Heigh Ho! Heigh Ho! It's Off to Celebrate We Go!--LAST UPDATE!!! PG 62 ENJOY!!!!!!!!!

[MegansMom]

I forgot that I wanted to tell you about our past week too........

WHAT A NIGHTMARE!!!!! Megan started with a stomach virus last Sunday morning, and the poor baby dealt with it ALL WEEK!!!!! The first time she really ate anything significant was just on Saturday!!! It got so bad that on Wednesday night, we had to take the poor thing into the hospital because they were so worried about her dehydrating. Let me just say, this has been the LONGEST week of my life I think!!!! I have never felt so drained and tired and worried about her in such a long time!!!! I don't know if it is just some new virus going around, but it was by far the worst stomach bug she has ever had!!!!!!!!! So glad that is over now!

 

[lmillercrew]

So sorry to hear about Megan but glad that she is finally feeling better. It gets scary when they're that sick and you know how easy it is for them to get dehydrated.
Congrats on the "future" homebuilding. Good luck in choosing and locating the neighborhood that you want.
Here's to the job search! Good luck!

 

[moparop]

Glad to hear Megan is finally feeling better. Having a sick kid is just such a drain on everyone.

So exciting to be building! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that the house in the right neighborhood is the right price and a perfect job opens up for you right around the corner.

Looking forward to hearing about the DL plans!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

I finally got a chance to read your update. I sure hope that Megan is feeling better. It is so hard for children to get over a stomach virus.

It sounds like you had a magical Friday at Disney! What fun! I hope to do more with Jeremy at DHS this time around. There is still so much to do there that we have not seen. Such a brave girl to ride TOT. That is a definite No for Jeremy and I don't think that will change for a few years. Tom and I are thinking of a date night this year and going to DHS to ride the RnRC and ToT. We will see!

Congrats on building a new home next year! We did that a few years ago. It was a lot of work but well worth it in the end. You will have so much fun.

I know what you mean about the snow! I usually enjoy it so I can so sleigh riding with Jeremy but enough is enough!

Look forward to the next update,

Erika

 

[MegansMom]

So sorry to hear about Megan but glad that she is finally feeling better. It gets scary when they're that sick and you know how easy it is for them to get dehydrated.
Congrats on the "future" homebuilding. Good luck in choosing and locating the neighborhood that you want.
Here's to the job search! Good luck!

Thanks so much!!! We have lots of changes going on, but all for the good!!! It is QUITE exciting around here! I am SO glad Megan is better---what a week!!!

Glad to hear Megan is finally feeling better. Having a sick kid is just such a drain on everyone.

So exciting to be building! I'll be keeping my fingers crossed that the house in the right neighborhood is the right price and a perfect job opens up for you right around the corner.

Looking forward to hearing about the DL plans!

Thanks for all the fingers crossing and prayers!!! We are all just hoping that all works out the way it is meant to be!!!

I hope to share some DL plans with you all soon!

I finally got a chance to read your update. I sure hope that Megan is feeling better. It is so hard for children to get over a stomach virus.

It sounds like you had a magical Friday at Disney! What fun! I hope to do more with Jeremy at DHS this time around. There is still so much to do there that we have not seen. Such a brave girl to ride TOT. That is a definite No for Jeremy and I don't think that will change for a few years. Tom and I are thinking of a date night this year and going to DHS to ride the RnRC and ToT. We will see!

Congrats on building a new home next year! We did that a few years ago. It was a lot of work but well worth it in the end. You will have so much fun.

I know what you mean about the snow! I usually enjoy it so I can so sleigh riding with Jeremy but enough is enough!

Look forward to the next update,

Erika

We had a great Friday at DHS on this trip!!! I hope our next trip there is just as good!!! I like the idea of a date night---you two enjoy!!!

I am so glad to hear that you would recommend the building process---many of our friends are trying to talk us out of it, but we know we won't find what WE want so we want to go create it!!! I am not too scared by the process at all....but then again, I am just getting into it!!!

 

[praisehisname]

So sorry Megan was sick; glad she is feeling better now. The new house plans sound exciting! I hope it works out with the new house and you going back to work!

 

[MegansMom]

So sorry Megan was sick; glad she is feeling better now. The new house plans sound exciting! I hope it works out with the new house and you going back to work!

