Marriage: The Trip Report - Update 2/28 - Final Thoughts & Link to Disneyland TR!

[3prettyprincesses]

Oh Brook. That's an awful lot of important *thoughts* to be having all at once.

Disney blues just plain suck, they just do. I hate leaving Disney and the moment I get home, I'm already trying to work out another trip.

Henry does sound more independant which is as it should be. It's hard though, I hate that my three DD's are getting so big and need me less and less. But it's that stupid natural part of life, blah blah blah.

Work sounds like a great idea. A Disney TA?? Oh, totally do it! I hope that works out. I know you'd be wonderful with that, your clients would love you!

Just keep trusting that God will work out these details for you. Remember when you interviewed for that job months ago thinking it would be great? Well, a Disney TA would be even better, right?? Hang in there.

Soooo, what dates are ya looking at for this trip? Totally out of curiosity of course.

 

[wdwgirl03]

Oh Brook, I am right there with you on the Disney blues. I have to admit I got a little teary-eyed looking at your report one night when we were there because we had some of that crummy weather in WDW! 2 days of nonstop rain! I got so jealous looking at your sunny, blue-sky pictures and wishing we had that kind of weather the whole time. I guess we were due for some lousy weather since most of our recent trips have been beautiful.

I'll be looking forward to your next update though.

 

[photographymom517]

Oh Brook! I will keep you in my thoughts & prayers!!! I definitely know how you feel & what you are going through. As you know, I've recently been going through the same exact thing. And honestly, the only thing keeping me going right now is our September Disney trip -- after that, I will be living through other people's reports & trips!!! Definitely go for it with the travel agency! I've been looking into it for quite some time & just recently found something that worked out! I really, really know that it will work out for you!!! You are amazing when it comes to anything Disney related & I know an agency will see that!!!!

I think this weather has been getting to everyone! I swear this is the looooongest winter I have ever lived through! I guess its fun when you're a kid because Luke keeps asking me where the snow went (on days when its melted) and he jumps up & down with joy when the snow comes back (much to mommy's disappointment!) One great thing that happened for us was that the local petting zoo opened today -- but the downfall is that its too cold to walk around outside for an hour & see the animals! They are also only open on the weekends for the whole month of April -- so we have an entire month to wait until we can go during the week. Luke has been asking me ALOT recently if he can go play with the kids or go to the playground. I try to take him to the mall once a week to play on their little playarea but its not much space & he needs to get outside to run around! I think he's ready for school -- for the learning & socialization with others -- but he won't start until next September.

I completely know what you mean about the transition in your life. Luke & Henry are almost the same exact age, so I totally get it!!! If you ever need to talk, please feel free to PM me here or message me on facebook & I will do the same!

 

[chloe770]

I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND! Being a SAHM is one of the toughest jobs out there, especially in the colder months. Those 4 walls closes in on you fast. Hence the quick 1 night trip to Ocean City, MD we took last weekend in the snowLOL The whole family really needed to break the daily routine. I'm sure it's even harder coming off a 2 week Disney vacation. It's such a magical place. I often struggle with the DIS myself knowing a Disney trip in not in my near future. Then I realize we will go back (most likely late next year) and in the mean time I can share in the magic though others TRs. Not the same as being there but a reminder of what I have to look forward too. Hang in there. Warmer days are just around the corner and the right job will be there too.

BTW : Please don't lose sleep over the Disney items for others. You have already gone above and beyond for us. We understand that life gets in the way.

 

[Kara]

First Congrats on Potty Training!! that is wonderful! WTG Henry!!!!
I love the pic of him with his camera/ food! start em young! LOL!

i totally understand...add it to being a long horrible winter that never seems to end..doesnt help. The weather has never affected me mentally as much as it did this year! Add a 3 year old with lots of energy and I can totally understnad the need to go anywhere! !LOL!!

I totally see you as a travel agent!!! I will pray they contact you soon with good news!!!!

Would you start now?? Or in the fall when he starts school??

 

[TanzUnited99]

I hope you feel better soon Am sure everything will work out and hope a company contacts you about the TA work.

Coming back from a trip can be depressing so take your time and come back when you are ready - we will still be here

 

[2xcited2sleep]

All caught up! And what a fun Sunday morning doing so!

Totally agree with you on La Cantina. Yummy. I was hoping the refurb would alleviate some of the demand for tables but no such luck. Definitely a mad house!

Isn't that first night in WDW just the best? When the real world seems so far away and you have the rest of your trip (in your case 2 whole weeks!) stretching out before you?

