MAGICal Christmas 2008 - December 20, 2008

[njmom23grls]

I haven't checked in in a long time and have tons of posts to catch up on reading. I've had a lot of family stuff goining on. I'd like to participate in the Ornament Exchange and the FE - but it may be too late. My mom, Sandy, is now going with us - so if anyone else is traveling with an active older adult 60+ I know she's like to meet someone. She's afraid of being the "old lady" on the boat (She's only 64). My oldest daughter (21) will not be going because she has a boyfriend and we won't pay for him! (Sorry -its still a sore subject). She doesn't seem to understand that while she's IN LOVE with him, we barely know him and sharing a cabin that includes him is not an option. Ok

So - back on track and my sister has recovered from her emergency surgery that took all my attention (her husband is serving overseas and she has two kids that needed care).

We will be in 6132 and a cat 8 gty (3 in 6132 and 2 in the other room)

The shirts look amazing! Thank you for doing this. I'll order this evening.

The girls and I -Emily (14) & Rachael (10) will be doing the Dune Buggy in Cozumel while Dad scuba dives and Grandma Sandy goes to Tulum. In GC - we didn't book anything because of the short day. I was too late (who knew in 8 minutes it would be gone) in booking a CG dive for him - so he check onboard to see if any opening. We are skipping Palo as we weren't overly impressed last time but will consider Souffle and a drink at the bar. We are also doing a couples massage on Monday during the day at sea.

Happy Friday everyone!

Lisa

 

[nzdisneymom]

Lisa - sounds like your plate has been way full lately.

It's not too late to sign up for anything, so we'll add you to the Fish Extender list, and BearFan (Lisa Marie) will add you to the ornament exchange list.

Just 12 more weeks til we sail!

I got my online check-in done, so we're good to go.
I also reserved the Metabolism Test with Body Composition Analysis for Sunday morning (9:30). Since we have the double-dip at Castaway Cay, I figured that Gary and the boys wouldn't be overly anxious to rush out the door - and if they are, they can certainly go without me. In fact, I'm thinking maybe we should take our walkie-talkies just to use at CC in case we separate. I know I want to do some bike-riding. I'm hoping the water will be warm enough (or should I say "not too chilly") for the boys to use the big floats and/or do the paddle-boats or water-trikes. They did the paddle-boat in April and loved it (but it was a work-out, Gary said).

 

[BearFan]

Hi Gals,
I happened to be signing my husband up for one of those hotel reward programs today (He travels a ton!) and I noticed that the Radisson at Port Canaveral has a double points offer if you are a member of their participating program, Goldpoints Plus. Country Inns are also on the same program. I didn't know if anyone was signed up but you can choose to get airmiles rather than points for free nights. It's another way to rack up those airmiles for free flights. People say it's harder and harder to get free flights but we've managed to use Paul's to get us both to New Zealand and Orlando this year for free. Now you understand just how much he's away from home. In the past week, he's been in Alabama, Illinois and currently Minnesota for work. He comes home Saturday night just to leave for Oklahoma on Monday. I batch it A LOT, just me and the two dogs.
Back on topic again, we currently are up to 17 on the ornament exchange! Looking good!!!!!!
Lisa Marie

 

[njmom23grls]

Hi Lisa Marie,

Thanks for letting me know about the ornament exchange. I did wonder if people were sticking with a Disney theme for the ornament exchange or something else - such as an ornament representing something from their home state or is it an ornament of your choice?

Lisa

ps - my husband is going to roll his eyes - I have boxes and boxes and boxes of christmas stuff - he always asks me why I buy a few new ones every year - plus I always buy one from the places we visit. He just rolls his eyes at me

 

[hinsok1]

Hi Lisa Marie,
ps - my husband is going to roll his eyes - I have boxes and boxes and boxes of christmas stuff - he always asks me why I buy a few new ones every year - plus I always buy one from the places we visit. He just rolls his eyes at me

just tell him it is a wonderful way to remember the "magic" Our family likes to buy an ornament for any special trip we take. . . now decorating the tree is an event rather than a chore. We all take part and make a little party of it, taking time to remember the event where we purchased the ornament. We started this tradition buy purchasing an ornament the weekend DH proposed. While some years don't have any ornaments, and some more . . .the kids just love this tradition.