Thankfully she is feeling SO much better now!!! She really looks puny though---she had NO weight to lose....has always looked like a walking ribcage...and now looks like a living, breathing skeleton! She hasn't gotten back up to her normal appetite, but at least she is eating!

We are all excited about the house and even the prospect of me going back to work. Tom has already talked about buying DVC once we get settled into the new house and adjusted to the new mortgage, so that will be something to look forward to too!!!

 

[MegansMom]

Hey gang....I found a link to the house that we are going to be building.......

http://www.fischerhomes.com/communities/planDetail.asp?s=3&c=58&p=115

We will be using either the French Country or the Traditional elevation, and we will be doing the optional second floor layout---Megan has SUCH big ideas for that!!! We will also be finishing out the lower level with both Option #1 and Option #2. I will have to get pictures of it sometime so you can see how pretty it is!!!!

 

[lmillercrew]

I LOVE the traditional! What a beautiful house!! HUGE!

 

[MegansMom]

It is such a pretty house!!! We love it, and we are so excited that it isn't the typical cookie-cutter two-story that we normally see around here!!!

 

[praisehisname]

Tom has already talked about buying DVC once we get settled into the new house and adjusted to the new mortgage, so that will be something to look forward to too!!!

My DH said that after we figure out how much of my pay we need to go torward expenses, everything else can go toward Disney trips! Woo hoo!

Hey gang....I found a link to the house that we are going to be building.......

Gorgeous!!!

 

[MegansMom]

My DH said that after we figure out how much of my pay we need to go torward expenses, everything else can go toward Disney trips! Woo hoo!




Gorgeous!!!

That is a DEFINITE benefit of going back to work!!!! Thanks for the compliments on the house!!! We love it!

 

[stacikristine]

Hi Jen! I'm finally all caught up... Life has just been to crazy to DIS. What great updates!

What a fun time on TSM with Megan! And I've heard bad things about Narnia--I'm glad we didn't take the time to go on it. But thankfully your FUN day started up again at AI! Sadly, we didn't get to see this. But it looks like so much fun! What a brave girl to ride ToT. I think it's adorable how she says it was fun but she doesn't EVER want to ride it again! So sweet. What a blessing to be able to sit in the reserved section at Fantasmic--especially since the bus situation was RIDICULOUS! I can't believe it was all backed up! I'm wondering if this was the same night that we waited for an hour and a half at the MK waiting for a bus. It was HORRIBLE!

Congrats on finding a house floorplan that you love!! That's so, so exciting. I hope that it all works out perfectly and that you can stay in the town where you are. Also, I hope that everything works out with your job. Good luck finding one at those schools. Yeah, I'm kindof regretting not getting my teaching certificate so that when we have kids, I can have the same schedule as them once they go... I guess we'll figure something out when that time comes. I can't imagine having this same work schedule and my kids getting out for all of those breaks, though. My parents were both in education, so we always had the same breaks. It was SO nice! Sorry that Megs was sick--I'm glad she's all better now! Stomach viruses are the absolute worst.

Great updates! I'm looking forward to reading more!

 

[MegansMom]

Hi Jen! I'm finally all caught up... Life has just been to crazy to DIS. What great updates!

What a fun time on TSM with Megan! And I've heard bad things about Narnia--I'm glad we didn't take the time to go on it. But thankfully your FUN day started up again at AI! Sadly, we didn't get to see this. But it looks like so much fun! What a brave girl to ride ToT. I think it's adorable how she says it was fun but she doesn't EVER want to ride it again! So sweet. What a blessing to be able to sit in the reserved section at Fantasmic--especially since the bus situation was RIDICULOUS! I can't believe it was all backed up! I'm wondering if this was the same night that we waited for an hour and a half at the MK waiting for a bus. It was HORRIBLE!

Congrats on finding a house floorplan that you love!! That's so, so exciting. I hope that it all works out perfectly and that you can stay in the town where you are. Also, I hope that everything works out with your job. Good luck finding one at those schools. Yeah, I'm kindof regretting not getting my teaching certificate so that when we have kids, I can have the same schedule as them once they go... I guess we'll figure something out when that time comes. I can't imagine having this same work schedule and my kids getting out for all of those breaks, though. My parents were both in education, so we always had the same breaks. It was SO nice! Sorry that Megs was sick--I'm glad she's all better now! Stomach viruses are the absolute worst.

Great updates! I'm looking forward to reading more!

