Christmas all year long!

[annmarieda]

Life seems to be so full for you! That shower looked like a wonderful success , and of course, the bride to be was radiant! 3 hours to do hair?! Glad you did a practice round.

UGH on the police incidents- both of them. This one seems to be even worse than the last! Sounds like the problems run deeper than one person is going to fix- time for some grass roots solutions.

I would hate to miss my son's graduation/ commissioning too, Ann! Maybe there will be some sort of miracle and either of the conflicting things will get changed.

Life is full, but it makes the time go by faster.

The shower was a blast once we all calmed down. The hair taking that long really put us on edge and then being late made it more so.

I am really not sure what to make of the police situation. One of my closest friends' dh is on city council and so she won't talk to me about any of it. All she says is that I need to get everyone to write in.. to contact the chief of police and that she can't say any more. Makes me wonder

I was looking at the ridemax thread...it looks like ridemax has out a new verision that works on mac...?????

I have heard that. It would make my life so much easier if I didn't have to run parallels in order to use ridemax.

Hoping for this!!!!

Thank you.... I doubt it will though. Surgery is one of those things that is hard to book months out, so changing the surgery date is unlikely. The other factor that could change is Zach qualifying to graduate. He is doing quite well though, so I don't think that this would happen. I also, for his sake, hope it doesn't. Course... if it did then I would be more likely to be able to attend.

Sorry I have not been on in awhile happy late Easter! Kira's bridal shower looked very nice and I liked her hair! About the animal in the road with the cop- I agree that they are just slipping all throughout the country lately with a few things! And maybe someone can video tape Zach's graduation and you can all watch it together when Zoe comes home and your able to enjoy yourselves!

I love the video idea! If only I could get dh to remember to do it! He tends forget half of what I ask him to do.. Such is the life of getting older I guess.

If I haven't told you already... I'm a photographer in my other, other, OTHER life and this photo cracked me up.

Look at the bag... it's placement in relation to her head...

Now... notice that her neck and both arms are bare???

It's looks like she's wearing the bag dress!

I love it!

I had noticed that in the picture. It is fun I think. I didn't take the picture. I think I have better photos of the shower... but Steve took my card out of my camera and I have yet to get it back.

It's the suckiest of suck.

Thank you.

I hope they can get the procedure refined enough to not make the bulk of the recovery take the whole summer. It's not fair for a darling baby to have to be cooped up, let alone in a cast of some sort during the funnest part of the year.

Zoe tends to be a lot like me and given this, I am sure she won't be down as long as they say she will. (my last surgery when I had her - I was up and walking on my own, to a different area off the hospital, 5 hours after I had m c-section - which I did not have much in the way of anesthesia for because they could not get the epidural to take. I literally could move my legs and feel everything. They wanted to put me under general anesthesia but I refused, so they used lytocain injections systematically as they made the incisions) I am hoping that they do not have to remove a part of her bowel since that would add time to the recover as well as cause need for a special routine for (they say) the rest of her life. I suspect though that they will have to. She most likely will not be put in a cast. Her orthopedic needs have been resolved and even though once before they had to cut through her pelvis in order to do a surgery, I doubt they will have to this time since she is a bigger person and they can get to things more easily. For the first week or so, they will however keep her medically paralyzed. Course, in all her procedures and surgeries she tends to come out of things quickly so it seems like anesthesia doesn't work well on her, (just like me) so I foresee this being a bit of a battle. However, this will be a short one and only while we are in the hospital.

I sure did look at your tentative day plans.. Once hours are released we can plan on catching up one of the days you are there... Oh I can't wait its gonna be a wonderful time

Love the pictures of the shower.

If I ever get my card back from Steve I will post some more pictures of it.

I'm sorry you won't be able to go to Zach's graduation, but Zoe will be needing you. And you are right...it does suck!

Thanks

Where are Kira and her hubby to be staying for their Disneymoon?

They will be staying at POR. I am pretty excited for them.

The shower looks like it was a blast. I LOVE the cake and Kira looks beautiful!

Thanks so much!

That totally sucks about your local police officer and the animal My DH is a Deputy here and one morning on his way to work on his motorcycle he got stuck behind where a horse got hit by two huge trucks. It was a very dangerous situation and he wound up having to get the all clear from his Sgt to put the animal out of it's misery. That officer should have done what she's paid to do to take care of that situation. I hate officers that make other law enforcement officers look bad

What a scary situation! But yes, they are trained. Those poor girls trying to bravely protect this animal...they were not trained to do that. I know there are good officers out there and it does suck when some make others look bad. Some of the stories I am hearing though... I am not sure if it is only one officer that is at the core of the problem. I suspect it is. I mean, the stories of being badgered and treated like a criminal when NOT at fault yet also not having anything done when actual crimes are going on (like a car broken into) might be all one cop. The officer who struck the animal... In all fairness, she might have been in route to something... struck the animal and then assumed that it would die off to the side of the road. If the true work load is being neglected then she might have had more important things to do. I just wish she could have been less crass and more caring of the involvement that the girls were not playing in it.

