I love BouTiki, it always seems especially happy and festive in that store! (Admittedly, I also love that store because of its proximity to the Macadamia Nut Pineapple pancakes...)
I like that it has different things - not just Disney World souvenir-type stuff, but pretty dresses and purses and regular clothes.
Hi everyone: I wanted to give an update on Baby O. This is from his grandpa:
There's actually little news today, which is good! Dad came home last night and spent the night, saw some friends, got some things from the house and returned this morning. As of yesterday O had his first poop, a few days after his first wee. All to the good. He is able to spend some time out of the ventilator, breathing on his own. He seems to cycle through several hours of good, then an "event" in which they have to intervene, but that is why we are grateful for a terrific NICU (neonatal ICU) and the staff is reassuring that they have things under control. Mom was discharged from the hospital Saturday but they got a low-cost room, partially funded by WalMart, in a wing of the hospital. Kinda like Ronald McDonalds except handier. Mom got to hold O for a few seconds while they were getting ready to change him. So it's still challenging emotionally for Mom and Dad but the trendline seems to be up. We are totally in One-Day-At-A-Time mode. Thanks for everyone's concerns and prayers!
Many prayers are being said for this baby and his family. Thanks for keeping us posted. It is so nice that his Mommy can be right there close. I know they have a long road, but doctors can work wonders these days!
Okay, I think I am finally caught up on the ten pages I missed while I was gone! I skimmed quickly, though.
I am glad no one noticed my two misbehaving. I did tell my mom that I felt better knowing everyone had children or dealt with children there.
It was about Macon that they started picking on each other on the way down. Overall, they got along pretty well except when Chelsea told Connor his sand castle moat looked bad. I guess for a week away that was pretty good. Although, Chelsea -- the one who kept insisting she wanted a relaxing beach vacation -- was the one who every day was like, "What are we doing? When are we doing it? What's for lunch? What's for dinner? What are we doing next?" She couldn't seem to grasp we were on island time and doing whatever we wanted whenever we felt like it. My mom said it was because I had trained her to think in touring plans.
Hurray for being done with school although I feel so bad about your student, MeMom.
Not too much longer until your next trip, right?
Now that Chelsea got her much wanted beach vacation, maybe she'll be more up for her next Disney trip where there are more things to do than can be done. I am glad you guys had a good time, though. That little cottage was very cute.
Not much longer. As a matter of fact, I think we have backed it up several hours. Instead of leaving midmorning of the 1st, I think Jill and John have both worked out to be off that day, so we're going to leave earlier so the girls can sleep a lot of the way.

Getting all caught up! Love the parade pictures. I just love a Disney parade!
Aww, I too would love to stay at the Poly one day. It looks like Brooklyn had a great afternoon on the beach!
I have never been in the gift shops at the Poly! I know...
I love that Lilo and Stitch picture frame. It may have to make its way back to Ohio in a few weeks.
Ooo, we are getting so close!!!
You have to right that shopping issue on this trip. Trader Jack's upstairs has a bunch of stuff for kids and the more typical souvenir stuff. They usually have a good selection of CD's, too. Bou-tiki has a lot of clothes and some nicer things.
......love the shopping picks....... I feel a real need to go to POLY right this instant!!!
Mmmmn! I like cocconut...will have to try those. Cute packaging.
Great towel with the Mickey & Donald tiki's on it!
Lexi was laughing at me the other night at how excitted I was at watching the web cam.
She didn't get it...glad there was several of us watching together.
I tell her how many days we have til we go every morning and she says it's still so long away.
We are very close to double digits!!!
I'm going to have to plan something fun for Saturday night to celebrate the 100 day mark.
I just relalized I didn't change my ticker...we are leaving on the 19th now! Whoot! Whoot!
Welcome back CharlestonPrincess....I hope to hear all about it.
A beach vacay is very different from a Disney one.... funny comment about the touring plans.
I have to admit when I go to the beach, I am the same way as Chelsea.
I can't just sit there all day.
I mix in a little shopping, sight seeing, swimming and eating.
Kinda like a touring plan without the waiting in lines and having to be at a certain place at a certain time.
I'm a little afraid of a normal vacation now, as I think I would be wondering what we would do, too. And of course everything would have to be paid for individually, so the money starts adding up on those trips, and I start comparing that to a Disney trip where there is so much to do.
I'm not getting a live feed on that camera today. Just a recorded thing and a repetitive commercial, so I turned it off. Let me know if it starts working again.
The Poly pictures were wonderful. The best of two worlds, the beach and with a view of MK.
Once again I loved all the shopping pictures.
Yep, it doesn't get much better than that!
Sounds good to me, except I have to ask one thing...Are you calling me a hippo?
Most assuredly not. We had a cute little hippo at our Rainforest Cafe. Poor guy had an untimely death in the flood. I hope he comes back with the rebuild.
Love the Poly pictures! The atomosphere there is great. What a pretty waterfall.
I can hardly walk by that waterfall without taking a picture, as you may have noticed from the hundred pictures I have from past Poly trips.

Sometimes you simply need to stop and put your toes in the sand.
DH and I ate at O'Hana in April and we just adore the Poly. Everything about it says relaxation to us. I hope you are able to stay there one day MeMom!
Yes, it was so relaxing and so peaceful. I could have wasted another hour just sitting there talking and watching Brooklynn prance around.
I think we'll get at least one night or maybe even two one of these days. Maybe we'll get lucky and get a good discount one of these days.