April 17, 2011 on the Dream

[bdink921]

Ate too much at my labor day picnic, how bout you guys? anyone want to lose 15 lbs before the cruise??? maybe we could push each other!!

I need to lose 15 lbs before our cruise--we have a biggest loser contest starting up 9/13 so I'm going to join. We had one in January and I did manage to lose 5 lbs but my thyroid was all screwy and the doc was adjusting meds. Go figure, we're in the adjustment stage again and trying something new but I hope it all evens out so the weight will come off. I have to work awfully hard just to lose a couple of pounds .

 

[Deb T.]

Hi All,

We've been out-of-state for the past week. DH's mother passed away August 28th. She'd been ill for a very long time so it was somewhat expected but it still wasn't easy. She was 82 and lived a nice, long, happy life. She's been my MIL for 31 years but she was more like a mother to me since my own mother has been gone for 32 years. One nice thing about the past week is that we got to spend quality time with the entire extended family since we all flew in from all over the U.S.

Welcome Cliffside! Let me know if you'd like to join the FE Exchange.

allaboutdisney1967 - I've got you down for the FE Exchange!

Here is the latest updated list of Fish Extender Exchange participants (Deadline to join is 4-1-11):
Ness2289 & DD12
Deb T. & DH
Tigger1313 & DGD17
Golfnsuch & DH, DS11, DS7
WPoohgirl & DH, DD14, DS12
Z’sDisneyMom & DH, DD12
ydrj & DH, DS16, DD14
princessdaisy & DH, DD18, DS8 (*still need names)
goofy4tink & DH, DD17
jeni37 & DH, DS14, DS10, DD6
kim5678 & DH, DD13
lindafish & DH
disneycruisegal & DH
caronjn & DW, DS10, DD7 (*still need cabin number and names)
alenushka & DH, DD10, (and maybe DS in college)
pershing & DS16, DS14, DS13
bdink921& DH, DS12
svcutler & DH, DD15, DD11
Downrivermama & DD12
Rlbren & DH
allaboutdisney1967 & DH, DD13

 

[alenushka]

Thanks for that info on the sensitivity, I am going to look into that a bit more. Yes, we know matti has some anxiety issues that are likely going to need some intervention soon if they don't impove, you may have provided some great insight for me! Thank you!! thank you!! (ps. dh just walked in and found that comment about the heightened senses very interesting too. If wonder if there is actually a name for it ??? very interesting )

Working with children, I can suggest to "google" :sensory integration/ hypersensitivity> Check out books "out of sync child" and "out of sync child has fun". They describe different levels of hypersensitivity in children from mild to severe. I learned a lot from "out of sync child" book. It helped me to understand why my DD was crying when we rearranged her furniture (she was 2 at the time) and why she was having hard time transitioning to new classrooms in her Day Care. Every child is different and has it's own personality/sensitivity. But learning about it may help you understand Matti better and to find ways to help her to adjust and to feel less anxious. I came across the below:

"My name is Anne, and I am a Highly Sensitive / Out of Sync Person!

I first want to talk about the descriptions I’m using – Highly Sensitive and Out of Sync. We don’t use these labels in our home, in our lives…we are just Who We Are. But I, personally, have found it incredibly validating understanding why I am the way I am…and also validating to know that there are other people like me.

When I first needed an understanding of my child and myself, I felt a connection with The Out of Sync Child by Carol Stock Kranowitz because it was the first book I came across that asked society for a better understanding of people with Sensory Defensiveness, or Sensory Integration Dysfunction without focusing on trying to change the child. And I found the practical advice helpful, also.

But recently, this book has come into my life: The Highly Sensitive Child by Elaine Aron, and I have been blown away by it. Where The Out of Sync Child focused on the dysfunction of Sensory Integration, The Highly Sensitive Child boldly insists that there is nothing wrong with possessing these traits, and, in fact, being that 20% of the population possess these traits, being highly sensitive is not dysfunctional or abnormal. It’s just the way some people are and for very good reasons."

I hope it helps.

Ate too much at my labor day picnic, how bout you guys? anyone want to lose 15 lbs before the cruise??? maybe we could push each other!!

