Guilt and the Guilty Pleasure – A Single Mom’s April 2011 PTR for a Surprise Birthday

[Tink-erin-belle]

Just know that anytime you need to vent, talk, plan, dream, etc.....you can always do it here, with us!!!

Aww, thanks, Ann. You know, I started this PTR mostly so I would have a place to get all of my trip planning ideas out of my head and onto someplace where I could sort them all out. But then I started to see that this is really a little community of people with similar interests. I'm really happy I joined because you all have been so supportive!

I'm so happy that you found a way to make this trip work! I'm not a single parent but we are a one income family since I homeschool the kids so I know that sometimes balancing the pressures of planning for the future without being miserable in the present can be difficult. Pop looks like so much fun and was where we were planning to stay before we decided to do the house share with Karen and family. I know you'll have a blast!

Thank you, Hope! You put that perfectly, "balancing the pressures of planning for the future without being miserable in the present", that can be a tough thing to do! I'm so glad I found a way to work around this unexpected situation and still stay at a resort that I think we'll like I think the kids and I will have fun walking around the resort!

Hurray for still being able to take your trip! Pop is a lot of fun! I agree -- sometimes a vacation is just plain necessary to keep our sanity!

Thank you, Jackie! I think the reason I didn't cancel the trip on Sunday was because I knew I was going to lose it if I couldn't take this much needed vacation! The pictures I've seen of Pop are so cute! I can't wait to show the kids that Mickey telephone, because I used to have one in my room when I was little! I think the kids and I will have a ball there

 

[tinkerbells mum]

so glad you are still able to go, the important part of the holiday is you having a wonderful time with your children it won't matter what hotel you stay in just beign at "the World" is magical enough xx

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

OK, guys, I need your help! I have a big decision to make and that is HOW DO I SURPRISE THE KIDS?!? Let me back up and tell you the plan so far:

On Thursday, March 31st, I'm going to go pick up the rental car after work. I'm going to drive it home and park it down the street from my house. I'll have to hope and pray that the kids don't look outside and wonder how I got home without a car! Then I'll have to have my brother come get me and take me to get my car from the car rental place so I can bring it home. Unfortunately, no one else I know who lives close by knows how to drive stick, so I have no choice but to have my brother take me I need to let my brother practice driving stick in my car! Anywho... After I get the kids to bed, I have to pack the rental car. It should only be some suitcases and some odds and ends, but I'll pack the cooler in the morning.

Ahh, the morning! That morning just happens to be April Fools Day! So on Friday, April 1st, I plan on getting up and getting ready as usual. Then I'll get the kids up for their normal routine. I might even throw in a, "Hurry up! We're gonna be late!" just for good measure and because I'm evil like that I want to be able to surprise them in some over-the-top April Fools way, but I can't think of how! They love Phineas and Ferb, so I was thinking of making a card or something that says, "I know what we're going to do today!" and then tell them about the trip. Or maybe I could say, "We're going to Disney World today!" and then say, "Just kidding! April Fools!" but they might try to strangle me before I could tell them we really are going

So that is why I'm reaching out to you guys. Do you all have any ideas about how I can suprise them? Any ideas about adding an April Fools element to it? Keep in mind that my kids and I have sarcastic, sometimes dark, silly senses of humor - so they can take a joke even if the joke is a little mean Can you guys tell that I'm seriously trying to stun these kids? I just can't wait to see the smiles on their little faces! So thank you in advance for any help you can give!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Ahh, the morning! That morning just happens to be April Fools Day! So on Friday, April 1st, I plan on getting up and getting ready as usual. Then I'll get the kids up for their normal routine. I might even throw in a, "Hurry up! We're gonna be late!" just for good measure and because I'm evil like that I want to be able to surprise them in some over-the-top April Fools way, but I can't think of how! They love Phineas and Ferb, so I was thinking of making a card or something that says, "I know what we're going to do today!" and then tell them about the trip. Or maybe I could say, "We're going to Disney World today!" and then say, "Just kidding! April Fools!" but they might try to strangle me before I could tell them we really are going

OMG!!! Telling them on April Fool's Day is ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!! You could also tell them you want to tape one of those commericals for Disney so you could POSSIBLY WIN A TRIP TO DISNEY!!!

 

[tinkerbells mum]

how ever you tell them they will be soooo excited try to get some pictures of their smiles once they find out (one month today !!!)

