Christmas all year long!

[KatMark]

I am tinkering again...

canceled one ADR only to get a better time the same night the same place. So nothing big... but tinkering nonetheless.

Got dinner at Coral Reef for 7:15pm instead of 9:05pm

Ann, I'm so sorry I've been missing the last several days. Too much drama and too much to do to get ready for the trip.

I think the 7:15 instead of 9:05 is a much better eating time.

I hope Zoe is doing well and that you are back at full strength.

 

[momabaarjo]

It's the DISease!!

I think we ALL have it right now!!!

 

[momabaarjo]

I think the 7:15 instead of 9:05 is a much better eating time.
.

I have to agree!!!! This was good tinkering!

 

[annmarieda]

Ann, I'm so sorry I've been missing the last several days. Too much drama and too much to do to get ready for the trip.

I think the 7:15 instead of 9:05 is a much better eating time.

I hope Zoe is doing well and that you are back at full strength.

Thanks so much for stopping in, Kathy! I hope you have a magical couple weeks....that go by slow.

 

[annmarieda]

I think we ALL have it right now!!!

Yes.... it is very contagious even.

I have to agree!!!! This was good tinkering!

thank you... I think it will work out much better.

 

[shocky5]

It is!!! I just am so ready for this trip... I think tinkering helps me to feel like it isn't still several months away. Actually... 3 months from today we will be on our way home so.... maybe I shouldn't be in such a rush. It is going to be over before I know it.

Oh man... what a different perspective! We will be home in 3 months 2 days! Definitely helps to not wish away these next 12 weeks too quickly! However, as I sit here trying to get kids through homework and it's almost 9pm, I'd take the vacation...

 

[annmarieda]

Oh man... what a different perspective! We will be home in 3 months 2 days! Definitely helps to not wish away these next 12 weeks too quickly! However, as I sit here trying to get kids through homework and it's almost 9pm, I'd take the vacation...

Yes, I would too. I have even though... what if I took a brief trip. My friend invited me away to the ocean this weekend. If I were not sick as a dog from a cold and Zach didn't JUST get home....maybe I would go.

Maybe I can talk my family into going for a brief road trip...that is assuming I get my silly car back. I brought it in today and they wouldn't let me have it back.

Sick... trying to get Zach reacquainted with living with us... needing to have a yard sale.... I think I want to set them all aside this weekend and go somewhere.

This is only a couple hours from my house and believe it or not I have only been here once in my entire life.

They do up the Christmas season and I have wanted to go (but the roads over the pass can be a bit treacherous) This year obviously won't be the year for it... but next year...

 

[momabaarjo]

Hey...I think I remember going to this place when I visited a friend once back in college who lived in Centralia...WOW, it was cool...just a quaint mountain town if I remember with lots of Scandanavian (sure that is spelled wrong)/German type buildings...like the Swiss alps!

Hope you are feeling better by tomorrow so you can get on with your busy life! No fun being sick on the weekends...

 

[ladytink75]

They do up the Christmas season and I have wanted to go (but the roads over the pass can be a bit treacherous) This year obviously won't be the year for it... but next year...

Oh WOW how i miss Leavenworths!!! Those pictures bring back memories of that place I have only been there once and that was over 5 yrs ago. My DH and I went there for our 10th yr wedding anniversary. Boy was it fun I always wanted to go back there for Christmas to enjoy the celebrations over there. You are right the pass is dangerous over the winter unless its a mild winter (sometimes a mild winter over in that area is hard to come by) then you can go through the pass with no problem.

 

[shocky5]

I'm sorry you are sick! Very happy Zach got home and hopefully the adjustments will be simple. Does he seem more 'grown up' now that he is back?

I've thought you deserved a break since last May!! You've had such a crazy year! The mountain town looks very quaint and peaceful!! Pictures like those makes me think my hubby knows what he's talking about when he wants me to branch out our vacation choices.

I took a mental health day today - not to be whiny - but this particular time of year for us is just filled to the brim with 'stuff.' And when something tips the balance of all we have going on, I slip easily into a 'bad mood.' I don't know how else to put it.

SOOO after looking at the kid's grades, seeing my straight A student now has more B's than A's in a weeks time due to incomplete assignments, and my youngest is struggling with math, and the house is a mess and there's laundry still sitting on the couch to be put up since last Sunday that I would loooove for my family to say "Oh - those are my clothes, I should put them up" instead of just coming to the couch every morning to get what they need for the day from there... Hubby included... it's time to make some changes before I lose my sanity.

