Gas up the car & point it towards Florida! Road Trip, July 2012!...UPDATE 8/5/12

[bangzoom6877]

Today I went back to work. The students come in on Thursday. I'm ready for the new school year, but it was very hard leaving the boys this morning...especially when they hugged me and told me that they were gonna miss me!

Anyway, I got home on this VERY rainy day, and waiting for me in the mailbox was...our official confirmation from DVC for our reservation at BWV, July 23-August 2, 2012!!

So, now it feels even more official! My sister, my mom and I were starting to talk yesterday about the restaurants we're gonna go to when they come to join us at WDW! We're definitely returning to Chef Mickey's for dinner, Biergarten for dinner, and 1900 Park Fare for breakfast on the morning that we leave. My nieces want to go to CRT and Akershus again for the princesses, but we won't be joining them. I asked the boys if they would like to go to another princess meal and they said no. So, we'll go someplace else while they are at CRT (probably going to try California Grill!), and we're going to San Angel Inn for lunch while they go to Akershus for lunch. DH and I had also told my parents about 50s Prime Time a while ago, and my mom specified that she HAS to go there! They will be at WDW for 4 nights. So, we'll have a couple of more places to choose!

My sister also told me that they decided to go to Busch Gardens with us in Williamsburg, VA on the way back! So, even thought we won't be traveling with them on the way down to FL, we will be traveling together on the way back! We're gonna have a lot of fun!

 

[franandaj]

That's always so great when you get the confirmation in the mail! I opt for email now because I get quicker gratification.

Yay! The trip planning has really begun!

 

[bangzoom6877]

That's always so great when you get the confirmation in the mail! I opt for email now because I get quicker gratification.

Yay! The trip planning has really begun!

I know...it feels more "official" with every step!

I still like getting the letter in the mail...it feels nice to have that document, and the boys get excited when we get Disney mail!

I am so glad it's Friday...this week has been the adjustment period at work. Tuesday and Wednesday, it was a lot of meetings, tons of paper work, and a lot of new things our school is doing based on our reviews last year. Yesterday the students got their schedules, and then had grade meetings with the administration and guidance department. I also did a lot of paper work yesterday, but felt better about the school's new initiatives, because I was fully prepared at that point to implement anything new, and also realized that I had already been doing most of those things in my classes anyway, for years. We had all our classes today, and I got to present everything to my students. I did not get any negative reactions, even from students I have been teaching for a year or 2 already! I am teaching the 4th year Italian class, and it is my third year teaching those kids! I was thrilled to find out that I have them again...they are great kids. I am also teaching all 3 classes of 2nd year Italian, and I had about half of those kids last year in Level 1...it was really great to see them again. My 5th class is 1st year Spanish. I don't know any of them, but they seem like a very nice group of students. I think it's going to be a great year!

On top of the adjustment to everything at work, DS6 started 1st grade yesterday, and DS4 started Pre-Kindergarten!! They are both very happy with their teachers! This is a milestone for us, because both of our kids are now in public school!

So, needless to say, it was a very busy week around here! Just getting back into the daily routine, and some new things as well. But, now that it's been a few days, it feels like I never left...and I mean that in a good way!

 

[Leshaface]

Today I went back to work. The students come in on Thursday. I'm ready for the new school year, but it was very hard leaving the boys this morning...especially when they hugged me and told me that they were gonna miss me!

Anyway, I got home on this VERY rainy day, and waiting for me in the mailbox was...our official confirmation from DVC for our reservation at BWV, July 23-August 2, 2012!!

So, now it feels even more official! My sister, my mom and I were starting to talk yesterday about the restaurants we're gonna go to when they come to join us at WDW! We're definitely returning to Chef Mickey's for dinner, Biergarten for dinner, and 1900 Park Fare for breakfast on the morning that we leave. My nieces want to go to CRT and Akershus again for the princesses, but we won't be joining them. I asked the boys if they would like to go to another princess meal and they said no. So, we'll go someplace else while they are at CRT (probably going to try California Grill!), and we're going to San Angel Inn for lunch while they go to Akershus for lunch. DH and I had also told my parents about 50s Prime Time a while ago, and my mom specified that she HAS to go there! They will be at WDW for 4 nights. So, we'll have a couple of more places to choose!

