Christmas Cruising 2005

[tiggerwannabe]

 

[minniegrl]

Dede - how are you getting along? Feeling OK and staying cool?
-

Hi Chicken
I'm doing well in spite of the melting temperatures here in H**L, I mean AZ Thanks for asking. Piper is getting very strong and I am amazed at how active she is. Of course, I have nothing to compare it to so I don't know if she's normal, over- or underactive! All I know is that she kicks me really hard every morning and moves around a lot when I settle down for bed each night. In between those two times she just has little bursts of energy. Can't wait to meet her!

Sounds like Nan's planning on keeping you busy with vacations!

I think that 2009 just may be doable for us to cruise with Piper.

Time for my nap!

Hi All! Bye All! Take care!
Dede

 

[grimgrinnin]

2009?

Pencil us in!


grim

 

[nskjerven]

just booked GCH for Molly's bday night
Is there a better way to spend your bday than at Disneyland???? (ok no peanut gallery telling me yes, I know the cruise would be better... but.....)

I'll give ya the details on the new PoC and hopefully meet Jack Sparrow.

Our friends may come along with us for the next day too. They are currently enjoying the in San Deigo...beach & Sea World. We'll be meeting up with them on Friday. then we split, girls to American Girl Store and boys to a Dodgers game.

Did I mention I booked the hotel for us girls this weekend too....The Four Seasons here we come, luxury only costs money what the heck right?

we'll speaking of which I must go finish some work and get paid to take all these lovely vacations.

N

 

[minniegrl]

Aisling, it has arrived! Thanks so much for getting it for us. It is just perfect! Blake's looks great, too. Now everyone in our family (extended and immediate) will have their own mickey head ornament this year!

I'm off to shop with my mother-in-law today. Just a few more weeks of freedom before school starts back up!

Have a great day everyone!


Dede

 

[tiggerwannabe]

You're going back to school!?!?!

Do tell, how?

Nanette!

You have not told me that we could come RIGHT THRU San Jose on our Cali trip next year!

Being an East Coast-er, I had no clue...

Rose and I will be doing DL, SDZoo, San Fran, San Jose, Universal Hollywood, Hollywood...among others, got any plans for next summer yet? Rose and I haven't set and exact date yet-Got any thoughts on Wine Country Touring?

Do tell...puhlease!

 

[nskjerven]

Funny San Jose is a boring palce to visit (okay that comes from me living here all my life)

It a great base to visit from...wine country, SF, Monterey, SF, Half Moon Bay close to all, but really the city of SJ is not so great. We could see a few things here...Tech Museum, down town (where the race is), lots of resturants and a mall, nice town 5 minutes south Los Gatos, but really there isn't any great attractions right here in SJ. So I guess I just don't think of it that way.....but of course, you should come here, we may have a pull out couch for visitors (not really sure what we are doing with our family room at the moment) but if we have a place in HMB it will have an EXTRA guest room.... It's next year ya never know.

Gotta get the kids to swim lessons, back later...

N

p.s. Dede back to school??? I thought you were off too????

 

[grimgrinnin]

Oh, boy I really am out of the loop. Is there other news someone can capsulize for me for the last 6 months????? Congratulations. Kayla asked us NOT to bring her home a souvenir!

Hehe - thanks!

Getting close now...

 

[tiggerwannabe]

A fellow DISer gave me a recommendation list...

DL (of course)
Universal Hollywood
Hollywood
SD Zoo
Sea World
San Fran
Muir Woods
Sausilito
Pier 39
Ghirardelli Square
Cable Cars
The Winchester House
Monterey
& Carmel

This guy is a threadkiller, lives in PA but has done the Cali Coast tour thing a few times...whaddaya think of my list?

The only thing in SJ that I really wanna see is you guys

 

[nskjerven]

DL (of course) with us
Universal Hollywood not sure haven't been in years
Hollywood yes, interesting to see, not much to do there but see
SD Zoo wonderful, we;d join this too of course
Sea World again, wonderful
San Fran
Muir Woods
Sausilito
Pier 39
Ghirardelli Square
Cable Cars all of these are with in the same zone and some done on the same day, haven't been to Muir Woods, but figure it's nice to see, you haven't listed the GG bridge, but you cross it to get to sausilito
The Winchester House two blocks from our house, I guess it's cool, but not worth coming to SJ for we of course are worth coming to SJ for
Monterey
& Carmel close to each other, but could use a day to see each, Monterey Bay Aquarium is great.

you do have alot of driving time between northern and southern ca. like a days drive would you consider a flight? they can be less than $100 planned. the flight is 45 minutes from LAX to SJO (san jose) and we of course could play tour guides if you'd like...what are your dates?

 

[tiggerwannabe]

We don't have dates yet...

Rose is working on that now, my schedule is more flexible than hers.

She had intended to rent a car in Vegas and drive the coast but since we've never done this before we can be totally flexible.

I think I really need to look at a map...

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Google Earth says that it's almost 5 hours from LA to SJ

It also shows HMB is only another hour. Rose would be the main driver of this trip, as she is on most...We'll have 2 weeks, do you think stopping to take a flight would be feasible?

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Rose also mentioned wanting to stay on Property at DL...

What do you recommend for that?

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Hey!...does anybody recognize these two???

Here's the link to the first set of pics I've recd from last weekend's dismeets.

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lisaruthb6/slideshow?.dir=/7b20re2&.src=ph

 

[minniegrl]

You're going back to school!?!?!

