Magic, Memories and..... MCSPARKELSONS! A Christmas Grand Gathering! Update 5/1

[kid-at-heart]

How did I get so far behind? Your Dad looks right at home in the “living room” of the Prime Time Café. Ally is absolutely beautiful sleeping with her stuffed friends.

I guess we are not good parents; we still take Sarah out during the school year for vacations and conferences. So far, it has worked. We tell her that she has to complete all assignments before we leave and keep her grades up or we do not go. And she actually believes us. Her teachers have been agreeable to our “breaks”. Next year though, I do not know if our school year vacations will work. Sarah will officially be in high school. We already have a conference planned in Oct and a cruise in April. The conference is for Sarah more than for us. It is an Antro/Archeology conference which she loves to attend as she plans to major in Archeology (or be a heart surgeon ) in college. And due to the conference’s cultural comparisons I can claim it for work. Rob just goes because Archeology is one of his hobbies. Regarding the cruise, I tried to schedule it for Sarah’s spring break but it costs about $2000 more than it would by waiting two weeks. Cheap me will pull her out of school rather than pay $2000 more for a cruise, esp since it is exactly the same itinerary.

I will be back later to read about “the last day.”

Busy week here, exams this week, I fly home to Spokane, WA for a memorial Thursday, back on Tuesday for "professional days" and then off to Disney World!!!


kate

 

[karajeboo]

How cool that your dad went on ToT! So glad he actually liked it, too!

I wasn't all that impressed with Ohana (dinner) OR Biergarten! Ohana is my favorite place for breakfast but the dinner....eh. We were really looking forward to dinner at Biergarten but we got there just as the band was finishing so we had no entertainment, the people that sat with us were pretty boring and kinda rude, our server disappeared after he delivered our drinks, and the food on the buffet was actually kind of on the cold side. Over all...not impressed.

So sad to have to say goodbye! I cry every time!

I've heard others say they didn't care for Biergarten either, but we've had good luck with it twice..... Food is so subjective.

How did I get so far behind? Your Dad looks right at home in the “living room” of the Prime Time Café. Ally is absolutely beautiful sleeping with her stuffed friends.

I guess we are not good parents; we still take Sarah out during the school year for vacations and conferences. So far, it has worked. We tell her that she has to complete all assignments before we leave and keep her grades up or we do not go. And she actually believes us. Her teachers have been agreeable to our “breaks”. Next year though, I do not know if our school year vacations will work. Sarah will officially be in high school. We already have a conference planned in Oct and a cruise in April. The conference is for Sarah more than for us. It is an Antro/Archeology conference which she loves to attend as she plans to major in Archeology (or be a heart surgeon ) in college. And due to the conference’s cultural comparisons I can claim it for work. Rob just goes because Archeology is one of his hobbies. Regarding the cruise, I tried to schedule it for Sarah’s spring break but it costs about $2000 more than it would by waiting two weeks. Cheap me will pull her out of school rather than pay $2000 more for a cruise, esp since it is exactly the same itinerary.

I will be back later to read about “the last day.”

Busy week here, exams this week, I fly home to Spokane, WA for a memorial Thursday, back on Tuesday for "professional days" and then off to Disney World!!!


kate

I don't know, how DID you get so far behind???? But you're here now, and we're almost done!!!!

Working on new post now....

 

[karajeboo]

No sooner did we finish our lunch, and it was time to head back to Boardwalk to send Gma and Gpa back to Ohio.....

"I went back to Ohio, to my pretty countryside........ Oh all the way to go.... Ohio...." You're singing ala the Pretenders, aren't you?

Jeff decided to get a little creative with the camera in the lobby....

Nobody was very happy this day, which is why I just said NO to makeup!!!! No point in looking like a raccoon all day.

Grandpa and I got them all checked in for DME and just waited a few minutes for their bus.

Seriously? Yes, these are my peeps......

You will notice this is where Jeff became a major shutterfly.... just what was it about his inlaws leaving after spending a week together?????

You will also notice that Gpa wears his sunglasses anytime he might get a little misty eyed. It's that macho thing.....

We had our dog put to sleep. Sunglasses.

Funeral. Indoors or out. Sunglasses.

Leaving a FANTASTIC family vacation. Sunglasses.

