I Can't Believe I Invited My MIL -I'm BAAACK! And determiend to finish this thing!

[Jiminy'sGirl]

I am loving your TR. Your family is too cute!

I work in a school with many kids who don't speak much English and their parents speak very very very little English. They try so hard, but my daily conversations with them are much like this.

Philly! Yo - go make me a cheesesteak and pull up a chair! hehe Seriously, though -

One afternoon I heard the Candy Lady talking to what I preceived to be some friends in the shop behind her after a show. She certainly had an accent, but I think her way of talking "so nice, yum yum" is just part of her thing. Whatever it is, it is darn entertaining!

 

[jordanyosh]

all japanese people don't talk like that.

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

all japanese people don't talk like that.

Seriously? Oh shoot. Jordan, I was hoping to come to your Birthday Bash in 2037 and hear you saying things like,

"Bathroom. One flush. Yuck Yuck. Not nice. Beer. So good. Drink drink."



JK, Jordy. You know I ya.

By the way, I actually visited Japan last September. My DH had a conference in Kyoto, and since it has been a life long dream of mine to visit Asia, I scrimped and saved and went without cute new shoes so I could tag along. We spent 4 days in Tokyo and three in Kyoto and it was fabulous. Wow - the food. Wow- the mountains. Wow- the temples. Wow- the massive amounts of people. And you know what? I never saw anyone making candy animals. What is up with that?

 

[gellybean]

Caught up again!


Too funny about the candy lady spill! I'm gonna have to catch her this trip. My boys will love her.

Your middle daughter's eyes are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Green!! I can't get over how green they are!! GORG!!

That's too crazy about Teravista. My sister isn't a teacher so no worries there! Are your kids starting at semester?


Let us know if you decide to start your PTR for March early, so we can jump on board!


I'll wave down your way when I head to the outlet malls this afternoon!

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

Caught up again!


Too funny about the candy lady spill! I'm gonna have to catch her this trip. My boys will love her.

Your middle daughter's eyes are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Green!! I can't get over how green they are!! GORG!!

That's too crazy about Teravista. My sister isn't a teacher so no worries there! Are your kids starting at semester?


Let us know if you decide to start your PTR for March early, so we can jump on board!


I'll wave down your way when I head to the outlet malls this afternoon!

OK, Gelly. You are gonna force the whole unfortunate tale out of me.

Warning: anyone NOT from Austin, or anyone NOT interested in the minute details of my crazy mixed up living situation as of late, please move on to the next post.

Ok, so remember how I told you DH and I decided the school our kids were going to sucked eggs and we didn't like living out in ranch land the way we thought we would? So we put it on the market intending to hold tight to our asking price and just let it sit on the market for years if necessary? And then it sold in 6 days? Ok, I will now continue from there....

So. We had to find a place to live lickety splity because the buyers wanted to close ASAP. Well, shoot, we didn't have anywhere to go and weren't even sure where we wanted to end up. So, having friends who live in Berry Creek (in Georgetown), we ended up hurriedly renting a house there. It is in this rental home that I am currently sitting, typing out this unfortunate tale.

Soon after, we began building our house in RR in a lovely neighborhood full of people, its own {great} school, two pools and, yes, high speed internet connectivity. In other words, people - CIVILIZATION. Said house is now complete and we own it as of a few weeks ago. We also have this house leased through Feb 28. So.... we are planning the official move to our NEW AND FINAL home thr first weekend in January.

Our upcoming March trip to WDW is a gift to our two older kids for putting up with three houses, two schools and a baby sister in the LAST YEAR. They have been troopers and hav enot missed a beat. We asked them what they would like - a puppy? a cruise? a trip to WDW? They chose WDW and have mandated that we'll eat when and where they want, ride what they want, see what they want, etc. I kinda thought we did that everytime, but whatever... This trip is truly ALL ABOUT THEM. Baby sister is spending the week with her Grammy and DS and DD are getting nothing but one on one defense from their parental units.

OMG - do you feel like you know me in and out by now? Geez. I need to learn to hold something back.

Gelly - I was the outlets today too!!! I got a 20% Coach coupon in my inbox and it was burning a hole in my pocket!! I also spent some time in IKEA.. you?

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Seriously? Oh shoot. Jordan, I was hoping to come to your Birthday Bash in 2037 and hear you saying things like,

"Bathroom. One flush. Yuck Yuck. Not nice. Beer. So good. Drink drink."



JK, Jordy. You know I ya.

