May 10, 2008 Ship of Thieves! Stealing the Magic..AGAIN!!! Panama Canal FL to CA!!! Part 5

[EllaEnchanted]

GOOD TIMES!! Shopping and wine, good combo!!

Glad you guys were able to go and have a good time! Also glad the weather cooperated.

Karen

Thanks...it WAS a good time!!!!

No shoes though!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Deb, sounds like you all had a great time! Thanks for sharing pics with us!

I LOVE pics....

Sounds like you had a full and fun day too, Holly....hanging with your best friend, baseball with Tyler, playground and fireworks...all good things!!!

Another full day today for you with pool and Tyler's skating.

Oh, and don't forget the Chilli fest on Friday night...

You're a very busy beaver....a mover and shaker....no grass growing under your feet....

Glad you're having such a great weekend!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

I am feeling somewhat better and still waiting on results of EKG to schedule surgery.

My DD's husband is STILL waiting for approval from insurance to get his kidneys checked out!! His primary physician's medical assistant was on vacation last week so when my DD called his office, the forms had just been submitted on Friday. I hate the fact that they have to wait in suspense and worrying about what may be happening.

If that is what Kim meant, nothing new on any upgrades as TA told me any upgrade to cat. 1 or 2 would probably not come until final payments are due

Playing the waiting game is the hardest part...you just want to know what you're dealing with, take action and move on...the anticipation is the hardest part.

I will send you positive prayers and pixie dust for time to pass quickly for you so that you can get some answers and positive results.

 

[EllaEnchanted]

We are heading to Santa Cruz Beach boardwalk today and then I came across this article about a roller coaster - http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/06/22/national/main2965711.shtml?source=mostpop_story

It does make you question those rides. I know it is really unusual but it does get your nervous.

Beautiful day here in California! Sunny and warm. Maybe we will stick to the beach and not go on too many rides!
Lisa

Did you hear about the 13 year old girl in Louisville, KY who lost both her feet on a Superman ride??? They said it was a loose cable that got tangled in her feet and then the ride went up at 50+ mph and literally tore her feet off just above her ankles. OUCH...poor, poor, poor girl.

Didn't mean to take the wind out of your sail....I really do hope you have a fantastic time in Santa Cruz....just ride the safe ones and enjoy!!!

 

[EllaEnchanted]

Cat 6s are gone now....Deb, good thing you grabbed it when you did! I'm sure the prices will continue to go higher so best to get it while you can. Lisa

It took two tries....it went quicker the first time....but I am so glad that I got it this time. YEAHHHHHHH!!!!!!

 

[LiserAnn]

I'm still having fun with planning. I am now working on our flights. I must say I am kind of confused about how to go about it. I would rather not go through a TA, but I have never booked on my own before. I do have it narrowed down to two direct flights out of LAX, one is United and the other is Delta. Do you think it is in my best interest to book early? See how confused I am. Any input anybody has would be great.

I booked our flights yesterday. I checked two days ago and for the direct LAX-MCO flights, the price for AA and United were $199 and Delta was $203. When I went to book it yesterday, the prices had gone up, AA by $5, Delta by $9 and United by $55!!! So I would say book as soon as you can.

Since all four of us (yep the boys too) earn miles with AA we chose the AA flight...and we liked the earlier time anyway cuz it means we'll get to Orlando at 4pm. The night before the flight we're going to rent a car here ($50), drive it up to LAX, spend the night at the LAX Crowne Plaza ($94/night with the entertainment card...the AAA rate is $189!!!). I booked the flight on the AA website and it was a piece of cake. I've also booked flights on Delta and United in the past on their websites, so if you need help, just PM me, I'm happy to help!

But I would say not to wait....the rates seem to be going up if anything! Oh, and regardless of what airline you go with, to pick the best airline seats, use www.seat guru.com (just remove the space between seat and guru...i put that there so the mods wouldn't delete the website address). It's GREAT!

 

[LiserAnn]

I am feeling somewhat better and still waiting on results of EKG to schedule surgery.

Glad you're feeling a little bit better...it's been quiet without you...we miss you!!!

