Disney...by Land and Sea...Morris Style!

[NiniMorris]

I haven't been on the dis in forever but I am now caught up.

The wedding sounds interesting. I am glad your dh doesn't like Disney

Ha HA.. "Interesting" is one way to put it!


My Jiffy shirts order came in today...unfortunately, I haven't had time to even look at the shirts yet.

On tomorrow's agenda is to start on a shirt and to finish up Miss Mia's Easter dress... and....I get to watch Miss Mia tomorrow afternoon! She has finally decided she likes me enough to come to me on her own... so I am hoping our first outing tomorrow will be a good one.

In just 31 days I get to make my ADRs...and in just 52 days we are heading to the beach! We got the confirmation today...along with the alarm codes and details of the visit. I can hardly wait! My family has been laughing at me...I have not planned much of anything for this trip...mainly because all my plans involve just sitting on the beach with my Kindle or by the pool with my Kindle...or maybe sitting on the balcony with my Kindle. So, there is a lot of variety in my plans.... I told the family that they were responsible for their own plans!

Nini

 

[NiniMorris]

Sun, Surf and Beach!


Can I go now? I really don't want to wait!


http://www.vrbo.com/79019#ownerprofile


we had snow flurries yesterday! Got down to the 20's last night! Wind was unbelievable! Spring in GA is NOT supposed to be like this!

Nini

 

[DMGeurts]

I hope you had fun sewing the other day... Sounds like things for your trip are falling together nicely...

I am sure I have more to catch up on, but I am running late this morning. So, I just wanted to say hi, and let you k now that I'd be back later.

D~

 

[cogero]

Sun, Surf and Beach!


Can I go now? I really don't want to wait!


http://www.vrbo.com/79019#ownerprofile


we had snow flurries yesterday! Got down to the 20's last night! Wind was unbelievable! Spring in GA is NOT supposed to be like this!

Nini

OMGosh that looks so nice

Thankfully our snowstorm missed us.

 

[NiniMorris]

I hope you had fun sewing the other day... Sounds like things for your trip are falling together nicely...

I am sure I have more to catch up on, but I am running late this morning. So, I just wanted to say hi, and let you k now that I'd be back later.

D~

Looks like I will be having even less time to sew until the end of April! Mr D has Special Olympics this Saturday, and then starting next Saturday, he will be in Adaptive Baseball.

It is a baseball league specifically for special needs children. It is an anything goes type of league. Every child gets to bat, run bases, and field.
There is no score keeping, and the games last an hour. There are no practices, but they get a uniform and a trophy at the end. This will be somewhat of a surprise for him. He asked about it a few weeks ago and we told him no...then her brought home some paper work on it yesterday, and we decided it looks like it is run pretty well, so we are going to sign him up when we go to Special Olympics on Saturday.

Of course, it is supposed to start raining tonight and keep on until sometime on Sunday...so a complete rain out for Special Olympics day.

OMGosh that looks so nice

Thankfully our snowstorm missed us.

I can hardly wait! This is the same cottage we were supposed to go to last year. But the grand daughter could not miss a few days of Kindergarten! So this year we timed it so that we are going the weekend school gets out for a week.

It works pretty good for us, since we get out of school a bit earlier than most kids, so the crowds are pretty non existent! We usually go to the Atlantic Coast, but I LOVE the Gulf coast! When the two youngest kids were smaller, we used to go almost once a month.

We had a good friend who owned a condo in Panama City Beach. He let friends stay there for free...He rented it out once or twice a year for Spring Breakers, but it was empty a lot. He said he would rather have friends stay there for a week than to have it empty. He hated to have it empty for a weekend... so he would call us on a Thursday and ask if we had plans, if not we would drive down on Friday for the weekend.

We almost bought it from him when he decided to sell it. But that was right about the time of the accident...and things like beach houses were not on the radar for a couple of years.

I don't think we have been back to the Gulf Coast since....


Anyway, today is a heavy sewing day...but I have other people's plans that might put a crimp in my plans... like Husband just gave me a list of things I need to go get today...and none of them are at the same place (or even in the same direction from the house!) Plus I have some paperwork to track down from Mr D's therapists to give to the judge as they contemplate an upgrade to our current pool. (Long story....)

My first order of shirts came in on Tuesday...and they are still in the living room. They haven't even made it to the studio.... so

Hey I am only 3 days behind this week!


