I Saw Mommy Kissing Goofy Claus - Dec '09 - DAY ONE, FINALLY (2/20) - PG# 40

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Oh man I'm sorry about your day It really is when it rains it pours I'll send some pixie dust your way to get through the rest of the week!!!

 

[nic100308]

Shamus reminded (gave me a slap of reality!) me that this is NOT the time to start thinking about a move... We've got Disney on the 6th of Dec, we'll come back and have Christmas, then it'll be New Years. If anytime soon, we're looking at springtime. But I thank you (and Erin) for the reality check that this is the world we live in, location doesn't matter. We live in a 3 story condo with video monitors at the door, high-tech security. But drug deals in the parking lot... I probably wouldn't be so neurotic/worried, but we're on the first floor. If stray bullets from a deal gone bad are going to stray, chances are it will be a first floor apartment... but stray bullets can happen anywhere... ::breathing::

LOL I am sorry to laugh at you, and I don't mean to make light of your situation or make fun of you, but your stray bullet comment made me laugh. I understand what you mean though. We're on the second floor and there are a lot of luxuries about being up there. Like in the summer we can leave our patio door and all our windows open and know no one will be able to break in.

See the husbands a good for a good dose of reality. LOL sometimes they're just joy killers, but other you really need that voice of reason in the background.

 

[MyMuse]

I hope you are doing better today.

However, I do not see a To-Do List....

 

[exwdwcm]

so sorry about the crappy day. and i would be upset that my TA didn't even give me a heads up that he was leaving, almost makes you think it wasn't on good terms or planned. so sorry. I would just stay on top of 'Barb' and ensure she knows you want to know every detail- she is probably used to the people that book a trip and are fine wtih whatever she tells them- you are educated and know your info (probably more than her) so she probably isn't used to that all the time. not sure transferring your ressie now is worth it- what do you think you would get out of doing that? I've only booked with disney TAs (like Dreams Unlimited) or directly myself for WDW, i've never worked with AAA. but even when booking with our TA now (Dreams)- we still get our m ickey mail direct to us. Does AAA not do that? I hope it works out- just try and stay calm, but yet informed!

LOVE LOVE LOVE the pics- she is just so adorable! so the McClaren is the winner to take on the trip?

sorry to hear about the scary stuff in the neighborhood- like others have said, you can't be 100% safe anywhere. even gated communities, if someone wants in, htey will find a way. we live in a great neighborhood in a nice part of town north of Dallas. just all brick homes, but we've had kids come by and shoot out windows of cars with bebe guns. But a cop was knocking on our door that night and letting us know about it (it happened in the night and no one heard it). We feel fairly safe where we are, but you just never know if someone might 'lose it' and go crazy. So whether it is the crazies or drug dealers, you just have to stay on your game, doing everything you can to keep your family safe and if you feel like where you are now isn't doing htat, then by all means, make a 'plan' to move in the next year or so. Glad DH brought you down to earth- i know moving might be the answer, but you definitely need to take it slow and ensure you are finding the right place to move to!! good luck!!!

and again- Madi is just adorable- i want to eat her up!!! oh and Will didn't understand that we don't go in people's houses when TOTing. i guess that makes sense- how many times do we knock on someone's door but NOT go in? lol

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Oh man I'm sorry about your day It really is when it rains it pours I'll send some pixie dust your way to get through the rest of the week!!!

I am hoping your pixie dust will prove for a good weekend Thanks!

LOL I am sorry to laugh at you, and I don't mean to make light of your situation or make fun of you, but your stray bullet comment made me laugh. I understand what you mean though. We're on the second floor and there are a lot of luxuries about being up there. Like in the summer we can leave our patio door and all our windows open and know no one will be able to break in.

See the husbands a good for a good dose of reality. LOL sometimes they're just joy killers, but other you really need that voice of reason in the background.

Now you are laughing at my grave concerns! You have fun lugging your groceries up stairs while I "fling" them on to our porch! Jerk! Kidding of course.

Those husbands, always there to rope us back in!

I hope you are doing better today.

However, I do not see a To-Do List....

