July 12 2009 ON THE WONDER

[lvrodmic]

Well I don't think USC was as tough to get into when I was there. My sister in law kept telling my niece who is graduating that she was "too intelligent" to attend USC and although she applied there, my sister in law wanted her to go to "more academic schools" like Berkeley or UCLA. With her 4.1 (with AP classes) she was outright rejected from USC and is on the waiting lists for Berkeley and UCLA...I had to laugh..I thought if you had relatives that went to USC it was an ez acceptance.

Isn't BYU expensive just since she is out of state??? Pepperdine is one pretty school location in Malibu

Yes we are in the boonies...Spencer could go on and on about how awful it is out here, but he really doesn't understand the freedom he has here...not much crime,etc...if you ride your bike here and leave it propped up against the wall of a store (outside), it will still be there when you get back...if fact our neighbors left a bike in their front yard for about a month....and I couldnt understand why nobody took it.

Spencer doesnt have his license yet..he is 14 and we don't live out of city limits or he could. I find watching 8th graders driving to junior high one creepy experience. Terrence got his license right around his 16th birthday

Have a great day

Mari from the boonies

Mari,

There are many days I would like to live in the "boonies". Things have gotten so bad in Vegas. Way too many people, traffic and definitely
crime.

Sorry, I thought Spencer was 16. Just a bit confused Did not realize it was Terrence. I guess since he has not been on the boards. Taylor passed her driver's test today with 100%. She was really excited!

Gosh your niece with AP classes and a 4.1 hard to believe she was rejected at USC. What happened to just getting a 4.0. I know Taylor was saying you have to get at least about a 4.2, community service and I don't know what else. Taylor is Mormon so if she attends seminary each school day during high school she will be eligible for minimum tuition which this year was only $6,000. Certainly this was a vast difference from the price of Pepperdine.

Love chatting with you Mari. Can't wait to meet you on the cruise.

Enjoy your weekend.

 

[lakerz5]

Mari,

There are many days I would like to live in the "boonies". Things have gotten so bad in Vegas. Way too many people, traffic and definitely
crime.

Sorry, I thought Spencer was 16. Just a bit confused Did not realize it was Terrence. I guess since he has not been on the boards. Taylor passed her driver's test today with 100%. She was really excited!

Gosh your niece with AP classes and a 4.1 hard to believe she was rejected at USC. What happened to just getting a 4.0. I know Taylor was saying you have to get at least about a 4.2, community service and I don't know what else. Taylor is Mormon so if she attends seminary each school day during high school she will be eligible for minimum tuition which this year was only $6,000. Certainly this was a vast difference from the price of Pepperdine.

Love chatting with you Mari. Can't wait to meet you on the cruise.

Enjoy your weekend.

Well try telling Spencer that it is better to live out in the prairie He was only 8 when we moved from California, so he still is mourning the departure. He doesn't remember anything negative, but I remember getting really antsy when the kids just turned the corner ( and I couldnt see them) on their bikes in our subdivision.

DH mom lives in Mesquite and likes that. She says it has grown a lot. His aunt and uncle live in Vegas and we used to join them waterskiing at Lake Mead every summer. DH grew up in Barstow of all places, but none of his family members live there any longer.

Congrats to Taylor on her drivers test!!!!!

Where I grew up in California it was about evenly 1/3 catholic, 1/3 presbyterian and 1/3 LDS...and I always wondered how those families afforded out of state tuition..so many went to BYU..so that is a great deal. It is very pretty up there!!!!

Our HS does not give extra gpa points for AP classes, so the most one can get is a 4.0. My 16 year old is sitting around a 3.5, so guess he is out of luck for those CA schools unless they want out of state tuition$$$$$$$

I would love to get Terrence on the boards but he is always too busy...prom is tonite and he is a DJ so he's always booking a dance or having his own in our basement..Taylor will enjoy getting to know both boys

Can't wait to meet you too

Mari

 

[Tooth Fairy 68]

Mari: You make it sound as though you live in the "boonies"

Has Spencer gotten his license? Wow, USC. How impressive. Such a great school and so difficult to get in to. Taylor has looked at Pepperdine but tuition is running about $40,000. Her next choice is BYU. Then, of course, one has to be accepted!

My husband hates driving and even going to California. After growing up there and the moving here he dreads going to all that traffic too. I keep telling him though the traffic here in the last five years is worse than L.A.

