Dr. Jones and the Spitting Camel - Link to Alaska Cruise TR 9/18

[englishrose47]

Like Liessa I am so behind on all my threads !! Hope everything was Okay with Paul !!Glad you found the key!!! Tour sounds great thanjks to Ranger Joe !!!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

thanks for the info on ranger joe we will check that out on our next trip.

 

[eandesmom]

Like Liessa I am so behind on all my threads !! Hope everything was Okay with Paul !!Glad you found the key!!! Tour sounds great thanjks to Ranger Joe !!!

Hi Rosie!

I'm behind as well, it's a never ending battle! The tour was great and it was a huge relief to find that key.

thanks for the info on ranger joe we will check that out on our next trip.

which is when??????

 

[MEK]

It's so funny how Disney just kind-of creeps into the soul. Why else would Jeff putt that pic up as his wallpaper? Secretly he loves it. I know Denny does too because he def ready to go back and probably just a little jealous about our girl's trip!

 

[eandesmom]

It's so funny how Disney just kind-of creeps into the soul. Why else would Jeff putt that pic up as his wallpaper? Secretly he loves it. I know Denny does too because he def ready to go back and probably just a little jealous about our girl's trip!

Oh I know he does...he just won't admit it. He is definitely jealous of the girls trip...or more accurately displeased a couples trip isn't officially planned yet but he needs to get off his duff and do some work on that one.

 

[Flossbolna]

Hi Cynthia, I really liked the description of your eventful morning! I am so glad that so far this was a great start to the day and I really hope that the pixie dust continued for your family and that Paul's health issues improved!!

I would love to do the WL tour, but then I find it so hard to give up on early morning park touring since this is just the best time in the parks...

How wonderful that you get to go on the Alaskan cruise, I know that we briefly talked about it when we met and I meant to ask you more about it since it was news to me (but I was afraid that I had missed the announcement somewhere here on the DIS), but then the conversation was always moving so fast that I never got a chance. So I am relieved to find out that it was still news here on the DIS and now I know all about it. I think it makes so much sense for you to take advantage of DCL coming to your neck of the woods!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

All caught up. Wow, what a whirlwind already. I can't wait to hear how the YC portion of the trip goes.

 

[eandesmom]

Hi Cynthia, I really liked the description of your eventful morning! I am so glad that so far this was a great start to the day and I really hope that the pixie dust continued for your family and that Paul's health issues improved!!

Thanks!

I would love to do the WL tour, but then I find it so hard to give up on early morning park touring since this is just the best time in the parks...

Well since I can't get my family up early enough to make it to the parks early, it worked out great! But I have high hopes for some earlier mornings in May.

How wonderful that you get to go on the Alaskan cruise, I know that we briefly talked about it when we met and I meant to ask you more about it since it was news to me (but I was afraid that I had missed the announcement somewhere here on the DIS), but then the conversation was always moving so fast that I never got a chance. So I am relieved to find out that it was still news here on the DIS and now I know all about it. I think it makes so much sense for you to take advantage of DCL coming to your neck of the woods!

LOL. It was news to my parents as well, we literally booked it a day or two before I left for Germany, I was actually waiting to make sure the deposit had posted before I told anyone as the rooms on some of the earlier dates were going fast, I'd been looking at the previous week and the poof, the category I wanted was gone. So I was a little paranoid. However, there is still rooms available in our category as of today so I guess I overreacted. But better safe than sorry!

All caught up. Wow, what a whirlwind already. I can't wait to hear how the YC portion of the trip goes.

Somehow it's always a whirlwind. But never boring!

 

[eandesmom]

Mary Ellen, Jen, Melissa and I are...

DOUBLE DIGIT DANCING!

And tomorrow Tracy and Christine get to dance. A dancer for each of us!...which almost looks like a chorus line....

​

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Woo-Hoo! Thanks for keeping track. I knew we were getting close but didn't realize how close we were!

 

[KatMark]

Cynthia, I need a NAP just reading about your morning. I don't know how you do it.

I was when I read you found THE key...too exciting.

I love the photo of Mickey and the plane and that your DH now has it has his screensaver.

 

[eandesmom]

Woo-Hoo! Thanks for keeping track. I knew we were getting close but didn't realize how close we were!

I know! I'm so excited! So excited it's time to go re-check on park hours for changes, our original touring plan and all that fun stuff.

I actually ordered new luggage yesterday, I can't stand mine and after the Germany trip am OVER it so decided I'd get something now so I have time to return/change if it isn't just right....

 

[eandesmom]

Cynthia, I need a NAP just reading about your morning. I don't know how you do it.

I was when I read you found THE key...too exciting.

I love the photo of Mickey and the plane and that your DH now has it has his screensaver.

Ok I haven't done that much yet, just checked into the YC and a short tour with Ranger Joe...



The day is YOUNG!

So relieved we found the key and then kicking myself that I was minimizing what was in there, I would have been so upset once I realized!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hurray for double digit dancing and impending double digit dancing!