You are a pusher... and I like that. It's coming!

so sorry about the crappy day. and i would be upset that my TA didn't even give me a heads up that he was leaving, almost makes you think it wasn't on good terms or planned. so sorry. I would just stay on top of 'Barb' and ensure she knows you want to know every detail- she is probably used to the people that book a trip and are fine wtih whatever she tells them- you are educated and know your info (probably more than her) so she probably isn't used to that all the time. not sure transferring your ressie now is worth it- what do you think you would get out of doing that? I've only booked with disney TAs (like Dreams Unlimited) or directly myself for WDW, i've never worked with AAA. but even when booking with our TA now (Dreams)- we still get our m ickey mail direct to us. Does AAA not do that? I hope it works out- just try and stay calm, but yet informed!

LOVE LOVE LOVE the pics- she is just so adorable! so the McClaren is the winner to take on the trip?

sorry to hear about the scary stuff in the neighborhood- like others have said, you can't be 100% safe anywhere. even gated communities, if someone wants in, htey will find a way. we live in a great neighborhood in a nice part of town north of Dallas. just all brick homes, but we've had kids come by and shoot out windows of cars with bebe guns. But a cop was knocking on our door that night and letting us know about it (it happened in the night and no one heard it). We feel fairly safe where we are, but you just never know if someone might 'lose it' and go crazy. So whether it is the crazies or drug dealers, you just have to stay on your game, doing everything you can to keep your family safe and if you feel like where you are now isn't doing htat, then by all means, make a 'plan' to move in the next year or so. Glad DH brought you down to earth- i know moving might be the answer, but you definitely need to take it slow and ensure you are finding the right place to move to!! good luck!!!

and again- Madi is just adorable- i want to eat her up!!! oh and Will didn't understand that we don't go in people's houses when TOTing. i guess that makes sense- how many times do we knock on someone's door but NOT go in? lol

Kids are such fun! I loved watching her be her in Halloween!

Barb better be on her A-game, cause she's dealing with a DIS-pro!

The move will happen, how soon... no one knows. I am definitely more calm today!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

1. I still need to post pumpkin carving pics (is it too late, should I skip this..?)
2. Halloween, Trick-Or-Treating, Dress-Up
3. Picking out our Christmas Tree!!! (Went and "tagged" it Sunday)
4. Pictures of lots of new goodies being added to the suitcase, and the home
5. My numerous To-Do/Buy/Plan lists
6. Sharing some upcoming none Disney distractions (we all love these!!!)
7. And, of course, Park/Day plans for our trip!


1. DONE
2. DONE
3. Comin' at'cha now...
4. Tomorrow... maybe
5. Attempting to give it to ya in a few
6. Tomorrow I suppose...
7. Hell, let's not lie... you'll get those next week!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I posted this on Jolly TR but since you asked:

The DME tags will be the first that you get. When I called to ask about mine she said they go out 45 days before your check-in date. I was more than 45 days out but after calling WDW reservations 3x and my DME stuff was still not correct, the woman at DME personally fixed the problems from the reservation line and then mailed the package right away. We got our DME stuff about 2 wks ago. I'm 35 days away from my trip. We got another set of DME stuff which must have been organized from WDW reservations with all of our incorrect info. That got here on Tues I believe which is when the one with the correct info should have come as well but the CM was nice enough to mail it out after all the trouble I had with reservations.

There is a direct number for DME (not reservations) that you can call to see if your DME stuff was/when mailed out.

Let me know if you'd like the number!!

I think your resort info is mailed 30 days prior to your trip! Since I"m staying with my CM discount, I don't get any mickey mail besides DME...kinda sad!

* your ticker says 31 days??? I'd call for sure asap. I know DME said 45 days for sure your DME will be mailed out:booklet with flight info and bus tickets and your resort luggage tags. You have up to 10 days before the trip to add DME so I'd call for sure and ask if and when it was sent out. In my case had I not called, all my info was either not correct or missing. I'm not sure what you get in the other package besides the special luggage tags so I don't know if it is as important??

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Last Sunday we went up to the place I had found online that has a "Tag Your Own Christmas Tree" deal. The farm was beautiful, SOOO much better than the crap-shoot pumpkin patch we went to. Unlike the pumpkin patch we were greeted by a greeter and given instructions.

1. Go inside the barn and pay the deposit and receive your tag.
2. Head out into the great beyond and find yourself a nice Christmas tree. Pick ANY tree, regardless of size and you pay $45. You can feel free to add garland, ornaments, whatever you like to make it yours and make it easier to spot when you come back to claim it.
3. Find the winner and tag it.
4. Come back after Thanksgiving and claim your tree.