Sorry H got scared on TT... I can see where it might be scary at night.

Congrats on potty training!!

Sorry to hear you are struggling with the blues and transitional stress. This winter has been the WORST, hasn't it? Ugh. SO ready for spring and sunshine. Hopefully that is around the corner!

A Disney travel agent sounds like a great plan. I'd love to hear more about the process as you go through it.

Very cool for dreaming about another trip. Am sure we'll be seeing a ticker before too long!

Hang in there!!

 

[tinacaplan]

I think we can all relate. March hasn't been the easiest month and I wish I had half of your grace when handling all of the unknowns life can throw our way. Rest assured, though, that nicer weather should be just around the corner, so that should help, at least.

For a moment there, I thought we wouldn't be going back for quite a while and I was just not happy about it in the least. I had to wait for most of the month before I knew for sure that we'd be able to book anything!

And my hat is really off to you for being a SAHM. While I have often wished that I could be home full-time, for the most part, I know that I would have a very tough time with it. Though, a part-time job somewhere has always sounded like a nice compromise...and being a Disney travel agent sounds like it could be a ton of fun... hmm.... plan other people's trips?? I think you'd be fantastic at it, btw. You are certainly knowledgeable in the Disney department and, even on-line, your outgoing personality comes shining through. All the cute pics of Henry aren't the ONLY reason most of us follow you!

Maybe those of us in the greater NY area could think about a Dismeet for the spring sometime...

 

[KristiMc]

I can totally relate about having the blues after vacation. We just got back last night from our cruise on the Magic. It was such an amazing trip and I am so sad this morning as I am doing laundry.

 

[Disneybuckeye]

Enjoying your trip report and I completely understand the let down. Three weeks ago today we were on day 2 of our stay at the Boardwalk. Now I am 8 months away from our next trip and don't even know when we are going back after that as I did quite a bit of point borrowing for December. Looking forward to reading more and hope the Disney TA idea works out.

I completely concur about the weather. Our DD is a college lacrosse player. I am tired of sitting at games in below freezing temperatures and snow. Spring please come!!!

 

[Flossbolna]

Hi Brook, I am sorry that you are feeling low at the moment. I hope you will get some beautiful spring days soon which should at least make your life a little bit better!

I hope you will find somthing to do professional which will be a good fit for your needs and ablilities, whatever it may be. But I think you would make a good travel agent.

Oh and regarding possibly another trip in 2011: the time between October 11-22 is supposed to be a wonderful time to be at WDW!

 

[claryche]

I can so relate to what you are feeling. That is one of the reasons why I take way to long to look at my Photopass pics. I get the cd each time, so I have to download them, and do all the things that I like to do. But I never feel like doing it when I get back from our trip, because it gives me the blues. I mean looking at the pictures are wonderful, just like I'm sure you feel about retelling your trip, but it makes things so final. I can't even imagine coming back after 2 weeks. It is really hard to come off from that Disney high and being a true Disney Lover, that high is even higher for you.

It will get better and summer is just around the corner. And then we'll all be complaining about how hot it is.

Until then. Here is a hug. And I hope you get to feeling better soon. Remember to take care of yourself, because us Moms have a tendency to not do that.

 

[PirateKate]

I hope the weather warms up for you all soon. Something that I find comforting, when the weather is unreasonably cold is to go online and check the weather for places that I know will be worse. Compared to the people further north, a high of 56 doesn't seem quite as bad.

 

[tiggrbaby]

Just a quick note...sorry about my absence lately on the DIS. I'm still light years behind on most of your reports.

For the first time, I've seriously got the Disney blues! It's awful! I cannot tell you how many trips I have priced. Even with a crazy idea to find a last minute weekend trip.

I started to price trips to ANYWHERE warm. Lastminutetravel.com, cruises.com. I'll go anywhere! Just take me away!

Any trip report I read I find myself tearing up....being on the DIS is a whole emotional battle as of late.

I took a couple days to break away to reflect on why I am struggling so much with the desire to escape and getaway, even though we just came back, and I realized it came down to two things.

1) The cruddy weather! We had a couple really nice days, but it's been rainy and cold. And being a SAHM with a 3 year old on multiple, cold, rainy days is NOT easy! Hence, the desire to escape.

2) I'm in a transition spot in life. Henry is 3 and becoming more and more independent. He also doesn't learn from me very well anymore. He's READY for school. He'll be going into pre-school in the Fall and I've been looking for/deciding on what I want to do about going back to work. I've looked at everything from full-time in an office to working at the local bagel shop.