My sister also told me that they decided to go to Busch Gardens with us in Williamsburg, VA on the way back! So, even thought we won't be traveling with them on the way down to FL, we will be traveling together on the way back! We're gonna have a lot of fun!

I'm not sure how I missed this post.

LOVE getting Disney Mail! Makes me happy and the day a little brighter!

UGH, some CG sushi sounds amazing right now.

I know...it feels more "official" with every step!

I still like getting the letter in the mail...it feels nice to have that document, and the boys get excited when we get Disney mail!

I am so glad it's Friday...this week has been the adjustment period at work. Tuesday and Wednesday, it was a lot of meetings, tons of paper work, and a lot of new things our school is doing based on our reviews last year. Yesterday the students got their schedules, and then had grade meetings with the administration and guidance department. I also did a lot of paper work yesterday, but felt better about the school's new initiatives, because I was fully prepared at that point to implement anything new, and also realized that I had already been doing most of those things in my classes anyway, for years. We had all our classes today, and I got to present everything to my students. I did not get any negative reactions, even from students I have been teaching for a year or 2 already! I am teaching the 4th year Italian class, and it is my third year teaching those kids! I was thrilled to find out that I have them again...they are great kids. I am also teaching all 3 classes of 2nd year Italian, and I had about half of those kids last year in Level 1...it was really great to see them again. My 5th class is 1st year Spanish. I don't know any of them, but they seem like a very nice group of students. I think it's going to be a great year!

On top of the adjustment to everything at work, DS6 started 1st grade yesterday, and DS4 started Pre-Kindergarten!! They are both very happy with their teachers! This is a milestone for us, because both of our kids are now in public school!

So, needless to say, it was a very busy week around here! Just getting back into the daily routine, and some new things as well. But, now that it's been a few days, it feels like I never left...and I mean that in a good way!

Aw Pre-K! How cute Your DS4 wasn't sad about going somewhere new?! That's one thing i'm afraid of when having kids...having to drop them off for the very first time at school.

 

[bangzoom6877]

I'm not sure how I missed this post.

LOVE getting Disney Mail! Makes me happy and the day a little brighter!

UGH, some CG sushi sounds amazing right now.



Aw Pre-K! How cute Your DS4 wasn't sad about going somewhere new?! That's one thing i'm afraid of when having kids...having to drop them off for the very first time at school.

Yes, DS4 was sad the first day. He started going to nursery school 2 years ago. He went 3 full days a week. Last year, we increased it to 5 full days a week. He loved it there, and he had the same teacher for 2 years. I had also gone to that school for Pre-K when I was 4! DS6 also went there for nursery and Pre-K and loved it. And it was the same family running the school all those years! In February, they sent a letter home that they were going to be retiring and closing in June 2011. It was very sad. They had been there since 1958 when the principal started the school as his college internship! So, we decided that even though public school is only a half day, it would be better for DS4 to just go directly to the school that he will stay in for elementary school, rather than adjust to a new school for only one year, and have to adjust again next year to public school. And my parents had no problem watching him for the other half of the day. So, he will be going in the afternoons.

Anyway, he was so comfortable in his old school, with the same teacher for 2 years, so I think this made it a little difficult for him the other day. But my mom said that yesterday was better. I had taken him in on Thursday for the first day, and parents got to stay in the room. It was a parent orientation and a way to familiarize the kids with the classroom and the school. We were there for one hour, but DS4 wanted to go home. After the orientation, we were talking to his teacher and he warmed up to her. But that night when we were putting him to bed, he told us that he didn't want to go to that school anymore and he just wanted to come to work with me! And, he had that cute "about to cry" look on his face too...I melt when he does that. So we were explaining everything to him, and how it is going to be so much fun, he will make a lot of friends, etc. That calmed him down. Yesterday when my mom brought him in, he stayed for one hour and then she went back to pick him up. He didn't want to go at first, but when the teacher came out to meet the class and bring them into the classroom, she went over to him and she had remembered his name...this made him feel special. He went right in, and started to play with some blocks. He had fun yesterday at school, he told me when we all got home.

