Jilian & BT's VR 3/24/12 Crescent Terr/Il Mulino - Last of the Randy Chapman pics up!

[Jilian]

The countdown has been fun, I highly recommend it once you all get within a few mos of your date. I couldn't imagine doing it with many months left (although I considered it) the thing would stretch across my house!

Still no word from Randy - Boo! And no word from my violinist, I'm gonna have to e-mail her again.

I leave this weekend for my older son's birthday trip. My H told me to book Friday too so we get to do 3 days now. Just the little guy and me He's gonna be NINE in a few weeks and I cannot believe I'm the mom of a 9 year old. He still has no idea that we're going Friday too and I'm not going to tell him. I visit him at school for a special run they are doing and I'll take him home after and we'll just leave from there. He's gonna be so excited! He's been having a difficult time in school because he's finally becoming self-aware and realizing that he's a little different from the other kids so I'm so happy to get to spend some one-on-one time with him. He's such an amazing little kid and he's been through so much.

Has anyone worked with the Timeshare store before? I rented DVC points through them for the AK villa and when H told me to add Friday on I contacted them and was happy to hear that they did have discounted points and availability. Then a few hours later they got back to me and suddenly didn't have the discounted points but I could buy full price points instead - no thanks! Today they sent out another mass e-mail still saying they had these discounted points. Hmmm. It almost seems like a bait and switch to me. This is the second time I've called about advertised discount points only to be told "YES! you can have the reservation, we'll get the confirmation to you today" then within a few hours the points have vanished but I'm more than welcome to buy full price points. Followed by next day advertising of those discount points that don't exist. It just seems odd to me. I shouldn't complain too much because we did get a reservation for Sat night @ AKV for $120 but we had to book through Disney for Friday night...so we're gonna do 2 resorts in 2 nights. Wheee!

 

[Jilian]

Woohoo, the violinist e-mailed me right back saying that her and the guitarist CAN play "Married Life" from UP. So we went ahead and asked for it along with "A Dream is a Wish". I'm so happy to have gotten our song choices! Are there any other songs I need to choose? Those are the only two I really care about. Also, do they usually play during the ceremony or just before and after. I feel like I should know this but I don't.

Now I need to work on my vows. I also need to invent some sort of pin ceremony for the kids. I have no idea how to even go about this. I think we'll just write something up, maybe say a few words and then put the pins on the kids and hope to God that they keep them on for the remainder of the ceremony instead of using them to stab each other. Any ideas on how to do a pin ceremony? Or anything to include kids as part of the ceremony?

 

[Jilian]

After I posted I heard back from Randy. He's still waiting to know for sure if we can shoot @ the GF. I guess there are a few other DFTW brides that day and he needs to see which ones plan on shooting at the GF before we get the OK. I need some pixie dust, I reallllllllly want pictures at the GF. It has been my dream ever since I fist set eyes on the GF. I heart the GF.

 

[CourtenayB]

Hi Jillian! Like the planning that has gone on since I last visited your page.

I am sure your son is going to be thrilled for his birthday trip! And the excitment makes it that much better. Your countdown is smart and adorable, and a great way to help your son be even more a part of the big day.

Just a word of advice on Randy: whenever I have communicated with him it has been in the evening and he seems to response pretty fast. Try sending him a reminder email at night and see if that helps; he might be online checking later in the evening.

xoxo. Courtenay

 

[Jilian]

Thanks for the Randy tip! I was getting a little worried but I know he is super busy.

In other news: we received our tax refund today and it is enough to pay off everything with the exception of the dinner @ Il Mulino (that money isn't due until the night of)! I'm excited and relieved to be able to pay stuff off. NOW this is all starting to feel real. It feels like I've been planning forever and now it is nice to see my vision all coming together. I can't wait to see how it actually turns out!

 

[2dogmom]

It is such a relief to be able to pay off everything. I love your countdown. Mine is just on my phone (with my To Do Lists) and my kids look on there. For me, we are incorporating our kids with the sand ceremony. I never heard of a pin ceremony. I can't wait to hear more.

