Chicago area Diser's - check in here Part 4

[slo]

Lots and lots to do today, and it's suppossed to rain I hate being in the rain. But at least I will be alone (because Kate is in daycare today) so I don't have to mess with getting her in and out of a car seat. My main mission today, between errands and physical therapy, is buying Easter basket items. I am so behind!!!! This is normally way done by now



Can you believe these cold temps that are coming????
When I bought Stephanie's sleevless Easter dress, I knew there was a possibility of it being chilly, but not like winter Katie's dress is almost identical to Stephanie's, but it came with a cute little jacket made out of the same material (something you see on toddler dresses). Thank goodness Stephanie has a white sweater that she can wear in church on Easter Sunday




joanne312 -

Welcome to The DIS, and welcome to our thread
Please come by often, we would love to get to know you!!!!

Becky - I'm sorry you and your DH disagree on vacation What type of places does he like to go? Would he enjoy Disney more if you stayed off property and did some other things with Disney, like Sea World and Universal?

Mac - You are to funny!! Do your boys like going to WDW as much as you do?

Kim - Congrats on the new job!!!
**I'm sorry to hear that Kelly is sick I will send lots of get well PD her way
**I hope your DH's surgery isn't for anything to serious. Keep us posted on how he is doing. (when is it?)
**I agree with how hard it can be to be a working mom when your children are sick. I learned this when Katie was a baby and was sick all the time - it's not easy!!!! Lots of PD and hugs to you!!!

HERSEY - When you go to WDW, it will be your turn to rub Humphrey's nose for me I still can't get over how much I loved that place!!!!




Well, I better go get ready for my day.
I guess I won't do to much with my hair since it's going to get rained on anyway.
Have a good day today everyone!!!

 

[geffric]

Morning.. just a quick fly by.. i have lots to do today workwise and I have the 2nd sedar at my house tonight so i have house clean and cook stuff to do too.. needless to say I am working from home ..

welcome to the new folks.. come and join us anytime..

Mac and Becky2005 I have brought my kids alone too.. It worked out just fine and the kids loved it.. and we had lots of fun.. really it isn't that hard at all once you get into the rythem.

GF- isn't my cup of tea either.. can't aford it so I never gave it too much thought but it is too sterile form me. if I had the $$$ to spend, i would choose AKL or B&YC.


KimRaye hope Kelly is feeling better, and your DH is better too. When is the surgery? COngrats on the new job..

Hi to everyone else ... gotta run..

 

[macraven]

good morning to a very wet tuesday chicagoland homies.

it has stormed all night here, hardly got a wink of sleep.
and raining hard now as i am about to walk out the door for work.

yea, lost some of the boys only twice on a trip. after that trip, i bought them all the shoes that had the lights on them so when they walked the shoe sides lite up......and dressed them in the same color t's each day. easier to remember who they belonged to then.

the first trip, grrrr....... the 7 year old decided to hop on an elevator as i was at the car rental place at mco. stupid kid.....then the other stupid son took off running up the escalator saying he would meet david on the upper floor.
i just screamed on held on to the 5 year old.
with security help, they were returned to me with a lecture to watch my kids better. the longest 15 minutes of my life i thought not knowing where the boys were. they really could run fast .........

that was our first trip to orlando. but, it got better over the years.
all three are addicts to disney and universal. i trained them right even though they don't listen to me sometimes...

stay dry today and have a good one.

see you when the school bell rings..

 

[SamIAm21]

Hey everyone!!

Now, what's with this weather?? This morning, I didn't even wear a coat to drop Megan off before heading to work. The coat was in the car, but I didn't even need it. I get off the train downtown and its about 20 degrees cooler and there were storm clouds rolling in. Now tomorrow is going to be like 30 degrees with snow flurries.

Someone needs to 'splain this to me.

At least it's Tuesday and it's a short week for me!! Hoorah!!

I have to get gas in the car on the way home tonight as I have been putting it off, but really there's only so long you can do that. I'm on E and that doesn't mean EXCELLENT!! So, I'll have to bite the bullet and pay the big $$$ for a tank of gas! Arrrgh!