By the way, I actually visited Japan last September. My DH had a conference in Kyoto, and since it has been a life long dream of mine to visit Asia, I scrimped and saved and went without cute new shoes so I could tag along. We spent 4 days in Tokyo and three in Kyoto and it was fabulous. Wow - the food. Wow- the mountains. Wow- the temples. Wow- the massive amounts of people. And you know what? I never saw anyone making candy animals. What is up with that?

I've met Jordan - just so you know - he doesn't talk like that, except after spending too much time with Mat at the Boardwalk J/K

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

I've met Jordan - just so you know - he doesn't talk like that, except after spending too much time with Mat at the Boardwalk J/K

Is he as devilishly handsome in person as he is in his TR pics??

And by the way, for some reason in my mind Jordan talks like a fraternity boy. Hi Jordan!!

 

[MAGICFOR2]

Of course! Hmmm Frat boy? I think he's a little more mature than that - well grounded, but fun and friendly!

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

Of course! Hmmm Frat boy? I think he's a little more mature than that - well grounded, but fun and friendly!

I know!! But in the soundtrack of my mind, he talks like a fraternity boy... Who knows why? But I've always liked fraternity boys, so it is all good....

 

[gellybean]

OK, Gelly. You are gonna force the whole unfortunate tale out of me.

Warning: anyone NOT from Austin, or anyone NOT interested in the minute details of my crazy mixed up living situation as of late, please move on to the next post.

Ok, so remember how I told you DH and I decided the school our kids were going to sucked eggs and we didn't like living out in ranch land the way we thought we would? So we put it on the market intending to hold tight to our asking price and just let it sit on the market for years if necessary? And then it sold in 6 days? Ok, I will now continue from there....

So. We had to find a place to live lickety splity because the buyers wanted to close ASAP. Well, shoot, we didn't have anywhere to go and weren't even sure where we wanted to end up. So, having friends who live in Berry Creek (in Georgetown), we ended up hurriedly renting a house there. It is in this rental home that I am currently sitting, typing out this unfortunate tale.

Soon after, we began building our house in RR in a lovely neighborhood full of people, its own {great} school, two pools and, yes, high speed internet connectivity. In other words, people - CIVILIZATION. Said house is now complete and we own it as of a few weeks ago. We also have this house leased through Feb 28. So.... we are planning the official move to our NEW AND FINAL home thr first weekend in January.

Our upcoming March trip to WDW is a gift to our two older kids for putting up with three houses, two schools and a baby sister in the LAST YEAR. They have been troopers and hav enot missed a beat. We asked them what they would like - a puppy? a cruise? a trip to WDW? They chose WDW and have mandated that we'll eat when and where they want, ride what they want, see what they want, etc. I kinda thought we did that everytime, but whatever... This trip is truly ALL ABOUT THEM. Baby sister is spending the week with her Grammy and DS and DD are getting nothing but one on one defense from their parental units.

OMG - do you feel like you know me in and out by now? Geez. I need to learn to hold something back.

Gelly - I was the outlets today too!!! I got a 20% Coach coupon in my inbox and it was burning a hole in my pocket!! I also spent some time in IKEA.. you?

Why hold back? I never do!! You've read my PTR now, you know this.

The story about the house is totally something that would happen to us. But I'm glad you found where y'all want to be. I know the community is gorgeous and my sister loves the new elementary there. So sounds like y'all are gonna be all set. WTG on the kids picking WDW over a puppy!!!! Much better choice!!! We have two puppies. What was I thinking?!

A new sister, and a move x3 and new schools x2 is a lot. But I'm sure that they are transitioning beautifully!! And a little trip to WDW to smooth things over, well... EVEN BETTER!


LOL @ one on one defense. That was my BIL's analogy about the difference between two kids and three. Zone vs. man on man D. Too true. It's something Mr. I and I have talked about in the whole do we have a 3rd child discussion. Your surprise baby sounds like an easier way to go then making the decision! Ya know?

I didn't make it to the outlets. Dash's Christmas party wore me out!!! Chasing Jack-Jack around in a first grade room FULL of things to get into was exhausting. Dash was wanting to come home and play his game, Jack-Jack was ready for a nap and I had yet to reload his stroller into the car after removing it to pick up something from IKEA last week so the outlet would have been challenging without a stroller.

And how in the world did you get a 20% Coach coupon that is good at the outlet!!!!??!?!

I bought a new bag back in October, when they had the donate $2 to Breast Cancer Awareness and get an additional 20% off one item deal. Love the bag. Love it! It's huge and BURNT orange!

BUT

it's soft leather and stains waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too easily and while the color is gorgeous it shows every single droplet of anything.


