It's all part of the plan... More or less! A Dec TR!

[PoppyGirl]

Hi Tammy! I'm just starting to catch up on your TR. I saw your post on FB today so I came over to see if I could find it.

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

YAY!! Another installment!! I was at work and saw on Facebook that you had posted another update! As soon as I came home I got on here to check it out!! Your kids are just sooo cute! I loved being at Disney and seeing it through the eyes of my niece and nephew. I am sure when I go for my honeymoon in November it will be completely different, but a good different I suppose!!

Can't wait to read more!!

 

[Caretames1]

Now thats what a "first time at Disney" picture looks like! I'm glad to see them totally enjoying themselves, it does make everything you do to give them the trip worth it!

 

[stephielela]

Great Update!!! I am so glad to see they had fun!

 

[exwdwcm]

Hi Tammy- you're back! yeah!

So Gavin starts preschool tomorrow then? I hope it is a great day and a huge success. And hope Brenda is enjoying her time back at school too.

Great TR update! Hollywood and Vine is where I worked when I was on the college program. it wasn't a buffet then and only served breakfast/lunch cafeteria style. i wore a lovely hairnet and played cafeteria lady! it is always fun seeing it in pictures and remembering how many times i cleaned those silver tables and vacuumed that floor. It still looks the same. So happy the kids had a good time there. i can't wait to take Will back to the Disney Jr. Show- he is going to go nuts that Jake is there now! MMC is his favorite show!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Wonderful update! I love the looks on their faces. And Gavin with Handy Manny is so cute. He has such a serious face. That kid has the funniest faces, he just cracks me up all the time.

Gavin shows so much with his face sometimes! Sometimes even in the most difficult of situations his facial expressions make you chuckle.

Tam, what a great update. I love Brenda and Gavin dancing while HS Musical goes by. And you can jsut tell how captured the kids are with the Playhouse Disney Show and enjoying the character interaction and dancingi there as well. This was worth the wait.

Thanks. I promise not to make you wait that long again. Especially with Preschool starting in the morning for Gavin.

Hi Tammy! I'm just starting to catch up on your TR. I saw your post on FB today so I came over to see if I could find it.

LOL I must have been pretty far down the list. I usually just post that I have updated. I came to the conclussion that as difficult as some family, namely my father, made things I am not about to let him in on the details of the trip.. and to be honest I think it eats at him a little bit!

YAY!! Another installment!! I was at work and saw on Facebook that you had posted another update! As soon as I came home I got on here to check it out!! Your kids are just sooo cute! I loved being at Disney and seeing it through the eyes of my niece and nephew. I am sure when I go for my honeymoon in November it will be completely different, but a good different I suppose!!

Can't wait to read more!!

Thank you for the compliment on Brenda and Gavin. I am sure you will have an entirely different trip for your honeymoon... and isn't Disney always good???

Now thats what a "first time at Disney" picture looks like! I'm glad to see them totally enjoying themselves, it does make everything you do to give them the trip worth it!

I don't regret giving up one thing for this trip. It was so worth it. I just pray that someday we can make it back again... and sooner rather than later. I still want the kids to have the magic... and not the attitude that some get when they get older.

Great Update!!! I am so glad to see they had fun!

They had a blast! I don't think there was one thing that morning that wasn't perfect to them!

Hi Tammy- you're back! yeah!

So Gavin starts preschool tomorrow then? I hope it is a great day and a huge success. And hope Brenda is enjoying her time back at school too.

Great TR update! Hollywood and Vine is where I worked when I was on the college program. it wasn't a buffet then and only served breakfast/lunch cafeteria style. i wore a lovely hairnet and played cafeteria lady! it is always fun seeing it in pictures and remembering how many times i cleaned those silver tables and vacuumed that floor. It still looks the same. So happy the kids had a good time there. i can't wait to take Will back to the Disney Jr. Show- he is going to go nuts that Jake is there now! MMC is his favorite show!

Yeppers! Gavin starts Preschool in the morning. Tonight is back to school for Brenda (open house) and then tomorrow I will get her off to school and get Gavin ready. I will get to go the whole time with him tomorrow and then Monday they are off to assign teachers to teh preschool kids. Weds will start the regular program. He is so excited.

I really liked Hollywood and Vine. I think if we were to make it back when the kids were still young enough to enjoy the characters we would do it for sure. It was just such a fun atmosphere. I had no idea that Jake is now in the show. I can't let that slip to Gavin or I will be bugged to death for a trip.