Sounds like fun, sounds easy enough. Heck, it's just the day after Halloween the selection should be great! WRONG! They also are a working pumpkin patch and we noticed a lot of the trees had Halloween decorations on them (upon return the greeter informed us that a lot of people come up, pick pumpkins and tag trees on the same day in early October. - DRAT! Now we know for next year!). We went with Alison, the BFF's and the rest of their family. They went one way and we went another. Ten, fifteen minutes pass and we meet somewhere in the middle.

Nothing?
Nothing!
You?
Nothing.

The search continues... then... there it is!

(Madi, sizing it up!)

The top is a little "goofy" - but it'll be covered with whatever it is we have on top this year!

Madi much prefered this little guy and wanted to decorate it:

So we walked around it, Shamus and I agreed that this was the winner - although there were a lot of other "winners" that I was REAL tempted to "un-tag" and re-tag! But that just isn't good karma, and I am going to Disney and am only packing good karma So there it is, OUR Christmas tree!

(This is Madi's Christmas dress from last year, makes a nice sweater, huh?!)



I call this: Good Bye Autumn, Hello Disney!

And a group shot, that we got scolded for - you aren't supposed to get up there, you can take your pic down in front - BOOOO!

We had a great day, learned to come back EARLY next year and most importantly we walked away happy. My (other) complaint, they don't have "lots" or "lanes" or "rows" - they have signs that say things like "Holiday," "Reindeer," "Candy Cane," crap like that... so where our tree is if you are standing facing North (sun sets to the West...) you can see the sign that says "Candy Cane." Wish me luck when it's time to go back to claim it! Speaking of... my plan was to go back to pick it up on the 12th, the day after we get back from Disney. Alison said there is no way she is going to let me wait til them to decorate a Christmas tree - "I'll come water your D@MN tree" she said! So, we're going up the day after Thanksgiving, Black Friday... or we'll go that Saturday if we're crazy enough to go out shopping on BF!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

There is a direct number for DME (not reservations) that you can call to see if your DME stuff was/when mailed out.

Let me know if you'd like the number!!

GIMME THAT NUMBER!!! Please!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

To Do in October
- Pay off Disney
--- DONE!
- Get Shamus New Shoes
--- DONE! And got a pair for me!
- Apply FF# to Delta Ressie
--- Not done, but is this even important?


To Do in November
- "Tag" Christmas Tree
--- DONE!
- Set in stone travel plans to/from the airport
--- Still debating, I think we like the idea of taking the bus up there. We would have to get to the bus at 3:20, but we could sleep on the bus for the hour and a hlaf trip to the airport. It would put us at the airport ahead of sched, but better safe than sorry. Second option is renting a car, driving up at 4:00/4:30. Then we're debating having my friend stay here while we're gone. Haven't figured that out yet, that kinda goes hand-in-hand with this figuring out business!
- Go to Hertz for a "counter-offer"
--- Hertz is across the parking lot from our apartment, the deal I foudn online for a car was through Budget and we'd have to drive about 30 minutes to get the car. My plan is to take my print-out over to Hertz and see if they'll match it and save me the trip to Falmouth. Maybe I can go over tomorrow morning...
- Book Stanley Steemer
--- We want to have the carpets cleaned while we're gone, crazy I know! Need to figure out if we have someone staying at the house so we can figure out when to have this done.
- Modify ADR guest count
--- you all know I fibbed and booked larger tables so I could get the time I wanted... now it is time to right my wrongs!
- Order contacts for Shamus
--- Needs to be done... maybe tonight if we go up to Walmart.
- Fill out & stamp Christmas cards
--- Filled out, not stamped
- Get more info on MVMCP after the first party (11/10/09 <--- cool date!)
--- Obv can't be done yet
- Check weather daily starting 11/28
--- Again, another obv
- Check in to Steve Soares's site a week prior to get an idea of show times in the parks
--- Yet another obvious...


To Buy
- Ponchos
--- DONE! Madi's got pink and Shamus & I will be in red!
- Comfy Jeans
--- I hate shopping for pants!
- Locking pin-backs
--- I don't want to lose her pins, any insight on this? Good idea, waste of money?!
- Retractable Black Sharpies (x2)
--- Went to ACMoore the other day and they had red & blue... We're using these for her Autographs
- ID Wristband or tattoos for Madi (in case GOD FORBID she gets separated from us)
--- Should knock this out this weekend!


