Can't We Just Travel by Map? Oct 2013 PTR

[oopsiDAISY]

Do you have any idea in how happy i am for you???
you deserve this.. so so much. i really am overjoyed for you!!!

can't wait to see one of your famous movie nights!

any ideas for a kids party and luau?!?

Will the kids party BE a luau, or are we talking about two different events? I have ideas... of course I have ideas!!! Seriously though, PM me!

 

[Pluto0809]

Yay! So glad you are getting to go to one or more parks! Now the hard decision as to which one (or two) you will hit up.

 

[sweetpeaandevie]

yay another movie night....I keep saying that I am going to start these but still have not!

Right now I am starting to plan the girls' bday party. It won't be until Thanksgiving weekend but I tend to overdo it and would like to spread it out. Plus it will be here before we know it!!!

One more month, yeah, so exciting.......keep us posted!!!

 

[DMGeurts]

I am soooo very excited for you - you have NO idea how happy I am that you get to spend a day in WDW at any/all parks...

Plus a Water park - WHOOT!!! My vote is TL... We liked BB enough but TL - well - you'll have to read about it in my TR... hahahaha...

And DTD!!!! Yay and DOUBLE YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot WAIT to read the TR and hear all about this trip filled with Pixie Dust!

D~

 

[Pixiedust530]

I am thrilled that your upcoming vacation will be a Pixie-dusted one! After reading about all the trials, tribulations and obstacles you have encountered over the past year, I think that you and your family are SO deserving of some Disney time!

Looking forward to the movie night post...your movie nights are EPIC!

P.S. - Let me know what day you decide to go park-hopping and where. If our paths cross maybe we could try to meet up!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Yay! So glad you are getting to go to one or more parks! Now the hard decision as to which one (or two) you will hit up.

I KNOW!!! We have made ONE decision so far...we want to end the day watching Wishes. This is by far our family's favorite Disney experience. Brian is the one who stated right away..."well, we HAVE to see Wishes!" Love that man of mine!!!

The kids want to do Test Track. Brian wants Gabe to be able to go on a coaster or two that he wasn't tall enough for last year. EE would be the best choice for that, but AK is just so far away as far as time and transportion are concerned, you know?

So, who knows what we will do...you all may have to wait until the TR to find out what we do that day.

yay another movie night....I keep saying that I am going to start these but still have not!

Right now I am starting to plan the girls' bday party. It won't be until Thanksgiving weekend but I tend to overdo it and would like to spread it out. Plus it will be here before we know it!!!

One more month, yeah, so exciting.......keep us posted!!!

We love our movie nights! With a family of five, going to the theater is beyond pricey, so this is a great alternative that everyone enjoys.

Since we are taking the cruise next year I need to come up with MORE movie night ideas. We have just a few left in the jar. Movie nights are just the ideal way to count down to trips!

What theme are you going with for your birthday party?

I am soooo very excited for you - you have NO idea how happy I am that you get to spend a day in WDW at any/all parks...

Plus a Water park - WHOOT!!! My vote is TL... We liked BB enough but TL - well - you'll have to read about it in my TR... hahahaha...

And DTD!!!! Yay and DOUBLE YAY!!!!!!!!!!!

I cannot WAIT to read the TR and hear all about this trip filled with Pixie Dust!

D~

Not sure if you read my replies to everyone, so I will repeat to you what I told Ariana...

The one decision we have made regarding which parks to visit is that we are ending our day with Wishes. Brian is the one that said right away,
"well, we HAVE to see Wishes!" It is our favorite Disney experience with so many precious memories...and now I have a D~ bag to go with it!!! I am going to get my picture taken in front of the castle with my bag!!!!!

I really wanted to go to TL, but back when the water park was the only park we would get to do Brian and I decided to let the kids pick. They watched you tube videos and looked at pictures before they made their choice...so BB it is. I am just excited to get to finally visit a Disney water park!