Looking forward to this weekend as it is going to cool down to the high 70's

ToothFairy: Glad you want to participate in FE. How many are going to be in your party besides Katlyn? I am so excited and can't wait to meet everyone

It will be me and Katlyn in one room and then my mom and dad in another participating. We may have a few more doing it as well, I will get back to you on that.

Do we know how many families are participating so far? I'm planning on just doing a gift bag per room on one day.


I'm happy to hear taylor got her licence, Katlyn should be getting hers at the end of May....hopefully....she's still a little dangerous. In KY they can't get their licence until 16 1/2.

Mari that's wild to hear Spencer could drive already. I have a friend in Iowa and her girls were driving at 14 but still I never realized other places did the same. I bet he asked you to move to the country, Katlyn asked to move to Iowa.

I can't wait to meet everyone either! This cruise can't come soon enough.

Lisa

 

[lakerz5]

"Well so far it looks like Mickie & Taylor, our family and you and Katlyn..which is fine

and if anyone adds in later thats fine too

Well I wish the driving age was 16 & 1/2 here. When I occasionally saw the girls next door all driving the family suburban at around 12 and 13, I really thought that was nuts but I don't think the parents think their kids will get caught. I'm like....to me that is a 5000lb weapon rolling down our lane

Have you any excursions planned Lisa??

I am very excited for the cruise!!!!! The 2 oldest had their vocal recital yesterday and I have informed them that they WILL be singing at family karaoke I have done that to them for the last 2 cruises..so Katlyn and Taylor can always meet up with them there those evenings

Have a great day!

Mari

 

[lvrodmic]

"Well so far it looks like Mickie & Taylor, our family and you and Katlyn..which is fine

and if anyone adds in later thats fine too

Well I wish the driving age was 16 & 1/2 here. When I occasionally saw the girls next door all driving the family suburban at around 12 and 13, I really thought that was nuts but I don't think the parents think their kids will get caught. I'm like....to me that is a 5000lb weapon rolling down our lane

Have you any excursions planned Lisa??

I am very excited for the cruise!!!!! The 2 oldest had their vocal recital yesterday and I have informed them that they WILL be singing at family karaoke I have done that to them for the last 2 cruises..so Katlyn and Taylor can always meet up with them there those evenings

Have a great day!

Mari

Mari:

Driving at age 12 and 13. I can't even imagine. I would just about die. I don't know many kids mature enough for that even out in the "boonies".

Wow the boys take vocal lessons. I think that is great. Can't wait to hear them on karaoke night. That will make a FUN evening. Terrence sounds like he really is busy with his DJ work. Is he looking forward to the cruise? How about your youngest boy?

When you talked about skiing at Lake Mead it brought back many memories of when our two girls and my husband and myself spent many years skiing and camping on the lake when they were growing up. What great times we had. Now the lake levels are SO LOW you would hardly recognize it. They have had to move all of the docks MANY times. They expect it to go down another 9 feet this summer!

Lisa,

Looking forward to meeting you and your family. Taylor and her family live about two hours from Disneyland and are season passholders as I am even though I live in Vegas. Like you, we too have been more times than we can count. We have a tradition of going for three days right before Christmas since Taylor was a little baby. I thought Taylor might be too old for this trip but she said this was exactly what she would like for her 16th birthday. I hope she NEVER gets too hold for DISNEY!

Almost May..........Is it almost July yet??????

 

[Tooth Fairy 68]

"Well so far it looks like Mickie & Taylor, our family and you and Katlyn..which is fine

and if anyone adds in later thats fine too

Well I wish the driving age was 16 & 1/2 here. When I occasionally saw the girls next door all driving the family suburban at around 12 and 13, I really thought that was nuts but I don't think the parents think their kids will get caught. I'm like....to me that is a 5000lb weapon rolling down our lane

Have you any excursions planned Lisa??

I am very excited for the cruise!!!!! The 2 oldest had their vocal recital yesterday and I have informed them that they WILL be singing at family karaoke I have done that to them for the last 2 cruises..so Katlyn and Taylor can always meet up with them there those evenings

Have a great day!

Mari

Don't forget my mom and dad. They're in a seperate room. My mom has
already picked out her FE on ebay and eveything. We're going with some family friends and they'd like in also.

12 and 13, that's crazy! I wouldn't have gone outside and would have erected a 10 ft high brick wall around my house for protection.


We were planning on the Atlantis Beach Day and then Katlyn was going to snorkle at CC and I was thinking about renting a wave runner.

lol If my kid took vocal lessons I'd like to show it off too.