So, although it takes some adjusting, he will be fine. I'm sure that after next week, he will be fully adjusted to the new school and he will really enjoy himself!

But yes, it is difficult working full time and having kids. I am blessed because I have all the same time off that they do, except for a few professional development days here and there, so I get to spend a lot of time with them. Plus, I don't get home later than 3:30 because my day ends at 2:50, but I only work 10 minutes from home...and even if I stay a little later to wrap up some things, I am home by 3:30. I feel very lucky for this. But, it is very hard to leave them, and almost feels like a double life sometimes, because I have to do everything at my own job, and then I come home and do everything for them. I still want to be involved as much as I can in their education, so as soon as I get home, that begins. It's busy and hectic, but I love every second of it!

 

[bangzoom6877]

I actually have an update to post here, and it has to do with ADRs!!

About a week and a half ago (yes, it has been THAT long since I have been on the DIS ), my mom, sister and I sat down and we were talking about ADRs for the days that all of us will be together at WDW. While DH, the boys and I arrive on July 23, 2012, the rest of the family is joining us on July 29, 2012. I mentioned Afternoon Tea at the Grand Floridian (Garden View Room) and their faces lit up! My mom, sister and I all LOVE afternoon tea and we all thought it would be a great idea to go to one at the GF and enjoy it on our WDW trip. They will be staying in Savannah, GA the night before they arrive at WDW, which is about 4 and a half hours away. They're gonna leave Savannah early in the morning after breakfast (early risers like us!), and we are all going to Afternoon Tea that day together! We figured that since we don't have a theme park planned for that day, it would be the perfect time to relax and enjoy it.

I told my mom and sister that since afternoon tea is between 2 and 4:30pm, we shouldn't make a dinner ADR that night because we will probably be too full to truly enjoy a big dinner. So, I suggested that everyone adds one extra day to their park ticket (except me, since I will have an AP), and we should all walk over to Epcot that evening and just eat around the world! And of course there will be a Grey Goose Lemonade Slush in there for me! They loved the idea, and it really doesn't cost much more to add an extra day onto the park tickets. Definitely worth it, plus everyone can eat as much or as little as they like! We can hit the UK Pavilion for fish & chips, France for baked goods, Italy for gelato, Morocco for shawarma, China for egg rolls, Norway for baked goods, Mexico for nachos, etc. Well, not all of that for one person, just some examples of things we might enjoy! We told DH and my dad about that whole idea and they were all for it! And we KNOW the kids will enjoy it!

Of course, the park hours have not come out yet, so we're not sure yet which days we will be touring which park, but we do know that when we are all together, we will be spending a day at MK, a day at DHS and a day at Epcot. So, here are the tentative plans:

MK day: CS lunch and dinner at Crystal Palace (if Be Our Guest is open by then we will go there for dinner instead)

DHS day: lunch at 50s Prime Time and dinner at Chef Mickey's at the Contemporary Resort

Epcot day: lunch at San Angel Inn (DH, the boys and me only); lunch at Akershus (the rest of the family...princesses for my nieces!) and dinner at Biergarten

Check-out morning: Breakfast at Ohana or 1900 Park Fare

I'm working on my sister for going back to breakfast at 1900 Park Fare. It was so good last time we were there and I would really like to go back...if we don't all go there together then I will find a way to fit it in before all of them arrive. She did like the idea of Ohana for a character breakfast since Mickey is there and the food is served family style instead of buffet. And a friend of mine was there this past summer with her family and they loved it.

We are separating at Epcot for lunch. My boys requested no princesses on this trip, but my nieces want one princess meal. So while they are at Akershus with the princesses, we will have lunch at San Angel Inn, in the Mexico Pavilion which is right next to the Norway pavilion!

At MK, so far we are going to Crystal Palace for dinner...which means that DH, the boys and I wouldn't go there for breakfast earlier in our trip. But we have no problem doing dinner there instead...I can always make puffed french toast at home! However, if the Beast's Castle is open by then and the Be Our Guest Restaurant is open, we will all eat there instead. The boys did say that they would like to eat there (they LOVE that movie!).