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

I think just being April Fools day will be the funniest! Be sure to talk about how it's April Fools, the night before, so they don't forget! I actually think it would be funny (since it seems your family is like mine) that you tell them, then say April Fools...then wait about 5 minutes and tell them again...LOL...so you are driving? If you joke with them enough about it, they may not believe you until you are in the car and on your way!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

so glad you are still able to go, the important part of the holiday is you having a wonderful time with your children it won't matter what hotel you stay in just beign at "the World" is magical enough xx

Thank you, tinkerbells mum! You are so right, and they are going to have lots of magic and pixie dust on this trip!

OMG!!! Telling them on April Fool's Day is ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!!! You could also tell them you want to tape one of those commericals for Disney so you could POSSIBLY WIN A TRIP TO DISNEY!!!

that is a great idea, Ann!

how ever you tell them they will be soooo excited try to get some pictures of their smiles once they find out (one month today !!!)

Oh yes, I'll be sure to get lots of pictures! Maybe I can even get my mom involved and have her secretly video tape it!

I think just being April Fools day will be the funniest! Be sure to talk about how it's April Fools, the night before, so they don't forget! I actually think it would be funny (since it seems your family is like mine) that you tell them, then say April Fools...then wait about 5 minutes and tell them again...LOL...so you are driving? If you joke with them enough about it, they may not believe you until you are in the car and on your way!

Yeah, I'm definitely going to have to mess with their minds a little bit.

 

[PennyLane1084]

Man Erin, For a second I thought you've been hanging out in my PTR for too long and my Disney Curse rubbed off on you. I'm so glad you didn't end up cancelling your trip.

Being a single Mom must be so hard. My aunt is a single Mom and she struggles everyday. Technically she has a boyfriend but he has no job and just sits around yelling at the kids all day. (I can hear him right now and I want to go shove a sock in his pie hole.) But I digress.

You are a wonderful Mom, your babies are so lucky to have you!!

You remind me of my parents. They always did what they had to do so that my brother and I had a fun childhood, which included annual trips to WDW.

I know you really wanted to stay at POFQ, but i'm sure the kids will have just as much fun at Pop!! It looks like such a kid friendly atmosphere. And way to go getting that AP discount. There is a special place in heaven for Disney CM's because these people are saints

Oh and one last thing:

1 month to go. WOOOHOOOO!!!

 

[PennyLane1084]

OMG, Erin I love that you're going to suprise the kids on April Fools Day. This is going to be awesome!!

Here is an idea:

- Hang up a sign on the fridge that says "Happy Birthday, We're going to Disney World

- I'll make you a picture of Mickey saying "Hiya your kids' names. See you real soon!". Hang it up on door to the bathroom.

- Put their new backpacks out where their regular school bags would be and fill new backpacks with their vacation stuff.

- Replace their regular soap and shampoo with Disney soap and shampoo.

- Get Disney bowls and ustensils and have them use them for breakfast.

- Wake the kids up saying "We're late, We're late for a very important date!"

- Don't say anything about the Disney stuff.

- When the kids ask about all the strange Disney stuff say "APRIL FOOLS! We're not late! We're going to DISNEY WORLD!!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Man Erin, For a second I thought you've been hanging out in my PTR for too long and my Disney Curse rubbed off on you. I'm so glad you didn't end up cancelling your trip.

Being a single Mom must be so hard. My aunt is a single Mom and she struggles everyday. Technically she has a boyfriend but he has no job and just sits around yelling at the kids all day. (I can hear him right now and I want to go shove a sock in his pie hole.) But I digress.

You are a wonderful Mom, your babies are so lucky to have you!!

You remind me of my parents. They always did what they had to do so that my brother and I had a fun childhood, which included annual trips to WDW.

I know you really wanted to stay at POFQ, but i'm sure the kids will have just as much fun at Pop!! It looks like such a kid friendly atmosphere. And way to go getting that AP discount. There is a special place in heaven for Disney CM's because these people are saints

Oh and one last thing:

1 month to go. WOOOHOOOO!!!