I'm glad to hear that Zach is still doing good but that totally sucks that his graduation is while Zoe will be in the hospital. Life just isn't fair sometimes but I'm sure Zach understands.

He understands... I just wish he didn't have to.

 

[veggiemama]

I hadn't even considered how December is likely to be different, but... every other times we have gone we always plan around EMH's since we don't park hop.

We don't park hop either so I am really looking forward to being able to stay later/or earlier on our park days.

I think it is absolutely important to go at RD. If you rush to Fantasyland immediately after RD, and get there before they close the castle gates... you can do all of Fantasyland in like a half hour. For us, that works. We don't need to ride Dumbo more than once. We spend a minimal amount of time in Fantasyland. December though, when I am sure it will be just Zoe and I there... I would think she would like more time there.

Another thing I notice about Dec. EHM... it goes until 3am. I am not sure how many people will still be there that late. I know I won't... but my ds probably will.

We never made it to RD last time. I am determined to get to them this time round!

So while I have been a bit chatty on here... I have not gave an update of any kind in a while.

So to bring everyone up to speed here is what has been going on or will be shortly.

4/16 was Kira's bridal shower. We started off the morning with a trial run of her hair up-do. It took 3, yes THREE hours!!! This caused us to run late for the shower. It made Kira very agitated and it was a long drive to the shower. (like over an hour) By the time we go there I was ready for a couple..few glasses of wine. It helped and the party was a beautiful success. Here are some pics.

Not the best pics... but you get the idea. The shower was held at Kira's soon to be in law's home.

Just as we arrived back in town, we had another incident with a local police officer. The long and the short of it is I am really not impressed with our local department. An officer hit an animal and left it for dead on the road. It was a dark stretch of road leading up to a curve that enters onto a state route highway. I don't fault the officer for hitting the animal... things happen. What my issue was is that the animal who was suffering and alive was come upon by two young ladies who we found trying to protect the animal from on coming cars. It was an unsafe situation. When the officer was called by to the scene, she was very crass about the incident noting how surprised she was that the animal was still alive since she hit it earlier. The girls who had been standing in the cold for who knows how long were very distraught. Kira was very professional about it all and spoke with the officer in private. Another car helped to form a bit of a road block. Kira got the animal off the road and took it to an all hours animal hospital. The officer did little more to help than loan Kira a set of gloves. Keep in mind where we are the police also act as animal control so it was well within her job requirements to deal with this situation. Having been the one who caused this situation and the fact that the girls protecting the animal were risking their safety were just the icing on the cake to a rotten situation.

Zach has been writing to me a bit. Things continue to go well for him at basic. I am upset to learn that his graduation is set for a time when Zoe will be in the hospital. I am forced to have to choose between the needs of one child vs. another. Obviously, I cant leave Zoe alone in the hospital... so I will not be attending Zach's graduation. Doesn't that just suck???

Zoe's first set of appointments for the surgery are coming up quick. (May 6th) This will give me a better gauge of what my summer will look like.

The wedding!!!! Not long now. I am a fair bit anxious. I actually think I am more excited for her disneymoon. I can't wait to hear how she tortures her new dh with rides like TOT (he doesn't like things like that) She is playing with ridemax and very shortly here she can do online check in. I can't believe it will be here so soon.

See, you are just as busy/crazy as I am! The shower looked beautiful though the hair thing would have had me jumping out of my skin! I can't stand getting behind like that!

BTW, really, really sucks that you may have to miss Zach grad! What a horrible choice for you to have to make.

I hope that your pre surgery app. go well with Zoe. I will keep praying for you during this time.

And Ann! What is with your police department! How awful to have to deal with another cop like that!

I think I am all caught up on your PTR now.

I love your dining plans. That's next on my list too. I feel very scattered on that part. Good thing I still have a month before making ADR's to really get a handle on it!

 

[annmarieda]

We don't park hop either so I am really looking forward to being able to stay later/or earlier on our park days.

Glad to hear I am not the only one!

We never made it to RD last time. I am determined to get to them this time round!

This is definitely a must!! It makes it so much easier to get things you want to do in.

See, you are just as busy/crazy as I am! The shower looked beautiful though the hair thing would have had me jumping out of my skin! I can't stand getting behind like that!

Yup, I am. Two weeks from tomorrow is the wedding. I now have a list though... I LOVE lists. I can't even begin to say how much less stressed I feel now that I have a simple list. It all looks manageable.

BTW, really, really sucks that you may have to miss Zach grad! What a horrible choice for you to have to make.

I know...it sucks. I just am glad that Zach will be ok. He is a pretty easy child. In some ways my most easy.

I hope that your pre surgery app. go well with Zoe. I will keep praying for you during this time.

Thank you.

And Ann! What is with your police department! How awful to have to deal with another cop like that!

I think I am all caught up on your PTR now.

I love your dining plans. That's next on my list too. I feel very scattered on that part. Good thing I still have a month before making ADR's to really get a handle on it!

It is hard to believe we are almost to the point where we can make those reservations!!! The month will go by fast.

