EARLY CHECK IN: December 15th, 2007 - Seven night Western - 12/15/07

[feinfam]

I feel like we are the ugly step children as we are down on deck 2 and the rest of you are up several decks.

Family dynamics are so much fun, especially in large one (DH is one of 10 kids).

Patty, I'm grateful you're on Deck 2 - if I come to visit you in my round-trip daily ship excursion, I can justify dessert with breakfast, too. Just come up and visit us, and you can work toward your calorie expenditure, too.

Did anyone get upgraded? Or is the ship full?

Wow - 10 kids. And the mom still wants everyone to come home for the holidays? It's remarkable that she has enough room for all children + spouses + their children, and enough room in her oven for all the fixin's. I think if I were her I'd be wanting a vacation by now, and letting my kids cook for me.

For the first time EVER, my DH and DD agreed to travel over Thanksgiving. We're going to San Diego. Thanksgiving Day, I'm surprising them with a dolphin interaction at Sea World. DD was torn between Dolphin Discovery and Paradise Beach in Cozumel, and finally decided upon Paradise Beach - so this will be nice for everyone to do it together.

I'm cooking Thanksgiving dinner for my Mom, DH and DD tonight so we can still have turkey leftovers and some fun family dynamics. Stuffing and pie are in the oven now - mmmmm....

 

[feinfam]

Shaun & I are going down to his parents Wednesday Night until Thursday Night for Thanksgiving. I'm in charge of the Turkey. That 18 lb monster is currently defrosting in my fridge since yesterday and it still feels like an ice block. Hopefully it will get better soon.

I'm also making some dessert, just haven't figured it out yet what I'm making.

Shaun's parents must love you already to put you in charge of the focal point of the meal for a major holiday! I loved being engaged...

I hope you aren't too busy studying for your finals - it must be a thrilling and exhausting time right for you right now. Hang in there!

 

[yearbook50]

Shaun's parents must love you already to put you in charge of the focal point of the meal for a major holiday! I loved being engaged...

I hope you aren't too busy studying for your finals - it must be a thrilling and exhausting time right for you right now. Hang in there!

They do love me. I think it has more to do with the fact that I spent too much in groceries and got a free one. (Spend $500 in a 5 week period, get a free turkey through these points things) His mom is also doing my wedding dress alterations for free! Which is good after the drama I had after my bridal shop closed it doors and canceled my order 3.5 months before the wedding. I get to go to court on Tuesday and file a small claims since they are now refusing to give me back my deposit since I didn't go to their friends shop (it was an hour out of the way!)

I'm working hard. No finals...just my senior project. We are doing with all the hands on work now so its all analysis & writing. Hence, I'm on the Dis every hour or so to take a break from all that thinking.

I got a call on Friday that said "we are waiting for the final ok from the hiring managers but so and so's group is very interested in you" so it looks like I have a job as a manufacturing engineer in a rotation program. I'll let you guys know when I do officially.

 

[kcwildcat]

Well...I certainly wouldn't want you to feel that way because of which deck you're on...but if the chief's keeping scoring against the colts then that's a different story

Go Colts!!

You don't have to worry about the Chiefs - Congrats to the Colts

 

[Queen2]

My Son & DH used to be Die heart dolphin fans to this season. Me I'm routing on them to go all the way perfect score 0 -16. they'll go down in histroy again

Was supposed to go on a hayride tonight, it was cancelled do to light rain. Yesterday it was nice & the tempertures were great.

I'm on deck 6 also. It will be easy to make the rounds

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=9523192343
check out this link it is to funny

 

[kcwildcat]

Patty, I'm grateful you're on Deck 2 - if I come to visit you in my round-trip daily ship excursion, I can justify dessert with breakfast, too. Just come up and visit us, and you can work toward your calorie expenditure, too.

Did anyone get upgraded? Or is the ship full?

Wow - 10 kids. And the mom still wants everyone to come home for the holidays? It's remarkable that she has enough room for all children + spouses + their children, and enough room in her oven for all the fixin's. I think if I were her I'd be wanting a vacation by now, and letting my kids cook for me.
...

I guess I'll work my way up for breakfast for that dessert and then work my way back down at night to work off all the rest of the food I ate during the day.

Yeah.. 10 kids, 8 DIL's (yes 8 boys), 22 grandchildren (11 girls and 11 boys) 1 granddaughter-in-law and one significat other. From what I heard, it sounds like everyone is going to be home for Christmas - maybe a major snow storm will hit Kansas City and we will be stuck in Orlando for Christmas- we can only hope.

It's not all that bad, I get along great with two of my sil's, they're twins, one's been married to #2 for 25 years and the other married #3 about 3 years ago. #7's wife is a b***h and their two girls are following in her footsteps. They are mean to Laura and some of the other cousins and Laura hates going up there because the "mean" girls are always there.

