Down the Hole: A Pre-Trip Report w Alice, Madhatter, Cheshire Cat, & Queen of Hearts

[Mickey_Mom]

Hi there.... subbing in! Now must go back and read up!

 

[Snowhitelover]

Well thanks for the compliments Dis People!

Mommy I love you ....but chill!!!!

The shirts involved little-no sewing.......The images were fused on with fabric paper. The roses were sewn on and the flower patch was an applique....the red velvet ribbon although I should have sewed it on...was appliqued...

Thanks for taking interest in the shirts.


MOM THAT IS NOT AN INVITE TO YOU TO START POSTING MORE!!!!!!!

With Sincere Gratitude,
Emily

P.S.
Dis People,
BTW You guys write great trip reports, they are really intruiging....I feel like a pyschologist being able to see into people's lives when reading them........

 

[cjackearl]

Hi! I'm here and I'm going back to read in the morning when I'm lucid.

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

How much trouble can you really get into at Barnes & Noble...& is it really a new Disney purchase if you get it on sale???

...Well today is technically 11 days till my Disney adventure but 10 days till vacation (since we'll be in NY our first day) & since I'm not at DWD and have no zebra domes to offer...​

I thought we could have cupcakes...vanilla cake w/vanilla buttercream, chocolate w/chocolate buttercream, boston creme & pound cake w/lemon curd...-take one

& of course, coffee...milk, sugar?

Soooooo when you make a purchase from the Disney store when you weren't supposed to...does it technically count...? (I mean you sort of need to have a tee shirt w/one of the fab five when you go to Disney World?-and if you can get them for under $10 does it really count?

Donald Duck for DH and Goofy for DS-easy. Mickey for DD and Minnie for me-now we sort of wanted Minnie for her and Daisy for me but has anyone else noticed that there is a bit of a dearth of choice for Daisy tee shirts? I'd have loved something a little retro but it was a sale and I like Minnie-I'd have gone with Mickey but DD liked her option of Mickey shirt better than Minnie-so that's how we roll...(so that means as of now-we kind of have 2 "sets" of shirts-the Alice ones, and these. I'm good-I don't need to push my luck...

Some other goodies for the trip...

Sigg bottles-DH & I got ours as part of a gift credit from work, DD had hers so we decided we'd get DS one-they are expensive but since we only had to pay for his-$15-it's still cheaper to fill them from fountains them to constantly be paying all that money for water bottles plus they are environmentally friendly and kind of cute-mine is the red Asian inspired one...

Shoes-I got Teva Mushies (Thanks Brook)-from the Sierra Trading Co. & these Clarks sandals are relatively new... I'm still struggling with another comfortable shoe-I have a flat pair of Clark sandals that are comfy and I've been breaking in and some Teva sport sandals that are a little awkward looking on my feet...I know I need to take the comfort route but I like the prettier ones-but then I start thinking about LL's feet horror stories and I think I should just suck it up like a big girl...

I Want to be a Jedi Tee shirt-ummm for those of you who have been reading Dismagiclover's trip report-and you should-it's very good-this shirt might look a little familiar-in fact it is a pretty blatant rip off of hers that DD made for me. This is so the day we go to the Studios-DS will hopefully stand out if he decides he'd like a shot of being selected to participate in the Jedi Academy.

OH-I already have my bag of coffee & take away cups for the morning- a lot of people post their toiletry photos but honestly if I don't have my coffee-it's not going to matter how clean and fresh everyone is (We will be taking them however-I'm just more intensely bonded to my coffee...)

I have had the pleasure and constant temptation of spending a couple of hours in Barnes & Noble just about everyday this week. (DS has been going to a morning camp this week that is close to an hour from our home. It begins at 9 and ends at 12 so if I were to go home-it would basically be an hour to drive home, home for an hour and then an hour drive back-not worth it. So I've been doing some grocery shopping but primarily I've had my cell to make calls, my computer to umm-Dis in addition to other things and more time than is probably good for me to "browse" the book store and drink coffee.

(It is hard to imagine that at one time there was no Barnes & Noble-no place to indulge your book browsing and coffee drinking in one place...)

So I brought some previously purchased friends in an attempt to keep me out of trouble (ie -not buy any books)...Pride and Prejudice (finished), Alice in Wonderland and Alice through the Looking Glass (finished the first-working on the second) and Jane Eyre (Mr. Rochester just proposed to Jane-I've never read this before but I do know about the first wife locked up in the attic...) All of these are very, very good...(I can't read P&P without picturing Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy) and of course Alice is delightful...

However-being surrounded by all of those other books...for five days straight...I wanted to be strong I truly did...I suppose it could have been much worse...