Gpa gets news that he gets to spend a week with his two favorite sons-in-law? Sunglasses!

This one just totally gets me..... I'm a little weepy myself. Sunglasses!!!!!

I think this might be where Jeff said, "Just make sure they get on that bus!!!!! 7 days is long enough!"

Poor Ally was just heartbroken......

She is such a Grandma's girl, and I think it's because my mom came and spent 2 1/2 weeks with me when Ally was 2 weeks old. She took care of the house and the cooking, and cleaning, etc, and just let me learn how to be a mommy. It was the greatest gift EVER!!!! But during that time, Ally had colic and Grandma would just hold her and rock her and I swear that's why she and Ally have such a bond.....

OK, it's over. They are gone. Now get out of here, get back to work, life, whatever and LEAVE ME ALONE!!!!!

Just kidding! I actually have a few more pics.

Our room was the top right room in the red section with the pillars on either side.

Trying hard to laugh and not cry......

Ally failing miserably.....

C'mon kid, just one....more.....photo!

We walked to our car as soon as DME pulled away, and drove to DTD to finish our stay. Not sure where Kami was with her family......

We only hit World of Disney and did a little Christmas shopping, and then got on the road by about 4pm. We only drove as far as St Augustine, had a nice dinner and hit the outlet malls. Checked into the Wingate Inn and were out cold by 9pm.

I think we were a little giddy though, as we were texting photos to Kami the whole time. Instead of Disney food porn, we texted Denny's food porn!!! Then Ally sat on one of those cheesy little 3 seater merry go rounds that you see at malls? It had Mickey on it, so of course we giggled and took a photo and texted to Kami, telling her we didn't need Disney, we found Mickey for $.25!!!!

Definitely too much family time got to us........

And yes, Grandpa, I am going to post your poems.... I forgot to add them to each day. So I will gather them togther and get those posted, too. I didn't even read the poem for this day until we were back home in SC. I just knew it would make me too sad.....

I am working on uploading the movie I made, complete with photos and videos set to music. It will be on youtube in the next couple of days so check back and I'll post the link. It came out really good, if I don't say so myself!!! - I just LOVE picking out different music to relate to the photos!!!!!

 

[Cinderella's slipper]

Combine leaving Disney with your daughter saying good bye to her grandparents would make this a difficult time for anyone. Fortunately, as long as the finances hold out, there is a great cure! Planning the next trip! Thanks for sharing such personal moments with all of us, it helps keep your readers hanging on while we are either hoping to plan for a future trip, or planning a future trip, or just watching our tickers move soo slowly.

 

[podsnel]

Crap! I cried th first time I saw those pics and now I'm crying again!!!!

I hate the last day of any vacation, but especially one that means so much.

You know I'll be in tears as usual next Thursday- but I'm not going to give that another minute's thought.


See you on Saturday!

 

[CRdisMom]

tears are a prerequiste when leaving. I did miss that experience of riding DME back so I missed those tears. That had to be soooo tough to leave after such a wonderful week. It almost makes me want to do it with my family. I said almost.

 

[DVC Jen]

How is it possible? I have never met you.. we are strangers. I haven't met your parents - yet here I sit with tears in my eyes after reading about your farewell with your parents.

Awesome trip report.

 

[karajeboo]

Combine leaving Disney with your daughter saying good bye to her grandparents would make this a difficult time for anyone. Fortunately, as long as the finances hold out, there is a great cure! Planning the next trip! Thanks for sharing such personal moments with all of us, it helps keep your readers hanging on while we are either hoping to plan for a future trip, or planning a future trip, or just watching our tickers move soo slowly.

I'm so glad you enjoyed it! I won't be back in WDW for awhile now, ever since we moved back to SC, those trips are becoming fewer and further in between... especially since we discovered Disney cruising!!!!

Crap! I cried th first time I saw those pics and now I'm crying again!!!!

I hate the last day of any vacation, but especially one that means so much.

You know I'll be in tears as usual next Thursday- but I'm not going to give that another minute's thought.


See you on Saturday!

I'll be there!!! And I'm the first to leave on Thursday so I won't be there to blubber with you!

tears are a prerequiste when leaving. I did miss that experience of riding DME back so I missed those tears. That had to be soooo tough to leave after such a wonderful week. It almost makes me want to do it with my family. I said almost.

