Ever, Ever After: The TR Formerly Known as Wishing You Were Here- May 2011

[amazingact21]

Glad to see you made it to Pop (and that the boys didn't make it too difficult for you).
Hopefully once Carter sees all the excitement that's at Disney he'll have an easier time coping with Jeremy being gone. Maybe???
Can't wait to read more!

 

[Queenofallthings]

You made it I got a little tear in my eye when Carter kept asking for his daddy...that must have been tough on you! Can't wait to hear all about the next phase of your adventure

 

[Mrs. Gumdrop]

Arriving at Pop safe and sound? Let the vacation really begin!

 

[PirateKate]

You made it! Yay!

I love the pic of Carter in the car with his foot up by the window!

I can't wait to hear how you handled the boys by yourself! You are a brave woman!

I was so happy when we pulled into the parking lot at Pop.

Thanks! I thought he looked cute like that.

The boys were pretty good for me.

Woo Hoo! Y'all made it to the resort!

I know how hard it can be when they're asking for their Daddy. Every single weekday morning when Reid wakes up, the first thing he asks is "Where'd Daddy go?" And it's always the same conversation: that he went to work, then he wants to know why, then I tell him it's so we can have money for the essentials: food, shelter, clothing & Disney trips. And yes, I really do include Disney in there!

Can't wait to hear how you did on your own with the boys!

It was really good to have the drive over with!

Carter asks about Jeremy most mornings, too. I think he sort of expects most days, now that Jeremy won't be there when he wakes up. It's cute how happy he is on the weekends, though, when Jeremy comes to get him in the morning. I do agree that Disney is an important part of why we need money.

YAY! You made it to Pop! And to Disney, for that matter. I remember the days when Max would fall asleep in the car, regardless of the time of the day. I miss that. Can't wait to hear what you're going to do next.

I think Carter is getting nearly too big to fall asleep in the car, too. I don't really mind that. I'd rather have them too old to sleep in the car than falling asleep at an inconvenient time, as Landon tends to do.

You are very brave to go to Disney all by yourself with your two boys.
Poor Carter, children are very sensative and maybe he felt that you were sad after leaving Jeremy, and that made him sad too besides of seeing Daddy stay behind.

I think your kids are the most photogenic kids I have seen in TR's. They are always smiling.'
The picture of Carter with his foot out of the window is really cool

I don't know if it was that brave or not, but I never turn down a trip to Disney. I think it's quite possible that Carter was picking up on my mood and feeling worse because of it. Poor Carter. At least it was just temporary. I'm sure he would have been much more upset if it hadn't been just a few days.

Thank you! They seem photogenic to me, but I'm sure I wouldn't know if they weren't. They're generally pretty happy little guys. I liked that picture of Carter, too.

you made it. I'm sure it was hard leaving Jeremy behind, but I have a feeling you guys did great on your own.

It was good to finally be there. I think leaving Jeremy was the hardest part. Definitely the hardest part for Carter. But once the drive was over, it got easier.

 

[PirateKate]

Yay for making it to Orlando! I'm sorry you got stuck in some traffic, but at least it wasn't too bad.

I'm sorry that you and Carter (and I'm sure Landon too!) were sad about leaving Jeremy, but I'm also sure that you guys had a wonderful adventure alone. Time apart only makes the reunions sweeter.

I'm dying to see how that new stroller worked out, looking forward to the next update!

Oh and I started my new TR, if you'd like to catch up on the adventures of Everett

I'm sure traffic would have been much worse if we had gone through at 5 instead of 4. As it was, it was only a little delay.

I'm not sure if Landon was that sad about leaving Jeremy. If Carter were an animal, he'd be a little puppy, happy and dancing around whenever he's with his people. And Landon would be a cat, fond of his people, but playing it very cool when he sees us.

The new stroller ended up getting some use pretty soon.

Thanks for letting me know you've started your TR. I'll be over there to see how it went with Everett. I hope he slept better for you this time.

How sweet.. All the "Daddy" questions broke my heart. Poor little guy.. You won't be without him for long though. Does he travel for work often?

I'm with everyone else that mentioned it. That pic with Carter's little foot in the window is super cute!

