Birthday trip????September 2013????

[DMGeurts]

I know this is way off topic, but I am soooooo proud of my oldest daughter Kate. She is one talented young woman and I wanted to share with anyone who might be interested. She had the priviledge of singing the National Anthem before the start of the Baltimore Orioles game last night. The weather forecast was awful with rain and possibly thunderstorms all night. The intrepid fans that came out for the game (half of which, I swear were there to see and hear Kate) were treated to a win by the O's and Kate's performance!

Oh wow!!!! She is just amazing! YOu must be so proud. What a gorgeous talent she has.

D~

 

[Iamthequeen]

I called WDW once I got to work on Monday morning - about 9 before I was able to get settled, coffee in hand and my computer all booted up, and managed to get free dining, upgrade our room to a preferred and get tickets to the MNSSHP for Friday the 13th. I wasn't on hold for very long, luckily. Managed to save about $700 (because of the room upgrade), so we are happy campers.

Also was searching around for some crafty type stuff to keep me busy and I decided to try tie dying some Mickey shirts for Charlie and me. Joann's had tshirts on sale 3 for $9, so I bought some white ones and some red ones (for an applique project), bought the tie dye and other supplies. Now I just need to get up the courage to actually do the tie dye. Never have tried it before - I know its hard to believe with 4 kids, but there you are.

I have a Husqvarna Rose embroidery/sewing machine that I bought more than 10 years ago. It still works just fine, but I've never really used the embroidery portion very much. A few years ago (7 actually!) I bought some embroidery software in order to download embroidery patterns - yeah, that didn't go anywhere either.

So last night, I decided to download the software on my newer computer. The program wouldn't load, so I emailed the company - turns out they stopped supporting that version in 2011 - just my luck. I thought I had a corrupted disc. I put it off to the side and finished up my bag for the trip.



In the process of sewing through the many layers of quilted fabric, I broke my sewing machine (no, not the Rose, the Sapphire). Anyway, I was able to move over to the Rose and finish the bag.

I took the Sapphire in to the shop today after work and asked about the software. John, the owner told me that it wasn't the disk, it was the Windows program that did not support that version of the software. Once I got home, I downloaded the files back onto my old laptop and it seems to be working just fine. YAY!

I spent some time this evening downloading some embroidery files. Not just sure exactly what I'm going to do yet, but I'm tossing some ideas around in my mind. I bought a few white tanks last year to play around with embroidery, so I'll probably try some of these designs on them.

I need to get a good pair of applique scissors though.

Also, changed around some of our ADRs last week. I decided that I really didn't want to spend 3 days at DHS, so I cancelled the ADR at Mama Melrose and added one at Cape May Café, which is one I really wanted anyway. I also added a lunch ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern for our last day.

So the ADRs look like this:

Thursday - arrival day - MK - Tony's Town Square 7 pm
Friday - Epcot - Via Napoli - 7 pm
Saturday - DHS - Sci Fi Dine in Theater - 7 pm? Not sure about the time
Sunday - Epcot - Rose & Crown - 7:50 - hoping to see Illuminations
Monday - MK - BOG 6:45 pm
Tuesday -DHS - 50s Prime Time - 5:15? Fantasmic
Wednesday - Animal Kingdom - Tusker House 8:05 am and Wishes Dessert Party in pm
Thursday - Epcot - Cape May Café 5;15 pm
Friday - free day - MNSSHP at MK
Saturday - MK - LTT 12 pm

Not sure we will spend all day at DHS on Tuesday. We may do a hopper that day, or just take a free day.

Charlie and I decided we were going to be pirates for the mnsshp, so I have another project to complete. That will be fun!

 

[Luvchefmic]

Geez Louise I missed some things sorry Congratulations on your son getting engaged & your daughter singing at the game VERY exciting both events

Commented on your Minnie bag when I saw it on D's PTR Very Nice

I forget the dates for your trip when is it again?

I LOVE MNSSHP Fred & I are planning to go Oct 6 when a dear Dis friend & her family that I met several years ago at a DisMeet will be here from Australia We're pretty excited about seeing each other again and Fred never met them or ever went to MNSSHP so I have a lot to look forward to too ( can I write a PTR or TR when I only live 1/2 hr away ? )


So which resort or are you not saying yet ?

