Celebrating my big 4-0 with the Big Cheese - Update 11/13, page 19

[lmillercrew]

I LOVE MK at night! I can't wait to be there soon to see it for myself! The picture of your boys on the Peoplemover is priceless. It deserves a frame!

 

[shannn]

Better late than never - I'm here and all caught up!

 

[MeMom]

I'm excited we're getting to meet for dinner tonight - yea! have a fun morning @ the Art Festival & I'll see ya tonight!

Do we get a picture of this meet?

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Um, I forgot to subscribe back in May....
Since I've had plenty of car time I'm all caught up and we are almost home!
I think your MK day sounds awesome! If you don't stress with over planning you won't be dissapointed! The boys had a great time and that's what counts!

 

[kschafer]

BAD diser!! I hang my head in shame for having neglected my TR for so long!! I don't particularly even have a good excuse...just enjoying what's left of summer I guess. Life has been busy with my job as taxi driver to tennis, golf, swimming lessons and taekwondo. Greg has also been busy with his summer remodel projects which leave me with lots of household work to clean up around him. On top of that, we are preparing for a garage sale in 2 weeks and I am trying to get rid of as much as possible so I have been spending a lot of time in our basement and in the boys rooms sorting and moving stuff around

I can't believe July is almost over and the dreaded August begins tomorrow. I always promise myself to not start thinking about school until August but this year brought a surprise. I got a phone call this week asking if I would be interested in a new job! It was quite unexpected and I wasn't exactly in the job market but I thought I would go visit the school and see what I thought. The job is for the nearby indian reservation and they recently built and AMAZING new school. It would really be a great place to work but unfortunately, because the school is small, the job is 7-12 with 6 preps which is a LOT to take on. The pay is also surprisingly low and I have decided to pass on the offer

But even with all that's going on, I promise to do my best to keep up around here and hopefully catch up on my subscriptions I have fallen behind on also. First responses then in the next couple days, another update!
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And THAT is what it's all about my friend!!!

I love what MeMom said recently that if Walt had been content sitting on that bench watching his kids enjoy themselves, we wouldn't have this amazing place to share with our kids. Thanks Walt for your vision and dreams

Great update! To me, it seems like you did a lot! What wonderful memories! I can't wait to make a few next week!

I see you are back now...from FB, it sounds like you had a great trip!

After two Disney trips commando style and one trip relaxed style, I finally admitted to DH that relaxed is the way to go...

I know in my head that relaxed is the better way but I still struggle with my commando instincts! I KNOW that WDW isn't going anywhere but I can't help but think I need to squeeze it all in

think you did get a lot done. Wishes by way of Peoplemover gave me chills. Can't so that anywhere else.

The family time alone makes up for any feeling of not hitting enough rides.

The boys surprisingly loved peoplemover and wishes was such a nice addition to a relaxed ride that I love too

AWWW that was so sweet what your son said.

You did get some decent Fireworks shots.

It seems like you did an OK amount of stuff for having that long break during the day.

That comment absolutely melted my heart!! Made every minute of planning and obsessing worth it (OK...I would have enjoyed the obsessing anyway )

Looking back, we did OK. It was the frustration of the break being so much longer than I had anticipated and not getting to do everything on our list of things-to-do. Of course in hindsight, it's easy to say that's just fine!

 

[DWGal210]

Do we get a picture of this meet?

We unfortunately didn't get a picture of this meet BUT if you go to my PTR you can see one of the meet we had yesterday!! (How's that for shameless promotion?! Sorry for the hijack, Katie!!)

 

[kschafer]

What a lovely day!! I think the success of a Disney day is the memories you make and how few meltdowns occur and I think that was a very successful Disney day for you and your family!!

The memory of doing less than hoped is probably better than the potential memory of a meltdown of an overtired kid!

I think you got a ton of stuff done! . A dream come true.

I never thought about watching Wishes from the Peoplemover. I will keep that in mind.

The memories are in the fun, not the failed touringplan If you are in the area of peoplemover at wishes time, I highly recommend hopping on!

