Geen Yight - She's Out of Sight: A Trip of Leaps and Bounds

[Happy Elf]

Wow! July 25th is waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy too early to go back. When would you get out of school?

 

[MeMom]

Starting back 7/25 seems awfully early!

Bella and the seahorse - I really need to spend more time exploring that pavilion.

Hope you have a great week!!

Very early.

The girls love to see the dolphins and all the other ocean animals. It's a nice place to explore, even for grown-ups.

thanks! Caleb is obsessed with Thomas and choo choos in general! His papa (DH dad) has a train collection of very nice trains that he lets Caleb play with! And his Nana (DH mom) keeps him everyday...so those choo choos get played with every day! Of course the real nice onces DFIL keeps up but still! They are way too nice to play with! My mom once told Caleb he has choo choo on the brain...so know Caleb says he has "Choo choo bain" for Choo Choo Brain!

Yes for how much The Polar Express is...it is way to long for small children. My nephew was 4 and he did much better than Caleb. Or if it was shorter...then it would be ok! We were pretty disappointed because we knew Caleb would love being on the train but he was just too exhausted! Overall its a neat idea but just too long for small children!

Maybe the timing will be better for you next time, and you can all enjoy it more.

Just keep thinking those Disney thoughts, MeMom, while you are in your workshop.

I thought a lot of Disney thoughts Friday and Saturday while I was out in the heat doing team-building, problem solving activites. The one that was in the forefront of my mind was, "If I can do this, I can do the Wild Africa Trek."

Whatever gets us through the rough spots, right?

I have to say, it wasn't a terrible workshop. They kept us engaged, so time went by a little easier than it does in some of those 'kill me now' workshops.

Yay for the Wild Africa Trek! I hope you get to do that!

July 25th! Yuk!

Heck students here are not finished yet.

Yep, it really messes with our vacation dates and camp dates.

Love Bella and the seahorse. It reminds me of Blake and his "Blakey bear hugs" that he gives sometimes. I agree with you about the Nemo gift shop. I really could do some damage in there. Everything is so cute! Hope you survive your workshop today. I am at work with an ever growing schedule. The boys have their first swim lesson today. Luckily, Jason is taking them. I am too soft-hearted with them and they are somewhat afraid of water. I know they have to get over it for their own safety. That is why Dad is taking them.

I saw your FB picture. They were very cute. Brooklynn had swimming lessons today, too. She got to go to a pool party Saturday. Jill said she really had time to practice a lot, so, she's a little fish now.

Love all the Nemo pictures. We love that whole area. And I want everything in that store too!

Bella is too cute hugging that seahorse!

My DD won't ever sit down on the floor at TTwC either. I'm hoping this year that we get a seat down front like you so that she will.

That really stinks that you have to go back so early! Does that mean your school year will end in May? I think if I had my choice, I would want the year round school calendar. They get like 3 weeks off at the time at different points in the year (usually at times that it would be nicer to travel, like in the fall). We don't like to travel in the summer, so for us that would be a much better option.

And I can't believe they always make you do workshops in the summer too. We always did ours on teacher workdays during the regular school year. That really does not seem fair to me. It just isn't really vacation unless you know you are completely DONE for 2 months!

They're trying to build in a couple of weeks of intervention for kids who need it, but I'm not sure how that's going to go over. I can't see our parents approving that calendar. I think the parents will vote for the August 9th calendar. I would be all for the 9-3 schedule.

Wow, July 25th that's almost a full month before we start back!

I've never been in school on my birthday before, and I never thought I would be, but that could change.

Please tell me an early start date of July 25th comes with an early release date like end of April/early May?!?!?!?!?!

Loved the newest update!!!! The pictures once again brought a huge smile to my face and was a great way to get started with my day!!

Mid-May, I think.

I do love looking at Disney pictures - ours or anyone else's.

Wow, July 25th for school. We never go back until the last part of August.

Love the picture of Bella and the seahorse and of the girls with Bruce. Don't you just love Turtle Talk with Crush!