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Thank you all for sticking with me. As you can see my family has been having some really rough times things past summer. Hopefully things can slowly get back to normal, whatever that is for us. The only major thing I see in the near future is Gavin's next surgery. It will be a much bigger surgery than he has been having. The dr is taking a wait an see when approach. We know it is coming, just not sure of the timing. In any case, that means that I should be more on top of this now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading and sticking with me through all the interruptions.

 

[KatMark]

Thank you all for sticking with me. As you can see my family has been having some really rough times things past summer. Hopefully things can slowly get back to normal, whatever that is for us. The only major thing I see in the near future is Gavin's next surgery. It will be a much bigger surgery than he has been having. The dr is taking a wait an see when approach. We know it is coming, just not sure of the timing. In any case, that means that I should be more on top of this now. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading and sticking with me through all the interruptions. [/COLOR][/SIZE][/FONT]

Hope preschool goes well tomorrow (I'm sure I'll read about it on FB).

You are always in our thoughts and prayers, as well as all the family, Tam, and are here when you have the time.

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Hope preschool goes well tomorrow (I'm sure I'll read about it on FB).

You are always in our thoughts and prayers, as well as all the family, Tam, and are here when you have the time.

Gavin had a great first day of Preschool. He was so happy to be there. I am hoping to get another installment done on this TR today once I drop him off but we will see.

Thank you for the thoughts and prayers. We can always use them!

 

[stephielela]

Yay for Gavin! They grow up so fast!

 

[mrsksomeday]

Loved the latest installment. Brenda and Gavin where in awe at the show, I love seeing the wonder on their faces . We know you have a busy life, we are patient. It has taken me a long time to post a new installment on my TR too, you have to do it in your own time .

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Yay for Gavin! They grow up so fast!

They do grow up so fast! I often wonder where all the time goes. It seems like one day they are tiny and the next day they are 4... and I am sure it only gets worse the older they get.

Loved the latest installment. Brenda and Gavin where in awe at the show, I love seeing the wonder on their faces . We know you have a busy life, we are patient. It has taken me a long time to post a new installment on my TR too, you have to do it in your own time .

The kids loved the show. It caught there attention and kept it the whole time. They did ask to go back again but it seems like we never had the times line up. I just caught up on your TR earlier today. What an awesome time you and Bill must have had!

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I got to thinking the other day while I was sitting in the car, supposedly working on this TR. There are times when it actually makes me sad to think about the trip. Not that it wasn't the most amazing time in my life, and I would do almost anything to do it over again... but it was just such a happy time and so perfect and now it seems that life is so far from that point. It makes me sad when I think about the fact that my family may never make it back there all together again. I guess what I am wondering is, is this normal? Do you all get sad sometimes when you look back on your trips or is it just me being crazy? I think things would be better for me, sometimes, if I had a concrete date or even a concrete "yes, we are going back". At this point my heart really is saying I will never make it back, especially while the kids are young. Now that Brenda is in school our time is limited to pretty much summers. In the next few years we are going to need a new car... and no way would I drive it to FL now. Not to mention, Gavin is nearing the end of his insurance. He has had almost 2 million dollars in medical bills and will reach the cap, most likely with the next surgery. That will mean medical bills for us too. So it really is no wonder I think so negatively about a return trip but I am wondering... am I alone in feeling this way???

 

[Tinker_Tam]

When last I left off we were having lunch at Hollywood and Vine and the kids were having an amazing time with the Playhouse Disney gang. We had a tough time pulling the kids away from all the fun. We ended up taking them to the bathroom and going out through the door at the 50s! Sneaky!!!

We did have an agenda.... We were hoping to get a half decent spot for the parade!!! And we did! I knew that the Toy Story gang was usually toward the end of the parade route so that is where we headed. We were able to get a spot and the nice people in front of us left the kids get in front.

Gavin was so excited to see his all pal... Woody!

When it came time for everyone to join in, I was so happy to see Jon getting in with the kids. I know it sounds crazy, that I was happy that my hubby was acting like a goof, but Jon and I get that chance so little. We never really get the chance to just let go... but he sure was letting all his worries slip away! I loved seeing him so happy and carefree!

After the parade we headed over to what would be one of my favorite shows in all of WDW... Beauty and the Beast. WOW! That is all I can really say about the show. Both of the kids were glued to the show...again! Especially Brenda! She is a HUGE Belle fan now! I have to tell you, that show melts my heart and each time we watched it in DHS I was in awe. Here are some pictures from the show!