 

[lfwhipp]

I do hope the surgery goes well for Zoe, its so hard to see the little ones when they are sick or hurting

I am hoping to check in while i am away, but if not i hope everyone has a great week!! Ill see y'all and catch up next week!

 

[chunkymonkey]

Looks like such a fun party! Wow her hair took 3 hours? that much have been a lot of hairspray! LOL. She looks beauuutiful though, so I am sure it was well worth it!

I hope Kira got plenty of nice gifts! The big day is coming soon! Are you getting stressed out yet?

 

[annmarieda]

I do hope the surgery goes well for Zoe, its so hard to see the little ones when they are sick or hurting

I am hoping to check in while i am away, but if not i hope everyone has a great week!! Ill see y'all and catch up next week!

Thanks so much! And make sure to have a good time! I can't wait to hear all about your trip.

Looks like such a fun party! Wow her hair took 3 hours? that much have been a lot of hairspray! LOL. She looks beauuutiful though, so I am sure it was well worth it!

I hope Kira got plenty of nice gifts! The big day is coming soon! Are you getting stressed out yet?

I think why it took so long is she barely used ANY hair spray. Oh well, at least I think we know more of what to do or rather NOT to do.

As for stressed... yes, kinda... a bit. More or less though I think it is all coming together and will be fine. I just can't wait till it is over...

 

[annmarieda]

Can't you all just stop me? I think I am going to drive myself nuts with my over planning. I am feeling like I need to really set some things in concrete since there is a wedding in just 2 weeks and then just a few later Zoe's surgery and THEN it will be time to make my ADR's. So if I don't figure it all out now I may be looking at July before I have it all set. By set I mean.. no backing out - airfare is booked - set.

So this means I need to know our flights or have a good idea. I have been watching all along, and have only seen things go up. I was hoping that once Jetblue opened up for December I would be able to see what things would really look like. Well, Jetblue opened and what did I see??? HIGHER fares!! This has caused me to come to one conclusion.... I WILL not be able to get a good deal. Any way I look at it, those $200 something rt fares that I have always managed to get are not going to happen. My conclusion then makes me realize that we will all need to fly Alaska and save the free ticket on Continental. (using the ticket and flying two on continental looks like it would only save us $30 total so NOT worth using the free ticket)

Flying all of us on Alaska is good. We won't have to arrive or leave at different times. It also is nice since it is a direct flight. Alaska is not bad to fly. I just wish they didn't nickle and dime you with all their "extra" fees.

So since our problem in getting a cheap airfare really has to do with our dates, I then have started to look at that. rolleyes1 yes, again)
Which then leads me to my next crazy dilemma... our dates. Remember I wanted to change before and I couldn't keep my standard room at WL? So I got to thinking what if I didn't book at WL but rather a short stay somewhere else...say a value.

So this is what I discovered. If we fly in 2 days earlier it will save us approx. $250. If we then book a 2 night stay (no park tickets) at Pop, we end up spending approx. $200 on that. So going two nights earlier saves us $50 and adds 2 nights. Seems like a no brainer kinda, right? Wrong

Lets talk duration. That is an awfully long trip. Even for a (as Steve would put it) card carrying Disney nut. I am not sure that any of us really want to stay that long. Of course, those two extra nights would not add extra days in the park so maybe it wouldn't be so bad. We would be forced to spend a day (a full day) at Pop. If the weather was not great and we couldn't swim... course, I guess we could always resort hop on that day. My thought to solve the "too long dilemma" though would be to cut down nights at WL and come back early. (yes, I know... have had this thought a number of times already. )

Now lets first talk school. The kids don't officially get out of school until the Thursday before Christmas. I think that is ridiculous. That is only 2 days before Christmas eve!!! Since I already was frustrated by the lack of days off before Christmas I planned to pull them early. However, this puts it just that much earlier. I am not sure how 7 days would go over with the school. I mean 5 was bad enough. Even if we came back early, it would not affect this since come the 22nd they would be off and we would likely come back either the 22nd or 24th. So I have no solution for this problem other than to have them bring school work for those days.

Now lets talk days off from my work. With my work, I don't get vacation time. I get paid weekly and each week is a part of a cycle. Week 1 is the busiest with installs going in the large stores. Week 2 is less hectic and installs happen in small stores. Week 3 is usually just maintaining stuff from week one and some misc. odd jobs. Week 4 we have almost no work until our meeting which is on a Thursday and then I accumulate a ton of hours over that weekend as I prepare for week 1. (I know.. much more than you all wanted to know) So basically taking a week off is not a problem as long as it is from Thursday to Wednesday , just not starting on weeks 1 or 4. Currently, we are scheduled to leave on a Thursday of week 2. Perfect! I get paid for all of week 2. Staying as long as we are will however mean I miss week 3 entirely. (so I lose one weeks pay) Coming back on 12/26 means I get back at the start of week 4 and well in time for my meeting and the big push. If however I add the two dates, it will complicate that week 2. I have things that come in on Wed and obviously I would miss those. I could work that weekend and get most everything done so it still wouldn't be too much trouble to leave on a tuesday. I just would have to hustle...but the problem would be solved.

