January 2009. . . Calling all Snowbirds ~ Part V

How about the Precious Moments figurines for every year that make a train? That way, it also gives you a small thing to give her every year on her birthday or at Christmas. I'm not sure how "old" they go - maybe 10-11?? You could start out with the first piece (which I think is a clown) for her baptism and go from there. Then she'd receive something meaningful from you every year.

I think that is a great idea. I believe it's called 'The Birthday Train'. My mom (huge PM collector) started that for my sister and I when we were little. I'm totally not into figurines, but that train is so special to me. When I was little I would always be excited to see what the next year's animal would be.:goodvibes
 

:goodvibesI got my very first pin code!!!!! :cool1:It's for free dining into parts of Nov and Dec and I can't use it but I'm still very excited that I finally got one!!!

Hmmmm perhaps I can talk dh into going in early December. There's just that slight problem of neither of us having any vacation time left.:confused:

I never get pin codes that I can actually use...it's ok though Disney has been very generous this year.

Hi all! Thanks for the encouragement and for listening to me whine for the past month. We didn't close on the house yeseterday. We found out at 10 am that an appraisal hadn't even been done yet! That was okay with me, because at 10 am mom and I were still moving things out of the townhouse. The poor buyer, however, had no idea that we weren't closing yesterday and had taken off of work, hired movers and was packed up and ready to go.

The appraisor showed up at 11 am, it was done and came in BEAUTIFULLY!!! We are supposed to close on Wednesday now. FINGERS CROSSED!!!

The good new of the day was that mom and I have started setting up a BIG GIRL room for Belle. (Mom moved our their office furniture to make her room.) It is pastel pink and green and the theme is the Frog Prince. I bought it all last year at Ikea long before I knew of the newest Disney film. Kind of a cool coincidence!

RED- You got some great ideas for the Baptism gift. I'm all for precious baby jewels. She will most likely get a Bible at the Baptism and I adore all of Belle's newborn jewelry, most of it still fits and she feels like a princess when I let her wear them on special occasions.

I'm glad everything is working out. The Big Girl room sounds adorable... I saw the preview for the Frog Prince and I can't wait until it comes out.

Last week I went home for a few days to celebrate my two youngest sibling's birthdays. My baby sister turned 16, and my baby brother turned 12. They're both getting soo old. For the combined occasion my parents flew my big sister and nephew in from Georgia. It was supposed to be a surprise, but my family doesn't do surprises very well, so they both found out the night before she came in. It was really exciting because I hadn't seen either of them since my wedding.
For my little sister's birthday we took her to see Up! at the AMC Fork & Screen (for those of you who don't know what that is... it is basically a restaurant theater, so we got served food while watching the movie.) I was not at all impressed with the food, but we all loved how fancy and fun it was. Up! is amazing btw for those of you who haven't seen it! (one of my other brothers took the youngest to see Up! on his birthday a couple days later)

My other big surprise for my little sister on her birthday was supposed to be a topsy turvy cake. Unfortunately, it didn't work out very, because I am not actually a baker, so the cake actually was falling over. She loved it though.

Logan enjoyed my brother's party by challenging the whole group to a Nerf war. It was hilarious!
 
So as of 6:00 this evening, we are officially homeless!:banana:

So glad it's over! I can breath again!

I think I'll go book our Disney trip to celebrate.:thumbsup2
 
So as of 6:00 this evening, we are officially homeless!:banana:

So glad it's over! I can breath again!

I think I'll go book our Disney trip to celebrate.:thumbsup2

I'm so glad everything worked out for you today! I think booking a trip to Disney is the BEST way to celebrate! :thumbsup2
 
/
I'm glad things are moving along even if they aren't on the original timeline. Belle is going to be so excited to have her big girl room! We saw previews for Frog Prince when we saw UP and I can't wait to see it!