The time was getting close to closing... I am sure we rode some rides and did some other things but I don't have the notebook right here. I knew that after the show Brenda was getting a little tired. I actually got her to get into the stroller and just enjoy the ride while we went to our next destination! Brenda did fall asleep in the stroller while we walked. We were on our way to the Osburne Lights!!! On our way there, what should we stumble upon...GAVIN'S ALL TIME FAVORITE!!!!!!!

Of course Brenda was asleep but I wasn't going to miss out on this chance for Gavin to see Lightening! I was sure we would make it back to see him again and Brenda could be in those pictures! So this was just some special Gavin and Lightening time! It was so cute. I remember Gavin would pet the car like it was animal! Jon and I both had a giggle over that! While we were there Brenda did start to stir which was perfect since we were headed to....

WOW! I have never been so overwhelmed with Christmas lights as I was at this display. It was so amazing... I know I use that word a lot but this trip was just that... AMAZING!

We did get the family picture taken in the lights but that Photopass CD is not loaded yet. I really need to do that so I can share with you all!

I did remember reading that the park would give us a little extra time to view the lights. Thanks to the DIS for that info. I told Jon and also told him that my only worry was the bus. I didn't know how long they would run after the park closed. Jon told me to just enjoy the lights and if we missed the bus we could get a taxi or something. We found a bench and just sat there. Enjoying the lights for a while. Life seemed so perfect on that bench at that very moment. That was when we decided that on our DHS, this is how we would end the night... soaking in the lights. I decided it was time to get the bus and head back to POP. I was still worried about missing the bus. Again, I was ok leaving the lights because I knew that I would be back to see them! Jon checked at least 10 times to make sure this was what I wanted to do. I assured him that it was fine... He really is a great guy! Think I will keep him!

So we slowly headed to the bus. To our amazement the park had emptied... all except the light watching people. So I was worried and started to pick up the step a little. Then as we neared the very entrance we saw bunches of people again... and I could relax a bit. We did catch a bus and headed back to pop. I think this night we grabbed a snack at POP and sat and enjoyed it while Phineas and Ferb was on the TV... The Christmas special no less!

Brenda and I took a little girl time sitting there eating. The boys went ahead back the room since Gavin needed a diaper change and Jon would bath him for me. It was a great chance to just chat with Brenda about the day. We usually did that before we went to sleep so tonight it was over tie dyed Cheesecake! She told me her favorite part of the day was Beauty and the Beast. She thought Belle was so pretty and had long brown hair like her. I told her I had to agree. Then she questioned why I wouldn't let her ride TOT. I explained that I thought it was a bit scary and that perhaps the next time we come to WDW she would be older and it wouldn't be so scary. I did tell her that even I was scared!

We slowly walked back to the room and caught up with the boys. They were cuddled into their bed watching some Disney! Brenda and I got our showers and cuddled into our bed until we had fallen asleep.... Another perfect day in PARADISE for us!

Be sure to keep up! The following day was another amazing day that only happened due to some MAJOR pixie dust that my family will always be thankful for!!!

 

[Caretames1]

You're not the only one to get depressed over possibly never going back. We thought our first trip was gonna be our only one. We were sad, but after a year we made up our minds to go back.
I know you have other considerations, but I would just say to alway keep the hope, it's what will get you through!

I think the Osburne lights are amazing, I told my DH the our next trip will be so we can experiance them. My Kadence loved Beauty and the Beast show as well, my DH vidoed the whole thing so she could watch it whenever she wants. He jokes that she better love it as his arm went to sleep during the taping!

Tie Dyed cheese cake...........YUMMMMMM!

 

[jenseib]

What a wonderful ending to the day.
Think positive. I was a single mom and took my 2 older ones twice and vowed I would get back. We had some hard years, but I have made it back....5 times so far since then. And my family is now planning a Disne ycruise next year in the late fall. And my older DD Paige has agreed to come along, so I get to have her back at Disney (well DCL) with as an adult now.

 

[exwdwcm]

another great update. Don't you just love the lights. I could sit there all night enjoying them. Sometimes those little moments, just sitting on a bench, taking it all in are the best ones of all. I need to remind myself to do more of that, instead of rushing around.

Looks like everyone had a great time. Love that Gavin was petting the car! so cute!

WE definitely all feel sad after a trip. It is a mixed bag- remembering the great times we had, but wishing we could have that time again and yet, it isn't there or on the radar. But just cherish those memories in your heart forever and know there isn't a real "normal" for any of us. I'll be wishing, hoping and praying that you guys get to make it back- all as a family sometime again!!

 

[KatMark]

Great update, Tam. I love the pic of DH and the kids dancing in the street!