So, that's about it for now! Not much time these days to spend on planning, since I have been so busy with work and with the boys' school and after-school activities. But, the plan is to finalize the ADRs over Christmas break, when I have a week off, because my 180-day mark is the end of January.

Oh...and DH and I are getting very excited because our weekend trip to Foxwoods Casino Resort in Connecticut is getting closer and closer! We are going the weekend of November 11th...our first trip away without the kids since July 2004 when I was pregnant with DS6!

 

[franandaj]

Yay for plans starting to firm up. I forgot that there is the possibility of your being there when the New Fantasyland is up and running! How cool is that?

 

[Leshaface]

Wow, a week and a half without the DIS?! You MUST have been busy! I've been on the Dis not as often lately...it's mostly to lurk on the DISign thread. Otherwise i've been super busy with Sunshine Rewards (a website where you get paid to do surveys...every little bit helps! ) and been busy with work, planning our Disneyland trip, etc. Hopefully i'll be able to get back to reading peoples TR's over the weekend.

What is the projected date for the new Fantasyland to be completed? That would be SO neat to be able to experience that!

And YAY for your upcoming trip! That is going to be exciting for you guys!

 

[Leshaface]

I'm not sure if i'm going crazy....but how long have you had the moving tag?!?! Have you had it the whole time and i'm just NOW noticing it?!?!

 

[franandaj]

I'm not sure if i'm going crazy....but how long have you had the moving tag?!?! Have you had it the whole time and i'm just NOW noticing it?!?!

I put it in a month or so ago and when I created it I also created one for the resorts that we hope to change to in a week or so. I'll be at DL for Gay Days and I have to call in Saturday morning to switch us over to Kidani then a couple days later to switch us to BLT for the last four days. We already have our airfare booked, but we just need to hopefully change out the resorts! I saved the code in a word document and WHEN (not if) we get it I will change the ticker!

 

[Leshaface]

I put it in a month or so ago and when I created it I also created one for the resorts that we hope to change to in a week or so. I'll be at DL for Gay Days and I have to call in Saturday morning to switch us over to Kidani then a couple days later to switch us to BLT for the last four days. We already have our airfare booked, but we just need to hopefully change out the resorts! I saved the code in a word document and WHEN (not if) we get it I will change the ticker!

Sorry, I meant the tag fairy moving/scrolling thing under your profile name

ETA: what the heck were you talking about when you got a visit from the tag fairy anyway?!?! LOL!!!

 

[franandaj]

Sorry, I meant the tag fairy moving/scrolling thing under your profile name

ETA: what the heck were you talking about when you got a visit from the tag fairy anyway?!?! LOL!!!

No that is new, about a week or so! On my PTR Brandi noticed it dgbg10??? whatever her name is she pointed it out right about when it happened. There are a number of of us on Community Board who are subscribed to this thread for our friend Kimmar067 who waged war on the tag faries becuase they took away her scrollie tag. This was months ago.

Well there has been this whole thing about tags. Princess in Oz (PIO) got tagged earlier that day and then I said on the AKL lite Thread that I was happy to be tagless, but I mentioned something about Kimmar067's tags (which appeared to be in arabic, but evidently they were just upside down as the tag fairy got me and then corrected me that is was not arabic, but just upside down). It took me forever to figure out where I said the scrollie tag, but it turns out both of them were on the same thread. The Last to Post.

I'm happy with my tags since they don't say things that are really negative, just provocative!

The first one we were talking about how young girls dress today. I said, "I grew up when it was all the rage to wear pants that you needed to lie down to zip them up".

The scrollie, I was talking about Beer flights, mainly at the biergarten and I meant that I liked the amber beers not the lightest (first) and darkest (last). Hence "the ones in the middle!" that one took me forever to figure out where I said that! Normally I like the edges becuase on casseroles, I like the crunchy bits, on airplanes I certainly don't like the middle ones, and anything else, I think I like the outside, but on beer, I definitely like the middle ones in a flight!

