Dave Ramseying to Disney!Some final thoughts 8/18

[BrooklynnsMommy]

We celebrated with the world's best cupcakes. Jill knows where they are from...

I do know where they are from! Love Gigi's! I actually have one sitting on my desk that one of the teachers brought me for my birthday. I have to wait for a time when the girls are not around so that I don't have to share!

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

Your Dave Ramsey title caught my eye!! I'm such a fan! You've got some great money saving/finding tips going on.

I've read all you major updates so far, and I love your writing style & plans. I just had to get a subscription. When I've got more time, I'm going to go back through & see everyone's comments & hit all the links.

You're so right about not waiting forever to live life. You need a little reminder of why you're working so hard & saying no Starbucks! The planning & savings keeps you motivated for all the sacrifices & the trip will refresh you and remind you of the time not so far off that you'll be living like no one else!!!

 

[999ghostslover]

Sounds like you had fun at the zoo, and lots of busy days ahead!
I hate leaving my kids for anything too.

We did. Yes, it will be so busy here. I will miss the DIS this weekend.

I do know where they are from! Love Gigi's! I actually have one sitting on my desk that one of the teachers brought me for my birthday. I have to wait for a time when the girls are not around so that I don't have to share!

Your Dave Ramsey title caught my eye!! I'm such a fan! You've got some great money saving/finding tips going on.

I've read all you major updates so far, and I love your writing style & plans. I just had to get a subscription. When I've got more time, I'm going to go back through & see everyone's comments & hit all the links.

You're so right about not waiting forever to live life. You need a little reminder of why you're working so hard & saying no Starbucks! The planning & savings keeps you motivated for all the sacrifices & the trip will refresh you and remind you of the time not so far off that you'll be living like no one else!!!

I'm loving all of the DR fans on here. Welcome! I really really hope that is what the trip will do for us. And by the way, I love your screen name. So cool!!

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh my gosh! INDIAN PRINCESSES! A bazillion memories from when I was very young just came flooding back! My Dad and I were in that when I was very, very young - probably 2nd grade and younger! So fun! I had completely forgotten about it!

Love all the pics, you guys have been busy! But it looks like a lot of fun.

I hope you are able to enjoy your trip and not miss the boys too much!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

Indian Princesses!! I have never heard of these, but what a great idea! I am not sure if they have them around here, but I would love Brandon and the girls to be involved. I must check into this. Love Abby's artwork, as well. Is that fingerpaint?

Happy birthday to Colin! That's how Juju was with her first birthday cake...not into it very much. But now she can just smell one baking and come running! Heck, I might come running for one of those delicious-looking cupcakes!

Brady would have liked our trip to the zoo recently. One of the "come-here-cats" way laying in the sun on his back in all his *ahem* glory, looking at us like we were invading his relaxation time! We watched him for a long time. So funny!

Which American Girl store did you go to in Atlanta? Was it the one at Perimeter Mall?

 

[999ghostslover]

Oh my gosh! INDIAN PRINCESSES! A bazillion memories from when I was very young just came flooding back! My Dad and I were in that when I was very, very young - probably 2nd grade and younger! So fun! I had completely forgotten about it!

Love all the pics, you guys have been busy! But it looks like a lot of fun.

I hope you are able to enjoy your trip and not miss the boys too much!

Wow. I had never heard of IP until we moved here. Tom always talked about taking the kids canoeing, camping etc. but never really has time for it. Well, IP has helped him make time. They both love it so much. We are going to have to drop cheerleading next year but we are all okay with that. It has been busy but we are about to hit a lull after this weekend that should last until about Thanksgiving/Christmas time. We'll see though!

Indian Princesses!! I have never heard of these, but what a great idea! I am not sure if they have them around here, but I would love Brandon and the girls to be involved. I must check into this. Love Abby's artwork, as well. Is that fingerpaint?

Happy birthday to Colin! That's how Juju was with her first birthday cake...not into it very much. But now she can just smell one baking and come running! Heck, I might come running for one of those delicious-looking cupcakes!

Brady would have liked our trip to the zoo recently. One of the "come-here-cats" way laying in the sun on his back in all his *ahem* glory, looking at us like we were invading his relaxation time! We watched him for a long time. So funny!

Which American Girl store did you go to in Atlanta? Was it the one at Perimeter Mall?

Yes, now he loves cake. I think the frosting threw him. He scarfed down a pumkin butter bar in about 2.2 seconds the other day.

The store was at Northpoint Mall. I used to work near there--in Roswell--when we lived there but that store was not there then. It was beautiful! They do birthday parties too. Is there one at Perimeter Mall too? I thought there were only a few in the country.