DH took the week off without pay last year so we can't do it again this year. :headache: I'm still amazed he agreed to go again this Jan! I had the choice of going again this Jan for a week or skipping a year and taking a 10 day trip next year. I can't wait another year although 10 days sounds glorious. I need my Disney fix sooner! :love:



I think after going through the ordeal with moving you may just need 2 vacations- one in Nov and another one in Jan! :woohoo: Go for it!

I know what you mean. We haven't been to WDW since October 2006. I go into the nearest Disney store for a fix every once in a while. I need to get to WDW ASAP!!!

Hooray! I've got my new siggie & countdown!!!!:dance3:
Your new siggy is too cute!!

I never get pin codes that I can actually use...it's ok though Disney has been very generous this year.

I'm glad everything is working out. The Big Girl room sounds adorable... I saw the preview for the Frog Prince and I can't wait until it comes out.

Last week I went home for a few days to celebrate my two youngest sibling's birthdays. My baby sister turned 16, and my baby brother turned 12. They're both getting soo old. For the combined occasion my parents flew my big sister and nephew in from Georgia. It was supposed to be a surprise, but my family doesn't do surprises very well, so they both found out the night before she came in. It was really exciting because I hadn't seen either of them since my wedding.
For my little sister's birthday we took her to see Up! at the AMC Fork & Screen (for those of you who don't know what that is... it is basically a restaurant theater, so we got served food while watching the movie.) I was not at all impressed with the food, but we all loved how fancy and fun it was. Up! is amazing btw for those of you who haven't seen it! (one of my other brothers took the youngest to see Up! on his birthday a couple days later)

My other big surprise for my little sister on her birthday was supposed to be a topsy turvy cake. Unfortunately, it didn't work out very, because I am not actually a baker, so the cake actually was falling over. She loved it though.

Logan enjoyed my brother's party by challenging the whole group to a Nerf war. It was hilarious!

I loved Up!! We have a theater near us that is like that, but DH won't go to it b/c he says the food won't be any good. My response is always, "well the food isn't that great at McDonald's but we go there to make the kids happy." Plus he says that it is too dark and he won't be able to see his food. I think the main problem is that his mom told him they were all booths, and since he is Pooh sized (wears about a 5 to 6 XL t-shirt) he won't sit in a booth.

You should post pics of the cake if you have any. I've alway wanted to try and decorate a cake like that. I told my DH that for either an anniversary, birthday or Mother's Day (like that will ever happen. He never does anything for me for Mother's Day b/c "I am not his Mother") I want a cake from Frosted Art in Dallas. It is owned by Bronwen Weber, and I would love to have one of her cakes.
 
So as of 6:00 this evening, we are officially homeless!:banana:

So glad it's over! I can breath again!

I think I'll go book our Disney trip to celebrate.:thumbsup2

Congrats!!! Belle's room sounds adorable! You're staying at your mom's for a bit, right?? We did that (at my MIL's) while our house was being built seven years ago (pre-kids). It worked ok for me and his mom, but I think Andy thought he was back for mommy AND wifey to take care of him...NOT happening buddy! We brought him to his senses real quick!:rotfl2:
 
So as of 6:00 this evening, we are officially homeless!:banana:

So glad it's over! I can breath again!

I think I'll go book our Disney trip to celebrate.:thumbsup2

Congrats on being homeless!!! (I think that's the first time I've ever said that.:lmao:) I like the way you think, booking a Disney trip to celebrate. I would love to be able to book ours, but DH won't let me until the 2010 packages come out.

I have to go clothes shopping tomorrow. My DH's graduation is this Friday, and I have nothing to wear. I'm happy in just jeans, a t-shirt, and my low top green Converse. I might be able to find something I used to wear when I worked full time for Citi, but I have no clue where all those clothes are. I hate, hate, hate graduations. The only one that I ever looked forward to was my little sister's when she graduated from Tulane Law School. The August of the year she started her 3rd year of law school was the year Katrina hit NOLA. Then in May when they had graduation, both ex Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush were the speakers. The presidents and graduates were led in by a jazz band. At the end they had a suprise guest. It was Ellen DeGeneres and she showed up wearing a white bath robe. It was so funny. Ellen and the jazz band led the graduates out second line style. It was so cool and I have some really good pictures from it. The only thing I was suprised about was the lack of security. I had expected a lot more considering two former presidents were there. Anyway, so in a way I am looking forward to Friday, but then really dreading it as well. Well I'm off to get some dishes done. I hope everyone has a great night.
 
