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

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Yep...Lulu is a confusing girl! The kids have to take those standardized tests each year. (They rank the school district state-wide based on kids' scores.) Anyway, she scored PERFECT on the math section...every question right and advanced on the reading section. So, one would tend to wonder...why would she ask such a silly question?? She has also asked if people in England and Great Brit. speak the same language? HUH!??

I agree...your child is a product of his / her environment. If you teach them well and right...they will do fine! Madi will do perfectly on her own without some paid for tool. And, memorization only gets you just so far! Just keep doing what you are doing! She seems a bit advanced already...so no need to spend money on what you can offer her for free!

 

[exwdwcm]

Man, i have been MIA from all my fellow DEC DISERS PTR! sorry guys, work has been super crazy (I so wish I was a stay at home mom, work is making me want to shoot myself!!!).

anyhow- Madi's cake was gorgeous- wow! how did it taste? And she is just cute as a button, love the nemo costume. I'd like to do something like that for WIll (turning 2 on 10/30), but we never know here in Dallas if it will be cool enough yet for him to wear one of those heavy costumes. it could still be in the 90s. ah, texas weather, gotta love it and hate it.

love all the shirts and other goodies you have for her for hte trip too.

and yes- WISHES dessert party- we just booked it as well. We are doing it on 12/16. We are doing O'hana too- on our last night- at 4:30pm, then heading to the MK for a few last hours to say good bye (how sad!).

oh and i think you were looking for the exact schedule for WISHEs on MVMCP night- here it is. We are doing MVMCP on 12/15.
These are 2008 hours until 2009 is released, but should be the same. I hear you can get into the dessert party about an hour before WISHES.

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Holiday Wishes--Celebrate the Spirit of the Season: 9:30 p.m.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade: 8:15, 10:30 p.m.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mickey's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' Show: 7, 8, 9, 10:15 and 11:15 p.m. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Celebrate the Season Show - 7:45, 10:05 and 11:20 p.m. at the Castle Forecourt Stage[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Belle's Enchanted Christmas Story: 7:15, 8:10, 10:00 and 11:15pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For a guide map of the park during the MVMCP, click HERE![/FONT]​

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

First, I think it is amazing that Madi just turned 2 and knows all her colors and her letters. That truly is amazing and very good teaching on your part. I also think that a lot of things are gimmicks. DH and I have bought the nieces and nephews (we have 5 already on 1 more on the way) leap frog and also think they are great. Just great products, very smart (as you said)and worth what you pay. I also want to mention that when I was 4 and in preschool there was one girl in my class that could read. And being the over achiever, even at that age, could not know anyone who could do something I could not do. So I went home and asked my mom to teach me how to read. And she taught me how to read on her 1950 whatever "Dick and Jane" book. I still remember it: "Dick and Jane run" "Spot runs too" and when you got to the end of the book, where it was more advanced: "Dick plays ball" "Jane irons" Iron was a little difficult, LOL but how non pc was it!?!?! Anyway the book probably cost like $.50 in 1955 when my Grandma bought it and it served as my first "learning to read" agent. Money doesn't necessarily mean it will work.

Madi's library is filled with classics as well! We love Goodnight Moon, The Napping House, Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Go Dogs Go (her personal fave of the moment!) - and we go to the library every week or two and get some new ones to fill the repetitiveness. I love that you learned on Dick & Jane, classic, simple and cheap!

Good Rant! Both my kids were reading before they started kindergarden, I believe it's parents who spend time with their kids, even just an hour a day doing educational stuff, they don't know it's educational, they think wow, it's fun playing with mommy. Good Job Mommy!

Can't wait for the mini trip report.

Thanks Ty!

Yep...Lulu is a confusing girl! The kids have to take those standardized tests each year. (They rank the school district state-wide based on kids' scores.) Anyway, she scored PERFECT on the math section...every question right and advanced on the reading section. So, one would tend to wonder...why would she ask such a silly question?? She has also asked if people in England and Great Brit. speak the same language? HUH!??