Ruthie

 

[DMGeurts]

I called WDW once I got to work on Monday morning - about 9 before I was able to get settled, coffee in hand and my computer all booted up, and managed to get free dining, upgrade our room to a preferred and get tickets to the MNSSHP for Friday the 13th. I wasn't on hold for very long, luckily. Managed to save about $700 (because of the room upgrade), so we are happy campers.

Also was searching around for some crafty type stuff to keep me busy and I decided to try tie dying some Mickey shirts for Charlie and me. Joann's had tshirts on sale 3 for $9, so I bought some white ones and some red ones (for an applique project), bought the tie dye and other supplies. Now I just need to get up the courage to actually do the tie dye. Never have tried it before - I know its hard to believe with 4 kids, but there you are.

I have a Husqvarna Rose embroidery/sewing machine that I bought more than 10 years ago. It still works just fine, but I've never really used the embroidery portion very much. A few years ago (7 actually!) I bought some embroidery software in order to download embroidery patterns - yeah, that didn't go anywhere either.

So last night, I decided to download the software on my newer computer. The program wouldn't load, so I emailed the company - turns out they stopped supporting that version in 2011 - just my luck. I thought I had a corrupted disc. I put it off to the side and finished up my bag for the trip.



In the process of sewing through the many layers of quilted fabric, I broke my sewing machine (no, not the Rose, the Sapphire). Anyway, I was able to move over to the Rose and finish the bag.

I took the Sapphire in to the shop today after work and asked about the software. John, the owner told me that it wasn't the disk, it was the Windows program that did not support that version of the software. Once I got home, I downloaded the files back onto my old laptop and it seems to be working just fine. YAY!

I spent some time this evening downloading some embroidery files. Not just sure exactly what I'm going to do yet, but I'm tossing some ideas around in my mind. I bought a few white tanks last year to play around with embroidery, so I'll probably try some of these designs on them.

I need to get a good pair of applique scissors though.

Also, changed around some of our ADRs last week. I decided that I really didn't want to spend 3 days at DHS, so I cancelled the ADR at Mama Melrose and added one at Cape May Café, which is one I really wanted anyway. I also added a lunch ADR at Liberty Tree Tavern for our last day.

So the ADRs look like this:

Thursday - arrival day - MK - Tony's Town Square 7 pm
Friday - Epcot - Via Napoli - 7 pm
Saturday - DHS - Sci Fi Dine in Theater - 7 pm? Not sure about the time
Sunday - Epcot - Rose & Crown - 7:50 - hoping to see Illuminations
Monday - MK - BOG 6:45 pm
Tuesday -DHS - 50s Prime Time - 5:15? Fantasmic
Wednesday - Animal Kingdom - Tusker House 8:05 am and Wishes Dessert Party in pm
Thursday - Epcot - Cape May Café 5;15 pm
Friday - free day - MNSSHP at MK
Saturday - MK - LTT 12 pm

Not sure we will spend all day at DHS on Tuesday. We may do a hopper that day, or just take a free day.

Charlie and I decided we were going to be pirates for the mnsshp, so I have another project to complete. That will be fun!

So glad that you were able to get the embroidery machine portion working again, but I do like your hand appliques very much.

That's a bummer about your machine - definately need a sturdy machine if you are going to be sewing quilted bags. I frequently have to go through 16 layers of quilt batting combined with 16 layers of cotton, and it isn't an easy task for just any machine - there aren't many that can tackle that. If I would have known you were trying - I would have told you, so you didn't wreck your machine.

I know I said it in my thread - but I love how your bag turned out - great job!

Yes, we need a large reminder post of the basic things... The above post is perfect - but I need to also be reminded of your dates again...

Love all of your ADRs! I agree - 3 days at DHS is probably too much... We only ever do 1, but we'd probably consider 2 at some point, if we had the time.

Just stopping by to wish you a Happy Mother's Day!

D~

 

[Luvchefmic]

Adding my Mothers Day wishes I seem to be following D around the PTRs this morning

 

[Iamthequeen]

Our dates are September 5 - 14. Not sure we will be spending even 2 days at DHS - might only go for dinner the one night, depending on if we get a chance to ride the Toy Story ride - which we have not yet done.

