Girls Only Trip (old planning thread, see link to new one in 1st post)

[mommaU4]

So I've been wanting to ask about this..and with all this kid talk maybe now is a good time. Do any of you have a hard time leaving your kids? I have never been away from Ayden for more than just a night at a time. I went to San Francisco once overnight with some friends and he stayed with my sister. When he used to do overnights with his dad, they were never consecutive overnights. I'm just already feeling sick to my stomach about it.
I doubt he'll be staying overnight with his dad while I'm gone, he doesn't even have a place for him to sleep, and who knows the guy could be homeless again by then. More than likely he'd have some sleepovers with my parents and then stay here with Chris for the weekdays for school. I'm just nervous.....and I have sooooooooooo long to prepare for it lol

The first time I ever left them over night, I totally cried. LOL Even on this last trip, I called my family daily, multiple times.
But you know, in the end, having that time to do something that is just for you and to bond with such good friends, it's really worth it. And the sort of trip you'll have at DL with the group is very different than the one you'd have with your family, so you won't feel so guilty.

It might be rough, but we'll make sure you have fun and go back home refreshed and ready to be the best mommy you can be once again.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

I know this isn't Disneyland related, but I had mentioned my photography before and my stress about an upcoming photo shoot Sunday night. Well I have the results and thought I'd post a sample. No bugs flew up my nose like I had feared. I overdosed on bug spray!

I had to photoshop some of the neighbor's lights out but I'm overjoyed with how they turned out. Bless my friend Monica for helping me out! We'll see how they print!

The lighting is beautiful...I love it!

 

[mommaU4]

Hi Tina.
Hi Callie.
Hi Steph, sorry you are sick. Feel better.
Bridgette, great pic. It turned out very pretty.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

The first time I ever left them over night, I totally cried. LOL Even on this last trip, I called my family daily, multiple times.
But you know, in the end, having that time to do something that is just for you and to bond with such good friends, it's really worth it. And the sort of trip you'll have at DL with the group is very different than the one you'd have with your family, so you won't feel so guilty.

It might be rough, but we'll make sure you have fun and go back home refreshed and ready to be the best mommy you can be once again.

Thanks Beth....I just keep thinking DL trips fly by anyway so I'll be back before he has a chance to miss me. lol

 

[grumpyvet]

Oh how I neeeeeed that time, I just don't get it. Honestly....I just don't trust anyone. Ayden has never had a babysitter, besides my mom or my sister. My sister lives in Washington now so that doesn't work. Chris and I need some alone time but it just never happens either. Ayden is with his dad 3 days a week from 12-7pm. I get off of work at 4, and Chris gets home at 7 so my time alone is getting dinner done.

I hope you really enjoy that dinner!!!

My DD is now 8 and she has been left without either parents overnight a total of 2 times, yep, two. Once I took her to Ohio with me when she was 4 and I went to a conference two hours away and my parents had her for 3 nights.

The other was last summer when my DH had to travel for work and I cannot get out of work in time to pick her up at Y camp on time, so she went to her Aunt's for 3 nights who lives in LA..about 2 hours north of here.

We do not have family here, so are kind of stuck!!! It is impossible for me to just leave her with friends....I feel it is too much of an imposition, and I am too much a worry wort!!

So, I have no solution to make it easier!! I guess the point of this, I feel your pain!!

 

[cccdisney]

Hi girls!

Hey Tina - I was in your neck of the woods today!
I went with my DS's special ed class to the Children's Discovery Museum in San Jose.

 

[grumpyvet]

Stacie!!!!!! Help!!!!! I bought some hair color, and am now afraid to use it. Can you drive down to help me?????????

I am afraid I will look like Ronald McDonald, I bought dark auburn.

Please reassure me!!!!

AmySue

 

[CaliforniaDreamer]

Hi girls. I'm catching up late...

Tonight I'm trying a recipe from Giada DeLaurentis. Mustard glazed salmon. Then serving it with feta cheese, tomato couscous from Bobby Dean. (Paula Dean's son). I'll report back if the salmon is a winner.

Melody, I am interested to know how this went. It sounds wonderful only I don't know who Paula Dean is... Bobby Dean sells couscous or it's a recipe?

