Double Dipping w/a Marine and a Mouse... (Update 9/123 pg25-Flying Home!)

[nenner1]

I started college at 17, which you would think would be cool, but I hated it - everyone but me could say they were an adult! I still had a pediatrician

Oh I did too...my mom MADE me start college early. She said since I picked "slacker" electives my senior year (I did, I had like two periods of TA -teacher's assistant) I had to pick up college courses too the last semester.
Of course I picked the easiest of those, computers in healthcare, speech, and english composition. Noticing a pattern here?


Linner....hm. I always called it Drunch.

Hey Drea I love your plans..can't give you much advice in the food department as we always just pick up CS when we are in the parks (we go commando-style) but one thing I did notice is your pre-cruise Publix stop for booze...just wanted to give you a heads up, MOST Publixes only offer wine & beer...no hard alcohol and thier mixer section leaves a lot to be desired. SOME very new Publixes (example only one in the hundreds in our area is so equipped) have a liquor store attached but most don't. Plus I find their booze prices a tad over the outrageous side. You'd probably be better off just at an ABC liquor or Sam's. Costco, etc. Publix is great for their food stalples but I don't buy two things there: booze or cosmetics/paper goods/cleaning supplies. Ok, that's more than two. Aaaand, alright I lied. Sometimes.....they have good deals on beer. Sometimes.
As far as beach recommendations in Cozumel, I have been reading my supa-dupa-cool Cozumel map while on break at work and it has very nice things to say about Nachi-Cochum (who's going there, Arin?). Made me kindof think about adding a stop there. Looks like your choices would both be good as they have all the bells & whistles for the boys. My map warns that both are very busy.
I don't think anyone else is venturing out on their own in Coz, but this map is really cool...I found the link to it on Cruise Critic: http://www.cancunmap.com/cozumel_map.html

 

[anewmac]

thank you Mozart and Val for the tips.. Im working on where we are to eat this weekend to make reservation by Monday!

Also for the ABC tip... always thinking of me.. thanks Jen!

I too agree with Erica.. your not old.. your wiser.. more experienced.

Off to date night with E... we have no idea what to do with ourselves for the night...LMAO

 

[anewmac]

In 1 month from today (at 5pm

) I will be starting my vacation. .. and it cant come fast enough. Im so ready to be in that "mode". Im actually taking the day before off to do all the last minute things, pack, and of course a day of beauty for me.. You gals know what Im talking about, get my hair did, nails, toes, waxing lol. You know all that fun stuff us women LOVE to do

I wanted to post my TO DO LIST, this way if im leaving anything out, I know you fellow cruisers and dis'ers will keep me in line. Tonya/googles111 and I keep emailing about things and we end every email end with... "What else am I forgetting?" We should probably make that our new signature!

Sorry if I bore you all with my planning, but it really helps those of us suffering from OCVP to get it out. When I talk about it all with my family and friends that dont DIS they just think Im crazy (ok crazier then normal !)

OK when I 1st started my list it was half a page typed really cute in disney font. Im now on to a page and a half all hand written (which isnt pretty handwritting let me tell ya!) So here it goes: (everything in red= DONE! )

• Depost for Cruise
• Passports
• Cruise paid in full
• Pre Cruise Hotel (Country Inn & Suites)
• Pre Cruise Rental Car (Thrifty- charger)
• Post Cruise Hotel (Pop)
• Post Cruise Rental Car (now sharing a limo with Tonya/googles111)
• Book Excursions, Kids Club, Palo & Spa (all done, hopeing to get Palo Brunch and Dinner when we board, along with that upgrade to the Walt Suite LOL)
• Tix for the World, Epcot, and DHS (added dinning also)
• Kennedy Space Center Tix (E is going to get on base when he goes back to work)

THAT is where my pretty typed up list stopped.... and below is where the madness and chaos began

• Airfare (ya it would be good to have a way to GET there, 1 minor detail I forgot LOL)
• Make Fish Extender (Tiffany Did, cant thank you enough )
• Make F/E Gifts (in the process, had to order some more as I didnt count right, me not add right.. who would have thunk it.. my fellow cruisers will get this as I always had the total wrong in my update post) (can I make this one PINK as I'm HALF way done (ok so this color is really called MAGENTA.. but PINK was too light dont want anyone suing me for false advertising )
• Make Secret Mickey something cant say what it is dont want to give any surprizes away, you will see pics post trip report
• Get the rest of S/M gifts
• Wrap S/M gifts (Hope to accomplish this weekend!)
• Make 2 other secrets that I can not post, you will see them post trip report!
• Make Magnets & Window Clings (for POP), have all my DISigns just need to print them (half way done with this, is it pinkable err magentabletoo?)
• Make my pool cover up (I bought this cute Lil Mermaid material from Walmart its like scrunchy on top then flows on the bottom, all I had to do was sew it in the back to complete it... but moms sewing machine broke.. so need to think of something else to keep it together.. E said duck tape.. his cure all for everything )
• Order Boys Suite off ebay (just waiting for them)
  
  
  
  
• Get the boys another tie for semi formal night,disney related (should have done this months ago, when I found them CHEAP on ebay (Erica you have created a monster LOL)
  
  
  
  
• Get E's suit tailored and the boys also depending on how they fit when they come in.
  