So Mama needs a new bag! In a darker color. So let me know where you got that coupon!

When I was in Ikea last week, I left Dash at the Smalland there for the 90 mins allowed. When I picked him up, they informed me he'd been choked by another little boy!!! In the ball pit. And no one noticed til thankfully the little boy let go and Dash went and told.

Don't know that I'll be leaving him there anytime soon.


Crazy.

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

Gelly, does it cost money to use the playland thing at IKEA? We have never done it. Then again, maybe we should stay away, since being choked in the balls doesn't sound good. Well, you know what I mean!

PM me your email and I will email you the 20% coupon. They email them to me from time to time - good at the outlets only. One day I bought something there and from that point forward I get them. It is terrible. Forces me to go up there, drool a bit on their nice bags, and then still leave empty handed because even after 20% I can't buy it BECAUSE I HAVE TWO HOUSES. Sigh.

Bunrt orange? Honestly? Well, it is a slight step up from hunter's day glo they wore when I was lving in Tennessee... My mind still goes straight to the slightly crazed Vols fans when I hear "UT" and "orange" together...

 

[gellybean]

Gelly, does it cost money to use the playland thing at IKEA? We have never done it. Then again, maybe we should stay away, since being choked in the balls doesn't sound good. Well, you know what I mean!

PM me your email and I will email you the 20% coupon. They email them to me from time to time - good at the outlets only. One day I bought something there and from that point forward I get them. It is terrible. Forces me to go up there, drool a bit on their nice bags, and then still leave empty handed because even after 20% I can't buy it BECAUSE I HAVE TWO HOUSES. Sigh.

Bunrt orange? Honestly? Well, it is a slight step up from hunter's day glo they wore when I was lving in Tennessee... My mind still goes straight to the slightly crazed Vols fans when I hear "UT" and "orange" together...

It's free. And we've done it probably 6 times before the choking in the balls incident. And Dash loved it. Indoor playground with other kids, a ball pit, a movie always showing. Activities. Momma loved it too. I could shop for an hour to an hour and half depending on how many kids they have in there. They stamp the child's hand and the parent's hand with the same number, do a wrist band upon entry that matches a stub the parent gets, and give the parent a pager like at a restaurant in case the child needs to be picked up early. I would have highly recommended it before last week! We may give it another try, but not anytime soon. In their defense, they did handle it immediately as soon as Dash told them what happened, and talked to the other boy's parents and let me know as soon as I picked Dash up.

I'll send my addy along. The 20% coupon is great when you tack it onto a bag that is already 50% off. That's what happened with my burnt orange bag!

Two houses would definitely put a dent in the Coach bag budget.


And please please don't ever compare UT Burnt orange to the Vols day-glo orange! GAK!

 

[winkers]

. Then again, maybe we should stay away, since being choked in the balls doesn't sound good. Well, you know what I mean!

:

I had to read that twice!

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

I'm going to tell you a funny story about what happened to one of Ariel's heads now. It is kind of gross. It is up to you - I'll color the story BROWN (foreshadowing alert!). If you don't want to read the story, scroll now! Scroll quickly so none of the details inadvertently jump out at you!

Many months after returning from our trip, DS and DD were playing with Ariel. DS was the Sea Witch and also Beast, who came with a similar set with Belle crap. You can buy them at Target - not just at WDW! Yay! OK, so I hear a moaning call from upstairs,

"Moooooooo - mmmmmmmmmmmmyyyy! Oh no, Mommmmm- my!"

I run upstairs, two at a time, screaming what's wrong? what's wrong? I get to the top of the stairs and both kids are standing at the bathroom threshold, looking in dejectedly. DS says,

"Ariel's head is in the toilet." in a small voice.

No problem. I ran to get the slotted spoon to fish her out. I will give them the lecture on not playing in the toilet after I retrieve the head and dunk it in bleach. They were probably pretending it was the ocean, right?

Well, I get back to the bathroom and peer into the toilet and I get quite a disturbing shock. There, among a pile of small, rabbit-like turds, is Ariel's smiling head. The one with the crown. She is smiliing up at me from her new home among the turds like a queen on her throne. I ask the only question one would ask at a time like this,

"Whose turds are these?"

DS claims the turds.

DD, who has not even come into the bathroom and never saw the turds, begins dry heaving. She is horking and gagging and sputtering. In all of this I hear,

"I (hork) don't want (gag) that Ariel head (dry heave) anymore! I"ll just (gag) use the (hork) head without the crown (heave) all the time from now on."

