It's Here!! We're Leaving for WDW!!! Travel Day!!

[Ibelieveinfairies]

As to whether or not Chief has fun while we're at WDW...here's proof:

Then again...this is what he says he truly feels about WDW:

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Now...presenting...Tumor Herself...
This picture was taken at American Girl Place in NYC last April when we were celebrating Boo's birthday:

and here's Boo and I the same day:

Boo's growing out her hair and I can't believe how short it was in this picture.

I have about a million more WDW pics, but I am going to save the next pics for ones dealing with our current trip. I just wanted to give this a try and I have to say:

YIPPEE!!! I did it!!!

 

[SlinkyDog]

Just for the record thats not my doll in the picture!

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Okay, here's just one more...I couldn't resist!
Here's me, Boo, Chief, Lou, Princess, and Yes, Officer waiting for a bus at the WL two years ago.

Can't wait to do it all over again in....
11 more days!!!

Yes, Maddie2, my heart is a fluttering! We are really almost packed now...just a few more things to add in and we're good to go.

I wish I had some words of wisdom about pinewood derby cars...but I don't! I'll be sending good vibes your way, though!

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Okay, is it wrong of me to have checked the 10 day forecast for Kissimmee on Weather.com hoping that maybe, just maybe, the forecast for next Friday would be there? Okay, it wasn't...we are landing at MCO at 11:20 pm so it's not like we are going to go out to a park or anything...I just couldn't help it! Just thinking that in two days I will be able to see some sort of weather prediction gives me goosebumps! Hey! Did you hear?! We're goin' to Disney World!!

I'm getting more and more excited each day and just can't wait. Got the car all arranged to take us to the airport that day after school. Just have to make it through the next days without exploding!

Wish me luck!

Oh, yea! I almost forgot! I got an e-mail from the IPO office today saying that they got us ADRs for CRT on 3/31 for breakfast at 9 am...but I don't think anyone wants to go now...except maybe me...lol. I have some serious talking to do with the crew tonight...don't they know how hard these are to get? Especially 11 days before a trip? Oh, well...I'll let you know how it comes down.

They also arranged to have autograph books, pens, and EPCOT passports waiting for the girls when we check in...a nice little surprise from "Mickey." Next thing on my list: arrange for the Easter Bunny to bring his treats to us at the WL!

 

[medicgirl911]

WOW! Did we create a monster with the photobucket tricks?!?!?

LOL KIDDING! LOVE all the pics!!! Your girls are adorable! And the cross-eyed pics are a crackup! Look like me trying to "curl" my tongue like DD and DH can, where I can not hehehe!

Hey, Did you know you are going to Disney World??? So excited for ya!!

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

WOW! Did we create a monster with the photobucket tricks?!?!?

LOL KIDDING! LOVE all the pics!!! Your girls are adorable! And the cross-eyed pics are a crackup! Look like me trying to "curl" my tongue like DD and DH can, where I can not hehehe!

Hey, Did you know you are going to Disney World??? So excited for ya!!

Hey, Tiffany! You, my friend, created the photobucket monster! lol

Thanks for thinking my girls are adorable...I, of course, wholeheartedly agree...but then, I'm biased...one of them looks just like me, I think, so of course she's GORGEOUS! JK!

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Part of me wants to post my itinerary...part of me doesn't.

Pro: I can write about something I've obsessed over since early November.
Con: Someone, somewhere on the DIS will disagree with something (ADR, timing, etc.) that I've planned and if they express that it will send me into a whirlwind of doubt..."are they right?"

Well, with that in mind...here goes:

Friday, May 30th....THE DAY!!!!
Work all day til 3:45 pm
Come home, change clothes, make last minute checks of packing
Car will pick us up at 4:30 pm
Flight leaves JFK at 8:30 pm
Land at MCO 11:20 pm
ME to WL to check in and collapse at HOME!!!

Saturday, May 31st
This day is debated: MGM or AK?...it is the "free day" that we got when we decided to not hurl ourselves down I-95 in that aluminum box in favor of hurling ourselves through the atmosphere in an aluminum tube. So, we'll be sleeping in a bit and then hitting one or both of these parks to wander around aimlessly because Chief refuses to let me plan out every single second of this day. He says since he is paying for the airfare, he gets to set the pace this day. Who am I to argue?
Boo wants to do MGM and Lou AK...we never do this park in the beginning of a trip and by the time we get there, we are overtired and frankly, it's our least favorite park...we are thinking that if we do it in the beginning of our trip that we will perhaps give it the fair shake it deserves...I'll let you know!
Dinner: WCC
Evening entertainment: Wishes cruise!!! I can't wait to share this with the whole crew!!!