OK, I need some serious help here, DH just dropped a bomb on me and I have no idea what to do. This next year will be our 15th year wedding anniversary, which was the real reason for our trip next year. However our wedding anniversary is July 1, and I am not insane enough to take my boys to FL during that time. DH just said, "Hey how about instead of going to WDW, we go to England or Italy without the kids next summer and then take them to San Antonio for Spring Break?" The question is, what would you do? Take the family to WDW or take the kids to San Antonio for a weekend, and then go to Europe for a week in the summer with just you and the hubby?
 
OK, I need some serious help here, DH just dropped a bomb on me and I have no idea what to do. This next year will be our 15th year wedding anniversary, which was the real reason for our trip next year. However our wedding anniversary is July 1, and I am not insane enough to take my boys to FL during that time. DH just said, "Hey how about instead of going to WDW, we go to England or Italy without the kids next summer and then take them to San Antonio for Spring Break?" The question is, what would you do? Take the family to WDW or take the kids to San Antonio for a weekend, and then go to Europe for a week in the summer with just you and the hubby?

girl, do you have to ask?!! I guess it depends on what YOU really like. I would pass out if Mike took me to Europe!! The only difference would be I want our whole family to go. I would do a weekend with him in a hotel in Dallas or something where there is something fun to do, but oh Yeah I would check into the euporean trip!!!
 
OK, I need some serious help here, DH just dropped a bomb on me and I have no idea what to do. This next year will be our 15th year wedding anniversary, which was the real reason for our trip next year. However our wedding anniversary is July 1, and I am not insane enough to take my boys to FL during that time. DH just said, "Hey how about instead of going to WDW, we go to England or Italy without the kids next summer and then take them to San Antonio for Spring Break?" The question is, what would you do? Take the family to WDW or take the kids to San Antonio for a weekend, and then go to Europe for a week in the summer with just you and the hubby?

Wow that is quite a dilemma! As much as I would love to go to Italy we do not vacation without the kids so I would stick with going to Disney! I figure Italy (and other places we would like to go) will still be there after the kids are grown and gone. For now WDW works great for us, so that's what we stick with! :thumbsup2 But that's just us. Good luck deciding!! :goodvibes
 
So as of 6:00 this evening, we are officially homeless!:banana:

So glad it's over! I can breath again!

I think I'll go book our Disney trip to celebrate.:thumbsup2


Go book that trip for Belle!!!!
I'm glad all is finished and you can relax a while. I hope you and G take your time deciding what's best for your family when it comes to your next home.

I love the countdown title you made! Too cute! I'm so excited for Belle!
 
I know what you mean. We haven't been to WDW since October 2006. I go into the nearest Disney store for a fix every once in a while. I need to get to WDW ASAP!!!


Your new siggy is too cute!!



I loved Up!! We have a theater near us that is like that, but DH won't go to it b/c he says the food won't be any good. My response is always, "well the food isn't that great at McDonald's but we go there to make the kids happy." Plus he says that it is too dark and he won't be able to see his food. I think the main problem is that his mom told him they were all booths, and since he is Pooh sized (wears about a 5 to 6 XL t-shirt) he won't sit in a booth.

You should post pics of the cake if you have any. I've alway wanted to try and decorate a cake like that. I told my DH that for either an anniversary, birthday or Mother's Day (like that will ever happen. He never does anything for me for Mother's Day b/c "I am not his Mother") I want a cake from Frosted Art in Dallas. It is owned by Bronwen Weber, and I would love to have one of her cakes.

