Thanks everyone, for all the hugs and wishes, I do appreciate them. Mother's Day was a tough one, but my hubby and kids really helped me get through it. There are times when I still find it so hard to believe that Mom is gone
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I hope you all had a nice Mother's Day
My cousin and I have been on the phone daily making plans and talking things over. Thank goodness she's got a good long distance phone plan!We've made a few adjustments to our ADRs, as we were able to get some for the 10 of us, which is nice. We have one more place to try and once that gets figured out I'll post an updated ADR list. We're also working on counter service places we want to check out together, so I'll have a list of those as well
Also, we are now leaning toward telling the kids when we go to visit them the end of next month. That way they will find out all together and be able to have the summer to talk, and plan, and just enjoy the time leading up to the trip, together. As much as we would love for them to just run into each other on the trip, it will be hard to pull off and if we can't then they've lost out on nearly three months of enjoying the excitement of the upcoming trip together.
I think my cousin and I are going to make the group shirts the night we arrive at their place and present them to the kids the next day. That's the idea right now anyway. We're also going to do a huge Disney day/weekend when we're thereWe'll watch Disney movies as well as have a big group discussion on all the things that are 'must-do' for each of us, so that we have a plan of action!
We are just so excited, I can't wait to tell the kids and let them in on all the excitement too!!!!
Here's what I came up with for an original plan to reveal the trip to the kids. I had decided to do up a scavenger hunt and at the end have their t-shirts that I'm going to make for them with their names, WDW, and the date of our trip. This plan is still what I think I will do, but the when is what I am thinking I need to change. I had decided to do the reveal with them on June 17, which will be the one year anniversary of Mom's passing. I thought it would be a good way to give a happy memory to that date (ironically our first day in Disney will be two years to the day of when Mom found out her cancer was back and was in the bones).
However, since I decided on that date I have found out that our town's Relay for Life (cancer fundraiser) is that night. This event is something Mom and I always attended when she would walk the survivor lap and enjoy the survivor meal, and I would walk with her on the caregiver lap. We enjoyed the ceremony of the lighting of the luminaries in memory of those who died of cancer and in honor of those who were living with or had survived cancer, herself included. Even last year, less than two weeks before her passing I took her in to the event (usually held on the first weekend in June) where she rode the survivor lap in a golf cart and attended the survivor meal (that is where I took the last ever photo of her that I've posted earlier). With this being the case, I'm afraid the sadness of the day will put a damper on the trip reveal and think it would be best to leave that day to mourn and choose a different day for the reveal. What do you all think? That Sunday is Father's Day, which will be 101 days from our trip, and I thought about doing the scavenger hunt then and have dh help out with the finding (as I will ultimately be the one to to the hunt myself), but would that just be taking away from him on Father's Day, do you think? I don't want to do that as last year we missed it altogether as it was AR's preschool graduation on top of being the first viewing of MomAny ideas on what would be a good date to reveal the trip to the kids? We want to wait until June, but need to do it before we head to my cousins on the 24th?
I'm sorry to hear that you've been through this with your Dad, it's really hard imagine how tough it is until going through itI think the scavenger hunt and the shirts sounds like a wonderful idea. I am not so sure you should do the reveal on the 17th. I know the 1st anniversary of my dad's death was a very emotional day for me and my family and I needed that time to sort through my emotions. You may be different, though and need to focus on something more positive. That first year was such a blur. I was just merely existing instead of living. My dad and I were so close and he was my hero. My world was shattered when he found out he was terminal and passed away 3 wks. later. I also found out I was pregnant with my DS the week before he died. I remember him sauntering across the kitchen (weak with cancer) singing that he was going to be a grandpa again and calling anyone who would listen to the wonderful news. He had 2 daughters (my sis and myself) and a grand daughter (DD) and if only he would have been around to see his only grandson. DS reminds me sooo much of my dad. We named DS after my dad and I still miss him more than I could ever express to you on here.I totally feel your pain and my heart aches for you and what you are going through right now. Believe me, the 1st year is by most the hardest. You have the first holidays, their birthday, their anniversaries and their death date. It is such an emotional rollercoaster time. I am literally sobbing just remembering it all. The pain never goes away, time just makes it easier to figure out how to deal with it. I can still hear a song that my dad loved or say something to my children that reminds me of something that my dad used to say to me growing up and it just brings back such raw emotion.
I think it is wonderful that you are trying to focus on more positive things during this difficult time. I think this will really help keep your mind busy.
I am really looking forward to finding out how you are going to surprise the kiddos!!!!
Yeah, my Dh was confused as wellSorry, but I'm confused...
Are you only doing the scavenger hunt/tee shirts for your kids? I thought you were surprising the cousins, too... meaning you'd tell all the kids at the same time, which would be after you arrive at your cousin's?
Thank you. He's doing better, his fever seems to be gone and no more vomiting. He says his head still hurts when he gets up and walks to the bathroom, but when he's laying on the couch he feels ok.Awwwww, hope your DS feels better soon!
found you on the Oct thread!! Hey there- new subscriber here! Your trip looks amazing! so glad your cousin's trip can overlap some too!! congrats on the new ADRs for 10 too!! We had a party of 15 a few years ago- be aware at Sci Fi, they will split you up into multiple cars if possible, but it wasn't for us- sowe had to sit at a long table near the back, not in a car. so you might request when you check in whether you want to be split up into cars or take the table (not a car). HDD is a blast, you guys will really enjoy it! It is a favorite of ours.![]()
i agree, don't do the reveal on the anniversary date. I would wait and do it another day- reserve that day especially for your special angel! The pics of your mom are so beautiful. I am so sorry to hear of her passing- big HUGS!!!
Can't wait to read more about your great trip!!!!!!
I think your ADR plans sound great. You have several that I've been to and love (Boma, Sci-Fi, CP) and some that I've never been to but really want to try (Le Cellier, 'Ohana)
And that is one precious photo!![]()
Hey!Just found your PTR and read the whole thing. As you can see in my siggie we are "opposite" from you in some ways.
We stayed at POR in 2009 and loved it!!! This year we are in a family suite at ASMU for the first time. Any insight or photos you could share?
I had a great time on the disign boards last time and made each of us 4 matching tee shirts. Luckily, we all still have them so I will probably only make 1 more for each of us for this trip.![]()
Here is one example:
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I am looking forward to hearing about all of your plans!
Kelly
Your updated ADR sounds wonderful. I cannot wait to see how you like HDDR. I have heard so many fabulous things about it and would like to maybe do it on our next vacation.
Super precious photo!!!!!![]()
What a sweet pic! I always look at your days/meals trying to figure out what day is what, but you don't put the date! I just sat here for 10 minutes trying to figure out if day 1 was the 28th or the 29th!![]()