Now for Steve's work. This is really the biggest issue. Historically he is ill come fall. He has chrons disease and has struggled each year to manage it around this time. I think this time of year is a tad stressful for him and it sets things off. Come fall he usually starts to deplete his vacation time since he runs out of sick time. He gets 3 weeks a year. (15 days) Adding these days will mean he will have to take a total of 9 days off instead of 7. That really only leaves him 6 days which when he gets sick isn't a lot. If he depletes those days prior the trip it would be hard to finagle it so he didn't lose pay. We rely on his pay for our big stuff like mortgage and living expenses. (mine just pays the fun stuff like Disney trips) If I cut days off the back side it would not matter. He will get holiday pay for 12/22 and 12/23 and then there is the weekend. I also am not sure he wants to spend 9 of his days for this. Oh, and lets not forget Zach's graduation and Kira's wedding AND Zoe's surgery. He will need time off for those as well. I can't see anyway around his vacation time not being there come December. As I type this, I am just now realizing that I could see him not having the 7 come December either. AHHH!! I think this explains why he has been kinda hemming and hawing about the trip. I have had him tell me several times that he just doesn't know how he is going to be feeling come the trip. I thought it was his way of showing his obligatory "I am not a Disney nut" attitude (even though he totally is a Disney nut ) Now I worry it is his way of trying to prepare me for the need to cancel the trip.

See someone stop me. In this little post I have went from considering adding 2 nights to canceling the whole trip. I am too crazy!!! Course... I just watched Black Swan last night... so I guess I could be worse.

 

[swwake]

I know the feeling. I try to play out tons of scenarios for my trips all the time. I love adding extra days too! In my case, we can't add anymore days because we can't leave before Katie gets home from college, and she won't know her schedule for finals until probably well into October. And we don't want to come home later, because we'd be pushing into Christmas.

It always makes me feel better when I make a decision and commit to it. In your case, I'm thinking I'd spend the extra money on the flights and not add the days, especially if it is going to stress you out being away that long and wondering about the vacation time for you and your husband.

But, if you decide to add the extra couple of days without park passes, that could be perfectly fine. There's always Downtown Disney. And resort hopping (which you mentioned) is fun and can take lots of time. And at Christmas, I'm sure each resort will be beautiful!!

So decide what you want and commit to it and I guarantee the stress will be instantly lifted!

 

[tinacaplan]

Kira's shower looked lovely. What a beautiful cake! And here's another for Zoe's procedure. Its so tough so see our babies in pain.

Can't you all just stop me? I think I am going to drive myself nuts with my over planning. I am feeling like I need to really set some things in concrete since there is a wedding in just 2 weeks and then just a few later Zoe's surgery and THEN it will be time to make my ADR's. So if I don't figure it all out now I may be looking at July before I have it all set. By set I mean.. no backing out - airfare is booked - set.

You have a lot going on, that's for sure, and I know that, for me, overthinking Disney is a great escape from my more concrete, real-world problems that I often have little or not control over. Make sense? I have had my heart set on AKL, yet I found myself wondering today if we shouldn't switch to the YC so as to be closer to EPCOT (and the rest of Disney civilization, frankly). Ultimately, I decided against it, as it would cost us even more money and this trip was supposed to be (relatively) cheap.

Now lets first talk school. The kids don't officially get out of school until the Thursday before Christmas. I think that is ridiculous. That is only 2 days before Christmas eve!!! Since I already was frustrated by the lack of days off before Christmas I planned to pull them early. However, this puts it just that much earlier. I am not sure how 7 days would go over with the school. I mean 5 was bad enough. Even if we came back early, it would not affect this since come the 22nd they would be off and we would likely come back either the 22nd or 24th. So I have no solution for this problem other than to have them bring school work for those days.

I wouldn't worry too much about this part. Missing a few days before Christmas shouldn't be a huge deal, IMO. This isn't true at my current school, but at the two previous schools I worked at, things were definitely winding down by that point and there were movies and assemblies and things like that to take time away from real learning.

Now for Steve's work. This is really the biggest issue. Historically he is ill come fall. He has chrons disease and has struggled each year to manage it around this time. I think this time of year is a tad stressful for him and it sets things off. Come fall he usually starts to deplete his vacation time since he runs out of sick time. He gets 3 weeks a year. (15 days) Adding these days will mean he will have to take a total of 9 days off instead of 7. That really only leaves him 6 days which when he gets sick isn't a lot. If he depletes those days prior the trip it would be hard to finagle it so he didn't lose pay. We rely on his pay for our big stuff like mortgage and living expenses. (mine just pays the fun stuff like Disney trips) If I cut days off the back side it would not matter. He will get holiday pay for 12/22 and 12/23 and then there is the weekend. I also am not sure he wants to spend 9 of his days for this. Oh, and lets not forget Zach's graduation and Kira's wedding AND Zoe's surgery. He will need time off for those as well. I can't see anyway around his vacation time not being there come December. As I type this, I am just now realizing that I could see him not having the 7 come December either. AHHH!! I think this explains why he has been kinda hemming and hawing about the trip. I have had him tell me several times that he just doesn't know how he is going to be feeling come the trip. I thought it was his way of showing his obligatory "I am not a Disney nut" attitude (even though he totally is a Disney nut ) Now I worry it is his way of trying to prepare me for the need to cancel the trip.

