I could go running and racing...but I am not fast. An NYE, runDisney, no-kid-in-tow trip to WDW!

[missjackiemcg]

Someday I will see the New Year's Eve fireworks!

It really is a MUST do! It is insanity in MK on NYE though. When we first did it in 2007, I said once was enough and I'd never do it again......this trip will make 3 times though, so obviously it is incredible enough to do again and again!

I had a very strong opinion of the Utilitors. I'll be interested to see what you think.

I actually think I remember your opinion on this!! Hallways full of exhaust and a giant pin board are what sticks out, if I remember correctly!

Hopefully we will run into each other there!

I hope, I hope! We aren't planning to go right at opening either, so I think the chances are good!

I'm having a Pluto/Stitch bag made next summer so I definitely need to do this meal again someday.

Ooooooooh, I can't wait to see how this comes together!

Your trip sounds amazing.
Love all your meals.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE your running outfits! Sooo awesome!

Thanks!! I'm really excited for how everything came together with our ADRs and adult plans we'd never try to accomplish with Jimmy in tow!

The running outfits sure did come together well, which was a surprise I'm taking Buzz for it's test run at our local Turkey Trot. I'll only stand out A LITTLE, LOL!!

Nooo. We don't talk about going home...

That's why I left it at that!!! It's too depressing to think about!!

I just found your report and I’m loving it! DH and I are loosely talking about adults only princess half in 2020 (planning much ). Keys to the Kingdom sounds amazing!

Side note.... i teach First... I’m super envious you guys get to dress up for Halloween at school.

WELCOME! We haven't done an adults only Disney trip since our Honeymoon, so I am SO excited for this (and only feeling a little guilty!)

Halloween is one of my least favorite school days, except for how adorable they are in their costumes. Everything else is madness!!

 

[missjackiemcg]

I swear I haven't abandoned this PTR! Life just keeps getting crazier and life in retail even more so!! Last week, I accomplished 29 parent-teacher conferences, worked an 11 hour overnight set up for Christmas at Hallmark, ran a turkey trot, watched the Christmas parade with Jimmy, ate cheese pizza with mashed potatoes, stuffing and green bean casserole at my brother's house, worked Black Friday and Small Business Saturday and went right back to school yesterday! It's been madness.

BUT, time is flying and suddenly here we are just 32 days from Disney!! I can hardly believe it.

I was able to run the entire 5K for the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving going on only 3 hours of sleep, so I felt really great about that! This Saturday, I'll be running the Santa Hustle 5K with Rob in downtown Chicago, which is one of our favorite runs of the year. Then, I think it's time to officially get the suitcases out and start packing! (Who am I kidding? I have had a little Disney pile that grew into a small tote bag and now a full blown utility tote filled with things I need to pack....since I booked this trip!! LOL)

An unexpected computer crash has left me picture-less for this update. Sorry to be so boring!!

BUT, I should let you know that I was finally able to book the last long-awaited thing that has been on my list for this trip!! Following our Hollywood & Vine early dinner on New Year's Day we will be doing the VIP seating and Fantasmic! Dessert event. We'll get a snack box filled with delicious goodies, as well as a lanyard and a big blue margarita in a light up cup (Raise your hand if that's the reason you wanted to book this event in the first place.....just me? I'm ok with that!) We just take our boxes and beverages down to the VIP seating area (which I do believe is about the same as the FP seating area) to enjoy!

I paid the final balance on this trip last week, so now all that's left to do is survive 3 more weeks in Kindergarten, celebrate some Christmases and a wedding, and get on that plane!!

 

[Pluto0809]

suddenly here we are just 32 days from Disney!!

Yep and only 37 days till the 5K! I've got 35 days till I leave for Disney. I just checked and our Magic Bands should be shipping soon, we only have 3 more days to customize. Of course I've had that done for months. The only thing I think I still have left to do is to pre-order our BOG lunch but I can't do that till 12/8. Meanwhile I'm still working on the February trip, got to do FPs on 12/4 for that one.

I was able to run the entire 5K

Sigh, I don't know if I will ever be able to run an entire race with my stupid ankle. But at least I'm getting out there and doing something!

I think it's time to officially get the suitcases out and start packing!

I've got to get through all of my Christmas wrapping before I can start packing. I have all my gifts laid out on the guest bed and that is were I normally pack. I do have my shirts and bags picked out already cause you know that's the important part. Are you shopping for lots and lots of Toy Story shirts right now?