As some of you know, I have fairly recently begun to think about becoming a Disney Travel Agent. I have thought about this before, but never really went for it.

This time, I, metaphorically, threw it at the wall and it stuck.

I've contacted a few companies and am in progress with a couple. One has been sitting on my application for a week now and I'm just ITCHIN' to know what they think of me. Most all my thoughts during the day revolve around this and what I am going to do for work.

I desire to work, I'm ready for it. Plus, the little bit of extra income is needed to loosen up and change a few other things in our lives. Joe and I are both ready to have a bit of a more comfortable budget!

All this "transition stress" has been weighing on me the past few weeks...so enter in the desire to escape.


Well, escaping I am not.

I am dealing with it all the best I can. I can't change the weather, but I can find fun-rainy day activities that make the day a tad less painful. I can set-up play dates.

I can't make the various travel agencies write me back, but I can just trust that God is working in this and let it go.

And our pocketbook isn't thick enough for me to runaway for a weekend to anywhere warm anyway. Cold, yes. But what would be the point of THAT?!



Joe and I did realize we could squeeze in another short trip this year....so that has been thrown around a bit ....no ticker yet though. We are still in the dreaming stage.



And! One thing that has LITERALLY been keeping me awake at night is that I haven't organized/mailed all the items you guys requested from me at the World! I'M SO SORRY! I truly have no excuse, other than all this stuff taking over my day. I AM going to organize it all today and get to the post office on Monday.

You will be an awesome TA! It's easy to feel like you're not getting anywhere as a mom because the work is in a loop; you can't put laundry/cooking/cleaning in a completed pile and have it stay that way! But just remember all the joy you bring to the lives of those who no longer have little ones/frequent trips: we look forward to reading about your adventures!

 

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Just wanted to send a hug your way, and hope you are feeling better soon! The weather has truly been miserable this winter, I don't know how any of us got through it with a smile on our face! And those post-Disney blues hit hard too! I was so sad after finishing my dining report, I had to start a trip report right away to relive my vacation another time! The weather seems to be warming up though, soon enough we'll be in the middle of summer, hoping for a cool breeze!

 

[CreightonsMomma]

I hope you are having a better day today, Brook.

Whatever you decide just think of this quote “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.”

 

[vamassey1]

I'm two updates behind.

Loved your first night at Epcot. Every boy should have a sword. Sorry Henry was as trilled with TT as in the past. When kids are around 3 they start to have fears. Hopefully he's over this one.

I'm also glad you got the milk problem solved, I was worrying too. I'm a planner and lucky for me Dennis is a planner and list maker. We don't have to plan every minute but we have a set of goals for each day so every one gets to do something they like. You're handling your non planner much better than I would.

I loved the video Joe made. It's soooo cute that Henry call the castle Mickey's house. Your second breakfast looked really good too. I find that I eat a lot of fruit in Disney. Loved how well trained Henry is.
Hopefully we'll get to see some pictures from his point of view.

Congrats on getting him trained. They was always such a big chore. He is proof positive that when they're ready they're ready.

I totally understand the funk you're in. It happens every time we go to me. I don't have the added stress of cold weather or keeping a 3 yr old entertained. I think being a Disney travel agent is perfect for you. You'll be able to use all those planning skills to help others.

 

[brookelizabeth]

First of all... Yay for potty training!!! Go Henry!!

Your MK morning looks like a lovely way to ease into things. We have yet to grab a treat at the bakery... we're always in such a hurry to get up Main Street & jump on a ride! I'll have to add it to my must-do list.

I can't wait to hear about the visit to the barber.

Being potty trained is AMAZING! I'm loving it!

I have complete mixed emotions about stopping at the Bakery first thing in the morning. I know Joe loves to, but I'm eager to always gooooooo! We usually go for a few rides then hit it up. It is worth a stop though, so much goodness!

Pastries are ALWAYS a good idea!

Henry is too cute!! And now he's well on his way to doing a dining report!

Oh that gives me an idea for next trip!

Good catch on the food porn Henry!!

Isn't he hilarious? I haven't downloaded his camera yet, but did look at his pics the other day and saw this one. Not too shabby!

A boy after my own heart.
Stage that food, boy.

That is great. I would love to see you there.

I will keep you posted here!

I love the pic of Henry snapping pics of the food, so funny!

Isn't it hilarious?!

Mmmm, that looks awesome, right there. I love the Bakery! Dang, now I'm going to have to eat a snack before bed.

Ha! That's hilarious!

LOL! It's funny how Disney pics can make ya hungry at any hour. I try to avoid the Food Pictures thread at night!