Next year our 10th aniversay falls on Thanksgiving, so I'm pushing for an aniversary trip out of here.

 

[cristit14]

Whew, Patty those family dynamics confused me.
We are going to my parent's house this year THey live up in Loveland which is a little over an hour away. My brother and his family will be flying in that day too. I haven't seen my brother since he got back from Afghanistan. I am really looking forward to it. At some point next weekend he and his family will come down and spend a night or two with us. We have to have margarita pictionary night. It is tradition. We would do it at my folks house on T-day, but DH has to work on Friday and someone has to drive home.

 

[cristit14]

They do love me. I think it has more to do with the fact that I spent too much in groceries and got a free one. (Spend $500 in a 5 week period, get a free turkey through these points things) His mom is also doing my wedding dress alterations for free! Which is good after the drama I had after my bridal shop closed it doors and canceled my order 3.5 months before the wedding. I get to go to court on Tuesday and file a small claims since they are now refusing to give me back my deposit since I didn't go to their friends shop (it was an hour out of the way!)

I'm working hard. No finals...just my senior project. We are doing with all the hands on work now so its all analysis & writing. Hence, I'm on the Dis every hour or so to take a break from all that thinking.

I got a call on Friday that said "we are waiting for the final ok from the hiring managers but so and so's group is very interested in you" so it looks like I have a job as a manufacturing engineer in a rotation program. I'll let you guys know when I do officially.

Wow, Melissa, did you have to go pick out a new dress? What a pain! Good luck with the job!

 

[yearbook50]

Wow, Melissa, did you have to go pick out a new dress? What a pain! Good luck with the job!

Actually, my mother called Alfred Angelo and they got me my dress at whole sale price as they were able to locate the one they were about to send Chrisanne's Bridal before they canceled it. I'm so happy they were able to come through because otherwise, I would have had to find a new dress off the rack.

The whole ordeal was overly stressful though, something no bride so have to worry about that soon to her wedding.

 

[cristit14]

That's good, Melissa. It is great that your future MIL can do the alterations for you.

 

[Pinkprincessmom]

Hi everyone. What a busy board today. David is working (from home thankfully) so I thought I'd check in.

I need to get my wisdom teeth pulled before the cruise, so I'm hoping that I will lose a few pounds during recovery. This will allow me to eat more on the cruise. Of course, I'll probably be doing a lot of walking with John in the stroller. He doesn't like to be still.

Rachel, John, and I are going to my parents' home tomorrow. David will join us Wednesday. Rachel is actually out of school the whole week of Thanksgiving. This is the first year. Not much happened on Monday and Tuesday the last 2 years, so I guess they decided to give them the whole week. I told David that next year we can take a Thanksgiving cruise. My parents won't like that though. They like for all of us to be together on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

David's mom is making pirate costumes for us. She finished one male pirate shirt. I think it looks great. A friend was over for lunch today and asked why we were dressing as pirates. David said, "Because Susan is making us." I think it will be fun. Rachel is very excited about it.

Good luck with the job Melissa. Is it one you wanted?

I won't be around much last week. My parents have a much slower internet connection.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

 

[feinfam]

I need to get my wisdom teeth pulled before the cruise, so I'm hoping that I will lose a few pounds during recovery. This will allow me to eat more on the cruise.

...

A friend was over for lunch today and asked why we were dressing as pirates. David said, "Because Susan is making us."

One of my favorite lines in "The Devil Wears Prada" is, "I'm just one stomach flu away from my goal weight." Maybe we should just bring stretchy pants instead of resorting to extreme measures?

My DH was having the same thoughts until I bought him a pirate hat complete with braided Johnny Depp hair - he tried it on, looked in the mirror, and all of a sudden, instead of "Oh, c'mon, you want me to do what?" he started saying, "Well, maaaaaybe this could be fun." Whatever works...

 

[dutch_girl_scout]

You guys were a chatty bunch this weekend. I haven't even been on the computer. Saturday we had the swim meet in the morning, Saturday afternoon I tie-dyed Mickey shirts for us to wear to MVMCP. Yesterday Andy took a 4 hour nap and I was able to get all the goody bags done. I don't know what we're going to do about pirate costumes. I think I'll at least make the vests for the guys, DD and I will probably just buy something.

I told David that next year we can take a Thanksgiving cruise. My parents won't like that though. They like for all of us to be together on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The T-day cruise next year is a DOUBLE DIP to Castaway Cay!!!! We would love to sail with you again! My mother is not happy that we'll be missing Thanksgiving, I told her "we'll be here for Christmas" it didn't help much.

We are going to my parents (all the way across town) for Thanksgiving. My sister, BIL, and kids won't be there, oh darn. We have a rule about visting DH's mom, if any of his sibilings, or any of her husband's kids are going to be there we don't go. It's just easier that way. Sad but true.