 

[Tooth Fairy 68]

Mari:

Driving at age 12 and 13. I can't even imagine. I would just about die. I don't know many kids mature enough for that even out in the "boonies".

Wow the boys take vocal lessons. I think that is great. Can't wait to hear them on karaoke night. That will make a FUN evening. Terrence sounds like he really is busy with his DJ work. Is he looking forward to the cruise? How about your youngest boy?

When you talked about skiing at Lake Mead it brought back many memories of when our two girls and my husband and myself spent many years skiing and camping on the lake when they were growing up. What great times we had. Now the lake levels are SO LOW you would hardly recognize it. They have had to move all of the docks MANY times. They expect it to go down another 9 feet this summer!

Lisa,

Looking forward to meeting you and your family. Taylor and her family live about two hours from Disneyland and are season passholders as I am even though I live in Vegas. Like you, we too have been more times than we can count. We have a tradition of going for three days right before Christmas since Taylor was a little baby. I thought Taylor might be too old for this trip but she said this was exactly what she would like for her 16th birthday. I hope she NEVER gets too hold for DISNEY!

Almost May..........Is it almost July yet??????

I'm looking forward to meeting you and Taylor as well.

You live in Vegas? I went about 10 years ago and loved it. We've never been to DL or even to California period, but my mom and Katlyn both want to go.
I wish I could live close enough to get season passes in FL, you and Taylor are sure lucky to have them to DL.

My mom and dad started Katlyn off going to WDW when she was just a baby too and we've gone back every year since. We took Katlyn 2 years ago for her graduation on a Disney cruise and she loved it.
I think that it's impossible to outgrow Disney. I know I'm living proof!

Lisa

 

[lakerz5]

Don't forget my mom and dad. They're in a seperate room. My mom has
already picked out her FE on ebay and eveything. We're going with some family friends and they'd like in also.

12 and 13, that's crazy! I wouldn't have gone outside and would have erected a 10 ft high brick wall around my house for protection.


We were planning on the Atlantis Beach Day and then Katlyn was going to snorkle at CC and I was thinking about renting a wave runner.

lol If my kid took vocal lessons I'd like to show it off too.

Great!!! we will have 4 rooms so far for the FE exchange . It will be great

A beach day sounds great. Terrence wanted to ride a waverunner, but neither my husband or I want to, so he can't ride alone without us on the excursion

Only a couple more weeks of school left. but they just closed the neighboring school district for Mon,Tues,Wed since 1 child MIGHT have the flu virus

Terrence DJ'd a dance last night...how's this for small town life??...it was at the County Fairgrounds with all teens invited for only $3.00 per person 9 to midnite to support 4H...we wouldn't have ever done that in California. We had between 100 and 200 kids.

He is hoping the sound system in the teen area on the cruise ship has been fixed. There was something wrong with the speakers last time..

.do the girls enjoy dances?? I know that one night is a blackout dance..and you are supposed to wear white because they use black lights, so if the girls are interested, just pack one white top for the night. both Terrence & Spencer say the dances ae really fun

Have a great week!!!!

 

[lvrodmic]

Great!!! we will have 4 rooms so far for the FE exchange . It will be great

A beach day sounds great. Terrence wanted to ride a waverunner, but neither my husband or I want to, so he can't ride alone without us on the excursion

Only a couple more weeks of school left. but they just closed the neighboring school district for Mon,Tues,Wed since 1 child MIGHT have the flu virus

Terrence DJ'd a dance last night...how's this for small town life??...it was at the County Fairgrounds with all teens invited for only $3.00 per person 9 to midnite to support 4H...we wouldn't have ever done that in California. We had between 100 and 200 kids.

He is hoping the sound system in the teen area on the cruise ship has been fixed. There was something wrong with the speakers last time..

.do the girls enjoy dances?? I know that one night is a blackout dance..and you are supposed to wear white because they use black lights, so if the girls are interested, just pack one white top for the night. both Terrence & Spencer say the dances ae really fun

Have a great week!!!!

Hi Lisa and Mari,

Working on some ideas for gifts for our FE. Let me know if we have more than four rooms. As we get closer maybe we can get the ages of the kids that will be in the rooms.

The last time our family went on the cruise and we were in Nassau we went to the Blue Lagoon Beach and it was really nice. Have any of you been there? I thought Taylor might like to go back.

Wow Terrence must be a great D.J. He seems to have a lot of gigs. I will be sure to have Taylor bring a white shirt on the cruise. She loves dances. She goes every month to a dance with her friends from church so she should have a great time.

