Boo to you & AKV too!! **11/18**52 days to go, freaking out, a bag & next year!**

[jenjolt]

Awww...it would seem you guys had a really fun 4th of July!!!! How much fun that parade looks!!!

Love the hat your DD is wearing, I want to get one just like it LOL!!!

Awww...Ryan has a girlfriend??? That picture is so cute!

 

[tink1957]

I'm in for this one, I really enjoyed your last report & can't wait to read about your latest. Glad Ryan is doing better, he looks like he's recovered nicely.

 

[jenn-]

Oh, I like that stranger's hat! Your DD's was quite cute as well. Looks like a fun 4th all the way around.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I'm here! Great intro to the cast - I enjoyed all the pictures of your family!

The 4th of July parade looks really cool, knowing me I would have been tearing up with all the military personnel walking by, the guns being shot and all that - I'm such a sap!

 

[Villainess]

I'm in! The July 4th parade looked like lots of fun. My town used to have one when I was a child. The entire neighborhood sat on our corner - we looked forward to it. Unfortunately, they don't do it anymore

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Awww...it would seem you guys had a really fun 4th of July!!!! How much fun that parade looks!!!

Love the hat your DD is wearing, I want to get one just like it LOL!!!

Awww...Ryan has a girlfriend??? That picture is so cute!

We love going to the parade! It's so much fun! It's like 2 1/2 hours long with just tons and tons of cool stuff!

DD got that hat last year at the parade and just had to take it with her! LOL!!!

Yup, Ryan has a girlfriend! She's the daughter of two of our best friends from college! She's too cute! She's also about 6 months older then Ryan!

I'm in for this one, I really enjoyed your last report & can't wait to read about your latest. Glad Ryan is doing better, he looks like he's recovered nicely.

Thanks for coming over!!

As sick as Ryan was he got better really quickly!! He was a real little trooper through the whole thing! He even started letting the dr examine him!

Oh, I like that stranger's hat! Your DD's was quite cute as well. Looks like a fun 4th all the way around.

LOL!! I saw that guy and had to take a picture! I was tempted to say something to him about the hat but felt silly so I didn't! The funny thing was I saw another person take a picture of it!

DD loves that hat! She got it last year at the parade!!

I'm here! Great intro to the cast - I enjoyed all the pictures of your family!

The 4th of July parade looks really cool, knowing me I would have been tearing up with all the military personnel walking by, the guns being shot and all that - I'm such a sap!

Thanks coffee sister!!!

I SOOO badly tear up with the military marching by and all the patriotic music playing! I'm a HUGE SAP!!!

I'm in! The July 4th parade looked like lots of fun. My town used to have one when I was a child. The entire neighborhood sat on our corner - we looked forward to it. Unfortunately, they don't do it anymore

Thanks for joining in!!! We love going to the parade!! It's a lot of fun and something we look forward too!!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Today is the 6 month mark!!!!

Ok, I’m super duper uper excited!!! I tried hard all day today not to say something to the kids and keep my excitement to myself The funny thing was that DD and DS play disney from time to time and they did it today!! I was so suprised and a little worried they knew but I reinforced the "we probably aren't going to go to Disney again for more then a year" thing! poor kiddos!


Very surprisingly at the 6 month mark I don’t have ANY type of plan worked out except for the dates, that we’ll be flying SW and staying at AKV.

I’m shocked and frankly a little scared by my lack of planning so far! In the past I would have had the trip worked out 7 different ways by now! I haven’t even begun to think about it!

It may perhaps be because I planned everything start to finish, up down and all around for our trip in March 08. We were a grand gathering including the 5 of us (although Ryan was 9 months old and didn’t “count”) MIL, FIL, SIL and her DH. Planning for all of was fun but stressful at times! Especially because SIL and her DH could never make up their minds!

My lack of planning at this point may also have something to do with the fact that I can't make my ADR's for 3 more months I've grown used to the 6 months thing!


So were to take you guys now on my magical journey?!

I had thought of covering the plan at this point

but I DON’T HAVE ONE!!

Not to mention I have to keep you guys interested for the next 6 months!