 

[Leshaface]

No that is new, about a week or so! On my PTR Brandi noticed it dgbg10??? whatever her name is she pointed it out right about when it happened. There are a number of of us on Community Board who are subscribed to this thread for our friend Kimmar067 who waged war on the tag faries becuase they took away her scrollie tag. This was months ago.

Well there has been this whole thing about tags. Princess in Oz (PIO) got tagged earlier that day and then I said on the AKL lite Thread that I was happy to be tagless, but I mentioned something about Kimmar067's tags (which appeared to be in arabic, but evidently they were just upside down as the tag fairy got me and then corrected me that is was not arabic, but just upside down). It took me forever to figure out where I said the scrollie tag, but it turns out both of them were on the same thread. The Last to Post.

I'm happy with my tags since they don't say things that are really negative, just provocative!

The first one we were talking about how young girls dress today. I said, "I grew up when it was all the rage to wear pants that you needed to lie down to zip them up".

The scrollie, I was talking about Beer flights, mainly at the biergarten and I meant that I liked the amber beers not the lightest (first) and darkest (last). Hence "the ones in the middle!" that one took me forever to figure out where I said that! Normally I like the edges becuase on casseroles, I like the crunchy bits, on airplanes I certainly don't like the middle ones, and anything else, I think I like the outside, but on beer, I definitely like the middle ones in a flight!

How funny!!

I love the tags that have a hint of wonder to them, like, "Hmm, what the heck were they talking about!?"

Well congrats on the scrollie!!! I wonder if the tag fairy mostly hangs out in the Community Boards?

 

[bangzoom6877]

Yay for plans starting to firm up. I forgot that there is the possibility of your being there when the New Fantasyland is up and running! How cool is that?

YAY!!!!!

I really hope that at least some things are finished, and up & running by the time we go. I haven't read anything with definite dates yet though. But, while the suspense is killing me, it will also be a nice surprise if we find out shortly before we go, that something new will be open! In July 2010, there were construction walls up all over the place, but it had all just been started.

Wow, a week and a half without the DIS?! You MUST have been busy! I've been on the Dis not as often lately...it's mostly to lurk on the DISign thread. Otherwise i've been super busy with Sunshine Rewards (a website where you get paid to do surveys...every little bit helps! ) and been busy with work, planning our Disneyland trip, etc. Hopefully i'll be able to get back to reading peoples TR's over the weekend.

What is the projected date for the new Fantasyland to be completed? That would be SO neat to be able to experience that!

And YAY for your upcoming trip! That is going to be exciting for you guys!

Yes, I was VERY busy! Still am...but this is always how it is when school starts up again. On breaks and in the summer, I'm home and so I have all this free time to be on the DIS. But during the week now, I feel like I am always moving from one thing to the next.

Sunshine Rewards...I will have to check that out! They really pay you to do surveys? No gimmicks? You actually get this money? You are so right, every little bit helps!

The new Fantasyland is supposed to open in phases. The only dates actually given so far (that I have read at least) are that things will begin opening late 2012, and the projected completion is 2014. I am hoping that something is open by the time we go in July, but fully prepared that late 2012 most likely means some time in the Fall, not the summer...you know, making sure it is ready for the busy holiday season. I am also hoping that when they say 2014, it will actually be completed in July 2014 when we will be there again, so we won't have to wait until summer 2016 to see everything! Wow, these years all sound like they're so far away, but blink your eyes and it will be 2016!

My theory is that the Be Our Guest Restaurant will be one of the first things to open, if not THE first thing. It's going to hold 551 people, and will be a MAJOR money-maker for WDW. It would make perfect sense for this to be the first thing to open...all the new rides are included with admission, and they won't make any extra money for people riding them...but they will make plenty extra with a 551-seat restaurant open! And yes, I am MORE than happy to contribute!

