Life’s too short...to never sleep in a treehouse! 8/27 TR is up! Link in siggie

[Happydog]

Wow! This is the final count down huh??!! HOW cool! Great fun for you! I am looking forward to your TR because we are going in the fall... HOWEVER, I dont want to rush it! I want you to enjoy a nice LOOOOOOOOOOONG week, first!

 

[Native NYer]

1 week

Love the glasses.

 

[KathyRN137]

Doin' some one week dancin' with ya!!

Glad your new job is going great!


Kathy

 

[eandesmom]

Wow! This is the final count down huh??!! HOW cool! Great fun for you! I am looking forward to your TR because we are going in the fall... HOWEVER, I dont want to rush it! I want you to enjoy a nice LOOOOOOOOOOONG week, first!

me too! Been working on trip stuff off and on all day...in between baseball, kumon, volleyball and piano lol!

1 week

Love the glasses.

is right! Thanks, hopefully I can go order them Monday, probably won't arrive in time for the trip but I do want to see if they will help with the headaches I have been having. Probably not as it's due to my dry eye and allergies but one can hope.

Doin' some one week dancin' with ya!!

Glad your new job is going great!


Kathy

Thanks! It's going to be intense for a bit for sure but it's really really good so far! Fascinating stuff.

 

[DisMomAmy]

One week!! ​

I like the new glasses - I've always been a plain Jane kind of girl when it comes to glasses & I switched things up a bit this time - not as daring as your new pair, but a bit switch for me. You'll have to wait until my TR to get a peek at them though because I haven't had a chance to take a picture with them on yet.

 

[eandesmom]

One week!! ​

I like the new glasses - I've always been a plain Jane kind of girl when it comes to glasses & I switched things up a bit this time - not as daring as your new pair, but a bit switch for me. You'll have to wait until my TR to get a peek at them though because I haven't had a chance to take a picture with them on yet.

oh c'mon, you have 12 days still, take a picture! LOL!

I seem to get progressively more daring....need to break the orange ones back out!

 

[Charleston Princess]

One week? Really? Oh, it's just going to fly by and soon the boys will be doing puzzles on the airplane!

 

[My_Pal_Pluto]

I just received our travel docs from my TA for our CA trip.

NO mickey mail?

I am utterly devastated.

I have to say, the fluorescent lights in my new building are NOT doing me any favors!



All of my shopping has arrived and for the most part I am quite pleased with everything.

The new job, all 2 days of it, is going well.

On a personal Easter renewal note.

I have been struggling with my church for the past year and truth be told, we don't go all that often. Some "issues" I guess you could say, with our pastor.

It's been a struggle. For Jeff and I, our faith runs pretty deep and is a rather intimate thing.

Oh what a joy he was.

10 DAYS!​

I appreciated SO MUCH of this post!! I've been struggling with really genuinely "sharing" here on the boards and reading this I realized I can let loose a bit about my life (THANK YOU )

Sorry to hear about the way the docs came through ... its sometimes those little disappointments that can ruminate for days ... try not to let that happen ... the horizon holds your trip and nothing can take that joy away!!

On a side note ... I think that pasty flourescent light "tan" can be pretty inspiring (I joke because I'm betting it's something that others just roll their eyes about when you say it)!

It was great to hear about the shopping ... my first order were personalized messenger bags for each of the kids ... I planned to give them to them JUST before the trip ... they love them (yes, I saw them and could NOT hold off sharing).

I hope the new job continues to go well. I interviewed last week with the CEO of our organization for a new Director position ... I'm SOOOOO hoping I get selected as one of the final three candidates for interview this coming week!!

Thank You for sharing your Easter renewal. I was a pastor for 5 years. The church I was a part of went through a horrible severing under the misguidance of a senior pastor placed by the conference. I was hired by the church locally so a lot of awkward triangulation occurred as church members were seeking me to take over more portions of the church duties ... while the senior pastor made decisions that were destroying the church.