Wow, you are packing!!! I am getting there. I do have a lot of things layed out ready to go.

Long ago, it was after Labor Day. Then they back it up to late August, then mid-August, then early August.

I need a big Crush for my classroom.

We will be meeting up at Wilderness Lodge very soon!

Ugh, July 25! The school in my city & probably the surrounding ones don't get out till next Monday or Tuesday, I think -- the 27th or 28th. Kailyn was out on May 27th just b/c she was a senior.

I was thinking Disney thoughts when I was talking myself into going to the Bruins victory parade (for winning the Stanley Cup last week) in Boston on Saturday. I don't always handle crowds very well but I kept on telling myself, "if I can handle Disney during a vacation week, or during peak season, I can handle this." It was actually tolerable before and during the parade b/c we were so early we were right up against the barricade, so I didn't have people pressing me from all sides. I also had a funny Disney thought on the way there -- we took the bus to the station nearest our house, and I could not help but notice how narrow/cramped they are compared to Disney buses! I never take the bus so it really struck me for some reason

And I bet the seats aren't purple either, are they???

I saw your parade pictures on FB. What a fun event!

I love the interactive games that they have in the waiting area for Turtle Talk - helps the kids stay entertained and they learn something at the same time!

Hope the Disney thoughts get you through your workshop today! July 25th? That's nuts!!

I know. That's the way to really help them learn - get them totally into it. I'd love to have those computer games in my room.

July 25th is definitely nuts!

I love your picture of Jill and Bella on the Nemo ride. I can't wait to hear how Bella likes the characters now. She is so funny climbing over Jill to get away. Which character meals do you have planned?

We're going to Garden Grill on Sunday, and Jill want a do-over of Crystal Palace breakfast, so she just scored that one on Saturday.

I want to do the Wild Africa Trek.

Jill and I do, too.

Sending Disney vibes to you while your in the workshop today.

Nemo is so cool and refreshing! Right now anything in the ac would be great. It has been way to hot down here.

I'm with everyone else and love the picture of Belle hugging the seahorse.

Don't you love shopping trips that include trip stuff? I've already told Dennis I want a new backpack for Christmas to take to Disney in Feb.

It worked. The workshop wasn't bad at all.

After July 1, I can buy things for my classroom and use my school money - usually $200. That means some of my Disney shopping can be purchased with room money - like books or things from Animal Kingdom or anything that can be used for teaching.

I love the whole vibe of the Nemo area. So much fun! I think July 25th is much too early MeMom. You need more summer to enjoy!

I do, too. I want my classroom to look like that. The kids would flip out!

I remember you telling me that there had been a change in your school calendar, but July 25th seems so soon!

I guess if you end up with as many snow days as you've been having that may get you out of school on time!

They're really messing up our camp and vacation month. We'll have to back camp up to early July, I guess, which leaves us going to Disney World in June.

I love the pics of the girls at Epcot!!!
Wow, July 25th is super early...the schools here in Michigan don't go back until after Labor day! I just hope that means u get out that much earlier in the spring!!!

They're trying to put two weeks in where all the kids don't go - just the ones who are falling behind. I just don't see that being a big hit with our parents. Who knows what we'll end up with. Probably the craziest thing possible.

 

[sunny_stace]

The picture of Bella saying goodbye to the seahorse just made my day! Oh she is just so adorable! I love the Seas pavillion! I can spend hours in there just looking at the animals and finding Nemo and talking with Crush! I bet miss Brooklyn can master Mr.Ray's quiz by now!


k_reile - my neice and nephews LOVE the Day Out With Thomas events! They've gone every year since....I think Mia was 2 and Kai and Tyson were just over a year each. They're all obsessed with Thomas! It seems the trick is to go first thing when it opens and making sure the kids have snacks available for the train ride! They just were at the one in Indianapolis recently and had a great time!

 

[MeMom]

Wow! July 25th is waaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyy too early to go back. When would you get out of school?

Hopefully before Memorial Day.

