January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part IV !!!

[Dancegrl624]

Hello everyone! I love sleepy Saturdays! DD and I are still in our pj's and DH went out to lunch with a guy from work. DD has been playing with her nintendo ds non stop!!

We have 3 weeks of school to get in before we leave. (we start back on the 5th), and I have to sneak everything, we aren't telling until the day before we leave. Which by the way is 4 weeks from today!! YIPPEE!!!
I have to have my house cleaned,organized, from stem to stern before we go anywhere!! So, I will be busy the next couple of weeks.

Shawna-We're in the same boat! Leaving 4 weeks from today and have to sneak around. I would tell our DD the day before we leave, but then she won't sleep that night. We need all the sleep we can get for a 7:45am flight! In these next 4 weeks, I have lots of stuff to keep me busy. We have our first game of the season next Saturday for my dance team (National Lacrosse League) and I'm so excited! We also have a game on the 16th. I have to start choreographing for my dance classes and I have major brain freeze. The list goes on and on!!!!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Meghan~ I am telling them because their is NO way I can pack all those clothes without anyone knowing!! Ha!! It was easier when they were little,we told them the day before last year and it was ok. We just have to start trying to wind down for bed a lot earlier. We eat out for dinner the night before and then come back and finish packing. I do the last load of laundry and make sure the ice box and and garbage are taken care of!!! Also, we have to board our dog on Friday~ I could tell them we are going to my moms. It's a 3 hour trip, and we boarded her when we went up for Halloween. So, I may have to rethink this thing........hmmmmm.

I'll get back to ya'll on that!!!!

That's one reason I put my tree and stuff up so early this year----I wanted to be able to take it down and focus on other stuff before we leave--last year I waited till after New Years, and I just felt so rushed for trip-planning.

 

[sharadoc]

Hi everyone! Happy Holidays to all, and all the best to those who are sick.

We had a great Christmas at our house. DD was SO shocked - she got BOTH Molly and Emily American Girl dolls AND an MP3 player. Plus some other stuff, but she hasn't paid attention to much of them, she's still so excited about the American Girls. I got a lot of "Mom" gifts - a great big stockpot, a hand blender, a new iron, and a new cordless phone with an answering machine and two extra handsets. We also got Disney spending money from my parents - $100 each! Santa brought us all Disney Crocs. DD actually cried, telling me she had the best day ever! It was really nice. Bad news - DS GREW since I bought his Disney T-shirts (matching with his Dad). I think we'll have to layer than over long sleeve Ts and they should be OK. If he wore them alone, they would be too short!

Count me in on the panic crew. We are leaving 3 weeks from tomorrow. I really thought I was getting prepared, but it seems hopeless. Clothes are going to be okay, but it's the non-clothing stuff that I can't seem to finalize. I just know we're going to forget something important. I'll start packing next week and hope I get it right!

I checked on touringplans.com today and they are predicting mostly 5s and 6s for the last two weeks of January. That really surprises me - I expected 3s and 4s, but I guess they are factoring in the 4/3 deal and figure more people will be there than usual. Let's hope it's not TOO busy.

Okay, I'm too chatty! I'll take a breath now. Have a great day - we're going to see the in-laws today for more Christmas.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Hi guys!!

I have been absent from here for a LONG time but I am leaving in 7 days and am so stressed

I haven't done a thing to pack yet...not one thing. I was trying to get the holiday stuff out of the way and then deal with it. I am working today..For our trip, it looks like the weather will be upper 60's to low 70's which is abosolutley perfect

I don't know if I am going to have time to take down all of the holiday stuff before we leave.

Is anyone else freaking out???? I feel totally ungrateful to be whining about this....I am sure lots of people would feel lucky to have problems like this.

I totally understand!! I have 4 weeks and it feels like 4 days! My brain can't stop thinking and planning and worrying about the trip. And I am not planning too much either. But there's always something changing. Plus I also have to clean before we go. Although we are starting to have a cleaning person come every two weeks, just haven't scheduled her yet. Maybe that will help! First I have to declutter. I managed to put away the wrapping supplies and stuff today. At least that's something and most of the toys have found a home.