Following our Hollywood & Vine early dinner on New Year's Day we will be doing the VIP seating and Fantasmic! Dessert event.

Yay! Glad you finally got this one booked. I do like the idea of the blue glow drink but most of the desserts don't interest me. I like the parties where I can stack up on multiples of the chocolate items!

 

[chunkymonkey]

Your thanksgiving sounds yummy, and very busy! I can't believe you ran a 5k then worked black friday. You must have been tired!
I'm sure you are super excited about Disney though!
I too booked the VIP dessert package for Dec! I didn't even know we get a souvenir margarita! I thought it was just the dessert box. But now that sounds pretty cool!

 

[missjackiemcg]

I just checked and our Magic Bands should be shipping soon, we only have 3 more days to customize. Of course I've had that done for months.

Me, too!! Though I did log back in and just look again to make sure I really picked the right colors!! I ordered us Magic Band decals again for this trip and I wanted to be sure I picked the colors that matched the designs we ended up deciding on. Can't wait til the MBs actually arrive so I can put those together!

But at least I'm getting out there and doing something!

ABSOLUTELY! When I first started getting out there, I would run one block and walk a bunch in between. It's been a long time since I was actually able to run a full 5K, and even then I was about 4 minutes slower than I want to be. Baby steps!!

Are you shopping for lots and lots of Toy Story shirts right now?

I was JUST thinking I'm not going to match, but I don't even care! I am SO excited just to have that bag--can't wait for it to come in the mail I do have one Toy Story shirt, so at least I'll match once!! LOL

I do like the idea of the blue glow drink but most of the desserts don't interest me.

I am totally in it for the drink. I plan to do some trading with Rob for the things I want out of his box!! He can have all the trail mix

 

[missjackiemcg]

I can't believe you ran a 5k then worked black friday. You must have been tired!

I couldn't believe I ran it on only 3 hours of sleep from the overnight the night before!! I think the beautiful sunny day really helped! It just felt so great to be out there!

I didn't even know we get a souvenir margarita!

I was really excited about it...wishing it was refillable, but no such luck!!

 

[MeghanEmily]

Last week, I accomplished 29 parent-teacher conferences, worked an 11 hour overnight set up for Christmas at Hallmark, ran a turkey trot, watched the Christmas parade with Jimmy, ate cheese pizza with mashed potatoes, stuffing and green bean casserole at my brother's house, worked Black Friday and Small Business Saturday and went right back to school yesterday! It's been madness.

Holy cow! I don't know how you managed this! What a crazy week!

I was able to run the entire 5K for the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving going on only 3 hours of sleep, so I felt really great about that!

Hey, that's great! If you can do this, the Disney run will be a piece of cake

BUT, I should let you know that I was finally able to book the last long-awaited thing that has been on my list for this trip!! Following our Hollywood & Vine early dinner on New Year's Day we will be doing the VIP seating and Fantasmic! Dessert event. We'll get a snack box filled with delicious goodies, as well as a lanyard and a big blue margarita in a light up cup (Raise your hand if that's the reason you wanted to book this event in the first place.....just me? I'm ok with that!) We just take our boxes and beverages down to the VIP seating area (which I do believe is about the same as the FP seating area) to enjoy!

Oh yay! This sounds amazing! I can't wait to hear about it!

 

[missjackiemcg]

Yesterday was an awfully long stress-filled school day, but our evening was magical, so I thought I would pop in with a few pictures to make up for the boring last update!!

Our elf, Ho Ho, Jr., has been up to no good around our house. This time we caught him playing Peek-a-Boo in the bathroom!! As a 3rd grade boy, Jimmy really enjoyed this because it had to do with toilet paper.... and anything even remotely having to do with butts is hilarious right now. Ugh!
20171128_155523 by Jackie Lagoni, on Flickr4
Thanks to @StarWarsMomofGirls! for helping me to step up my elf game this year!!

We went to dinner with Santa at a local restaurant with my parents, too. Usually Santa is looking a bit bedraggled and skinny as he comes to each table, but this year he had a really elaborate display and Jimmy was in love with his big fancy belt buckle and fireplace Santa told Jimmy he had always wanted to drive his own race car.
20171129_173935 by Jackie Lagoni, on Flickr

When we arrived home from dinner, our Christmas cards had arrived from Shutterfly (yay! Last week I was excited thinking they'd arrived and all that had come was a box of envelopes...boo!!) AND in our mailbox...........
20171129_195317 by Jackie Lagoni, on Flickr

It was a very magical evening for such a crummy day!!

