and we're back. [Walt, Wizards, and....Woolungasaurus?]

[bumbershoot]

So sad this trip is coming to an end. Went for a walk on the fancy trail they have around here, saw a roadrunner in the environmental preserve. Soon we'll be swimming. Then perhaps a few more little things in our "best of" last day (similar to running around Disneyland/DCA hitting the fave rides of the trip, right?), then maybe watch a movie, then E will sleep.

Sigh.

My sister in law is the Best Aunt Ever. Seriously. I'm so sad I barely got a chance to see her this trip, but the time we have spent with her has been terrific.

 

[QueenDoOver]

The zoo sounds like great fun. (except that one yucky part...what do some people think!)

Yes, Capri, is her real name. I think her family will have a fabulous time.

I am thinking that in August after I have our school schedule for the next two years, that I will put in a "search first" request for an exchange into DVC for my family for any nonschool time in the next two years. Except for summer though. I guess that only leaves spring break and then winter break. Probably won't happen, but you never know! Then I will keep saving my airline miles and hopefully we will get that trip rescheduled. It will be an easier trip with Nathan being older anyhow.

And yes, E is cute as can be. I can totally picture him golden and freckled!

We went to Wild Waves last week to activate our annual passes. My little daredevil begged me for the chance to do the I-5 Sky Dive. They had a special on it, so I let him go with the big boys. Talk about my heart in my throat! But, he loved that experience so much. I think I have created a thrill junky!

Save travels back and hope your sunburn is better!

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes yes, Capri of course. My brain kept stopping on Callie. And I knew that wasn't right!

Is the sky dive a bungee type thing? Yikes! Crazy kid.

Sunburn is just fine. Sis in law keeps all the little shampoos and toiletry kits she gets on her travels, and puts them in the guest bathroom for anyone to use. She had these Bliss kits from W hotel, and there was some sort of balm in a tube that was absolutely brilliant for my skin. Soothed it, calmed the heat, took the redness down very quickly. Ah yes, there we are, the lemon and sage Body Butter. Loved it!

I should go take a passport photo while I have a little color left on my skin, instead of the pasty look.

Went to Roadrunner Sports yesterday in Kent (a town that is generally made fun of around here, but they have a very nice outside CA style sort of mall there now, with the delicious noodle place Zao) to buy shoes. Woo! I was shocked SHOCKED to find that Nike is now making bonafide WIDE width shoes! DH and I both did their "shoe dog" thing, where they video you walking on a treadmill, do some other thing, and really figure out what sort of shoe is good for you. And then I took about an hour after that going between a Brooks (loved it!), an Asics (meh), made her bring out a Saucony (eh), and a Nike.

Bought the Nike.

That's a big deal because my last pair of Nikes were from 1988, I went on two runs in them, and each run caused injury. First run caused an injury to one leg's peroneus longus tendon, got that healed up (varsity sport allowed me to get free PT), went for another run, did it to the other leg. I only bought them because the Footlocker lady said that that pair "ran wide". NO they did not.

Anyway, Roadrunner has a terrific return policy, so if these shoes don't work out, I can get a different pair. But I'm kinda hoping they work for me. I've resented Nike for a LONG time, and I'd like to give that up.

Robert also bought a pair of shoes, and I think they'll be great for him. They helped him walk very differently (in a very very good way), and we're hopeful that his shoes will allow him to work out more often and not just hurt him.


Speaking of Robert, he's off on ANOTHER trip, which, yes, means he's gone for E's birthday. But that was sort of the reason he came down to San Diego and why we went to the zoo and paid their outrageous prices. I'm taking E (and hopefully his friend and friend's mom) for miniature golf on Wednesday.

Tracey, if by chance you and Nathan are off work and school on Wednesday, please come on down, I'll take you golfing too!

I have really figured out that I am terrible at giving parties. I knew that already with just normal grownup type parties, but this b'day thing, ugh. If DS wants a big party next year, I'm going to hire a planner! I'm terrible at this! Which is why we've done Disneyland twice and this "party" is going to be an excursion.


I'm frightened that I'm almost 6 months out from the vacay. Actually I'm closer than I think, if we do the Caribbean Beach part. hyperventilating now


Must put in some thought about this!

 

[kaoden39]

Shoe shopping is not one of my favorite things by far. I have strange wide feet and I have gotten so used to wearing Birkenstocks that nothing fits comfortably. I try closed in shoes all the time but I never fond any that I want.

Oh yeah you should go get your picture taken now.

Poor R being gone for E's birthday. I think it will be harder on you and R than on E. Kids are funny that way. I am so not good at party throwing. The kids parties are always so hard for me to plan. I feel your pain.

 

[bumbershoot]

Help, my desk is drowning in a sea of junk......


Glad to know I'm not alone in having a hard time with parties!

 

[bumbershoot]

Little hint. Try to get your dates on your vacation ticker right the first time...because if you have to remake it, it takes away all the "time" you've put in! Notice I'm right back at the beginning of a ticker, instead of halfway done. I knew it was going to happen, but still....