They have not closed any schools here in Nevada but I know they closed a couple in the town right next to Taylor's. Hope they don't close Taylor's as that will just extend the school year. She does not get out of school until around the 18th of June as it is.

Already getting really HOT HOT HOT here. Today was 91 and expecting 98 by Friday. Not ready for this heat already.

EVERYONE STAY HEALTHY!

 

[Tooth Fairy 68]

Hey Mari and Mickie!

We have a case of swine flu not too far away from where we live in KY, but school's still open. Katlyn will still get out of school the 22nd.(fingers crossed lol) I really hope we'll all stay healthy!

Katlyn loves going to dances but they don't have very many at her school. Prom is usually the only dance they have. The blackout dance sounds really neat.I'll make sure she packs white.

The weather was getting so nice here 65-75 degrees every day for a week with sunshine but now its getting cold and rainy. Katlyn is pretty disappointed, it means she won't be able to put the top down on her convertible.


Our 2 friends also going do officially want to do the FE with us.


I hope you both have a great swine flu free week!

Lisa

 

[lakerz5]

Mickie, We have not been to Blue Lagoon Beach, but we've heard great things about it! Gosh the first time we cruised to Nassau, I could not coax anyone off the boat. Last time we had lunch at Hard Rock and purchased some t-shirts, and this time we will try the Dolphin Encounter. You and Taylor will have fun whatever you choose to do

Lisa,
Are your friends that want to participate in the FE in one room or more?

Terrence's high school just got their first swine flu case. The girl was on a trip to Disneyland with her school DECA group (business/marketing HS organization) when she got it, but she was in a hotel room with 3 other girls and obviously had to take a plane trip back home, but no one else has gotten the bug so far

So our FE group so far:

Mickie and Taylor
Mari, DH, with our 3 boys
Lisa and Katlyn
ToothFairy mom & dad
ToothFairy Friends

 

[Tooth Fairy 68]

Mari,
Wow that swine flu really hits close to home now. I think it will definitely get worse before better. I will say a prayer we all stay well. I work in the health care field and have been pretty worried since I work directly in the mouth (dental hygienist) I must say anyone who sneezes, coughes etc everyone is looking at them. HA

You asked about my friends it's a mother and a older son around 35 traveling with her they are sharing a room.

Have you decided if you are doing on bag of goodies , or putting something in the FE everyday?
I think I'm doing 1 bag but may change mind as things start to accumulate it seems like im picking up something here and there quite a bit.ha

Have a great week and stay well.

Lisa



Mickie,

Have you decided which way you will be doing your goodies? Either one bag or a little each day in FE's?

You and Taylor have a great week and stay well.

Lisa

 

[lvrodmic]

Mari,
Wow that swine flu really hits close to home now. I think it will definitely get worse before better. I will say a prayer we all stay well. I work in the health care field and have been pretty worried since I work directly in the mouth (dental hygienist) I must say anyone who sneezes, coughes etc everyone is looking at them. HA

You asked about my friends it's a mother and a older son around 35 traveling with her they are sharing a room.

Have you decided if you are doing on bag of goodies , or putting something in the FE everyday?
I think I'm doing 1 bag but may change mind as things start to accumulate it seems like im picking up something here and there quite a bit.ha

Have a great week and stay well.

Lisa



Mickie,

Have you decided which way you will be doing your goodies? Either one bag or a little each day in FE's?

You and Taylor have a great week and stay well.

Lisa

Hi Lisa and Mari

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Thank goodness we have not had any cases of the Swine in this area. It doesn't seem as though Taylor area has either. Hopefully all of you will stay well.

Mother's Day was great as Taylor and her Mom came up and surprised me. Hope yours were good too.

Lisa I think the first day on a four day trip would be good. Maybe just the first and second would be enough as it might be too hectic all four. I am up for anything. I just think it is so fun to do! Our cabin number is 7063. How far is that from everyone else?

Wow only 63 more days. I remember when I first decided to do this for Taylor it was 8 months ago. It seemed like it was forever! Now it is almost here

Enjoy your week and for us we will just try and stay cool (still in the high 90's)

 

[lakerz5]

Happy Belated Mother's Day to both of you!!!

The only tough day to participate in the FE is the last night. Everyone is packing up and it might be unlikely that everyones FE will be still hanging beside the door.

