July 18 2009 Tortola

[MrsG]

JoAnn,

I'd say, Hawaii, Med or Greece - either of the three are a no-brainer. We're there!!!!!!!

 

[jlawall]

JoAnn,

I'd say, Hawaii, Med or Greece - either of the three are a no-brainer. We're there!!!!!!!

Ditto!

 

[lwilliam]

double ditto for us too.
I will NOT say no to DH this time IF it is Med.....although, my dream trip has always been Hawaii, but Greece, WOWsa!

Due to family issues, we just gave up our trip thru the Panama Canal....it was hard, but leaving our sons for ONE weekend, this past weekend, we had 'incidents' - we came to realize we couldn't leave them for 2 weeks.
I just wish Disney 3 or 4 day cruises were NOT so outrageously priced so we could get a taste of a cruise this summer too....we are actually looking at books for RCCL (JoAnn, I KNOW how you felt about RCCL), don't know if it would happen, but I'm dying to cruise this summer. My husband and i met on a cruise 25 years ago, and we've been cruising ever since (started on Holland America, then switched to RCCL, and now Disney), but having two kids who also love cruising has slowed us down in the cruise market.

mickeymo: how was the weekend?

 

[jlawall]

double ditto for us too.
I will NOT say no to DH this time IF it is Med.....although, my dream trip has always been Hawaii, but Greece, WOWsa!

Due to family issues, we just gave up our trip thru the Panama Canal....it was hard, but leaving our sons for ONE weekend, this past weekend, we had 'incidents' - we came to realize we couldn't leave them for 2 weeks.
I just wish Disney 3 or 4 day cruises were NOT so outrageously priced so we could get a taste of a cruise this summer too....we are actually looking at books for RCCL (JoAnn, I KNOW how you felt about RCCL), don't know if it would happen, but I'm dying to cruise this summer. My husband and i met on a cruise 25 years ago, and we've been cruising ever since (started on Holland America, then switched to RCCL, and now Disney), but having two kids who also love cruising has slowed us down in the cruise market.

mickeymo: how was the weekend?

Hang in there Lucy! Yes, we need updates from everyone!!

 

[mickeymo]

mickeymo: how was the weekend?

The weekend went as well as could be expected when you have two sets of grandparents visiting, one set in a hotel and one set staying with us in a 3 bedroom house, 2 kids sharing a room, one kid studying for finals, and what seemed like 10 different agendas among 10 people and while they all rented cars, there was still the transportation and meal logistics to work out too...

Truthfully, it was a nice weekend and a very nice confirmation service. Ds13, Mike wore his suit and tie without complaints - proudly sporting his new trombone tie he received from his sister for Christmas. I'm thankful both sets of grandparents could share in Mike's confirmation.

It was fun watching the amused faces of the ushers distributing communion to the new confirmands. And they were reacting to the faces of 60+ jr. high kids tasting communion wine for the first time

 

[mickeymo]

JoAnn,

I'd say, Hawaii, Med or Greece - either of the three are a no-brainer. We're there!!!!!!!

I may be the lone dissenter - but, since my MIL's eye's about bugged out when I told her what we are paying for our rooms in '09 , I think she might be regretting her impulsive offer to pay for us all...I know specialty itineraries will be even more expensive without including airfare in the budget so, I'm hoping for a "regular" itinerary.

MIL's eyes lit up when I mentioned Alaska - but, given dh's nephews will be 3 and 4 1/2 - Alaska or Europe would not be as preschool kid friendly as a Caribbean itinerary.

As far as Europe goes - As much as I love DCL, my hope is to one day do a small ship/riverboat itinerary.

We've cruised DCL(2), RCCL(2), and Princess(1) - and enjoyed each for different reasons. We've only sailed with the kids on DCL - but, have taken advantage of RCCL and Princess sailing out of Galveston for a few getaways during the school year when the grandparents could come down and stay with the kids. While we missed the amenities of DCL the 20 minute drive to the port sure makes up for alot!

Lucy, I'm sorry you had to cancel - but I'm sure you did the right thing for your family. I always told my friends - no parties, no visits, I want my parents to continue to leave me home alone (I was a jr in college the first time they left me home alone ) - it was the only time I could sleep past 9:00, watch tv as long as I wanted and could eat whatever I wanted I wasn't about to blow it!

 

[mickeymo]

This weekend isn't any less hectic dd10, Maggie has a lacrosse tournament this weekend hosted by our club - 2 games on Saturday and 1 on Sunday, possibly a 2nd for finals, plus I was asked to volunteer, if needed, at the concession stand. Ds13, Mike has 2 basketball games. Unfortunately, each lacrosse game and basketball game is scheduled at the same time. It will be a divide and conquer weekend.

This weekend makes last weekend tame in comparison. Maggie skipped lacrosse practice due to the confirmation service and Mike's afternoon basketball game was canceled. It turned out to be a relatively quiet weekend. To think my MIL kept exclaiming how busy we were last weekend...

 

[Ramule]

We booked today for July 2009, myself,wife, son(16) and daughter(12). Now the long wait.