I am thrilled that your upcoming vacation will be a Pixie-dusted one! After reading about all the trials, tribulations and obstacles you have encountered over the past year, I think that you and your family are SO deserving of some Disney time!

Looking forward to the movie night post...your movie nights are EPIC!

P.S. - Let me know what day you decide to go park-hopping and where. If our paths cross maybe we could try to meet up!

Thank you so much, Pixie! We are over the moon excited to get to visit our happy place.

We have told our CM friend that he can let us in any park on any day Monday through Thursday of that week. He will be a very busy man, so we wanted to be as flexible as possible.

We will find out the details closer to vacation time. I will let you know what day when we find out from him. Then I will share my cell phone number with you, and we can text each other to see if we can arrange a meet. I would LOVE to have a Dismeet while we are there!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Let's have a movie night update, shall we? Jillian was especially excited about this one since this is one of her favorite Disney movies. Without further ado...our Lion King Movie Night!

Invitation:



Decorations were a challenge, but finding a great fabric remnant at Walmart for cheap REALLY helped:



Yes, tiger is technically jungle rather than savannah...but so what!



Food porn anyone? Carnivorous Turkey Legs:



Pride Rock Potatoes:



Crunchy-Yet-Satisfying Grub Salad:



Jungle Juice (AKL recipe):



For the activity, I found a cute poem for the safari that I printed on a cool background:



Since the picture is blurry, here is the poem:

Come Search For Us!
Where lions roar and monkeys swing;
A place where Simba can't wait to be King!
Where HAKUNA MATATA means No Worry;
So relax, take you time, we're not in a hurry.
Grab your binoculars, and for Rafiki a banana;
Let's go on safari in our backyard Savanna!

Gabe wanted to dress for the occasion:



And he made Charity dress for it too:



Jillian actually hid the animals, so she did not do the safari. Here are the other two scouring the back yard for animals:



And the spoils of the hunt:



We went inside after that to watch the movie and have some of Rafinki's Banana Pudding:



Our next movie night theme is going to be quite the challenge. Remember all the jungle stuff I used for this one? Well, guess what movie Gabe pulled from the jar?

 

[Chicago Mo]

you. are. my. hero.

 

[solana131]

Awww...another great movie night! I couldn't see the grub salad picture for some reason, so I'll check again when I get home tonight.

Oh no....another Jungle theme....but at least there is a tiger in this one And the big snake...you could do something with him for sure.

So excited that your CM buddy is coming through. It was already going to be a fun trip...now even more so

 

[KatMark]

I am slowly getting back to catching up since we are now home from our 16 days in Florida. I got my TR started, and am now catching up on everyone else's.

HOORAY for a day at the parks thanks to your friend.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your Lion King movie night. Awesome job.

I PM'd you a link to my new TR (which is also right here in my signature).

 

[DMGeurts]

First... I am so happy that you are going to see Wishes - what a perfect end to your Disney day!!!

Second... Don't get me wrong - BB was super fun... we did the same thing... but rest assured, next trip -we will be doing BOTH. Gulp!

And of course - your movie night... Just WOW!!! You pull off some of the very best movie nights ever... You always have the best theming and the best food... I just don't know how you do it? Someday... Someday... I am going to drive down to join you!

D~

 

[Chicago Mo]

Someday... Someday... I am going to drive down to join you!

D~

OR she comes up for a spring get together?

 

[sweetpeaandevie]

Jungle Book.......you definitely need a barrel of monkeys!!!

I am doing a tea party for the girls' birthday, lots of tulle and flowers and big poofy dresses, pearls for the kids....etc, etc

Someone asked me if I was doing a Disney theme and it is really hard not to, but I have been waiting since last year for the tea party. Last year, Audrey (7) wanted to have the party at Chuck-E-Cheese (BLAH). I cannot plan for that!!!! so I talked her into a rainbow party at the park. I wanted to do the tea party, but I don't really want to do that at the park, so rainbow it was. It turned out great, but I have been thinking about this tea party for over a year now.......I have planning issues

 

[Pluto0809]

I saw your Lion King night last week and tried to post but my work computer is a bit of a PITA right now! I'm supposed to get a new one and it better be soon. Oh well, it's working today so I can post!