See someone stop me. In this little post I have went from considering adding 2 nights to canceling the whole trip. I am too crazy!!! Course... I just watched Black Swan last night... so I guess I could be worse.

Well, this sounds like the bigger issue, I suppose. But you are going to go on this trip!

And the Black Swan comment...

I guess I'm not much help, but I'm here to listen.

 

[momabaarjo]

Do not abandon ship...I repeat do not abandon ship (or in this case Christms in the most magicial place in the world). My head is spinning reading your post and of course over thinking the whole situation! You seem a little stressed and this is not the time to cancel your trip...in a month or so you will be able to think clearly...after wedding, after surgery, after graduation! You have awesome plans now and have thought them through before booking...

Airfares, everything I have read says not to book right when fares come out. Best booking rates are found on Tuesday or Wednesday of the week and the best fare will be 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 months prior to flight! So take a deep breath on the flights...what you are interested in is when and which carrier...

Next, I being in education I would not like to have my students out that much before vacation....I know a lot of people think this is wasted time...but really a lot of things happen prior to an extended holiday time from school. I think I would go with the plans you have right now as for dates, if you want switch to a moderate resort for saving some money and visit the WL. The pool is great at POR (only moderate I have any knowledge of), and you will get your dd take on the resort once she gets back from the honeymoon. Have you checked into renting someones points for the WL Villas? I was able to rent our stay at BWV for about $200 more than the price of POR. That could be an option for saving a few $$$$.

 

[KatMark]

Do not abandon ship...I repeat do not abandon ship (or in this case Christms in the most magicial place in the world). My head is spinning reading your post and of course over thinking the whole situation! You seem a little stressed and this is not the time to cancel your trip...in a month or so you will be able to think clearly...after wedding, after surgery, after graduation! You have awesome plans now and have thought them through before booking...

I agree; you need to get through these other things in your life before you make any decisions on your trip. I just think you have so much going on right now that you are just overthinking the trip. Hang in there.

 

[veggiemama]

Can't you all just stop me? I think I am going to drive myself nuts with my over planning. I am feeling like I need to really set some things in concrete since there is a wedding in just 2 weeks and then just a few later Zoe's surgery and THEN it will be time to make my ADR's. So if I don't figure it all out now I may be looking at July before I have it all set. By set I mean.. no backing out - airfare is booked - set.

So this means I need to know our flights or have a good idea. I have been watching all along, and have only seen things go up. I was hoping that once Jetblue opened up for December I would be able to see what things would really look like. Well, Jetblue opened and what did I see??? HIGHER fares!! This has caused me to come to one conclusion.... I WILL not be able to get a good deal. Any way I look at it, those $200 something rt fares that I have always managed to get are not going to happen. My conclusion then makes me realize that we will all need to fly Alaska and save the free ticket on Continental. (using the ticket and flying two on continental looks like it would only save us $30 total so NOT worth using the free ticket)

Flying all of us on Alaska is good. We won't have to arrive or leave at different times. It also is nice since it is a direct flight. Alaska is not bad to fly. I just wish they didn't nickle and dime you with all their "extra" fees.

So since our problem in getting a cheap airfare really has to do with our dates, I then have started to look at that. rolleyes1 yes, again)
Which then leads me to my next crazy dilemma... our dates. Remember I wanted to change before and I couldn't keep my standard room at WL? So I got to thinking what if I didn't book at WL but rather a short stay somewhere else...say a value.

So this is what I discovered. If we fly in 2 days earlier it will save us approx. $250. If we then book a 2 night stay (no park tickets) at Pop, we end up spending approx. $200 on that. So going two nights earlier saves us $50 and adds 2 nights. Seems like a no brainer kinda, right? Wrong

Lets talk duration. That is an awfully long trip. Even for a (as Steve would put it) card carrying Disney nut. I am not sure that any of us really want to stay that long. Of course, those two extra nights would not add extra days in the park so maybe it wouldn't be so bad. We would be forced to spend a day (a full day) at Pop. If the weather was not great and we couldn't swim... course, I guess we could always resort hop on that day. My thought to solve the "too long dilemma" though would be to cut down nights at WL and come back early. (yes, I know... have had this thought a number of times already. )

Now lets first talk school. The kids don't officially get out of school until the Thursday before Christmas. I think that is ridiculous. That is only 2 days before Christmas eve!!! Since I already was frustrated by the lack of days off before Christmas I planned to pull them early. However, this puts it just that much earlier. I am not sure how 7 days would go over with the school. I mean 5 was bad enough. Even if we came back early, it would not affect this since come the 22nd they would be off and we would likely come back either the 22nd or 24th. So I have no solution for this problem other than to have them bring school work for those days.