So I’m going to take you on a little journey now! A little journey back in time!

A journey to trips of Disney past!!! (note: those who followed my Whose Luckier Than Me PTR/TR may have read these stores early on in that, so if you'd like you can skip this )

I’ve said before that I’ve LOVED Mickey since the beginning of time. Since before I knew about WDW!!

But at some point in my life I was aware that Disney World was out there and I assure you I wanted to go!!

My first opportunity to do so was in April of 1987. I was 11 impressionable years old! My mom took my sisters and I. My dad, not being a crowd person, stayed home. We stayed off site in a tall, roundish hotel, not sure what hotel it was I know we could see a go-cart place from our room. I will apologize at this point that I don't have any pictures to share from that trip!! I have a few somewhere, not many. I know I have one of Pluto dressed up as an artist in France in Epcot and I know my mom has a picture of me and my sisters on Main Street. If I find them I'll scan them and post! Pictures of me at 11 with 80's hair will be fun!

We visited all the attractions. 2 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot, a day at Sea World, a day at Kennedy Space Center and an “off” day that we spent at the pool.

We didn’t do any character meals or anything, not sure they even had them then! We didn’t even meet Mickey!

My most vivd memories of that trip to WDW…

1st and foremost, being scared of Mr. Toads Wild Ride! No joke! I was really, truly scared of it! I remember almost crying and trying to shrug it off because I didn’t want my mom to think I wasn’t having a goodtime! I hated the fact that it whipped around!!

I also remember loving 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea!!

I remember riding the Skyway and Dumbo, seeing CP, taking the monorail and the ferry!!

I remember what I guess was Food Rocks at Epcot! I remember a show with dancing, singing vegetables, that’s what I know.

I remember having a WONDERFUL time and loving almost every minute. Except for Mr. Toad.

Most memorable of all was what we got when we came home! No kidding! CHICKEN POX!! Again, no kidding! My sister made friends with a girl at the pool that my mom thought had bad acne. Umm, no! That was LOVELY!!

Anyway, while we were there they were in the process of building Mickey’s Birthdayland, which later became Toontown, and MGM! I remember asking my mom if we could go back the next year and see everything when it was finished!

But, my mom had saved long and hard for that trip so my next trip wasn’t until I was all grown up and a Mom myself!! ​

 

[jenn-]

Today is the 6 month mark!!!!

Ok, I’m super duper uper excited!!! I tried hard all day today not to say something to the kids and keep my excitement to myself The funny thing was that DD and DS play disney from time to time and they did it today!! I was so suprised and a little worried they knew but I reinforced the "we probably aren't going to go to Disney again for more then a year" thing! poor kiddos!


Very surprisingly at the 6 month mark I don’t have ANY type of plan worked out except for the dates, that we’ll be flying SW and staying at AKV.

I’m shocked and frankly a little scared by my lack of planning so far! In the past I would have had the trip worked out 7 different ways by now! I haven’t even begun to think about it!

It may perhaps be because I planned everything start to finish, up down and all around for our trip in March 08. We were a grand gathering including the 5 of us (although Ryan was 9 months old and didn’t “count”) MIL, FIL, SIL and her DH. Planning for all of was fun but stressful at times! Especially because SIL and her DH could never make up their minds!

My lack of planning at this point may also have something to do with the fact that I can't make my ADR's for 3 more months I've grown used to the 6 months thing!


So were to take you guys now on my magical journey?!

I had thought of covering the plan at this point

but I DON’T HAVE ONE!!

Not to mention I have to keep you guys interested for the next 6 months!

So I’m going to take you on a little journey now! A little journey back in time!

A journey to trips of Disney past!!! (note: those who followed my Whose Luckier Than Me PTR/TR may have read these stores early on in that, so if you'd like you can skip this )

I’ve said before that I’ve LOVED Mickey since the beginning of time. Since before I knew about WDW!!

But at some point in my life I was aware that Disney World was out there and I assure you I wanted to go!!