It was overall a truly magical trip. Sure, there were a few little squabbles, but as soon as everyone stopped, thought about it, and then realized that I was always right, everything was fine!!!!

How is it possible? I have never met you.. we are strangers. I haven't met your parents - yet here I sit with tears in my eyes after reading about your farewell with your parents.

Awesome trip report.

It's because we all share the same love of Disney.... Well, that and I'm just so darn loveable!!!!

 

[Beth D]

AWWW....

Those pics are so heartwarming! I love the one with them walking to the bus!

Thanks for another great TR! I can't wait to see the video!

 

[karajeboo]

And now.... what you've all been waiting for! Grandpa's poems!

To be read in the style of.... Grandpa.

Family Vacation:

The Family Vacation has officially begun
Time to relax, have fun and enjoy the Florida sun.

Grandma and Grandpa are celebrating 50 golden years
Let's raise our glasses to offer them cheers

By now you should see it clearly
That they love each other dearly

Time to end the ranting and raving
Let's start this vacation you've all been craving

So now that we've left our houses
Let's start looking for the mouses.

My take on this: BARF! Kami and I read this aloud at the Bellevue Room.... I think you already saw our reactions....

Day 1
Day one has now officially begun
Let's go out and have some fun

So on to the land of the mice
Where we know treatment will be nice

We'll say hello to goofy, pluto and Snow White
I'm sure our first day will be ever so bright

So now let's be on our way
For a really really fun filled day

Knowing that the first day will be a winner
Grandma and Grandpa will see you at dinner.

My take on this: Not so bright, cloudy actually. And we didn't just see them at dinner. We saw them ALL.....DAY.... LOOOOOOONG!

Day 2
Here we are at day number two
I'm sure we're all looking for something new

Yesterday we all had a great time
We're glad we got home when the clock struck nine

I know you all missed my moment of bliss
When Cinderella gave me a sweet little kiss

Grandma thought it was very tricky
When she got that big hug from a mouse named Mickey

So once again, we're on our way
Ready to have another fun filled day

So today let's hope the skies will be sunny
See you at dinner, bring lots of money

My take on this: Um, he DID get a kiss from Cindy the day before and Gma DID get a hug from Mickey.... hmmmmmm.

Day 3
Hey now we have reached day number three
We are really enjoying the company

The air of Disney magic is much alive
Cause even yesterday Grandma did a jive

It's easy to capture the spirit of this park
Can we stay out a little later unitl at least after dark

Oh, I hear the magic again in the air
Hold the monorail, we'll be right there

I know today will provide us with an upper
Again we'll see you at six, this time for supper.

My take on this: Um, enjoying the company? This is the first day without Jeff.... coincidence? And Grandma was more likely to take a DIVE than do a jive.....

Day 4
Now is the beginning of day number four
What do you think the park has in store

Yesterday was a day of many things
So let's see what Wednesday, day four brings

One of our party will leave for a day
We wish him a safe trip while he's away

To the rest of the family have fun in a bunch
This time we will see you at noon just in time for lunch

After lunch don't look away
Or you will miss grandma and grandpa sneaking away

We will see you let' say around eight
Now hasn't this day really been great.

My take on this: Um, Jeff had already been gone for a day, didn't they even miss him???

Day 5
Already we are at day number five
The magic of Disney just keeps coming alive

Activities and schedules have been well planned
This trip to Disney has been just grand

So up and at em, please don't procrastinate
It's on to the park, let's don't be late

Today we welcome back Jeff, we think he's a winner
For that compliment, we'll let him buy dinner

Oh by the way, Grandma and Grandpa are on their way
We hope you all have a wonderful day.

My take on this: Again, Jeff's been back for two days now!!!! Wake up Grandpa! And yes, Jeff got to buy dinner anyway....

Day 6
We are ready now for day number six
And the magic of Disney leaves a permanent fix

Sometime today we may shed a tear
But we will cherish these memories year after year

As we get ready to depart
We thank you from the bottom of our heart

So let's not make this day a bummer
Maybe we can get together later on this summer

So for the final time you will hear us say
Grandma and Grandpa are up and at em and on their way.

My take on this: Thank you for not using what I thought you'd use to rhyme with "depart" As for this summer? Wasn't a week together enough?????

