December 4,2004 !!!

[lbgraves]

Thank God your family is safe, Tom, though I understand that some pets are like family...you have the most important things right around you now. I hope that they can start rebuilding soon. Lots of PD your way!!!

Flexsmom, when I registered DS in April I asked who I needed to talk to about extended absenses & the teacher was very excited when he told her about the cruise. We live in a huge military community & any family time is encouraged. I was surprised by her reaction though. This will be good for us for the next few years at least.

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

Tchrist05: I am so sorry to hear about your home and pets. Thankfully, you and your family got out. It happened this morning (the 5th) or yesterday? Do you know how the fire started? I am sure I will see it on Channel 12 news. Please keep us posted.

lbgraves: Glad to hear from you.....I have been concerned.

Regarding school....my children will be out 9 schools days for the trip. They will be in 1st grade and kindergarten. I have not told the school yet, I was going to wait to meet their teachers in the fall.

Enjoy your day everyone!!! The last day of a long weekend. I think we are going car shopping today. The kids want to spend the day swimming, but I think they are swimmed out. The weather on Long Island has been beautiful this weekend.

 

[AnnMorin]

how did the fire start? I am glad your family is ok, so sad about the pets though.

 

[Jhalkias]

Even though I am at a brief lunch break today at work (yes some of us have to work today), I am reminded by all of you how trivial that is in comparison to some of the problems you may be dealing with. I tell my family every day, that even in what we may consider to be difficult times, we are incredibly blessed, and fortunate. Our thoughts, hopes, and PD are with you as you weather obstacles or tragedies.

Insofar as the "school" debate - and I have weighed in on this before, it all depends and should depend on the child and a parent's good judgement. This will be our first cruise and Disney trip without our son, who is now 17 and a senior in HS. We decided along with him, that this year at school was special for him, and not a time to miss.

Every year other than this coming year, he has missed at least one week of school for family vacation (REisney or DCL) and learning in a different way. Rather than harming his education, I believe those experiences have helped him learn and mature beyond many of his peers.

He is in the top 1% of his class of over 400, and is hoping to extend his education to medical school after HS.

I understand teachers and administrators concerns over kids missing school. But, I strongly believe that you weigh all factors, and weigh them in favor of the parent's judgement whenever possible. I am also a member of our local Board of Education, and am glad that our School District has that understanding. The up to now 17 years we have had with our son have literally flown by - I am glad we had several opportunities to share family time together. As we raise our now 4 year old, we will continue to make those decisions.

 

[TChrist05]

Fellow cruisers....I have to report that poor Spanky passed away today....thanks again for all the prayers and pixie dust....he is at peace and hopefully in a better place.
Tom

 

[AnnMorin]

I cried for days when our Max died.....
Hang in there.

 

[lbgraves]

I'm so sorry to hear that, Tom. I know that I have lost several cats over the years & each one is difficult. Please don't make any decisions about the cruise right now. There is still alot of time and after everything you are going thru, it may be just what you need.

 

[traycie2201]

tchrist05 Tom i'm sorry to hear that spanky didn't pull through, prayers for your family while you go through this awful time.

 

[TChrist05]

Thanks all for all the kind words...we are now living in a extended stay hotel....insurance company feels that we have a shot at being back in our home by Thanksgiving....and we have decided that we will DEFINATELY cruise with all you guys.....again, thanks for all the kind words, prayers and pixie dust...God bless!
Tom & family

 

[lbgraves]

You will really have alot to be thankful for this year. That sounds like wonderful news!!! Even if it is delayed a week or so, you can always move in the week after the cruise when you are all relaxed. You are probably all still in shock. How old is your DD? The closest we have come to losing our home & being in danger was Hurricane Bertha. DH & I sat in the closet under the stairs listening to the limbs bouncing off the roof & the trees crashing on the deck & all around the house. That was the first time that I can truely say that I felt what it was like to say things don't matter as long as we are all safe & together. I hope that the coming weeks get easier for everyone.

 

[wdw1972]

Hi everyone! It looks like tomorrow I'll be calling DVC to move from the 11/27 sailing to this cruise. A business meeting is being scheduled for Dec 1-3, and I really need to be in attendance.

I'm a dvc member, and will be cruising with a girlfriend who I've traveled with many times. I'm Sue - she' Sheila, we're both mid-40's. It'll be the 9th Disney cruise for me, 17th overall. For Sheila it's her 5th Disney cruise, 6th overall.