Another hint. If you are changing your ticker, actually DO it, don't just Preview it.

though I know I hit the save button, so why is it showing me the older ticker still in my edit window??????


yayyyy, it's showing up correctly, if disappointingly.

 

[kaoden39]

I debated for a while on whether I wanted a ticker or not. That is why I went with the name tag. My tickers have never gone well in the past.

 

[bumbershoot]

I love love love the nametags. Love them!

 

[kaoden39]

I think they are cute.

 

[bumbershoot]

If you had Nov 30, Dec 1, and part of Dec 2 to NOT enter a major park, where would YOU eat?

And what would you do, other than sleep off the jetlag?

Not sure if we'll get in later on the 30th or if we'll do something insane like a redeye (now that E is older, can keep himself quiet for the sake of passengers, and stands a strong chance of sleeping on the plane...though now that I'm typing that, omg do I really think he can sleep all night on a plane? and what about ME?) getting in early on the 30th.

And I don't know when the family will arrive on the 2nd.

So there is quite a bit of flexibility going on!

But still, what would you do, and where would you eat?

From the newly released calendar, it looks like Blizzard Beach will be the waterpark open, IF the weather is nice enough for pac northwesterners to go to a waterpark.

 

[bumbershoot]

This shouldn't come as a surprise, but, um, Disney really knows how to keep WDW visitors on Disney property! I'm just looking around on their site and on some other sites, and we are going to have to force ourselves to get out and see the kitsch and dinoworld etc that was part of the starting plans!

 

[kaoden39]

I am not surprised by that. I think Disneyland is set up much friendlier in that sense.

 

[kaoden39]

Hey Molly, I saw this today and I thought it might interest you. I love Cat Cora!!

 

[bumbershoot]

Robert's been pushing to visit that restaurant, so maybe we will. He and DS are huge Food Network fans and watch Iron Chef often.

 

[kaoden39]

Cat Cora used to live near me and we used to run into each other at the grocery store in the produce department. She is a doll, full of southern charm and personality.

 

[Brady's Mom]

Molly if you want some local flair and not just a chain restaurant when you first get into FL you could always try Yelp.com. We have had great success with them in the past when we've traveled. We use them for the Anaheim area and have branched out to some fun restaurants in Garden Grove and Westminster and the Korean area out there. We've also used them for San Francisco - even though Hubby was born and raised there he hasn't lived there in over 20 years and restaurants change.

The cool thing about Yelp is that you can choose the genre of restaurant you might like and usually view the menus before you go. That way you can be armed with some idea of what you might like to eat as well as driving directions from your hotel before you go.

We always have a list (and directions) of about 4 or 5 places we might like to try before we go anywhere and can then just decide what we're in the mood for when we get there. It works great for us - but we love food. It might not work for everyone else, but we like the variety.

 

[bumbershoot]

Aw dang, the reply I did last night didn't go through. Darnit.

More later. Gotta put the SIX year old to bed!

********

I completely fell asleep while helping E get to sleep last night, and just didn't have the brain capacity to add anything here.

Today I'm only editing in stuff b/c my brain doesn't seem to have enough that's interesting for its own post. If that makes any sense at all.

Went to E's PE class today. Seems that they are changing it for next year. Making it a co-op instead of being regularly staffed. This is NOT good, that's not what I want. There are two moms (among others) there...between the two of them, they have 20 children. And they would have the same volunteering responsibility (1 hour per week) as I would. Does that seem fair to you? It doesn't to me. And we're mystified as to why this is happening. It works beautifully now. At least I think so. Some of the "perks" they mention are that we could have PE plus regular swimming and gymnastics classes (swim and gym would be taught by YMCA staff)...um, hi, we have that NOW. All it takes is *signing up* for those classes. This is not rocket science!

I'm upset. The other mom of only one is upset too. We could teach our kids most of these things, and sign them up for the classes, just as easily, without having to be responsible for other kids. Why do we want to sign our sons up for this thing where we'll end up with MORE responsibility? Bleah. Upset.

In, what, two more days I could book something for the 30th, if I wanted to. If I did, I would book dinner at 1900 Park Faire, because that would be a fun, non-park, interesting way to start off our trip!

 

[bumbershoot]

Oh dear. Now I'm reading awful statements about 1900 Park Fare!

 

[kaoden39]

Well, you never know. You may like it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Very true.


Rain rain rain rain.....


Can one use a Disney giftcard to either pay the deposit on a room-only reservation, or the deposit on a package? Anyone here know?


ETA...hey, I know, why don't I visit disneygiftcard.com? Obviously did not have a V-8 today! lol.

ETA2...well that was easy. "You can use your Disney Gift Card as a form of payment for Walt Disney World® Resort vacation packages and room nights by calling the Walt Disney Travel Company Florida at (407)- W-DISNEY."