DDA Chapter 25

[bear74]

I don't think I had mentioned the other big surprise in our family...

ERIN is pregnant too! She'd due Dec 8. Totally unexpected for her and she was almost 3 months by the time she found out as her cycle is always sporadic anyway. The big wrench is that Chick Fil A is hoping to open a new store nearby in Nov, her boss is poised to take that store and she's applying to take over her store. Well, with a Dec 8 due date, that might not be easy with a Nov opening. However, there's a good chance the opening won't happen until spring in which case she would be good. It's definitely taking her some time to get used to the whole baby thing. All of that on top of the fact that she wasn't sure she wanted kids to begin with - Kaylin was God disagreeing with her though she's happy about it now - and that she didn't want more than one because of the questions of Brendan's health. I think she's starting to come around and I know she'll be happy by the time the baby comes, but it's been a tough adjustment for her. Her store's buisness consultant, who will also have a big voice in Erin's store application, seems to be behind her regardless and has talked to Erin about all of the stuff she wants her to be working on in preparation for the application so hopefully it will all go smoothly.


Also, I don't remember if I ever updated about my Dad. There are two spots of cancer in the prostate, but from the way it looks they're sure it hasn't gone elsewhere. He's been in the whole debate about how to handle it and I think he's settles on the surgery. He did work out his return mission trip to Ukraine in June so he'll do the surgery after he returns July 5. The whole "self-employed thus doesn't get paid if he doesn't work" thing has them a little worried on the money side, but faithful that it will all work out. My grandma is already giving him the equivalent of his missed work as her contribution to the mission trip so it will just be the surgery recovery weeks that will be the tough ones. Thanks for your continued prayers everyone!

congrats to Erin, good news about your dad. I hope the surgery goes well.

 

[bear74]

Hopefully with them moving dad to a regular room last night he will get to go home sometime this weekend. Mom and 2 of her sisters spent all day Wed and Thurs sterilizing their house. scrubbing it from ceiling to floor.

 

[Disney Yooper]

If they do the 3 week pre LD start they only have Labor Day and Election day off before Thanksgiving, and a few early releases in there too. They only have Thurs and Fri for Tday, which is how it's always been. Christmas break would start on Dec 22 and they would go back on Jan. 9.

The legislature decided to intervene in school calendars in Michigan. They don't allow school to start before Labor Day. I love how they legislate things like that.

 

[tmfranlk]

I need to get the girls to clean the playroom and get the books I bought at half price books the other day put on the book shelf. But I have no energy.

Yeah, ours is totalled. For awhile I didn't have enough energy to do much more than getting everyone to clear a path. So, with today being the first day of summer vacation and all of the kids here, I figured it was a good time to fix things up right. The books are going to be interesting though. Connor made three big piles of things not on the shelves and the shelves are full.

Hopefully with them moving dad to a regular room last night he will get to go home sometime this weekend. Mom and 2 of her sisters spent all day Wed and Thurs sterilizing their house. scrubbing it from ceiling to floor.

Hope so!!

Well, I've got to run Phil to work and then Terra has soccer in a little while so I guess I'm gone for awhile. Happy Friday!

 

[Disney Yooper]

I'm spent. More arguing over shirts this morning which was eventually ironed out. I waited all day for the oil man to come to clean our furnace and he didn't arrive until 4 PM. Of course Hunter and Amy had a miscommunication and He wound up missing the bus and a ride with her. I had to run to school to get him just as the oil man was supposed to arrive. I told Chris that I'm at the breaking point, something has got to give soon.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Trying to decide what I want to do for autograph pages.

Did you post what resort you booked?

I have had good luck with a few different options.

You can just print the autograph cards lots of designers have out there onto 4x6 cards. Then when you get home you can put those into a photo album with a photo with the character. I would only do 1 set for both girls. They can take turns giving the characters the card/pen...