The picture of Bella saying goodbye to the seahorse just made my day! Oh she is just so adorable! I love the Seas pavillion! I can spend hours in there just looking at the animals and finding Nemo and talking with Crush! I bet miss Brooklyn can master Mr.Ray's quiz by now!

k_reile - my neice and nephews LOVE the Day Out With Thomas events! They've gone every year since....I think Mia was 2 and Kai and Tyson were just over a year each. They're all obsessed with Thomas! It seems the trick is to go first thing when it opens and making sure the kids have snacks available for the train ride! They just were at the one in Indianapolis recently and had a great time!

The kids can be sent a Sea Expert certificate through e-mail to be printed out at home.

I love that you can all give each other tips on this event. I know all of our DIS sweeties have so much fun doing so many activities.

 

[sunny_stace]

The kids can be sent a Sea Expert certificate through e-mail to be printed out at home.

I have 2 that I printed out too...I printed them out to show my mum and she hung them up in the guest room (my room when I stay there) at her house! It kinda felt like when she used to hang my report cards on the fridge!

 

[hlrababy]

Love the pic of Bella hugging the seahorse! So sweet!!!

Oh my goodness, July 25th?? I remember when school started in September lol

 

[stace208]

I see Bella has a fondness for all "hosies", not just the ones on the carousel. So sweet!

I am glad your workshop was tolerable today. I hate the ones that make you want to bang your head on the wall. July is a very early start date. Even when we did year round for 2 years we didn't start until August. While I wish we would get rid of the after Labor Day start date, I don't want to start in July!

I have one workday left tomorrow. We have to sort our standardized test results and mail them home. I'm so glad they managed to get them back before the last day of school. NOT! Then I am home for last minute packing for our 3 AM departure time.

Any specific text picture requests??

 

[Poolrat]

In the past few days, I have also learned that the Director of Schools wants to start on July 25th next year. That means teachers would be back the week before that. Not real thrilled with that, but we're planning our Disney trip for June, just in case that does go through.

that is sooooo early.

I have to say, it wasn't a terrible workshop. They kept us engaged, so time went by a little easier than it does in some of those 'kill me now' workshops.

I have been to those trainings.

I've never been in school on my birthday before, and I never thought I would bem but that could change.

You would be starting on my birthday and that is just way too early.
Instead of snow days they will be sending kids home on account of heat.
I bet the tourism industy will do what they can to stop it. That is what they did arounf here. By state law we cannot start school before Aug 25th and must end by June 10th.
Tourism industry claims that too many families not vacationing in Aug will be bad for the economy as will having no teenagers to work because they are in school.

 

[LookinUp]

July 25 is crazy early to go back. But I do like that parents will have a say in the final decision. Hopefully, the local Ys and park districts offering summer camp/child care will pipe up, too. After all, they will have to be able to change their schedules & staff new sessions.

Bella's seahorse hug got me, too. That kid is too cute! And congrats to Brooklyn for her swimming coming along so well. Practice makes perfect!

 

[k_reile]

Memom...just wanted to come on and brag about Caleb! He went in the potty twice yesterday! And he was the one who suggested he sit on the potty. His reward when he went potty...was to flush the toliet! HAHA...he wanted to do it so bad but I told him he had to wait until he went potty...and he did! hopefully soon he can wear his new Mickey mouse and thomas the train underwear that Grandma got him!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Bella hugging the seahorse is so adorable!!! I've never actually been able to find Turtle Talk! I'm not sure if it would be silly for us to go, since we don't have any kids, but I've always thought it looked really cute! Maybe someday we'll find it...

Wow, July 25th sounds so early!! Kids by here don't go back to school until early September!

 

[Happy Elf]

Memom...just wanted to come on and brag about Caleb! He went in the potty twice yesterday! And he was the one who suggested he sit on the potty. His reward when he went potty...was to flush the toliet! HAHA...he wanted to do it so bad but I told him he had to wait until he went potty...and he did! hopefully soon he can wear his new Mickey mouse and thomas the train underwear that Grandma got him!

Congratulations! That is exciting! I'm TRYING to potty train Owen and he's being a bit stubborn about it.