Now lets talk days off from my work. With my work, I don't get vacation time. I get paid weekly and each week is a part of a cycle. Week 1 is the busiest with installs going in the large stores. Week 2 is less hectic and installs happen in small stores. Week 3 is usually just maintaining stuff from week one and some misc. odd jobs. Week 4 we have almost no work until our meeting which is on a Thursday and then I accumulate a ton of hours over that weekend as I prepare for week 1. (I know.. much more than you all wanted to know) So basically taking a week off is not a problem as long as it is from Thursday to Wednesday , just not starting on weeks 1 or 4. Currently, we are scheduled to leave on a Thursday of week 2. Perfect! I get paid for all of week 2. Staying as long as we are will however mean I miss week 3 entirely. (so I lose one weeks pay) Coming back on 12/26 means I get back at the start of week 4 and well in time for my meeting and the big push. If however I add the two dates, it will complicate that week 2. I have things that come in on Wed and obviously I would miss those. I could work that weekend and get most everything done so it still wouldn't be too much trouble to leave on a tuesday. I just would have to hustle...but the problem would be solved.

Now for Steve's work. This is really the biggest issue. Historically he is ill come fall. He has chrons disease and has struggled each year to manage it around this time. I think this time of year is a tad stressful for him and it sets things off. Come fall he usually starts to deplete his vacation time since he runs out of sick time. He gets 3 weeks a year. (15 days) Adding these days will mean he will have to take a total of 9 days off instead of 7. That really only leaves him 6 days which when he gets sick isn't a lot. If he depletes those days prior the trip it would be hard to finagle it so he didn't lose pay. We rely on his pay for our big stuff like mortgage and living expenses. (mine just pays the fun stuff like Disney trips) If I cut days off the back side it would not matter. He will get holiday pay for 12/22 and 12/23 and then there is the weekend. I also am not sure he wants to spend 9 of his days for this. Oh, and lets not forget Zach's graduation and Kira's wedding AND Zoe's surgery. He will need time off for those as well. I can't see anyway around his vacation time not being there come December. As I type this, I am just now realizing that I could see him not having the 7 come December either. AHHH!! I think this explains why he has been kinda hemming and hawing about the trip. I have had him tell me several times that he just doesn't know how he is going to be feeling come the trip. I thought it was his way of showing his obligatory "I am not a Disney nut" attitude (even though he totally is a Disney nut ) Now I worry it is his way of trying to prepare me for the need to cancel the trip.

See someone stop me. In this little post I have went from considering adding 2 nights to canceling the whole trip. I am too crazy!!! Course... I just watched Black Swan last night... so I guess I could be worse.

Breathe Ann, Breathe! It will be ok! I have a rule in my house that I don't make ANY major decision during the month of February or during really high stress times! This would be one of those times. There is so much going on for you right now, of course you are going to second guess yourself but if you change your plans you will second guess that too! You made your original plan for a reason... it worked! for you and your family! Don't let the stress of weddings, and surgeries cloud that.

BTW, I'm second guessing right now too. BUT I am also in a high stress time! I keep wondering if we can afford this or if I really should put the money to something else and my dh keeps reminding me that this is probably the last time we will be able to do this with our kids when it will still be that 'magical' age for them. I am determined not to lose hope now and for me, until the end of June when all my stuff is finally done, cancelling anything! is not an option.

Time for a glass of wine and a good book (or movie or whatever your thing is!) and just breathe. One day at a time.... and don't you dare cancel your trip!!!

 

[Leger13]

What a scary situation! But yes, they are trained. Those poor girls trying to bravely protect this animal...they were not trained to do that. I know there are good officers out there and it does suck when some make others look bad. Some of the stories I am hearing though... I am not sure if it is only one officer that is at the core of the problem. I suspect it is. I mean, the stories of being badgered and treated like a criminal when NOT at fault yet also not having anything done when actual crimes are going on (like a car broken into) might be all one cop. The officer who struck the animal... In all fairness, she might have been in route to something... struck the animal and then assumed that it would die off to the side of the road. If the true work load is being neglected then she might have had more important things to do. I just wish she could have been less crass and more caring of the involvement that the girls were not playing in it.



He understands... I just wish he didn't have to.

Ugh that sucks even more when it's just one officer making the whole agency look like crap! Even if that cop was on her way to another call she could have called another officer to go and take care of that injured animal. It still seems to me that she was being totally irresponsible.

I kwym!

And omg that monster post. My head is spinning just from reading it! As the PP said, breathe. Maybe take a step away from trip planning for a day or two and then come back and reassess. Maybe you could ask DH for some kind of suggestions or help? Tell him how much it's stressing you out. No one should have to be going this crazy planning a wDW trip alone!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

I'm with everyone else... ride the stress and then think about your trip (AFTER you book your ADRs) ADRs are easier and less stressful to cancel!

Hang in there!

 

[shocky5]

Ditto what everyone else has already said! And lots of !! You need to just take life one day at a time right now and get through the wedding, surgery and the peace of mind of Zach's graduation.

I do agree with going ahead and booking your ADR's when the time comes so you can cancel the ones you don't need when you get the other sorted out.

I do know the trip will be wonderful whenever you go and however you get there. Disney will make it all worth it for you! And a great way to end a crazy, hectic year!!