Nini

 

[DMGeurts]

The special olympics game sounds like a lot of fun - I sure hope you don't get rained out.

It's awesome that the Grand Princess gets to go with this time - I am glad you were able to make that work out.

Good luck sewing, and running errands, hopefully you are able to get it all done.

D~

 

[cogero]

and I thought my errands were bad. I had to go to the neurologist to pick up a prescription for J. They won't call it in

This afternoon I had to take J for his pre surgery clearance.

 

[KatMark]

Oooh...I'm jealous that you are heading to the bach in 50 days or so. I'm so tired of our winter weather. Today it is 50, but we had rain/sleet/snow flurries this morning.

I love that hubby wants more restaurants and you can't fit them in. Men...they will drive you nuts.

Hope your sewing is going well.

 

[NiniMorris]

The special olympics game sounds like a lot of fun - I sure hope you don't get rained out.

It's awesome that the Grand Princess gets to go with this time - I am glad you were able to make that work out.

Good luck sewing, and running errands, hopefully you are able to get it all done.

D~

Special Olympics was rained out. There is expected to be a pretty rotten Spring Storm right smack in the middle of the day's festivities...and it is still pretty muddy out there right now. (in fact, Mr Max just showed me HOW muddy when he came in this morning...he evidently LOVES to sit in the mud! I think I just now got all the mud up from two weeks ago!)

So, today we will be going to watch the Grand Princess play soccer (indoors). I have not really been in my sewing room all week...except for a bit of rearranging and straightening up... I am a good two weeks behind now...

and I thought my errands were bad. I had to go to the neurologist to pick up a prescription for J. They won't call it in

This afternoon I had to take J for his pre surgery clearance.

I have come to believe my errands are God's way of telling me I shouldn't make plans! The more plans I make the more errands I end up having... either that or I need to tell people no...

Oooh...I'm jealous that you are heading to the bach in 50 days or so. I'm so tired of our winter weather. Today it is 50, but we had rain/sleet/snow flurries this morning.

I love that hubby wants more restaurants and you can't fit them in. Men...they will drive you nuts.

Hope your sewing is going well.

Today we have to get some more shopping in for that Beach trip...

Miss B is a strange person when it comes to clothes (and it is not all just being almost 14...she is really strange!) She will not wear pants unless they are skin tight! She literally looks like she was poured in...but she will not wear shorts! Because they show too much leg! She will only wear Capri's...but again they must be skin tight! She will not wear a regular swim suit...because they show too much skin... but she will wear swim shorts and a rash guard like top with sleeves... She will not wear sleeveless shirts, but will wear camis with bras built in them.... She will not wear skirts...but will occasionally wear a dress...with leggings underneath...

I love being the mother of a teen daughter, I love being the mother of a teen daughter, I love being the mother of a teen daughter!!!

Husband is now talking seriously about adding more days to our Disney trip..even though I told him it would be cheaper to just add the Deluxe dining plan on...

Speaking of which....


Tell me about the water parks. Since Mr D is CONVINCED the song by The Vamps is "She needs a Waterpark" (Wildheart)...we had to add a water park on to the trip (there goes my last day ...my idea of this trip was casual, relaxing, and lots of resting...with only one...ONE park day!) Since we have NEVER done a water park(except for Lake Lanier Islands about 20 years ago!) I have zero idea which one to do... and zero idea which one is good, much less best!

Since our current plans only call for one water park day, I have to decide which one...and have to be ready to defend my choice to the family! LOL!

Now for time to do a Mommy brag! I know those on Facebook have seen it already...but I am very proud of Mr D!

He is VERY socially awkward. Until this year at school, he NEVER started conversations with anyone except family. Never spoke to strangers, and would shy away from any contact...

Yesterday, his best friend (who is no longer his girlfriend, but has remained his best friend) was sitting beside him at the art table. She has CP and spends most of the day in a wheelchair, but sometimes prefers to sit at the table in a chair. They were drawing dragons. (?) She started having a seizure. She fell out of the chair and Mr D slid under her as she fell so she would not hit the floor. He held her head and spoke very calmly to her telling her she was all right, and called over to the teacher to help.

The teacher pushed the emergency button while the para pro (who was closer to them) ran to them and started trying to make her comfortable. While the para pro took over ...Mr D stood nearby speaking to Mariah and telling her everything was all right.

The ambulance came and took her to the hospital.

After it was over, the class had a discussion about what had happened, and the class decided Mr D was a hero. He kept calm and got help.