Sunday, April 1st
AK if Boo wins out, MGM is Lou does. So much for my itinerary planning!
Dinner: Chef Mickey's
MK for EMH til we drop!

Monday, April 2nd
Fishing excursion at WL
Dinner: Cape May Cafe
MGM in evening

Tuesday, April 3rd
EPCOT
Aqua Seas Tour
Dinner at San Angel Inn

Wednesday, April 4th
MK
Dinner HDDR
Downtown Disney

Thursday, April 5th
MGM
Lunch Sci-Fi
Fantasmic!

Friday, April 6th
Downtown Disney
Disney Quest
Dinner: Concourse Steakhouse
Campfire and Movie at FW

Saturday, April 7th
EPCOT
Lunch Teppanyaki
Dinner Raglan Road
Pack up to go home....

Sunday, April 8th
ME to MCO for 7 am flight home

I didn't write it all out, but each day we get up early, we will come back to the resort for rest/pool (that is, if they finish the WL pool in time!!! )
and I haven't planned any early mornings after any late nights. We have yet to do any of the parks later at night...the girls were just too young...but now they are older and if they get enough sleep, they can hang with us later.
I have given our plans to the rest of the crew and they can join us, or not...they have little ones, so they will need a different plan, probably, but that will be up to them!
We tried to plan things we've never done before with things we consider "traditions" so we can make this last trip the best we can.
So, that's the skeleton of our plan...it'll flesh itself out according to my touring plan that I will have to secretly consult so as to appear to be flying by the seat of my pants to pacify my DH who wants this trip to be "less commando, please."

 

[Panotchr]

HEY YOU ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!
AND HEY... I SOLD MY HOUSE IN FIVE DAYS.. YES COUNT THEM F-I-V-E!

Well, we got an amazing offer and they have cash in hand... bad news... well minor bad news... we have to be out in 27 days. Yep, they want to close on April 16. So, CSP ( Captain Safety Pants) and myself have been out scouting the area for a tent location. No, just kidding, but another teacher at my school had a house for rent and we are going to take it. At least we will have some space and not have to give away our dogs. Girls are happy, mom and dad are happy.

Whew, now if we can just find some house plans we agree on.

It is Circus Week in Kindergarten. We did a Venn diagram today of circus animals and farm animals. Thursday we will all be dressed up as clowns. My daughters at the school are always mortified when we dress up. My oldest is so happy to be at the middle school!

Hey.. anyone know anyone going to Disney World soon?

AND I think your children are beautiful. Take lots of super pictures for us to see while you are there.

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

HEY YOU ARE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!
AND HEY... I SOLD MY HOUSE IN FIVE DAYS.. YES COUNT THEM F-I-V-E!

Kelly!!! That's Amazing!!!!!
Congratulations on the sale of your house!

Well, it's even closer now....can't wait to be heading to FL in let's see...how many days is it? Oh, I remember now....
NINE MORE DAYS!!!!!!!!!

I'm going crazy waiting. Work is crazy busy...putting on a play the Wednesday before we leave for the school and parents...have April assessments to begin thinking of...field trips galore...but that's okay...otherwise I would be even more about to crawl out of my skin!

We decided to not do the breakfast at CRT. I had originally booked a lunch for Eeyore, Tumor, Princess, Prince, and Yes, Officer so that they could experience the magic. Eeyore has eaten there with us twice before and was thinking it would be nice for Princess...then they decided this weekend that the time was too close to dinner and that Princess would be too young to truly appreciate it. The whole time I had the WL IPO looking for a breakfast time and lo, and behold, they found one the day after our conversation...but the five of them are spending that first night at an airport hotel and feel they won't want to rush over to make the 9:00 breakfast time.

Well, I thought that maybe it would be nice to eat at the castle with the girls our first day...a little surprise for them, maybe...then I talked to DH and he was like, "okay". Talk to Lou and Boo...and I got:

Boo: I wanted to go to MGM the first day.
Lou: But I want to go to AK the first day.
Me: So, you don't want to go eat with Cinderella?
Boo: Well...it would be nice and all, but I really want to try ToT first before I lose my nerve.
Lou: You promised we would go to AK and spend the whole first day there.
Me: So you don't want to go eat with Cinderella?
Boo and Lou: No.

Okay, so here's where I realize that my DDs are not the same princess-crazed beings that I first took to WDW...they are growing up and finding other magic to look forward to. Okay...I can deal...