Hang in there! I'm back and in full support of my dis friends who were there for me in my craziness! And just as you all told me it will all work out, AND IT DID, I'm here to tell you the same! Sometimes we just have to 'wait' for the pieces to fall in to place.

 

[annmarieda]

You guys are all so awesome! Thank you all so much for listening to my rant and lending a supportive ear.

You are all right... it is going to work out. I need to not stress out about the trip since I have far more pressing issues. As for Steve and his time. He is taking the day off today. My first reaction was omg..what about your total number of days. He just laughed at me and told me not to worry. He tends to work lots of long days and no matter what he WILL have the time come December. (gee... could have told me that instead of telling me you didn't know how much time he would have Then maybe I wouldn't have gone all crazy )

It always makes me feel better when I make a decision and commit to it.

So decide what you want and commit to it and I guarantee the stress will be instantly lifted!

I think you are right... once I commit I will feel better about it.

Kira's shower looked lovely. What a beautiful cake! And here's another for Zoe's procedure. Its so tough so see our babies in pain.

Thank you.

You have a lot going on, that's for sure, and I know that, for me, over thinking Disney is a great escape from my more concrete, real-world problems that I often have little or not control over. Make sense? I have had my heart set on AKL, yet I found myself wondering today if we shouldn't switch to the YC so as to be closer to EPCOT (and the rest of Disney civilization, frankly). Ultimately, I decided against it, as it would cost us even more money and this trip was supposed to be (relatively) cheap.

I think I am totally using it as a distraction. I think booking so far in advance gives me way too much time to rethink everything. You know how that goes....

Well, this sounds like the bigger issue, I suppose. But you are going to go on this trip!

And the Black Swan comment...

I guess I'm not much help, but I'm here to listen.

You were help! I appreciate you just taking the time to read. And yes, I will be going on this trip...even if I drive myself nuts planning it. I just hope I don't drive everyone away with my crazy.

Do not abandon ship...I repeat do not abandon ship (or in this case Christms in the most magicial place in the world).

I love how you put that. No... can't abandon ship...

You seem a little stressed and this is not the time to cancel your trip...in a month or so you will be able to think clearly...after wedding, after surgery, after graduation! You have awesome plans now and have thought them through before booking...

Agreed... in a month things will be much clearer.

Airfares, everything I have read says not to book right when fares come out. Best booking rates are found on Tuesday or Wednesday of the week and the best fare will be 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 months prior to flight! So take a deep breath on the flights...what you are interested in is when and which carrier...

I know this... I just have never booked this far out and it is weird that I don't have airfare yet. It almost makes it not seem real yet. I believe airfare is usually around it's highest about 6 months out...and so why I am stressing about the cost now???

if you want switch to a moderate resort for saving some money and visit the WL. The pool is great at POR (only moderate I have any knowledge of), and you will get your dd take on the resort once she gets back from the honeymoon. Have you checked into renting someones points for the WL Villas? I was able to rent our stay at BWV for about $200 more than the price of POR. That could be an option for saving a few $$$$.

We stayed at POR last spring and loved it! Since Steve wants to spend more time at the resort than in the parks he insisted on Deluxe this time... as for points, I am so unversed in how to do that.. plus I have been paying Disney a here and there and then when the balance is due will put the remainder on my Disney Visa so that I can pay it with 0 interest. I believe points have to be paid all at once, right?

I agree; you need to get through these other things in your life before you make any decisions on your trip. I just think you have so much going on right now that you are just overthinking the trip. Hang in there.

I think this is what I am doing... using the trip to escape from my "real" stresses.

Breathe Ann, Breathe! It will be ok! I have a rule in my house that I don't make ANY major decision during the month of February or during really high stress times! This would be one of those times. There is so much going on for you right now, of course you are going to second guess yourself but if you change your plans you will second guess that too! You made your original plan for a reason... it worked! for you and your family! Don't let the stress of weddings, and surgeries cloud that.

That is a good rule! I think I will look more closely at things in a month or so. (if I can keep myself away from the planning that long. )

BTW, I'm second guessing right now too. BUT I am also in a high stress time! I keep wondering if we can afford this or if I really should put the money to something else and my dh keeps reminding me that this is probably the last time we will be able to do this with our kids when it will still be that 'magical' age for them. I am determined not to lose hope now and for me, until the end of June when all my stuff is finally done, canceling anything! is not an option.

Time for a glass of wine and a good book (or movie or whatever your thing is!) and just breathe. One day at a time.... and don't you dare cancel your trip!!!

So both of us will be relieved come the end of June... so no canceling allowed... agreed.

 

[annmarieda]

Maybe you could ask DH for some kind of suggestions or help? Tell him how much it's stressing you out. No one should have to be going this crazy planning a wDW trip alone!