 

[Jilian]

It is such a relief to be able to pay off everything. I love your countdown. Mine is just on my phone (with my To Do Lists) and my kids look on there. For me, we are incorporating our kids with the sand ceremony. I never heard of a pin ceremony. I can't wait to hear more.

A countdown on your phone sounds cool, I didn't think of that! I probably could have saved myself lots of time instead of cutting out all of those mickey heads!

I don't think there is really a such thing as a pin ceremony, I just made it up. My kids started collecting pins last year and they love to trade them with cast members so I found some great pins for them online

We're going to work it into the ceremony. We'll probably have a reading from the Bible about kids and then say a few words to them about how special they are to us and then tell them what the pins symbolize, etc and pin them. Then hope they leave the pins on for the ceremony.

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I think I'm pretty much done with everything at this point. I updated all of my vendor contracts, sent payment to everyone but Just Marry (just waiting on the final contract to sign and then I'll send payment) and even put my vendor gratuities into envelopes. Yes, I have a mean case of type A personality. Welcome bags are done. I threw in some coloring books and crayons for the kids. I have a wedding timeline all written up in case I panic and forget what I'm supposed to be doing. Our final count is 42 now, including us. We got a surprise RSVP a few days ago from someone who wasn't supposed to be able to come but H is really happy because it is his best friend's mom.

In non-VR news I'm starting softball next weekend. This is only my second season and it is a christian leage but I really am not a softball player. I play for my H. He's awesome and really wanted me to play. It is a lot of fun because we get to play together and a few of our couple friends play too. So please say a prayer that I don't break anything. A broken face just won't work for my in-front-of-the-chandellier-shot at GF. Did I mention that I'm the catcher? I better score some serious wife points for this!

 

[MrsDrewsky]

I love the pin idea Jilian.

I will be praying for you not to break your face I was a catcher when I played church league for a season. Be sure to practice some squats! My thighs were killing me when I first started.

 

[MrsDuck]

I love love love the pin ceremony idea! Too cute!

And congrats to you for all your checks! We both are Type A girls.

Eck! Major vibes coming your way for softball! You're a good wifey!

 

[2dogmom]

Love the pic ceremony. Good luck with softball. I think you score major points with that.

 

[Sizzle]

So please say a prayer that I don't break anything. A broken face just won't work for my in-front-of-the-chandellier-shot at GF. Did I mention that I'm the catcher? I better score some serious wife points for this!

They can do amazing things with photoshop these days!! LOL

Good luck and great work on all your finalized planning!

 

[belle2211]

Everything feels great!

I feel your pain about softball! I played in junior high but that was all. Then when I started dating DH, he started playing in a softball league and they needed another girl so I joined in. That was 5 years ago (10 seasons). I now LOVE it and I play second base but always manage to hurt myself. So last spring, they moved me to the outfield a few weeks before the wedding (and again before my MK bridal shoot) so I wouldn't get injured! Good luck and have fun!

 

[Jilian]

Everything feels great!

I feel your pain about softball! I played in junior high but that was all. Then when I started dating DH, he started playing in a softball league and they needed another girl so I joined in. That was 5 years ago (10 seasons). I now LOVE it and I play second base but always manage to hurt myself. So last spring, they moved me to the outfield a few weeks before the wedding (and again before my MK bridal shoot) so I wouldn't get injured! Good luck and have fun!