I love the way their class teaches about each child's disability. They all know what things bother each other and how to react if something goes wrong. For instance one little boy hates loud noises...so if there is an unexpected loud noise they all tell him everything is ok..it is just a noise... Mr D's trigger is a certain teacher who locked him in a closet a few years ago and is currently at his school...when she comes around they all surround him so she can't get to him!

Mariah's problem at school is not seizures. Another little boy has seizures...but they all know what to expect when it happens. This was Mariah's first seizure.

This whole episode in Mr D's life has made me very teary...as we get closer to the anniversary of the accident. In three short weeks it will be 9 years since then. While it has been a LONG time ago, it seems like only yesterday when they told me he would never progress past a 3 year old. He would probably never walk, and would have to be fed through tubes. They told me he would only make it a year or two at best.


I am so happy they were wrong! So very, very wrong!

Kiss your kiddos!

Nini

 

[cogero]

WOW this class sounds amazing. I love what Mr. D did and his awesome progress.`

 

[NiniMorris]

WOW this class sounds amazing. I love what Mr. D did and his awesome progress.`

I LOVE his class! His teachers are wonderful and I credit them 100% in the change in Mr D this school year. He has come farther than I thought he would be able to in just a short 9 months! She somehow manages to instill a sense of community as well as foster healthy competition between the kids!

I wonder where he would be now if he had had a teacher like this from the beginning! Instead he got stuck with the one that locked him in a closet ... and I now know there is another student in Mr D's class that she locked in a closet as well...and yet the school board promoted her ....


I have been missing from the DIS for a while... I needed to do some work, and yet I am even farther behind on my sewing! I will be having to streamline some of my plans due to simply not getting into the studio to get the work done!

I decided to concentrate some more on the Travel agency part of my life, it started with a book I was interested in studying, and took off from there. I decided I needed to purchase a software program to better keep up with my client base and discovered the one I really wanted was 1- priced out of my ability; and then 2- was already included in my host agency! HOW DID I NOT KNOW THAT! I have been struggling with a paper and Excel system for a year and a half...when this slick system was there for my use all along!

So, that progressed into taking some online classes to learn the program and then into an attempt to put all my clients into the system. While I have not gotten all my clients into the system, I am learning it better...and it is a pretty slick system. But I HAVE to get back in the studio today....it has been over a week since I have done anything except for some slight reorganization...and Miss Mia's birthday is getting closer...as well as the family Easter party is only a week away!!!

Next week is our Spring Break, and Miss B will be spending the week with her sister. I am hoping that it gives me a chance to get some work done, as well as some quiet time in the house. Of course, I really need to check the Grand Princess schedule...I am not sure when her Spring Break is...I think it might be next week as well...if it is, then I can pretty much give up any idea of getting anything done next week!

Friday is Special Olympics Day...and I wish it had been either today or yesterday! The weather was perfect...and turning cold on Friday...


Now for trip news....

One of the school resource officers my husband works with will be going to Disney 'with' us in October! When we were at Disney last December, his wife committed suicide, leaving him with a young daughter. (she had cancer and overdosed on some pain medication) He has been in a very bad depression since then, and Husband has been talking to him about taking his daughter to Disney...so yesterday he finally made the plunge and we booked his trip for the same time we are going to be there. Since he was worried about going alone...he is taking his Mom and Dad and sister with him....

Now I have to figure out a way to get at least one ADR with them... Should be ....fun?

So....time to get the kids up for school...if you see me on Facebook or on the DIS today...your mission is to tell me to get off and get down to the studio!


Nini

 

[DMGeurts]

I am so happy to hear that Mr. D is doing so well this year... Will he be able to keep the same teacher next year?

I am glad you were able to get the software you needed - and even better that your agency includes it.

I hope you are able to get some work done in your sewing room, and that spring break allows you to work a little bit too.

Fun that you are going to Disney with friends - What a sad story and what a wonderful thing to give them both some home and fun to look forward to.

D~

 

[cogero]

I seriously love listening to Mr. Ds progress and I totally believe that teachers make a huge difference.

I would call Disney for the Dining reservation and see if they could help.

 

[NiniMorris]

I am so happy to hear that Mr. D is doing so well this year... Will he be able to keep the same teacher next year?

I am glad you were able to get the software you needed - and even better that your agency includes it.

I hope you are able to get some work done in your sewing room, and that spring break allows you to work a little bit too.