I agree...your child is a product of his / her environment. If you teach them well and right...they will do fine! Madi will do perfectly on her own without some paid for tool. And, memorization only gets you just so far! Just keep doing what you are doing! She seems a bit advanced already...so no need to spend money on what you can offer her for free!

Lulu sounds hilarious - I can not wait to meet her and the rest of the crew

I know I am a good Momma and I do right by and for my daughter. I have no worries for her - just hopes and dreams

Man, i have been MIA from all my fellow DEC DISERS PTR! sorry guys, work has been super crazy (I so wish I was a stay at home mom, work is making me want to shoot myself!!!).

anyhow- Madi's cake was gorgeous- wow! how did it taste? And she is just cute as a button, love the nemo costume. I'd like to do something like that for WIll (turning 2 on 10/30), but we never know here in Dallas if it will be cool enough yet for him to wear one of those heavy costumes. it could still be in the 90s. ah, texas weather, gotta love it and hate it.

love all the shirts and other goodies you have for her for hte trip too.

and yes- WISHES dessert party- we just booked it as well. We are doing it on 12/16. We are doing O'hana too- on our last night- at 4:30pm, then heading to the MK for a few last hours to say good bye (how sad!).

oh and i think you were looking for the exact schedule for WISHEs on MVMCP night- here it is. We are doing MVMCP on 12/15.
These are 2008 hours until 2009 is released, but should be the same. I hear you can get into the dessert party about an hour before WISHES.

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Holiday Wishes--Celebrate the Spirit of the Season: 9:30 p.m.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime Parade: 8:15, 10:30 p.m.[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Mickey's 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' Show: 7, 8, 9, 10:15 and 11:15 p.m. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Celebrate the Season Show - 7:45, 10:05 and 11:20 p.m. at the Castle Forecourt Stage[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Belle's Enchanted Christmas Story: 7:15, 8:10, 10:00 and 11:15pm[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]For a guide map of the park during the MVMCP, click HERE![/FONT]​

Don't feel bad - I have been MIA from my own report so to speak. I come on and after I am done reading up about everyone else my mind is fried or my eyes are tired (or, let's be honest... I am addicted to Mafia Wars on Facebook... don't ask me how it happened... it just did...). You are forgiven

Madi's cake was delicious on day one and two weeks later when I delighted my taste buds with the final slice! The nice thing about the Nemo costume is that it is leg-less and sleeve-less. So you could pull it off in any climate I suppose! Disney Store has a super cute Mickey one too RIGHT HERE

Thanks for the info on the Wishes for MVMCP. I can not wait for them to release 2009 info - any thought on when that may be?

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Our plan was originally for my friend Alison to pick me up after she dropped her 10 year old son off at school and we would head off with "the babies" (Madilynn - 2, Bella & Griffin - both 3) around 8:30. Well none of us ever run things as smoothly as we'd like... SO, new plan! Ryley would take the day off with his cousin (Alison comes from a family of 9! She is the second oldest. Her son, Ryley is 6 months younger than her youngest sibling!) and they would be joining us on our adventure. We were all set and on the road around 9:30 I think and in Braintree at 10:20. The true highlight for the kids was getting to ride the T (Boston's commuter train system). It was nice, we parked in Braintree for $7 and rode round trip on the T for less than $7. If we had have tried to find parking in Boston we would have easily paid over $20 for a couple hours.

So off we go on the T! Every stop Griffin proclaims: "ALL ABOARD!" So cute! I don't have any pics of our T adventure because of two reasons. First, the man one seat away from me reaked of urine and nastiness and was sharing a paper with his body that said "INMATE ID" on the top. Secondly, the night before we leave (while watching Grey's ) there is a news bite that pops up about safety on the T and why your cell phone is to blame. SO - needless to say I was huggin my baby tight and kept my backpack securely between my legs!

Next stop - South Station! We get off the T and make our way to the Amtrak platform. The Disney Train is occupying Platform 1 all weekend - Cool! There were a few misconceptions about this trip in our heads. We had envisioned a Polar Express like experience. We thought we would get our ticket, get on the train, there'd be stuff to check out and then they would take us on a magical 10 - 15 minute ride around the city... Not so much! The train was great and had a lot of cool stuff to check out, but not so much for a group of toddlers.