Yesterday we drove to Virginia (a 2.5 -3 hour drive, normally) for my great-nephew's first birthday party. It took us more than 4 hours to get there - traffic south of Washington DC on I-95 is horrendous!

We had a lovely time while we were there though. My niece's in-laws are huge Disney fans, so we spent a good portion of the afternoon talking about Disney. Only took 2.5 hours to come home and that was in the rain..

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

 

[Luvchefmic]

Thanks for the reminder of your dates its hard to keep track of everyone around here I better start writing it all down on a real calendar on the wall truly hope we get a Dismeet when you are here

Ahh nice about the one year old BD I love VA lots of good memories there ( and great friends from my old dachshund & pointer rescue days) plus both DD & DSIL are stationed at USMC Quantico they're in the Alexandria area anywhere near your family ? BIG state


Your arrival date is Pluto's birthday (I really have too much Pluto info in my brain LOL) and the day before MINE

 

[Iamthequeen]

Thanks for the reminder of your dates its hard to keep track of everyone around here I better start writing it all down on a real calendar on the wall truly hope we get a Dismeet when you are here

Ahh nice about the one year old BD I love VA lots of good memories there ( and great friends from my old dachshund & pointer rescue days) plus both DD & DSIL are stationed at USMC Quantico they're in the Alexandria area anywhere near your family ? BIG state


Your arrival date is Pluto's birthday (I really have too much Pluto info in my brain LOL) and the day before MINE

My niece lives in Fredericksburg, which is about 40 -50 miles south of Alexandria.

 

[Luvchefmic]

My niece lives in Fredericksburg, which is about 40 -50 miles south of Alexandria.

I think one of my former Pointer Rescue buddies lives in Fredericksburg, nice area actually the whole state is very pretty I read about your grand niece on D's PTR praying for Kat

 

[Iamthequeen]

I read about your grand niece on D's PTR praying for Kat

Thanks Ruthie, we are all praying really hard for her.

 

[Iamthequeen]

I haven't posted in a while, so this might be a fairly long update:

First, Disney planning, since that's what this PTR is supposed be about -

Finally received the updated bill from Disney - that will be paid off today !

I won D~s auction for the Jiminy Cricket bag !

A friend from Florida sent me a Disney bag as a thank you for hosting the quilt retreat ! Its fairly large, so I probably won't be carrying it in the park, but it will come in handy nevertheless.

I decided, after seeing all the wonderful custom outfits around the DIS, that I wanted to make some for DH and I - he's good about that kind of stuff, probably because he's just a kid at heart. So I searched around and found some really nice applique designs, found a couple you tube videos on how to make the appliques and went to Joann's and bought t-shirts for $3 a piece. Then I dug out the embroidery part of my sewing machine (a Viking Rose) (actually it was still attached from when I made bags for my sister and me for our Hawaii trip) found the design software I bought many moons ago and tried to load it on my computer - to no avail. It just stopped loading....

So I sent an email to Husqvarna and got a reply back stating that that edition was no longer supported and they couldn't help me. Ok then...I was at a dead end, since I couldn't open the embroidery files I just bought.

In the meantime, I did a number on my other Viking (poor Sapphire!) and had to take her in to be repaired. Asked the guy at the store about the software and he told me its not supported by Windows 7 - aha! My old laptop has Windows XP - and I was able to download the software on it! YAY! SUCCESS!

I was able to embroider, with lots of stitch ripping, eventually. I'm really not stupid, but I was having a hard time getting things right. DH says I'm a perfectionist, and I guess I am somewhat. I was not happy with the results I was getting.

So, my solution was to get a new embroidery machine.... I broke down and bought a Brother PE 770 - and I love it so far!

I promise to take pictures and upload them here later....

DH is having so much fun trying to decide which designs he wants on his shirts...Did I say he was a kid at heart?

I bought some scrapbooking papers yesterday at Joanns so I can make a travel planner to take with us. That will be a project for later this summer.

I'm also getting ready to start on our Pirates costumes, though I may hold off on mine a while longer to see if I can actually lose more weight. I'm hoping to lose about 20 pounds, and so far I've lost 3 (I hope I don't find them again!) Its only been a week, so I'm encouraged. We've been walking too, so that should help.