What a great day at the MK!
Your boys are adorable.
Actually, you did a lot in one day. MK attractions, pool, and a nap! Sounds like the perfect start to a vacation.

sometimes I have to remember that pool time and naps make for a good vacation too!

Tomorrowland at night is so cool.
I'm not a very good Speedway driver myself, so I wouldn't be able to talk about anyone else's driving.

Taking it easy and getting a few things in here and there is the way we go these days. What we don't do this time, we'll do next time or the next

So sweet that Pops took one for the team and rode Small World.

I just giggled as we were bumping back and forth on that rail. I then felt bad after when Patrick commented that he was a terrible driver. I really was enjoying the moment and didn't mean to make him feel bad

yes, Greg is a good guy to go on the ride he really didn't want to! I can't say the same thing about Great Movie Ride...they were on their own for that one!

That pic of your boys melted my heart! How sweet!!

I'm excited we're getting to meet for dinner tonight - yea! have a fun morning @ the Art Festival & I'll see ya tonight!

And who knew at the time you wrote that we would get to see each other again so soon Great to see you again yesterday!

 

[kschafer]

Katie, reading your update, I'd say you got a lot done. And what a wonderful time you had that day.

I would day of doing less than expected at Disney than a day of doing all my real life tasks any day!!

I agree. It doesn't matter how much you do anywhere. All that matters is all the loving memories you make with your family or friends. But overall it looks like a nice relaxing day.

And yes, the memories are awesome and that's all that matters!

I LOVE MK at night! I can't wait to be there soon to see it for myself! The picture of your boys on the Peoplemover is priceless. It deserves a frame!

Yep, that one will find a special place in the house!

Better late than never - I'm here and all caught up!

and just in time for my return I took that break just waiting for you to join the fun

Do we get a picture of this meet?

As Katie already responded...we spaced off snapping a picture a couple weeks ago. Thank goodness, anita thought to take one yesterday when we had lunch

Um, I forgot to subscribe back in May....
Since I've had plenty of car time I'm all caught up and we are almost home!
I think your MK day sounds awesome! If you don't stress with over planning you won't be dissapointed! The boys had a great time and that's what counts!

sounds like you got home late and looks like Baylor loved the much anticipated mall stop yesterday

We unfortunately didn't get a picture of this meet BUT if you go to my PTR you can see one of the meet we had yesterday!! (How's that for shameless promotion?! Sorry for the hijack, Katie!!)

No problem!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

I was subscribed, but still back in the PTR! I'm all caught up now and just loving it!

Your Pop pictures have me VERY excited for our few days there in 12 DAYS! In honor (and excitement) for Pop Century, I changed my phone's countdown pic to the Big Wheel.

Awesome shot inside Wilderness Lodge!

I love the pics of your boys in the geyser. I've seen it go up a few times, but it has never rained down on me - what fun! I thought they usually calculate the height of the geyser factoring in wind speed and direction (I swear I read that/heard it somewhere!), but perhaps not!

He commented that he enjoyed our Disney trip more than he thought he would but he thinks we need to make sure we take the boys other places too. In my more sane moments, I agree with him. I would love to bring them to Yellowstone, Yosemite and the Grand Canyon. Patick is a huge history buff and I know he would love to travel to Williamsburg and some of the civil war sites as well as visit DC. So it sounds like it will likely be a few years before we return to Disney.

Now I know this sounds like bad news but it's what followed this conversation that makes me He said once the boys are out of the house, he doesn't care if I want go to Disney every year. You can bet I won't forget that!!

Hopefully I will get this picture issue figured out and get my next update up soon!!

I have those "sane" moments too. Yet so far Disney has won every time. It will change (maybe even this year?) as Henry gets older though. I want him to experience more of what our amazing country (and hopefully abroad!) has to offer. But, Disney will ALWAYS be a destination not too far off.

I love that Greg is gung-ho for Disney after the boys are out of the house!

I love that pic of you with Pluto! SO CUTE! And what a special moment with Goofy coming to sit with you! Chef Mickey's is such a yummy and fun breakfast, I will miss it this trip!

Beautiful!

I loved your comment about Philharmagic and the kids and parents talking quietly - I COMPLETELY agree! As long as it's quiet, I don't mind a bit...and have overheard some very sweet moments as well.