I watched as so many friends left that church (and many of them left the church community completely) because of the behavior they observed. I miss the ministry - a lot - but what I went through has shown me I'm not cut out for the deep-seeded hurt that can occur.

It made me smile deep inside to hear that your experience on Easter was filled with joy. I've recently discovered a new church where the worship has restored me.

Thank You again for your honest sharing!!

 

[eandesmom]

One week? Really? Oh, it's just going to fly by and soon the boys will be doing puzzles on the airplane!

I need to go wrap them! My room is becoming a serious staging/hiding ground lol! I do think they are mildly suspicious something is up, I'll post an update on that soon, but they have NO idea of the scope of it, of that I am sure.

I appreciated SO MUCH of this post!! I've been struggling with really genuinely "sharing" here on the boards and reading this I realized I can let loose a bit about my life (THANK YOU )

Sorry to hear about the way the docs came through ... its sometimes those little disappointments that can ruminate for days ... try not to let that happen ... the horizon holds your trip and nothing can take that joy away!!

On a side note ... I think that pasty flourescent light "tan" can be pretty inspiring (I joke because I'm betting it's something that others just roll their eyes about when you say it)!

It was great to hear about the shopping ... my first order were personalized messenger bags for each of the kids ... I planned to give them to them JUST before the trip ... they love them (yes, I saw them and could NOT hold off sharing).

I hope the new job continues to go well. I interviewed last week with the CEO of our organization for a new Director position ... I'm SOOOOO hoping I get selected as one of the final three candidates for interview this coming week!!

Thank You for sharing your Easter renewal. I was a pastor for 5 years. The church I was a part of went through a horrible severing under the misguidance of a senior pastor placed by the conference. I was hired by the church locally so a lot of awkward triangulation occurred as church members were seeking me to take over more portions of the church duties ... while the senior pastor made decisions that were destroying the church.

I watched as so many friends left that church (and many of them left the church community completely) because of the behavior they observed. I miss the ministry - a lot - but what I went through has shown me I'm not cut out for the deep-seeded hurt that can occur.

It made me smile deep inside to hear that your experience on Easter was filled with joy. I've recently discovered a new church where the worship has restored me.

Thank You again for your honest sharing!!

Rob, thank you for your wonderfully kind and supportive words!

It's a funny thing. Sharing. I often veer into to the TMI category I am quite sure and it can be "raw" at times. Probably not for everyone! Feeling safe enough and comfortable enough to do that though, is a blessing. Not something I started out doing, but evolved over the last TR (my first PTR was rather boring as I didn't really share much and as a result not so interesting and not many readers!) but as time goes on...it is lovely to have such an amazing group with which to share the joys and frustrations about trip planning and the trips themselves but oh...so much more.


Life does go on as we plan our trips and knowing that, not hiding from it, for me...helps me get to know folks and vice versa. As someone who was a single mom for several years I can only imagine what you go through with triplets. I will say this, learning that it was ok to share (that I needed to share) , with the world if need be, is one of the greatest learnings that I experienced during that time and I am such a better, happier and more balanced person as a result it is mind boggling. For me, I had to learn that sharing my challenges was not a weakness. A hard lesson but one well worth it.

What joyous news about your new church! And very exciting about the new director position, I will keep you in my prayers that it moves to the next step.

Cute on the messenger bags, the E's would love those.

 

[eandesmom]

Will we pull it off?

Count down with me

​

SEVEN DAYS! Really....SIX days as it's about bedtime here!

A DCA trip recap and update.

We’ve been going swimmingly along planning this surprise trip now for a couple of months. That is until Evan’s TKD tournament last month (at which he got a bronze!). At that event they let us know that we’d be going to a different tournament in April than originally planned. Nice because it’s closer to us, not so nice as it was now on the weekend we’d be gone. Except Evan didn’t know that. So I let them know we can’t make it, that we have a “conflict”.The rest of the tournament Evan wants to know what the conflict is. I tell him we will talk about it later.Later, while sitting with a friend, my little loudmouth showoff yells (ok maybe he didn’t yell, it just SEEMED like that to me) “Hey Mom, you going to tell me know why I have to miss the tournament?”