Lion King is my all time favorite Disney movie so of course I loved the whole movie night! Too funny though that Gabe pulled Jungle Book for the next one. I'm sure you will come up with something great for it too.

I know you said you were hesitant to go to AK on your one day because of the distance to other parks. On my solo trip, I hopped from AK to MK one day. I saw the 2:00 pm Lion King show so I must have left AK about 2:30. I did a quick stop at TTC to visit my brick and ended up inside the gates of MK at around 3:15 watching the tail end of the 3 o'clock parade. So about 45 minutes total travel time, not bad.

 

[cheekypoppins]

pinterest has some really cool jungle book Ideas!

 

[Chicago Mo]

Someone asked me if I was doing a Disney theme and it is really hard not to,

You saw the pictures of our Disney themed party... Looked like Disney threw up in my house..

 

[Texan]

Hey there oopsi, I looked through your posts again, and your vacation is coming up SOON! I am so excited for you. I know you have been busy getting ready and PLANNING. That is such a big fun part for me. PM me when you get the chance, I have some more info for you. Have a great weekend!

 

[sweetpeaandevie]

You saw the pictures of our Disney themed party... Looked like Disney threw up in my house..

I loved that!!! maybe next year......I have said that we will not be doing a party since we are going to Disney a month before their bdays, but that will probably change (and I will be missing it by then...)

 

[oopsiDAISY]

you. are. my. hero.

Oh, but you are SUPER MO!!!!

Awww...another great movie night! I couldn't see the grub salad picture for some reason, so I'll check again when I get home tonight.

Oh no....another Jungle theme....but at least there is a tiger in this one And the big snake...you could do something with him for sure.

So excited that your CM buddy is coming through. It was already going to be a fun trip...now even more so

Yes, I have come up with some other ideas for the Jungle Book movie night...but the tiger print cloth will make a reappearance for sure. I did come up with an idea to incorporate Kaa into the movie night festivities too...you must wait to find out how.

As you will read in the next post, our family has had a super rough week.Vacation could not come at a better time!

I am slowly getting back to catching up since we are now home from our 16 days in Florida. I got my TR started, and am now catching up on everyone else's.

HOORAY for a day at the parks thanks to your friend.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your Lion King movie night. Awesome job.

I PM'd you a link to my new TR (which is also right here in my signature).

It looks like you and Mark had yet another fantastic vacation...and I am SO JEALOUS that you got to have a Dismeet with two of my favorite Disfriends...Suzi and D~! I have yet to meet Suzi, but D~ was one of the ladies I met in my very first Dismeet two years ago! Such great friends!

First... I am so happy that you are going to see Wishes - what a perfect end to your Disney day!!!

Second... Don't get me wrong - BB was super fun... we did the same thing... but rest assured, next trip -we will be doing BOTH. Gulp!

And of course - your movie night... Just WOW!!! You pull off some of the very best movie nights ever... You always have the best theming and the best food... I just don't know how you do it? Someday... Someday... I am going to drive down to join you!

D~

I cannot wait to carry my D~ bag with pride down Main St. You, of all my Disfriends, understands just how special Wishes is for our family, and you captured it all so perfectly on my bag.

I am just waiting for you and your girls to show up for movie night some time! I have been inviting you for TWO YEARS! You know you are always welcome!

OR she comes up for a spring get together?

Yes, this!!!