 

[momof2TNboys]

Good morning!! You just keep creeping closer and closer to your trip!!
The boys did well with swim lessons. They are not as advanced as Brooklyn in their comfort with water. Cooper actually will scream hysterically if you try to carry him into water over his head. So, yesterday, when he put his head under the bathwater by himself, I was floored! The swim class he goes to is run by a military type guy and he has a "just go with it" attitude. He does not baby the children which is hard to watch, but best for them. So, needless to say, my husband takes them. I am really okay with Cooper, but Blake is so little that he really does not understand it all yet. If they learn to swim some and get over their fear of water, it will be worth it.
Have a great day everyone!!

 

[ClaireW]

If you start back on the 25th July you'll be heading back into school just as we (in the UK) are heading out! We finish on the 20th.
For the past few years we've been making the most of the fact that I'm at home and not teaching, and that our girls aren't yet school age to make trips to all sorts of places (WDW included!) at quieter and cheaper times.
Alice starts school in September though so we're off to Disney in August - something we've done before (pre-children) so I hope we're well-prepared for the heat and humidity I've been planning lots of pool time and mid-day breaks.
I know your one-time secret spot to relax and cool off on Main Street has disappeared, has anyone got any other good quiet spots at WDW that are worth trying out?

 

[tinkgurl]

Ahh! I've been getting behind! I just started my summer internship and summer class last week. It's been taking some time to get into a routine.

Like everyone else has been saying, July 25th is WAY too early!

Are you getting so excited?! It's almost July and trip time!

 

[Megablocks]

And I bet the seats aren't purple either, are they???

I saw your parade pictures on FB. What a fun event!

No purple seats, and the aisle is so narrow! I sat with Kailyn but I felt like I was gonna be touching shoulders with the person across from me!

 

[MeMom]

I have 2 that I printed out too...I printed them out to show my mum and she hung them up in the guest room (my room when I stay there) at her house! It kinda felt like when she used to hang my report cards on the fridge!

I only have a black and white copy of Brooklynn's. I think Jill has a color printer, though. I should remember to print it out on that. Maybe we can do some more this summer.

Love the pic of Bella hugging the seahorse! So sweet!!!

Oh my goodness, July 25th?? I remember when school started in September lol

Yeah, a bit early, isn't it?

I see Bella has a fondness for all "hosies", not just the ones on the carousel. So sweet!

I am glad your workshop was tolerable today. I hate the ones that make you want to bang your head on the wall. July is a very early start date. Even when we did year round for 2 years we didn't start until August. While I wish we would get rid of the after Labor Day start date, I don't want to start in July!

I have one workday left tomorrow. We have to sort our standardized test results and mail them home. I'm so glad they managed to get them back before the last day of school. NOT! Then I am home for last minute packing for our 3 AM departure time.

Any specific text picture requests??

Every time we ask Bella what she is going to ride, she says her beloved horsies.
Then we say, "And Peter Pan." And she says, "No, hoesies."
We'll add, "And Buzz." She'll say, "No, hoesies."
We'll ask, "What about Small World?" She answers, "I wide hoesies!"

She has her mind made up. She is happy about going to Pop Cenchy to swim, too.

that is sooooo early.

I have been to those trainings.

You would be starting on my birthday and that is just way too early.
Instead of snow days they will be sending kids home on account of heat.
I bet the tourism industy will do what they can to stop it. That is what they did arounf here. By state law we cannot start school before Aug 25th and must end by June 10th.
Tourism industry claims that too many families not vacationing in Aug will be bad for the economy as will having no teenagers to work because they are in school.

Yes, maybe the tourism industry will step up and have a say in things. I never imagined being in school in July unless we went to a year-round schedule.

July 25 is crazy early to go back. But I do like that parents will have a say in the final decision. Hopefully, the local Ys and park districts offering summer camp/child care will pipe up, too. After all, they will have to be able to change their schedules & staff new sessions.

Bella's seahorse hug got me, too. That kid is too cute! And congrats to Brooklyn for her swimming coming along so well. Practice makes perfect!