My first opportunity to do so was in April of 1987. I was 11 impressionable years old! My mom took my sisters and I. My dad, not being a crowd person, stayed home. We stayed off site in a tall, roundish hotel, not sure what hotel it was I know we could see a go-cart place from our room. I will apologize at this point that I don't have any pictures to share from that trip!! I have a few somewhere, not many. I know I have one of Pluto dressed up as an artist in France in Epcot and I know my mom has a picture of me and my sisters on Main Street. If I find them I'll scan them and post! Pictures of me at 11 with 80's hair will be fun!

We visited all the attractions. 2 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot, a day at Sea World, a day at Kennedy Space Center and an “off” day that we spent at the pool.

We didn’t do any character meals or anything, not sure they even had them then! We didn’t even meet Mickey!

My most vivd memories of that trip to WDW…

1st and foremost, being scared of Mr. Toads Wild Ride! No joke! I was really, truly scared of it! I remember almost crying and trying to shrug it off because I didn’t want my mom to think I wasn’t having a goodtime! I hated the fact that it whipped around!!

I also remember loving 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea!!

I remember riding the Skyway and Dumbo, seeing CP, taking the monorail and the ferry!!

I remember what I guess was Food Rocks at Epcot! I remember a show with dancing, singing vegetables, that’s what I know.

I remember having a WONDERFUL time and loving almost every minute. Except for Mr. Toad.

Most memorable of all was what we got when we came home! No kidding! CHICKEN POX!! Again, no kidding! My sister made friends with a girl at the pool that my mom thought had bad acne. Umm, no! That was LOVELY!!

Anyway, while we were there they were in the process of building Mickey’s Birthdayland, which later became Toontown, and MGM! I remember asking my mom if we could go back the next year and see everything when it was finished!

But, my mom had saved long and hard for that trip so my next trip wasn’t until I was all grown up and a Mom myself!! ​

Congrats on the 6 months mark. Doesn't it feel weird not to have your ADRs all booked up. I think having to have those planned really forces the early planning push. Just think, you can sit back and relax for the next 2.5 months before you really have to crack down and make plans.

My very first trip to Disney was at 11 years old as well. It was Disney Land though and my memories are not that great. I think I was just traumatized too much by Splash Mountain that I don't remember else. My older bro had broken my glasses the day before (and I was pretty blind even back then) so I had to walk around holding my glasses up on one side the whole day.

Sorry about the chicken pox. It is a super big fear of mine. Can't wait to read the rest of you Disney past.

 

[xoktenox]

Aww Johnny's too cute with his missing front teeth! I love that ferry ride over to CT, you took the ferry from Orient I'm assuming? It's really relaxing even though it's getting a little expensive now, especially if you bring the car.

Those are some great memories from your first time at Disney! I was born in 1987 (not to make you feel old because you're NOT!!) and went for the first time in 1994 and I can't remember half the amount of things you did Can't wait to hear more!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Congrats on the 6 months mark. Doesn't it feel weird not to have your ADRs all booked up. I think having to have those planned really forces the early planning push. Just think, you can sit back and relax for the next 2.5 months before you really have to crack down and make plans.

My very first trip to Disney was at 11 years old as well. It was Disney Land though and my memories are not that great. I think I was just traumatized too much by Splash Mountain that I don't remember else. My older bro had broken my glasses the day before (and I was pretty blind even back then) so I had to walk around holding my glasses up on one side the whole day.

Sorry about the chicken pox. It is a super big fear of mine. Can't wait to read the rest of you Disney past.

It really does feel weird to not have our meals 6 months from now already planned out! But, it's good to not have to really get into the deep planning until AFTER the kiddos go back to school!! That saves me a whole lot of hiding and sneaking to keep the secret!

OH NO! I can't believe your first trip was traumatic too! Your a real trooper to still feel the magic!

The chicken pox thing was unbelieveable! Within 10 day all three of had them BAD! At least we didn't get them until we got home!

Aww Johnny's too cute with his missing front teeth! I love that ferry ride over to CT, you took the ferry from Orient I'm assuming? It's really relaxing even though it's getting a little expensive now, especially if you bring the car.

