60 Day dance! Woot!!!That is so close!!
that's exactly what i said this morning!!!!! Can't believe it's almost here
Hurray for 60 Days!!!
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My GPS in my hometown hasn’t been so great recently either, which is why I’ve been entertaining getting a GPS. It would be a splurge and right now, a new camera trumps a GPS. Maybe I’ll just pay more attention to the signs in WDW this time 
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I don’t consider myself a “Disney Expert” or an "Authority of All Things to be Packed” by any means but this PTR has really helped me to sort out all of the things that are running around in my head. So, instead of talking to myself and looking like a crazy-control-freak-uber-planner, I can talk to you guys about it! Thank you for understanding my Type A ways! )
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) ) ) ) Also, you may wonder why fabric softener sheets are on there after I just vowed not to do a load of laundry. Well, when we arrive at our resort, the first thing I do is completely unpack. After all of our suitcases are empty, one suitcase becomes the dirty laundry suitcase. I put a fabric softener sheet in that bag so it doesn’t get stinky from the dirty clothes. Then I put our dirty clothes from our overnight bag in there. Every night after coming back from the parks, dirty clothes go in there, so it’s like we’re packing as we go! Once one suitcase gets filled up, we make another dirty clothes suitcase and put a fabric softener sheet in that one too. I never put wet clothes in the dirty clothes suitcases, so they never really get stinky but the fabric softener still helps. By the end of our trip, all of our suitcases either have dirty clothes in them or souvenirs, so there is very little left to pack!
On our first trip in 2008, I got one of those Buxton Organizers that were advertized on TV all of the time. What a piece of cr@p! That is probably why they arent advertized on TV anymore LOL but that is also what I get for buying something As Seen on TV I mean, the idea was good and it did help with organizing stuff, but it was poorly made and it was falling apart at the seams within 2 days! So I had to get a little over-the-shoulder messenger type book bag from Animal Kingdom. I cant remember how much it cost, but I remember thinking it was too expensive! At least it was a well made bag and I was able to use it for the rest of that trip as well as the 2009 trip. I would bring it with me again, but I would prefer something bigger so that I could fit more water bottles in it and something that I could wear on both shoulders so that I could distribute the weight instead of switching from one shoulder to the other. Im getting book bags for all three of us because the kids are both big enough to carry their own stuff and it shouldnt be too much stuff anyway. Im looking at some hiker type backpacks on the LL Bean website and waiting to see if they go on sale over the next few weeks, but if anyone else has any real life suggestions on a good backpack for adults and kids that is fairly lightweight and durable, I am open to suggestions! So here is what Ill be packing in our day bags, and I will also list the things that Ill carry just in my day bag. OK, I guess I just decided. They are getting inexpensive digital cameras! Ooh! That will be something good to put in the kids goodies bags for the road trip!) 
Kudos on figuring out a way to figure out if your ds would need a costume for PL~ sneaky sneaky, lol.
These lists look great!!
One thing I would suggest that we found really helpful was an over the door shoe organizer for all of our toiletries. There isn't a lot of counter space for all of those toothbrushes, combs, face wash, etc. and the clear pockets on the shoe organizer were perfect for keeping our stuff handy without cluttering up the small space. Otherwise I think your lists all look great!
But I also figured that it was good for him to have one, if only for emergency purposes. The thing was, there are no parental controls (that I know of) that can block certain times of day to make or receive calls/texts or restrictions on certain websites etc, so I was concerned about those things as well. Really, before Chip got that phone, I was looking into a prepaid phone for kids that allows parents to set parameters for all of that stuff you can only allow calls to go to and come from certain numbers, block texting, restrict spending on the phone on things like games and set time limits for when the kids can use the phone. Also, a huge selling point was that there was GPS tracking on the phone, so parents could locate their kids just by going on the website. That was the phone that I thought was appropriate for kids Chips and Minnies ages. You all may have heard of it the company is called Kajeet. There are a lot of start up costs, though, but I thought it was worth it. I discussed this with my ex-husband and he never committed to helping me pay for the phones. Next thing I know, Chip comes home one day with a cell phone! Needless to say, Minnie was extremely upset that she didnt get one too. I was also ticked because my ex and I never finished discussing the matter of even getting the kids cell phones. Please excuse how this might be coming off in this post, because I have been in an ex-husband bashing type of mood for the last few weeks, so it is bound to show through on this post Anyway, it turns out that Chips cell phone is on a plan with not only his dad, but his dads GF and her 2 kids! It was the GFs plan! Well, I didnt let it bother me too much because I figured, Im not the one footing the bill for Chips phone, so it is what it is. But
Chips phone was constantly getting cut off for non-payment. Whats worse is that my ex wouldnt even warn Chip that it was about to get cut off or that it had been cut off. The only way Chip found out that it was disconnected was if he tried to make a call and it didnt go through or if I tried to text him and got that non-deliverable message back. What is the point of having a cell phone if there is no guarantee that it will be on? Now, Im trying not to be too judgmental here, because there have been times in the past where I have gotten behind on bills. It can happen to anyone and usually does at one point or another. But this was happening with Chips cell phone constantly. Also, I knew that if the service was always getting disconnected due to non-pay, there was no way Minnie was going to get a phone on that plan. So what to do? So I braced myself for the sales pitch for something that I knew I didnt need, but she was actually calling to see if I wanted to add another line to my plan! 