Thanks, Kristin! I am relieved that I didn't have to cancel. Being a single mom does suck sometimes, but being a single mom with a deadbeat boyfriend must suck even worse! I'm sorry that you even have to hear his nonsense and that your sister and nieces even have to deal with him. He sounds like a loser Anyway, being a single mom makes me want to do everything I can for and with my kids, so thank you so much for the compliment! And yeah, I was a little disappointed that I couldn't stay in POFQ after I'd scored that upgrade, but Pop really does seem cool and I think the kids will really enjoy it That CM was awesome and I'm so glad that I spoke to her when I made the resort change! I wish I wrote her name down, but I was too excited to remember to ask her for it again at the end of the call!

OMG, Erin I love that you're going to suprise the kids on April Fools Day. This is going to be awesome!!

Here is an idea:

- Hang up a sign on the fridge that says "Happy Birthday, We're going to Disney World

- I'll make you a picture of Mickey saying "Hiya your kids' names. See you real soon!". Hang it up on door to the bathroom.

- Put their new backpacks out where their regular school bags would be and fill new backpacks with their vacation stuff.

- Replace their regular soap and shampoo with Disney soap and shampoo.

- Get Disney bowls and ustensils and have them use them for breakfast.

- Wake the kids up saying "We're late, We're late for a very important date!"

- Don't say anything about the Disney stuff.

- When the kids ask about all the strange Disney stuff say "APRIL FOOLS! We're not late! We're going to DISNEY WORLD!!

These are all great ideas! Thank you! I especially like replacing their school backpacks with their trip backpacks I think I'm going to do a combination of the ideas everyone has given me so far, which will basically bait them into asking me what's up with all of the Mickey stuff and then tell them! And then say, "April Fools!" and then tell them I was just kidding and we really are going I have a month to work on this and a lot of great suggestions, so this is going to be so awesome!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

I’ve been waiting to write this all day:

30 DAYS!!!

In 30 days we will be in Walt Disney World! This will not be a park day since it is our arrival day. In my haste to get ideas on how to freak my kids out over this surprise trip ( ) I neglected to mention our driving plans. So on April 1st I will begin our drive down. I would like to leave by 7 or 8am at the absolute latest – depending on how long it takes me to calm the kids down! Then again, they might be pushing me out the door in order to hurry up and get there! So I’m debating about stopping in Savannah like we did in 2008 or just driving straight through like in 2009. In 2008, I wasn’t really ready to stop driving but I did because my plan was to have a break from the road in Savannah. In 2009 I didn’t feel like stopping and I just kept going. We were all very tired by the time we got to Celebration, but I was not completely exhausted by the drive. Also, it was nice to be able to already be in the Orlando area and not have to get in the car for another leg of the trip. OK. It’s decided. I’m driving straight through. That way, we can have a very good sleep and have a relaxing first day in Orlando. Well, sort of relaxing

So we’ll check out of whatever hotel we’re in (I’ll have to do some research on where we’ll stay), exchange our AP vouchers for real APs at DTD and probably have lunch at Earl of Sandwich. Then we’ll go check into Pop and hopefully our room will be ready. If not, we have something to do while we wait: Ziplining!!! I can’t wait for the kids to do this – especially Chip after that field trip fiasco – and I can’t wait to do it myself! We’re going to go to ZoomAir and we are going to have a blast! Then after that, we’ll go back to Pop to shower again (ziplining can be quite a workout!), unpack, relax for a while and maybe even tour the resort. Then we’ll head over to Polynesian for our dinner ADR at ‘Ohana. I’m going to remind one of the CMs that we are celebrating birthdays and I’m going to request a table by the window or at least one with a good view for Wishes. It’ll be 10pm by the time Wishes starts, so after it’s over, we’ll go back to Pop and go straight to bed! We have to get up bright and early for our first MK day – which is also Minnie’s birthday!

 

[-Hope-]

Hooray for 30 days!

Your driving and first day plans look great, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that you get some pixie dust for Wishes viewing from Ohana.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hurray for Thirty Days!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

So yesterday, I was planning on posting my plans for Minnie's birthday and our first park day...

But my laptop crashed!!!

I don't think it's the hard drive - that happened once last year and it was a pain - but I think something is going on with Windows. I'm going to try to fix it when I get home. I'm at the auto body shop now getting some maintenance done on my car. Hopefully after I get my car fixed, I can fix my laptop and do all the things I was supposed to do today for the trip! Other than posting about our second park day, I was also going to work on our t-shirt designs and order our shirts from Hanes as well as order transfer paper from one of the people on the DISign boards. I also wanted to design some things for the surprise on April fools. On top of that, I wanted to share with you the adorable sign that Kristin made for the kids that I will probably put on the fridge on April Fools Day. So I have a lot to get done and it all hinges on me being able to bring my computer back to life!