  
  
  
• Get a new dress for me (if I cant find one.. I do have ol standby.. I GUESS )
• Camera and Camcorder (ordering Sunday after the new ads come out, keep waiting for a sale.. but not seeing anything close to what I have found online)
  
  
• Waterproof camera case (will order today since I know know what camera Im going with... Canon SD1100)
  
  
• Dinner Reservations @ the Parks. Will have final desicion by Monday to call in. (giving the boys all 3 of them a vote, figure its there vacation too )
• Ship Box to port (when does it need to be there for our cruise? 2 weeks before I thought I read.... so I can plan accordingly)
• Figure out transportation to LAX (E decieded all on his own 2 might I add, that he would rather get out early then do the whenever we get there option so we will be flying at 645am from LAX arriving at 445pm Orlando. Which means, we will head down on Weds night after my day of beauty and the boys get out of school to LA, and stay with my grandma. They boys can swim, we can relax. Finding a driver isnt hard my mom who lives accross the street from us will drive but NOT my or E's car. She drives a lil Escort, we both have a huge truck & SUV. Our luggage will NOT fit in her tiny matchbox size car. Im trying to convince her its only 2.5hrs she would have to drive it but its not looking good. 30mins to the airport, and 2hour ride home. While she is staying with my Gma she can drive her tiny car. (Can you tell this is a major delema in our planning)
• Transportation from San Diego to home.... if mom will drive home in my or E's car hoping she will drive to SD to pick us up.. only an hour drive this way! If not.. another delema (and I really hate making de-lemonade!)
• Boys will need haircuts before we leave (the 1 thing E will do LOL he's mister anal about getting his hair cut.. you know that military regulation bla bla bla)
• PACK ahhhhhh (this is the monster Im most worried about, 2 suitcases of ours, borrowing moms old suitcases (really wanted to buy new ones but thought luggage... or more DOTD Im sure you all know what I picked! )

SO WHAT ELSE AM I FORGETTING??

NEXT UP:How do we spill the beans?

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Im hooked on your pretrip report now! ive never been on a disney cruise but love going on other cruises--so here i am!

 

[anc22]

Oooh, love the ties Dray !

I am waiting to buy a tie for DH (Hmm, I wonder if he would agree to a Mr. Potato Head tie? ) until I FINALLY win a dress on Ebay. I will know by tonight if I win it..............then I only have to pray that it actually fits

Have you gotten your formal dress yet?

 

[Dreamfinder2]

Drea, you posted on my never ending thread, so I'm posting on YOURS again. Mostly I've been lurking, but I'm getting a real kick out of this.

And like Mozart, who's a smart individual and kindred spirit ... I've eaten at them all. I'll give you my unbiased opinion. Food rocks!

 

[anewmac]

***1st have to share my excitment, I got the 1st of our cruise/vacation disney related paperwork.. our Magical Express vouchers... BUT only thing is they say for Oct4th. NOT the 8th like I requested in order to get back to the Airport.... and only for the boys (guess I have to stay in FL.. DARN ) Also they misspelled P's name after I spelled it out 3 times. Phoenix is now spelled FENIX lol poor kid. SO tmrw I will be calling about that***

*** also update we got out room# 1071 went from a cat 12, to a 10 its no Walt Suite but its better then being at home or worse WORK. oh well close to mid elevators and the Tendor exits. Cant be that. Guess who is going to be the 1st family on Castaway Cay ***


And now......Another trip (within a pre trip- trip report LOL) down memory lane. Taking you back for the next few post with how we told the boys. Remember (you member,... sorry a George Lopez thing we all do here) I told yall that we were waiting till Christmas to drop the suprize. Well THIS is how it went down!