I also want to make some more skorts for me - I love them, but again I want to hold off just a while longer....

I haven't heard anything more about Kat. Her dad and step mom went camping this weekend, so I expect to get an update later today.

Today will include yard work, since it seems to be a gorgeous day outside and the gardens need help desperately....

 

[WDW in Pearls]

Happy very early birthday! My birthday is Sept 14th and our trip is over my birthday too. No milestone for me, I've just never gone over my birthday and have always wanted to.

Kudos to you for making your custom clothes! I'm having a t shirt made by Preppy in Paradise in Ft Myers. I live in PA so they ship to me, but they have a much better selection of Disney customization than I could get around here.

Can't wait to hear more about your trip!

 

[Iamthequeen]

I haven't done a Hawaii update in a while either, so here goes:

Saturday, we headed for Hilo, which is on the east coast of the Big Island, which means heading south, east and north. Remember the main roads travel around the perimeter of the island. The ocean was to our right for almost the entire trip.



We stopped at an overlook on the way.





We stopped at the Volcano Winery also.



Then we stopped at the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut factory and store. The factory was not open, so we just shopped.

There are 250 macadamia nut trees per acre here and they have over a 1,000 acres of trees!

Next stop was the farmer's market in Hilo - I spent lots of money - I bought Hawaiian shirts for the men, jewelry for the women and I bought a quilted pillow cover for me.

We went to a diner called Ken's for lunch - yummy food and they played oldies music! My kind of place.

Then we headed for Volcanos National Park to see this:


and this:






The Jagger Museum is where these pictures were taken:
.

Then we left the Observatory and headed for the Chain of Craters Road, which is an 18 mile long road down to the ocean through the paths of old lava flows. There are signs along the way to explain when the lava flows were active.

I don't have a picture of the road, but this is where we ended up:



This is the End of the Road. A lava flow wiped out a village in the 1990's on its way to the ocean. It also closed the road.



After hiking on the lava for a bit, we headed back up to the top. It was dark by the time we got there. We went back to the Observatory to see this:



This was the glow of the lava.

After that, we headed back home.

Sunday was a relaxing day. We watched tv, read, took pictures of flowers and then went to my SIL's brother's house for Pu pu's and drinks. Pu pu's are appetizers.

 

[DMGeurts]

I haven't posted in a while, so this might be a fairly long update:

First, Disney planning, since that's what this PTR is supposed be about -

Finally received the updated bill from Disney - that will be paid off today !

WHOOT!!! THat is awesome!

II won D~s auction for the Jiminy Cricket bag

This is awesome too!

IA friend from Florida sent me a Disney bag as a thank you for hosting the quilt retreat ! Its fairly large, so I probably won't be carrying it in the park, but it will come in handy nevertheless.

Pictures???

II decided, after seeing all the wonderful custom outfits around the DIS, that I wanted to make some for DH and I - he's good about that kind of stuff, probably because he's just a kid at heart. So I searched around and found some really nice applique designs, found a couple you tube videos on how to make the appliques and went to Joann's and bought t-shirts for $3 a piece. Then I dug out the embroidery part of my sewing machine (a Viking Rose) (actually it was still attached from when I made bags for my sister and me for our Hawaii trip) found the design software I bought many moons ago and tried to load it on my computer - to no avail. It just stopped loading....

So I sent an email to Husqvarna and got a reply back stating that that edition was no longer supported and they couldn't help me. Ok then...I was at a dead end, since I couldn't open the embroidery files I just bought.

In the meantime, I did a number on my other Viking (poor Sapphire!) and had to take her in to be repaired. Asked the guy at the store about the software and he told me its not supported by Windows 7 - aha! My old laptop has Windows XP - and I was able to download the software on it! YAY! SUCCESS!

I was able to embroider, with lots of stitch ripping, eventually. I'm really not stupid, but I was having a hard time getting things right. DH says I'm a perfectionist, and I guess I am somewhat. I was not happy with the results I was getting.

This is all awful... Awesome about DH doing customs with you... Awful that your machines were not cooperating at all.

ISo, my solution was to get a new embroidery machine.... I broke down and bought a Brother PE 770 - and I love it so far!

But this is awesome!