So, I took the painful step of e-mailing the IPO today to say "thanks, but no thanks" and am pacifying myself by believing that by giving up that breakfast time so close to our trip that there is a family out there somewhere who has princess-crazed little ones who will be jumping up and down screaming and running around the house just like I did the first time I got through at 7 am and got the breakfast...and the second time...and the third time...and the fourth time...it's time to let someone else have a chance at the magic!
I'll save my jumping, screaming and running for when Boo overcomes her fear and just does ToT!! I just know she will love it if she doesn't play those nasty head games with herself!!

 

[Maddie2]

Awwww, they don't want to see the princesses? I am sorry. Having 2 boys, I never even think about seeing any princesses. Too bad we won't be there when you are -- I'd go see the princesses with you! :<) BTW, what does IPO stand for?

Love the photos!!! I agree, your girls are adorable! Love the freckles! Such wonderful family memories.

Panotchr -- that is so incredible! Sold in 5 days? Amazing. Sounds like everything is falling together, with finding a rental already, etc. This move was definitely meant to be!

Have fun counting down -- to WDW and to moving!

We tell our boys in 12 days -- I am trying not to have high expectations of their reactions. I know that if I do, they'll go in the opposite direction. As you said Fairy -- they are growing up and have their own ways of finding magic. I am jazzed about WDW, whereas DS9 will be most excited about Sea World and DS12 will probably most look forward to Universal. Thankfully DH just goes along with whatever we decide.

We have a Pack meeting for Cub Scouts tonight, so I need to get dinner on the table.

Fairy -- breathe, breathe deeply. I think I am having heart palpitations for you!

 

[Panotchr]

Maddie: I think you are right that it was meant to be.
Fairy: I have one daughter that is six and she LOVES the princesses. The others are sweet enough to enjoy it with her and love talking about how cute she is when she sees them. I guess that is why I have that little Lily, because she was not in the plan. We tend to call her, "the best decision we never made"....thought we were done with two.

We went to look at lots this afternoon. I think we made need some marriage counseling after this is all said and done! :0

Tomorrow is the first day of our circus craft rotation. It should be crazy and we have a K teacher out because her father is dying. The sub will probably be nuts by noon. Thursday is our big Clown Day. We all dress up. Friday is a teacher workday here, but I am taking the day off because we are going to have our HUGE yard sale Friday and Saturday.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday.

 

[Maddie2]

Your circus rotation sounds SO cute! I love reading all about the units you both do with your classrooms and I know that you are both extremely creative .... so, on that note......

DS9 celebrates his 10th birthday the week we return from WDW. We are having his party the following Saturday -- May 5 -- Cinco de Mayo, so we are having a FIESTA! We will be inviting the entire class plus a few -- so around 24-28 children. I think I must have been in the throes of WDW planning euphoria when I suggested this one! Our family custom is that their 10th birthday is their last big party. After that they choose 2-3 friends and we do pizza and a movie or a waterpark or something. It saddens me to think that this will be my last big birthday party to plan!

Anyhoo, just wondering if either of you (or anyone else reading this) have any fabulous games/crafts/food ideas. I want to have it all pretty much planned -- and everything purchased before we leave on vacation.

Here are the details as planned thus far:
Location: local health club party room & pool.

Time: 2-5pm (snacks/no major meal)

Food: cake (mostly just for photos), cupcakes w/chili pepper candies (cherry flavored candies) on top, Super nachos -- chips w/toppings they can choose, fruit platter -- grapes, strawberries, pineapple, whatever else the grocery store has that week that looks good and is kid-friendly

Decorations & supplies: chili pepper invitations, thank you notes & napkins, red plates & cups, yellow tablecloths & flatware, pinata centerpiece, chili pepper and donkey pinata candles for cake,
maracas, pin the tail on the donkey game.

Treat bags -- candy, tiny maracas, bouncy balls, yo-yos, variety of little trinket type stuff.

Games: Mexican hat dance if I can find a sombrero

The plan: In this order: 1)Photos 2) Food 3)1-2 games, then they'll have a choice -- either stay in the party room and do a craft or go directly to the pool. Since we are inviting both boys & girls, I am thinking we may have a batch of girls (and MAYBE a few boys that would like to do more than just swimming). I'd like to come up with 2 crafts and I'll also make up a wordfind with fiesta-ish words and have a couple of coloring pages handy if they don't want to swim much. Any great craft ideas? I have tons of basic supplies already on hand -- fun foam, stickers, pom-poms, magnets, chenille stems, popsicle sticks, etc.

Gifts: we normally have our kids open their gifts during the party so the other children can "see". With so many children invited, it would take SO much time to open them all, thus taking away from fun time. Also, I want to avoid any embarrassment of any of the guests should they not be able to afford a gift or have a gift that they think is lesser than others. Know what I mean? Past parties were 5-10 boys, whereas this is the entire class -- made up of a variety of children. Is it rude to NOT have the child open gifts at the party? My son understands and is fine either way. He will be writing hand thank you notes for any gifts.