Well, now that I've done my fair share of complaining, I'll just bid you all adieu and get back to work {{grumble mumble grumble grumble}}

Sam

 

[Bunchkin]

HI all!

It just got done raining and thunderbooming here.

Lots of running around to do here today too. Last minute stuff before vacation.

Business is so busy I have my mom running errands for me next week while we are gone. Taking her to lunch tomorrow as a 'thank you' for helping out.



Sam I just got gas yesterday and stopped filling at $55...and that didn't give me a full tank!!! I hate having a huge tank! But at least it lasts me a good long while.
BTW...the rain's coming your way!


slo I agree with you about GF. I have been there and it's way too white and pastel (in some areas) for me. And the people I ran into there were not my cup of tea!


Kim Sorry to hear Kelly is sick.
What type of surgery is DH having?



to the newbies on the thread!!



Gotta finishing loading music into my MP3 player then I'm off to run around all day.

 

[Becky2005]

becky, leave the kids at home with mr becky and come to the motherland with me..........

That would work if my kids weren't already Disneyfied. I might have a mutiny on my hands if I left them home with Mr. Grump while I went to the Motherland. It would NOT be a good scene.

Becky ALex and I are going the first week of Sept. We could help with the kiddo's if you can swing that

Unfortunately, can't quite swing it right now. It will be a while before we can afford to go again plus I want to get the youngest potty trained (maybe before he gets to Kindergarten! My boys are slow trainers but it's partly my fault -- diapers are easier -- I hate the "in-between" stage where you need to find bathrooms instantly or you might have an accident).

Although if I went with just the kids the trip would be a LOT cheaper! DH wants to go on the Premium plan again plus that makes us a family of 6. So accomodations are higher. IF it was just the kids & I, we would NOT need the Premium plan at all & we would only be a family of 5.

Lots and lots to do today, and it's suppossed to rain I hate being in the rain.

Can you believe these cold temps that are coming????
When I bought Stephanie's sleevless Easter dress, I knew there was a possibility of it being chilly, but not like winter Katie's dress is almost identical to Stephanie's, but it came with a cute little jacket made out of the same material (something you see on toddler dresses). Thank goodness Stephanie has a white sweater that she can wear in church on Easter Sunday

Becky - I'm sorry you and your DH disagree on vacation What type of places does he like to go? Would he enjoy Disney more if you stayed off property and did some other things with Disney, like Sea World and Universal?

DD will be very happy it rained. She forgot her sweats for gym class & they were going outside this week. As we were driving her to school since she had to go early for special choir, she said "maybe it will rain, then we won't go outside" -- I didn't think it was going to but started raining before the boys got to school. I'm sure she was doing one of these when the rain started pouring down.

DD's dress I'm making is no sleeves too, I keep trying to convince her I should add some sleeves to it but she is having no part of it. It comes with a wrap (stole? is what it's called on the package) but really the material we got for that is basically a sheer one, not really going to keep anyone warm. Our sanctuary is always freezing too, so I'm thinking she will just have to borrow my white sweater I have.

As for DH and his vacation -- he tells me his idea of a perfect vacation is "a cabin in the woods just sitting around fishing" -- yeah, right -- we have been married almost 16 years -- want to know how many times he has gone fishing on his own in that time or taken the kids fishing? NEVER! The only time I have known him to go fishing is when he went at Disney. That's it and he wouldn't have done that if I hadn't scheduled it. I honestly think he's full of it, he's just being hard headed because he doesn't like rides and/or crowds of people.

He wants to go to Yellowstone. My beef with that is I think the kids are too young for Yellowstone -- mostly the little guy (plus my complete paranoid that one of my kids is going to get attacked by a bear, bison or other wildlife and/or fall into a geyser or otherwise kill or maim themselves.) I would really rather go to Disney while the kids are still little and wait until they are a bit older to appreciate sitting around watching Old Faithful erupt (plus have the patience to sit around waiting on a geyser! A 3 year old just doesn't have that type of patience!!!)