 

[LiserAnn]

Did you hear about the 13 year old girl in Louisville, KY who lost both her feet on a Superman ride??? They said it was a loose cable that got tangled in her feet and then the ride went up at 50+ mph and literally tore her feet off just above her ankles. OUCH...poor, poor, poor girl.

I did hear about that the other day and I thought how awful. You're having a great time at an amusement park and bam...your whole life is changed forever. Poor thing!

We won't let the kids go on those quick set up amusement rides (you know the carnival comes to town for the weekend type of thing) because I'm too paranoid. Silly, but I can't help it. Those rides look way too rickety, especially when you might have the situation where Joe forgot to put the critical bolt attaching the ride car because he didn't have enough sleep the night before.....

 

[HollyTyler]

I LOVE pics....

Sounds like you had a full and fun day too, Holly....hanging with your best friend, baseball with Tyler, playground and fireworks...all good things!!!

Another full day today for you with pool and Tyler's skating.

Oh, and don't forget the Chilli fest on Friday night...

You're a very busy beaver....a mover and shaker....no grass growing under your feet....

Glad you're having such a great weekend!

Not such a good weekend anymore. At Lowes today, Tyler was misbehaving, getting into stuff he shouldn't be touching. I gave him a couple warnings to stop and come stand by me because I can't stand it when kids act up in stores. I firmly believe kids need to stand next to their parents in stores, behave, and not grab everything in sight. So the third warning was that if he didn't do as I had asked him 2 times before, he'd lose his priviledge of going to open skate today. Sure enough, he still disobeyed, so no skating for him. Then lots of screaming the whole way home, etc. Lots of not nice things said to me, so then he also lost the ice cream outing we were going to do after skating. I later learned that he was just tired (because despite being done with naps for almost a year, he slept for 2 hours this afternoon), but being tired doesn't make it OK for him to misbehave. He begged me to let him do something to earn skating back today, but I told him he has to learn to not misbehave in the first place and to do as he's told. So he'll get a chance to try again next weekend.

Most people tell me I'm too strict and I feel so bad about him not being able to do those fun things today that he'd been looking forward to for days. Made me literally cry too (but out of his sight) for his sadness at losing those treats. But most kids nowadays are so disrespectful, and I'm just hoping he doesn't end up like all the troublemaker teens we have in the world now.

 

[cquick]

Not such a good weekend anymore. At Lowes today, Tyler was misbehaving, getting into stuff he shouldn't be touching. I gave him a couple warnings to stop and come stand by me because I can't stand it when kids act up in stores. I firmly believe kids need to stand next to their parents in stores, behave, and not grab everything in sight. So the third warning was that if he didn't do as I had asked him 2 times before, he'd lose his priviledge of going to open skate today. Sure enough, he still disobeyed, so no skating for him. Then lots of screaming the whole way home, etc. Lots of not nice things said to me, so then he also lost the ice cream outing we were going to do after skating. I later learned that he was just tired (because despite being done with naps for almost a year, he slept for 2 hours this afternoon), but being tired doesn't make it OK for him to misbehave. He begged me to let him do something to earn skating back today, but I told him he has to learn to not misbehave in the first place and to do as he's told. So he'll get a chance to try again next weekend.

Most people tell me I'm too strict and I feel so bad about him not being able to do those fun things today that he'd been looking forward to for days. Made me literally cry too (but out of his sight) for his sadness at losing those treats. But most kids nowadays are so disrespectful, and I'm just hoping he doesn't end up like all the troublemaker teens we have in the world now.