Lookign forward to the next update.

 

[PoppyGirl]

Tammy, it makes me feel so peaceful just reading about your day at DHS. So nice. It was so absolutely packed with people when we went to see the lights that there was hardly time to soak them in and enjoy them. I'm really glad you took the time to do that. It's a reminder to me to enjoy the little moments in life. And I loved the picture and description of the kids and Jon dancing in the street and letting go of all his worries. Disney has a way of making that happen!

They do grow up so fast! I often wonder where all the time goes. It seems like one day they are tiny and the next day they are 4... and I am sure it only gets worse the older they get.



The kids loved the show. It caught there attention and kept it the whole time. They did ask to go back again but it seems like we never had the times line up. I just caught up on your TR earlier today. What an awesome time you and Bill must have had!

****************************************************
I got to thinking the other day while I was sitting in the car, supposedly working on this TR. There are times when it actually makes me sad to think about the trip. Not that it wasn't the most amazing time in my life, and I would do almost anything to do it over again... but it was just such a happy time and so perfect and now it seems that life is so far from that point. It makes me sad when I think about the fact that my family may never make it back there all together again. I guess what I am wondering is, is this normal? Do you all get sad sometimes when you look back on your trips or is it just me being crazy? I think things would be better for me, sometimes, if I had a concrete date or even a concrete "yes, we are going back". At this point my heart really is saying I will never make it back, especially while the kids are young. Now that Brenda is in school our time is limited to pretty much summers. In the next few years we are going to need a new car... and no way would I drive it to FL now. Not to mention, Gavin is nearing the end of his insurance. He has had almost 2 million dollars in medical bills and will reach the cap, most likely with the next surgery. That will mean medical bills for us too. So it really is no wonder I think so negatively about a return trip but I am wondering... am I alone in feeling this way???

You are SO not alone in feeling that way! I am so glad that your family got to take this trip and that you have so many amazing memories (and I am on pins and needles for the pixie dust you mentioned--what? what was it?!?!?) I hope that you will get to go back again. And I would also like to encourage you that we've taken our kids out of school for vacation every time. My husband has to go when the cows and the crops cooperate. While the kids were young, especially, we felt like family time was more important then a few days of school. The bonding that takes place on family vacations is so much more valuable.

 

[Tinker_Tam]

You're not the only one to get depressed over possibly never going back. We thought our first trip was gonna be our only one. We were sad, but after a year we made up our minds to go back.
I know you have other considerations, but I would just say to alway keep the hope, it's what will get you through!

I think the Osburne lights are amazing, I told my DH the our next trip will be so we can experiance them. My Kadence loved Beauty and the Beast show as well, my DH vidoed the whole thing so she could watch it whenever she wants. He jokes that she better love it as his arm went to sleep during the taping!

Tie Dyed cheese cake...........YUMMMMMM!

Thank you... It helps to know that I am not alone. I just feel so down about the whole Disney thing lately. Like my mind is telling me it will never happen again. I hate being so negative about anything! I am very blessed and try to remember that everyday.

You must see the lights if you can! Each time we saw them we were so at peace with everything. We ended many nights just watching the lights.

What a wonderful ending to the day.
Think positive. I was a single mom and took my 2 older ones twice and vowed I would get back. We had some hard years, but I have made it back....5 times so far since then. And my family is now planning a Disne ycruise next year in the late fall. And my older DD Paige has agreed to come along, so I get to have her back at Disney (well DCL) with as an adult now.

Yeah!!! A Disney Cruise!!! That will be so awesome for the whole family. I love reading your TR from your first cruise!

another great update. Don't you just love the lights. I could sit there all night enjoying them. Sometimes those little moments, just sitting on a bench, taking it all in are the best ones of all. I need to remind myself to do more of that, instead of rushing around.

Looks like everyone had a great time. Love that Gavin was petting the car! so cute!

WE definitely all feel sad after a trip. It is a mixed bag- remembering the great times we had, but wishing we could have that time again and yet, it isn't there or on the radar. But just cherish those memories in your heart forever and know there isn't a real "normal" for any of us. I'll be wishing, hoping and praying that you guys get to make it back- all as a family sometime again!!

Those lights are so amazing you have to just stop life for a little and soak them in! I know its this way in all of WDW, at least for us, but it just seems like the world is perfect in every way as you sit there and watch those dancing lights. Especially as the snow falls... although there was a night or 2 that we had to wonder if the snow was real! Brrrr......

Great update, Tam. I love the pic of DH and the kids dancing in the street!