Glad you made it to Pop without any major issues.. Not glad that I have Wiggles' songs stuck in my head now though!

It was really sad listening to Carter ask about his Daddy over and over. Jeremy doesn't travel too often so that's good for us, but then it also means that when he does travel, it's all the more disrupting for all of us.

Thanks! He seemed to be comfortable riding with his feet up this trip.

Great update!!! I feel for you leaving Jeremy behind. I'd be feeling the same way! All the uncertainties and hard work (by yourself!). I can't wait to hear how your first day went!

I think the uncertainties were the worst part about it all. If I had known exactly how everything was going to go, I probably wouldn't have been as nervous, but I guess that would take all the fun out of it.

I can imagine thats tough to explain to the boys when Jeremy had to leave for work...but hopefully you guys were able to have some fun waiting for him to join you!

I think the concept of work is a tricky one for a toddler, especially when Carter knew that Jeremy's work was usually in our town. If we had to be on our own for a few days, Disney World's the best place for it.

Thank goodness for an exit with a gas station...and an open one at that.

And thank goodness for Hampton Inns!! Always a safe hotel. We went to see my in-laws a couple years ago...DH told me to pick a hotel in the city where they live (Red Bluff, CA, relatively small). I was running out of options...seedy motels. When I decided to do a site by site hotel search (search and see which of the major chains had a hotel with-in driving distance of Red Bluff). I lucked out...and found a Hampton Inn about 5 minutes from his mom's house. We LOVED it.

And for having to leave Jeremy. I hate our harsh winters here...when we get lots of snow and DH ends up staying at a hotel by work so he can get to work easier the following day. My bed is always lonely.

Yay for getting to Pop!!

I was so glad to see that exit did have a gas station open! Running out of gas would have been an ominous beginning.

It's interesting that no one has anything bad to say about Hampton's. I don't know if they all are that nice, but I sure liked the one we found in GA. Sometimes I think it would be interesting if hotels came with ratings like movies do. Quality Inn on exit 87- rated R. Hampton Inn's everywhere- rated G.

I hate snowy winters anyway, but they would be so much worse if heavy snow meant Jeremy would stay at a hotel instead of at home. That would be really bad. At least Jeremy only has these trips come up a couple times a year so far.

Glad to see you made it to Pop (and that the boys didn't make it too difficult for you).
Hopefully once Carter sees all the excitement that's at Disney he'll have an easier time coping with Jeremy being gone. Maybe???
Can't wait to read more!

I was really glad we made it to Pop without anything too bad happening. I thought that that drive had the greatest potential for misery, so I was glad when it was over.

I was sure hoping that Carter would get over the trauma of leaving Jeremy in Jacksonville once we got to Disney and started having fun.

You made it I got a little tear in my eye when Carter kept asking for his daddy...that must have been tough on you! Can't wait to hear all about the next phase of your adventure

It was tough to hear Carter keep asking about his daddy. I was sad anyway, so it was hard to keep explaining it over and over while sounding perfectly okay with it. At least the worst part of the trip was behind us.

Arriving at Pop safe and sound? Let the vacation really begin!

I was so happy to have made it to Pop with no major events. Finally time to have some Disney fun.

 

[PirateKate]

After pausing to appreciate our arrival at Pop Century, I began to take stock of the situation and see what I would be up against to get us checked in.

Carter seemed ready to get out of the car. I wasn't worried about him.

Landon, on the other hand, seemed very content in the car still.

I wished there was some way I could check in without having to wake up Landon and get him out of the car. If only Jeremy were there.

Well, there was no way around it. I got out of the car and got our new double stroller out of the trunk.

I loaded Carter first, so Landon could sleep as long as possible. Carter was pleased got get out of the car.

And then it was Landon's turn. I lifted him out as gently as possible, in case there was the slightest chance that he would stay asleep while I transferred him to the stroller.

No luck. He woke up and wanted to snuggle. I gave him a hug before sticking him in the stroller.

Landon protested and said it was very unfair, but he still ended up riding in the stroller.

We all went inside the lobby to check in. I had done Online Check In, so the check in process was quick and easy. I had requested a ground floor room, any decade. We got a ground floor room in the fifties, which suited me fine.