Oh, Holly, I know how difficult it can be to take away priviledges, but sometimes it has to be done. If he continues acting up, I have a suggestion that sometimes works with small children. They don't always understand the "no skating for you" concept, BUT if he is on a program where he earns priviledges for every 1/2 hour he behaves.....I mean follow your rules, then he earns a reward, such a a poker chip. When he has earned enough chips to buy his outing, he can go, and if he doesn't have enough, he'll understand because you will have told him ahead of time how many chips it will take to earn the skating party, or the ice cream or the TV or whatever. I was the strict mommy when my kids were little, too. Don't worry, it pays off in the end! Connie

 

[HollyTyler]

Oh, Holly, I know how difficult it can be to take away priviledges, but sometimes it has to be done. If he continues acting up, I have a suggestion that sometimes works with small children. They don't always understand the "no skating for you" concept, BUT if he is on a program where he earns priviledges for every 1/2 hour he behaves.....I mean follow your rules, then he earns a reward, such a a poker chip. When he has earned enough chips to buy his outing, he can go, and if he doesn't have enough, he'll understand because you will have told him ahead of time how many chips it will take to earn the skating party, or the ice cream or the TV or whatever. I was the strict mommy when my kids were little, too. Don't worry, it pays off in the end! Connie

Great idea! Thanks! I like that idea because he'll be able to see how many chips, or whatever, he has accumulated. And I could make a chart to hang up that has a picture of an ice cream cone and then a picture of how many tokens or chips he'd need for that, and do the same for any other outings he likes to do. Then he could see how many he needs and how many he already has, etc. Cool!

It's just hard being strict when his dad isn't. So his dad always tells me how perfectly Tyler behaved at his house, how he's always so well-behaved, etc. And then whenever Tyler's in trouble with me, he always says he wants to go to his dad's because "dad would let me" do whatever I'm not allowing him to do.

OK....done venting! We have to go to Wal-Mart for some dreaded shopping.

 

[LiserAnn]

Not such a good weekend anymore. At Lowes today, Tyler was misbehaving, getting into stuff he shouldn't be touching. I gave him a couple warnings to stop and come stand by me because I can't stand it when kids act up in stores. I firmly believe kids need to stand next to their parents in stores, behave, and not grab everything in sight. So the third warning was that if he didn't do as I had asked him 2 times before, he'd lose his priviledge of going to open skate today. Sure enough, he still disobeyed, so no skating for him. Then lots of screaming the whole way home, etc. Lots of not nice things said to me, so then he also lost the ice cream outing we were going to do after skating. I later learned that he was just tired (because despite being done with naps for almost a year, he slept for 2 hours this afternoon), but being tired doesn't make it OK for him to misbehave. He begged me to let him do something to earn skating back today, but I told him he has to learn to not misbehave in the first place and to do as he's told. So he'll get a chance to try again next weekend.

Most people tell me I'm too strict and I feel so bad about him not being able to do those fun things today that he'd been looking forward to for days. Made me literally cry too (but out of his sight) for his sadness at losing those treats. But most kids nowadays are so disrespectful, and I'm just hoping he doesn't end up like all the troublemaker teens we have in the world now.

Holly-I know how tough this is. But I agree with you 100%, you did exactly as I would have done! I have the same philosophy and if you ask me, the problem today is not enough parents are strict with their kids. And I too hear that I'm too strict. But you know what else? When my children are at someone's home or at a special class I'm told they're the only child who said "please" and "thank you". So, call me strict, but at least my kids will be contributors society and be polite and have manners!

Mark was reading in the paper today that Enterprise rent a car hires something like 8,000 college grads per year and part of their "education" once at Enterprise is that they can't answer their cell phones or text back the moment the phone rings...they need to wait until their break or at the day's end...the phone must be put away. They actually have to teach them that!!!! WHAT?! He also read that a company had several newly hired college graduates who didn't show up for work over spring break... HELLO?! How does that happen? Oh, I had spring break in school so doesn't that happen in the work place? Is that their thinking?! In my opinion many parents today haven't given their kids enough direction, structure or discipline and the effects are starting to show.

Okay, off my soapbox, but I just wanted you to know I totally support you!!!!

 

[birkner]

Glad you're feeling a little bit better...it's been quiet without you...we miss you!!!

Thanks, I am trying to keep up with the reading though I am not posting as much.