Anyway, I wanted to thank all of you for celebrating the 30 day mark with me!

Hooray for 30 days!

Your driving and first day plans look great, I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that you get some pixie dust for Wishes viewing from Ohana.

Hurray for Thirty Days!!!

Thanks for all of the well wishes and support! I think we're all doing the happy dance together! Just under a month to go!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Oh no, hope it's nothing big with the computer! Can't wait to see all the stuff you are making!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

I’m just going to come right out and say this: I rescheduled the Disney trip. Rescheduled for a few months out from now, not cancelled, but I’ll get to that in a minute. It was EXTREMELY difficult for me to come to this decision. Obviously. Duh, right? LOL I mean, over six months of planning down the drain. I kept coming up against hurdles and I kept jumping over them, but the hurdles were coming faster and faster and they were getting higher and higher. The biggest one of course was not getting the amount back from my tax return that I was expecting. This was my fault because I should’ve known that I shouldn’t have counted on something so variable. Another big mistake I made was not paying the trip off little by little. Maybe if I had kept the vacation as a package instead of switching it to a room-only reservation this wouldn’t have happened, but at the time, it seemed like the best and most economical option. It still does but again, I’ll get to that in a minute. I was going to be able to pull the vacation off by switching resorts and downgrading the APs I was going to get but in all honesty, I still didn’t feel comfortable with the financial situation.

If I’m going to be honest, I might as well lay it all out there. When my ex-husband lost his job two years ago, it was a financial blow to me but I was making great money at the sales position in my company, so I was able to make do. He worked odd jobs but supposedly never made enough to give me child support. He then got a job and started giving me some child support occasionally, but it was a fraction of what I used to get. Then he got fired from that job and I was right back at no child support again. He got a job again recently but I still haven’t gotten anything from that and his wages haven’t been garnished yet. Oh well, I guess I shouldn’t worry because I am not the one who owes tens of thousands in child support. Anyway, as usual, I made do. Also, I don’t want to come off as if I am placing all of the blame on my ex, because I am not.

As I wrote in my first post in this PTR, I took a job in my company that was technically a promotion but I made less money because I was not making commission anymore. At the time, my ex was still employed, but I shouldn’t have counted on that occasional child support that he gave me. Again, I made do and I felt that I made the right decision. I was burnt out in sales and on top of that, I wasn’t the greatest at it! I don’t regret taking the job because it has already provided so much more opportunity than the dead-end sales role I was in. I will make the same, if not more, money in that role someday soon!

In the mean time, I have to come to grips with the fact that my income is 2/3 of what it was two years ago. Yes, you read that right: 2/3!!! as I said before, my 38th birthday a few weeks ago really put into perspective that I have to be aggressive about retirement planning and saving for the kids’ college tuition. That wasn’t what put me over the edge, though. First, my laptop crashed and I had to reinstall everything. It is OK for now but realistically, it needs to be replaced. It just drove me crazy that I couldn’t pick up my checkbook and go buy another one. That’s what emergency funds are for, right? But the last year or so has been nothing but an emergency! I can laugh now, but it was making me upset to have to use my emergency money on car repairs and bills etc. etc… but I guess that really IS the purpose of an emergency fund.

THEN… I had a conference with my son’s teacher and counselor. He’s still not applying himself, still not participating… He has had this problem ever since we moved and he and his sister switched schools a few years ago. At his previous school, he was in Gifted and Talented classes and he thrived! Due to some clerical error, he wasn’t placed in GT when he changed to the new school That didn’t even make sense to me. I have been fighting this for years and have been asking for him to be tested to see if he still qualified for GT classes. His teachers haven’t approved testing because of his grades Again, that doesn’t make sense to me. Well, this most recent conference was the final straw because I know that my son has the ability to do better if he is challenged. My opinion is that he is bored with the subject matter and that is why he isn’t trying. Please, trust me that I am not one of those parents that creates excuses for her kids underachievement LOL! I see the research, the projects and the writing that he does on his own at home. So I am going to pay to have him tested at a local university. Unfortunately, this testing is several hundred dollars. My kids come first though, so I’m going to do what I have to do. He’s going into 7th grade next year and I really want for him to be able to accomplish more and have more self confidence in school. Hopefully, he will be tested back into the Gifted and Talented program. Either way, if he does or doesn’t, I know I have to have a more hands on approach to his (and my daughter’s) education. We are lucky to live so close to DC where there are tons of museums, as well as historical sites and cultural events in DC, VA and MD. Now that the weather is warming up, we’re going to be busy on weekends having fun and not realizing that we are all learning! Anyway, I know I have a couple of teachers and a couple of homeschoolers among my readers, so I would love any advice you might be able to give me about supplementing my kids’ education. Actually, all of us have been students at one point, so I’d be happy to take advice from any of you guys that might have a suggestion