Brooklynn will probably want to graduate to more time in the big pools than in the kiddie pool now that she's a swimmer girl.

I don't mind starting in August and getting out around Memorial Day, but July anything is too early.

Bella hugging the seahorse is so adorable!!! I've never actually been able to find Turtle Talk! I'm not sure if it would be silly for us to go, since we don't have any kids, but I've always thought it looked really cute! Maybe someday we'll find it...

Wow, July 25th sounds so early!! Kids by here don't go back to school until early September!

Duuuuude! You've gotta see the Crushmeister! Most of the kids don't even sit with the parents, so no one would think a thing about it, anyway.

Go by and see Bruce. He'll point you in the right direction.

Memom...just wanted to come on and brag about Caleb! He went in the potty twice yesterday! And he was the one who suggested he sit on the potty. His reward when he went potty...was to flush the toliet! HAHA...he wanted to do it so bad but I told him he had to wait until he went potty...and he did! hopefully soon he can wear his new Mickey mouse and thomas the train underwear that Grandma got him!

Brag away! Any of us who have been through the potty training (1,2,3 times) understand the little victories.

Congratulations! That is exciting! I'm TRYING to potty train Owen and he's being a bit stubborn about it.

Every kid is different. In my case, my boys were easier than my girl.

Good morning!! You just keep creeping closer and closer to your trip!!
The boys did well with swim lessons. They are not as advanced as Brooklyn in their comfort with water. Cooper actually will scream hysterically if you try to carry him into water over his head. So, yesterday, when he put his head under the bathwater by himself, I was floored! The swim class he goes to is run by a military type guy and he has a "just go with it" attitude. He does not baby the children which is hard to watch, but best for them. So, needless to say, my husband takes them. I am really okay with Cooper, but Blake is so little that he really does not understand it all yet. If they learn to swim some and get over their fear of water, it will be worth it.
Have a great day everyone!!

I'm sure it's best to have the no nonsense approach. The less drama they let the kids have, the less crying, etc. the more natural the kids will feel like learning to swim is. Yay for Cooper for practicing in the tub!

If you start back on the 25th July you'll be heading back into school just as we (in the UK) are heading out! We finish on the 20th.
For the past few years we've been making the most of the fact that I'm at home and not teaching, and that our girls aren't yet school age to make trips to all sorts of places (WDW included!) at quieter and cheaper times.
Alice starts school in September though so we're off to Disney in August - something we've done before (pre-children) so I hope we're well-prepared for the heat and humidity I've been planning lots of pool time and mid-day breaks.
I know your one-time secret spot to relax and cool off on Main Street has disappeared, has anyone got any other good quiet spots at WDW that are worth trying out?

Ahh! I've been getting behind! I just started my summer internship and summer class last week. It's been taking some time to get into a routine.

Like everyone else has been saying, July 25th is WAY too early!

Are you getting so excited?! It's almost July and trip time!

So, so, so excited!

Good luck with all of your summer projects. I'm going to send you a postcard from Mickey.

No purple seats, and the aisle is so narrow! I sat with Kailyn but I felt like I was gonna be touching shoulders with the person across from me!

And no Disney music playing. Not nearly as cool as a Disney bus.

 

[MeMom]

I guess right here is where we rode Soarin'. Jill waited out with Bella. We were going to babyswap and let her go, but she said she was fine with not going this time, for time's sake.

Afterward, we peeked in here for a minute.

We spent some time looking at pins.

Jiminy Cricket was greeting people outside MouseGear.

Moving on.
Piglet and Eeyore in greenery.

We had come to see flowers.
And gardens.

A lot of work goes into making that happen.

Some of their most popular handiwork.

That picture does not do it justice. I thought it was especially colorful this year.

 

[sunny_stace]

F&G festival is so pretty....it definitely beats the cloudy skies I have outside my window today! I'll have to remember to look for Jiminy Cricket out by MouseGears!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Awww, the Chip & Dale pin is really cute!

Love all the flowers