I love the pic of Henry taking the food shot. You are doing so well at teaching him what is important in life....Disney food...and especially Mainstreet Bakery food. Love that place.

Also love the picture of him seeing the castle. Something you might want to do, which I'm gonna try to do soon. I plan on making a Disney photobook, from Disneyphotopass sight of my DS's 6 trips to Disney World so far. I plan on doing a pic from each year on a page. Say 6 pics with Pooh on one page and so on. I know you take alot of tradition pictures, so you would be in great shape. I'm sure Henry would love seeing himself grow up Disney.

Us too! I don't think we've skipped the Bakery in years...every trip there is at least one stop in. Yum.

Making a Disney photobook is on my list of "Things to Do...eventually!" It would be so much fun to have it! Hopefully before Henry graduates.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Great job Joe on the video!! Love that first look down Main Street...especially through a childs eyes And that picture of Henry taking a picture of the fruit...Id rate it a 100 on a scale of 1 to 10 on the adorable scale


Oh yeah...I remember asking when you posted on FB the picture of the front of the MK with the Pictures in the huge frames....do they change them everyday? I forgot to go back and see if you answered that one on FB.

Isn't that video neat? He is a bit bummed that it was so bright out that he couldn't see where he was pointing the camera when Henry first caught sight of the Castle, but even still - I love it!

I completely meant to answer that in this update, I cannot recall if I answered it on FB either. But, no they don't. It would be AWESOME if they did though!

Why does it always seem as if each new picture of Henry is cuter than the last? Loved the video. So cool. And that last picture is truly priceless. He has learned quickly! Max is not too sure who lives in the castle, but he did mention that he'd like to go in it the next time we're in the neighborhood. Don't know how he'll feel if there's only a princess there.

I haven't dared to tell Henry it isn't Mickey's Castle! He'll figure it out soon enough I'm sure, and I'll just tell him we can pretend Mickey lives there too. Or maybe, when we are eventually going to Disneyland I'll break the news....oh that might be an interesting day.

Nice job on the potty training Henry!
Love the Epcot at night pictures.
I'll be waiting for Henry's food porn thread...

It's certainly is an idea to have Henry do a Food Report next trip, isn't it?!?! "Dining Reviews from a Toddler's Perspective"

You're definitely got a DISer in training with that shot of Henry taking a shot of his food! Way too funny!!

You totally should do a race at Disney!! I just have to say, the Expedition Everest 5K was a blast! It was much fun getting to do the scavenger hunt and obstacle course. And you can do it as a team. You know, if you're ever looking for a partner....

ETA: That video of Henry is just way too precious! Love that he calls the castle Mickey's house!

I will keep that EE in mind - and you as a partner! It really does sound like a lot of fun.

Wow! Very impressed with Joe's video from his PHONE? What app did he use? Would love to try that.
Too funny the pic of Henry taking pics of the fruit. Definitely a Diser in training.

Yep! All on his phone! He used iMovie, which is $5 in the app store. It sounds super easy. He made it in about 10 minutes.

YUM to the cinnamon bun! Had one last summer and it was to die for! Love the first sight of Main Street. I could live on Main Street. Not even in one of the apartments above the stores, just on the street, listening to the loop of my favorite instrumental musicals. Maybe I should get a box and be Main's Street's official homeless person. It could be like streetmosphere! They have a mayor, and a barber shop quartet....why not a homeless person?

LOL!!!!!! You are hilarious! If you are going to be a homeless person on Main Street I'm moving in with you!

Ahhhhh, the first steps into the Magic Kingdom......there's nothing better. The sweets (and yes, even the fruit) from Main Street Bakery look quite yummy. Way to go on training Henry to take pictures of Disney food. I don't know if I'm more excited that you have him potty trained or Disney picture taking trained.

It's true, there is nothing better than that first glimpse of the Magic Kingdom. I could so go for some MK magic right now!

LOL about potty trained versus Disney picture trained!!! I'm pretty excited about both myself!

What an awesome start to your morning, the Bakery sounds like the perfect place to begin your Mk day!

I love the pic of your son taking a picture of the food, how adorable is he!

I can't wait to hear about the Barber Shop

It was a pretty great way to start the day. Not how I had envisioned it, but it worked well for that day. I knew we had plenty of time to get on Dumbo and the Tea Cups, so this day could be for Joe and his cinnamon bun!

And the Barber Shop...well...

 

[glennbo123]

I'm sorry that you have the post-Disney blues Brook. The weather and other circumstances can definitely add to it.

Hang in there. It is no problem at all if you need to take a hiatus from the DIS.