Those are some great memories from your first time at Disney! I was born in 1987 (not to make you feel old because you're NOT!!) and went for the first time in 1994 and I can't remember half the amount of things you did Can't wait to hear more!

Yup, we took the ferry from Orient to New London! Your right, its so nice to sit back and enjoy the ferry ride and look at the water instead of driving all the way around through NYC! But it really is terribly expensive! Once we put the car on the boat and paid for 4 additional passengers it cost us like a million dollars!

LOL!! I won't say that you being born in 1987 makes me feel old

Whenever people say that you shouldn't take little kids to WDW because they won't remember it I like to mention that the first time I went I was 11 and I only remember a handful of things! But what I do remember, except for Mr Toad , I loved!!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

for 6 months!

I love all your Disney memories. I look forward to Henry saying all those to me when he is older.

Hopefully his love of Disney will stick with him, and he'll get married there...a Momma can dream, right?

 

[JPFamilyMom]

Geez already on pg 3 how did I miss that you started a new PTR? subbing and going back to read

 

[MEK]

)​

I wish my marching band uniform was this cool! I love those piccolo playing men. We don't have one man playing the piccolo in our marching band. Oh excuse me....I think the correct term is "fife". Fun pictures. Obviously RI is a "good ol' boys" state just like Delaware! Love the corrupt politician!

 

[mickeysmyboy]

for 6 months!

I love all your Disney memories. I look forward to Henry saying all those to me when he is older.

Hopefully his love of Disney will stick with him, and he'll get married there...a Momma can dream, right?

I love seeing my ticker at under 6 months!

I have LOTS more memories to share and LOTS more to make

I'm sure Henry will love disney forever! I feel like love of disney is genetic!

Geez already on pg 3 how did I miss that you started a new PTR? subbing and going back to read

I'm just getting started! Glad to see you!! More to come soon!

I wish my marching band uniform was this cool! I love those piccolo playing men. We don't have one man playing the piccolo in our marching band. Oh excuse me....I think the correct term is "fife". Fun pictures. Obviously RI is a "good ol' boys" state just like Delaware! Love the corrupt politician!

Those guys were part of the numerous Fife and Drum Corps that play! But some of the marching bands have really neat uniforms! Some of them have even toned it down a little and with shorts and tees! 3 years ago it was over 90 degrees and the parade route is over 3 miles long!! Those poor marchers were dying!!!

RI is terribly corrupt! It's truly insane! They LOVE Buddy and all the rest! Before DH and I even went to school in RI Buddy did a little time for paying someone to hurt his wifes lover! He got re-elected because he had "family values!"

 

[MEK]

Those guys were part of the numerous Fife and Drum Corps that play! But some of the marching bands have really neat uniforms! Some of them have even toned it down a little and with shorts and tees! 3 years ago it was over 90 degrees and the parade route is over 3 miles long!! Those poor marchers were dying!!!

RI is terribly corrupt! It's truly insane! They LOVE Buddy and all the rest! Before DH and I even went to school in RI Buddy did a little time for paying someone to hurt his wifes lover! He got re-elected because he had "family values!"

3 Miles is an incredibly long parade route! I just marched in Bethany Bch on July 3rd and I think the route was at least 1 1/2 miles. It took an hour. Thank God for our summer uniform and resonable temps. My head was still dripping when I took my hat off. I hate being hot!

Very funny story about Buddy. Family values! Very funny story about RI. I have never been there, but I have always been curious. It seems sort of obscure, like Delaware.

 

[mickeysmyboy]

3 Miles is an incredibly long parade route! I just marched in Bethany Bch on July 3rd and I think the route was at least 1 1/2 miles. It took an hour. Thank God for our summer uniform and resonable temps. My head was still dripping when I took my hat off. I hate being hot!

Very funny story about Buddy. Family values! Very funny story about RI. I have never been there, but I have always been curious. It seems sort of obscure, like Delaware.

It is so long! They go up the main street through the downtown area then around the corner to another street and back toward the starting point. They stop twice and perform!

That's so cool that you were a parade on the 3rd! The only time I've marched in a parade way memorial day when I was kid for girl scouts!