Purchases were made...I mean you can't really read Jane Eyre by the pool can you?...Well I guess you could but I thought I'd pick up some more pool like reading...

(Actually since DD was with me-she picked up a couple of things as well-we're not showing those right now or I'll start to feel I was really naughty...not to mention all those beverages I purchased...


Well-bringing things back around to cake...DS's official real day he was actually born is Sunday. He will be 7. Since we already had a robot themed party for him and some of his friends when he was 6 3/4 (and a gorgeous robot cake-we may have lost some the photos when the family computer crashed-as well as last year's 6 year old Egyptian themed party...) Sunday we are having a small family party with a Star Wars/Clone Wars themed cake...

Cake, Coffee, Disney, Family, Friends, Books...It's all good...

 

[Lady Lallie]

I couldn't have been in the bookstore that long without making purchases either.

I just finished the latest Sookie Stackhouse book and I devoured it in a day.

 

[dismagiclover]

Awesome t-shirt! I bet your DD did it for less than I paid for mine too That is the money you spent on the great pooling reading books. So really it's like the books are free, right Kinda like the unplanned bargains don't really count And thanks for the shout out for my trippie! I'll try to send you even more pixie dust for the Jedi Training

 

[mousescrapper]

ver fun post !

those cupcakes looked ever so yummy...I'd take the one w/ lemon curd please....

great buy on the semi matching shirts!

and happy pre- 7th b-day to DS

 

[KathyRN137]

Soooooo when you make a purchase from the Disney store when you weren't supposed to...does it technically count...? (I mean you sort of need to have a tee shirt w/one of the fab five when you go to Disney World?-and if you can get them for under $10 does it really count?

Cake, Coffee, Disney, Family, Friends, Books...It's all good.

Yes, it is!!

My dear, I think you've just invented Fuzzy Disney Store Math!!

Tricia (DD13) chose the I love Goofy and I love Pluto tees, even though they were categorized as "boy's" shirts... they are super-soft and comfy!

Tip: The water from the Disney fountains tastes... funny. You may want to bring those little packets of crystal light or something similar to mask the taste!

You're so close to Single Digits!!!

Kathy


Kathy

 

[cjackearl]

Ok, I'm officially through half of your wonderfully fun to read report. You're a great writer. I'm also a devourer of books and a lover of travel. You have been to some wonderful places with your family. Most of my travel, including Europe and San Francisco (I spent 3 months in Berkeley doing a career development when I was in college), occured pre-kids. I'd love to take my kiddos to some of the same spots some day.

You have a great looking family and it appears that you all get along beautifully. That's really special. Thanks for the look back at your trips to WDW and the explanation of your son's diagnosis.

Ok, I cheated and read the latest update before I got caught up. We used to have a couple of Sigg water bottles and loved them. However, DD #2 decided to fill hers with water and freeze it the night before school so her water would be nice and cold at school. Um, aluminum doesn't respond well to expansion. Sigg bottle #1 literally ripped at the seams. I love your red Asian print and the yellow dragon print.

I loved my Mush in WDW. One word of caution on the Clarks, if they have a leather insole. I have a pair of Clarks like that and wearing them for an extended time once around here I got blisters on the bottoms of my toes! My feet slipped just enough on the slippery leather to create friction between my toes and the insole. Ok, end of cautionary tale.

Back to getting caught up.

 

[tiggrbaby]

LOVE the shirts! Great job!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Those cupcakes look delicious. Chelsea and I are going to make lemon bars today -- I will trade a couple of lemon bars for a couple of cupcakes!

Don't feel guilty about the shirts -- you have to have suitable clothes for vacation which, for Disney World, means character t-shirts.

I love my Teva Mushies that I bought after hearing about them from Brook -- don't you just let out a sigh everytime you slip them on?

I always picture Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy as well -- he's just so delicious.

Word of caution on Dead Until Dark -- it's campy -- and funny, but I don't think it is the best in the series -- I like the other books in the Sookie series so much better.

Kenya Coffee from Starbucks -- love it!!! That's my favorite kind of coffee to drink when Boma press pots aren't available.

Have fun with the Clone Wars party this weekend!!! Tell David Happy Birthday!

 

[Mickey_Mom]

It's a rainy day here today... perfect for catching up on the DIS. I've made it through your report and just have to say that I loved your story on how the trip came to be with your DH... love your countdown and your son packing his books and stuffed animals .... I love your Alice bracelet and your binder!

Han Solo = sigh .... love your responses to the "allegations brought forth against you" and I LOVE Emily's shirts!

Hmmmm, there's a lot of going on here, isn't there?

Love the I want to be a Jedi shirt, that's sure to work... yes I'll take one of those muffins thank you and........ David!

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

I couldn't have been in the bookstore that long without making purchases either.