I can tell you what is going to happen -- BTDT enough to know...he's going to go watch the geysers and see the mud pots and that will take a couple hours, then we are going to have TONS of time to kill with nothing to do (looking at the places to stay in the park are pretty rustic) but don't know if I want to stay outside and try to drive around, Yellowstone is HUGE. He will end up sitting in the hotel room in the evening watching TV while I'm bored out of my mind with the 4 kids. If we stay at a place with a pool at least 3 of the kids could go swimming (my 6 year old doesn't care for water so probably would end up sitting in the hotel room watching TV with dad).

So we go round & round with this. He did agree with me for Disney in 2009 & now he says "you never go anywhere *I* want to go" -- Hmmm...the deal when we got married was odd years were my vacation spot choices & even years were his so these type of arguments wouldn't take place. So much for *that* theory!!!! I knew we had different personalities for vacations way back when. I thought that would take care of it, basically just suck it up and go the places you don't like (and don't complain!) because the other person will do the same on their year. What *was* I thinking?

Let's see in the early part of the marriage even year we did Atlanta to go watch him do Richard Petty driving for a day; went to TN to see Nashville & Graceland; went to Charlotte to have him do Richard Petty driving again. None of those were any that were very high on my list to go see but I went and didn't complain because of our deal.

Oh, my vacations? I was pregnant, we bought a house, I was pregnant, had a newborn, etc... Those all happened on odd years so we never went anywhere -- until we finally did Disney in 2005 & he didn't want to go there the 1st time either. I think I did get to pick the honeymoon too (Poconos) which was an odd year. So, it just is one of my hot buttons that he goes and says we never go anywhere he wants to go -- what the heck? Every "odd" year I gave it up due to it was bad timing. While he was off driving during Richard Petty I had DD & DS (who was not even 2) at the time to keep occupied at a racetrack -- not exactly a lot for a toddler to do. Let's see 2007 is an odd year -- know where we are going? No where. Now, yes there are some of "his" years we didn't go anywhere either but I think he's gotten a few more of vacations of where *HE* has wanted to go than I have (unless he is counting my 2 days in the hospital to have the babies my vacation? Not that it would have been my choice. )

In the grand scheme of things it's not a horrible argument but just one of those pesky ones that I just want to slap him upside the head for since his attitude needs an adjustment. Even with me NOT really wanting to go to Yellowstone, I have done research on it & look for things to do that I would enjoy and I know even if it's not my ideal choice, I will make the best of it and won't be complaining and making it known just how much I really don't want to go. Maybe I should start (he would just turn it around on me though & use it as a reason not to do Disney)?

 

[Bunchkin]

Right now I'm listening to Kung Fu Fighting!!

 

[Becky2005]

Hey everyone!!

Now, what's with this weather?? This morning, I didn't even wear a coat to drop Megan off before heading to work. The coat was in the car, but I didn't even need it. I get off the train downtown and its about 20 degrees cooler and there were storm clouds rolling in. Now tomorrow is going to be like 30 degrees with snow flurries.

Someone needs to 'splain this to me.

I think the explination is umm..."It's Chicago" -- I think that about sums it up. As I'm always being told -- don't like the weather, wait a bit, it will change.

Then again, Downtown *always* seems to be colder than where I'm at. It's only taken me forever to learn this fact & remember that it's not crazy to take my heavier coat if I'm heading that way even if it doesn't FEEL like I will need it here.

 

[mvazul]

Good morning, Chicago!!!

to all the new people!!

We had a busy weekend. We drove to the outlets in Wisconsin to find some clothes. I found an outfit for me to wear to DS's First Communion/Easter. I also found a shirt for DS. Looked for a tie for him, but the only thing I could find was $30 marked down from $50 and it wasn't even that nice. We then headed to the Nike Outlet and DH found a few things for himself. He is assistant coaching (pitching/catching) varsity baseball and needed some comfortable clothes. Then we headed to Osh Kosh B'Gosh and found a sundress, summer jammies and socks for DD. She is growing out of everything.