Lookign forward to the next update.

Jon actually laughs at that picture of them all. When we showed his mom when we went there after the trip she couldn't believe that Jon was that carefree.

Tammy, it makes me feel so peaceful just reading about your day at DHS. So nice. It was so absolutely packed with people when we went to see the lights that there was hardly time to soak them in and enjoy them. I'm really glad you took the time to do that. It's a reminder to me to enjoy the little moments in life. And I loved the picture and description of the kids and Jon dancing in the street and letting go of all his worries. Disney has a way of making that happen!




When we first got there it was pretty packed. It did clear out a little and it was after we saw the people moving on that we decided to stay. I have to admit I kept a close eye on that bench and we waiting for the people to leave so we could snag it!

I love seeing Jon so carefree. I wish he had the chance to be that way more often1


You are SO not alone in feeling that way! I am so glad that your family got to take this trip and that you have so many amazing memories (and I am on pins and needles for the pixie dust you mentioned--what? what was it?!?!?) I hope that you will get to go back again. And I would also like to encourage you that we've taken our kids out of school for vacation every time. My husband has to go when the cows and the crops cooperate. While the kids were young, especially, we felt like family time was more important then a few days of school. The bonding that takes place on family vacations is so much more valuable.

I would have no problem taking Brenda and Gavin out of school to go to Disney... To me, the family time is worth so much more than what they would miss in school. Especially considering I have my teaching degree so this could all be soooo educational too! Its our school district that is the stinker! They only allow 5 days of educational trip days before things become unexcused. We can never swing paying for the 4 of us to fly so that means we have to drive the 1250 miles, one way. That really takes up 2 days of the trip and then 2 days back. After driving a total of 2500 miles you really need to stay longer than 3 or 4 days to make it worth the trip. If the kids miss more than there educational trip days then we start getting fines. UGH! Its a no win situation. And moving to another school district is not an option!


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Thank you all for your kind words about how I have been feeling. There are so many great memories from the trip and I do cherish them. This will sound awful but sometimes those memories are all that gets me through the waiting when Gavin has surgery or has to have another procedure done. Makes me sound crazy but I can slip to my happy place and not have to be in the hospital with him, while I am really unsure of what is happening with him. I can close my eyes and see him standing there dressed as a pirate or smiling from ear to ear, instead of knowing he is down the hall being cut open again. It does help. I think it is only recently that I have gotten to the point where I am negative about if we all will make it back there.

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Hi Everyone! I am working on an update right now. Sorry it has taken longer than planned but life has been busy. There were 2 things that Brenda wanted to join this year. One was dance class, which at a little over $500 a year was a NO! I had not budgeted for it so there was no way we could come up with that. The other is Girl Scouts. I said "Sure" since we can't afford dance Girl Scouts was a yes! Until, I find out that they are JUST starting a Daisy troop. There currently was not a Daisy troop for her to get into in our area. She had seen the little booth at Back to School night and wanted to join so bad. So after an organizational meeting I find out there is no group in our area for her to join and they were looking for people t step up and start one... Well, at this point I had promised Brenda she could join. At the meeting there was 1 other mom that said she would be willing to take care of the money part of things if someone else would step up and do the rest! Well, you all know me... NEVER, EVER disappoint your child... at any cost. So I am now Brenda's Girl Scout Daisy Troop Leader! Just what I needed... to add more to an over flowing plate. I have no idea how i get myself into these things!

 

[Caretames1]

Hi Everyone! I am working on an update right now. Sorry it has taken longer than planned but life has been busy. There were 2 things that Brenda wanted to join this year. One was dance class, which at a little over $500 a year was a NO! I had not budgeted for it so there was no way we could come up with that. The other is Girl Scouts. I said "Sure" since we can't afford dance Girl Scouts was a yes! Until, I find out that they are JUST starting a Daisy troop. There currently was not a Daisy troop for her to get into in our area. She had seen the little booth at Back to School night and wanted to join so bad. So after an organizational meeting I find out there is no group in our area for her to join and they were looking for people t step up and start one... Well, at this point I had promised Brenda she could join. At the meeting there was 1 other mom that said she would be willing to take care of the money part of things if someone else would step up and do the rest! Well, you all know me... NEVER, EVER disappoint your child... at any cost. So I am now Brenda's Girl Scout Daisy Troop Leader! Just what I needed... to add more to an over flowing plate. I have no idea how i get myself into these things!

Congrats Daisy Mom! Kadence just bridged from Daisies to Brownies and she loves being in Girl Scouts. Just wait until cookie time!