Hello Snowbirds!!

Red~ keep us posted on your mom...she is in my prayers!!

Shelly~ those pics of the boys were soooo cute!! I loved it! And I did notice the TV in the box! Way to go!!

Andrea~ good to see you!!!!! I usually leave my tree up til after New Years, but I will probably start taking ornaments off and boxing them up today. We have 3 weeks of school to get in before we leave. (we start back on the 5th), and I have to sneak everything, we aren't telling until the day before we leave. Which by the way is 4 weeks from today!! YIPPEE!!!
I have to have my house cleaned,organized, from stem to stern before we go anywhere!! So, I will be busy the next couple of weeks.

As far as sickness ,it's me! I started that darn sinus stuff again Christmas Eve, my throat is sore, lots of drainage and just wore out feeling. Yesterday was the worst I felt, but I just feel tired now;but, I would rather feel this way here, than on vacation!!!!!!

We had an excellent Christmas!! DS13 loved his Ipod and all that he got, DS9-thrilled with his Nintendo ds and legos, and DD is lovin' Elizabeth the AG. They got a few other little things, and from grandparents, so we are all very thankful and blessed!!!! Hope you all have a great weekend and enjoy your days off ......we have rain forecasted for days & days, so I don't think we are even gonna try to mess with fireworks this time. Hopefully it'll dry up by Wed. night for at least some sparklers!!!!

Good luck feeling better! My DD5 got Elizabeth too! Love the earrings and hair! Hope your weather gets better. Do you do fireworks on NYE?

I must be stressing about our trip...I had a dream last night that we were at MK but went to the wrong entrance (??) and missed the opening ceremony which, to Andy and I is the epitome of Disney! Then we went to a ride (don't even know what it was but it was nothing exciting) and kept losing our place in line, and I kept trying to get to Space Mtn because that is always the first ride we go to, but things kept getting in our way, and it was getting later and later and I couldn't make it to the ride...

AAAAHHHH!!!!
I can't believe we leave in 27 days. I need to get this house organized so I can start packing!!

Been there, done that with the dreams! It's like the first day of school or new job dreams! I never sleep well and have crazy weird dreams!!

Try this link:
http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disneysphotopass/
It's got more information than the WDW site.

Thanks! I was interested in that too. I want to do the Disney Visa thing at Epcot and wasn't sure if I should pre-order a photopass anyway. One more thing to put on the list. Has anyone figured out if it's cost effective to get it even if you don't have too many pictures? Is it true that if you get it, you own the pictures and can take the CD wherever and print as many as you want?
TIA.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

We usually do fireworks on NYE--but if it's gonna be wet & drizzly, we won't waste the $$$. Last year was mighty cold!!!! I don't know what we are going to do. It's 80% for rain today, and off and on everyday for a week!!! I wish it would dry up a tiny bit!!! I am sick of mud!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

We usually do fireworks on NYE--but if it's gonna be wet & drizzly, we won't waste the $$$. Last year was mighty cold!!!! I don't know what we are going to do. It's 80% for rain today, and off and on everyday for a week!!! I wish it would dry up a tiny bit!!! I am sick of mud!

That sounds fun. It's usually too cold to do anything outside here on NYE. I remember as a kid one year going outside and banging pots and pans.
I hope your weather improves. It's warm here today (upper 20s) but damp so it feels colder. And now it's kind of icy.

 

[Dancegrl624]

Meghan~ I am telling them because their is NO way I can pack all those clothes without anyone knowing!! Ha!! It was easier when they were little,we told them the day before last year and it was ok. We just have to start trying to wind down for bed a lot earlier. We eat out for dinner the night before and then come back and finish packing. I do the last load of laundry and make sure the ice box and and garbage are taken care of!!! Also, we have to board our dog on Friday~ I could tell them we are going to my moms. It's a 3 hour trip, and we boarded her when we went up for Halloween. So, I may have to rethink this thing........hmmmmm.

I'll get back to ya'll on that!!!!