 

[MeghanEmily]

As a 3rd grade boy, Jimmy really enjoyed this because it had to do with toilet paper.... and anything even remotely having to do with butts is hilarious right now. Ugh!

Bahaha I feel this. I have a little cousin who's in the 3rd grade, and apparently I'm crazy for not getting why bathroom humor is hilarious!

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

As a 3rd grade boy, Jimmy really enjoyed this because it had to do with toilet paper.... and anything even remotely having to do with butts is hilarious right now. Ugh!
20171128_155523 by Jackie Lagoni, on Flickr4
Thanks to @StarWarsMomofGirls! for helping me to step up my elf game this year!!

ANYTIME! And just so you know 6 year old girls this bathroom humor is hilarious still... Sigh...

20171129_195317 by Jackie Lagoni, on Flickr

It was a very magical evening for such a crummy day!!

Any kind of Disney Mail is Good Mail!

 

[Pluto0809]

Our elf, Ho Ho, Jr., has been up to no good around our house.

So glad this was not a thing when I was a kid.

Jimmy was in love with his big fancy belt buckle and fireplace

So cute!

AND in our mailbox...........

This makes me so excited! Hopefully mine will show up soon too!

 

[missjackiemcg]

Updates from me 3 days in a row!?

Nobody else will be as excited as me about these things, so you're the lucky ones!! LOL

Yesterday, I came home from working my second job and was really dragging my feet into the house just ready to go to bed! When I opened the door and saw I had received a package, I was suddenly FULL of energy and excitement!! I was like a little kid on Christmas morning tearing into the envelope and tissue to open up this amazingness!!! (Picture taken this morning. Excitement is simulated. Actual reaction may have been more outrageous than picture appears....)

20171201_055940 by Jackie Lagoni, on Flickr

We discovered that Ho Ho, Jr. and Mommy have very similar taste in Advent calendars and ideas for surprising Jimmy!!! (Truth be told, this was my backup plan in case any of the little brats in Jimmy's class tried to ruin the magic of Christmas this year! He was with me when we purchased the Target exclusive Tsum Tsum calendar that creates a little train, but when I saw the Cosco one I thought "I'm getting this one, too!" Jimmy will never in a million years believe we would pay for two of these for him. So, one MUST have come by magic!!)

20171201_061420 by Jackie Lagoni, on Flickr

Best part of all, this morning when I got to school and opened my email, this little baby was waiting for me!!! 29 days til Disney

20171201_065725 by Jackie Lagoni, on Flickr

 

[MeghanEmily]

When I opened the door and saw I had received a package, I was suddenly FULL of energy and excitement!! I was like a little kid on Christmas morning tearing into the envelope and tissue to open up this amazingness!!! (Picture taken this morning. Excitement is simulated. Actual reaction may have been more outrageous than picture appears....)

Oh my gosh, adorable!! I love this!!

Lucky Jimmy that Ho Ho Jr. has such good taste!

 

[Pluto0809]

When I opened the door and saw I had received a package, I was suddenly FULL of energy and excitement!!

So much fun to get one of those packages! Mine hasn't come yet, hopefully today.

the Target exclusive Tsum Tsum calendar

I came so close to buying this for myself.

Best part of all, this morning when I got to school and opened my email, this little baby was waiting for me!!! 29 days til Disney

Yay! Today is my last day for customizing so hopefully I will be getting that e-mail soon too! 32 days for me.

 

[StarWarsMomofGirls!]

He was with me when we purchased the Target exclusive Tsum Tsum calendar that creates a little train, but when I saw the Cosco one I thought "I'm getting this one, too!" Jimmy will never in a million years believe we would pay for two of these for him. So, one MUST have come by magic!!)

20171

That is genius! I love it!

 

[DMGeurts]

Hey you! Trying to do some catching up while I am watching Christmas movies with my brother...

Loving all of your running outfits! I swear, you and I need to meet IRL... we are such kindred spirits, we'd rock the dress-up game totally! I honestly think the only reason I took up running in the first place, was so that I could have a reason to plan more outfits... it's a true sickness. And now I don't run, but I still love outfit planning.