The photo books using photos from prior trips are a big hit too. I could email you a link to one I made for Emma. I only put characters I am pretty confident we'll see at character meals or Epcot's character connection or other easy to find characters. Then I put less likely but still might see on a page with a bunch of other characters and I also leave a few blank pages. The characters really seem to love seeing old photos of the kids-especially the face characters that can actually talk but even the interaction with the other characters is great.

I've also made less elaborate character cards on my own (vs the designer's cards) on 5x8 index cards and had Staples bind them. The "problem" with this is deciding who to put in. I put more than I do for the photo book but then it seems like a HUGE amount of our time is spent character hunting. With the loose cards it isn't as "vital" to try to find them all. Also with the loose cards you can leave already signed ones in the room or ones you know you won't see-like say safari Mickey if you aren't going to AK. And you can bring them on your next trip too.

I've also had the characters sign a T-shirt. The great thing about this is how easy it was to carry around. Just the T and a couple of FABRIC pens in a small zip lock. I started with an embroidery hoop but that was hard to use and we found we got better results just holding the T tight for the character to sign.

I keep thinking my kids will outgrow the characters but they haven't yet and as much as a pain as it can be I'm not ready for them to grow up yet anyways so I keep encouraging it.

I don't think I had mentioned the other big surprise in our family...

ERIN is pregnant too! She'd due Dec 8. Totally unexpected for her and she was almost 3 months by the time she found out as her cycle is always sporadic anyway. The big wrench is that Chick Fil A is hoping to open a new store nearby in Nov, her boss is poised to take that store and she's applying to take over her store. Well, with a Dec 8 due date, that might not be easy with a Nov opening. However, there's a good chance the opening won't happen until spring in which case she would be good. It's definitely taking her some time to get used to the whole baby thing. All of that on top of the fact that she wasn't sure she wanted kids to begin with - Kaylin was God disagreeing with her though she's happy about it now - and that she didn't want more than one because of the questions of Brendan's health. I think she's starting to come around and I know she'll be happy by the time the baby comes, but it's been a tough adjustment for her. Her store's buisness consultant, who will also have a big voice in Erin's store application, seems to be behind her regardless and has talked to Erin about all of the stuff she wants her to be working on in preparation for the application so hopefully it will all go smoothly.


Also, I don't remember if I ever updated about my Dad. There are two spots of cancer in the prostate, but from the way it looks they're sure it hasn't gone elsewhere. He's been in the whole debate about how to handle it and I think he's settles on the surgery. He did work out his return mission trip to Ukraine in June so he'll do the surgery after he returns July 5. The whole "self-employed thus doesn't get paid if he doesn't work" thing has them a little worried on the money side, but faithful that it will all work out. My grandma is already giving him the equivalent of his missed work as her contribution to the mission trip so it will just be the surgery recovery weeks that will be the tough ones. Thanks for your continued prayers everyone!

Congrats to Erin!
Continued prayers for your Dad.

that is a cute idea. of course my brain is kind of mush right now. So not sure how creative I can be. We will miss the Epcot Santas.

I have to say the Santa thing was a huge PAIN in December!!! They didn't have a listing on paper of when they would be out-just the signs at the countries and they were NOT set up so that you could say see one and stroll to the next country and see another-you'd have to back track and run over the "world". It sort of became an obsession with me and it certainly didn't help that I was sick by then but it was WAY more stressful for me than enjoyable. I also have to say that even at 10 Lizzy didn't get as much out of it as I would have thought. I think adults find it more interesting than kids. I was happy I didn't have to explain the whole why is Santa different in different countries thing to her. She WANTS to believe so I wasn't ready to crush her yet. She didn't ask but I wasn't sure how I'd handle it if it came up.

 

[bear74]

Did you post what resort you booked?

I have had good luck with a few different options.

You can just print the autograph cards lots of designers have out there onto 4x6 cards. Then when you get home you can put those into a photo album with a photo with the character. I would only do 1 set for both girls. They can take turns giving the characters the card/pen...