Steve is an odd guy. On one hand he tells me the other day he is looking forward to his Disney chip being activated once on this trip. (I will post an explanation for this in the next post) He means to say that once he gets there he knows how much he will get sucked into the happy and magic of Disney and is excited for that to happen. He is worse about it while there than I am in some ways. While at home though, he talks about how sick he is of going to Disney. He scoffs and says that he can't believe that he has let me talk him into another trip one moment and tells me in the next how I shouldn't worry that he won't like it because obviously he does since he agreed to another trip. He one minute talks of how we have to do another types of trips because Disney is just "fake" happy and then the next is irritated that his siblings won't take their kids to Disney to enjoy the magic. He tells me one moment he will go along with what ever I want to do and to just plan it and then the next tells me that he doesn't want to do the parks all day and really would prefer to stay at the resort. However.. don't book anything like BBB for Zoe without him there. And a morning before RD breakfast? Well, he doesn't want to miss that either. So see how I get some mixed messages? Even with the time off... if you read up above he is not telling me not to worry about his vacation time because he will have it. Just Saturday he was warning me that he may not have 9 days to take if we leave 2 days early.

I'm with everyone else... ride the stress and then think about your trip (AFTER you book your ADRs) ADRs are easier and less stressful to cancel!

Hang in there!

I guess that makes sense that I could always change my ADR's..Ya know though, I think in all my trips I have only canceled an ADR twice. (Once when we were too tired in the park to go. The next when I got a better time.) I guess that is one of the contributing factors in why I want to get my airfare squared away... I want to know exactly what days I will be there...so I have my ADR's right. I guess if I worry about finalizing my ADR's later... that buys me some time. But... now I see a whole knew area for me to rethink and tinker with.

Ditto what everyone else has already said! And lots of !! You need to just take life one day at a time right now and get through the wedding, surgery and the peace of mind of Zach's graduation.

I do agree with going ahead and booking your ADR's when the time comes so you can cancel the ones you don't need when you get the other sorted out.

I do know the trip will be wonderful whenever you go and however you get there. Disney will make it all worth it for you! And a great way to end a crazy, hectic year!!

Hang in there! I'm back and in full support of my dis friends who were there for me in my craziness! And just as you all told me it will all work out, AND IT DID, I'm here to tell you the same! Sometimes we just have to 'wait' for the pieces to fall in to place.

Thank you! I will wait it out... and then everything WILL fall into place.

 

[dizneeat]

Ann, PLEASE, do not cancel your trip! It will work out in the end, even if you have to bite the bullet and take the more expensive flights!

Your situation is so different - the amount of paid vacation days compared to ours, WOW!
I could not even imagine having to deal with only 15 vacation days! As much as I love the US, it makes me realize that there are aspects of living here in Austria that cannot be beat!

Can't wait for your final decision!

 

[annmarieda]

Ann, PLEASE, do not cancel your trip! It will work out in the end, even if you have to bite the bullet and take the more expensive flights!

Your situation is so different - the amount of paid vacation days compared to ours, WOW!
I could not even imagine having to deal with only 15 vacation days! As much as I love the US, it makes me realize that there are aspects of living here in Austria that cannot be beat!

Can't wait for your final decision!

Thanks, Karin... I wont. I sat down and crunched some numbers today and while it is more than I want to spend on this trip... I can afford it.

I know... only 15 days. Believe it or not though, when people get 3 weeks paid a year that is considered good. I get 0 paid and no holiday or sick... but I am not technically full time either. (some weeks I get 40 or even 40+, but mostly in the 20's) Steve gets holiday and sick on top of that...oh and 2 personal (which he will be able to use on the trip, cause a spouses bday counts for the personal day ) So when you add all of those days together I think it would come out to be more like 5 weeks or so. Still, not straight vacation and I am sure from what I understand nothing like nothing you get in Austria!

 

[Leger13]

Steve is an odd guy. On one hand he tells me the other day he is looking forward to his Disney chip being activated once on this trip. (I will post an explanation for this in the next post) He means to say that once he gets there he knows how much he will get sucked into the happy and magic of Disney and is excited for that to happen. He is worse about it while there than I am in some ways. While at home though, he talks about how sick he is of going to Disney. He scoffs and says that he can't believe that he has let me talk him into another trip one moment and tells me in the next how I shouldn't worry that he won't like it because obviously he does since he agreed to another trip. He one minute talks of how we have to do another types of trips because Disney is just "fake" happy and then the next is irritated that his siblings won't take their kids to Disney to enjoy the magic. He tells me one moment he will go along with what ever I want to do and to just plan it and then the next tells me that he doesn't want to do the parks all day and really would prefer to stay at the resort. However.. don't book anything like BBB for Zoe without him there. And a morning before RD breakfast? Well, he doesn't want to miss that either. So see how I get some mixed messages? Even with the time off... if you read up above he is not telling me not to worry about his vacation time because he will have it. Just Saturday he was warning me that he may not have 9 days to take if we leave 2 days early.

Oh goodness! He sounds like a Disney bipolar! I'm sorry you get so many mixed signals from him. I'm sure that does NOT help with your stress over planning everything. I see that you've figured out a way to squeeze those extra paid days off though so that's great! It's all that hard work and planning that really pays off in the end and makes you feel good when everything finally comes together. Hopefully once the wedding and Zoe's surgery is done you can feel a little less strung out and gather your thoughts on things a little bit easier.