We did have a great time at DHS---one of our best trips there ever!!! The bus thing was NO FUN....that was on Friday, September 25th---would that sound right for your bus issue at MK?!?!?! We did try to take a bus home from MK, but the wait there was just as bad too!!!! Maybe it was the same night!!!!! Whatever was going on, there was SOMETHING wrong for sure----to be taken back to the hotel by a Greyhound on WDW property was very strange....comfy, but strange!!!

We are very much in love with that floor plan, and can't WAIT to be living in it. We are not rushing through it yet though primarily because we want to wait to see where I am teaching to settle on a location. ALTHOUGH, I just found a GREAT lot in that builder's subdivision here in the town where we live now, but we are just going to wait it out a little. The builder has been so great to work with, so they understand our patient trek towards building this house---gotta love that!!!

The schedule of a teacher is the very reason I went into teaching. I am SO glad I did. I have THOROUGHLY enjoyed being home with Megs for the past six years, but it is so nice to know that when I am going back, that she and I will be on the same schedule. It makes that going back to work thing a little easier to deal with. I hope for you that when you become a Mommy, you will be able to work out something that will let you have the MOST time home with your children----it is SO valuable!!!! PRICELESS even!!!!

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Hey Jen!
I'm so impressed that Megs rode TOT! What a brave girl! I'll bet she tries it again. It just might not be for awhile.....
I took a peek at your new home, it's beautiful! I hope you find the perfect job that allows you to be close to your little princess!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hi, Jen! Thought of you last night when we had pizza after our soccer game -- it was Friday Fun Day, you know!

 

[MegansMom]

Hey Jen!
I'm so impressed that Megs rode TOT! What a brave girl! I'll bet she tries it again. It just might not be for awhile.....
I took a peek at your new home, it's beautiful! I hope you find the perfect job that allows you to be close to your little princess!

She was very brave indeed, and it was so sweet how concerned the whole group was for her when the ride stopped. I think her dare devil ways will come back someday! Until then, I can be very patient for her!

Thanks sweetie for the compliments on the house. We love it!!!! It is so open and bright--I just can't wait! I am hoping for good things to come with the job situation. The way I look at it, what will be, will be!!! That is really all I can do!

Hi, Jen! Thought of you last night when we had pizza after our soccer game -- it was Friday Fun Day, you know!

Awwwwww.....how sweet that you thought of me!!! I hope your pizza was good!!! Megan should be starting Spring Soccer very soon---I hate that we haven't heard anything yet, but I am excited for her to begin!!! This will be her first season in Under 6 (Instructional), but I just can't wait to see her run up and down that field with the other herd of kiddies!!!! I will HAVE to post pictures!!!

 

[MegansMom]

Like the title?!?!?! I sat and struggled to think of something witty or amusing to dub this day with, but it was so good it was just too hard!!!

The morning started early---we had an 8:10am breakfast at Crystal Palace (which Megan was SOOOOOOOO looking forward to) so we all hopped up and quickly got ready so we wouldn't miss a thing! I don't remember what time we caught our bus to MK, but it must have been early because when we got to MK, they weren't even ready to start letting us in yet. It wasn't long though, before those of us who had those beloved early ressies were being whisked through the gates and down Main Street. I was hoping to stop at some point and have someone take a picture of the three of us in front of the castle, but my two loves were "STARVING," and wanted to make a beeline for CP......so we did!!! (I knew it would do no good to get a picture with the two of them with their hungry faces on!!!!!)

Once we checked into CP, we were quickly escorted to our table......and much to Megan's surprise, it was decorated for her special birthday!!!! SO SWEET!!! We had a lovely location and view, which only made this breakfast even better!!!

We all quickly made our plates and started enjoying the FABULOUS breakfast, and in no time, were busy greeting some of Megan's favorite Hundred Acre Wood Friends!!!!

First came Piglet---

And then Tigger came by for a dance---

And then Megan had some time to eat....but she was always watching....

For her next buddy...good, ole' Pooh Bear....

And lastly, Eeyore....

When we were all finished visiting and eating, we paid our bill and headed out into the still closed MK. We knew we were going to head towards Fantasyland, and stopped to take some pictures by the castle along the way. There was this weird fog/haze/mist in the air, so none of them turned out that great......I am sure this was a warning for what is to come MUCH later in the day!!!