This weekend was busy, but a lot of fun too! Friday was my niece's 8th birthday so we went to my sister's house for dinner. My sister had to go to Albany for school early Saturday morning until tonight, so my nieces slept over Friday night, and they stayed at my parents' house last night. Yesterday, we and my parents took all the kids to the Transit Museum, and then we ate dinner at our favorite diner...if you ever come to Brooklyn you must experience a true Brooklyn diner! Today DH is at a high school fair, promoting the new sports program at his school which he is in charge of, and recruiting kids to apply to his school (in NYC, you apply to the high schools you want to go to based on their programs...a crazy, complicated process). A few blocks from the high school fair is the famous Brooklyn restaurant, Junior's (the one that makes the famous cheesecake). So, I thought it would be a good idea to take the kids to Junior's for breakfast since the HS Fair started at 10am, and then DS6 started his Hebrew School (really a Jewish cultural class, at the YMHA) at 10:30, so the timing was good to go out to eat. It was great, as always! Another great place in Brooklyn to go to if you ever come here! And yes, their cheesecake is THAT good! We bought some mini cupcakes on the way out, to have tonight...those are awesome there too!

This week is a short one because the NYC schools are closed on Thursday and Friday for the Jewish holiday. My mom started cooking today, and will keep cooking until we go to her house Wednesday for dinner (and Thursday!). We have plans to go apple picking on Friday, and we're getting together with friends on Saturday. DH is working every Sunday in October (except Columbus Day weekend) because of sports at his school. I am looking forward to a 4-day weekend though!!

 

[Leshaface]

Literally every time I talk to you, it feels like you're always doing something on the weekend. Going to parties, outings, etc! You're always going, going, going! Hopefully your upcoming trip with your hubby will be very relaxing.

Well you need to be a member for 45 days on Sunshine Rewards before you're able to cash out any money you make (i'm about one week away from being a member for 45 days). But I was actually referred to SR by people on the DIS. The members on SR are extremely helpful and i'd say the majority of them save up for Disney trips. The cool thing about SR, is that you can take your money in two forms: via Pay Pal or through Gift Cards (i.e. Disney Gift Cards) Also, if you online shop, say through Bath and Body Works for example, you earn a percentage back on purchases. Which helps add up too, if you online shop. If you do decide to sign-up, even to see what it's all about, refer me! (I think I get a referral bonus )

Gosh, I really hope something is open in Fantasyland when you're there!...I wonder how crazy busy it will be there though

It feels like my DH has been away a lot recently too. He's been super busy with coaching, but just last week, his school decided to add on an after school homework program, in which the PE teachers are in charge of. The bad news is, he'll be gone even more. The good news is, he'll be getting paid extra for it He's also applying for the head Varsity Baseball coach position for next year. He was assistant coach for Varsity last year, but the head coach was fired (parent's here are brutal when it comes to high school sports ) so DH's not sure where that leaves him, since he was technically under supervision of the Head Coach. He REALLY wants this job, so he's pretty stressed out right now. He turned in his application so we'll see

I'm just ready for October to start and be over so our Disneyland vacation will be here, then THANKSGIVING banana, THEN our MR cruise!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Literally every time I talk to you, it feels like you're always doing something on the weekend. Going to parties, outings, etc! You're always going, going, going! Hopefully your upcoming trip with your hubby will be very relaxing.

Well you need to be a member for 45 days on Sunshine Rewards before you're able to cash out any money you make (i'm about one week away from being a member for 45 days). But I was actually referred to SR by people on the DIS. The members on SR are extremely helpful and i'd say the majority of them save up for Disney trips. The cool thing about SR, is that you can take your money in two forms: via Pay Pal or through Gift Cards (i.e. Disney Gift Cards) Also, if you online shop, say through Bath and Body Works for example, you earn a percentage back on purchases. Which helps add up too, if you online shop. If you do decide to sign-up, even to see what it's all about, refer me! (I think I get a referral bonus )

Gosh, I really hope something is open in Fantasyland when you're there!...I wonder how crazy busy it will be there though

It feels like my DH has been away a lot recently too. He's been super busy with coaching, but just last week, his school decided to add on an after school homework program, in which the PE teachers are in charge of. The bad news is, he'll be gone even more. The good news is, he'll be getting paid extra for it He's also applying for the head Varsity Baseball coach position for next year. He was assistant coach for Varsity last year, but the head coach was fired (parent's here are brutal when it comes to high school sports ) so DH's not sure where that leaves him, since he was technically under supervision of the Head Coach. He REALLY wants this job, so he's pretty stressed out right now. He turned in his application so we'll see

I'm just ready for October to start and be over so our Disneyland vacation will be here, then THANKSGIVING banana, THEN our MR cruise!