YES, YES, YES
Ever since we came back from our 9 days cruise (spring break), I did not recover and ended up buying a few pieces of clothing in the next size bs I was not comfortable in some of my clothes from the previous year. Now, I feel very tight in THOSE clothes!!!! I finally signed up for a GYM and now need to make sure I am making it to my classes. I just need to loose 7-8 lbs at this time, but every lb is SOOOOO HARD to loose. P-L-A-E-S-E PUSH ME!
Yelena

 

[alenushka]

Hi All,

We've been out-of-state for the past week. DH's mother passed away August 28th. She'd been ill for a very long time so it was somewhat expected but it still wasn't easy. She was 82 and lived a nice, long, happy life. She's been my MIL for 31 years but she was more like a mother to me since my own mother has been gone for 32 years. One nice thing about the past week is that we got to spend quality time with the entire extended family since we all flew in from all over the U.S.

[/COLOR]

So sorry to hear about your loss, Deb...
As you said, she had a nice and long life. Let the best memories of your DH's mother stay with you forever....
Y.

 

[jilljill]

DEb T. our sympathies to you and your entire family.
We've experienced the 'expected' loss and the totally 'unexpected' loss of our parents and neither was/is easy to deal with. With friends and family you will all heal in our own time.

 

[outahere]

Yes, 48 families does amount to a lot of DISers!

Yes it is a fairly large number of people, but for the first EB Panama Canal crossing in 2005, we had over 600! Most of us bought special lanyards and many passengers and crew members asked us about our group. It was almost impossible to go anywhere on the ship without running into one of us.

We had so many people that DCL let us use one of the lounges (Rockin' Bar D maybe?) for our DIS meet.

 

[goofy4tink]

Hi All,

We've been out-of-state for the past week. DH's mother passed away August 28th. She'd been ill for a very long time so it was somewhat expected but it still wasn't easy. She was 82 and lived a nice, long, happy life. She's been my MIL for 31 years but she was more like a mother to me since my own mother has been gone for 32 years. One nice thing about the past week is that we got to spend quality time with the entire extended family since we all flew in from all over the U.S.

Welcome Cliffside! Let me know if you'd like to join the FE Exchange.

allaboutdisney1967 - I've got you down for the FE Exchange!

Here is the latest updated list of Fish Extender Exchange participants (Deadline to join is 4-1-11):
Ness2289 & DD12
Deb T. & DH
Tigger1313 & DGD17
Golfnsuch & DH, DS11, DS7
WPoohgirl & DH, DD14, DS12
Z’sDisneyMom & DH, DD12
ydrj & DH, DS16, DD14
princessdaisy & DH, DD18, DS8 (*still need names)
goofy4tink & DH, DD17
jeni37 & DH, DS14, DS10, DD6
kim5678 & DH, DD13
lindafish & DH
disneycruisegal & DH
caronjn & DW, DS10, DD7 (*still need cabin number and names)
alenushka & DH, DD10, (and maybe DS in college)
pershing & DS16, DS14, DS13
bdink921& DH, DS12
svcutler & DH, DD15, DD11
Downrivermama & DD12
Rlbren & DH
allaboutdisney1967 & DH, DD13

So sorry to hear of your family's loss Deb...hope all are healing and doing well as time passes by.


Looks to be a great bunch of DISers on this cruise. I'm looking forward to meeting everyone and finding some teens to hang with the dd. And it would seem that we'll be spending quite a bit of time doling out FE gifts..that group is getting sizable as well!!! It may be a good idea to split into two groups if there are some that don't want to do a ton of people. That's what we've done on other cruises.

 

[chasingthedream]

Hi. This is my first post on the DIS forum. My DH and I are taking our DS on very special 5th Bday on the Dream in May. I have been reading the forums and review sites for a few weeks now. I am so impressed and inspired by all of the positive and excited people in this thread. Also the camaraderie is comforting and inspiring. I kind of wish I was taking your cruise in April!

Anyway I am wondering if anyone would be interested in a postcard exchange. If you would not mind sending an autographed PC to my son from your trip (maybe telling him that Mickey was excited to see him in a few weeks) I would gladly send one back thanking your special little one for visiting from their fav character we we are on our cruise.