 

[999ghostslover]

Well, I survived my weekend with my Abby Rose and away from my men. Tom did great with the kids and we had a fun time away from them for a few days. We had a great visit here with my mom and grandmother too. This will probably be the last time she ever comes unless someone goes up and flys with her to come down. Newark airport nearly ate her alive. Poor little Mema. Since then we have gone pumkin picking so I have a few pictures. My next few updates promise to be more Disney related. We are getting into crunch time with ADRs. My mom and dad are deciding if they want to go to V and A's one night or maybe do Cali Grill. We'll see. They still cannot figure out why you have to book so far in advance. I keep trying to tell them that Free Dining isn't just for us!
I really wish Tour Guide Mike and Disney put out their info about that time period a little earlier.
On with the pics...
Abby Rose at American Girl. They give your doll a high chair and pour her some tea.

Everyone gets their own appetizer and entree for $14.95. Did you hear that Disney? Abby got the cheese fondue.

I got the spinach artichoke dip.

Did I tell you we realized DADDY did not put Abby's American Girl doll in the car until we were an hour away? Well, Abby decided to spend her birthday money on a new doll. Meet Kit. She is from the 1930's. Abby's other AG doll is the one that is supposed to look like her.

They have really cool light fixtures all over. Some look like giant flower petals. This one did not.

Abby at a cool street festival in South Carolina. We got to eat our favorite. She Crab Soup.

And we got some pedis.

And went minigolfing

This past weekend we went punkin' picking.

 

[hollybearsmom]

Looks like you all are having a great fall.

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

Okay, call me dumb, I totally meant Northpoint Mall! I guess I was wondering if there was another AG at another mall and typed another one! HA! Well, you were just about spitting distance from me when you were there...that's why I was asking to begin with, to see if you were near me! Yes, that store's great. It hasn't been open very long, but Juju is really interested in it every time we're there. She doesn't have an AG yet, but she's convinced Mamie to buy her one for Christmas. She's chosen Molly. Kit is the one with a recent movie, right? We have a Felicity movie my SIL bought for ME (!) because I always wanted a Felicity doll when I was younger and never got one. Now I'm rambling, but I just wanted to say that I meant Northpoint.
Love the pumpkin patch photos! I think we're going this weekend.
Are your parents wanting you to go to V and A, too? That would be awesome! We love Cali Grill, but V and A is my dream for one day!

 

[DIS_Indoctrination]

I LOVE this time of year just for the pumpkin patches & all the great fall festivals. Great pics!

 

[999ghostslover]

Okay, call me dumb, I totally meant Northpoint Mall! I guess I was wondering if there was another AG at another mall and typed another one! HA! Well, you were just about spitting distance from me when you were there...that's why I was asking to begin with, to see if you were near me! Yes, that store's great. It hasn't been open very long, but Juju is really interested in it every time we're there. She doesn't have an AG yet, but she's convinced Mamie to buy her one for Christmas. She's chosen Molly. Kit is the one with a recent movie, right? We have a Felicity movie my SIL bought for ME (!) because I always wanted a Felicity doll when I was younger and never got one. Now I'm rambling, but I just wanted to say that I meant Northpoint.
Love the pumpkin patch photos! I think we're going this weekend.
Are your parents wanting you to go to V and A, too? That would be awesome! We love Cali Grill, but V and A is my dream for one day!

Well, shucks...you could have joined us. If I lived close by I would go to the Bistro and make a day of her getting her first doll. They do a great job making it special. I was alwmost glad we got a new one just for that. Her other one was ordered and came in the mail. Not as special!
I just want my parents to go out to dinner. My dad is working in Michigan for a few years and my mom tried to live up there but hated the winters so they kinda live apart a lot. They need special nights out. I'm too wiped at the end of the day with kids to go to V and A's. One day though! It is a dream.

Looks like you all are having a great fall.

We are, how about you?

I LOVE this time of year just for the pumpkin patches & all the great fall festivals. Great pics!

Best time of the year...especially in the South!

 

[999ghostslover]

Disney thoughts swirling in my head...
Does anyone know when the May Park hours come out?
Does anyone know what the lag time between park hours coming out and TGM putting out their plans are?
If you were going to recommend a special 2TS dinner to two 50-something-year-olds who have had a full park day what would you recommend? We will have been to DHS that day so Brown Derby is on the table but not any of the other theme parks.
What about 1TS? I am having a hard time figuring this out.
Is Kouzzina a 1 TS place? Is Wolf Puck Cafe nice? I figure that maybe there will not be a lot of kids in either place.
What will Fantasyland and Toon Town look like when we go (may/june 11). Is there anything we know for sure will be gone? Is there anything that will reasonable be new by then?
Are the WPE's at Marketplace and Westside exactly the same?

And...
We have decided that we will be doing a 2012 Sept or Oct Disney Dream 4 night Bahamas cruise. So exited!!! We are waiting for those dates to come out soon. Our very early and very tentative plan for that trip are as follows...
Drive to Orlando and check into the Nick Holiday Inn, an I Drive Hotel like Cocoa Keys or someplace like that...
Wake up and do Islands of Adventure all day
Go back to hotel to sleep.
Drive to Titusville and have a quick visit with Tom's grandma. Leave our car at her house, get to Port (it is about ten minutes away) Board the ship for 4 awesome days, disembark, get to Grammys for lunch and to get our car, drive as far as we can that night and stay in a hotel, make the rest of the drive the next day.