Fun that you are going to Disney with friends - What a sad story and what a wonderful thing to give them both some home and fun to look forward to.

D~

STILL haven't made it to the sewing studio yet! Hopefully I can get an hour or two in there today...but doubtful!

I am not going as far as to call the family going to Disney at the same time as us as being friends... more like co worker of my husband's. While I used to know all of his co-workers and their families, I 'know' them only when I hear their name...I rarely see a face to put with the name. The group of deputies used to feel like family, now they are more like strangers with familiar sounding names. A lot of that happened at about the same time as the accident...a lot of changes in our immediate family...some 'friends' weren't able to accept the changes.

In some ways I miss the closeness, in other ways, not so much. This meal together was my husband's idea, so I'm guessing it will be fun.

I seriously love listening to Mr. Ds progress and I totally believe that teachers make a huge difference.

I would call Disney for the Dining reservation and see if they could help.

Mr D's progress is nothing short of amazing! For the first time since before the accident I sometimes find myself forgetting that he is not 'normal'. It is a good feeling (while it lasts!)





So, for my few faithful followers, I will warn you now that I will have issues in the next 3 weeks. We are less than 3 weeks from the anniversary of the accident. For some reason it is weighing heavily on my heart this year. Much more than in years past. I can feel the depression creeping back in. (some days it is more like a freight train!) I know it is a large part of why I am not going in the studio....it was my mom's apartment. While it doesn't look anything like it did when she lived there, it is hard to not think of her when I am there.

So, I am trying to keep myself busy in other ways, to keep me from thinking....

In that vein...I purchased (yes, shopping is therapy!) a new brief case/purse. I had been looking for one since January. I wanted something to be able to put my laptop in when I travel, but still be roomy enough so I wouldn't need to carry anything else.

Ebags had a one day sale on a samsonite briefcase/purse last week, that came in red! So I bought it! I love it! It actually works just like I wanted it to ...and even with the laptop, it is not too heavy to carry...provided I don't try to take it shopping or to Disney!

Yesterday I found a small cross body bag in black that works as both a wallet and small bag to carry when I run to the store or to school... and it fits wonderfully in the big red bag! The big red bag is small enough that I can throw the Kindle Fire in as well as a couple of notebooks so that I can take it to therapy ...and still have a 'portable office' with me so I could still get in some work if I needed to ....


Another way I wasted time yesterday was to get my hair cut and colored! The color is perfect...but the cut is still only so so... I don't think she really wants to cut my hair short. Each time she cuts just a bit off...and my hair grows fast. I told her at least an inch...I think she only cut a little over a half inch. It is now just touching my shoulders....while it IS shorter than when I first wen to her...it is not 'summer short'!

Now....Trip news... well....I don't guess there is much news on that front. Since I am not working in the sewing studio, not much is getting done, although I still have a few weeks until the ADRs need to be done.... so not much happening until then!




nini

 

[DMGeurts]

I am still so happy to hear that Mr D is doing so well! I sure hope it continues.

I know this is a hard time of year for you... Sending you (((hugs))) and lots of good thoughts.

I agree - shopping is therapy... Although DH wouldn't agree... Sigh.

I love your portable office idea! Especially as much as you are out n' about. Hopefully it keeps you organized.

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

I am still so happy to hear that Mr D is doing so well! I sure hope it continues.

I know this is a hard time of year for you... Sending you (((hugs))) and lots of good thoughts.

I agree - shopping is therapy... Although DH wouldn't agree... Sigh.

I love your portable office idea! Especially as much as you are out n' about. Hopefully it keeps you organized.

D~

Thanks...

I have discovered there are two things that really lift my mood. One is sewing. I have managed to spend an hour each day in the studio for the past two days and I really notice a difference.

The other is learning... and I enrolled in two online classes. They will be very useful to me in my business... and were actually a bit of fun. Unfortunately, I completed both of them... I can only afford to do two classes a month... so I have to wait until the end of the month to take two more! YIKES!

I always said I could have been a professional student!

And now my secret is out...not only am I a geeky nerd, but I also have a very addictive personality. I have to finish what I start IMMEDIATELY! If I start reading a new book, I have to complete it...preferably in one sitting. If I start a class, I have to finish it right away...if I start a project I want it to be something that can be completed in less than a week...usually I break it down into two or three 'chunks'...to make it last longer..