Patty--At first we were worried about getting back to Iowa in case it snowed while we were gone. Now we're wishing for a HUGE snowstorm to hit the midwest while we're in Florida so that we don't have to go anywhere for Christmas.

Kathryn--I like your excercise plan. I'm for anything that means more Palo souflee!

Melissa--I'm not going to see you on People's Court or Judge Judy am I? I can't beleive they won't give back your deposit. A deposit holds their services not some other shop that you didn't pick. I'm glad you were able to hunt your dress down, and it sounded easier than finding a wii.

Hiding presents in the closets, that brings back a lot of memories, I was sneaker and a peeker. I don't trust my children that much. The gifts usually stay at our shop or out in the shop here, where they dare not go.

Well I should probably stop chatting and read a few trip reports and the main forum before Andy gets up. He has his 1 year check up today. Hope everyone has a great day.

 

[dutch_girl_scout]

I try not to post twice in a row but we were on page 2.

Andy got four shots today so he is super crabby. He is up to 23 lbs. Susan, I can't remember how big John was last time, but I bet he's probably passed Andy up. Andy has grown 2 inches since his 9 month check though.

Here is a pic of the goody bags I made. They are the size of a sheet of felt (it's hard to tell in the picture). Should I put names on them? If so DIS names, or real names, just first or just last?

 

[yearbook50]

Good luck with the job Melissa. Is it one you wanted?

It is. It was my first choice. I'm still waiting on the details though.

Melissa--I'm not going to see you on People's Court or Judge Judy am I? I can't beleive they won't give back your deposit. A deposit holds their services not some other shop that you didn't pick. I'm glad you were able to hunt your dress down, and it sounded easier than finding a wii.

Hiding presents in the closets, that brings back a lot of memories, I was sneaker and a peeker. I don't trust my children that much. The gifts usually stay at our shop or out in the shop here, where they dare not go.

You may see me on People's Court if I don't get my money back... I put a complaint into the BBB but I doubt that will do anything. I can also dispute the charge on my Credit Card, I'm just waiting on my dispute form. I'm also filing a small claims against her. I will not let her keep my money but she was so rude that I'm making sure I can get it from all angles.

Glad to see I'm not the only peeker here.

4 Shots is a lot! Hope Andy gets better soon..

Have a great Thanksgiving everyone. I"m heading to Carver on Wednesday. At least the turkey is starting to get soft in places.

 

[cristit14]

Those are cute, Stacie! Thanks for doing them!!! I think if you want to do names, I would vote for screen names.

I hope Andy feels better!

 

[feinfam]

Stacie, the goodie bags look great! They're better than stockings because you can use them all year.

I was actually out hunting for stuff for the goodie bags today. How does it work? Do you just drop off your stuff whenever? Does one family drop off their goodies per day? Is it one goodie per person or per family, or does it depend on what it is? So many questions AND LESS THAN ONE MONTH to get the answers (hooray!).

I'm going to clean out my closet by moving my summer stuff straight into the suitcase. I think this should be an annual tradition.

 

[Pinkprincessmom]

I love the goodie bags. They are so very cute. Thank you for doing them. I cannot decide about the names. I'm still trying to decide if I want our names on the magnets I'm eventually going to make.

At John's 6 month appt. his growth had slowed down some. He goes Dec. 3 for his 9 month appt. I'm nervous about vaccines. I don't want any side effects to interfere with the cruise.

I'm getting my wisdom teeth pulled next Wednesday. I'm very nervous. I've never been under general anesthesia before. Plus, I don't do so well with pain.

Kathryn ~ I was going to ask the same question about when to fill the bags. Stacie did say earlier that it is one bag per family.

I'm going to try to check in once per day on my parents' slow computer.

 

[Pinkprincessmom]

Sorry for posting again. I thought of a couple of things I wanted to ask.

Melissa ~ about the bridal shop, does your community have a TV station that looks into things like that. We have something called "Trouble Shooter" where if people have complaints like yours that aren't quickly resolved, they contact the local news station and they have someone look into it for them. Usually it works out in favor of the person complaining. It is crazy that they closed and will not give you your deposit. They certainly cannot tell you where to shop.

Cristi ~ I'm asking you b/c I think I've read somewhere that you've gotten a birthday cake before. MIL has a b-day on the cruise. Do we request the cake or do they automatically bring it? Do you know if there are any diabetic options.

Stacie ~ what kind of toys are you taking for Andy? I'm wondering how I'm going to keep John entertained. His favorite thing is crawling around and being very active.

I think that's all for now. Thanks everyone.

 

[Queen2]

Stacie I just love the goodie bags, very cute idea. I'll go with the flow on the names.

Thank-you for taking time to make them. did you get a final count who is in?