So, I did what any responsible parent would do in this situation. I flushed the toilet and made my children swear to never mention this again. I did not need a lecture from DH on flushing non-waste objects. After all, Ariel's head was smaller than those turds.

I am at peace. Always.

ok i had to chime in I started the TR tonight (i'm at work, so I can't see your pictures which is a bummer~ i figured that what i did while I was away had to be a baby) and girl you are a hoot! I literally started laughing so hard at this I think they might be sending security in to check on me. I have my office to myself in the evenings but there are others in the building and I am not going to get a scrap of work done until I finish reading this.

BTW Austin rocks, we went on a Texas trip for our Honeymoon earlier this year and we had a great time. I would crawl on my hands and knees back to The Salt Lick outside of Austin in Driftwood for some BBQ, if you havn't been there you must. It is to die for. I've had to quit watching the opening of Man V Food on the travel channel b/c it has a clip of the Salt Lick in it and I almost burst into drooling fits everytime I see it.

 

[PIRATEGIRL007]

Bunrt orange? Honestly? Well, it is a slight step up from hunter's day glo they wore when I was lving in Tennessee... My mind still goes straight to the slightly crazed Vols fans when I hear "UT" and "orange" together...

Oh, to be somewhere where I didn't see, live, breath and eat that lovely gaudy orange all the time. I prefer a nice sharp hue coupled w/ some bright blue and nice big fat gator on it, just don't tell anyone around here.

Ok I had 3 more words for you when you admitted you were in Round Rock

Round Rock Doughnuts

(and before you go all healthy mom on me, I hate sweets and sugary things and *gasp* despise chocolate but DH had to see the head sized confections for himself on our honeymoon and I had an awesome oatmeal raisan cookie from there, marveled at his huge chocolate covered heart attack in a box and even let him eat on it for a few 2 days before tossing it at airport security)

It's so not fair, Salt Lick and Round Rock Doughnuts w/out a 5 hour flight first, I just can't fathom it.

so I thought of 3 more words : I hate you.

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

It's free. And we've done it probably 6 times before the choking in the balls incident. And Dash loved it. Indoor playground with other kids, a ball pit, a movie always showing. Activities. Momma loved it too. I could shop for an hour to an hour and half depending on how many kids they have in there. They stamp the child's hand and the parent's hand with the same number, do a wrist band upon entry that matches a stub the parent gets, and give the parent a pager like at a restaurant in case the child needs to be picked up early. I would have highly recommended it before last week! We may give it another try, but not anytime soon. In their defense, they did handle it immediately as soon as Dash told them what happened, and talked to the other boy's parents and let me know as soon as I picked Dash up.

I'll send my addy along. The 20% coupon is great when you tack it onto a bag that is already 50% off. That's what happened with my burnt orange bag!

Two houses would definitely put a dent in the Coach bag budget.


And please please don't ever compare UT Burnt orange to the Vols day-glo orange! GAK!

No worries... I don't confuse them. If I HAD to support a team whose colors were orange, I'd pick that burnt orange anytime. I guess.

I had to read that twice!

Hehe. I kind of cracked myself up after I typed that... Maybe one day I should take FW to the IKEA balls...

ok i had to chime in I started the TR tonight (i'm at work, so I can't see your pictures which is a bummer~ i figured that what i did while I was away had to be a baby) and girl you are a hoot! I literally started laughing so hard at this I think they might be sending security in to check on me. I have my office to myself in the evenings but there are others in the building and I am not going to get a scrap of work done until I finish reading this.

BTW Austin rocks, we went on a Texas trip for our Honeymoon earlier this year and we had a great time. I would crawl on my hands and knees back to The Salt Lick outside of Austing in Driftwood for some BBQ, if you havn't been there you must. It is to die for. I've had to quit watching the opening of Man V Food on the travel channel b/c it has a clip of the Salt Lick in it and I almost burst into drooling fits everytime I see it.

Yep - you guessed right on the baby! She'll be 9 months on Saturday. And, no worries - if you've made it to the turd story, you are very nearly caught up. Sorry for making your fellow employees think you are criminally insane, but glad I could make you laugh!

Oh yes - we've been to Salt Lick. I am not a BBQ fan (I know, I am a freak) but everyone else I know and love is, so we went when my parents came in town for a visit. As soon as I walked in my mouth began to water! Lordy be, that place smells a-MAZ-ing. Well, it still didn't really taste that great to me (I don't dig on swine, unless it is in the form of bacon), but the smell alone was worth the price of admission. Plus, that place has great ambience.

Haven't tried the donuts yet, but hear good things.... But once again, I'd rather just have bacon.