We are looking at this party as primarily a Cinco de Mayo party that just happens to be a birthday party too.

Hope I didn't bore anyone with so many details. I LOVE party planning and would appreciate any input you may have! Thanks!

 

[Maddie2]

I forgot to mention that I wanted to do a pinata with the kids, but they do not allow you to hang anything from the ceiling. In an effort to keep things "even" for all who attend, treat bags seem to be a better option.

Also, I have Mexican blankets and a chili pepper salsa bowl that will add Fiesta flavor to the room. My husband is from New Mexico, so we have other SW items I may take along as well.

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Maddie2, your party sounds wonderful! I'll see if I can think of any suggestions, but it sounds like you have all the bases covered.

Well, the weather is finally posted for our first two full days...they are calling for 84/partly sunny on Saturday and 83/partly sunny on Sunday...I'll take it!!

Tomorrow all the girls are getting haircuts and to head out one more time to do some last minute shopping for the trip...boy, it's not only expensive on vacation...it's expensive getting ready for one, too! Shoes are on the agenda this weekend.

Boo has her first Communion this Sunday, so we have that to get ready for and celebrate. I can't believe that she's old enough...it seems like just yesterday we were baptizing her.

The week ahead at work and home is busy, busy, busy so I know the time will go very quickly...seeing as it's only 6 more days!!!

Well, I have to get going...I'll check back in later tonight.

Kelly, enjoy your day and congratulations again on the sell of your house! I hope you make tons of money at your yard sale this weekend!

 

[Maddie2]

Hi! 6 more days!!! Wowee!!! Great forecast for your trip!

Have fun shoe shopping! Have you seen the cute Disney crocs? So adorable! In fact, I just ordered a pair for me through Dick's Sporting Goods (only $22 with an online coupon & Google check-out $10 discount, also free shipping!)

Congratulations to your daughter on her First Communion! Does she get to wear the beautiful dress and veil? We are Protestant so we do not have this custom -- I can remember being jealous when I was that age when my friends got wear them.

Panotchr -- good luck with your sale today!

I have DS9 home with the stomach flu today. I am hoping and praying that if we are all going to get it, we get it and get it *over with* soon!

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Maddie2, we are Protestant, too...Presbyterian, actually. She will wear a nice dress...no veil, though.

I haven't had time to go try the Crocs...DH calls them "grandma" shoes...lol. Maybe this weekend I can at least see what they feel like on my feet!

I hope your son feels better soon...flu is going around here, too!

 

[Maddie2]

Hi! We are Lutheran and just in the last couple of years they have started allowing younger people to have Communion at a younger age at our church too. DS12 started taking Communion last year. It was and continues to be a very moving experience for him. When I was young, Communion did not take place until after Confirmation, which was in the 9th grade. I guess I am still in an old-fashioned frame of mind. Sorry!

Crocs are so comfortable! I was skeptical at first too and thought they were a bit dorky looking, but once I tried them on, I was hooked! I had plain black ones last year and now I am handing them over to my son (his feet are as big as mine this year and he's only 12!). I'm anxious to get my pink Disney crocs!

I'm off to pick up my Middle Schooler!
Ciao!

 

[Panotchr]

Hi guys:

The yard sale went great so far. We have day two tomorrow. The Cinco de Mayo party sounds fun. I think you have it under control.

I actually have a sunburn from being outside today. Nevermind that it is a complete farmer tan. Guess I need to roll up my sleeves tomorrow.

Circus Day was a huge success. The kids had fun and several of them wore clown costumes. We painted their faces and made them big bowties out of polka dotted tissue paper gathered in the middle and twisted with a pipe cleaner. In my class we used pink cotton balls and pinched them apart and glued them onto a traced shape of a cone of cotton candy. It was fun. Every teacher had a fun craft and we used the school's popcorn machine to make popcorn for them. It smelled great in our hall.

I hope everyone is having the great weather we are.

 

[Ibelieveinfairies]

Hi, everyone!

Kelly, glad to hear the yard sale was going well...hope it finished up with you counting all your "found" money. I'll bet you are exhausted, though...yard sales can be draining!

Maddie2, I finally tried on some Crocs at Sports Authority. I can see why everyone likes them...they seem light and cozy on your feet...but they only had really yucky colors there, so I passed. I don't have the time or mental power to order any before our trip, so I guess it's a croc-less trip this go-round.

Well, I am off to get Boo ready...I'll check back in later! Only 4 more days!!!!!!