joining in and going back to read....
I'm here! Can't wait!!!
Ok- had to mark my place then come back to read. GREAT start! Your packing methodology sounds just like mine -- throw in everything you see on the bathroom counter then proceed madly around the house and toss in a few extra things that strike your fancy for good measure!
Love the picture of all of you in the sleigh - with your Vera front and center, I might add. It looks a bit chilly... looks like those blankets were not just for effect.
Can't wait for more!!!
Oh my - I'm exhausted and stressed just reading that!
, but thankfully it was only for a few hours!Hi there
..... aaaaand I'm back. Whew! What a whizz-bang start!
Page two...But I'm here!! Now back to read! I'm dying to hear about your drive down!
All I can say is...
I feel frantic & exhausted just reading about your departure!
Can't wait to hear about the rest of your drive!
I think I need a Xanax just from reading about it!!! 
Of course, the burning question in my mind is, "Did you forget anything?" Because I know me, and if I was having to pack in a hurry, I would have forgotten something major!
I'm in
If you took 270 to 495, we must live very close. and yes, yes.. I was grocery shopping right there with you. I'm glad you made it out before the snow!
believe me it was one crazy evening!!! I really was amazed by the lines! Here and WHOA!! That whole update was CRAZY! I am soooooo glad I live in Texas! Snow... What's that?!
Uh oh.
I shouldn't have said that !
Don't wanna jinx us!
Can not WAIT to read more!
I had been reading your PTR and am fully hooked!! Couldn't wait to hear how the trip went...I was right here in MD off of 270 in the snow storm with the kids! Loved the fact that schools were closed for 3 days, but would have MUCH rather enjoyed them in DISNEY!!
I'm waiting for the next installment
Thanks for sharing!
Clearly I had to get my priorities straight!!! We are in for a messy winter I think!!! Okay, I am all caught up now! Love the picture of all of you in the sleigh! How fun!
What a way to start the trip!!!
But I did forget to pack the boys sneakers... I brought crocs, sandals, and dress shoes! I was missing a few toiletries (which was so funny because I brought a bag full of stuff!)
Just two weeks ago they had said a dusting of snow that ended up as 7 inches! Now, at 9 pm it was rather light snow
However, the pretty, falling snow soon turned to snow sticking on the pavement that got progressively deeper as we drove down 495 towards the 95 exit. And then it became apparent that we were indeed dealing with heavy snow fall that, well, kept falling! And Falling! And Falling! 95 became a parking lot. We exited 95 for route 1 which was clear for the most part, and that worked out fine, save the few random cars that couldn't drive because they were getting stuck, and the cars that people just parked by the curb and left! SO shortly after, we stopped for some gas, and DH could see 95. The traffic looking like it was moving, so he got back on at the next exit. Unfortunately this was a little premature. Because it jammed up again a few miles later. 
There were too many people on the road for the road to be treated properly. Hence it was difficult for most cars to navigate. We were very glad that we had the V8 engine and the sports tires on the car, and that it was a heavy AWD model. The extra weight from the engine and full tank of gas kept us heading in the right direction. 95 was crazy. My DH urged me to sleep and not worry
preferably not watch, either! He had to navigate through parked cars, stuck cars, and at one point he drove on the shoulder past semi trucks. And as we made our way towards Richmond, we began to see the impact on travelers, with cars abandoned on the road, even three exits (which we were hoping to use to get back on Route 1) had trucks and cars jamming the exit ramp completely. I heard people ran out of gas because they couldnt exit. I saw cars off the road stuck in snow, and the trees heavily covered with the full on snow falling, it was a wild sight on the road. To give you some perspective, it normally takes us five hours to get to Wilmington, NC. My inlaws have a beach house there, and we often head over there for a quick weekend trip. It took us nine hours to get to the same place. The snow in Virginia caused us all the problems. It moved up VA into MD as we were struggling through it, and I am glad we moved our plans. So as we hit the Richmond area it was nuts hardly anything plowed but as we finally cleared Richmond, and cleared the NC line the snow virtually stopped. Of course it was progressively worse in the region through out the day but fortunately we were long past that as the sun came up
DH and I were fine after some food and coffee! The rest of the drive was pretty uneventful. We made it to Jacksonville then into Orlando, but of course arriving about four hours later than expected. Which was a drag, but at least we didnt get stuck or in one of the many accidents we saw and heard about the next morning. We kept listening to the Sirius traffic for our area and the report was pretty bleak! Snow all day, and into the next night with 20 inches expected. 
We got checked in, brought a few things out of the car for the nights stay, and then we took the boat over to the Boardwalk for pizza and beer, and the boardwalk entertainment! We headed right back to the hotel, I threw the boys in the bath, and as they were getting into their PJs we had a great view of illuminations from the window! With that, we all went straight to bed with Dreams of Disney sugar plums dancing in our head... or maybe Disney Gingerbread... DISNEY at CHRISTMAS with YOU! 
for heavenly beds!!