Um. No. In fact little man if you are going to be rude and try to “call me out” in front of your friend trying to show off…you may never know.

Gotta love it. He bought me some time.

He tried again, a couple weeks later, handled at an equally bad time, in an equally bad way. We’ve been in “Evan smackdown” since his last report card. Instead of working on whatever he was supposed to be working on, he decided to come ask me about what we were doing that would make him miss the tournament. “So…Evan, are you asking me at an appropriate time? “ “Uh…no”. “What are you supposed to be doing?” “Uh….(whatever it was he was supposed to be doing, which was NOT interrupting me to ask that)”. ”So do you really think I’m going to tell you right now?”
“Uh…no”

Gotta love it. More time.

Then it turns out he also has a baseball game that weekend. Thankfully he hasn’t realized it. Today, finally, he asked me at an appropriate time. I had told him (back at the tournament) that I’d tell him, it wasn’t a big secret or anything, just something we’d talk about later.

I told him.

The whole truth

And nothing but the truth.

Not exactly...........

We are going to meet an old friend that I haven’t seen in a long time and it’s a couple hours away. That it was the only weekend that worked for both of us and it was already scheduled. He asked if the friend had kids, etc and we chatted about that.

I did say he hadn’t met them before.

Which is sorta true. If you combine my friend Jessica and Jordan into one person.

Not that he remembers Jessica or her kids. We ended up chatting a lot about her kids, her son is the same age as Evan and is autistic (though is mainstreamed, he’s had amazing results since she had him go gluten free in 2004) and it turned into an autistm conversation.

Of course later today I find out that we will likely NOT be seeing Jessica and her kids after all, they have a conflict now with her mom’s birthday, a Dodgers game and an autism awareness event. But hey, I was telling the truth at the time and he hasn’t met Jordan!

He seemed bummed. Turns out that Eric thought we were going to Great Wolf Lodge and he was betting on a surprise road trip with my sister. Both of which we are have done before as surprises. I’m amazed actually that the only surprise trips they could even think of is stuff we’ve already done. I could, in all honesty, say that we weren’t doing either of those. And that during the week of spring break they will be with my sister and my dad while I’m at work. Which is true. For the last 2 days!

Lying by omission. It’s true. Wonder if I’ll get tabascoed?

This morning he almost caught me packing. Fortunately I’ve been cleaning out my closet for a couple of weeks. He noticed piles of stuff on my bed (isn’t allowed in my room but the door was open while I was talking to him) and asked if I was working on my closet.

Dodged a bullet.

Or have I?

Do they know?????

Is Eric the original clueless wonder or what?

I was secret squirrel yesterday running to the drugstore travel aisle to buy them new travel toothbrushes and rushing to do it without them before I got home from work. I have them mostly packed…except it’s not in a suitcase yet so they won’t catch on. I’m mostly packed…but it’s in a laundry basket.
Will we pull it off? Stay tuned to see!

In trip planning news.

No Aladdin showings yet, not looking good. I am VERY bummed about that.
I have changed our last night’s dinner reservation to Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen instead of Naples in DTD if we stay on property and if not we will check out the yummy Italian place Jordan recommended. I need to update and reprint that page. If I remember!

They have the daily Food and Wine Schedule online so I was able to get that into my phone/outlook. Whoo hoo! I'm happy we picked Tuesday to go instead of Monday as there is a kids cooking on Tuesday but not on Monday.

The weather looks a little cooler than I was hoping for BUT it could change. I, of course, used that as an excuse to order myself a new hoodie today. I hate being cold. I have NOT resolved my jacket challenges yet but other than that have my packing figured out. Except for the park bag part. Tink may end up coming along for the ride.

The real problem is….

5 days.

7 pairs of shoes.

What’s wrong with this picture?

Will the count go down?

Stay tuned to see.

That.

And.
...............................................A surprise!


Next. Name those kids.

 

[carissanboys]

7 pairs of shoes??? That IS a problem!