Nope and I’ve never looked back! I was married for 21 years and believe me it wasn’t an easy decision for me but I just couldn’t deal with him drinking, putting his friends before Whitney and I, his get rich quick schemes…

Oh yummmm…I am trying so hard to eat good and lose some weight so I had a whole wheat pita with hummus, sprouts, low fat cheese…I’m still hungry!! I’ll just go drink some more water!
:

Good for you! I heard on our local news yesterday there is a problem with some sprouts and salmonella so you might want to google that.

Costco, I love that place, but man, it sure can add up fast!

That is so true. Some discount store I always say.

I know this isn't Disneyland related, but I had mentioned my photography before and my stress about an upcoming photo shoot Sunday night. Well I have the results and thought I'd post a sample. No bugs flew up my nose like I had feared. I overdosed on bug spray!

I had to photoshop some of the neighbor's lights out but I'm overjoyed with how they turned out. Bless my friend Monica for helping me out! We'll see how they print!

That photo is much hard to achieve than it looks. The way you have let the background go to pure black... the wonderful echo of the light of the dress and the pinks in the foreground balanced out by the yellow-green in the background and in the flowers. The figure (you?) is both feminine and haunting in the dress but goddess-strong with her muscles and stance.

Amazing job.

 

[jordansmomma]

Hi Tina, Callie, Steph, Becci & Amy!


Bridgette~ I love the picture.

From the time my guys were very little, we've gone away for weekends without them. They've stayed with grandparents or friends, but we've worked hard to spend time alone together. Partly for me, as I just NEED to get away sometimes, and partly because I've thought it will do them good to know that they can rely on others and themselves (ie., each other) and be comfortable even if mommy and daddy aren't there. Other than one time with Miss Zoe, they are typically mad that we're back so early.
I'm sure your guy will be just fine, and will enjoy the time alone with whomever he's staying with. It will probably be much harder on you than your DS.

My kids just ask, what did you bring me back?? I love the time away. The little breaks are very nice. You get to step out of the mommy box.

Oh how I neeeeeed that time, I just don't get it. Honestly....I just don't trust anyone. Ayden has never had a babysitter, besides my mom or my sister. My sister lives in Washington now so that doesn't work. Chris and I need some alone time but it just never happens either. Ayden is with his dad 3 days a week from 12-7pm. I get off of work at 4, and Chris gets home at 7 so my time alone is getting dinner done.

My kids never went to a babysitter. Dad was a stay at home dad, so they were with him or they were with our families.
My friends and I do kid swaps, so we can get things done, have a night out, my BFF her inlaws are the sweetest & nicest people, sometimes they take all of the kids. That can be anywhere from 5-15 kids. They are super awesome people. Like last summer at Vals wedding, they made 2 trips to pick up kids after the wedding. They insisted that they take the kids & we enjoy the evening with the newlyweds.

Hi! I'm active duty USAF and have had to go away often (and will have to go away in the future as well). I'm used to it (not saying I like leaving them for work) and they are desensitized to me leaving . I talk to them daily even when I'm on this Disney trip.


I hope you all had a good day. I'm exhausted. I've been up since 2 am. I have yet another cold but with pink eye (thanks to all of my kids who had it this past week).

I probably won't be on later tonight, hoping that I'll be asleep. I hope you all have a nice evening. Talk to you all later.

steph

I hope you start feeling better. Isn't it great how the kids love to share their cootie bugs??
Steph you are awesome!

 

[CoMickey]

Good for you! I heard on our local news yesterday there is a problem with some sprouts and salmonella so you might want to google that.

That photo is much hard to achieve than it looks. The way you have let the background go to pure black... the wonderful echo of the light of the dress and the pinks in the foreground balanced out by the yellow-green in the background and in the flowers. The figure (you?) is both feminine and haunting in the dress but goddess-strong with her muscles and stance.

Amazing job.

Thanks for the heads up I hadn't heard that, with this Swine Flu I don't think the media is focusing on anything else! There was a sticker on the sprouts that said they were grown in Calif.

Wow, I saw a beautiful photo but your observations are really interesting! Pictures are worth a 1000 words!

 

[Queenbillabong]

My friends and I do kid swaps,

Sometimes I would like to swap my kid

 

[daisy_77]

Hi ladies! I can't believe I am all caught up! Woo!
Hmm...lots of taco talk. I can't eat tacos. Or pie or banana bread. I will be in 5 months baybee! I am going to get my carb-on at DL.