At ours it's just like going to a movie except they have tables in front of you. The same kind of seating as the rest of the theatre. They just converted half the theatre around a year ago. They also have some theatres that they call Cinema Suites with Recliners and the table next to you, but you have to be 21 to go, so we couldn't take my baby sister. I really wanted to take DH while we were in town last week, but they weren't showing any movies we wanted to see.
It was a bit dark to eat, but it was fun anyways.
The Fork and Screen was fun though, because since we took her during the week it was only $10, basically $5 for the tickets, then we got $5 food vouchers, so it really wasn't that expensive. Near my parents the AMC has $5 tickets during the week and before noon on weekends. The Cinema Suites is $15, but you get a $10 food voucher.


Congrats on being homeless!!! (I think that's the first time I've ever said that.:lmao:) I like the way you think, booking a Disney trip to celebrate. I would love to be able to book ours, but DH won't let me until the 2010 packages come out.

I have to go clothes shopping tomorrow. My DH's graduation is this Friday, and I have nothing to wear. I'm happy in just jeans, a t-shirt, and my low top green Converse. I might be able to find something I used to wear when I worked full time for Citi, but I have no clue where all those clothes are. I hate, hate, hate graduations. The only one that I ever looked forward to was my little sister's when she graduated from Tulane Law School. The August of the year she started her 3rd year of law school was the year Katrina hit NOLA. Then in May when they had graduation, both ex Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush were the speakers. The presidents and graduates were led in by a jazz band. At the end they had a suprise guest. It was Ellen DeGeneres and she showed up wearing a white bath robe. It was so funny. Ellen and the jazz band led the graduates out second line style. It was so cool and I have some really good pictures from it. The only thing I was suprised about was the lack of security. I had expected a lot more considering two former presidents were there. Anyway, so in a way I am looking forward to Friday, but then really dreading it as well. Well I'm off to get some dishes done. I hope everyone has a great night.

I hate graduations too. I've only been to the two of my own. I only walked this year because I wanted pictures of Logan and I in our cap and gowns. My whole family forgot cameras though, so Logan's parents are the only ones that got pictures and I haven't seen them yet.
Our former/new football coach (he retired, but they rehired him this year because the football program was doing so bad *rolls eyes*) spoke. He didn't say anything spectacular, just stuff about achieving your goals.

OK, I need some serious help here, DH just dropped a bomb on me and I have no idea what to do. This next year will be our 15th year wedding anniversary, which was the real reason for our trip next year. However our wedding anniversary is July 1, and I am not insane enough to take my boys to FL during that time. DH just said, "Hey how about instead of going to WDW, we go to England or Italy without the kids next summer and then take them to San Antonio for Spring Break?" The question is, what would you do? Take the family to WDW or take the kids to San Antonio for a weekend, and then go to Europe for a week in the summer with just you and the hubby?

Could you go during a different time of year, and celebrate your anniversary then?

If not, I would totally choose Europe for an anniversary, especially if you've never been. Unless it would be too difficult to leave your kids.

I agree that this is really a decision only you can make, but Europe would be fun.
 
I got a PIN!!!! Not that I can use it, but- by golly, I got a PIN!!!:banana::banana::banana:
That's exactly how I felt the other day! :woohoo:I can't use it either but I finally feel like a part of the elusive "I've received a pin code" club!!! I hate feeling left out. :rolleyes1
OK, I need some serious help here, DH just dropped a bomb on me and I have no idea what to do. This next year will be our 15th year wedding anniversary, which was the real reason for our trip next year. However our wedding anniversary is July 1, and I am not insane enough to take my boys to FL during that time. DH just said, "Hey how about instead of going to WDW, we go to England or Italy without the kids next summer and then take them to San Antonio for Spring Break?" The question is, what would you do? Take the family to WDW or take the kids to San Antonio for a weekend, and then go to Europe for a week in the summer with just you and the hubby?
Congrats on 15 years! Our anniversary is July and we're at 8 years this summer. While I would love to do Disney for our 10th (especially since that's where we honeymooned:love: ) I don't think I could handle that FL summer heat again. Europe sounds like fun. Tough decision- wish I had some tough decisions like that to make :lmao:! What would your kids like to do the most?
 