Thank you for the update on your job situation too (you probably posted it on Facebook, but I missed it)! That's too bad about the pay being so low. But, still I imagine that is very flattering that they sought you out!

 

[kschafer]

I was subscribed, but still back in the PTR! I'm all caught up now and just loving it!

Your Pop pictures have me VERY excited for our few days there in 12 DAYS! In honor (and excitement) for Pop Century, I changed my phone's countdown pic to the Big Wheel.

Awesome shot inside Wilderness Lodge!

I love the pics of your boys in the geyser. I've seen it go up a few times, but it has never rained down on me - what fun! I thought they usually calculate the height of the geyser factoring in wind speed and direction (I swear I read that/heard it somewhere!), but perhaps not!

I have those "sane" moments too. Yet so far Disney has won every time. It will change (maybe even this year?) as Henry gets older though. I want him to experience more of what our amazing country (and hopefully abroad!) has to offer. But, Disney will ALWAYS be a destination not too far off.

I love that Greg is gung-ho for Disney after the boys are out of the house!

I love that pic of you with Pluto! SO CUTE! And what a special moment with Goofy coming to sit with you! Chef Mickey's is such a yummy and fun breakfast, I will miss it this trip!

Beautiful!

I loved your comment about Philharmagic and the kids and parents talking quietly - I COMPLETELY agree! As long as it's quiet, I don't mind a bit...and have overheard some very sweet moments as well.

Thank you for the update on your job situation too (you probably posted it on Facebook, but I missed it)! That's too bad about the pay being so low. But, still I imagine that is very flattering that they sought you out!

A FB friend posted a pic yesterday of her hubby/kids in front of the big wheel. It's funny because I wondered how she had been silent about an upcoming trip...such a non-diser!!

I was a bit surprised with the geyser because I had never heard of people running through the spray (and in fact had a moment of panic at kids doing so since it's a bad idea with the real thing but of course harmless at Disney )

Oh, Greg isn't gung-ho for Disney after the boys leave, he's just OK with the idea of me going once the boys are gone...lots of girls trips but hopefully he will join me occasionally

I am a bit surprised to have not gotten a phone call with a formal job offer. I knew they were talking to others and they must have selected another person. Good thing I didn't get my hopes up!!

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I know that I have NO right to feel this way but now that free dining has been announced for the week of my birthday...IT'S KILLING ME THAT I'M NOT GOING!!! Yes, 2 weeks with the whole family was much more special than 1 week with just the boys would be but I can't help but feel a bit pouty about it If I had been able to make the b-day trip work, my parents would have joined us and my brother and I keep trying to talk them into going and doing the dining plan (Dad has said he would like the freedom but Mom isn't convinced on the cost) so I was really hoping for that chance for them too

 

[Happy Elf]

I know that I have NO right to feel this way but now that free dining has been announced for the week of my birthday...IT'S KILLING ME THAT I'M NOT GOING!!! Yes, 2 weeks with the whole family was much more special than 1 week with just the boys would be but I can't help but feel a bit pouty about it If I had been able to make the b-day trip work, my parents would have joined us and my brother and I keep trying to talk them into going and doing the dining plan (Dad has said he would like the freedom but Mom isn't convinced on the cost) so I was really hoping for that chance for them too

Right there with you! I am thinking of pricing what it would be for a spring break trip, but I know we can't afford it since we were just on a 2 week vacation!

 

[kschafer]

Right there with you! I am thinking of pricing what it would be for a spring break trip, but I know we can't afford it since we were just on a 2 week vacation!

It's a sickness I tell you...




a good one

 

[kschafer]

For your viewing pleasure…photopass pics of day 2

The boys look tired huh!

Day 3 - Thursday, June 9

We woke up and got moving at a decent time considering our fairly late night before. Although we were on the bus before 9:00, we didn’t make my goal of rope drop…probably about 10 minutes late. Someday I will get to rope drop at a park other than MK

The bus that pulled up this morning was a bit of a surprise

COMFY!!!