 

[lwilliam]

Welcome Ramule!
We love Cincinnati - visited two years ago - will try to get there this summer again - love the games at the stadium and the chili with spaghetti (yea, sounds gross but it was wonderful!) and that ICE CREAM!!!! Black raspberry ice cream (the name of the ice cream is not in my head right now.....
JOANN - don't even go there about what is in my head and what isn't!

JoAnn knows me (too!) well - I will take ice cream ANY DAY over a drink or dessert (Mickey bars being my favorite - have ordered them a couple of times on the ship instead of the regular dessert - NOW I read they can be ordered for room service!)

A little snow expected here in PA today, little I said, but the cold wave that is to hit us this weekend will be VERY painful!

 

[Ramule]

Thanks, your ice cream might be Greaters.

 

[mickeymo]

Hi Ramule, welcome aboard!!!

Gotta love Cincinnati Chili! Definitely 4 way - Spaghetti, cheese, and onions - no beans...and add sour cream... A BGSU grad here - so, no Texas style chili in this house... I'm sure I've committed some sort of sacrilege by admitting that fact and living in Houston...

 

[mickeymo]

JoAnn knows me (too!) well - I will take ice cream ANY DAY over a drink or dessert (Mickey bars being my favorite - have ordered them a couple of times on the ship instead of the regular dessert - NOW I read they can be ordered for room service!)

On our 1st cruise in 2004 - the kids were quite shocked when I first ordered the Mickey bar for dessert ("But, mom that's the kid's menu!!! ) And then were totally embarrassed when I started whining because the kids got sprinkles (or jimmies) on their bars and I didn't....

Now, I don't even wait until I'm on board. I get one in the terminal

 

[noahsmom]

Mickeymo you are not alone - we prefer the "regular" itineraries too.

I became a Creative Memories consultant right after Christmas so I've been busy trying to get that going. It snowed again today but is supposed to be VERY cold this weekend. I'd rather just have the snow.

We are eagerly anticipating the big game on Sunday - GO PACKERS!!!!

 

[lwilliam]

KNOW I better also have the sprinkles!

Snowing alot....not expecting more than one inch but I believe we have that by now - my car does not like any kind of snow (and neither do I - we are meant for each other )

 

[mickeymo]

My other favorite order off the kids' menu is the Mickey Mouse Waffles!!! Now why aren't they on the adult menu????

Cold - as a former Chicagoan - it always seems like Jan 20 set record low temps... I've become such a wimp - it's in the 50s, damp and I'm freezing!!!

I am so not looking forward to the lacrosse tournament this weekend. I got the volunteer schedule - 8am and 10:00am on Sunday morning in concessions sandwiching Maggie's 9:00am game . Rats - no hot dog steam tray to keep me warm. That coffee pot better be up and running!

 

[mickeymo]

We still have our snow shovel - it makes a good dustpan in the garage...

 

[starwood]

Our kitchen refacing was started today and it's already costing an extra $1000. There was nothing behind the back-splash. Crumbling wall and no insulation. There was no wall behind the sink (just pipes and the outside wall). So now the entire area has to be sheet rocked. I can't wait for this to be done.

Ramule - welcome!!!

Looks like I'll have to update the cruise list tomorrow.

 

[jlawall]

I may be the lone dissenter - but, since my MIL's eye's about bugged out when I told her what we are paying for our rooms in '09 , I think she might be regretting her impulsive offer to pay for us all...I know specialty itineraries will be even more expensive without including airfare in the budget so, I'm hoping for a "regular" itinerary.

MIL's eyes lit up when I mentioned Alaska - but, given dh's nephews will be 3 and 4 1/2 - Alaska or Europe would not be as preschool kid friendly as a Caribbean itinerary.

As far as Europe goes - As much as I love DCL, my hope is to one day do a small ship/riverboat itinerary.

We've cruised DCL(2), RCCL(2), and Princess(1) - and enjoyed each for different reasons. We've only sailed with the kids on DCL - but, have taken advantage of RCCL and Princess sailing out of Galveston for a few getaways during the school year when the grandparents could come down and stay with the kids. While we missed the amenities of DCL the 20 minute drive to the port sure makes up for alot!

Lucy, I'm sorry you had to cancel - but I'm sure you did the right thing for your family. I always told my friends - no parties, no visits, I want my parents to continue to leave me home alone (I was a jr in college the first time they left me home alone ) - it was the only time I could sleep past 9:00, watch tv as long as I wanted and could eat whatever I wanted I wasn't about to blow it!

Sounds like you were a really good kid!

 

[jlawall]

We booked today for July 2009, myself,wife, son(16) and daughter(12). Now the long wait.

Welcome aboard!!

 

[jlawall]

Our kitchen refacing was started today and it's already costing an extra $1000. There was nothing behind the back-splash. Crumbling wall and no insulation. There was no wall behind the sink (just pipes and the outside wall). So now the entire area has to be sheet rocked. I can't wait for this to be done.

Ramule - welcome!!!

Looks like I'll have to update the cruise list tomorrow.

Thx so much for keeping us organized.......our group is growing..........