Driving down to Mickey's for Christmas!

[Monknmom]

Okay I have to get to do some of the things on my list, but I wanted to jump on here really quick!

My sister has been calling me all weekend (started on Wednesday) and although I love her dearly (she's the only sister I talk to and have left) I get annoyed because she's the one with Lily and had Lily taken away- remember Lily is lost right now none of us know where she is and for me to find out I have to go there and fill out papers to find out! But anyway, this sister has been trying to call me because she found out that she might have cervical cancer! The doctors did some tests I guess and she's waiting to hear back from them so I just ask that you please keep her in your prayers! My great grandmother did die from this and so it is a pretty big deal for my family! If she has it the doctor said that they caught it in early stages and that means that she has a higher percentage of treatment acceptance! So I kinda hope that it is cervical cancer because she has a high cure/treatment rate she said and if it's not it could be something worse the doctor said! So just pray for her all around I guess! And thank you in advance! I know that this is going to sound very mean of me, but I am kinda glad because she's that ONE person that everyone has in the family and she was talking about more kids when she already lost 2 of hers- they are both lost to the family and no one knows where! So maybe this is a higher power telling her that she should not have taken having kids for granted I know I know that's mean, but there are so many others out there that want kids so badly and can't have them and then there are people that are having them and not treating them right and that breaks my heart for the kids! I feel bad for the kids more so than the parents that are losing them! Okay enough I am sounding mean- but I mean it in the best of intentions for her! My sister is school smart, but when it comes to anything else she's a little out of it! Anyway, thank you in advance to anyone that prays for her!

 

[annmarieda]

I will keep her in my prayers...

 

[Monknmom]

I will keep her in my prayers...

Thank you!

 

[Monknmom]

My little baby Damien is sick-- I think that he finally got what everyone else had a few weeks ago (including Zoe, Ann's daughter). He has a fever and he's throwing up so he's going to stay home with me all day!

I did get a lot of stuff done today though cleaning and planning and decorating wise! I am going to have dinner with K and then work on some of the other stuff that needs to be done! Maybe get the shirts done or finishing getting everything into the trip journal-- depending on how Damien feels tomorrow will depend on how much I get done tomorrow. I was supposed to go pick up everything from BJ's for the trip to eat, but that can wait so maybe I will finish getting all of the numbers together to give out for people! I am doing pretty good with my list and hope that you ladies are too!

 

[momabaarjo]

I am so sorry about your sister...she is in my thoughts and prayers. Sometimes God works in strange ways, maybe this was to bring her to her senses! I have often wondered how Lily was...I think it is crazy that family does not even know where she has been placed...does not seem right.

Sorry about your little guy sick, better now than in 11 days. I am hoping to get something in the mail real fast for him...I ended up with 2 and I am not sure how!

Get working on that list!

 

[Monknmom]

In the box Damien is going to get the night we leave (really to keep him busy while we finish what we have to do to leave) would this letter sounds corny going into the box? Is there anything that I should add or change? After I run to the post office for the bigger box in the morning I am going to put up a picture of the finished product! I still haven't finished my journal- I just have to glue/tape the pages in and print everything out still, but I can show it to you before I print it out! Tonight I kinda just sorted everything out and Damien woke up ALL BETTER I love that kid he's always cheery! He says "You shouldn't have called cub master Brian yet, because now I'm okay to march in the parade!" He thought that being sick and not going to boyscouts tomorrow meant that he couldn't march in the parade on Sunday! Okay anyway enough chitter chatter I have a list to get done Let me know what you think of below! I am printing it out with a Mickey balloon boarder and the gang on the bottom of the paper!




To our friend: Damien

We were so excited that you were coming that we just couldn't wait! I had Tinkerbell fly all of the way to the North Pole to see Santa Clause and ask him for your tickets to come see me and all of my friends a little early! Tell your mom and dad to pack up the car and leave when your dad returns from work!
But before your dad comes home please finish eating, take a shower and brush your teeth! Then go ahead and clean up your room- you wouldn't want to come home to that mess!
After brushing your teeth in the morning your going to have some more surprises waiting for you in your seat! Oh this is going to be fun! On your way here we are going to have a lot of presents for you to open and play with on your drive to Florida!
Oh boy, we just can't wait to see you! Have a safe trip and enjoy all of the stops on the way here!