To Make/Print Out
- Autograph pages
--- I found a cute Princess 4x6 brag book/photo album that I am going to use as Madi's Autograph book, now I just need to cut out 32 4x6 pieces of cardstock! Another task for the weekend?
- Print out Holidays Around The World Passport
--- and this isn't done... why?! Tonight!
- Print out Madi's "invites"
--- I had Wendypoo of on the DISign boards make Madi some invites to the various places we'll be eating. They are super cute! I will share some soon!

I still need to make the following lists:
* To Plan for Disney
* To Plan for Christmas
* To Do Before We Leave
* To Do Upon Return
* To Pack
* Things To Buy in Disney/I-Drive
* Tips. Tricks & Must Do's
And when I do, you'll be the first to know about it

 

[mandy2012]

I've been MIA for a while but I am all cought up now. Those Halloween pics are so precious and the xmas tree pics are great also. Sorry to hear about your bad day, but don't worry, you will be in Disney soon

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

sorry!! I got out of work super late, hit the gym, and to eat and pack before bed so I didnt get a chance to read dis but here is the direct # for DME:

1-866-599-0951


Your tree farm is very fancy compared to the one my parents go to!! We're going this weekend to scope out a tree. We can't tag until the week before Thanksgiving and then my Dad and Brother get the tree in the morning of Black Friday and basically get it up and fed and put lights on it and then the next day my mom and I will decorate it.

The tree farm we go to don't have fancy signs for the rows so it's sometimes hard to find where you tag your tree!!! That would be a good idea to have to signs to give you some direction on where you are going!! I thought the little tree was very cute IMO

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

I've been MIA for a while but I am all cought up now. Those Halloween pics are so precious and the xmas tree pics are great also. Sorry to hear about your bad day, but don't worry, you will be in Disney soon

Thanks

sorry!! I got out of work super late, hit the gym, and to eat and pack before bed so I didnt get a chance to read dis but here is the direct # for DME:

1-866-599-0951


Your tree farm is very fancy compared to the one my parents go to!! We're going this weekend to scope out a tree. We can't tag until the week before Thanksgiving and then my Dad and Brother get the tree in the morning of Black Friday and basically get it up and fed and put lights on it and then the next day my mom and I will decorate it.

The tree farm we go to don't have fancy signs for the rows so it's sometimes hard to find where you tag your tree!!! That would be a good idea to have to signs to give you some direction on where you are going!! I thought the little tree was very cute IMO

I am nervous to call... what's the worst that can happen, they won't talk to me cause I booked through AAA? I'll give it a shot and keep ya posted!

I was VERY impressed with this tree farm! I can't wait to go back and pick it up, ride the sleigh, meet Santa, drink cocoa! It's gonna be fun!!! I like the idea of sending the guys to get the tree, but there is a lot of fun stuff for the kids when we go back!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Bought the sharpies last night.

Bought the ID wristbands today.

(Not on the official to-do list, but my splurge-do list... I bought the tree skirt from disneystore.com... and the Santa's Cookies plate... I am a sucker and I need to stop! But I did nix the idea of the advent calendar. So we got the stockings & the tree skirt and the cookie plate. Pics soon!)

And knocked 4 more people off the Christmas shopping list!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Did I fail to mention...

30 DAY DANCE!!!




SIMULTANEOUS 1 MONTH DANCE!!!

​

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

Thanks



I am nervous to call... what's the worst that can happen, they won't talk to me cause I booked through AAA? I'll give it a shot and keep ya posted!

I was VERY impressed with this tree farm! I can't wait to go back and pick it up, ride the sleigh, meet Santa, drink cocoa! It's gonna be fun!!! I like the idea of sending the guys to get the tree, but there is a lot of fun stuff for the kids when we go back!

Are you serious?! That is some cool tree farm!! Ours is owned by a family that lives on the lot that the tree farm is on so I mean they have a small little operation and it works I guess. Our tree is usually $40 -$50 as well!

Let me know what happens with DME. I just called to update my info and the girl told me oh ya your package hasn't been mailed yet so I'll update all the info and mail the package today and it arrived 7 days later with all the correct info. I wish I got her name!!

 

[mandy2012]

Did I fail to mention...

30 DAY DANCE!!!




SIMULTANEOUS 1 MONTH DANCE!!!

​

 

[mandy2012]

I have 3 weeks and 3 days!!! OMG

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

I have 3 weeks and 3 days!!! OMG

Were does the time go?! Am I right?!

 

[mandy2012]

Were does the time go?! Am I right?!

I know seriously... I still need to get clothes this weekend and luggage ahh the lists continue! lol