 

[dbxazd]

just tell him it is a wonderful way to remember the "magic" Our family likes to buy an ornament for any special trip we take. . . now decorating the tree is an event rather than a chore. We all take part and make a little party of it, taking time to remember the event where we purchased the ornament. We started this tradition buy purchasing an ornament the weekend DH proposed. While some years don't have any ornaments, and some more . . .the kids just love this tradition.

we have this same tradition in our family! plus the kids get a "special" ornament each year to signify what they are "into" that year - ie: I think 2 years ago DS's ornament was Capn jack Sparrow - and DD's has been princesses a few years !

 

[tinkerbell_29]

Hi everyone! We made it safely to Alabama today. It was a long trip and I'm exhausted but I had to check in. My grandfather is in a nursing home and is probably not coming out so we've got to help get things settled with his house and everything. It is going to be a long week.

As for decorations. We have a small tree and some window decorations for the room. For the door we have a mickey wreath and I've made some signs. I also have some battery operated lights we will use. I will deffinetly be using 3M hooks and what not as they are so easy to use.

Amy I will pay for the excursion early tomorrow. I'm so tired I'm afriad I would mess something up if I did it now.

Lissa

 

[MOQu]

Shannon - we are staying at the Hyatt also. I think we get in around 1:00. I think my sister-in-laws and families don't get in until around 10:00 p.m. I would love to get together . . . or at least meet by the pool!

Anyone else staying at the Hyatt?

Kim

We are also staying at the Hyatt because our plane does not get in until close to 10pm. We would really like a get together! (Who needs sleep?)

 

[nzdisneymom]

I was just updating the spreadsheet to add pre-cruise stays. I have pre-cruise stays for these folks just from the last few pages of the thread -- if you want me to add your pre-cruise stay location, either post here or PM me and I'll add it. So far there are 5 groups at the Hyatt, 4 at Country Inn/Suites, 4 at WDW (but all at different resorts), and 1 at the Radisson.

Diana Lyn
nzdisneymom
tinkerbell_29 / ChefMickeyMousse
AZ Pirates
CorinnaK
hinsok1
MOQu
ShannonR / MorganR
xsjackson
alikat99 / dvcChrisVWL
dbxazd
perdy1234
tinksmom


Also, there are 24 signed up for the Fish Extenders. 47 adults and 37 children.

We are having some cooler weather still today, so it is so nice to have the house opened up. DH is going to replace our kitchen faucent in a little bit, so I think I'm going to hide out and do cruise-planning stuff

Hope everyone has a magical day!

 

[MOQu]

I am curious... does the list in the first post have the correct ages for all the kids?

I know the list was started a long time ago, so did everyone post the ages of their kids for what they would be at cruise time or what they were at the time of the post?

 

[njmom23grls]

We are staying in Cocoa Beach a few days ahead - at Discovery Beach- its a condo hotel but I was able to get it very inexpensively.

 

[nzdisneymom]

I am curious... does the list in the first post have the correct ages for all the kids?

I know the list was started a long time ago, so did everyone post the ages of their kids for what they would be at cruise time or what they were at the time of the post?

Some are and some have celebrated birthdays. When I was going through the thread the other day, I started with the list on the first page but as we got later in the thread, I saw where some of the children had aged up, so I put their current age in the spreadsheet.

 

[bigedwin]

Hello!
We are interested in Joining on the Fish Extenders exchange.
We have been reading the post and have decided to go to Michael's and Make a Fish extender project.
There are 3 Adults and 2 Children.
2 Cabins 5129 5127
We are planning on having 1 fish extender per cabin.
Kids Names and Ages
Sophia - 10
David - 13

Please let me kow if you need any other information.


Thanks

Ed, Michelle & Kids

 

[ShannonR]

Hi everyone!

It is still in the 90's and sunny today here in Texas! Mitchell had a baseball tournament this weekend (again), but we decided to skip this one and do cruise shopping instead. Mitchell loves baseball, but it is not his WHOLE life like his coach would like for it to be. He is a former major league player who played for the Texas Rangers and Cleveland Indians so of course, his whole world is baseball and always has been I'm sure. He wasn't too happy about us missing the tournament, but oh well!!! this weekend I am in 100% CRUISE MODE!!

Rick is going to take me back to Hobby Lobby on Monday and to the Dollar Store so I can finish up my stateroom decorations and FE gifts! I am pretty sure we would NOT be allowed to have candles in our staterooms, so I am going to try to find some plug in pine tree fragrance from Yankee candles on Monday as well. I HAVE to have that smell on Christmas Day or all is not right with the world!!