I then drove us home and dropped the kids off with my MIL. I made DH go out to Target so we could get stuff for Easter baskets. I don't do much candy - just a couple things. My mom never did much candy for my sister and me, so that's where I got it from. She always filled our baskets with little gifts. DD got the Peter Pan DVD and a little Kelly doll dressed in a bunny suit. DS got a Cubs' pullover and a POTC pin lanyard (I found it for $1 at Target!! ). I also bought them gift cards from Toys 'R Us for new bikes. We were going to get them bikes for Christmas, but I thought Easter would be a better time. They have more of a chance to ride them now than at Christmas!!

Sunday, we went back out shopping. I still needed to find a tie for DS. We headed to Sears and found many to choose from and they were only $9!! We picked out a nice navy blue to go with his light blue shirt. We went back to Target, because I had forgotten to pick up a few things the day before - shampoo, razors, etc. Plus, I still needed to find a couple more things for my family's "Welcome to Chicago" basket. I think I have everything I need for that now. Well, except the Garrett's popcorn. I will have to get that on Friday.

I took the van into the body shop yesterday to see how much damage there was from Friday night. The estimate is almost $1600!!!

I then had an appointment to look at an apartment. DH couldn't go with me, but I loved it. It's on the third floor, but is very nice. The bedrooms are small, but the living room, dining room and kitchen more than make up for it. Plus, it has been completely remodeled with all new appliances and has laundry in the apartment. That is a huge plus. The price is in the range we were looking in ($200 less than our max). We are now trying to decide if we want to apply for it. The biggest problem is getting the kids to and from school. DH would have to drive them to school and be there by 7:45. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, he would have to drive back at noon to pick up DD from pre-school, then be back by 2:45 to pick up DS. I'm just not sure how it would work. I have a feeling we will have to pass up on this place and wait until school is over. I am really ready to move out of MIL's house. I need my own space.

Okay, sounds like the baby is starting to wake up - better run!!

Have a great one!!

 

[Debbie6221]

debbie, i have AAA from chgo and it cost me $54 for a year membership.
i did the sign up on line and saved the $10 fee for processing.

for disney, i have 20% off /discount/ for my room in the values.
you don't have to book thru AAA to get the discount. i called disney in january and booked my room and told them i had the AAA. they said i may have to show it when i check in. never have had to before though but, they always say that.

you get many good deals. you get discounts for shopping on line like target and other stores. they honor AAA.

many hotels and some resturants honor AAA for a discount of 10%.

it also covers car emergencies but that is not why i got it. i got it for the discounts on universal and disney hotels.
for cars, it includes towing, running out of gas, locking your keys in the car, etc. for an additional $10 per person that lives with you, you can add them on to the policy.

you get neat maps customized to any trip you want to make. for that, you have to call an AAA office. there is one AAA office that specializes in disney, i think that one is around palatine....or somewhere in that direction.
some in the city also.

if you do book a disney trip with AAA discount, you can get the lounge pass at disney and special diamond parking pass.


whew, now i have writers cramps from all this typing.

hello to all my chgoland homies here !!

Thanks Mac! I think we will do this. How did you get the 10 bucks waved?

Hey Chicagoans... I'm new to the DIS boards!
Currently live in Champaign finishing up graduate school at U of I, but will be returning to Chicago permanently in 6 weeks!

Where in Chicago????

I was watching some of the shows on the travel channel yesterday & ended up with DH & I having a tiff. What's new? It's all about me wanting to go back to Disney & him telling me he doesn't want to go. GRUMP! We were watching the Grand Floridian one and he happened to come into the room and say "Is that the place we want to stay?" (i.e. "the one with red roof" that he could see from our Contemporary hotel room). Then a little spat about him never getting to go where he wants to go for vacation (umm...the last 3 BEFORE we went to Disney World were all places for HIM! As if dragging 2 small kids to watch him drive around a racetrack all day was a great vacation for us?), blah, blah, blah. I want to just leave him home. I just don't think I could handle 4 kids alone. ALTHOUGH....I did have an idea of basically using my DD as a mother's helper during the day so we would be only going on rides we all could go on, etc... & then putting the boys in one of the kids club because if we go in 2009 like I want he will be 12, so unless ages change I *think* he could still go. Then while they are in the kids club, her & I just go to the park and can do the bigger kid rides that SHE wants to do (she likes roller coasters & things but the boys wouldn't be able to do all those.)