 

[manntra]

for new luggage!!! Yes C, we are at 100 days today I have a numeric countdown on my gmail sign in page on my desktop at work and maybe one on my iPhone too

Tracy

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

which is when??????

sometime in the fall of 2012 not sure yet, will have to see when free dinning is offered.

 

[eandesmom]

Hurray for double digit dancing and impending double digit dancing!

totally

for new luggage!!! Yes C, we are at 100 days today I have a numeric countdown on my gmail sign in page on my desktop at work and maybe one on my iPhone too

Tracy

We'll see it it will cut it but I'm hopeful it will make travel a lot easier. My roller sized carry on is not great at fitting much, odd sized somehow and can get too fat to actually fit in the overhead bin even when not expanded. It annoys me. My big one is a good 13 pounds before I add stuff into it, so while it holds a ton, it can (especially in winter) easily go overweight. My other carry on is a shoulder duffel thing and just gets flat out heavy if you are trying to carry a laptop and a purse.

So in the interest of letting Mary Ellen retain her sherpa title...I've ordered a new bag.

sometime in the fall of 2012 not sure yet, will have to see when free dinning is offered.

I'd love to go for FD in the fall of 2012! Not likely but I still love the concept!

 

[eandesmom]

Bags checked we headed over to the photopass counter to check in for our session. For the life of me I have no idea of our PP CM’s name but if you see a lovely long haired brunette with a huge smile and infectious attitude, that’s her. She rotates. We saw here at BC later in the trip. I had heard that the success, or failure, of the PP sessions are really varied and really depend on your PP CM. I couldn’t agree more. For those who don’t know how the PP sessions work, it’s basically like this. For $125 you get a 20 minute session. The session includes 4 poses (which really means locations), all the digital images on a CD and then one photo package. You can choose which package but basically they are a combination of 8x10m, 5x7’s and maybe wallets. I’m not sure. I do know we ended up with 3 5x7’s and 2 8x10’s as our choice. It wasn’t the one that gave you the most prints but worked best for us at the time. The number of digital images really varies by photographer.

After the session they upload them and then can edit, crop, and make black and white iterations to add to your total images. I will preface this photo journey by saying we ended up with 122 images! I’m not going to post them all but will post quite a few and then share my thoughts on the experience, value and results at the end.

Our session started out on a somewhat concerning note. Our PP CM mentioned that due to the hour (11:30) some shots might be tricky due to the sun’s positioning. DOH. That hadn’t occurred to me when I moved us back. It was also a bit hazy out which was increasing some glare and brightness. She asked what we wanted for locations and we really had no clue so left it in her hands to dictate. She suggested a combination of indoor and outdoor to try to get around the lighting issue/concern.

We started out inside by the bridge.

Not my favorite shots. I look so short! Jeff looks…I’m not sure what! Eric looks like...well...Eric

She wasn't thrilled with the lighting (me either after seeing these) so we weren't there long.

We then moved outside…to a tree. Ok, I like trees.

Her focus here, was individual shots. Which I had wanted but loved that I didn’t have to ask for! We hadn’t gotten school pics of K&T for a couple of years (their mom didn’t order them, plus in running start they don’t take pics) so ours were woefully outdated. She took a LOT here.

No smile

With a smile! We don’t have a lot of pictures of Taylor with an actual smile so we liked this one a lot! Despite the fact that Jeff hates the ‘stache and the hair in the picture. At least there isn’t a hoodie or a hat!

Black and white

This one cracks me up. ALL trip Kendall was trying to get rid of her soccer tan. Clearly didn’t work in time for this shot.

I love this shot but it is not Kendall’s favorite.

Black and white

Love this one!

Black and white

Eric really couldn’t get the hand pose down, his poor hand looks contorted in all of these shots!

much better if you crop out his hand!

see what I mean?

Continued in next post

 

[eandesmom]

So she decided to try a different tree pose just for spastic wrist boy

he’s not so thrilled with the idea

and now his wrists STILL look awkward!

he actually looks like he’s in pain here!

Next, Jeff and I were up. She was feeling creative I guess.

I had this one up on facebook for a little while as a profile pic. It’s not so bad in the small version lol. My girlfriend, who is Indian, said it looked like it was out of a Bollywood movie and that it should be raining, Jeff and I dancing around the tree, while Jai Ho (song from Slumdog Millionaire lol) plays in the background. Cracks me up now every time I see it.

Jeff was amused

could my part look any more like a giant racing stripe on my head? My hair looks horrendous in these shots. Yikes.

Group shot, don’t care for this one at all

I swear, I’m shrinking in these shots and I’m not short! Granted, I usually wear heels and actually had some but had opted out for reason’s I’ll explain later.

could have been nice if we were all looking in the same direction, wonder what the distraction was.

Next, we headed down the walk to the geyser. It was HOT during these shots, and a bit bright. Again, not my favorites.

First, some group shots. I look short and K is sporting a nice soccer tan.

Eric looks constipated.

Mildly better but the racing stripe is back

Another failed attempt at a decent couple shot. I’m getting quite shiny as you can see.

Even shiny in black and white. Sigh.

Individual bridge shots

Tay’s posture was horrible in every single one of these!