Amy, Rick will Paypal you tonight!! He has not been home in days to be able to do it between baseball for Mitchell and his college studies (he is an older man who decided to go BACK to school ). He will be home tonight, though, so he HAS to get it done!!

Shannon

 

[ShannonR]

Hi again! Just a side note regarding the spreadsheet: It's great!!!!! It will make things SSSOOOO much easier to do FE gifts! Morgan is now 15 y.o., Melissa is 4 y.o., and Mitchell WILL BE 12 y.o. by cruise time! I think on the spreadsheet all their ages are one year younger. And NO ONE needs to know how old WE are! (Rick and I)

Shannon

 

[xsjackson]

Here's a question: we have bought and plan to bring Christmas lights to hang in out staterooms. How do we string them up? I know no nails and/or tacks, so how do we secure them to the walls doors? I know there is probably some trick that I am not thinking of?

Shannon

suction cups

 

[xsjackson]

Sorrry about all the reply posts in a row. With all the work I do during the week. Can you believe mid-terms are next week for my 8th and 9th graders. I haven't even given a test yet??????

My dad and I are doing the Tulum thingy too. My oldest is going - 18 and a freshman in college. My husband and son are scuba diving at Cozumel. Mark is VERY experineced. Nick (son, 16 in Oct) might change his mind. He hate diving in PNW but like the caribbean.

Susan

I haven't checked in in a long time and have tons of posts to catch up on reading. I've had a lot of family stuff goining on. I'd like to participate in the Ornament Exchange and the FE - but it may be too late. My mom, Sandy, is now going with us - so if anyone else is traveling with an active older adult 60+ I know she's like to meet someone. She's afraid of being the "old lady" on the boat (She's only 64). My oldest daughter (21) will not be going because she has a boyfriend and we won't pay for him! (Sorry -its still a sore subject). She doesn't seem to understand that while she's IN LOVE with him, we barely know him and sharing a cabin that includes him is not an option. Ok

So - back on track and my sister has recovered from her emergency surgery that took all my attention (her husband is serving overseas and she has two kids that needed care).

We will be in 6132 and a cat 8 gty (3 in 6132 and 2 in the other room)

The shirts look amazing! Thank you for doing this. I'll order this evening.

The girls and I -Emily (14) & Rachael (10) will be doing the Dune Buggy in Cozumel while Dad scuba dives and Grandma Sandy goes to Tulum. In GC - we didn't book anything because of the short day. I was too late (who knew in 8 minutes it would be gone) in booking a CG dive for him - so he check onboard to see if any opening. We are skipping Palo as we weren't overly impressed last time but will consider Souffle and a drink at the bar. We are also doing a couples massage on Monday during the day at sea.

Happy Friday everyone!

Lisa

 

[xsjackson]

My husband and I are 45++++ kids are 18 - Alexis and Nick will be 16 come October. Only error in our groups kids ages are my kids. imagine that????

We just signed up for a med cruise with Royal caribbean. Very excited.

 

[nzdisneymom]

Susan - is your Royal Caribbean the eastern Med (Venice, etc.) or western? We loved the Western Med ports last summer, but Nathan is really wanting to do the Eastern so we can go to Venice. We promised him that if we don't take him to Venice before he graduates high school, we will do that for his high school graduation trip.

I've updated everything that has been sent to me for the spreadsheet. I'll just hang on to it til mid-November and then send it out again to those that want it. If you didn't already get a copy and you want one, just email me at cindysjunk@comcast.net with SPREADSHEET in the subject line.

Publix had a lot of their summer swim things on clearance today so I picked up a couple of junior snorkle sets - I figure the boys can use them at Castaway Cay if they want, and if they get left behind, no big deal. They have never snorkled before. i just hope the water won't be too cool. I started to get some 48-inch inflatable floats but decided that Gary wouldn't want to blow them up

I also found some cord ties at Circuit City today - they are the nylon tie wraps (plastic strips) that you use to help contain electrical cords when you have loads of them everywhere -- they are 7 1/2 inches long and I think they will work to "secure" the fish extender to our fish so it won't "wander off." Gotta remember to pack a small pair of scissors so we can remove it at the end. Anyway, there are 52 in the pack, so I'll bring all of them and if I remember, I'll bring them to the Meet on Saturday so if anyone needs any to secure their Fish Extender, you're welcome to them.

 

[tinkerbell_29]

Amy just to let you know I just paypaled you for the dolphin excursion

Lissa