It is a loooong way off but we are so excited. The Dream is our Dream. Hey, that's a catchy PTR title.
Well, I won't start on that just yet.

 

[Lady Lallie]

For a 2TS place, I HIGHLY recommend Flying Fish Cafe at the Boardwalk. Excellent, yummy and so pretty to look at.

Kouzzina is a 1TS place, that is all I know about it.

I don't think there will be anything new in Fantasyland when you visit and I think all the rides are supposed to stay operational for the time being. With the new parts of Fantasyland not slated to be done until 2012, I think it will be some time before anything closes.

It's funny you mention a cruise, I was just thinking about a cruise for 2013 today.

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

I am thinking that May park hours come out at the beginning of November.n,
Kouzzina is 1 TS.
For a 2 TS recommendation, we always go Cali Grill! I'd love to try somewhere else, but CG is just so good!
We're trying a new 1TS meal this year, Mama Melrose's. Isn't The Wave 1 TS?
Sorry, that's all I know!

As for the cruise...! I can't wait to read that PTR and TR, too! Maybe I'll be able to use it to convince DH we should do a cruise!

 

[999ghostslover]

For a 2TS place, I HIGHLY recommend Flying Fish Cafe at the Boardwalk. Excellent, yummy and so pretty to look at.

Kouzzina is a 1TS place, that is all I know about it.

I don't think there will be anything new in Fantasyland when you visit and I think all the rides are supposed to stay operational for the time being. With the new parts of Fantasyland not slated to be done until 2012, I think it will be some time before anything closes.

It's funny you mention a cruise, I was just thinking about a cruise for 2013 today.

The new ships look too cool. How can we not go on a cruise? So Fantasyland will still be a mess but nothing will necessarily be non-operational. I guess that will have to do. Take lots of picks of the construction for me, kay?

I am thinking that May park hours come out at the beginning of November.n,
Kouzzina is 1 TS.
For a 2 TS recommendation, we always go Cali Grill! I'd love to try somewhere else, but CG is just so good!
We're trying a new 1TS meal this year, Mama Melrose's. Isn't The Wave 1 TS?
Sorry, that's all I know!

As for the cruise...! I can't wait to read that PTR and TR, too! Maybe I'll be able to use it to convince DH we should do a cruise!

Yeah, we are pleased. We are going to have to kick into high gear to save for that baby!
I think I may have my parents eat at Kouzzia while we do something silly like ohana or 1900 PF. They would enjoy strolling the boardwalk and having a break from the kiddos.

 

[999ghostslover]

Before the Dis I frequented the Baby Center boards during a miscarriage and then the pregnancy of my second child and a little bit with my third. It was the only online boards I had ever done and it was great. But then a little known website called Facebook made online socializing a lot easier so I basically stopped visiting Babycenter. Then a little while later I found the Dis and now I would say Dis and FB are my online go-to sites with an occasional Catholic, cooking or money-saving blog thrown in for good measure.

Anyway, on the Babycenter Boards I was known as NurseErin because I was a labor and delivery and mother baby nurse and all of the crazy pregnant ladies seemed to flock to my advice since it was...let's say, based in reality and not something Jenny McCarthy wrote in a book. When I joined the Dis I opted to go with a non-nurse name because I wasn't working and didn't see myself going back for awhile being that I was pregnant (that seems to happen to me a lot) and I cannot leave a baby in someone else's care. But now that Colin is 1 and no longer nursing and Brady is almost 2.5 and Abby is in school I have decided to go back to work. I thought it would take me awhile to find a job because I had really strict requirements. But, almost too quickly, I have found a job! I start Mother/Baby on November 1 at our local hospital. I am so thrilled. The adult interaction (the irony is that half of my patients are babies, I know) and the added income and the ability to stay with my boys a lot is great. I will have to put them in daycare almost full-time for a month or so but then I will be able to get a sitter every other Monday while I work. I will be working Sundays (we go to Church on Saturdays) and every other Monday.

 

[jillyb]

Congratulations on the new job!

 

[Fantasyland Mom]

CONGRATULATIONS!! That is so very cool! It is my dream to be a certified nurse midwife or mother/baby nurse! I had trouble deciding what to do when I went to college, and I ended up with a teaching degree. After teaching a few years, I knew I made the wrong choice but I was going to stay home with my kids anyway, so it didn't matter. Once I'm done having kids (and, like you, it seems to happen to me a lot!), I plan on fast-tracking my nursing degree since I already have a bachelors. I would love for you to tell me all the ins and outs sometime!

 

[hollybearsmom]

Cngratulations on the job!

And we want to go cruise in '12...I'll be looking for that pretrip since we have never done a cruise and I am clueless about planing for one!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Congrats on the new job!! It sounds like you found a good situation that will work for you and your family.