Any takers?

 

[Downrivermama]

Hey all! We are back and ready for school to start tomorrow. I actually bought a dress and sandals for the cruise! And got some good buys on kids stuff at Mike's! Today I figured out what to make for FE gifts!

Oh and I got a ticker!!!

 

[scootch]

Hi. This is my first post on the DIS forum. My DH and I are taking our DS on very special 5th Bday on the Dream in May. I have been reading the forums and review sites for a few weeks now. I am so impressed and inspired by all of the positive and excited people in this thread. Also the camaraderie is comforting and inspiring. I kind of wish I was taking your cruise in April!

Anyway I am wondering if anyone would be interested in a postcard exchange. If you would not mind sending an autographed PC to my son from your trip (maybe telling him that Mickey was excited to see him in a few weeks) I would gladly send one back thanking your special little one for visiting from their fav character we we are on our cruise.

Any takers?

No problem, just pm me. One cool thing they did in the kids club last time was had the kids make a handprint postcard. They didnt' realize it was a postcard and a few weeks later, it came in the mail. The front of the postcard was so cool, it was one of those pictures where you look at it one way and it looked like a bottle, then move it and you see the disney cruise ship inside the bottle! REally cute. so just pm me and I will get a postcard off. We are doing back to back cruises, so I will have plenty of time.

Sorry Deb for your loss. I am with you, you are never ready!!

Thanks for the info alenushka on those books. I will definitely look them up. Anything to help my sweet Matti be secure is a plus!!

Busy here as we are going to repaint our downstairs this coming weekend, has been 8 years and with older plastered walls that is a no-no. Dang, we have too much "stuff"... Hopefully we can organize a bit afterwards. Going to take longer to empty the room(curio cabinet, book case) than it will take to paint it! Dh is doing the painting, I am doing the emptying.

 

[alenushka]

http://www.groupon.com/deals/shutte...e=newsletter&c=btn&addx=vadimraskin@yahoo.com

67% off sounds like a great deal to me!
I am not sure if you need to register with "groupon" to take advantage of this offer. We used them before for other stores/restaurants and everything was just as promised. This offer expires within 24 hours but if you take advantage of it you could use it up until November 22, 2010.

 

[bdink921]

Deb, so sorry for the loss of your dear MIL . My deepest sympathies to you and your DH.

 

[Ness2289]

Hi All,

We've been out-of-state for the past week. DH's mother passed away August 28th. She'd been ill for a very long time so it was somewhat expected but it still wasn't easy. She was 82 and lived a nice, long, happy life. She's been my MIL for 31 years but she was more like a mother to me since my own mother has been gone for 32 years. One nice thing about the past week is that we got to spend quality time with the entire extended family since we all flew in from all over the U.S.

So sorry to hear about your loss, Deb. Please give my deepest condolences to your husband and family.

 

[Deb T.]

Thanks, everyone, for all the nice posts of sympathy. They are very much appreciated.

 

[pershing]

Good Morning All!

Has everyone recovered from the back to school dance?

I'm using the weekend to catch up on all the paperwork they send home. Yikes! It's so unfair the kids didn't have any homework this week, but I've got a pile of stuff to fill out. Nevermind a budget busting surprise of having to buy a Texas Instrument Calculator TI-83 or TI-84 for $80-90 for my oldest for algebra! (I'm trying to ebay but no joy) Don't they know I have to buy airfare soon! lol Priorities people! Geesh.

I need some Disney Dreamin' so let me ask: What's the top 3 things you personally what to do on the ship next April? Not the rest of your family, just you. (Sometimes we planners get lost in what the rest of the family wants to do and making that happen.)

Mine are:

1) Have a drink in Pink
2) .....and that's all I got so far.

 

[scootch]

Good Morning All!

Has everyone recovered from the back to school dance?

I'm using the weekend to catch up on all the paperwork they send home. Yikes! It's so unfair the kids didn't have any homework this week, but I've got a pile of stuff to fill out. Nevermind a budget busting surprise of having to buy a Texas Instrument Calculator TI-83 or TI-84 for $80-90 for my oldest for algebra! (I'm trying to ebay but no joy) Don't they know I have to buy airfare soon! lol Priorities people! Geesh.

