Flowers, Segways & DIS Meets, Oh My! - Updated 10/26, Final Thoughts-FINALLY!

[praisehisname]

Michelle, I'm so sorry about your aunt. I'm glad you were able to see her, and have her recognize you, though. I hope you'll be able to let go of the feelings of guilt; you have to put your immediate family first and that is what you're doing. Your family will understand that. My MIL died 34 days after being diagnosed; she had 5 different types of cancer. So I can relate to the sudden-ness and not feeling prepared to let go.

 

[kschafer]

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[Disneygrl36]

Michelle. I'm so sorry for your loss. I think it's great that you got to see her before she passed away. Don't beat yourself up about the funeral.

 

[Spartangirl]

Sending thoughts and prayers your way, Michelle...

 

[JenAusty]

Sending prayers your way...

I'm surprised that your mom like that ride. I dislike it very much! I don't like the take off, so I couldn't enjoy the rest. I'm just not a crazy coaster rider anymore. I like everest but it always gives me a headache! I'm glad she made it through and enjoyed it somewhat!

I guess they are getting down to business with army men guarding the ride! hehe

 

[brookelizabeth]

Oh...such sad news...I'm so sorry you are going through this...it is always hard, but made even harder when it's sudden. I am glad to hear that you were able to see her, and share at least a moment with her. She probably would have encouraged you to go and take care of your family, that doesn't make it any easier to not be there, but hopefully at least gives a bit of peace.

I'll be thinking and praying for you today!

 

[MeMom]

I have spent very little time on the boards this past week, with birthday parties, Trent home, and school starting. I am sorry I missed your news. Know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Losing anyone you love is hard and emotionally draining under any circumstance. I pray for comfort, strength, and closeness for your family. Even if it is not physical closeness due to circumstances, you can still draw together emotionally. I am truly sorry for your loss and your sadness.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Yes, but the good news is that I get to do Big Thunder Mountain! MaryAZ's girls love that ride, and we are spending time with them at EMH's on the Sunday night we are there.

That sounds like a great plan, Mary's girls are adorable!

Michelle, I am so sorry to hear about your aunt. I'm sending you a big and your aunt is in my thoughts and prayers. I know you feel bad not being there, but you saw her and she recognized you and that is something to keep in your heart along with all of the special memories.

Thanks Kathy

Hi Katie! I just thought I would respond to your question real quick before responding to Michelle's update (Michelle, I apologize in advance!)

No apologies necessary, that's why we are here - to share information!

Great update from Hollywood Studios! I really liked the Great Movie Ride and One Man's Dream...it was my first time at both attractions!!!

We got a very interesting, upbeat CM on the Great Movie Ride. He was really funny & definitely seemed into his job! I still didn't have a chance to ride TSM. We didn't even bother because of all of the crowds. I was pleasantly surprised to hear your story about how you didn't have to wait & were able to ride AND get Fast Passes...gives me some hope for next trip!

We didn't go to Animation Studios on our trip because it looked like it was closed. I didn't see anyone going in or out of any of the doors. I think our son was too young to sit there anyway, so maybe thats another thing on our list for next trip.

I'm so sorry to hear about your aunt. I will keep you & your family in my thoughts & prayers.

The GMR and OMD are must do's for me everytime! They are great too, because they don't attract a huge number of people, great places to go to get away from the crowds a bit.

Your DS probably wouldn't want to sit through the whole drawing class, but there are other things to do in the Animation Building that he probably would enjoy - check it out next time

Michelle, I'm so sorry about your aunt. I'm glad you were able to see her, and have her recognize you, though. I hope you'll be able to let go of the feelings of guilt; you have to put your immediate family first and that is what you're doing. Your family will understand that. My MIL died 34 days after being diagnosed; she had 5 different types of cancer. So I can relate to the sudden-ness and not feeling prepared to let go.

Thanks Denise, yesterday was tough, knowing that the funeral was going on and I wasn't there, I just tried to keep my day busy so that I didn't think about it.

I'm sorry about your MIL, death is awful in it's own right, but for it to be so unexpected and sudden makes it that much harder.

​

Thanks Katie

I thought about you a couple of times as we were driving through your lovely state - which was loaded with orange construction cones.......

 

[SoonerGirl]

Michelle. I'm so sorry for your loss. I think it's great that you got to see her before she passed away. Don't beat yourself up about the funeral.

Thanks Melanie. I am so glad that I was able to see her before she passed away, that truly is more important than being at the funeral.

Sending thoughts and prayers your way, Michelle...

Thanks Lynne

Sending prayers your way...

I'm surprised that your mom like that ride. I dislike it very much! I don't like the take off, so I couldn't enjoy the rest. I'm just not a crazy coaster rider anymore. I like everest but it always gives me a headache! I'm glad she made it through and enjoyed it somewhat!

I guess they are getting down to business with army men guarding the ride! hehe

Oh my gosh, you don't like RnRC?! I was so scared to try it the first time, but once I did I loved it! I'm not a big coaster person, but I enjoy all the Disney ones.

I thought it was pretty funny that they had the green army men out doing crowd control around TSMM - kind of like calling in the National Guard or something

Oh...such sad news...I'm so sorry you are going through this...it is always hard, but made even harder when it's sudden. I am glad to hear that you were able to see her, and share at least a moment with her. She probably would have encouraged you to go and take care of your family, that doesn't make it any easier to not be there, but hopefully at least gives a bit of peace.

I'll be thinking and praying for you today!

Thanks Brook, my aunt was definitely one to put family first so I think she would understand. I hope and pray that she knew I was there those last couple of days.