I just finished the latest Sookie Stackhouse book and I devoured it in a day.

Just walking into a bookstore makes me happy-you know that book smell...I knew I wasn't going to make it out of there without buying some books...I guess it could have gotten worse (well I KNOW it could have gotten worse because I put some stuff back...

Awesome t-shirt! I bet your DD did it for less than I paid for mine too That is the money you spent on the great pooling reading books. So really it's like the books are free, right Kinda like the unplanned bargains don't really count And thanks for the shout out for my trippie! I'll try to send you even more pixie dust for the Jedi Training

DD is a great source of cheap labor...but she makes out ok...she was with me during my book spree-I just didn't show hers... Personally I like your math...it's the way I think-DH not so much...

ver fun post !

those cupcakes looked ever so yummy...I'd take the one w/ lemon curd please....

great buy on the semi matching shirts!

and happy pre- 7th b-day to DS

I love lemon curd! (Have you ever had it on a scone with clotted cream?...

Thanks about DS Bday wishes...

Yes, it is!!

My dear, I think you've just invented Fuzzy Disney Store Math!!

Tricia (DD13) chose the I love Goofy and I love Pluto tees, even though they were categorized as "boy's" shirts... they are super-soft and comfy!

Tip: The water from the Disney fountains tastes... funny. You may want to bring those little packets of crystal light or something similar to mask the taste!

You're so close to Single Digits!!!

Kathy


Kathy

I really like Disney math... I wonder why it isn't taught in school... Actually that might explain the current financial situation...

The Disney sizes from the online store are a bit of a mystery...they seem to run all over the place...

Thanks for the tip on the water taste-I'll get something from the market to flavor it tomorrow...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

Ok, I'm officially through half of your wonderfully fun to read report. You're a great writer. I'm also a devourer of books and a lover of travel. You have been to some wonderful places with your family. Most of my travel, including Europe and San Francisco (I spent 3 months in Berkeley doing a career development when I was in college), occured pre-kids. I'd love to take my kiddos to some of the same spots some day.

You have a great looking family and it appears that you all get along beautifully. That's really special. Thanks for the look back at your trips to WDW and the explanation of your son's diagnosis.

Ok, I cheated and read the latest update before I got caught up. We used to have a couple of Sigg water bottles and loved them. However, DD #2 decided to fill hers with water and freeze it the night before school so her water would be nice and cold at school. Um, aluminum doesn't respond well to expansion. Sigg bottle #1 literally ripped at the seams. I love your red Asian print and the yellow dragon print.

I loved my Mush in WDW. One word of caution on the Clarks, if they have a leather insole. I have a pair of Clarks like that and wearing them for an extended time once around here I got blisters on the bottoms of my toes! My feet slipped just enough on the slippery leather to create friction between my toes and the insole. Ok, end of cautionary tale.

Back to getting caught up.

Aww-thanks for reading-I love to read and write and love to travel and plan for travel...We've been really lucky to take some of the trips that we have...I love being able to see new places...especially when you've read about somewhere and then you get to see it...

Thanks about my family...I feel that we're all really fortunate to have been blessed with each other...

Thanks for the warning on the Siggs-that sounds like a shortcut that I might take not thinking...I have been forewarned...

I have to check my Clarks-I have two pair and one that I've been breaking in and the Tevas are coming in case of feet emergencies...I've read enough to know how that can really cramp (literally and figuratively a trip...

LOVE the shirts! Great job!

THANKS!

Those cupcakes look delicious. Chelsea and I are going to make lemon bars today -- I will trade a couple of lemon bars for a couple of cupcakes!

Don't feel guilty about the shirts -- you have to have suitable clothes for vacation which, for Disney World, means character t-shirts.

I love my Teva Mushies that I bought after hearing about them from Brook -- don't you just let out a sigh everytime you slip them on?

I always picture Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy as well -- he's just so delicious.

Word of caution on Dead Until Dark -- it's campy -- and funny, but I don't think it is the best in the series -- I like the other books in the Sookie series so much better.

Kenya Coffee from Starbucks -- love it!!! That's my favorite kind of coffee to drink when Boma press pots aren't available.

Have fun with the Clone Wars party this weekend!!! Tell David Happy Birthday!

I love lemon bars...some people are just about chocolate but I think lemon desserts are yum...

Teva Mushies are like walking on clouds...

Colin Firth=Mr. Darcy=Delicious...

Kenya Coffee + Boma pressed pots= Super Happy!!!

Thanks about the B-day wishes...I'm going to post a couple of quick photos in a bit...

It's a rainy day here today... perfect for catching up on the DIS. I've made it through your report and just have to say that I loved your story on how the trip came to be with your DH... love your countdown and your son packing his books and stuffed animals .... I love your Alice bracelet and your binder!