I had been reading trip reports on the DIS and heard of all kinds of different ways to tell kids, even saw a few video's
Surprize to a Mom and Dad
Morgan's Surprize
Veranda Man surprize's his Wife (VERY recent).
Since we booked in July and it was such a big trip we wanted to wait till Christmas to tell the boys. Problem was A) How? B) Could we really keep it a secret for 5months? I can keep a secret, but E cant, he goes shopping the day of xmas, mothers day and my bday and STILL lets things slip about my present. My problem is I start getting excited and talk to people and the kids are around us. There was a lot of pig latin going on for a few months, and spanish.. which E would say and I would have to try and figure out since my spanish es no bueno! (I mean I know the need to know words, food, beer, and bathroom, REALLY what more do you need to know in ANY language? )

My 1st idea was we get some type of gift basket and load all kinds of Disney stuff in it....along with the Disney Cruise DVD, good but not wowable. Next was have someone send a postcard to the boys saying they were going on a cruise, If I thought the 1st one wasnt wowable the 2nd this one really needed work. Then I read a t/r by a dad of 2 girls.. ashman! and he did a *TREASURE HUNT* to tell his girls. PERFECT... they would get a gift on xmas eve, that would have a clue leading them to the next gift and clue and so on, BRILLENT! Plus it makes xmas eve that much longer!

So I began buying Disney gifts that would be needed on the cruise/vacation, or just for that matter Disney related. If it had a picture of a mouse on it, I BOUGHT it. I stayed up one night doing all the clues. I was a women on a mission, ok I was just a big kid that loves to surprize her kids, and gets all giddy and cant walk away from something unless its finished. (Well it depends on what that something is.. if E were on here he would tell you we have a huge wall were I said I was going to put up tons of pictures, and well we have lived here 3yrs now and still not one nail in that wall. Thats cuz I want it PERFECT) ::claps hands:: focus Drea focus. Where was I?... Oh ya So I pull an all nighter writing these clues. Reminder, Its only September... of 2007 when I do this. So still 3months till Xmas, and OMG 12months till we set sail. If Im going to dread 3months till I get to share the news with them, how are they going to do with 8months till we get on the boat?

NEXT UP: Its begining to look a lot like Christmas....

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Just received letter for my 30th reunion!!!!!!!!!

Now who's old?

Thank you! I just went to my 31st - we flaked out on ours last year, so the class of 78 let us combine with them - it was fun to have two years together! My DH has an "Old Guys Rule" T-shirt. Can't believe it.

 

[jns]

what a great report

I remeber doing a tresure hunt or the boys on our first visit to WDW
great fun

looking forward to hearing all about your cruise as we are on the 2nd DD in Oct

 

[anewmac]

(remember we are still back in time... now we are at Xmas eve)

So we have christmas eve dinner and I can tell the boys are rushing through it (like normal) to get to open their presents. We are that type of family where we open all our family gifts on xmas eve then santa's the next morning. Usually cuz we have a gazillion family members (no I didnt count, Im mexican we just multiply like that LOL) to visit Christmas day.

When we are done having dinner at my moms we walk across the street to our house. (yes my mom lives across the street... it has its pro's and con's believe me!) E and I begin to tell them this year we are doing something different. We immidiatly get a face like oh no, were not opening gifts tonight LOL. NO boys we are going to give you something, BUT there are rules you MUST follow and agree to.

• You must stay together at all times
• Take turns opening anything
• P must read all the "cards" after opening things (here is where we all get a good laugh, J gets mad and says why does P get to read everything... um cuz he can read and you cant yet LMAO)

E then hands them Clue #1

This adventure is meant for the whole McCullough crew, To find your next clue go to where mom drinks her morning brew.

Now most children would think what?... coffee right... Nope not J he says the refrigerator... I said why the fridge... Cuz mom thats where you keep the beer. (Lovely my children think I drink beer in the am,... I mean I have before but not around them... ok it was a few times just to cure a hangover... what? they say that is the best cure, right? lol) anyhow I didnt know weither to laugh or cry. So I took a cue from E and my mom that had tears coming down from laughing so hard at that one.

After I catch my breath and they notice its not IN the fridge but next to it on the coffee maker, they bring it back to the living room to open up.

Its a bag P says, no I tell him its a toiletrie bag to put shampoo, your toothbrush, etc in when you go on vacations. I got a roll of the eyes , as if to say what do we need this for, ahhh patience my dear boy! J on the other hand said "aww this is cool!" You could give that boy a rubber band and he would be exstatic for years with it. Then again he's 5 so he hasnt got into that "whatever" attitude stage..YET!

Next up: Where your going will be lots of fun in the sun, Mom better start using that thing she bought to run.

 

[TotallyAngelic]

Wow - a brilliant idea to have a treasure hunt! Your boys look really excited! I can't imagine how excited they will be when they finally work it out! I'm looking forward to the next installment!

 

[MagicMe]

Where's the rest of the treasure hunt?????