The photo books using photos from prior trips are a big hit too. I could email you a link to one I made for Emma. I only put characters I am pretty confident we'll see at character meals or Epcot's character connection or other easy to find characters. Then I put less likely but still might see on a page with a bunch of other characters and I also leave a few blank pages. The characters really seem to love seeing old photos of the kids-especially the face characters that can actually talk but even the interaction with the other characters is great.

I've also made less elaborate character cards on my own (vs the designer's cards) on 5x8 index cards and had Staples bind them. The "problem" with this is deciding who to put in. I put more than I do for the photo book but then it seems like a HUGE amount of our time is spent character hunting. With the loose cards it isn't as "vital" to try to find them all. Also with the loose cards you can leave already signed ones in the room or ones you know you won't see-like say safari Mickey if you aren't going to AK. And you can bring them on your next trip too.

I've also had the characters sign a T-shirt. The great thing about this is how easy it was to carry around. Just the T and a couple of FABRIC pens in a small zip lock. I started with and embroidery hoop but that was hard to use and we found we got better results just holding the T tight for the character to sign.

I keep thinking my kids will outgrow the characters but they haven't yet and as much as a pain as it can be I'm not ready for them to grow up yet anyways so I keep encouraging it.


Congrats to Erin!
Continued prayers for your Dad.



I have to say the Santa thing was a huge PAIN in December!!! They didn't have a listing on paper of when they would be out-just the signs at the countries and they were NOT set up so that you could say see one and stroll to the next country and see another-you'd have to back track and run over the "world". It sort of became an obsession with me and it certainly didn't help that I was sick by then but it was WAY more stressful for me then enjoyable. I also have to say that even at 10 Lizzy didn't get as much out of it as I would have thought. I think adults find it more interesting than kids. I was happy I didn't have to explain the whole why is Santa different in different countries thing to her. She WANTS to believe so I wasn't ready to crush her yet. She didn't ask but I wasn't sure how I'd handle it if it came up.

we are staying at all star movies. I used Natalie's cards in 2008 just plain index cards last year. We are arriving on the last day of the food and wine event.

 

[bear74]

check out these cute cards http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2475669

 

[lovesdumbo]

check out these cute cards http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2475669

Very cool!!!

Lotso was so soft!


ASMovies is fun! I had asked for Toy Story or 101 Dalmations but we got Love Bug. This was when only Fantasia was preferred. I was disappointed but we ended up really loving it. It wasn't too far from the lobby and it was nice & quiet back there.

 

[bear74]

blah

 

[babytrees]

blah

anybody else notice Jennifer's new emoticon in her "signature" box?



Congratulations!! and no I am not telling you what I know.

 

[tmfranlk]

Jennifer - LOVE those new cards!

 

[bear74]

anybody else notice Jennifer's new emoticon in her "signature" box?



Congratulations!! and no I am not telling you what I know.

too bad I can't find one sticking its tongue out at you. you are teasing me. When I tell the girls and they say what they think we are having then will you tell me?

 

[MrsHeg]

anybody else notice Jennifer's new emoticon in her "signature" box?



Congratulations!! and no I am not telling you what I know.

No I didn't notice, Congratulations!

 

[bear74]

No I didn't notice, Congratulations!

thanks that is why the trip got moved up. I don't want Olivia to resent the baby because we did not go this year.

 

[bear74]

off to the hospital so the girls can see their papa. I hope the nausea goes away cause got to keep it a secret from my mom for a few more weeks.

 

[mommykds]

I have been wondering about your siggie today...wow! Congrats!!!!

 

[mommykds]

Just a follow up...both mammo & colposcopy came back normal.

Funny how after I turned 40 I started falling apart.

 

[Tammi67]

Congratulations Jennifer!

Anne Marie - I'm glad the results are normal. Hopefully that's a load off of your mind.

 

[bear74]

I have been wondering about your siggie today...wow! Congrats!!!!

hehe, wow is right. were still in shock here,