Since Special Olympics was cancelled due to weather (again, we had beautiful weather all day!) Mr D is kind of bummed. Miss B is spending her spring break with her older sister and Miss Mia...(it was her reward for not getting into trouble) I think I am going to be 'punished' by Mr D because he is now bored out of his mind! Disney Infiniti here I come...


Nini

 

[cogero]

I will keep you in my prayers the next few weeks. I love reading just don't seem to have much time lately.

 

[NiniMorris]

I will keep you in my prayers the next few weeks. I love reading just don't seem to have much time lately.

Thanks...I know your life has been busy! Even more than normal!


I spent an hour this morning before and after church services writing down some recollections of the day of the accident. I managed to get through the whole thing with out crying, so I guess that is a good thing.

This week is quiet around here. Miss B is off to visit her sister (and Miss Mia) for 10 days. They went to the Atlanta zoo yesterday after the Princess' soccer game. I heard a brief bit about what they are planning for the week... I am a bit jealous! One thing is for sure, Miss B will not be bored!

The grand Princess will be here a few days this week for a few hours. This will give Mr D someone to play with for a bit. I might even be able to get something accomplished.


On the trip front...

My son is hating me right now! Yesterday the Princess spent the better part of the day with me, and we watched the Disney Cruise video... she now wants to go!

I did a quick quote for them and found they can go with us on both the cruise and Park for about $130 per person per day... and that includes meals! They have not made the decision about the cruise...but are seriously considering the park days. It will mean the Princess will miss a couple days of school...but they are seriously considering it.

Nini

 

[DMGeurts]

You've been on my mind Nini. (((Hugs)))

That's great that you are taking a few classes.

I totally understand about being able to finish projects - I am much the same way.

I hope GP's family will decide to take this trip - I am sure they would enjoy themselves.

D~

 

[NiniMorris]

You've been on my mind Nini. (((Hugs)))

That's great that you are taking a few classes.

I totally understand about being able to finish projects - I am much the same way.

I hope GP's family will decide to take this trip - I am sure they would enjoy themselves.

D~

I should have been a teacher...since I love school and learning so much! I have decided to go for an accreditation. When I was in insurance I had several designations after my name. I was only two courses shy of having an CPCU (which is equivalent to a masters)...now that I have not done the annual recerts in them all I can only claim one...I have an Associates ion Underwriting (Commercial).

So I am now going for my ACC (which stands for Accredited Cruise Counselor) Unfortunately, most of the book learning is done ... I now need to do some cruising and ship inspections. Once I get those done I will have it! But never fear...I am already starting the classes for the next designation...I am addicted....



Miss Mia came to visit me most of the afternoon yesterday. It was really a lot of fun, She did not cry....which is a mini miracle in itself...she did get a little weepy when she saw her Mommy and Daddy's picture...and I still find it so amazing that she can tell it is her Mommy and Daddy in that picture. The are only two people in a picture of seven.

When it was time to leave, she looked over at her walker (which she had not been in the entire visit) and said..."Want that"...meaning she was not ready to go and wanted to play in it.

We had a great visit, and I taught her to say Uh Oh...and she has been saying it non stop...she thinks it is funny!

The doctors are still not sure what to do with her and her tummy issues. She still has to have a 'rescue' once a month (which is a very harsh laxative and suppository) and she has not gained any weight since she was 6 months old...but she has gotten taller. She has always been in the 75% for weight and has now dropped to the 5%. Of course, she is still happy and giggly 99% of the time...and is hitting all of her milestones as far as development goes.

The doctors are baffled.

Today I discovered that we are going to be iin Disney during the Food and Wine Festival. I can not believe it never dawned on me. I have been there in September as it started, but I guess I never realized it carried on through sometime in November. Since we don't drink, the wine part of it is not that big a deal...but the food is! I am going to surprise husband...he LOVES Korean food. He spent two tours in Korea. Last time we were there at the beginning of F&W the Korean kiosk did not open while we were there...so this time he will get to eat there! I am thinking about not having a TS for that night and let him eat around the world! He will love it!

And now that the rumors of Free Dining are getting hot an heavy for our time frame, it will make it easier on the budget. We had originally said we would not go to the World if FD was not offered...and then Husband decided we would go any way...but we might not stay at AKL. Now it looks like we get to do both!

As soon as FD is released, I know my son will go...since their trip will only be something like 1775...and they blow that much money in a month! I told him it would be my birthday present...and he gets the gift!

Nini