We were waiting at the rope, and I realized that Megan could very easily have a chance to "Wake up Tink," but when I asked if she wanted to do so, she said---"Nope, I want to go ride some rides!!!" And that is exactly what we did that morning.

Tom did his usual FP collecting as we went around FL---we hit each ride (except for Peter Pan and Dumbo) that morning.....IASW, the Carousel, Snow White, Winnie the Pooh, Philharmagic, Tea Cups. We were able to basically just bounce from one ride to the next...walking right on them all.

Here are some pictures of our morning in Fantasyland......

On the Carousel

We stopped by this CM outside of PP and she played bubbles with the CM for a LONG time!!!

Megan decided to take a picture of Tom and I while we were waiting for Philharmagic....

Megan on the Tea Cups....

She was SO excited because while we were riding the Tea Cups, Alice was in one of the other cups near us, and she kept waving to her.

Our bad attempt at a self-portrait

Once we finished with the tea cups, we were finished in Fantasyland for the time being. Tom had some FPs already for Tomorrowland, but we still had some time before they were good, so we decided to head over to Toontown which had just opened up. We knew we could ride the Barnstormer, but we were also going to see if it was at ALL possible to wait for the Fairies. So we headed into the Judges' Tent, only to find that the wait was already over 60 minutes. At that point, Tom and I started to discuss what to do---whether we thought she could wait it out or not. The CM standing there, overheard our conversation and asked us if there was a problem. We explained Megs' situation to her very quickly, and told her we were thinking of not going to see the Fairies because we didn't think she could handle the wait. She asked if we had a GAC card, which we did, but we told her we only use it on very limited situations. She then told us she could take us through the back so Megan wouldn't have to wait in line all crowded up with all the people. We thought that waiting in a more quiet, uncrowded place would be much better than trying to stick it out with all the people. We had NO idea, that going through the back actually put us out by the end of the line---right before you enter the room with the Fairies. The very nice CM took Megan by the hand and we wound up in the last waiting area before the Fairy room. She stood and talked to Megan for a bit, and then told her to enjoy her time with the Fairies and to have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY! I gave her a hug and thanked her for her kindness. Here are a few pictures Megan and I took in the few moments we were in that waiting room....

And before we knew it, we were escorted into the Fairy Room, and Megan could hardly contain her excitement. When she turned the corner and saw them, she started hopping up and down and grinning SOOOOOOOOO big!!! I am sure they noticed her excitement, because they each spent SO much time talking and playing with her. They LOVED her Tinkerbell dress and hairband, and spent so much time talking to her about why she loves them so much. She actually got to spend time talking and playing with each one, and then Tink called her back to come see her again for a little bit. They all talked to her about her birthday, and they gave her Fairy lessons on how to stand like Tink since she told them that she often dresses up in her Tink costume to look like her. We literally spent 5-10 minutes in there with them, and it was just because they were all playing with her so much. I don't know if that is the amount of time that they all spend with every kid, but it was the BEST birthday gift Megan could have ever received!!!! She giggled, played, and talked without any hesitation to them all the entire time! She even helped them "poke fun at Daddy" when he couldn't get the camera to work...don't even ask me why I gave it to him for a little bit!!!!

Here are some pictures from that visit....

Dancing with Tink

Making Fawn Laugh

It was SUCH a great time--the highlight of the trip probably--and we were so grateful that she had the opportunity to enjoy it thanks to the lovely CM who helped us out. I know without a doubt, she would never had made it through the entire line, and would have been very unbearable by the time we made it to see them. On our way out, Tom stopped to once again thank the CM who made it all possible. He let her know how much that meant to us, since it would have been an opportunity that she would have totally had to pass up without her help. He let her know how much of a difference she made in her experience and in her entire trip. We just could NOT thank her enough---without her, Megan would have totally missed out on that incredible experience!

And that is where I am going to leave you for now.....more to come later of this very FUN and UNUSUAL day at MK!!!! Stay Tuned!!!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

What a precious time for Megan with the fairies! I bet she was having a ball!

Seeing your pictures of an empty park in the morning is making me rethink my ressies for this summer. Did you like Crystal Palace for breakfast? We have been there for lunch but not breakfast.

: Great job on doing so many rides in the morning!

Looking forward to the next update!

Erika

 

[praisehisname]

Wow, what an awesome treat to see the fairies with hardly any wait! You can tell my Megan's face how thrilled she is to be there with them!