Oh yes, I am definitely always on the go! Even at work, I am always doing something during my "free" time! One day during the first week, I had to eat my lunch standing up while making photocopies of grading policies, class procedures, rubrics, etc...and that day I brought in leftovers from our dinner the night before...linguine with white clam sauce! Do you know how difficult it is to eat that standing up, while multi-tasking?! It was kind of funny though!

I definitely have to check out SR. If I ever find the time to get around to joining, I will mention you!

I also hope that something is open in Fantasyland when we go so that we don't have to wait another 2 years! As far as it being crazy busy, it's always crazy busy when we go, so we may not even notice!

I hope your DH gets the coaching position he wants! Sometimes dealing with parents can be very stressful, but other times it can be very productive. It's so unpredictable though! I'm sure he would make an excellent head coach, since he has experience working with the team already, and he will know exactly what he needs to do in order to appease both the parents and the team. I'll make an extra wish for you that he gets the position!

OK, now back to my busy life...

 

[bangzoom6877]

So, I have some really good news to share! I just posted about it on the July 2012 thread, so I just copied and pasted it here:

Hi everyone! I have some really terrific news! There's this show they do in a lot of the high schools in NYC...it's called "SING". It's a competition between the students (2 groups in my school), where the students produce, write, direct, and perform a show with a theme they choose. In the school where I teach, seniors and freshman make up one group, and juniors and sophomores make up the other group.

Today, it is official...I am the Coordinator of SING! So, I am overseeing all the administrative items, and also guiding the students. There are also a bunch of faculty advisors, and they are all wonderful. I am really looking forward to doing this, as crazy as it will be! There are 2 performances, a Friday and Saturday night, the first weekend in February. So for me, January will be the crazy month. But it will be a lot of fun, and I'm very excited!

So yes, I am overseeing this entire production! It's going to be great!

 

[bangzoom6877]

So, yesterday we decided to take the kids to Lancaster County, PA for a day trip. It's about a 2 and a half hour drive from home, and we couldn't stay overnight because DH had to work at the athletic field this morning. So, yes we are that crazy to make this a day trip...we left at 6:30am!

We wanted to go this weekend because Dutch Wonderland (a kids' theme park) had their Happy Hauntings going on, some Halloween themed activites with the park all decorated and lots of the employees in costume. It opened at 3pm, so that gave us time to do some other nice things in the area.

So, we started out going to a great breakfast at the Bird-in-Hand Family Inn & Restaurant. This place is owned by the Smucker family, and it is terrific. They have a buffet option, and also an a la carte menu. The kids and I had the buffet (only $8.99 per adult, including beverage). The kids get charged $0.60 per year of age, so DS6 only cost $3.60 and DS4 cost $2.40. DH got an egg platter with scrapple, and it cost $5 and change including beverage. I ate all sorts of yummy goodies from the buffet...creamed chipped beef on toast, eggs, baked french toast with pecans, baked oatmeal, some really delicious fresh fruit, a pecan sticky bun, and the most amazing donut in the world...it melts in your mouth! It was a great breakfast!

After breakfast, we headed to Kitchen Kettle Village, a shopping village with their own Fudge Kitchen and Jam & Relish Kitchen. We got to watch them make fudge...the boys loved this. Then, we headed to the Jam & Relish Kitchen and I bought some blueberry preserves, DH bought hot pepper jelly, and I got some holiday gifts for the boys' teachers...jam samplers and salsa samplers. So I am now set for them...no worrying about what to buy the teachers!

At Kitchen Kettle, they also had a kids' play area with a petting zoo. There was a miniature horse who was so hungry, he was licking and chewing on the blue bowl that he usually ate from. So, there was a vending machine with food to feed the miniature horse. The boys felt bad that he looked to hungry, so we fed him and he was a happy camper!