Your Pal,
Mickey Mouse

 

[Monknmom]

I am so sorry about your sister...she is in my thoughts and prayers. Sometimes God works in strange ways, maybe this was to bring her to her senses! I have often wondered how Lily was...I think it is crazy that family does not even know where she has been placed...does not seem right.

Sorry about your little guy sick, better now than in 11 days. I am hoping to get something in the mail real fast for him...I ended up with 2 and I am not sure how!

Get working on that list!

Thank you Tammie! I wonder about Lily too and I just hope that it doesn't end up like my other niece that is now adopted by a new family!

Yeah I think that he has that bug that's going around! I just hope that if it goes through all of us it's over by next week!

I am working on and off the list! When Damien sleeps I do the list! I have a lot done- it's just putting it all together! You don't have to send him anything! Your a good friend by just listening and keeping my family in your thoughts and prayers!

 

[Monknmom]

I am and all at once! And today I was going to get a lot of the stuff together! I didn't get much done last night because Damien woke up and I had to clean up his sheets and take a shower myself! His butt is in school tomorrow though because this morning he woke up bright eyed and bushy tailed and asked "So what are we going to do today?" my answer "LAUNDRY!!!!"

 

[annmarieda]

I am so sorry that Damien got sick. I really hope that it doesn't linger one with all of you. Seems like that is what happens here. By the time a bug goes through everyone here... it is enough time for the first person (our resident plague monkey) to get a new one.

I love the letter. How fun!! I wish I could have been more creative when it came to revealing or even surprising the kids with this trip.

Oh well... maybe next time.

 

[Monknmom]

I am so sorry that Damien got sick. I really hope that it doesn't linger one with all of you. Seems like that is what happens here. By the time a bug goes through everyone here... it is enough time for the first person (our resident plague monkey) to get a new one.

I love the letter. How fun!! I wish I could have been more creative when it came to revealing or even surprising the kids with this trip.

Oh well... maybe next time.

It is fun doing the surprises for Damien, but sometimes I just want to tell him so that I can see his face now!

Thank you! Damien is doing a lot better, he's been running around all day (not getting sick again after this morning) and has held down food so he's going to school in the morning! Which means that I have some time to get some stuff done! Maybe before I get him off of the bus I will have everything pictured and posted!

 

[shocky5]

It is fun doing the surprises for Damien, but sometimes I just want to tell him so that I can see his face now!

Thank you! Damien is doing a lot better, he's been running around all day (not getting sick again after this morning) and has held down food so he's going to school in the morning! Which means that I have some time to get some stuff done! Maybe before I get him off of the bus I will have everything pictured and posted!

Glad Damien is feeling better and hope he did make it to school today! AND that you are getting all you need to get done, DONE!

AND WELCOME TO...

SINGLE DIGITS!!!

 

[Monknmom]

9 More Days to go

Last night I was up until the wee hours of the night (midnight- VERY uncommon for me because I'm an early bird at 5am)! BUT I did finish a lot of things and prepped other things so that tonight shouldn't take so long and go quickly- granted that no one tries to phone me again a million times KAUNG in the next room asking me to go into the kitchen (right off the living room where he was) and pour him another cup of coffee with a little less 1/2 and 1/2 this time because he likes it a little darker than that Yeah that's what my face looked like before I came into the living room to yell!

Anyway... happy thoughts and VERY proud of myself for today! Today I just have to run to the post office for a bigger box, photo and wrap some more stuff for the hotel room and print off letter to give the Monkey at certain points in our trip! OH and wrap our current Christmas gifts to family/friends and my little nieces and nephews on our way to and from Disney and I have to make up a grocery list for things to get for eating on the road! <any thoughts or suggestions? I was thinking the bowls and cutlery from our camping box and some cereal (we use milk from a carton sometimes so keeping that cold isn't a problem since it only has to be refrigerated after being open but we use the whole carton at once), some instant oatmeal (just add hot water and cinnamon type), but I meed help with lunches and for dinner we are eating out I have 1 place I want to try and 1 night we are staying with friends!

I am going to start with My journal because it's what I need to know everything and keep track of all my things- although I still haven't added the QS and SC locations and choices yet, so I have to do that... anything else I should put in?
The book- I like the cover so I am not going to decorate that!

This is the opening instead of blank pages

I have everything tabbed!

Then each tab has the stuff but for that park so I am going to show you only one "chapter"

Then the hours and itinerary will be on that blank page I just haven't printed it yet

Then the photopass map and locations- I don't have a map of the parks in here because I am going to be carrying that along in my hand!