Every time I suggest he just stay home then & I will deal with the kids, he manages to imply he wants to come, so I don't know what his deal is. Some passive/aggressive thing I guess.

Bummer! My DH isn't thrilled I want our trip to be WDW everytime but I think because of the kids he bites his tongue. I kind of don't give him a choice and I guess I just try and see how long I can press my luck! I already brought up Fall and didn't get any flack.....just a little of this That's why I put this smiley next to DH in my siggie! That's usually his reacation to all things Disney I discuss! He thinks I'm nuts!


Hey Becky...he can do Richard Petty at Disney ya know right!

Actually, with THIS 'DIS' bro (now DVC too), I can share ANYTHING! He's HOOKED!!!!!!! Wish he was taking me WITH tho!

I gotta try and sleep now. Kelly's been sick, DH came home today to stay with her, DS said he'll stay with her Tues. I like my new job but, I HATE that I feel the NEED to be there for the little I get, money-wise. My kids/family ARE more important BUT, with Kelly being sick and DH needing surgery surgery soon, I need to pick and choose the importance of when I don't work. UGH.

'Nite all!

Sorry the DD is sick. Hope DHs surgery is minor. Hang in there!

Still need to pay my deposit to school. VERY wishy washy about whether we are staying or not. Leaning towards staying at this point.
dad's computer still. Mine might be ready tomorrow night. The damage will only be $95.00 total so I'll take it!

Sorry about your $1600.00 damage mvazul!

 

[roseprincess]

Hi all- Happy Tuesday-
It's been a busy past couple of days for me.
Yest, did some last minute birthday shopping at Target.
This morning, DH got a call from his sister that his brother is in the hospital again. My brother-in-law has been suffering from severe depression for awhile.
BIL didn't do too good yest but is getting a little better today.
I'm glad we don't have to deal with a huge tragedy today and tomorrow, as we thought we might have to deal with a BIL funeral. Good thing BIL is getting better
Praying for him.

Today I started wrapping some gifts. I'll continue wrapping tomorrow.
Got to make a birthday cake tomorrow,too.


Geffric- Happy 16th Birthday to Geoff again!! I'm pretty sure I wished him an early Happy Birthday last Thurs or Fri
I never been to a Seder dinner. Happy Passover to you!!
Have a great Seder dinner! Michael Medved is supposed to host a Seder dinner somewhere by me. Called, Break Bread with Medved. He is a radio host guy. He used to do movie reviews with Dr. James Dobson awhile back.

Leigh- glad the move went well!! Maybe when you have a chance, to post picks of your new place!

mvazul- sounds like you had successful shopping over the weekend!!
Sorry to hear about the car damage estimate
The dude that hit you guys, doesn't he have any car insurance, or under his parents car insurance? His insurance should cover most or all your repair, if he has collision.

KimRaye- Hope Kelly gets better Hope all goes well with your DH's surgery

Hi to the new people here!

Hi to everyone I missed

Have a good day everyone.

 

[macraven]

RED ALERT FOR BUNCHKIN.......




bon jon jovi will be on biography tonight at 7pm

and american idol is at 8 so you don't have to miss either one now.

 

[roseprincess]

Starting the Happy 10th Birthday to Chrissy and Matthew!!Their birthday is tomorrow!! It's been a crazy road with my kids, sometimes too crazy, but I just love them!

 

[mvazul]

mvazul- sounds like you had successful shopping over the weekend!!
Sorry to hear about the car damage estimate
The dude that hit you guys, doesn't he have any car insurance, or under his parents car insurance? His insurance should cover most or all your repair, if he has collision.

Yes, he does have insurance. Also, the truck he was driving is, apparently, a company vehicle. He gave us all of the info we needed. However, he asked if we send the estimate to him. He wants to take care of it himself. I think, since the truck didn't have any damage, he just doesn't want his dad to know. We will go that route first, but if he doesn't pay, we have all the info we need to go further.

Happy birthday to the kiddos!!