I'm uploading the movie to youtube even as we speak. Only 8 hours left to upload!!!!!

 

[Cinderella's slipper]

Hi Kara, would you ask your Dad if he would give me permission to borrow some of the lines from his poems. I found them so heart warming and I think I'd like to try my hand at writing something for our October trip, just not sure I could do so from scratch. I would only use some of the lines that apply to us and only for personal use, not for duplication or commercial purposes. They really touched me!

Thank you,
Linda

 

[jamiesmom07]

Kara, LOVED IT. I too cried when you put you put your parents on the bus.

I don't know how you did it, but I'm glad you did it, you put on an awesome trip report. NOW, could you get on with the cruise tr so I have some good reading material during meetings?!!!?!?!?!

Thanks for the entertainment!

 

[Wicket's Mom]

How sweet is Ally's bond with her grandma. By looking at the picture of you & Ally in tears I can see how much both of you love them.

Those poems of your dad's are a hoot. I can see where your sense comes from.

I think a family trip for our 50th would be a great idea, but I know we would be the one's paying. Sons don't think about doing stuff like that for the parents.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Ahhhh, I'm crying!!!! Those good-bye pictures are soooo sad!!!!!

But the whole texting Disney's Food Porn and the cheesy Mickey is hilarious! The poems were cute, very clever Grandpa!

 

[anewmac]

No sooner did we finish our lunch, and it was time to head back to Boardwalk to send Gma and Gpa back to Ohio.....

You will notice this is where Jeff became a major shutterfly.... just what was it about his inlaws leaving after spending a week together?????
he didnt want anyone to see hime cry lol

You will also notice that Gpa wears his sunglasses anytime he might get a little misty eyed. It's that macho thing.....
I do that too, cuz i dont want people to see my puffy eyes.. but the quivering lip gives me away

She is such a Grandma's girl, and I think it's because my mom came and spent 2 1/2 weeks with me when Ally was 2 weeks old. She took care of the house and the cooking, and cleaning, etc, and just let me learn how to be a mommy. It was the greatest gift EVER!!!! But during that time, Ally had colic and Grandma would just hold her and rock her and I swear that's why she and Ally have such a bond.....
my boys are like that with my mom also, she came and schooled me on how to be a mommy 2, both times (apparently I didnt do it right the 1st time, HEY P was still alive when J came LOL) and now with her living across the street they are total nana's boys!

I am working on uploading the movie I made, complete with photos and videos set to music. It will be on youtube in the next couple of days so check back and I'll post the link. It came out really good, if I don't say so myself!!! - I just LOVE picking out different music to relate to the photos!!!!!
cant wait to see it!

And now.... what you've all been waiting for! Grandpa's poems!your dad is a riot! you should do this on the dis moms cruise, then give them out at the cove of quiet (lmao )

My take on this: Thank you for not using what I thought you'd use to rhyme with "depart" As for this summer? Wasn't a week together enough?????you would have thought i a housefull of testosteron i would get this but it took me a while.. ya ya ya.. i know bless my heart

I'm uploading the movie to youtube even as we speak. Only 8 hours left to upload!!!!!

still waiting

 

[karajeboo]

As promised!!! I downloaded this TWICE and then it came up and said some garbage about me deleting it.... Well, I finally realized I had uploaded it in HD and youtube didn't like that.... so I had to change the settings to not so pretty.....

Grandma and Grandpa's 50th Anniversary at WDW! - VIDEO - click to play!

It's almost 30 minutes long, so pull up a chair, pop some popcorn, grab a cold one and enjoy!!!

 

[DVC Jen]

Just sat and watched the whole thing and what happened - I cried at the end.. again!

What is the name of the song before the mickey mouse club ending song? The Disney/Orlando one?

Thanks for sharing that with us... LOVED IT!

 

[Simba22]

Awesome video! And great last day update even though the last day is always a bummer! Those pics of Ally when your parents were leaving were killer! Poor kid!

I had a lot of fun reading along!

 

[jamiesmom07]

Just finished watching the video ...FANTASTIC!! as always! Thanks for taking the time and writing the report and sharing your video!

 

[anewmac]

awww im with the others.. i cried too! LOVE IT! Great job spielberg!