I need some Disney Dreamin' so let me ask: What's the top 3 things you personally what to do on the ship next April? Not the rest of your family, just you. (Sometimes we planners get lost in what the rest of the family wants to do and making that happen.)

Mine are:

1) Have a drink in Pink
2) .....and that's all I got so far.

We have three weeks in already, hard to believe. Getting better, love the 5th grade teacher my dd has for most of her classes, the Russian teacher is getting a smidge better. , although we knew she would be tough. Strange thing happened today. We are not sending our dd to Camp Fitch, instead going on the DREAM... thus she will only miss 2 class days before the Camp Fitch and then the 3 days they are at camp, she won't have any make up work. Well, her teacher comes begging me to go to camp, she can only ask one mom to go. Guess I made a good first impression, or could it be that I have a background as a critical care nurse. She said she has plenty of volunteers but she wants a mom the kids are all comfortable with and one who won't watch over her own and neglect the rest. I really don't want to change the cruise and go to Camp Fitch, but did peek at it... I would have to upgrade to a verandah, so the cruise would cost about $1,000 more! plus no early seating for dinner left...... so that kind of seals the deal that I will stay with this cruise.

Yes, we have to have those priorities. Won't be long till Southwest opens!

Hmmm... three things:
1) Go to Atlantis via comfort suites.... ahhh... I really did love that place.
2) Pray both girls at least go to the kids club for an hour, so I can have an hour of mommy time.(I know a small thing, but it never happened last cruise )
3).... hmmm... I need to think about number three

I have three little girls from school here now, heading to my brotherinlaws for a little campfire and some smores. Feels like fall very quickly here in Ohio after being in the 90's all last week!

 

[Deb T.]

Good Morning All!

Has everyone recovered from the back to school dance?

I'm using the weekend to catch up on all the paperwork they send home. Yikes! It's so unfair the kids didn't have any homework this week, but I've got a pile of stuff to fill out. Nevermind a budget busting surprise of having to buy a Texas Instrument Calculator TI-83 or TI-84 for $80-90 for my oldest for algebra! (I'm trying to ebay but no joy) Don't they know I have to buy airfare soon! lol Priorities people! Geesh.

I need some Disney Dreamin' so let me ask: What's the top 3 things you personally what to do on the ship next April? Not the rest of your family, just you. (Sometimes we planners get lost in what the rest of the family wants to do and making that happen.)

Mine are:

1) Have a drink in Pink
2) .....and that's all I got so far.

Sue, your post was exactly what I needed today! I am in serious need of some Disney Dreamin! So, I'm going to go all out and add even add some categories:

Top 3 Things I Personally Want To Do On This Cruise:
1. Relax
2. Not worry about a thing
3. Enjoy being pampered

Top 3 Things I Personally Want To Do On The Ship:
1. Relax on our verandah on our sea day while snacking on an All Hands On Deck Platter. I love looking out at nothing but ocean!
2. Explore every inch of the new ship and check out all the new innovative technology, such as the framed pictures that are supposed to change and react as you pass by!
3. Savor every meal (and all the snacking in between) that I don't have to shop for, prepare, or clean up afterward!

Top 3 Things I Personally Want To Do On Castaway Cay:
1. Sit in a beach chair at the water's edge at Serenity Bay with just my feet in the water and read a good book while listening to small waves coming ashore.
2. Buy a comfy Castaway Cay sweatshirt to snuggle in when I need a Disney hug.
3. Eat lunch at Cookies and Serenity Bay's Air Bar.

Thanks for my little break from reality!

 

[pershing]

2) Pray both girls at least go to the kids club for an hour, so I can have an hour of mommy time.(I know a small thing, but it never happened last cruise )

Here's hoping you get that!

1. Sit in a beach chair at the water's edge at Serenity Bay with just my feet in the water and read a good book while listening to small waves coming ashore.
3. Eat lunch at Cookies and Serenity Bay's Air Bar.

Thanks for my little break from reality!

No Problem!

I like your ideas. I've never been to Serenity Bay, now that the kids are older I should think about spending the morning with them and the afternoon at Serenity.