So after that long tangent, it’s probably obvious that I want to get the testing done ASAP. So that, along with my laptop issues and car maintenance made me feel uncomfortable about spending so much money on this trip. I was on the phone with one of the Disney bakeries, going over a few custom cake options when it hit me and I said to myself, “I shouldn’t spend $125 on a cake when I can barely keep money in my savings account!” That thought was what triggered the realization that I wasn’t going to be able to fully enjoy my kids’ birthdays in Disney (or make their trip truly magical) if I was worried about the financial situation at home. It was crushing, I’m not going to lie, but my only saving grace was that the kids didn’t even know about this trip and I will still be able to do great things for them for their birthdays!

So, don’t cry for me, DISboards! I have a plan! There’s always a plan! The tax refund went to my emergency fund and to pay a few bills so I could start fresh and be caught up with everything. As much as it hurts not to be going on vacation in less than two weeks, it is a tremendous relief to not have to panic about money should a situation arise. I’m going to keep building up the savings and I’M GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!! Oh yeah!!! Woo hoo!!! The trip has been rescheduled but before I give you the details, let me share a few silly pictures of me and the kids from our 2008 and 2009 trips:

Little weirdo! LOL


The kids made me pose like this! I swear!


Popsicles!


Sometimes the kids have to be put on punishment, even on vacation! LOL


I can hear Chip saying it now, “No! Don’t kiss me!”


Crazy kids


Hamming it up!


They look so little in those pictures! Well, that was 2008 and 2009, so I will be able to see how much they have grown when I take them back this year. A few weeks ago, I called and changed our room-only reservation to…


October 7th through 11th in Port Orleans Riverside!!!

MNSSHP here we come! I get to start planning all over again! I get to make ADRs in under 3 weeks! So of course I’m starting a new PTR and I would love for you to come along for the ride…again! It won’t be the same old stuff from this PTR, but it will include more Dinner and a Disney movie nights, some cool craft projects AND I’m going to try my hand at creating t-shirt designs! It is called There’s No Turning Back Now!!! and if you follow that link, you’ll find out why I gave my new PTR that title. Hint: it has to do with my master plan of how I will be budgeting so that the kids and I absolutely will be going on this trip! Get ready for lots of surprises along the way! See you over there!

 

[-Hope-]

I already popped over to subscribe to the new PTR but wanted to say that I've been wondering where you were! I can see that lots has been going on. I'm glad you were able to reschedule your trip and didn't have to cancel all together.

I think its great that you are pushing to do what's right for your son. I had to push to have Jace tested when he was in PS. They kept saying he was too young but since I taught at the school I finally convinced them. Years later they now test kindergarteners on a regular basis but he was the first one. Unfortunately for us the TAG program wasn't enough for him (not because he's that brilliant but because the program was lacking, lol) and its part of the reason we homeschool now. I know that isn't a possibility for everyone but I suggest the book Guerrilla Learning to help you figure out how to help him. I'm not going to lie- it isn't a conventional book and will offer advice for you to not care about grades as much as encouraging his pursuit of knowledge that he's passionate about. It's basically a guide for sending your kids to school but keeping a homeschooling attitude (which is that school is a tool, not the whole of learning and definately not the master of life). I know it isn't for everyone but I found it extremely helpful. Good luck!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Hey Erin.....

I'm at work now so I can't stay on long, but I'm going to read your post and respond a bit later. We are all here for you, you must know that!!!

 

[tinkerbells mum]

Hi Erin

i'm just about to go and subscribe to your new trip report, really glad the trip is only postponed, when you have got a bit of money saved you will be able to enjoy the trip


looking forward to the new lot of planning

xx