Jungle Book.......you definitely need a barrel of monkeys!!! :

I am doing a tea party for the girls' birthday, lots of tulle and flowers and big poofy dresses, pearls for the kids....etc, etc

Someone asked me if I was doing a Disney theme and it is really hard not to, but I have been waiting since last year for the tea party. Last year, Audrey (7) wanted to have the party at Chuck-E-Cheese (BLAH). I cannot plan for that!!!! so I talked her into a rainbow party at the park. I wanted to do the tea party, but I don't really want to do that at the park, so rainbow it was. It turned out great, but I have been thinking about this tea party for over a year now.......I have planning issues

Not to divulge too much, BUT, my activity for the night may or may not involve a barrel of monkeys...

Well, you know....you COULD incorporate an Alice in Wonderland theme into your tea party. As Mary Poppins says "in every job that must be done, there is an element of fun"... well I say, in every party that is thrown, there can be an element of Disney! Doesn't rhyme, has no rhythm...but you get the point!

Planning issues? Why, none of US have planning issues at all..nope, not us!

I saw your Lion King night last week and tried to post but my work computer is a bit of a PITA right now! I'm supposed to get a new one and it better be soon. Oh well, it's working today so I can post!

Lion King is my all time favorite Disney movie so of course I loved the whole movie night! Too funny though that Gabe pulled Jungle Book for the next one. I'm sure you will come up with something great for it too.

I know you said you were hesitant to go to AK on your one day because of the distance to other parks. On my solo trip, I hopped from AK to MK one day. I saw the 2:00 pm Lion King show so I must have left AK about 2:30. I did a quick stop at TTC to visit my brick and ended up inside the gates of MK at around 3:15 watching the tail end of the 3 o'clock parade. So about 45 minutes total travel time, not bad.

I think I have come up with some fun stuff for the Jungle Book night...they are just so similar, I hated that they are back to back. I also have Beauty and the Beast and Ratatoulle in the movie jar, and my fear is that they will be back to back too since they are somewhat similar as far as food themes... Oh well, it's all Disney, so it's all FUN!!!

We haven't had a chance to talk yet about what parks we will do. Since my parents will be with us, we have to consider their opinions as well. We may end up at AK...who knows?

pinterest has some really cool jungle book Ideas!

Thanks for the heads up!!

You saw the pictures of our Disney themed party... Looked like Disney threw up in my house..

And it was FABULOUS!!!!

Hey there oopsi, I looked through your posts again, and your vacation is coming up SOON! I am so excited for you. I know you have been busy getting ready and PLANNING. That is such a big fun part for me. PM me when you get the chance, I have some more info for you. Have a great weekend!

I did respond to your last message, did you not get it? The one about the dining plan? I will PM you again when I am finished on here, because I surely want any and all cruise info and tips you can give!

I loved that!!! maybe next year......I have said that we will not be doing a party since we are going to Disney a month before their bdays, but that will probably change (and I will be missing it by then...)

Since you love party planning so much, you should definitely do movie nights, just saying!

 

[oopsiDAISY]

Well, I haven't really let anyone know what has been going on with us in the last week. Let's just say, it has been a VERY rough week.

Gabe and Charity started a new school this year. Charity has really be struggling academically. She failed the first two tests she took at the new school. She immediately began going to tutoring in the mornings before classes started. Last week they got progress reports, and she had straight A's. We THOUGHT she had finally adjusted and things were on the upswing. Then yesterday, she brought home another failed test! It is just very frustrating. She is a smart girl, we know that. She is just having a terrible time adjusting to a new way of learning things. She has done the same type of curriculum since she was three years old.

On top of all of this, Brian got hit with a kidney stone last week! He started the process of passing it last Thursday morning...and it STILL has not passed!!!! The meds they gave him to take have make him terribly nauseous. So they gave him meds for nausea. Nothing is working. They tell him to drink lots of fluids. He does drink lots of fluids....and nothing stays down. This morning he had ex-rays taken...and the stone has traveled back up to his kidney! He is currently visiting a urologist to find out what the next step should be.

Any prayers you want to say for our family would be much appreciated.