Glad the surprise is still safe for the moment.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Oh my goodness! I was laughing so hard about your conversations with Evan! I could have written the same thing with Chelsea as far as the attitude and the "calling out" in front of friends! Why do they do that? Do they honestly think it will work?

Good job on the evasive techniques! They are going to be so surprised!

Psssttt...I don't think you need seven pairs of shoes for five days.

 

[DisMomAmy]

oh c'mon, you have 12 days still, take a picture! LOL!

I seem to get progressively more daring....need to break the orange ones back out!

I know, I know... I keep saying I'll try to take a picture, but then I keep forgetting. And with DH gone all week my opportunities are limited to the weekend... unless I want finger prints on the lens of my new camera.

But I'll keep trying. Just trying to be realistic.

 

[carissanboys]

I know, I know... I keep saying I'll try to take a picture, but then I keep forgetting. And with DH gone all week my opportunities are limited to the weekend... unless I want finger prints on the lens of my new camera.

But I'll keep trying. Just trying to be realistic.

Take one yourself! I'm always taking photos of myself. Just stretch your arm out real far!

 

[Native NYer]

Whew on dodging that bullet!

I'm exactly the same way with packing shoes. I can't imagine only going somewhere with one or two pairs of shoes. It's a problem What shoes are you thinking of packing?

My brother, SIL, and nephews went to Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen last week and LOVED it. They're still talking about their meal. And my older nephew can't stop talking about DL. I have photos of the boys on my FB page. You're going to have such a fantastic time. I hope you're doing a tr

 

[KathyRN137]

I could never keep the secret... I would explode at one point!!

Ah, the agony of too many shoes...


Kathy

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I couldn't imagine going anywhere with less than 5 pairs of shoes.

Thankfully summer shoes are thinner so they take up less room.

Ironic that Evan's poor choice of behaviour bought you more time.

 

[Happydog]

Good grief I could totally see arriving with 7 pairs of shoes vs. 5 so this isn't really a plight in my book SOOOOOOOOOOOOO it is hard to say if that is a dilemma to solve! But only you know how much room you have in your luggage! Goodluck with this final 6 days till vacation!!!! Oh so excited for you!

 

[englishrose47]

I am always impressed when my DD contains herself to 3 pairs of shoes for Disney !!She is sooo shoe OCD!!!! For me 3 is plenty !! Sneakers to travel a good paitr of sandals and my faithful crocs !!!

 

[eandesmom]

7 pairs of shoes??? That IS a problem!

Glad the surprise is still safe for the moment.

I've been known to bring more than that It's only become an issue since they started charging to check the first bag!

Oh my goodness! I was laughing so hard about your conversations with Evan! I could have written the same thing with Chelsea as far as the attitude and the "calling out" in front of friends! Why do they do that? Do they honestly think it will work?

Good job on the evasive techniques! They are going to be so surprised!

Psssttt...I don't think you need seven pairs of shoes for five days.

Are you sure? About the 7 pairs for 5 days...so many outfits, so little time



Evan kills me. Somehow he still thinks it will work.

Whew on dodging that bullet!

I'm exactly the same way with packing shoes. I can't imagine only going somewhere with one or two pairs of shoes. It's a problem What shoes are you thinking of packing?

My brother, SIL, and nephews went to Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen last week and LOVED it. They're still talking about their meal. And my older nephew can't stop talking about DL. I have photos of the boys on my FB page. You're going to have such a fantastic time. I hope you're doing a tr

Lets see... I have

Park shoes
Beach/pool shoes (aka flip flops)
Dinner out shoes (aka heels)
Casual walk around shoes



Part of it is the spring "breaking in" foot issue...I need variety to ensure no problems. And the weather looks to range from mid 60's to low 60's but lower at night which for me can make a HUGE difference in shoes.

I will be doing some FB updates so anyone who wants to follow the trip on FB feel free to PM me!

I'm excited for Ralph Brennan's, not sure why it didn't cross my radar earlier but thankfully getting in wasn't a problem!