What?!? Perfect timing! Then again, I figured it would cost an arm and a leg because I was going to be adding a whole new phone to my plan which already has unlimited data, unlimited texts etc oh, and 450 minutes a month that I never even come close to using. I think the most amount of minutes Ive used since I got my newest phone was about 200 in a month Well, she actually offered me a pretty good deal to add that second line to my plan. What made all the difference was that she told me that this phone also had GPS tracking and all of the same parental controls as the Kajeet phone. I was sold at that point on getting a phone for Minnie! Then I asked how much it would be to add a third line for Chip and it wasnt that much more. It also helps that I get a pretty hefty discount from my employer, but even without that discount, it still would have been a good deal. So she kept trying to close the sale on me, but I knew she could do better That is the benefit of working in sales for so long and I wasnt even that great of a sales person! LOL So I held out until I got the two phones for free (with Kajeet, I would have had to pay for the phones, so that saved me a couple of hundred dollars), free activation and free shipping. I know that they offer all of that to all customers who hesitate to commit but it is still a small victory She did try to upsell me on screen protectors and things like that, but I knew I could get those things at Target for much much less that getting them from Sprint. So I am super happy about this! 
When I told Chip, his first question was, Why? but sadly, he realized why before I could even explain anything 
Then he started telling me repeatedly that he loves me 
I feel a little conflicted because I know that this is something his dad was providing for him, but at the same time, I feel like I had to do this. I mean, I feel a little controlling by basically telling Chip that this will be his main cell phone, but it is better than feeling helpless when he tells me that his current cell phone is off. I have come to understand over the past two years that I cannot count on child support and I have had to find ways to become less dependent on my ex-husband. I have had to actively distance myself from him financially. In this particular situation, I know that if something should happen between him and his current GF, Chips phone will be disconnected right away. Or if they continue to not pay the bill, their cell provider will cancel the contract and cut off all of the phones. I would rather be prepared now than to be stuck in a situation that causes me to have to scramble for a solution, hurriedly add Chip to my cell plan and not get a good deal like this one. Im just going to spit this out because I dont like talking about it: Both of my kids have gotten lost in WDW 
On the last night of our 2008 trip, Chip, Minnie and I were in MK right before MVMCP. We didnt have tickets to go, and I hadnt gotten a chance to take pictures of Cinderellas Castle all lit up, so I stopped on the walkway from Tomorrowland to take this picture:
Well, maybe she was scared because after the show, she had to get a drink!
So, that is another reason I want the kids to have reliable cell phones on them when we go on our trip. God forbid the kids get lost again, at least they will have their phones with them so that we can contact each other. So Im going to lighten the mood a little bit before I end this post by sharing this picture from later that day that I think is so funny. The kids look like they are overjoyed to be taking this picture! 
I know exactly how you feel! Jace got lost at Six Flags once and it was TERRIFYING!! And let me just say that the folks at Six Flags do not handle lost children incidents as well as the folks at Disney. I'm glad it all worked out and hope the party helped ease things for you a bit.
Losing a kid in an amusement park is absolutely horrifying! Yes, we all enjoyed the party and left MK exhausted but happy I'm sorry your mom won't be going with you on your trip, but you are so right that it is very reassuring to know your kids will have cell phones. I'm glad I decided to get the kids phones yesterday. I think I just needed to sleep on it because I was feeling guilty for stepping on my ex's toes - but the most important thing is for the kids to have reliable phones. I feel good about it now 
(both my girls have phones and it really is just a comfort thing for me too.)
Losing a kid in a amusement park is just awful! I'm really happy about my choice to get my kids phones, just for my peace of mind My parents, grandparents and great-grandparents are all either 1/4 or 1/2 Native American. Same thing for my ex-husband's side of the family. So, by my fuzzy math calculations, I figure that makes me and my kids 1/4 Native American too! A relative of mine (an actual relative this time LOL) actually works at the National Museum of the American Indian in DC. So I think Morghan is correct, we're all related in some way or another
So you know what that means! I've decided to get an AP this year! I didn't get the bonus from the company where I work because the company didn't beat quota this year. I also am still not getting child support. I did, however, get a nice little raise at the end of the year! 