So I'm home - cleaning the house, putting everything back to 'square one' and then it will be on them to help keep it that way. I'll let you know how it goes. I think I just get to this point that we are so busy that I just don't feel like I'm doing anything very well and that eats at me.

I'm going to quit hijacking Ann's PTR now.

Ann - my vote is for you to take the break/getaway if you can!

 

[annmarieda]

Hey...I think I remember going to this place when I visited a friend once back in college who lived in Centralia...WOW, it was cool...just a quaint mountain town if I remember with lots of Scandanavian (sure that is spelled wrong)/German type buildings...like the Swiss alps!

Hope you are feeling better by tomorrow so you can get on with your busy life! No fun being sick on the weekends...

Centralia is southwest of Leavenworth so you must have taken a side trip? Yes, Leavenworth is a "themed" town. There are two themed towns in WA (that I am aware of) One is an old west themed town and the other (Leavenworth) is a Bavarian themed.

I hope to feel better soon, so thank you.

Oh WOW how i miss Leavenworths!!! Those pictures bring back memories of that place I have only been there once and that was over 5 yrs ago. My DH and I went there for our 10th yr wedding anniversary. Boy was it fun I always wanted to go back there for Christmas to enjoy the celebrations over there. You are right the pass is dangerous over the winter unless its a mild winter (sometimes a mild winter over in that area is hard to come by) then you can go through the pass with no problem.

Why is it that so many of us have only been here a handful of times if that? I guess if I think about it... it is probably a good 3 hours away. Still it seems as though it would be a good day trip from WWA.

I'm sorry you are sick! Very happy Zach got home and hopefully the adjustments will be simple. Does he seem more 'grown up' now that he is back?

I've thought you deserved a break since last May!! You've had such a crazy year! The mountain town looks very quaint and peaceful!! Pictures like those makes me think my hubby knows what he's talking about when he wants me to branch out our vacation choices.

I took a mental health day today - not to be whiny - but this particular time of year for us is just filled to the brim with 'stuff.' And when something tips the balance of all we have going on, I slip easily into a 'bad mood.' I don't know how else to put it.

SOOO after looking at the kid's grades, seeing my straight A student now has more B's than A's in a weeks time due to incomplete assignments, and my youngest is struggling with math, and the house is a mess and there's laundry still sitting on the couch to be put up since last Sunday that I would loooove for my family to say "Oh - those are my clothes, I should put them up" instead of just coming to the couch every morning to get what they need for the day from there... Hubby included... it's time to make some changes before I lose my sanity.

So I'm home - cleaning the house, putting everything back to 'square one' and then it will be on them to help keep it that way. I'll let you know how it goes. I think I just get to this point that we are so busy that I just don't feel like I'm doing anything very well and that eats at me.

I'm going to quit hijacking Ann's PTR now.

Ann - my vote is for you to take the break/getaway if you can!

OMG! You have no idea how much it helped me to know that you have that going on. I am sorry that you have it going on... but sometimes when I am struggling to keep everything "done" around the house, and keep the kids on task, and keep everyone happy.... I think I tend to think no one else ever has laundry sitting on their couch. Or... more importantly that they have family members who then sift through said laundry to find what they want rather than put it away. (this happens to me more often that I would like to admit) So..I think I too am at that point where I need to step back and get things settled before I break. Maybe it is a fall thing or maybe just the culmination of the years stresses.... either way... something has to change soon.

 

[momabaarjo]

Guess who else needs to join this laundry on the couch club? I confess!!!!

 

[annmarieda]

Guess who else needs to join this laundry on the couch club? I confess!!!!

 

[annmarieda]

As much as I need a short trip, i don't think it will happen this weekend.

First - Zach's sponsor for confirmation recently began treatment for colon cancer. Colon cancer that spread to his liver. For what ever reason, he has decided to put a roof on his house this weekend. Well... Zach has to help him with that. So Zach is not available.

Second - I dare say I am sicker today than yesterday. I just don't know that I feel up to driving.

Third - I just had to buy new tires for my suburban and...well, that wasn't cheap.

I guess I will just have to wait for 11 weeks. Imagine... only 11 weeks from today I will be in Orlando!

 

[shocky5]

OMG! You have no idea how much it helped me to know that you have that going on. I am sorry that you have it going on... but sometimes when I am struggling to keep everything "done" around the house, and keep the kids on task, and keep everyone happy.... I think I tend to think no one else ever has laundry sitting on their couch. Or... more importantly that they have family members who then sift through said laundry to find what they want rather than put it away. (this happens to me more often that I would like to admit) So..I think I too am at that point where I need to step back and get things settled before I break. Maybe it is a fall thing or maybe just the culmination of the years stresses.... either way... something has to change soon.