Do tell, how?

We start back really early around here, so I'm going to start school, go for a few weeks so that I can get my kids into a routine before a sub takes over. Teachers go back August 8th, and the kids start August 14th. I figure I might as well go back while I can still get around, before Piper gets here, and then I'll have more time to spend with her once she actually IS here. That's the plan anyway. She isn't due until September 14, so I'm hoping to at least make it through the first week of September, and then with my 12 weeks I wouldn't have to go back to school until after the Thanksgiving Break.

I would love to be able to go part time or be a full time stay at home mommy, but we really didn't think we'd get pregnant after trying for such a while. That's why we went for the bigger house (and bigger payment). I love our new house, though, and it will be a great place for Piper to grow up in. John's Mom will be taking care of Piper once I go back to school, so I guess that's one reason I'm not so stressed about leaving her.....yet.

Anyway....just took a break from working in her room, and I'd better get back to work. John's putting together the changing table, and I am putting the crib bedding on!

Night all!

Dede

 

[nskjerven]

yes stay on property for sure. There are local hotels but as you know I think Disney is the best. For the price use the Dland Hotel, next is the Grand CA Hotel, but it's not cheap, last favorite is Paradise Pier, not bad just 3rd place.

driving from the tip of SJ to LA is 5 hours (rushed) not on the coast. WIth traffic we make Dland in 6-9 hours. The coast takes MUCH longer. On our last trip we actually made it take 2 days, mind you we were not in a hurry and enjoying life.

Once you map out what you want to do in each place you will know if you want to spend a day on the road or not. LA is trafficy 24/7

Half Moon Bay is 45 minutes from San Jose, 1 + hour from Santa Cruz which is the next City south. The road between HMB and SF usually takes an hour and it is now closed (since April) it's called Devil's slide, guess why.....they say it will be fixed in 09/06, but I don't believe it. The detour is about 30-60 minutes more depending on time of day.

so, that's my .20 cents...

later,

N

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Smart move there Miss Dede...

Piper needs to come about 2 days late so she can share my birthday It's awesome having family that can help with the baby, I had my MIL & she was a godsend at the time...a good babysitter is probably the biggest challenge I had to deal with (besides the day-to-day stuff) when my babies were small.

Thanks for all the help Nan....

I realized after I asked that traffic will def be a factor in this trip. I'm filling Rose in on all the pointers you've given us & I will keep you abreast of all that we plan. Starting with the dates when we get them

I'm gonna work on the hotel while Rose works on the dates, we will both be working on the mapping of this journey.

LYMI...

cj.

 

[domiii]

Seems with our cruise in 2008 we'll have to pass on both 2007 and 2009 .... sorry, to miss all of you. We are planning WDW in 2007 in November if anyone is interested. It will be our 20th anniversary and WDW's 35th.

Aisling we traveled with 29 family members in 1997 and it was challenging at times. We only had 2 planned outings and the rest was up to each family. Dom and I made all of the arrangements. We organized the Illuminations cruise - 2 boats - Dom's family in one boat, mine in the other. I was sad Dom and I weren't together, but we had to make a choice. Next was breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. All 29 of us arrived and they didn't have our priority seating. Needless to say they accomodated us. It was fabulous. (That could have been a disaster.) I like to travel with just Dom, Kayla and myself. I also like having my mom, MIL, GMIL, AuntIL and Dom's cousin with us. After that, it's just too many people.

Tig-Count us in for DISmeet in PA next year, PLEASE. Glad it was a good time. LOVED the SD Zoo. I was there when I was in high school, but still remember it was a great place to visit!! Envy your trip plans.

Dede - take it slow! Don't over work yourself. Nice you have some one to take care of Piper. I had to go back to work after 3 months and day care was such an issue right up to the time Kayla started school. Now she's going to college - when did that happen? She also just got her first job, starts tomorrow working at the movie theater in town. It's what she wanted to do.

Nan

Well, I have nothing else exciting to add, just that we are off to WDW in 1 month!!!!!

 

[tiggerwannabe]

Don't envy me

I'm almost 39 and this is my first trip ever to DL...Mom says I've been to Cali but was waaaay too young to remember.

I'll chalk you in for next year's Dismeet, just make sure you register at dismeets.com so you can get all the updates as quick as they happen.

 

[nskjerven]

final count down...just had to check the AG website for last minute fantasy doll shopping.

Paul is off getting a tank in Topanga...ha, remember last summer I told you about her. Man time flies with good friends 'eh?

Dede: Good luck with the work and baby stuff. You sound so like a first timer, and I mean that in a good way. Remember babies come when they are ready, not when it's a good day for you to be finished at work. Hope fully Little Miss Piper will be nice to her mommy, but just in case, deep breath, and go with the flow. I was just telling a new client that after 9 years of being a mom I still haven't found a way to make work and mommyness fit together perfectly, but at least I've admitted to myself and everyone who listens that I'm a mom first and my work just supports the lifestyle.

Make me a little melancholy and teary eyed to remember that my little baby girl is goign to be 9 in a few days. The time goes way to fast....

Molly is very excitied about this bday, how did I ever think to top the Spa Slumber party???? Okay I here by promise no big bday next year....(ha ha, watch me sneak in a cruise...)

Must download the pics on the camera so I have a full card, I'll see if Molly wants to wave bye bye....check back on this spot.

N