II promise to take pictures and upload them here later....

YAY!!!

IDH is having so much fun trying to decide which designs he wants on his shirts...Did I say he was a kid at heart?

I could only dream... Id be happy just to get DH to come to Disney with me (and smile)...

II bought some scrapbooking papers yesterday at Joanns so I can make a travel planner to take with us. That will be a project for later this summer.

Can't wait to see pictures of this too!

II'm also getting ready to start on our Pirates costumes, though I may hold off on mine a while longer to see if I can actually lose more weight. I'm hoping to lose about 20 pounds, and so far I've lost 3 (I hope I don't find them again!) Its only been a week, so I'm encouraged. We've been walking too, so that should help.

Awesome! I am also trying to be a lot healthier... It's not always easy.

II also want to make some more skorts for me - I love them, but again I want to hold off just a while longer....

Do you have a pattern that you like?

II haven't heard anything more about Kat. Her dad and step mom went camping this weekend, so I expect to get an update later today.

Please keep us updated if you can.

IToday will include yard work, since it seems to be a gorgeous day outside and the gardens need help desperately....

No yard work for us... Rainy and icky in MN.

D~

 

[Iamthequeen]

Here are some of the designs I've done for our trip:













And here is the bag my friend sent to me:



Gotta get ready for work.....

 

[Luvchefmic]

Very nice I love the shirts Hope you're having a great weekend Tess, glad Kat is getting closer and closer Prayers continue

Ruthie

 

[Iamthequeen]

I don't really have anything much to report on our Disney planning other than I'm waiting for the Wishes dessert party reservations to open for September. I still need to get the reservations for the Behind the Seeds tour. Charlie wants to do this one.

We are planning to go back next September and are hoping to get some type of bounceback offer.

Sept 2015 we are planning a family reunion type trip with my brothers and their families and hopefully my sister and her family too. My BIL is not a big Disney fan, so I don't see him wanting to go, but you never know....

Kat had a TEE (Trans esophageal echo cardiogram) test today, which basically verified that there is a hole in her heart, called a PFO. The doctors think they can do an intravenous plug to patch it. Tomorrow she will have a CT scan to rule out vasculitis (in the arteries in her head) as an alternative root cause of the stroke.

It was a rough day for her. Apparently the TEE test is not very pleasant.

 

[Chicago Mo]

How am i not following along here?!?!?

Well I am her now!!!
I love your pictures of Hawaii!! Or as Hotel Transylvania would say Haweewee!!!
OH MY GOSH what an honor to sing the national anthem for the opener!!!! that is AMAZZZZING!!!!!

love your ADR's!!

 

[DMGeurts]

Here are some of the designs I've done for our trip:













And here is the bag my friend sent to me:



Gotta get ready for work.....

Wait a minute... I missed this whole post??? Where was I??? That is so unlike me... Sometimes, if I miss something important like this - you really need to give me a little nudge... K?

So... I love everything... YOu know I have a special place in my heart to MI - or anything Pixar related, so I just love these!

And the bag is adorable! What are you planning on carrying in it - it's hard to tell how big it is... Is it a good beach/pool bag size?

D~

 

[Iamthequeen]

How am i not following along here?!?!?

Well I am her now!!!
I love your pictures of Hawaii!! Or as Hotel Transylvania would say Haweewee!!!
OH MY GOSH what an honor to sing the national anthem for the opener!!!! that is AMAZZZZING!!!!!

love your ADR's!!

Welcome Mo! As a very proud mama, I had tears in my eyes and went around telling everyone I saw that was my baby singing. As my kids would tell you, I have absolutely no musical talent whatsoever - and I have 2 left feet, but I can appreciate the talent of others!

Wait a minute... I missed this whole post??? Where was I??? That is so unlike me... Sometimes, if I miss something important like this - you really need to give me a little nudge... K?

So... I love everything... YOu know I have a special place in my heart to MI - or anything Pixar related, so I just love these!

And the bag is adorable! What are you planning on carrying in it - it's hard to tell how big it is... Is it a good beach/pool bag size?

D~

I just figured you were being held hostage in your sewing room....

I hope to have another update this weekend. Still not much going on planning for THIS trip, but we are planning another one for next year ... and the year after....