Yeah! There's strength for support in numbers! It helps me to know I'm not being too whiny when it really starts to get to me and get under my skin.

Guess who else needs to join this laundry on the couch club? I confess!!!!

Congratulations! You are an official member!!

As much as I need a short trip, i don't think it will happen this weekend.

First - Zach's sponsor for confirmation recently began treatment for colon cancer. Colon cancer that spread to his liver. For what ever reason, he has decided to put a roof on his house this weekend. Well... Zach has to help him with that. So Zach is not available.

Second - I dare say I am sicker today than yesterday. I just don't know that I feel up to driving.

Third - I just had to buy new tires for my suburban and...well, that wasn't cheap.

I guess I will just have to wait for 11 weeks. Imagine... only 11 weeks from today I will be in Orlando!

I'm sorry you are sicker! Can you just hole up in your room and sleep???

What a wonderful thought - two more weeks and you will be in single digit numbers for weeks til trip!

Stink on the tires - same boat here but can't bring myself to do it yet.

Have a good weekend, Ann! Get some rest!

 

[annmarieda]

12/13 - Tuesday

Today will be our first time to enter Epcot. Just like MK, we are planning a total of 3 days in this park. So again, we will not have to be at rope drop.

We will probably eat a breakfast bar that I have brought from home. Coffee will be on the agenda, so we will probably stop by here

to use this

to get what will have to pass as coffee. I may bring Starbucks via packs though and if so, we will just get hot water in our mugs.

Away we will go and head to

I truly am hoping that these bus trips work out better than our busses at Pop did in 9/10.

Once in Epcot we will plan to spend the first part of our morning in FW. On our list will be

We will also go and get our DV picture taken before we make our way to WS. This is taken in one of the Innoventions building. This was our picture from last trip

Mid morning, we will need a snack which will mean we will head to one of my favorite places to get a snack in all the world. This will use 4 credits (34 remain)

What will I have? Maybe one of these

or these

From there we will meander through WS until lunch.

We will try and ride

Finally, it will be time for lunch. With the guys, the idea of sharing food will probably not be as big of a hit as it was when it was the 4 gals last September. If it were up to me, we would stop at 4 separate countries and get 4 separate meals to share. But again... guys So we will probably go with Germany or Morocco. Either way, they are pretty good and will make me happy. Germany has yummy items like

and Morocoo has things like

In the end, we will use 4 cs credits (36 remain)

After lunch we will head out of the park via the international gateway. We will go to

to explore what they have to offer in the way of holiday decorations.


We then will head back to Epcot and make our way back to FW.

There we will try and see

and

We have a dinner ADR at

I am hoping for some pixie dust. It would be nice to be seated at an aquarium table. This will use 4 ts credits (36 remain)

We probably will not be able to do much after dinner since the park closes at 9:30 pm. However, if we have time, we will try and pop in to see

We will stay until park closing. I really hope this doesn’t cause problems. Steve really doesn’t want to do a “Disney commando trip” I am hoping that the diversion after lunch will be enough of a theme park break.

Before leaving the park we will have to stop at the photo place to pick up our free 5x7 pictures. Both DH and I have a DV so we will get the one from the photo shoot and then pick out one other (I think we are allowed to pick any pic we want and that it doesn't have to be the one at the photo op.)


We will not be staying up late since the next morning we a pretty early start to our day.

 

[dizneeat]

I LOVE your plans, Ann!

I wish I had the stamina to do all that much in one day - we didn't even do that much in four weeks!

Your trip is coming up quickly! It will be here before you know it!

 

[annmarieda]

I LOVE your plans, Ann!

I wish I had the stamina to do all that much in one day - we didn't even do that much in four weeks!

Your trip is coming up quickly! It will be here before you know it!

Ah, Karin... it really isn't that much. It is like...eat and then do a bit of stuff. Then eat again... a little bit of stuff. eat... I am really into planning those meals and snacks.

 

[momabaarjo]

Now you have me dreaming of school bread and of course my dream stay at the Boardwalk! I love your plans for the day (and your food choices)!

BTW...yes we made lots of road trips when I visited my friend in Centrailia...great college memories.

 

[shocky5]

Looks like a great day! And with just the right amount of eats and rides!

Would you recommend the counter service meals in WS as opposed to what's in FW?