I have a question. Is Serenity Bay's Air Bar's lunch different from Cookies?

I would love to walk/jog/hop the Castaway Cay 5K. Not sure if my kids would be up to sleeping in and letting me do it. They probably would.

I shuffle 3 miles a day on my treadmill, but still have a ways to go before I could actually jog in hot weather.

 

[Deb T.]

I like your ideas. I've never been to Serenity Bay, now that the kids are older I should think about spending the morning with them and the afternoon at Serenity.

I have a question. Is Serenity Bay's Air Bar's lunch different from Cookies?

That's a loaded question on the DIS Boards! A lot of people will post that the Air Bar's lunch offerings are a lot nicer than Cookies'. Having eaten at both seven times, I can tell you that the food is exactly the same, with the following exceptions:
-Cookies has corn-on-the-cob (a comfort food for me) but Air Bar doesn't.
-Sometimes Air Bar offers steak, but I've always personally found the steak to be a little on the tough side.

The only other differences are that Cookies has a large shelter to eat under whereas Air Bar only has a little bit of shade from trees. And of course, there are no kids at Air Bar.

 

[alenushka]

Good Morning All!

Has everyone recovered from the back to school dance?

I'm using the weekend to catch up on all the paperwork they send home. Yikes! It's so unfair the kids didn't have any homework this week, but I've got a pile of stuff to fill out. Nevermind a budget busting surprise of having to buy a Texas Instrument Calculator TI-83 or TI-84 for $80-90 for my oldest for algebra! (I'm trying to ebay but no joy) Don't they know I have to buy airfare soon! lol Priorities people! Geesh.

I need some Disney Dreamin' so let me ask: What's the top 3 things you personally what to do on the ship next April? Not the rest of your family, just you. (Sometimes we planners get lost in what the rest of the family wants to do and making that happen.)

Mine are:

1) Have a drink in Pink
2) .....and that's all I got so far.

For some reason we did not get "parents HW/forms" yet
We managed to break a new bookback on the first day of school (first 1/2 an hour ) bs the strap got caught in the wheel; but, luckily, we were able to exchange it for exactly the same one !!!
Thank you for Disney Dreaming post

Sue, your post was exactly what I needed today! I am in serious need of some Disney Dreamin! So, I'm going to go all out and add even add some categories:

Top 3 Things I Personally Want To Do On This Cruise:
1. Relax
2. Not worry about a thing
3. Enjoy being pampered

Top 3 Things I Personally Want To Do On The Ship:
1. Relax on our verandah on our sea day while snacking on an All Hands On Deck Platter. I love looking out at nothing but ocean!
2. Explore every inch of the new ship and check out all the new innovative technology, such as the framed pictures that are supposed to change and react as you pass by!
3. Savor every meal (and all the snacking in between) that I don't have to shop for, prepare, or clean up afterward!

Top 3 Things I Personally Want To Do On Castaway Cay:
1. Sit in a beach chair at the water's edge at Serenity Bay with just my feet in the water and read a good book while listening to small waves coming ashore.
2. Buy a comfy Castaway Cay sweatshirt to snuggle in when I need a Disney hug.
3. Eat lunch at Cookies and Serenity Bay's Air Bar.

Thanks for my little break from reality!

Deb - I have been Dreaming all day today (thank you, Sue ), and, mostly, I have to second your top 3 things to do on this cruise and on the ship:
I would love to relax on either verandah or by the pool with a nice book.
I can't wait to explore every inch of the ship and to see new technology and bars/restaurants.
#3 would probably be to go for a ride on AquaDuck.
Can I add #4 and #5???
#4 I never have time to watch a movie, but I would love to see a movie in their 3D movie theater
#5 Pictures!!!! lots of them! with every possible Disney character, especially in unusual/unplanned places! They say "have your camera ready at all times", but we never had a chance on our previous two cruises to meet/greet characters in any other place but the ones indicated on the program
And i LOVE children eyes when they meet Disney characters - their faces light up with such an excitement and happiness as if they were touched by magic
AAA-h, what the heck, I have to add one more ...:
#6 I want to meet you guys and chat+relax with a drink or two, or three....