The first 2 nights are fine. On pirate night last cruise a young couple without kids put tiny bottles of alcohol in our FE (like the ones you see on an airplane)..we were a little shocked only because...I didn't want anyone to get into that walking down our hallway, so we took them in pronto and emptied them out before the kids even knew what they were

Things can get hectic Pirate Night too. Last year I think it was the CC Day, so we weren't even on the ship all day long then had to get pirate-y for dinner. So, don't put too much pressure on yourselves. Whenever is fine

One more week of school! Grandparents are here from CA for 8th grade graduation.

Hope you all have a great week!

 

[lakerz5]

just found out our cruise will have 2 actresses from the Disney Channel sailing along with us

Tiffany Thornton from "Sonny with a Chance"
Nicole Anderson from "JONAS"

Bet our boys will want a pic with both

Have a great week!

 

[Tooth Fairy 68]

MICKIE AND MARI,
Hope everyone is still well so far no swine flu.ha Can't believe the cruise is almost here, I'm getting excited. I'm a planner so I'm already making lists getting clothes together already have fish extender stuff, as a matter of fact I've picked up so many little things I got a little bag to put them in because I don't think they will fit in the fish extender so I guess I will hang them on the door knob the first night. I have so much fun doing that kind of stuff. ha Our room number is 2064 my parents is 2066 and I will let you know the other person's soon.
Katlyn's last day of school was May 21st a little longer than usual but if you remember Kentucky got hit with a horrible ice storm at the end of January and they missed 7 days of school due to no electricty.
Hey last time we went on the cruise we bought water and it was quite expensive do you know if i could pack some in a bag or do you think they will take it out??
Hope graduation went great . have a good week.
Lisa

 

[lvrodmic]

MICKIE AND MARI,
Hope everyone is still well so far no swine flu.ha Can't believe the cruise is almost here, I'm getting excited. I'm a planner so I'm already making lists getting clothes together already have fish extender stuff, as a matter of fact I've picked up so many little things I got a little bag to put them in because I don't think they will fit in the fish extender so I guess I will hang them on the door knob the first night. I have so much fun doing that kind of stuff. ha Our room number is 2064 my parents is 2066 and I will let you know the other person's soon.
Katlyn's last day of school was May 21st a little longer than usual but if you remember Kentucky got hit with a horrible ice storm at the end of January and they missed 7 days of school due to no electricty.
Hey last time we went on the cruise we bought water and it was quite expensive do you know if i could pack some in a bag or do you think they will take it out??
Hope graduation went great . have a good week.
Lisa

Hi Mari and Lisa,

Hope your Memorial weekend was nice. We had beautiful weather here and Rod and I spent a quiet weekend.

I am getting so excited about the cruise. All of a sudden it seems to be coming upon us faster and faster. I too have made some purchases for our FE and am looking forward to our exchange. Now if I could just have some ages of all our guests. Lisa, I think that would be most of the people in your group. Just probably an idea of the number of adults in each room and then the ages of the kids in each room. Thanks. Mari, I have your info already.

Wow, Katlyn sure does get out of school early (even with the extra week). Taylor does not get out until June 11th. She is counting the days.

Lisa, as far as the water goes, I always bring some bottles of water on board with me. I like to have it in my room. Disney has NO PROBLEM in you bringing beverages (including alcohol) on board. They do prefer you putting it in your carry on. Remember though if you are flying you cannot have it in your carry on. The best thing would be to buy it before you board the ship.

Did either of you pay fuel surcharges in the price of your cruise? I did. If fuel on June 18th was below $70 per barrel we were to get it back in on board credit. Well a couple of months ago it was only $35 per barrel. I thought WOW it looks like I will get a credit. All of a sudden now it is up to $62. How does that happen so fast. I guess there goes my credit.

Everyone have a GREAT WEEK!!! Only 49 more days.

 

[zmom]

Count us in. I just booked for July 12th, 4 of us, me (mom 42), DS (7), Grammy (73) and grandpa (74). Our first cruise and we're super excited. Hubby is staying home with the dog!! We'll have 2 rooms and would love to be a part of the FE exchange.

 

[DisneyJane48]

Hi Everyone, we'll be there on July 12th! Myself, Jane (48), my daughter Nichole (16) and my god-child & nicki's best friend Shauna (17) !

We're on Deck 7. Just booked the flights last night WOOHOO!


45 MORE DAYS!
Does anyone have girls going that are Shauna and Nicki's age?

Talk to everyone later,

Jane

 

[zmom]

Should have introduced our crew better
me- Debbie
DS- Zane (7)
my mom- Grammy Linda
my dad- Grandpa Emmett