After that, we headed to Cherry Crest Farm, a place where they have all sorts of activities for the kids. They had a huge slide, which the boys loved, basketball shooting, football throwing, baseball pitching, their own glass-enclosed beehive , and lots of other great things. The steam train ride (Strasburg Railroad) passes right through Cherry Crest Farm, and the kids thought that was really cool.

We had a quick bite at the farm, and then headed to Dutch Wonderland...I had recently read that they now have Dole Whips at Dutch Wonderland! I was so looking forward to this...a favorite WDW snack right there! It was freezing outside though...but I was still determined to have a Dole Whip. So I went and got my usual...pineapple and vanilla swirl. It was amazing! DH, the boys and I shared it, and it was totally worth freezing for! It felt like a taste of Disney much closer to home...but I will admit, I definitely prefer to eat these in the heat rather than on a cold day! They also had a seasonal flavor, pumpkin. I couldn't get it though...I had to have that pineapple and vanilla together!

After the kids enjoyed the rides and shows at Dutch Wonderland (and a trick-or-treat trail too!), we headed to Miller's Smorgasbord for dinner. This place has been there forever and is still terrific! I stuffed my face on lots of delicious comfort foods, then had a piece of warm chocolate pecan pie for dessert, along with their cinnamon raisin bread pudding, which they top with a nice thick layer if icing! Heaven, but so stuffed!!

Then, we drove home. We got home a little after 10pm. The boys slept the whole ride home, got into their PJs when we got home, and went right to bed! It was a fun, fun day!!

Now, DH and I are looking forward to Foxwood's, our getaway without the kids (first one since we've had them!). That is coming up in 19 days. I am thinking of doing a mini-trip report about it here, food porn included!

 

[Leshaface]

Congratulations on being Coordinator! So do you start working on it now, to be perfected in February?

Are these REAL Dole Whips?! And are they actually called Dole Whips?! Oooh, I bet the Pumpkin would have tasted great!

YES! Please do a mini-TR of your adult-only trip!

 

[bangzoom6877]

Congratulations on being Coordinator! So do you start working on it now, to be perfected in February?

Are these REAL Dole Whips?! And are they actually called Dole Whips?! Oooh, I bet the Pumpkin would have tasted great!

YES! Please do a mini-TR of your adult-only trip!

Oh yes, we are already well underway with SING! 2012!! We already auditioned and chose our student producers for the shows, and today, tomrorow & Wednesday we will be auditioning the rest of the leaders (band leader, director, chorus leader, choreographer, etc.). So I am staying at work until 6pm today and tomorrow, and coming in early Wednesday morning for the remainder of the auditions. Then, the auditions for actors will be in mid-December, the week after my school puts on their Winter musical ("Kiss Me Kate" this year). In the mean time, we will begin working on our Playbill, trying to get sponsors to buy ads, ordering the shirts, etc. It's a lot of fun!

Yes, these were real Dole Whips! The Dole logo and everything! It is a stand that serves only the Dole Whip soft serve, and floats. It was awesome!

OK, you talked me into it...I will do an adult-only TR! For a preview, here;'s what's on our agenda for that weekend:

Friday, Nov. 11th: bring the boys to my sister's house at 9am, then drive to Foxwoods (around 2 hours, maybe a little more); go to lunch when we arrive; check in (room guaranteed by 4pm); go to the casino and play some blackjack and slots...not too much though ; dinner at one of the casual restaurants (not sure which one yet); we have tickets to see Jim Breuer's comedy act that evening at 8pm!...then probably go to one of the bars or lounges.

Saturday, Nov. 12th: we have a dinner reservation that evening at the Paragon restaurant, which is supposed to be the best one of their gourmet restaurants! It got AAA awards and everything! The rest of the day and night, we will be spontaneous!

Sunday, Nov. 13th: we have reservations for the prime rib brunch at David Burke steakhouse. The ressie is for 11:30AM. So we will stuff our faces and then head home!

Notice I said "spontaneous"?! Yes, ME! I am going to make sure to be spontaneous on this trip. I want DH and I to sleep in, then figure out what we will do that day!