 

[anewmac]

(Patience my friend Melodie, patience.... ok its a vertue I dont have either LOL)

**Have to share by the way I found the cutest lil pre made clue cards at Party City. There was a pack of 24 and at the time thought OH YA Ill do 24 clues, they will love that... and after figuring out what to write for about 3 clues I said forget that idea, MAYBE I'll try for 12 LOL**

Front

Back

The inside clue card (and yes all you scrappers, I did same ALL OF THEM!)

After opening the 1st Clue and enjoying there new toiletry bag .They hurry to move on to Clue #2.

Where your going will be lots of fun in the sun, Mom better start using that thing she bought to run.

They had to think for a bit since it had been a while.. OK A long while since I had used it... let alone went into that room where it was stored. But one of them blurted out to the other, "Mom's treadmill that she doesnt use" (apparently I didnt get the memo but it was pick on mom day)


Off they go, running and fighting over who gets to carry it and open it. Luckily they did a good job of taking turns, without E, my mom, or I having to intervean!

What do they find in this box.... travel size hygien stuff, toothbrush, toothpaste, (even got them deoterant LOL) shampoo, conditioner (they really dont need this as you see they have no hair. , cologne sample sizes, hairspray, mouthwash, etc. HMMM again they arent too thrilled that they are getting bath stuff for christmas gifts? Wonder why? The adults on the other hand are loving this.

But, they keep reading the clues.....

Clue#3: A year from now is how long till your treat, But your next clue is on mom's favorite seat!

 

[anewmac]

So now they have got a toiletry bag, and all the stuff to fill er up with!... whatever could be next?

Clue #3
A year from now is how long till your treat, But your next clue is on mom's favorite seat.

Well they wasted NO time what so ever... they knew exactly where my booty likes to sit!..... In front of the computer! (glad they didnt think it was the toilet! )

now in my hastiness to get pics and from the overall excitement, I told you I love doing stuff like this, Im a BIG kid really, but then again If you like Disney WHO isnt? I didnt get pics of them getting there clues from their hidding spots DOH' (wheres the Homer Smiley when ya need it LOL)

They bring the boxes (note the plural), back to the living room, which by the way was another rule. They had to open everything up in the living room, cuz well after Xmas Eve dinner the adults were too stuffed to go following them around LOL

J let P open this one since he did the other one (sharing.. Im LOVEING this!) Once the paper is off, I let them know which box they can each open up as there is a gift specific to both of them.

Here J is telling P.. no no go head my brother, after you! lol

Hmm wonder where they can use these...????

P even states we dont have a pool... and nana's (my mom) pool is way too small for them to both get in.(she has one of those lil plastic one). let alone use these in it LOL..... Im so glad they are this age for doing this.. they dont catch on as quickly lol

They both thought they were cool and couldnt wait to use them... but knew it wouldnt happen soon, since it was DECEMBER and all. SO they move on to the next clue.

Clue#4 We hope when you figure this out you will say its totally cool, Your next hint is there will be more then 1 pool!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Lovin' it! So cute!

 

[disneydiva21]

Being married to the Marine Corps has taught me a thing or two about organizing a mission, timing, and executing it. In this case the "Mission" is our VACATION, the timing it almost to a T, and in 5weeks... the execution of it will begin!

So once we commited to the cruise.. the fun really began. PLANNING and more Planning. After reading all about the ports we... well I (remember at this time E was still in Iraq so I would send emails... and get the reply of WHATEVER YOU WANT TO DO... that so didnt help me) So I make desicions and here is what our vacation looks like.


Sept 30th
Grand Cayman

• 930am we have the Pirate Encounter, boys dont know about this so it should be fun
• Hitting the Rum Factory
• a lil shopping
• then 7mile beach

Oct 1st
Cozumel

• Beach Break, either doing the one through Disney, or it on our own. Playa Mia or Paradise Beach (anyone have any recomendations?)
• A lil shopping before heading back to the ship

I've been lurking the boards, getting ideas for our honeymoon in Disney and the cruise we're taking and came upon your planning journal. I have to tell you, I have really enjoyed reading it so far. My fiances brother is in Afganistan right now, and is scheduled to come home this December. When I read the homecoming portion it brought tears to my eyes!

I saw your itinerary and noticed that we will be in Grand Caymen & Cozumel the same days as you! My fiance (at that point new hubby) will be in Disney the 26th & 27th, than driving to Tampa on the 28th to board the Carnival Legend for the Western Caribbean.

Enjoy your trip, and maybe we'll see you!

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

Drea, those clues are great! I can wait to see the pictures of when they finally find out!

 

[anc22]

Love the play-by-play Drea

 

[zweihund]

Awesome update! Can't wait to read the rest of the scavenger hunt

 

[Magic3forme]

Very cool and creative ideas.