The next page will be the list of QS and snack locations and choices-I didn't take a picture because I don't have that in yet!
Then Daily Favorites and highlights

I left 2 pages for journal and 2 pages for:

I also have a "chapter" for driving there and back and it includes directions, phone numbers of where we are staying, a place to write down where we stopped for gas and how much we spent (same thing for tolls and food), tidbits about the places that we are seeing, maps of that area are printed out to keep on hand! But I didn't take a picture of those.

Now for Damien's binder- I put the holes on the left hand side because he's left handed and in the car will have trouble writing on the right side with his left hand over the rings in the binder! So this is the cover

When he opens it this is what he will see! In the pouch he has a Phineas and Ferb pencil case with sharpened pencils, a hand pencil sharpener, erasers, a book light and a Pluto pen!

Just like me his binder has Chapters! This is one of 4 for the drive there and back

For each park day his binder looks like this:

On the ride home he is going to fill these journal pages (out of order on here, in order in the book- but it's packed and I can't remember the order now):

*More in the next post!

 

[Monknmom]

*Dis is telling me I went too picture happy I guess! Only 25/post! So here is the rest that I did last night!

These are the state gifts!

This is going to be in the Minnie bag for when he gets into Florida! It's some Cars 2 swim trunks, Perry sunglasses and flip flops and finding Nemo goggles!

These are all of the gifts wrapped! he is going to get to pick on of the bags each state on the way down (except Minnie is going to be put aside for last) and on the way home he will pick one of the wrapped gifts in each state!

The first morning that Damien comes back to his booster seat he is going to find this package waiting for him:

It has his binder, a marker roll up, a sticker book,

PLUS a crayon box that I decorated (*BY THE WAY, MOST THINGS CAME FROM DIS PEOPLE THAT I PRINTED OUT AND MADE*) and I didn't get a picture, but there is a back seat organizer too!

*Tonight I plan to get the reveal gift for him all packed up (if I get to the post office today) and the boxes I am going to slip on the bed before he comes into the room (the boxes will hold a sweatshirt and water bottle for each of us)!
I have to say I LOVE bath and body works products, but only get them when they are on sale (like SUPER good sales). This time on black Friday they had an okay sale going on that I participated in, THIS is what the candle is. I get that body wash all of the time so I lit the candle, put on some Christmas music and went to work last night and I have to say that it really helped to just do it! I am really going to do that again tonight! Tomorrow my day is looking a little full as is Friday and the whole weekend, but I am going to try it again Monday (can you believe that I will be leaving in 4 days as of Monday?!?! I can't)!!!! Maybe if anyone else wants to try that even with a different candle it might work

 

[Monknmom]

Glad Damien is feeling better and hope he did make it to school today! AND that you are getting all you need to get done, DONE!

AND WELCOME TO...

SINGLE DIGITS!!!

Thank you!!! We will be there soon!

 

[annmarieda]

I am in awe of your binders!!! Now I think I need to redo mine. No... mine will work... but wow!!! You did an excellent job!!!!
And the one for Damien is awesome!!!

again, I am very impressed!!!

AND

Happy single digits to you!!!

 

[momabaarjo]

I have to agree...now I am rethinking the kids books! I like yours because they are recording their thoughts and feelings! A great keepsake!

Where did you get the Disney Paper for your journal? I am so limited on my Disney scrapbook paper and I really have not had time to search it out on line!

The gifts look like so much fun for him...now how are you going to top this stuff at Christmas?

I do my best work in the middle of the night lately. Tonight...I am cleaning up the entertainment center and trying to do a fairly good clean of the living room while everyone is asleep...up will go the advent calendar countdown along with my nativity boxes out! I am so excited to start my reveal...wow, starting my reveal instead of imagining it in my head for the last 10 months! How cool is that.....

Single digit dance!!!!

 

[shocky5]

YOUR.STUFF.IS.AWESOME. Truly!

Now I'm wondering if I should have my kids do trip journals.... I love that idea and I think the boy's teachers would love them, too...

ALSO - the photopass special shots... did you find that on the photopass website???

 

[Monknmom]

I am in awe of your binders!!! Now I think I need to redo mine. No... mine will work... but wow!!! You did an excellent job!!!!
And the one for Damien is awesome!!!

again, I am very impressed!!!

AND

Happy single digits to you!!!