That's one reason I put my tree and stuff up so early this year----I wanted to be able to take it down and focus on other stuff before we leave--last year I waited till after New Years, and I just felt so rushed for trip-planning.

I only have the three of us to pack for, so I could see how it would be difficult to pack for 3 kids without them knowing! We have 2 cats, but either my mom or sister will come by every other day to feed them. They're so self sufficient and I love it!

It will be hard to get her to bed early on a Friday night. She'll be wondering why, but we'll just have to tell her that we have to get up early for something. She doesn't ask a lot of questions. I still have NO idea where I'm going to pack the suitcases! We have a spare bedroom that we use as an office/computer room. The closet isn't big at ALL and she's always going in there. It's where we keep our litter box too (our one cat is afraid of the basement or something and won't go down there), so we can't keep the door closed. I'll figure something out.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Here's one -
What do you do to celebrate New Year's? (assuming you're not lucky enough to already be in WDW!)

We don't do much anymore. DH works until about 10 - The MN Wild ALWAYS play at 5 p.m., so he gets home around 10. The last 4 years or so our neighborhood gang (all our kids play together) have gotten together and played games, ate and drank. The kids all come and play too. Then we can all walk home. This year we are hosting. Have to get rid of all the cookies and treats!!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Hi guys!!

I have been absent from here for a LONG time but I am leaving in 7 days and am so stressed

I haven't done a thing to pack yet...not one thing. I was trying to get the holiday stuff out of the way and then deal with it. I am working today..For our trip, it looks like the weather will be upper 60's to low 70's which is abosolutley perfect

I don't know if I am going to have time to take down all of the holiday stuff before we leave.

Is anyone else freaking out???? I feel totally ungrateful to be whining about this....I am sure lots of people would feel lucky to have problems like this.

Good to hear from you Andrea! I was worried that maybe you had cancelled your trip since we hadn't heard from you.

 

[Dancegrl624]

QOTD- We always keep it low key for NYE. This year, like last year, my older sis and BIL are coming over. That way, we don't have to get a babysitter or anything. We have some snacky food, sometimes rent a movie, and play board games. This year, we're thinking about having crab legs. Yum!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Okay, I feel like such a scrooge, but I just took down all the Christmas decorations and the tree. I have to get things organized and back to normal so I can start packing! That's why we put up the tree so early this year (on Thanksgiving), because I knew I would be taking it down early.

Well it sure was nice to go out to dinner last night and be able to sit there and talk freely about the trip with the kids!! We talked about some of the CS places they want to eat at. they came up with Casey's Corner, Toy Story Pizza Planet, and the CBR food court!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

QOTD - We don't do much for NYE. We usually take the kids to my mom's for a few hours and DH & I go to dinner, then we pick the kids up and come home. Real party animals, I know!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

DH and I usually go out to dinner on 12/30 instead of NYE. It's the anniversary of our first date, plus no crowds. This year we have tickets to see Grease on 1/4, so we may just go out that night instead.

 

[MelXThree]

We have done Universal before & might this year too haven't decided yet. There are a few areas for kids Suess land in IA & Barney/Woody Woodpecker area in Studios. most of the rides are high energy. Last time we went DS was 2 & DD was 6 She went on the ET ride, Jimmy Neutron, & few others but to be honest not that many were for her. The little guy loved Suess land. We were lucky that we had my mom, sister & brother inlaw with us so we took turns staying with the kids there & going on the rides.

Thanks for the info...I am not sure about Universal either...$300 for ONE day is a lot of $$ but is a gift? What do you do??

Okay, I feel like such a scrooge, but I just took down all the Christmas decorations and the tree. I have to get things organized and back to normal so I can start packing! That's why we put up the tree so early this year (on Thanksgiving), because I knew I would be taking it down early.

I also took down my tree but it was because of my little ones...they did not touch it for 3 weeks and as soon as we let them open up presents they were all over the tree. Taking down ornements, pulling on branches. So I decided that I'd rather take it down then get mad at them every time they touch it.