Here's some pics from the Train:

Madi as we entered the train, as always we were rushed and I didn't get the shot I wanted... some people just don't see the world through the eyes of a scrapbooker!

Madi checking out some of the first edition Christmas Carol books on loan from the Dickens Museum of London

Ebenezer, himself (this was a painting)

Tiny Tim - how cute is he? A little creepy, but cute! (also a painting)

They had a lot of HP Touch Smart computer monitors around that were either set on a loop of images from the movie or set up with a trivia game. They were neat. HP was the co-sponsor, or something like that...

More originals on loan...

Madi with the mold of Ebenezer and Cratchet

Madi with the diagram(? - That's not the word... but I too tired to figure it out...) of the Horse drawn Hearse

And Fred's house...

And lastly, warming herself by the HP fire


After touring the train and morphing our faces with the HP technology (those pictures will be emailed to us soon...) we head across the street to our 3D viewing of A Christmas Carol extended sneek peek. I felt like I was at Disney at this moment. We had 3D glasses in hand and were waiting for the line to move so we could have our turn! The movie looks good, Madi enjoyed it. It was a bit loud, but it was in a temporary tent in the middle of downtown Boston, so I suppose noise was a factor.

All in all I give this adventure a B+. There are a few areas I would have added details and a few areas I would have taken away from. But I got outta the house and off this man-made island with my baby and we had an adventure - that alone earned it the B, the Disney experience added the plus!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Great mini TR! I had decided not to take Ashton when it came to New Orleans. He loves trains but I did not think he would like the movie (stuff). Looks like something I would have enjoyed! thanks for sharing!

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Aww! Too bad you didn't get a ride. But, it looks like it was a good day for the two of you! I can't wait for that movie to come out!

I know what you mean by those random lovely smells on the trains...when we ride the subway in NY!!

 

[nic100308]

Looks so cool!! We're going on 10/30 when it comes to Grand Central in NY. Was it really crowded when you went? Just trying to figure how much time we'll need to get a good spot on line. Anyway my mother in-law is coming too, she's sup[er huge into Disney too. Then afterwords I figured we'd do a World of Disney run. I've never been to the one in NYC actually.

 

[disneyaddicted]

I thought it would be a little train ride too. Oh well. I still can't wait to see the movie.

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Jen...did you see this? Thought maybe it would be something cute for Madi...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2278212
Just a thought...check it out!
Erin

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Great mini TR! I had decided not to take Ashton when it came to New Orleans. He loves trains but I did not think he would like the movie (stuff). Looks like something I would have enjoyed! thanks for sharing!

I think you made a good choice Connie! The ride on the T surely made the kid's day!

Aww! Too bad you didn't get a ride. But, it looks like it was a good day for the two of you! I can't wait for that movie to come out!

I know what you mean by those random lovely smells on the trains...when we ride the subway in NY!!

Characters are everywhere, unfortunately not all are employed by Disney

Looks so cool!! We're going on 10/30 when it comes to Grand Central in NY. Was it really crowded when you went? Just trying to figure how much time we'll need to get a good spot on line. Anyway my mother in-law is coming too, she's sup[er huge into Disney too. Then afterwords I figured we'd do a World of Disney run. I've never been to the one in NYC actually.

We arrived around 10/10:30 I think and it started at 9:00AM. There was no line and just minimal waiting as you walked through the train. I talked to the lady handing out "tickets" and she said it was crowded at opening. I would suggest you go after opening but before lunch. Let me know how you make out!

I thought it would be a little train ride too. Oh well. I still can't wait to see the movie.

The movie looks excellent!!!