 

[NotSoLittleMermaid]

Hi everyone,
I'm back home, my company is gone and my life is starting to settle down! I had so much fun at DL with my nephew (the one in pic below) for a couple of days, then my sis and cousin came and we all had a good time together for a couple more days. We got to ride Nemo, only waited about an hour (went first thing last Sunday morning). It brought back A LOT of memories when I sat down on that little seat in the submarine and stuck my face up to the porthole (it seems like the seat wasn't nearly so little the last time I rode it--wonder why???? ). It's a cute ride, very well done, worth waiting an hour for; 2 hours or more, I wouldn't. My cousin came home with me and stayed 6 days. We had a great time--we're just a couple of months apart in age and like sisters.

I've read the last few pages of posts but am really far behind, so if something important has happened in the last 10 days or so, would someone PM me and fill me in? Thanks!

Otherwise, I'm looking forward to chatting with everyone again.

 

[HollyTyler]

Holly-I know how tough this is. But I agree with you 100%, you did exactly as I would have done! I have the same philosophy and if you ask me, the problem today is not enough parents are strict with their kids. And I too hear that I'm too strict. But you know what else? When my children are at someone's home or at a special class I'm told they're the only child who said "please" and "thank you". So, call me strict, but at least my kids will be contributors society and be polite and have manners!

Mark was reading in the paper today that Enterprise rent a car hires something like 8,000 college grads per year and part of their "education" once at Enterprise is that they can't answer their cell phones or text back the moment the phone rings...they need to wait until their break or at the day's end...the phone must be put away. They actually have to teach them that!!!! WHAT?! He also read that a company had several newly hired college graduates who didn't show up for work over spring break... HELLO?! How does that happen? Oh, I had spring break in school so doesn't that happen in the work place? Is that their thinking?! In my opinion many parents today haven't given their kids enough direction, structure or discipline and the effects are starting to show.

Okay, off my soapbox, but I just wanted you to know I totally support you!!!!

Thank you! My dad even tells me quite often, "Lighten up, he's only a little kid", but I feel that if I don't start from the beginning trying to crack down on bad behavior I'll be sorry later. I often feel my efforts don't matter because he doesn't remember from one time to the next that I mean what I say, but people tell me it will eventually sink in to that stubborn little brain. Yeah, right....maybe when he's 40!!! He's being so well-behaved this evening, it makes me feel sad for getting after him earlier, but I always make sure to tell him how happy I am that he's behaving (and specify exactly what behavior he's doing that's good).

Anxiously counting down the minutes until bedtime!

 

[HollyTyler]

Thanks, I am trying to keep up with the reading though I am not posting as much.

I'm glad you're here a bit and feeling a little better, but I hope you're able to get your surgery over and done with quickly so you can get back to feeling 100% yourself soon!

 

[HollyTyler]

Hi everyone,
I'm back home, my company is gone and my life is starting to settle down! I had so much fun at DL with my nephew (the one in pic below) for a couple of days, then my sis and cousin came and we all had a good time together for a couple more days. We got to ride Nemo, only waited about an hour (went first thing last Sunday morning). It brought back A LOT of memories when I sat down on that little seat in the submarine and stuck my face up to the porthole (it seems like the seat wasn't nearly so little the last time I rode it--wonder why???? ). It's a cute ride, very well done, worth waiting an hour for; 2 hours or more, I wouldn't. My cousin came home with me and stayed 6 days. We had a great time--we're just a couple of months apart in age and like sisters.

I've read the last few pages of posts but am really far behind, so if something important has happened in the last 10 days or so, would someone PM me and fill me in? Thanks!

Otherwise, I'm looking forward to chatting with everyone again.

Welcome back! Glad you had a good time!

 

[HollyTyler]

Well I'm off. Have to go hide outside in my car so I don't have to hear the 3 hours of bedtime screaming that's coming. I SO do not enjoy my time with Tyler and haven't since we've had months of screaming. I handled the terrible 2s and 3s much better than this defiant behavior. Too bad I couldn't send him to his dad's for a whole month.

One of my friends, when her kids were this age and doing the same screaming, took ALL of the kid's toys away, put them into storage bins, locked them in the garage or basement or somewhere out of reach and sight, leaving NOTHING in the bedroom but a bed and dresser, making the child sit in the empty room for time out for each episode of screaming, and had to earn each toy back, one at a time, with a whole day of good behavior. She did this with each child and completely changed their behavior in about 3 months. Sounds drastic, but I'm about to that point.

