's house to plant a butterfly bush over lucy's grave. i forgot my camera so i took this with ray's iphone. she's actually buried under the upsidedown table (so zolo won't dig) but obviously we can't plant the bush right on top of her. it's small now but these bushes get huge and very pretty. something to remember her by.

this was on ray's iphone when i uploaded pics. he took this on memorial day (when i was in NYC he went to his mom's house for the holiday) so it's probably the most recent picture we have of her.

thanks again for your hugs and kind words about lucy.

and i'm sure some of you remember back in october when i find mr. zolo and ray's mom ended up keeping him. he's still a crazy little doggie! look how cute he is!

and here he is doing his usual - jumping on me!

so since you guys have gotten to know luke-man through this TR (and i know he has many fans) i thought i would share some pictures from his birthday this past weekend. he turned 5 on june 10th but his actual party was this past saturday.

the theme of the party was "outdoor adventure" because luke loves camping and being outside. anna, chris and luke actually camped the whole weekend in unicoi state park. i believe one of chris's co-workers went with them with his wife and two girls because they're in all of anna's pics.

i thought this one was cute. it was taken the night before and i'm guessing they were watching a movie on the computer in the tent. luke is wearing his bat costume that he wears so often.

this is the pavilion they reserved for the party....

the birthday boy! do you notice the redness/puffiness in his right eye? he poked his eye with something (anna has no idea what) on thursday and it looked really bad on friday. but by saturday it was getting better. he's all boy!

at one end of the table they had sandwiches from subway and chips, snacks and drinks and on the other end they had crafts for the kids. it was really cute!

ray and i decided to bring sherman and eli and the kids loved it! when we pulled up anna said, "here's the entertainment!"

the first thing they did when they got out of the car was poop. figures. this is ray handing me a napkin full of sherman's gift for luke.

after we ate the kids played a game anna had put together called "luke's clues." apparently it was like blues clues and the kids had to go find the clues and write something down on a little pad of paper. i have no idea really. i've never watched blues clues! and ray and i had taken the dogs down to the lake when they did this.

from left to right: luke, evelyn (our friends jen and john's DD who is also luke's neighbor and "girlfriend" and is also my tinker bell buddy), abigail (chris's co-worker's DD), lex (jen and john's DS who LOVES peter pan and always talks to me about the movie), alex (our friend amanda's DD who is just ADORABLE!), kolby and kaleb (our friend melanie's DSs who are soooo shy!)

these are the clues they had to find. that picture of luke is GREAT!

here they go....looking for luke's clues!

TIME FOR BIRTHDAY CAKE!!!!!!

of course you have to lick the icing off the cake decorations!

luke had icing on his nose.

anna had ice cream to hand out and a toppings "bar" for the kids. i had some with reeses cup pieces and it was GOOD!

continued in next post: http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=32320234&postcount=2169

 

[punkin413]

luke and evelyn enjoying their ice cream....

where's our ice cream???

after that it was time to OPEN PRESENTS!!!!

(yeah, great picture of me in the background, right? )

this is luke opening the gift from us, spongebob squarepants operation.

anna took these and i thought they turned out so cute!

after that everyone went down to the lake for some swimming. ray and i actually took the dogs on a short hike around the water because dogs aren't allowed on the beach. it was fun though. mostly shaded and a pretty walk! and the boys got in the water which they really enjoyed! they smelled like fish when they got home!

the birthday boy enjoying a swim......

i thought this was so funny. apparently there were some fish on the other side of that wall and chris is the biggest kid of all, pretty much laying down on the wall to see!

this picture is funny too. this is chris and john (their neighbor) with john's DS, lex. poor little dude!

ray and i left after our hike but we had a great time. on the way home the boys were so tired that eli fell asleep standing up!

bless his heart! sometimes in the car he refuses to lay down and he's so sleepy he can't keep his eyes open. i finally got him to lay down and i looked in the back seat at one point to see this.....

so sweet!

here are some more pics that anna took. i thought this one was cute.

so tired after such a big birthday!!!

apparently bedhead exists in the woods, too.

a nutricious breakfast: sausages and.....

......graham crackers!

look, a squirrel!

so luke, what did you think of your birthday?

such a cool kid!!!

 

[shannon47142]

looked like a very fun birthday goodvibes
thanks for sharing

 

[k_reile]

thats my kind of roughing it with a computer

Too cute of the dogs sleeping! And a sundae bar is a great idea...i need to remember that in 3 mos...not so much for Caleb as he won;t notice but his older cousins will it!

 

[KristinAnne]

What a great party! It looks like such a fun time!

 

[lmillercrew]

I'm sorry to hear about Lucy. It's so hard to lose a pet.
Luke's party looked like a lot of fun! Such a "dude" party. Out in the woods, doing manly camping things.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Sorry about Lucy, but the butterfly bush is such a wonderful idea!

Luke's party looks like so much fun! I love the Luke's Clues idea!

Eli standing up and sleeping is too funny!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

SO CUTE!

that pic of luke in the water...he is like a mirror image of his dad!

Looks like a fun party. Were you taking notes? Your turn will come sooner than later! lol! Great update :O)

 

[MeMom]

ray and i left after our hike but we had a great time. on the way home the boys were so tired that eli fell asleep standing up!

bless his heart! sometimes in the car he refuses to lay down and he's so sleepy he can't keep his eyes open. i finally got him to lay down and i looked in the back seat at one point to see this.....

so sweet!

These are just precious! They were worn out!

 

[ktmetke]

Thank you for sharing about your dog.....we, too, will be losing our first dog soon (vet said 2 weeks to 2 months) and though we know, it won't make it any easier!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

I'm behind again. So sorry to hear about Lucy. I remember the story about her when you got Zolo. The old pics of you guys are so cute

Luke's birthday looks so fun! That pic of Eli sleeping standing up is so funny

Oh, and the vitamins - sounds wierd, but put them in a cup of apple cider vinegar - if they dissolve in 20-30 minutes, you are absorbing them just right. If it's shorther than 20, they are dissolving too fast and end up in your urine, longer than 30, they are coming out the other end. They say porta-potty workers don't believe in vitamins because they see so many of them - gross! Sorry for the TMI. Just that alot of people spend way to much $$ on vitamins that aren't even working for them.

 

[AussieAngel]

Aww, Luke looks so grown up!! Looks like a very fun party!!

Thinking about it... you make everything sound fun, Dawn!! When I read this last chapter, I was thinking to myself, "Hmmm, camping would be fun! And sausages for breakfast!! Yay!"

Then I realised.... actually, I don't like camping or sausages!! You just make it sound so fun!!

On a side note, I have a pink version of the Crocs you were wearing at Luke's party. They're great, aren't they!?

 

[LISAMWDW]

Thanks for sharing Luke's birthday party! Great photos! I heart the one with your babies sleeping in your backseat, Luke in his carseat!
Adorable pics!