Bacon! Woot!

Anyway, Tab, glad you are along for this ride! It is nearly finished!! Then it will be March 2010 PTR time!

 

[gellybean]

Oh yes - we've been to Salt Lick. I am not a BBQ fan (I know, I am a freak) but everyone else I know and love is, so we went when my parents came in town for a visit. As soon as I walked in my mouth began to water! Lordy be, that place smells a-MAZ-ing. Well, it still didn't really taste that great to me (I don't dig on swine, unless it is in the form of bacon), but the smell alone was worth the price of admission. Plus, that place has great ambience.

Haven't tried the donuts yet, but hear good things.... But once again, I'd rather just have bacon.

Bacon! Woot!

Salt Lick is great but there's better BBQ to be had if you'll hit up the little towns in the Hill Country. Let me know if you want some recommendations.

Also, Heather did you know there's a Salt Lick in RR now? Not just the one out in Driftwood!

AND Round Rock Donuts are FAB! They have a 24 hr drive thru- DANGER DANGER! But my favorite thing they have there are decorated tea cakes!! You can buy them a dozen for like 3 bucks or something insanely cheap like that. They are iced, with that hard shell icing, and the cookies are soft and not really that sweet on their own. They are really good! And addicting. The first one you eat... kinda meh. But the more you eat the better they get, unfortunately. They are great to grab a bag to take as a quick little gift, because RR Donuts aka Lone Star Bakery keeps them bagged by the dozen, waiting to be scooped up! And fyi they do sell them without icing.

 

[Jiminy'sGirl]

So... I have a confession to make.

Yes, I love WDW. Yes, I have been there over 15 times. Yes, I jones over trip planning. But.... and this may come as a shock ... I am NOT a WDW expert.

I know little to nothing about how the park was built. I know little to nothing about how things work behind the scenes. Here is just a short list of my Disney shortcomings..

1. I have never looked for a Hidden Mickey.
2. I have never had a churro.
3. I know very little about where characters can be found and which ones are "rare."
4. I have no idea where Tony's is ... Why have I never even seen this place?
5. If I won the Cinderella castle slumber party thing, I'd sell it on eBay. Seems like a hassle to go and get your stuff from your resort, and then you're in the park all alone all night... kinda creepy.
6. I have never ridden the Tea Cups.
7. I get lost in DHS all the time.
8. I have never resort hopped, though this is not really by choice
9. I have never seen the Canada or France shows in Epcot
10. I thought Nemo and Friends was really boring.
11. I have never dined at any of the trendy AKL restaurants. Or any of the the other resort restaurants with a very small number of exceptions.
12. I wouldn't recognize Storm Along Bay in a swimming pool line up.



I feel so much better now. Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

Do you all still love me?


OK, but seriously, sometimes I read these boards and I am overwhelmed by the breadth of depth of some member's knowledge. How do they do it?

 

[jordanyosh]

Seriously? Oh shoot. Jordan, I was hoping to come to your Birthday Bash in 2037 and hear you saying things like,

"Bathroom. One flush. Yuck Yuck. Not nice. Beer. So good. Drink drink."



JK, Jordy. You know I ya.

I might actually talk like that if I've had a few....

By the way, I actually visited Japan last September. My DH had a conference in Kyoto, and since it has been a life long dream of mine to visit Asia, I scrimped and saved and went without cute new shoes so I could tag along. We spent 4 days in Tokyo and three in Kyoto and it was fabulous. Wow - the food. Wow- the mountains. Wow- the temples. Wow- the massive amounts of people. And you know what? I never saw anyone making candy animals. What is up with that?

Still waiting for that trip to Japan. Went to China in Feb to visit missionary friends of mine. Never thought in a million years I'd ever stand on the Great Wall. Truly a magical feeling.

 

[jordanyosh]

I've met Jordan - just so you know - he doesn't talk like that, except after spending too much time with Mat at the Boardwalk J/K

Is he as devilishly handsome in person as he is in his TR pics??

And by the way, for some reason in my mind Jordan talks like a fraternity boy. Hi Jordan!!

Of course! Hmmm Frat boy? I think he's a little more mature than that - well grounded, but fun and friendly!

I know!! But in the soundtrack of my mind, he talks like a fraternity boy... Who knows why? But I've always liked fraternity boys, so it is all good....

Thanks Tammie for the kind words.

Frat boy talk? I was GDI in college, but went out with a few sorority girls. Was engaged to a Gamma Phi.

Only Fraternity I ever wanted to be in was not on our campus when I was there.