SO sorry...just HAD to vent. Most of you have kids, so I'm sure you understand my frustration. It's just hard when you don't have that other parent in the house to take over for 15 minutes or so to just walk away and calm down, so the tension and anger and frustration just build non-stop, all day long. So I sit outside on my front porch to get a self-imposed "time out", but can still hear him, so most of the time I have to sit in my car and cool off to prevent me from screaming at him, which just scares him and is hurtful to him.

Sorry.....just venting. Now to go back in the house, throw him back into his bed, and try to keep my sanity.

 

[Jhalkias]

Well I'm off. Have to go hide outside in my car so I don't have to hear the 3 hours of bedtime screaming that's coming. I SO do not enjoy my time with Tyler and haven't since we've had months of screaming. I handled the terrible 2s and 3s much better than this defiant behavior. Too bad I couldn't send him to his dad's for a whole month.

One of my friends, when her kids were this age and doing the same screaming, took ALL of the kid's toys away, put them into storage bins, locked them in the garage or basement or somewhere out of reach and sight, leaving NOTHING in the bedroom but a bed and dresser, making the child sit in the empty room for time out for each episode of screaming, and had to earn each toy back, one at a time, with a whole day of good behavior. She did this with each child and completely changed their behavior in about 3 months. Sounds drastic, but I'm about to that point.

SO sorry...just HAD to vent. Most of you have kids, so I'm sure you understand my frustration. It's just hard when you don't have that other parent in the house to take over for 15 minutes or so to just walk away and calm down, so the tension and anger and frustration just build non-stop, all day long. So I sit outside on my front porch to get a self-imposed "time out", but can still hear him, so most of the time I have to sit in my car and cool off to prevent me from screaming at him, which just scares him and is hurtful to him.

Sorry.....just venting. Now to go back in the house, throw him back into his bed, and try to keep my sanity.

Holly, I cannot even begin to imagine how difficult it must be to raise a child by yourself . . . Even so, never had an experience like what you are talking about now.

I don't know if this makes any sense at all, and you may have already thought about it . . . someone on our other cruise thread had some similar experiences with their own son, who is about the same age as Tyler. They were at the end of their rope too, and had him tested for food allergies because of something else that happened. Turns out he had some major food allergies, that seem more common in kids these days. Once they changed the diet, the behavoir changed pretty dramatically along with it.

Just a thought, as I know you must be at wit's end.

 

[HollyTyler]

Holly, I cannot even begin to imagine how difficult it must be to raise a child by yourself . . . Even so, never had an experience like what you are talking about now.

I don't know if this makes any sense at all, and you may have already thought about it . . . someone on our other cruise thread had some similar experiences with their own son, who is about the same age as Tyler. They were at the end of their rope too, and had him tested for food allergies because of something else that happened. Turns out he had some major food allergies, that seem more common in kids these days. Once they changed the diet, the behavoir changed pretty dramatically along with it.

Just a thought, as I know you must be at wit's end.

Thanks John, I appreciate your ideas. Actually, I had never heard of allergies causing behavior issues like that. He has his 5 year checkup in August, so I'll ask his doc about it. But I'm not sure about that though because his dad says he's perfectly well-behaved at his house, all the time (because I've mentioned to him how horrible Tyler's been for a couple months now). Maybe he's just allergic to me because he's a monster the whole time he's with me. In fact, after our recent trip to Florida, I decided he's not going on ANY vacations until he's a few years older and hopefully behaving better. I've decided kids who act like he's been acting definitely don't need to be rewarded with fun vacations that cost me a small fortune. I'm still going on the November cruise (took my ticker off my sig because I was just going to completely cancel) because I've been looking forward to it and really need a vacation, but Tyler won't be going.

GREAT NEWS! The tantrum only lasted 45 minutes tonight! I came back in the house because I finally heard silence, checked, and he's in his bed almost asleep. He looks up at me and tells me, "Sorry mom. I'm so tired."