Jen...did you see this? Thought maybe it would be something cute for Madi...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2278212
Just a thought...check it out!
Erin

I just followed the links! That def looks like something we will be doing. Just nailed down some tentative itnerary from... ::drum roll:: ... SHAMUS!!! He's starting to get into it as the dates get closer!!! He suggest we go to DTD when we arrive before heading to HS for Osborne! He's smart

 

[LOVEMY3KIDDOS]

Ha! Lucky you...at least is his making some suggestions. Justin just tells me "let me know where I have to be and when." The only request he specifically has is Wolfgang Puck's...otherwise he doesn't really care. I even told him that I was making some LATE dinner ressies and EARLY breakfast ressies and he said "whatever." Well, I tried to discuss the times with him and he said he wasn't worried. We will see how much complaining I get when we are there. I am hoping with the resort time in the afternoon it makes it ok!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

wow that looked like fun!! I heard about it on a podcast but live too far away!!

 

[MyMuse]

Thanks for the report on the CCTT.

I'm definitely planning on going to Grand Central in NY. It's terminating there, so maybe they will have a big to-do.

Thankfully, it is on the weekend, so no need to take off days from work, but I expect it to be super-super crazy busy.

Can't wait!

 

[nic100308]

Okay, so I saw the pictures of your car posted on Erin's PTR and instantly thought of this (since I also know you are a bride to be)

I had a Yankees one for my wedding day, but I appreciate that you are a huge baseball fan and that you support your team. Anyway if you google "Red Sox Inspired Wedding Garter Set" You'll find some websites you can buy them from. Mine came with panties too (a thong).

Thought you would like them

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

Ha! Lucky you...at least is his making some suggestions. Justin just tells me "let me know where I have to be and when." The only request he specifically has is Wolfgang Puck's...otherwise he doesn't really care. I even told him that I was making some LATE dinner ressies and EARLY breakfast ressies and he said "whatever." Well, I tried to discuss the times with him and he said he wasn't worried. We will see how much complaining I get when we are there. I am hoping with the resort time in the afternoon it makes it ok!!

We will be having lunch at DTD and I am torn between Earl of Sandwich and Wolfgang Puck's Express. They both sound excellent!

wow that looked like fun!! I heard about it on a podcast but live too far away!!

We had a great time!

Thanks for the report on the CCTT.

I'm definitely planning on going to Grand Central in NY. It's terminating there, so maybe they will have a big to-do.

Thankfully, it is on the weekend, so no need to take off days from work, but I expect it to be super-super crazy busy.

Can't wait!

I'll be on the lookout for your mini TR on that!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

"Red Sox Inspired Wedding Garter Set"

Thought you would like them

Those are too cute! Thanks for sharing. I will have to remember those when I start real planning!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

It is no secret that I am a born and bred Red Sox fanatic! As it happens I will be enjoying a lovely breakfast with Donald Duck and the gang while visiting AK. Also in attendance will be a Yankee lovin' family, known to you all laughing as LOMEMY3KIDDOS & her family. So, to entertain her DH I fully intend to wear this:

I saw a similar shirt on a prior TR but it said "This Girl Loves The Phillies" - but the hand on her shirt made it look like she was being groped. I commented on it and the DH said he gave her hell for it all the time! So I decided to use my limited graphic arts skills and whip that bad boy up!

Enjoy Justin!!!

 

[exwdwcm]

We will be having lunch at DTD and I am torn between Earl of Sandwich and Wolfgang Puck's Express. They both sound excellent!

i love Earle- but i have been wanting to try Wolfgang Express too- i have heard rave reviews about it too. the choices are so hard!!!

glad you guys enjoyed the train tour- great pics. it was here in dallas about a month or so ago and we passed on it, but it looks like fun!

 

[MadilynnsMomma]

i love Earle- but i have been wanting to try Wolfgang Express too- i have heard rave reviews about it too. the choices are so hard!!!

glad you guys enjoyed the train tour- great pics. it was here in dallas about a month or so ago and we passed on it, but it looks like fun!

Sad to say, your little guy didn't miss much - but we got to get out on an adventure, so that was fun!

 

[disneyaddicted]

Love the artsy fartsy shirt! I am not a baseball fan. GO STEELERS!!! but that shirt is cute, good job.