girl, do you have to ask?!! I guess it depends on what YOU really like. I would pass out if Mike took me to Europe!! The only difference would be I want our whole family to go. I would do a weekend with him in a hotel in Dallas or something where there is something fun to do, but oh Yeah I would check into the euporean trip!!!
Honestly, we he said it I felt like I was going to pass out. It was late, and I was really tired. For a minute I thought he was an imposter and ask what he did with my real DH. Unfortunatley, we can't afford to take the whole family if we go to Europe which is why I can't decide. Also, we haven't been to WDW since 2006, and if we do this it puts that trip off for another year.
Wow that is quite a dilemma! As much as I would love to go to Italy we do not vacation without the kids so I would stick with going to Disney! I figure Italy (and other places we would like to go) will still be there after the kids are grown and gone. For now WDW works great for us, so that's what we stick with! :thumbsup2 But that's just us. Good luck deciding!! :goodvibes
We have gone on a couple of vacations without the kids. We went a couple of times to Vegas, and I refuse to take the kids there. I know some families go with kids (my sister in law took hers to marry her current hubby). For us the only reason we go to Vegas is to gamble and you can't do that with kids.

At ours it's just like going to a movie except they have tables in front of you. The same kind of seating as the rest of the theatre. They just converted half the theatre around a year ago. They also have some theatres that they call Cinema Suites with Recliners and the table next to you, but you have to be 21 to go, so we couldn't take my baby sister. I really wanted to take DH while we were in town last week, but they weren't showing any movies we wanted to see.
It was a bit dark to eat, but it was fun anyways.
The Fork and Screen was fun though, because since we took her during the week it was only $10, basically $5 for the tickets, then we got $5 food vouchers, so it really wasn't that expensive. Near my parents the AMC has $5 tickets during the week and before noon on weekends. The Cinema Suites is $15, but you get a $10 food voucher.
Sounds like they would be fun. I loved the movie theater near my sister's appartment when she lived in NOLA. It was the only movie theater I have ever been to that sold alchoholic drinks. I think they were just the mixed drink slushy type, but it was still cool.



I hate graduations too. I've only been to the two of my own. I only walked this year because I wanted pictures of Logan and I in our cap and gowns. My whole family forgot cameras though, so Logan's parents are the only ones that got pictures and I haven't seen them yet.
Our former/new football coach (he retired, but they rehired him this year because the football program was doing so bad *rolls eyes*) spoke. He didn't say anything spectacular, just stuff about achieving your goals.
This will be the third graduation (including high school) that I have been to for my DH. He graduated high school a year after I did from a different school, the graduation for his Bachelor Degree, and then this one. If he really really wants to walk for his MBA, I guess I'll just suck it up and go. I am just going to do everything I can to convince him not to.


Could you go during a different time of year, and celebrate your anniversary then?

If not, I would totally choose Europe for an anniversary, especially if you've never been. Unless it would be too difficult to leave your kids.

I agree that this is really a decision only you can make, but Europe would be fun.
Well if we go to WDW, we will celebrate in January along with the two birthdays. If we go to Europe we will go during our anniversary b/c we have to go when we can get baby sitting. Which I still have to see if we can get. I am pretty sure I can get my mom to watch them. She sells stuff on Ebay and Etsy for a living, so she doesn't work outside the home. Since my grandmother is living with her, I don't know how long she can watch them for.
Honestly, we have no problem going without the kids. We have been on several vacations without them, it's just not the norm. The last time we went on vacation without them was 4 years ago for our 10th anniversary. We went to Vegas, and had a blast.
The main thing is the baby sitting part. My DH has decided that he wants to go to London/Paris if we go to Europe and doesn't want to be gone any less than 8 days. If we go though, he won't let me go to DisneyLand Paris :sad: He decided this afternoon that he wants to save an Italian trip for when he thinks the boys are old enough to go, and when we can afford for them to go.
Also he wants the trip to be under a certain amount and if it isn't, then he wants to keep with the WDW plan. Basically, I am going to be planning both trips until we decide which to do. If we can get the London/Paris trip under a certain amount and they come out with the 4/3 deal, we may do both. The WDW trip would just be WAY scaled back. We wouldn't stay at the CR, but at a value, and prob not do the dining plan.
 