Just a few minutes later, I had the unfortunate job of reloading the boys back into the car. Landon commented again on how unfair it was, but his objections were overruled.

It was then that it hit me. During the check in process nothing had been mentioned about luggage assistance. Hmmm.

Well, I could try pulling the car up in front of the lobby and see if there was anyone out there to help me. Or I could go it alone.

We only had two suitcases. How bad could it be?

I circled the fifties parking lot a couple times to make sure I had the closest parking spot possible.

All right. I could do this. First of all, I got the double stroller out. Good first step. I got Landon out next and put him in the stroller.

He said his life had never been fair since the day he was born. I let the comment slide for now, since I had to get all our stuff to the room.

I piled the second stroller seat high with Landon's bedding and toys. I put Carter's pirate pillows underneath in the storage compartment. I hung the snack bag and the diaper bag and my Dooney and Burke from the stroller hooks.

Good progress. Next, I got out the two suitcases and considered how best to transport them. They did roll, but I would only have one hand free.

I took a stroller connector and attached the two suitcases together. There. That would work.

I got Carter out of the car and put on his backpack, the end of which I looped over the stroller hooks. All right!

Pushing the stroller with one hand and rolling the linked suitcases behind me, I walked with Carter all the way to our room.

It was a bit of a walk, although we did take the most direct route possible. I wouldn't say that it was easy to haul all the stuff in one trip, but it was manageable.

At last, we reached our destination. Good old room 3133.

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Yikes, that sounds like quite the task, good for you managing all that in one go!

 

[amandaw]

Whew! I'm tired just from reading about hauling all the luggage along with the 2 little ones. Sounds like you figured out a great way to get it done in one trip! It's amazing the things we learn to do once we become a mom.

 

[leshunlenese]

boy! im sure that took some work but glad you made it. i can only imagine since i only have one!

 

[Nermel9]

Yay you made it to Pop! LOL, I can hardly manage my suitcases with no kids, I don't know how you did it with 2 little ones!

 

[emma212010]

Phew! You made it!! Very good job managing all your luggage

 

[amazingact21]

Oh my goodness! I am very impressed with your unpacking skills!!!
I am in awe that you were able to get all your luggage AND two children into your room in one trip.
You put me and my DF to shame. Here we are two grown adults, (one in the military) and it takes us at least 2 trips to haul everything inside.
Kudos to you!

 

[kaileighbug]

Great job only having to make one trip. That is the way I think as well. You get creative

 

[Lifelong_Dreamer]

Doing a little trip report pimping. I just started my new report and thought I would let you know.

Feeling Hot Hot Hot! The Rain Curse is Broken! Two Weeks of Fun in the Sun!

 

[CandleontheWater]

Good to see that the city mini can also double as a luggage cart! That was some super awesome organizing that you were able to get everything into the room in one trip. I'm impressed!

Sorry Landon wasn't thrilled with being moved around. I've just recently been able to transfer Everett from the car to the stroller or house without him waking up. I really wish it would have happened earlier, because it makes life much easier!

 

[Thadine]

Wowza, you must have been quite a sight
But I am impressed that you did it all by yourself!!!

 

[KatMark]

Gosh....I'd need a nap after getting both the boys out of the car to check in and then back in the car and then back out of the car with the luggage, etc. But glad to see you managed it all!

 

[TeresaG]

Finally caught up.

I would have had second thoughts if I were dropping off my DH too. I imagine it was the hardest goodbye-for-3-days ever.

I'm glad you were able to manage getting everything to your room. It's never easy with 2 kids plus anything else when you only have two hands.

 

[MiaBella05]

joining in

 

[afwdwfan]

That's sad, yet sweet, that Carter was so worried about his Daddy. I'm sure he'll have a great time and be happy to see him again on Saturday.

I'm glad you were able to get through the drive and check in relatively well. It looks like it was quite a feat to get the boys and luggage from the car into the room. The description of how everything was loaded and bound together is quite impressive. If only you had another hand to take a picture of you and the boys crossing the parking lot. I'm sure it was quite a sight!