Commencing Operation Christmas Miracle Trip 2010: PTR

[jenseib]

I think arriving late wil lbe OK. That is not supposed to by a super busy time of year. In the past, we usually arrive at Epcot kind of late, (in March) and we haven't had much problem at all.

Glad you got your ADR for the tea squared away! I've done stuff like that before too.....and then panic!

 

[PoppyGirl]

....to jump through! I finally talked to DBIL yesterday about taking over at the farm while we are gone. He said, "I'll check the dates." And so now I'm just waiting.....and waiting.....and waiting. (Well, actually it's not that long but if FEELS that long!) He's supposed to get back to me by tomorrow. I asked DH last night what we were going to do if DBIL decided to be ornery about it....then I answered my own question and told him that we'd pull a "DSIL" because she just decides what they are doing and they do it. She never asks. I'm really hoping though that we can do this without that though. I prefer being civil and sweet about it.

So hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to post that the dates are OK with him and we are "GO FOR LAUNCH." WOOT! I'm giving myself some pixie dust!

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

Sounds like you need some pixiedust tossed your way.

 

[stephielela]

i'm crossing my fingers for you!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Sending you all the pixie dust I can find!

 

[Tinkermom76]

Good Luck!!!!

 

[PoppyGirl]

Sounds like you need some pixiedust tossed your way.

i'm crossing my fingers for you!

Sending you all the pixie dust I can find!

Good Luck!!!!

Thank you everyone! Let's just say that perhaps patience is not my strongest virtue. All this waiting is keeeeeling me!

I helped DH milk the cows tonight...and brought along my Disney parks CDs to entertain the ladies. I predict they will have their highest milk production of the summer from tonight's milking. DH commented that he can't take me to Disney until I know every single song on the CD and where it's from in the parks. I told DH that would mean more time for me sitting and listening to Disney music while I'm on the disboards. Then we both decided that if DBIL says "no" we should hook up the Disney CD on auto repeat and tell him we won't stop playing it until he says "OK." Bwahahaha! (DBIL HATES having music on in the barn!)

 

[jenseib]

I hope you got your answer! I think the Disney music over and over would be good too!

 

[stephielela]

I know how it feels to have your vacation in someone else's hands? I'm so glad that our new manager instituted a new policy for vacation requests- she approves them within 72 hours of submission, that way you know way in advance! My vacation through the end of the year is all approved already!

 

[PoppyGirl]

Is that your final answer?


After milking this morning DH came home. The kids and I were out in the back yard enjoying our beautiful day and playing with the cats so DH and I sat on the porch swing for a while, and this is the conversation we had:

DH: Well, DBIL gave us an answer this morning.....
(v...e.....r.......y........long pause)

Me: (finally losing patience with waiting) So, what did he say????

DH: He said that it would be ok except that DN is coming home during that week and he was hoping that we could take over for him so that he could be with his son. (DN lives out of state and only comes home for holidays).

Me: Are you serious?

DH: Yes.

Me: DN is coming home Dec. 8-15? Why? Why? (growing more hysterical) Why would he come home in the middle of the month?

DH: I guess he has to work over Christmas this year.

Me: Are you serious????

DH: Yes, that's what DBIL said.

Me: (growing suspicious because DH is not acting as I would expect him to act when he knows he's disappointing me) Really? Tell me the truth.

DH: That IS the truth. (slight smirk)

Me: Come on...I know you are lying. What did he really say?

So this went on for several minutes before DH finally admitted that DBIL had ACTUALLY said "OKAY!" The dates work for him and his family. WOOT!

Now we're singing the "We're goin' to Disney" song at our house. And now I can let the kids in on the secret! WOOT!

 

[jenseib]

That sounds just like something Skip would do!

 

[stephielela]

Woo Hoo!!!!! I'm so glad you got the green light!

 

[2kids2luv]

So happy for you and your family!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

YYYAAAAAA!!!! CONGRATS!!!!

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

Must have been all that Pixie dust us DISers sent you.

 

[Tinkermom76]

YAY I am so happy for you!!!!

 

[PoppyGirl]

Must have been all that Pixie dust us DISers sent you.

Thanks everyone! And yes, I'm pretty sure it was all the pixie dust!

I'll be posting soon about the big reveal to the kids!

 

[PoppyGirl]

The Big Reveal

A few days ago a letter came in the mail addressed to our family from "A Mystery to Solve." I tucked it under some other papers and waited until this morning. Inside was a crossword puzzle with clues to various obscure Disney words....things associated with Disney but not obviously Disney. The message instructed the kids to solve the clues to the crossword to get the clues to their mystery.

They like to read the cereal box or catalogs or other things during breakfast so I cleared the counter of any other possible reading material and put the letter on the counter with the address facing the kids....and waited. Arrgh! They were eating and talking....talking and eating. No one even glanced at the letter! I kept sort of touching it and putting it more and more toward them. Nothing! Finally I asked them if they had seen it or knew what it was...and then DD asked to open it. Whew! Ok...here we go now.

DS is into puzzles and dived right in. He read the clues and DD filled out the puzzle.

Here they are, working hard on the clues:

Sorry it's a little blurry...I was trying to be discreet and didn't get the camera focused correctly.

As they solved the clues they tried to come up with theories as to who it was from or what it meant. And I wrote them down because they were so funny!

1. It's from Dan (their older brother) becuase there's "map and hotel and film." He's telling us something about where he's going to be with his vet practice.
2. It's from Banda (our friend from Africa) because of "zebra and safari"
3. It's from Jay (other older brother) because he wants to do something in film.
4. It's from N.A.S.A. because of "space and ice cream."
5. It's from Bekah (their former babysitter) and her husband Matt is going to become an astronaut with N.A.S.A. and they are moving to Europe and she's having a baby in December because of "space, countries, and December."
6. Someone died at 100 years old and is in a graveyard because of "one hundred and graveyard."
7. It's from Uncle Jerry because he gives us quarters whenever we see him.
8. It's from Pastor Jim (our pastor's brother) because of "Africa, safari" (he was a missionary in Africa for 10 years).

So we finally completed the puzzle and the kids looked at each other and said "We have NO idea what this is about or who it's from or why we got it."

Ok, well, how about this ...let's read ALL the puzzle words out loud and see if it makes any sense that way, ok? So I started reading the words aloud and DD got bored and went into the other room. About 3/4 of the way through DS says, "Disney. It's Disney. We're going to Disney. Are we going to Disney?" DD comes running back in....."We're going to DISNEY?!?!?!" I finished reading the words. DS looks at me, "We're going to Disney, right?"

DD is jumping up and down at this point.

DS (very suspiciously) "Mom, did YOU send this to us?" Ummm..... "Wow. That must have taken a long time." (I'm so happy DS is impressed with my puzzle-making abilities....I won't mention that there's a very nice website that helped me!)

Two very happy kids:

So then I made them guess where we were staying based on the clues in the puzzle. DD was jumping up and down again. She is (as predicted) SO excited about AKL!!! (Score one for mommy! )

I think the "Big Reveal" went great. The kids had fun....I had fun.... When Daddy came home DS said something about the trip to Disney and DH said, "What, we're going to Disney? What are you talking about?" That man will never change!

Next task: Countdown Calendars!

 

[stephielela]

Awesome reveal! I bet they are ecstatic! I wish my DS was old enough for clues... Maybe when I take him for his 5th birthday, I will surprise him... I don't know if I can keep a secret for that long!

 

[Daddy_of_Princesses]

What a great way to fill them in.