That's exactly how I felt the other day! :woohoo:I can't use it either but I finally feel like a part of the elusive "I've received a pin code" club!!! I hate feeling left out. :rolleyes1

Congrats on 15 years! Our anniversary is July and we're at 8 years this summer. While I would love to do Disney for our 10th (especially since that's where we honeymooned:love: ) I don't think I could handle that FL summer heat again. Europe sounds like fun. Tough decision- wish I had some tough decisions like that to make :lmao:! What would your kids like to do the most?

Thanks!! The 15th year anniversary isn't until July 2010 though. This year will be the 14th. Also, part of what is making it so hard to decide is that my DH and I met at the MK. I was there with my H.S. band for Magic Music Days, and he was on vacation with his family. I noticed his hat in line for a ride. It was for a local high school football team that if you know anything about Texas High School football you know them(Southlake Carroll Dragons). Plus our schools played each other, we went to band comps together, and my cousin went to school there. We started talking, he started dating my friend, they broke up, and then on Easter Day 1994 he asked me out. July 1, 1995 we were married. We went for our 5th anniversary for a couple of days, and it wasn't too bad. I think that was mainly b/c it rained the entire time we were there. Well the kids won't go if we go to Europe, they will go to their Grammy and Grandad's house. So, I'm sure they would rather go to WDW. For now, I'm hoping Disney announces the 4/3 deal and that I will be able to convince the DH to do both.
 
This will be the third graduation (including high school) that I have been to for my DH. He graduated high school a year after I did from a different school, the graduation for his Bachelor Degree, and then this one. If he really really wants to walk for his MBA, I guess I'll just suck it up and go. I am just going to do everything I can to convince him not to.
I've refused to go to all my siblings graduations. I got out of the last one by volunteering to watch my cousin while my Uncle and Aunt went.


Well if we go to WDW, we will celebrate in January along with the two birthdays. If we go to Europe we will go during our anniversary b/c we have to go when we can get baby sitting. Which I still have to see if we can get. I am pretty sure I can get my mom to watch them. She sells stuff on Ebay and Etsy for a living, so she doesn't work outside the home. Since my grandmother is living with her, I don't know how long she can watch them for.
Honestly, we have no problem going without the kids. We have been on several vacations without them, it's just not the norm. The last time we went on vacation without them was 4 years ago for our 10th anniversary. We went to Vegas, and had a blast.
The main thing is the baby sitting part. My DH has decided that he wants to go to London/Paris if we go to Europe and doesn't want to be gone any less than 8 days. If we go though, he won't let me go to DisneyLand Paris :sad: He decided this afternoon that he wants to save an Italian trip for when he thinks the boys are old enough to go, and when we can afford for them to go.
Also he wants the trip to be under a certain amount and if it isn't, then he wants to keep with the WDW plan. Basically, I am going to be planning both trips until we decide which to do. If we can get the London/Paris trip under a certain amount and they come out with the 4/3 deal, we may do both. The WDW trip would just be WAY scaled back. We wouldn't stay at the CR, but at a value, and prob not do the dining plan.

Hmm... my DH wouldn't let me go to Disneyland Paris when we were there a couple years back either. He wasn't my DH yet though. He used the rationale that his first Disney experience should be at the real thing. The only reason I let him get away with it was because we were only there for a couple days, and the tickets to Disneyland would have been expensive.
Personally I find Disney much less stressful than Europe, but we were also completely broke when we were there, so I couldn't plan as much in advance as I wanted to... The only reason I got to go to Paris was that my parents and grandparents sent money for my birthday.

Definitely research the various deals available, and you might be able to make both trips work. Europe is expensive and there's no way to guarantee the level of customer service that you get at Disney.
 













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