Han Solo = sigh .... love your responses to the "allegations brought forth against you" and I LOVE Emily's shirts!

Hmmmm, there's a lot of going on here, isn't there?

Love the I want to be a Jedi shirt, that's sure to work... yes I'll take one of those muffins thank you and........ David!

Rainy days are great days to Dis...

thanks for all the love-love is good

DH is teasing (threatening) to respond to any comments/anecdotes that I make...He is saying he'll call his thread DH responds back or some such thing... (he must have heard me and Emily talking and got wise to my pretrip report and now I think he has it bookmarked......but I refuse to allow that to change the way I write...I write it the way I see it...

Thanks for the DS bday wishes-we had a nice little celebration...

 

[PracPerfPatricia]

So, exactly one week from tonight-we will all be going to sleep, bags packed ready to spend the next day in New York before flying to DWD...

Hurray!​

In anticipation, we've been watching Disney movies quite a bit (even than usual)...Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmations, Alice i W, Toy Story and Finding Nemo

...and darn if DS hasn't gone a little Nemo happy...He thinks that Bruce and Dory are absolute screams...(he also thinks that Sid from Toy Story is a "very, very, very mean person"-do you think so sweetie-the word Mommy would use is Psychotic...

...ironically I hadn't planned to go over to the Living Seas this trip because we went over two years ago when he had just turned 5...so now I have to decide what to do-to go or not to go??? So many options, with limited time...

and speaking of time...​

today DS turned 7 and but if I close my eyes I can see as a teeny baby in my arms...

Since we already had a friend party for him when he was 6 3/4...today was just a sweet, simple celebration with our immediate family including his 2 aunts and uncle, his grandparents-2 grandmothers, 1 grandfather...(my dad lives in NC) and his 2 cousins...It was all about the pizza and cake (DS requested pizza-I think he's been to enough kid parties that he told me that kids always have pizza on their birthdays-like its some kind of rule...), the hugs and kisses, of course the gifts-and in addition to some cool Lego-that child collected $295! (He's planning on buying stuff at Disney so his grandparents mostly gave him money ...but still...I think he needs to bank some...or do something responsible with part of it...and Lord knows I'm hardly the Queen of financial responsibility but no one needs to spend $295 on Disney toys and goodies-do they?)

A couple of B-day photos-Clone Wars and Legos feature prominently...

Sleep tight tonight my 7 year old boy-dream happy dreams full of goodness and light...


Beautiful Boy-John Lennon

Close your eyes,
Have no fear,
The monsters gone,
He's on the run and your daddy's here,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Before you go to sleep,
Say a little prayer,
Every day in every way,
It's getting better and better,

Beautiful,
Beautiful, beautiful,
Beautiful Boy,

Out on the ocean sailing away,
I can hardly wait,
To see you to come of age,
But I guess we'll both,
Just have to be patient,
Yes it's a long way to go,
But in the meantime,

Before you cross the street,
Take my hand,
Life is just what happens to you,
While your busy making other plans...

 

[brookelizabeth]

vanilla cake w/vanilla buttercream, chocolate w/chocolate buttercream, boston creme & pound cake w/lemon curd...-take one

Decisions, decisions! I think I'll take the lemon...

& of course, coffee...milk, sugar?

Oh, yes please!

LOVED your update! The shirts are all great - if cheap Disney purchases don't count, I haven't made any purchase at all yet.

I'm with ya on the books - I hardly have time to read with a toddler, but I DO love B&N for browsing and coffee sipping. I know my reading days will return as well...

I'm very glad to read you love your Mushies! I really like mine too-I could even wear them yesterday with the small boot.

I bought my coffee filters the other day at the grocery store. It was a nice moment. I LOVE your travel cups. I so need to scope out if I can find those. Then I can use my refillable mug for some Diet Coke in the morning as well. Oooh, I love vacation.

And a very big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to your DS! Seven. Man...I'm sure time has flown by, I just can't even fathom!! He scored out big on the money. I bet he's thrilled!

 

[Lady Lallie]

Ooh...I think your DS needs his picture taken with Bruce now!

One Week!!

 

[cjackearl]

Ok, all caught up!

Tell your daughter her shirts came out super cute.

And happy belated birthday to your son! $295 is a LOT of b-day loot! I might encourage him to save some of it, but if he starts buying the big star wars lego sets, he could go through that fast!

The Franklin Institute sounds amazing!

I love the picture of all the kids at the b-day party. So cute!

 

[mousescrapper]

I think you'll have to buy another suitcase for all that b-day loot coming home....

 

[Charleston Princess]

What a lovely birthday for DS! I agree with you, though -- $295 seems a bit much for spending money at Disney for a child !