It had gotten progressively hotter (it seemed) and Kendall had had enough of her hair. Frankly I would have done the same thing, had I had the right stuff with me to pull my hair back!

she liked this series much better than the ones with her hair down. Go figure.

This boy looked too cool for his own good I swear. We'll all melting and squinting and Evan looks like some ad most of the time. Not fair.

classic Evan. Channeling his inner James Dean.

black and white

Continued in next post

 

[eandesmom]

Eric, on the other hand, looked almost as uncomfortable as Taylor in this pose.

better

even better now that you can’t see his sandals

Ding ding! A winner! I cannot tell you how many pictures had Eric with eyes closed, weird expression, you name it.

somehow she got 2 in a row!

close up

Melting on the bridge we decided that the sun was behind the clouds enough to maybe attempt the waterfall.
It was BRIGHT out! We took a lot of these.

But somehow she got this one, which isn’t half bad! I like that in the others you saw more waterfall but the fact that one even turned out in that BLINDING sun, made me happy.

Lastly, she wanted us over on some rocks in kind of a grassy area. It doesn’t look like it in the pictures but getting there and getting positioned wasn’t easy. And we were really melting at this point. And hadn't eaten, or had anything to drink (except for Jeff and I, who had caffeinated lol!)

the mandatory gazing picture

eew, more kissing

We are getting seriously loopy here. Or Jeff was tickling Eric (the latter I think)

Eric kept sliding off of the rock.

Last but not least….just the kids. Loopy kids

This one makes me smile.

No clue what Eric is looking at.

And there you go. More than you wanted to see I’m sure!
Once done she explained the uploading, review, ordering and print process. Which I hadn’t factored in to the schedule at all! I’m not sure what I thought, that they’d magically be done, on a CD and printed the second we finished but no, that wasn’t the case. So while she started uploading (and with as many as she took , it took an hour as she did some preview editing to some) we plopped in the lobby to figure out a plan. It seems to me we considered having lunch there and hopping in the pool but someone (K or T I am sure) hadn’t kept their suit out for the transfer. And RF wasn't jumping out at anyone as a must do, they had something else in mind and were willing to wait for it. We tried to get drinks with our mugs but...our bags had already left the building, with out mugs and of COURSE we weren't going to BUY something that we could get for free. Or at lunch. So…what to do? I’d deliberately left it open for group choice. We discussed everyone going on ahead (to wherever) but Jeff wanted to see the pictures too. We decided to wait it out as a group and came up with a plan. We were all getting pretty darn hungry at this point, it was now almost noon and no one had had anything to eat yet.

So…what did I think of the photo session?
I loved it! While I can’t say I love any of the couple shots (nor do I hate them lolm, some are ok)I truly adore several of the kids solo pics. Some really really beautiful shots. Some decent family ones too. I was surprised and delighted by the variety, volume and quality. I loved our photographer! We reviewed the shots, had her make several into black and white and then figured out our order. We went for 2 8x10’s of family shots for us and then 3 5x7’s (2 for Sandie and one for us). We did one of the family shots in the 5x7 and then the last kind of candid one of just the 4 kids which just makes us smile for some reason, it captured a lot of personality in it.

Since then I’ve printed and framed pictures of the kids and used them on our holiday card.

What would I do different?

Do it earlier in the day! It was WAY too hot and the sun not at the right angle at all. I'd probably elect NOT to do it on a moving day, though on the flip side since it was a "free" day I wasn't stressed (nor was anyone else) that we were missing park time. I’d also dress differently for me, and maybe Eric lol. Eric got the back of his shirt filthy during the shoot. White shirt, leaning on trees and bridges = trashed shirt. Everyone else ended up staying clean, definitely just an Eric issue. Thankfully it has come clean since then. I wore a silk blouse over a cami and that thing did NOT breathe, looked very poofy/blousy and not at all flattering in the standing up pics ( alot of which I've spared everyone...it added 10 pounds I swear). Silk. BAD choice. I loved the neckline but UGH. BAD choice. Fine sitting down but it contributed to me feeling overheated and shiny. Given the heat I should have put my hair back. I’d planned to wear some linen shorts and wedges and that might have helped in the standing shots for me, not sure. With the packing rush I didn't have time to really pretty up or pull out other clothes, all I did was change tops. And I notice that in the pictures. Not to mention the fact I did consciously opt out of having to lug extra shoes until we got back to the YC as I wasn't sure of our plan or how long I'd be lugging. As it was, I needed to lug swimsuits, sunscreen, camera and that was plenty in my book! We didn't know how long it would take for our luggage and knew we wanted to swim.

At the end of the day though it was great. Slightly odd she didn’t do solo pics of Jeff or I but given that neither of us photographed that well that day, it’s just as well. I thought it was a tremendous value for the money, went quickly and all things considered (having had MANY a painful photo session trying to wrangle 6 or more people) I thought it exceeded my wildest expectations and would do it again in a heartbeat if I could con people into it. We deliberately did it without Sandie and Paul and I'm glad.

Photos finally printed, we were off.

But where to?

The long road home