Buddy is too much!! I can't get over how much people adore him!! People were yelling "Buddy for govenor!!!" Umm, hello!!! Ex-con!!!

Your definitely right, RI is kinda of obscure! It sooo beautiful in so many places but there a lot of strange stuff going on and a strange people for a tiny state! (note; I'm not trying or meaning to offend anyone by that statement just my opinion and I can back it up )

 

[mickeysmyboy]

So I left off with saying that I had to wait until I was all grownup and I mom myself before returning to WDW!

I'm going to give you a little more info first!

When DH and I were planning our wedding and honeymoon I suggested going to WDW on our honeymoon. He thought I was completely crazy! He actually asked me why we would want to do that! UGH!

We went to Sandal in St. Lucia instead! That turned out to be a good decision! My dad had the flu the week before my wedding and DH, who never gets sick, got it! WDW with the flu would not have been fun!

So I waited some more.

Hoooo hummmmm!

2 kids later in the middle of building our house in 2004 I suggested to DH that we go to Disney World for DD’s 3rd b-day! We were living with MIL and FIL and the house was taking longer than expected! When we moved out of our old house I had promised DD that she could have her 3rd birthday party in our new house and I knew that wasn’t going to happen. So, I thought a trip to WDW would be a good compromise for not being able to keep my promise! Again DH thought I was nuts. Admittedly that was the best time to spend the money on a trip to WDW.

So I waited some more! Hoo hum!!

But, lucky me, lucky us! This time I wouldn’t have to wait too long!

At some point in the summer or fall of 04, after we were finally in our house and settled, MIL said she wanted us and SIL to go to WDW for her 60th b-day!

Yippeee skippeee!!! WDW here we come!

Feb 26th – March 4th 04 we went to WDW for the first time as a family!! I have pictures to share but I’m going to wait to the end of the post! I was between digital cameras at the time so I don’t have individual pictures. BUT, I do have pictures of the scrapbook I made for the trip! It was my very first scrapbook so keep that in mind

We drove VA from NY and took the auto train from VA to FL. We stayed in a Savannah View room at AKL. We ate at Crystal Palace, CTR, Chef Mickey’s, Hoop De Doo, Boma, Donald’s Breakfastasaurous etc!

We made A LOT of rookie mistakes and a whole lot of memories!

I will never forget the first time the kids saw the castle! Thinking about their reactions gives me goosebumps and tears in my eyes just thinking about it!

We celebrated DD’s 4th b-day (her b-day is 3/9) on the first full day of our trip with breakfast at CRT! It was truly amazing

The look on DS Johnny face, who was 2 at the time, through the whole trip was completely of awe an amazement!

We had a complete blast and got completely exhausted!! But, we left wanting MORE!!!

Scrapbook pictures! Not sure why they're so blurry! Maybe because I actually took the pictures in 06! There are also 2 pages for AKL but I only have 1 picture Enjoy!!


























​

 

[jenn-]

Those are all really good scrapbook pages. You are right, doing Disney sick is no fun. It sounds like you were able to wrangle DH into a few more trips since you got him there the first time.

 

[JPFamilyMom]

I was looking at the scrapbook pictures and thinking how was the baby there back then .... and realized it was your older son The baby looks just like Johnny when he was little

 

[mickeysmyboy]

Those are all really good scrapbook pages. You are right, doing Disney sick is no fun. It sounds like you were able to wrangle DH into a few more trips since you got him there the first time.

We've had a really sick experience at WDW and it was terrible! DH was pretty easily convinced about the other trips! He's kinda what I like to call a "Closet Disney Nut!"

I was looking at the scrapbook pictures and thinking how was the baby there back then .... and realized it was your older son The baby looks just like Johnny when he was little

Your so right! That trip Johnny was right around the age Ryan is now, only a few months older. They look exactly the same! Same face, same coloring even some of the same mannerisms! It's crazy!

It totally gives me tears in my eyes to look at those pictures! I can't believe how little they look! DD still had her chubby baby face I keep telling them to stop growing and they won't do it