Kids are hard at every age. I work with 10-12 year olds EVERY DAY. I dread it when Maddie becomes a preteen. The drama that 6th grade girls conjure up is skeery! They are mean and vicious to one another. I don't remember being like that.

I just think that every age has its challenges. However, I think girls may be harder. This is coming from my mother. I was her only girl. I have only brothers. She said I was harder than my brothers combined. Yikes. I can only imagine what I have in store with Madelyn.

Janelle---So happy to hear that Ayden is okay. Strep throat is not that bad. He will be fine now that he has been seen. It gets bad when it is ignored.

Sarah---I know how you are feeling with the no motivation. I was that way before the ladies trip. I didn't care that I weighed over 200 and that I was pre-diabetic. But the ladies trip pics changed the way I saw myself. It was eye opening to see how big I had really gotten. I was 100 pounds heavier than when I graduated highschool in 1995. I decided I HAD to do something. I am glad I did. You will get the motivation--if getting a new look will motivate you, I say go for it! YOU deserve it.

 

[Queenbillabong]

Hi ladies! I can't believe I am all caught up! Woo!
Hmm...lots of taco talk. I can't eat tacos. Or pie or banana bread. I will be in 5 months baybee! I am going to get my carb-on at DL.

Just a little heads up - if you don't have any carbs and then have at it at Disneyland, you will definitely have a replay of chimi-itis If you plan on doing carbs again, I would add some back little by little or you will be having mondo issues (trust me, not pretty or pleasant )

 

[jordansmomma]

Sometimes I would like to swap my kid

So would I, so would I..........any takers???

 

[daisy_77]

Just a little heads up - if you don't have any carbs and then have at it at Disneyland, you will definitely have a replay of chimi-itis If you plan on doing carbs again, I would add some back little by little or you will be having mondo issues (trust me, not pretty or pleasant )

Theresa-LOL

I read something similar on the Atkins diet message boards. By the time the trip rolls around I will already have added whole grains and fruit to my diet, so hopefully...there will be no trips to the secret restroom.

Thanks for the heads up, though!

 

[Boo Bear]

That photo is much hard to achieve than it looks. The way you have let the background go to pure black... the wonderful echo of the light of the dress and the pinks in the foreground balanced out by the yellow-green in the background and in the flowers. The figure (you?) is both feminine and haunting in the dress but goddess-strong with her muscles and stance.

Amazing job.

Awesome feedback! Spoken like a true pro! I used doubled up violet gels taped over a large soft box and a medium soft box with a single blue gel. The greenery, yellow green shed, red brick, yellow white and purple flowers worked well with my choices. I learned from lighting classes that if you angel lights from both sides it cancels most background lights. I was so stressed out about getting this done. Its like "they" always say.... just get it done!

Thanks everyone else for the great comments!

 

[daisy_77]

Bridgette---
That photograph turned out really nice! Very dramatic looking.

 

[MommyWithDreams]

I hope you really enjoy that dinner!!!

My DD is now 8 and she has been left without either parents overnight a total of 2 times, yep, two. Once I took her to Ohio with me when she was 4 and I went to a conference two hours away and my parents had her for 3 nights.

The other was last summer when my DH had to travel for work and I cannot get out of work in time to pick her up at Y camp on time, so she went to her Aunt's for 3 nights who lives in LA..about 2 hours north of here.

We do not have family here, so are kind of stuck!!! It is impossible for me to just leave her with friends....I feel it is too much of an imposition, and I am too much a worry wort!!

So, I have no solution to make it easier!! I guess the point of this, I feel your pain!!

Worry wart is me as well! Too many bad things in the world anymore. The recent incident in Tracy, CA proved that to me. I have a friend that can't even take her kids to the grocery store with her without getting a babysitter. There is someone watching them morning noon and night for EVERYTHING she does. I sometimes wonder...why have kids?

 

[MommyWithDreams]

So would I, so would I..........any takers???

Maybe that should be brought up to Beth...she can organize a kid exchange for the Winter! lol

 

[disney-inspired]

I'm here trying to survive my negotiation & conflict resolution class.
It is the bane of my existence.