It still isn't as much as I was making this time last year before my promotion (it ALMOST makes me miss sales. Almost ) but it is still something and it makes me feel comfortable to make the financial commitment to get an AP. The kids and I deserve it - especially after not getting to go on vacation last year. So I'll be able to start planning our Christmas vacation soon! Believe me, I was tempted to book it today! But I'm not totally set on the dates yet. I'm thinking the week after Thanksgiving. Anyway, in reference to this trip, it is becoming more and more real every day Oh, and today marks
That's so, so funny! Thank you so much for the congrats on adopting Michael. It was a really long road (as you know) and so worth it in the end. I think that's great you were able to foster your relative. It takes a very special person to be a foster parent. 
Oh Erin, thanks for reading my report! That's so nice of you.
It was cold while we were there! It warmed up some days but it was just too chilly for us to enjoy being wet or go swimming often. I am so happy I found a long-lost relative!
Yay for 50 days!!! Woot!
APs and 50 days!
This trip is sneaking up on me, but I like it! I just was notified of your order.....Thank you!!!!!
Karen!I know EXACTLY how this feels, so I share your pain! We had to cancel a perfectly planned trip (all my trips are perfectly planned though! LOL) last fall and I'm planning again and will make it happen this time! Can't wait to read more!
I think that is what makes cancelling even worse, though! There are these very well laid out plans running around in your mind day and night, there are ADRs that were made to fit into your schedule and there are surprises along the way for your kids and then it all goes up in smoke! Such a horrible feeling! Well, I am glad that we are both making it work now so that you and I will have our trips for our families this year! Nothing beats a woman with determination! Plus, you are so lucky to have a real life friend to plan with who is just as excited about Disney as you are! Do you think you can share your secret for turning someone into a Disney addict? You know, since Hope calls you her pusher? I am so far behind, Erin! Woo hoo for deciding to get an AP! I think that is just awesome!!! I have had those thoughts before, but I haven't acted on them yet!
The other thing was that I REALLY missed going there for the Christmas season and I am going to be able to take the kids again this year because of the AP. I think this will be the only year I do the AP, though
I think
Then I realized that was ridiculous and also that he is a nice guy, so I replied to the IM, How did you know that?
Then I remembered I accepted him as a Facebook Friend a few days ago. Duh! My FB is littered with WDW pictures from the 2008 and 2009 trips. So we went on with our conversation and he said that his kids have been asking to go to Disney, but he wanted to go somewhere else. His kids have been asking him and his wife more and more recently (I think he said his kids are 7 and 9) because they have never been. Believe me, I was ready to hop over the cubicle to take over his computer and start planning his vacation for him! Instead of acting like a psycho, though, I asked him a few questions like what types of hotels they like when they vacation, if they like to eat a lot and try new things or if they prefer to sort of graze all day, what time of year they would want to go, etc. He was looking for a flat price, as all newbies do when considering a WDW vacation I mean that in the nicest way, because I know I was looking for just a straight price when I booked our 2008 trip. But, as we all know, there are so many factors that go into how much or how little you spend when you take a trip to WDW. Really, that is the case with all trips, but WDW especially because so much planning has to be done in advance. So first, I told him about the websites I frequent when Im planning a trip and advised that those sites were great resources for finding a really good deal. Then I priced out a 7 day vacation for him and his family staying at a deluxe with 5 day hoppers and the regular dining plan. He was surprised at the value of the trip and got all excited about it and started asking more questions. Of course, I was happy to oblige! I started thinking that I may have found a perfect WDW convert that I could obsess about planning with at work, but then I thought his wife might not like that if he and I were spending hours talking about THEIR vacation! So I gave him a homework assignment: to visit the websites I told him about and talk it over with his wife to see if they really wanted to do Disney this year or next. If so, Id be happy to help with any tips or advice. Is is sad that I really hope that they decide to go this year? Also, I wear a size 10 
so she is definitely following in my footsteps. OMG, a pun! LOL Seriously, though, this chick is gonna have big feet like her mama! Their dad is 64 and wears a size 15 (I didnt know those even existed until we started dating ) so the kids will definitely be tall and have BIG FEET! Anywho
). After I did her hair up in a big poufy ponytail, per the divas I mean Minnies request, she got dressed and posed for some pictures before her dad arrived to take her to the ball!
And a father daughter dance sounds so sweet.