 

[macraven]

woo hoo a birthday is almost a happening....
happy birthday a day early matthew and chrissy...

kim, i'm sorry your daughter is sick, hope she starts feeling better real soon.
take care of dear hubby, when is his surgery?

becky, leave mr becky a note on go on vacation alone. he will be so tired taking care of the kids, he'll hop on a plan and bring them to the motherland with him to see you.
yea, i hear mr mac go blah blah blah on doing vacations. but now i plan my own and go alone. it solves the problem. then he only complains about 3 days after i get back and he gets over it.

debbie, if you file on line to sign up for AAA, the application fee of $10 is waived. that is how it was when i signed up.

i think i am forgeting someone here.

don't worry, i'll be back when i remember who it is.

oh, on the resort board on the disney . com it showed the free dining package and dates. i miss it by 2 days.

 

[Bunchkin]

RED ALERT FOR BUNCHKIN.......




bon jon jovi will be on biography tonight at 7pm

and american idol is at 8 so you don't have to miss either one now.

I think I already have this taped on VHS. I think it's a few years old. Or at least I don't think it's a new biography episode of him.

Tried to watch AI a couple weeks ago and just couldn't get into it this season. Too many BAD singers I think.

 

[Bunchkin]

Yes, he does have insurance. Also, the truck he was driving is, apparently, a company vehicle. He gave us all of the info we needed. However, he asked if we send the estimate to him. He wants to take care of it himself. I think, since the truck didn't have any damage, he just doesn't want his dad to know. We will go that route first, but if he doesn't pay, we have all the info we need to go further.

Happy birthday to the kiddos!!

Being from an insurance background, I would suggest you still make a claim to your insurance agent at least to have on file just in case something goes wrong. Even if your insurance company contacts you, you can tell them you are trying to resolve it with the other party. Then if things go bad you can tell them to process the claim ASAP.

 

[Becky2005]

Hey Becky...he can do Richard Petty at Disney ya know right!

Yes, I know but he doesn't want to do it at WDW because the speed restriction is slower than what he has already done. They don't tell you the speed restriction anymore but many moons ago when it was first on the website, it told you the speed restriction at the WDW Speedway. Trust me, I tried to use this lure the last time we were there. Instead I just used the lure of eating "big food" every day, hence the reason the Premium plan.

What's really funny is I gave this hypothetical situation to DD about helping during the day and then just going out & doing big kid things. Want to know the first words out of her mouth? "Can we go to the SPA???" She's such a girly girl! Here in my head I was thinking things like RNR or Splash mountain, etc... She thinks "spa".

Starting the Happy 10th Birthday to Chrissy and Matthew!!Their birthday is tomorrow!! It's been a crazy road with my kids, sometimes too crazy, but I just love them!

Happy birthday to them.

 

[Tiggerrn2]

Happy Birthday, Matthew and Chrissy!!!

 

[mvazul]

Slo - I think you had asked about where I went to nursing school a couple pages back. I had answered you, but it was in the huge post I had typed and lost - then forgot to include it.

Anyway, I attended Arnot-Ogden School of Nursing/Elmira College in Elmira, NY. I thought I wanted to be a nurse ever since I was 5. I never wanted to be anything else (other than a wife and mom). Nursing school changed my mind!!

The program I was in was a 4 year Bachelor's Degree crammed into 3 years. I was taking my regular nursing class (4 hours a day), plus Anatomy & Physiology AND Chemistry. Science is not my strong subject, so this was extremely hard for me. I went to every study group I could find, got extra help from the professors and was still only bringing in high D's. I wasn't failing, but was not happy with my grades. In the meantime, my roommate was skipping every class, not studying, having her boyfriend stay every night and was making straight A's. Of course, the school we were attending was also the third school she had tried.

So, I quit. I wasn't happy about it, but in the end, it was the right decision for me. I don't regret it now. I do sometimes get a tiny twinge of regret once in awhile when I watch ER, but it goes away pretty fast! I am happy being a wife and mom. As Meatloaf says, "Two out of three ain't bad!!" Also, it made me think about what I really want to do and that is photography. Now if I could just get a steady client base. One of these days.....

Anyway.....just didn't want you to think I was ignoring your question.