We're 2nd seating, in a category 9 (with dvc points the leap is too great to a verandah), and will mostly lounge around the ship and not really bother with ports, shows, and even some of the dinners. My life is very stressful, and so is Sheila's, so we're cruising to relax. We did the Magic western together last November, and I repeated the itinerary on a HAL cruise this past May, and I've done the ports several times before so there's no pressure to see anything on land.

Wine tasting sounds like a fun activity, though!!

We'll also be training for the Disney half-marathon....I'm currently in week 6 of a 30-week training plan, and I think Sheila's getting ready to start. I've got to do a 12-mile run the day of the cruise - yikes! I never jogged until now, and I hate it - but it'll be nice when it's all over and I can say I ran a half marathon!

 

[flexsmom]

I've almost reached the first batch of "to-do's" on my list for the 90-day out requirements! (Yes, I'm a compulsive planner.) I know it is still somewhat a long way off - school hasn't even started and I'm already pushing for us to be past Thanksgiving! But after waiting >2 years since our last cruise, it seems so close! Anyone else getting excited to go!?!

 

[DISNEYFAMILYOFFOUR]

I have been away from the boards all summer.

Just checking in to say hello and we are now down to under 100 days out!!!

Hope all is well with everyone.

Flexmom: I e-mailed Sue Ellen our priority seating requirements last week so I am as compulsive of you!!!

 

[lbgraves]

PLEASE HELP ME!!! The computer was refreshed last week & not everything was burned to save. I can't find the website for the cruise. Will someone please send me the link?!?!? TIA! Also, I had received an email from someone new to the group a couple weeks ago but hadn't added their information to the site. If you sent it & didn't hear back from me, please resend it & I will add it after I find the site.

The summer has been pretty hectic here but now that both kids are back in school, I am hoping to get everything caught up & once again get excited about this cruise.

 

[lbgraves]

OK, another wild stab at a search found the site so that is fine. Anyone wanting to add their information please email me so that I can send you the link & the password to view it.

 

[lmschwabby]

Haven't had time to read all the messages in this thread but wanted to introduce myself - - -

My family will be cruising for the first time on DCL the w/o 12/4. Sounds like we may have something in common with some of you. I'm Lisa (36) - husband's name is Steve (37) - 3 children are Tyler (he'll be 6 on 12/1), Courtney (4 1/2) and Connor (one yr old on 12/11). We're so very excited about our first cruise together as a family - and on Disney nonetheless! Looking forward to meeting everyone in this thread. Tips from the other threads are so very helpful - - keep them coming!!! Any overall tips about celebrating two kids' birthdays - and also a 10 yr wedding anniversary??

thanks!
lisa

 

[Jhalkias]

Lisa,

Lisa (lbgraves) above also has a little girl, who is about your daughter's age, and so do we. Our daughter, Sophia, is 4, and will turn 5 in February. We got Sophia and Caitlyn together when we were on vacation Near Lisa's family.

It would be wonderful to have yet another friend so that the girls can feel more comfortable when they go to the clubs!

Send me a pm if you would like me to send you a photo of Sophia, or check out Lisa's site - she may have posted photos too.

John

 

[lbgraves]

Hope that you have a great day Phyllis! Now that it looks like Frances isn't going to come this way, we will still be going to BG tomorrow to celebrate Kaitlyn's big #4!

 

[flexsmom]

Lisa (lmschwabby - lots of Lisa's here now!) - I have a little girl Katie who is 5 1/2, so she and Tyler will be in the same club. And my 18 month old Tripp can pal with Connor in Flounders! Sounds like you have a lot to celebrate on board. Definitely take a night off for a Palo dinner for your 10-year - and I'm sure DCL will recognize the kid's birthdays as well (as long as you tell them!)

One thing for sure - I am GLAD we opted to cruise out of hurricane season!

 

[NAT&MAGSMOM]

LISA G.....thanks for the b'day wishes....is Kaitlyn's bd the same day???? Since we were going to ORL for the long weekend, and that got canceled thanks to the H WORD....I was pretty bummed..since we had also planned to go the same weekend as the first H WORD....but it turned out pretty well. Nice dinner with friends, a few gifts....an extra day off from work..time with DH, DD and the 4 legged kids..............

Lisa from Kentucky....I was born and raised in Kentucky...lived there all my life until we moved to HH 22 years ago....where is Cold Spring....never heard of it..............

To all the newbies welcome
and to all the oldies good to talk to you again...
and for all of us....

IT WON'T BE LONG NOW

Phyllis