Now it's time to bring up the suitcases

 

[coffeehousemom]

QOTD well for the first 15 years we were together DH always had to play out NYE with whatever band he was in. SO I either went with him or stayed home with the dogs. Now that we have kids we usually stay home. Most years friends come over to our house to play pinball ( we have 14 in our basement). This year we were invited to a PJ Party at school friends house. Everyone wears their "PJ's" & hangs out for the night.

It is just plain yucky here we went from teens & a foot of snow to 40's rain & mud.

 

[pamouselover]

Hi guys!!

I have been absent from here for a LONG time but I am leaving in 7 days and am so stressed

I haven't done a thing to pack yet...not one thing. I was trying to get the holiday stuff out of the way and then deal with it. I am working today..For our trip, it looks like the weather will be upper 60's to low 70's which is abosolutley perfect

I don't know if I am going to have time to take down all of the holiday stuff before we leave.

Is anyone else freaking out???? I feel totally ungrateful to be whining about this....I am sure lots of people would feel lucky to have problems like this.

Nice to hear from you! I too thought you cancelled your trip.
I am freaking out today! YES freaking. I can not figure out what to pack.
Jeans and some shorts or all pants!
Look for me in WDW, I might be wearing the same pants all week!
Just kidding!

Here's one -
What do you do to celebrate New Year's? (assuming you're not lucky enough to already be in WDW!)
We don't do much anymore. DH works until about 10 - The MN Wild ALWAYS play at 5 p.m., so he gets home around 10. The last 4 years or so our neighborhood gang (all our kids play together) have gotten together and played games, ate and drank. The kids all come and play too. Then we can all walk home. This year we are hosting. Have to get rid of all the cookies and treats!!

We stay home and eat crab cakes for dinner. Then later that night, I make appetizers like mozzarella sticks, pizza bagel, etc. Kids have Shirley temples and we bang pots and pans. I have ALWAYS wanted to go away for NYE. THIS YEAR I WILL BE IN WDW!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Nice to hear from you! I too thought you cancelled your trip.
I am freaking out today! YES freaking. I can not figure out what to pack.
Jeans and some shorts or all pants!
Look for me in WDW, I might be wearing the same pants all week!
Just kidding!



We stay home and eat crab cakes for dinner. Then later that night, I make appetizers like mozzarella sticks, pizza bagel, etc. Kids have Shirley temples and we bang pots and pans. I have ALWAYS wanted to go away for NYE. THIS YEAR I WILL BE IN WDW!

I'm so jealous that you get to go now!! I too would be a basket case. I got the chills when you said you would be there this year! Have a great trip!!
As for packing, well, how about a mix? Will you be able to do laundry if needed? I'm going to make myself do it at the resort, because we will have to pack light (to fit it all in the van) and we have the cruise after. I'm NOT bringing home two weeks worth of dirty laundry!

 

[Dancegrl624]

It is completly icky here today. It's in the 50's which is wonderful, but it's raining. The foot of snow that was piled up in our yard is now almost gone! My DD is so bummed out. It was too cold to play in the snow on Monday which was a snow day, she had school on Tuesday, it rained on Wednesday...poor kid. All she wants to do is play in the snow and the weather is not cooperating. I'm down for more snow days once school starts again!

 

[Monny2AE]

QOTD- We try our best to stay awake until midnight. Pathetic I know. DH and I do get steamed shrimp for diner every year though.

Photopass- I ordered mine a few weeks back before I forgot about it. We're splitting it 3 ways between my family, my sister's family and my parents so it was well worth it to us!

I have my suitcases out. I'm really worried about what to pack though. And I let myself get freaked out by all the posts about the Norovirus. Yuck! I'm ready to pack a whole bag of cleaners now!

And we are probably taking down our tree tomorrow so don't feel bad if yours is down already. I'm ready to get the house back in order and get ready for the trip. Plus it's starting to drop needles more than I like to vacuum.

 

[jenjolt]

I'm going to be taking my stuff down on Monday and I bought some supplies at Wal-Mart today...forgot the mini first aid kit and some sunscreen but I will get that next trip!!

I'm getting so excited!!!