I have spent very little time on the boards this past week, with birthday parties, Trent home, and school starting. I am sorry I missed your news. Know that you are all in my thoughts and prayers. Losing anyone you love is hard and emotionally draining under any circumstance. I pray for comfort, strength, and closeness for your family. Even if it is not physical closeness due to circumstances, you can still draw together emotionally. I am truly sorry for your loss and your sadness.

Thanks MeMom, your words really mean alot

 

[SoonerGirl]

Before I get started on the update I just have to say that it is insanely quiet in my house this morning - I can hear crickets chirping it's so quiet, that can only mean one thing - no children! Yes, today my kiddos went back to school.

Justin's first day of high school, he humored me with a couple pictures

And Jared's first day of 4th grade, he got a little more into the posing

**********************************

And now, on with the show...........

We left off with Mom and I trying to decide what we wanted to eat for lunch. Normally I book a lunch ADR at Sci-Fi for my family, but we planned on eating at Starring Rolls this trip, so I didn't make that traditional ADR. When lunchtime rolled around however, and it was another sweltering day, sitting outside for our meal just did not sound appealing. I was totally kicking myself for not making an ADR just in case, but in any event, we were hungry and in need of air conditioning. We found ourselves at the ABC Commissary. I guess I didn't take pictures of our food, but it was just burgers and fries, they were ok, typical CS burger. We did both get chocolate mousse for dessert and it was actually quite tasty. As we finished up our meal we checked out the times guide and realized that we could just make the next showing of the Indiana Jones Stunt Show, so that's where we went. A few pictures from the show

After that we took a stroll through the Streets of America, it was empty back here, almost felt like we had the park to ourselves!

It was very tempting to run through this water - it was so hot!

We found the Singing in the Rain umbrella - a first for me!

Love the attention to detail - look how the laundry actually has clothes hanging up behind the building!

Continued in the next post

 

[SoonerGirl]

Continued from the previous page


Next on the list was the Beauty and the Beast stage show. I love this show, it's so colorful and fun. We did have a guy sitting a row behind us that was kind of gross though, he took his shoes off and proceeded to stretch out his sweaty socked feet onto the bench right next to Mom & I - ewwwww! Regardless, we enjoyed the show

We decided that we wanted to try our hand at drawing another character, so to the Animation Building we went.

A class had just started, and the line to meet Sorcerer Mickey was pretty short, I figured Mom couldn't come to WDW and not meet Mickey, so we waited our turn with all the kiddos. I have to admit, it felt a bit weird waiting to meet a character as two adults, people give you odd looks!

After our meet with the main mouse, we went back over to wait for the next drawing class.

This time we drew Stitch. Here is the animators version

Mine

and finally Mom's

We were going to try and catch Voyage of the Little Mermaid at this point, I haven't seen it since 2005, but the wait was something like 40 minutes and I didn't want hang out that long so we began to make our way out of the park.

I had to stop and say hey to Chelsea's main man Bo

And I took Mom's picture by this old truck

Then we headed out - bye Hollywood Studios, see ya next time!

 

[manntra]

Happy to have you back
Ellllwwwwww I am so grossed out about that guy at Beauty and the Beast!!
I think I would have had to say something. Or move. Or glare...with the angry eyes!!
Great Stitch drawings!!! He looks hard! I thought this might have been when I saw you there too but looks like you went more than once too!!

Tracy

 

[Cinderumbrella]

Thanks for the update!!! (And EEEEEEEEEEEIIIIIIIIIIIWWWW on the feet!! I probably turned around and given him a great big "Really??????" I am not the politest when I am hot )

And kind of OT, but DS has that same A&F T that Jared has! When did our little guys grow into little men??

 

[lovegrumpy]

Great update. I still have intell Sept 7th for my boys to head back to school. Only time it is quite is between 4-8 when ds#1 is at football practice. Thank goodness we leave tomorrow night for disney.

 

[Spartangirl]

Wow, Justin's already in high school!!! I bet your house felt empty with the boys back in school! I don't have to report back until the last week of August, but teacher inservices have already started.

LOVE your Beauty and the Beast pictures. That show NEVER grows old for me...it's my favorite! That is disgusting about the feet though...unbelievable!

Very cool that you made it back to the Animation Academy! Both of you did a great job on your drawings!

 

[klacey1]

Great update! Love BATB-- gets me emotional every time! Your pictures of the NY area are great, too. I always find that that's such a peaceful place and soak in what Disney does best-- the details!

 

[marsa1969]

I'm sorry about your Aunt.
I enjoyed your DHS update - sock guy was nasty!!!!!
My kidos started back to school today also. I got some good pictures of my daughter, but my son's high school doesn't start until 8:45. DH said we can get pictures of him tonight. I don't think he was thinking about he is in football for 3 hours a night after school. Won't make for a pretty picture.

 

[praisehisname]

Your boys look great for their first day of school!

Great update; I enjoyed your walk through the Streets of America. Yuck about stinky sock guy...

 

[MEK]

Great update! Your pictures are so nice and clear. I love the BATB ones. They are great! Your mom is just smiling as much as ever! You both did a great job with Stitch!!!!

I know what you mean about being too hot to eat outside. I always feel like that at HS. So I usually end up at the ABC commissary too!

Love the umbrella picture!

Your boys are so cute/handsome. I hope they had a great first day back!

 

[brookelizabeth]

The dude's feet at BATB...ick!! Despite the nastiness, you captured some great pictures of the show!!!! Nice job on the Stitch drawing too. I'm always so impressed at how well people do, I'm scared to try it and have the most hilarious picture ever.

Great pictures of the boys too! First day of high school, huh? Eeek!