Good idea. I was on second base for a while and it was a lot of fun. H is short stop so we got to act like immature children to each other when no one is looking. I got demoted to catcher when our catcher quit and our first basemen got hurt and needed a more cushy position. Maybe I'll switch over to right field (we call it country club) for the month before the VR. We start Saturday

This weekend I took DS1 to WDW and it was so, so much fun. Probably the best Disney trip yet. We stayed at POFQ for the first time and it was nice and quiet. Then we switched to AKV Kidani. I'm in love I need to get back there. I'm scrambling to find DVC points to rent now so we can stay at AKV again for the last 2 days of our trip for the VR. The Timeshare store doesn't have any discounted points so I have a few PMs into Dis members who are looking to rent. Fingers crossed. Our 45 day cancellation day is today I'm hoping that since it is for the last 2 days of the trip that I have a few more days to cancel. I loved how peaceful it was at Kidani. I cannot imagine ever staying at a moderate again. I've been ruined by DVC!

I'm hoping to be able to get a mini TR up soon. Even though we've been to Disney a million other times we did lots of new things on this trip and had a lot of fun. I can't wait to go back!

 

[tinkerbell 766]

Jilian sweetie
Have you tried checking out David's for your DVC rental needs. I don't think he has discounted points, but is very efficient and reliable and has plenty of choices of resorts etc. Link below

http://www.dvcrequest.com/

 

[Jilian]

Thanks Joanne. I've already contacted the timeshare store again and they have plenty of their non-discounted $12 points. I think I'm going to book with them since I've already used them once before. Unfortunately there are no 1 bedrooms available We're gonna book a studio and see if we can upgrade to a 1 BR if one opens up.

I cancelled our free dining package last night and booked us into a passholder room-only reservation and got $1300 back! We're still keeping most of our dining reservations though. Hopefully our AKV reservation will be confirmed today and then we'll be all set and paid in full.

 

[DoomBuggy0922]

I adore the pin ceremony idea! We actually got that pin attached to one of our wedding gifts: it's adorable.

I am excited for the mini TR!

 

[virtuous girl]

I have been ruined by our free upgrade to a deluxe resort in the past 2!! i currently have the boardwalk booked, i hope im not dissappointed. u now got me thinking about animal kingdom .... $1,300 BACK!! do u know what i can do with that kind of money that is a good chuck of change!

 

[Jilian]

I know, $1300 is a lot, now I just have to try not to spend it and save it for food.

I probably won't get to the TR for a bit, Evan has pnemonia. He's very sick and we've been at the doctor the last 2 days all day. He's so sick

 

[tric8783]

You are really making moves, I like it! I love the countdown calendar!!
I want to hear how your DS reacted to you telling him you were taking him! How fun! I think AKV is the only DVC we have yet to stay at (and BC but we're staying there for the wedding) Maybe we'll add it to our list! Fingers crossed youll be able to find some points to rent for the last two nights of your VR!

Yay for tax returns and paying everything off now, what a great feeling!

too funny for Softball! You definitely are a good wifey! Fingers crossed you will get to take pics at the GF too!

 

[Jilian]

You are really making moves, I like it! I love the countdown calendar!!
I want to hear how your DS reacted to you telling him you were taking him! How fun! I think AKV is the only DVC we have yet to stay at (and BC but we're staying there for the wedding) Maybe we'll add it to our list! Fingers crossed youll be able to find some points to rent for the last two nights of your VR!

Yay for tax returns and paying everything off now, what a great feeling!

too funny for Softball! You definitely are a good wifey! Fingers crossed you will get to take pics at the GF too!

My DS is funny because I picked him up from school and told him I had to go do a few things. We drove for an hour on the highway when he finally said "OK, where are we going?" I said "Oh I just have to do a few things" and he replied "No, really, tell me where we are going, we've been driving for a long time!" I told him to look in his backpack for a clue. He opened it up and found a Disney Birthday pin and his pin necklace. He said "Are we going to Disney TONIGHT?!" and I said we were. He was all sorts of excited. He said "I'm so excited that I don't know what to do with myself" It was really cute. He loves Disney so much and wants to be an Imagineer when he grows up and build Disney rollercoasters

I'm hoping to get an actual TR up sometime soon. Maybe after this weekend. My younger son is still really sick and my daughter is starting to get sick now too! I hope they're getting it out of their systems now because we leave in 44 days!