Ahhh and little Jimmy... just cherish every single moment my friend, before you know it, he'll be grown and gone... Victoria still believed in Santa at 14... don't even ask how we pulled that one off because I don't honestly know?? All I can say is, 15 Christmases (and Easters) of trying to stay awake later than my child who has an internal bed time of 2am... and the other child who naturally wakes at 4 am... then sneak down the stairs... we had to tell her ourselves, we couldn't take it anymore. Lol. Needless to say, she cried for days and we were the most terrible parents ever. I don't recommend waiting *quite* that long, but certainly enjoy it now. :lovesruc

The Advent calendars are both awesome!

And finally, your bag... you look awesome wearing it!!! I am so excited for you, I know you've wanted one for a long time & I am so happy that you were able to get the one I loved the most... sooooo much Pixie Dust in that thing! Lol. Enjoy my friend. :lovestrc

And eeeeep for your trip being so close!!! I wish we overlapped, but at least you get to meet Ariana (maybe?)... that's almost like meeting me, since I talk to her almost every day.

Looking forward to seeing more planning!

D~

 

[missjackiemcg]

I swear, you and I need to meet IRL... we are such kindred spirits, we'd rock the dress-up game totally!

I know!!! I wish we overlapped on our trips. Can't believe it's SO close and we'll be missing each other!!

Ahhh and little Jimmy... just cherish every single moment my friend, before you know it, he'll be grown and gone

I LOVE creating memories with him, and I know it will all go by way too quickly. I can't believe he's already 8! I hope he believes for a long time to come....and doesn't hate me too much when he finds out the (gulp) truth!!

And finally, your bag... you look awesome wearing it!!! I am so excited for you, I know you've wanted one for a long time & I am so happy that you were able to get the one I loved the most... sooooo much Pixie Dust in that thing! Lol. Enjoy my friend. :lovestrc

I guess I wasn't meant to win any of the other auctions in the past because this one truly fell into my lap!! I couldn't be more excited

I wish we overlapped, but at least you get to meet Ariana (maybe?).

YES! I met her briefly with Mo in 2015 and we forgot to take a picture!! FINALLY correcting that mistake!! Hopefully going to spend some time together at the Expo, but definitely before the 5K and riding ToT together afterward.

 

[buzzrelly]

Wow! Sorry I'm late but I'm all caught up! Your life sounds as hectic as mine…maybe more Loving your plans, so far! We went into Trader Sams a little late and didn't actually get a table but we still had a nice time and had a drink at the bar, so no worries

Jimmy's picture with Santa is too cute!

Sounds like most of your planning is done…everything should just fall into place nicely!

 

[missjackiemcg]

Your life sounds as hectic as mine…maybe more

At least I'm not alone!!

We went into Trader Sams a little late and didn't actually get a table but we still had a nice time and had a drink at the bar, so no worries

I'm glad to know that's an option! I was kind of assuming we'd have to wait for a table!

 

[missjackiemcg]

This weekend was beautiful and spring-like here in Chicago!! We couldn't have gotten luckier with the weather as we were running the Santa Hustle on Saturday along the lakefront. It is a 5K race, and I was able to run the whole thing and really felt great. Every time a Disney song popped up on my playlist I was smiling and almost tearfully giddy thinking the next race I run will be in Epcot!!! Here are a couple of pics:

20171202_083351 by Jackie Lagoni, on Flickr

20171202_090041 by Jackie Lagoni, on Flickr

20171202_092903 by Jackie Lagoni, on Flickr

20171202_102148 by Jackie Lagoni, on Flickr

After the race, all the Santas were shuttled over to Navy Pier for an official after party celebration. Many of the bars and restaurants opened early with drink specials and food items. Rob and I hit up Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. first (my fav!) and enjoyed some Miller Lites along with their specialty drink Rudolph's Red Nose--it was topped with cherry ICEE!! mmmmmmm

I worked all day Sunday--things are getting wild around Hallmark these days as we get closer to Christmas. I am the one who personalizes all the ornaments people purchase, so I've been a busy little bee!!

Monday night I got home from another full school day and night at work to discover some more magical mail in our mailbox!! I was a tiny bit disappointed because I didn't get the right luggage tag!!

20171204_173806 by Jackie Lagoni, on Flickr

Luckily I already have the red Minnie Mouse luggage tag (I made a switch with my Dad when we went on our last trip. He got red with Minnie and I had gotten the yellow with Mickey), so this one will just get added to my collection

And with that, just 25 days to go!!! I can hardly believe it's this close to our trip. I'm already trying to figure out when I can go back and we haven't even gotten there yet. LOL Plus, reading some TRs lately about cruising (ahem, @chunkymonkey ) has got my wheels turning on planning a cruise next!

Happy Tuesday, friends!