We arrived at our destination for the day

Took a few minutes to look around

And since we had already blown our chance at an early safari departure, we took the time for some photopass pics

And to take in the wonderful sight of that amazing tree!!

My goal was to spot some animals I hadn’t noticed before. This koala was new to me

And so was the bison

The elephant is simply an old favorite. I love how its trunk is placed to flow with the waterfall. And is that a hidden mickey on the birds back? Now THAT is theming!!

We talked for a few minutes with a girl about these little guys

We were headed to Africa but I must have stopped to try out the zoom of my new camera. It could see all the way to Asia, now that's a powerful zoom

I grabbed FP’s for the safari and we hopped the train that had just pulled in. Some people really pack too much for a Disney vacation!

 

[kschafer]

I love how they have the train all outfitted for its many travellers!

This was a new stop for me. I was sick the day the rest of the family did this in 2008 and Shelby and I didn’t go last year

We let the crowd get ahead of us and it was definitely the way to go, the path was nice and quiet. Being a fan of rocks, I absolutely loved these leaves!! Wish I could have these at my house

Daniel totally was fascinated by the animals in the cement

And was excited to see all the ones he had seen in one place

Such pretty details

Some of my favorites…the morpho butterfly (which I finally got to see in person this summer at a butterfly house!!)

And the bald eagle in honor of the 3 little eaglets we spent so much time this past year watching from egg to flight thanks to the nest cam

Patrick started complaining that he didn’t feel good so he and Greg sat awhile (I think he was just tired, he’s the only one who hadn’t napped the day before) and Daniel and I looked around

He really enjoyed looking at the different animals

We looked to see what animal was on the schedule for today

It was a pelican and was getting x-rays

Patrick thought perhaps some food might help him perk up so we went to pizzafari. No food porn but I finally got that yummy looking sandwich and it did not disappoint!!! The room we sat in had some really cools murals on the wall. Apparently, these were the only pics I took but the cool thing if you looked hard is that the animals and environments depicted moved from the north pole to the equator as you turned around the room

As we sat there, I discoverd Patrick's real problem was that he was anxious to get to the boneyard which wasn't on the schedule until our second AK day. He promised he would be OK if we used our FP's for the safari first then head in that direction. Lesson for the day...have a discussion the night before about everyones most wanted for the next days park!!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Awwww, that is seriously cute that he was worried about missing the boneyard. That is just too sweet.

I love the AK photopass pictures, very cute, especially the simba ones.

 

[MEK]

Wonderful PP pic. I agree that the simba pictures are simply adorable. I also love all the pics you took of the conservation station. That's for allowing me to see all that detail. I haven't been back there since 2006!

You are clearly off to a great day at AK. Glad you finally update. Looking forward to more!

 

[Megablocks]

Oh, I haven't been on that train, or to the conservation station, in SO long! Definitely a must-do in January. I had a little flashback to pictures on reports when I went to the New England Aquarium a few weeks ago -- they have an area where you can watch the vets doing their thing. Obviously not as good as at AK but it reminded me of there. Love your PP pictures too!

 

[sunny_stace]

I love all of your super-cute photopass pictures! I never take the time to do it and I really should! I love the boys' expressions in the one where you are holding Tinkerbell! Very sweet! It looks like you guys were off to a great start at AK! That is so adorable that Patrick was so worried about missing the Boneyard! I'm glad you were able to figure out the root of the problem! Looks like Daniel was really loving Planet Watch too! I love it there too! And I've never seen a pelican x-ray before! Pizzafari is always a good bet for lunch too! This day definitely sounds like fun to me!

 

[KatMark]

Katie, great update. I like the fact that you took your time at AK and took in some of the sites. We've not done that train ride in years and I hope to squeeze it in this trip.

The photopass pictures are terrific!

 

[MeMom]

Still cute, even when trying to be scary. Great family picture!

It's nice to get a Cruise Line bus to a park every now and then. Something different, and for me, probably the only time I'll ever be riding one, since going to a ship in one is not likely to happen.

Those elephants at Rafiki's are so kind not to mind all of our DIS kids climbing all over them all the time.

Nice update. You know how much I love to see AK pictures.