Thank you Ann!!! It was okay making it! A little hard, but it paid off! Mine looks big but it's only a 5x7 I think maybe 4x6? And I just printed and taped/glued like you said! You spent lots of time making it pretty and such!!! But thank you

I have to agree...now I am rethinking the kids books! I like yours because they are recording their thoughts and feelings! A great keepsake!

Where did you get the Disney Paper for your journal? I am so limited on my Disney scrapbook paper and I really have not had time to search it out on line!

The gifts look like so much fun for him...now how are you going to top this stuff at Christmas?

I do my best work in the middle of the night lately. Tonight...I am cleaning up the entertainment center and trying to do a fairly good clean of the living room while everyone is asleep...up will go the advent calendar countdown along with my nativity boxes out! I am so excited to start my reveal...wow, starting my reveal instead of imagining it in my head for the last 10 months! How cool is that.....

Single digit dance!!!!

Yes Damien is supposed to write a journal entry every night for homework and on the trip it's going to be hard to get him to do that so I just made it questions to him that all he has to do is answer!

I didn't use any scrapbook paper though- I printed everything and glued it! My book pages came from THIS website and Damien's pages came from a couple of them like THIS (which is a download and I just played with the pages to fit our trip and my son) and THIS one! I hope that's what you mean, if not let me know!

For Christmas all Damien wants it legos! So I am SO LUCKY!!! I bought 3-4 sets that I see him play games with on lego.com and then some puzzles and books for his stocking! Nothing too much because it is Santa that's giving us the tickets to begin with!

That is awesome! You should wake up before the kids and hide somewhere so you can take a picture of their faces for us!!! I want to see pictures! I am excited about your reveal!!! And the countdown calender! Whatever happened to your countdown by the way I know that you have been really busy though so I have forgiven you! Just kidding you don't have to take time for that just for me!!

 

[Monknmom]

YOUR.STUFF.IS.AWESOME. Truly!

Now I'm wondering if I should have my kids do trip journals.... I love that idea and I think the boy's teachers would love them, too...

ALSO - the photopass special shots... did you find that on the photopass website???

Thank you Amy! Yes I still have to get it OK'd by Damien's teacher, but I am sure he will be okay with it! Because I told her NO HOMEWORK! I understand that your teacher side is coming out and saying "Oh no she didn't" (I'm kidding), but he's SO hyper that I am going to have a hard time getting him to answer questions as it is! PLUS when he's tired he's even MORE hyper like he's trying to fight sleep! So I told her I will make sure that he keeps up with reading and writing and math (balancing his giftcards), but that's it!

Anyway, I have never been on the photopass website yet! I have to check that out! But HERE is where I got those photopass maps! I do recommend the journal though if you have time to get it together because it's their thoughts and pictures about the trip- not just a memory! And honestly I printed it off and punched some holes then into the binder it went!
But thank you! I did work hard and tonight I am getting off as soon as I'm done with emails to work yet again!

 

[momabaarjo]

Thank you Ann!!! It was okay making it! A little hard, but it paid off! Mine looks big but it's only a 5x7 I think maybe 4x6? And I just printed and taped/glued like you said! You spent lots of time making it pretty and such!!! But thank you



Yes Damien is supposed to write a journal entry every night for homework and on the trip it's going to be hard to get him to do that so I just made it questions to him that all he has to do is answer!

I didn't use any scrapbook paper though- I printed everything and glued it! My book pages came from THIS website and Damien's pages came from a couple of them like THIS (which is a download and I just played with the pages to fit our trip and my son) and THIS one! I hope that's what you mean, if not let me know!

For Christmas all Damien wants it legos! So I am SO LUCKY!!! I bought 3-4 sets that I see him play games with on lego.com and then some puzzles and books for his stocking! Nothing too much because it is Santa that's giving us the tickets to begin with!

That is awesome! You should wake up before the kids and hide somewhere so you can take a picture of their faces for us!!! I want to see pictures! I am excited about your reveal!!! And the countdown calender! Whatever happened to your countdown by the way I know that you have been really busy though so I have forgiven you! Just kidding you don't have to take time for that just for me!!

Thanks for the links! My computer has been hi-jacked by Ab...she is trying to finish up her science fair project! Then the boys have been playing on it...and I have been working on my PTR followers gifts...which I am happy to report are now all finished...tomorrow I have to get bubble wrap and boxes...then wait for the last part of the gift I ordered for the kids to arrive box them all up and ship them out. Do me a big favor...make sure that you take a good family picture in front of the castle at night or a good family picture in front of one of those many Christmas trees...trying to give you hints about what is coming in the mail soon!