May 18, 2013 MAGIC EBTA - Who is with us?

[Tink1987]

It's the same for us in France...

The snow or the country shutting down?

 

[twopeasonepod]

Wait a sec, there's a 5-10 y.o. sleepover in the Lab??? The boys have only slept at their grandparents' house so far. I wonder if they'd go for it? My guess is not, but you never know.

Just so you don't feel too bad about the weather, it's pouring rain here. Like sheets of rain. We always tell visitors that we need it to keep everything beautiful and green here. Sucks when you are on vacation, though. But it's still 73.

 

[GoofyNewfie]

About jetlag and loosing hours.
My tip as an experienced traveler and traveling constantly with a minimum of 6 hour time difference, i would recommend this:
** Try to go to bed around the same time every night and try to wake up every day around the same time (for example bed 11pm and wake up 7 am) that way you keep a routine.
** Eat normal food every day as you do at home, do eat breakfast, linch, dinner as you would do at home and een when you're not hungry still eat.
** in my opinion this is the most important one:
Don't think all the time ohw now it is this and this time at home.... You're not at home you are on the ship amd there it is this time.
Stop calculating the time and try not to think about time changes. The longer you keep on thinking about it the more jetlagged you get.

I haven't had a jetlag once also bot on the EBtA in 2010...

I so second these recommendations. Change all your time-keeping devices. You have to convince your body and your mind of what time it is. Giving it conflicting information doesn't help. I used to keep a device or two on home-time but with all the travelling I've been doing, it's gotten so much easier jetlag-wise by changing them all. Getting out in the sun as soon as possible also helps set the body-clock I find.

I'm thankful I'm in the middle of all these time-zones. 2.5hrs to Texas, 4.5hrs to Barcelona. That should help some. My wife isn't so much of a traveller and needs her sleep - don't tell her I said that.

 

[Kirbo]

Wait a sec, there's a 5-10 y.o. sleepover in the Lab??? The boys have only slept at their grandparents' house so far. I wonder if they'd go for it? My guess is not, but you never know.

Just so you don't feel too bad about the weather, it's pouring rain here. Like sheets of rain. We always tell visitors that we need it to keep everything beautiful and green here. Sucks when you are on vacation, though. But it's still 73.

I've heard that there's no guarantee, but that on these longer cruises with fewer kids it's often offered! My girls (we also have twins) are almost nine and have never been on a sleepover. We figure this is a perfect way to get them used to it. Plus, if one of them gets unhappy, we are right there! Win-win.

So far only one of my two has shown an interest. I'm hopeful that she'll convince her sister.

 

[belle2011]

The snow or the country shutting down?

Both ;-)

 

[twopeasonepod]

My girls (we also have twins) are almost nine and have never been on a sleepover. We figure this is a perfect way to get them used to it. Plus, if one of them gets unhappy, we are right there! Win-win.

Good point! (We will be right there.) Are your girls pretty alike? The boys are fraternal (and hugely different in size -- like 20 lbs. different!), but they pretty much like the same things. And one will only do something if the other does it, too. Apparently, they still think they share the same womb.

 

[MandyGirl]

Wait a sec, there's a 5-10 y.o. sleepover in the Lab??? The boys have only slept at their grandparents' house so far. I wonder if they'd go for it? My guess is not, but you never know.

At least they did it on the WBTA 2011 we were on, called the Character Campout. Not sure if an "all the time" thing for the longer cruises. We had to sign up, free, and our 5 year old had never ever spent the night away from us. Not even at the grandparents. She loved it!

Someone in this thread makes a mention of it too - I didn't realize they had a "campfire"...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2945584

 

[Kirbo]

Good point! (We will be right there.) Are your girls pretty alike? The boys are fraternal (and hugely different in size -- like 20 lbs. different!), but they pretty much like the same things. And one will only do something if the other does it, too. Apparently, they still think they share the same womb.

That's a huge weight difference! My girls always weigh the same amount, but one of them is about an inch taller than the other. Technically they are identical twins (I mean that they have the same DNA and are MZ), but I hate that term as they have quite a few differences. They are very similar but quite distinct as well. Sometimes I'm surprised when folks even notcie that they are twins!

 

[MandyGirl]

I so second these recommendations. Change all your time-keeping devices. You have to convince your body and your mind of what time it is. Giving it conflicting information doesn't help. I used to keep a device or two on home-time but with all the travelling I've been doing, it's gotten so much easier jetlag-wise by changing them all. Getting out in the sun as soon as possible also helps set the body-clock I find.

Mind over Matter

 

[kaseyC]

Ack! I hope you're somewhere keeping toasty warm.

Yep, I spent the rest of the day in the house, doing housework, trip planning and way too much time on the internet.

 

[twopeasonepod]

At least they did it on the WBTA 2011 we were on, called the Character Campout. Not sure if an "all the time" thing for the longer cruises. We had to sign up, free, and our 5 year old had never ever spent the night away from us. Not even at the grandparents. She loved it!

Someone in this thread makes a mention of it too - I didn't realize they had a "campfire"...
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2945584

Campfire? Wowza! THAT would be awesome!!! Obviously I'm sure it's not a real fire, but when they do the volcano (or whatever that science lab experiment is), they literally blow the goopy liquid directly onto the ceiling. I'm sure they make it a great experience for the kids.

That's a huge weight difference! My girls always weigh the same amount, but one of them is about an inch taller than the other. Technically they are identical twins (I mean that they have the same DNA and are MZ), but I hate that term as they have quite a few differences. They are very similar but quite distinct as well. Sometimes I'm surprised when folks even notcie that they are twins!

Yeah, although I love having twins, it is important that they can be their own people, and that we enjoy all their differences. The boys still want to wear all the same clothes (brainwashed by me when they were younger, I'm sure), so people usually ask if they are twins, although they ask skeptically. They are both very tall, but one is off-the-charts tall, so he is about two inches taller (obviously he didn't get that from me haha).

They were a surprise to us, and it's been a wild ride since! They LOVE other twins, so although they will be super shy at first, they will surely ask your girls a lot of questions later!

 

[ThePedersonFamily]

these are the people who expressed they would like to sign up for linked dining on previous posts, if I posted incorrectly please let me know

Linked dining

LATE DINING

binkytell. Sarah, dh, dd11, dd2
mandygirl Mandy, dh, DMil, dd6, dd3
tubbersteruk. Paul, DW, dd4
kyrasmommy. DW, dh, dd10, ds5
heatherb819 heather, dh, dd10
nitrame 3a, dd9, dd6
hmhaaseDW, dh, dd6
saracat Sara, dh
kaseyc kaseyc, dd12, dd10
kirbo kirbo, dh, dd9, dd9


MAIN DINING


viking53 chuck, DW, dd5

We'd like to be linked to!!! late dining DH, DW, DD(11), DD(6)

Thanks!!!

 

[Kirbo]

Yep, I spent the rest of the day in the house, doing housework, trip planning and way too much time on the internet.

Sounds like my day! Glad you were warm.

 

[Kirbo]

Yeah, although I love having twins, it is important that they can be their own people, and that we enjoy all their differences. The boys still want to wear all the same clothes (brainwashed by me when they were younger, I'm sure), so people usually ask if they are twins, although they ask skeptically. They are both very tall, but one is off-the-charts tall, so he is about two inches taller (obviously he didn't get that from me haha).

They were a surprise to us, and it's been a wild ride since! They LOVE other twins, so although they will be super shy at first, they will surely ask your girls a lot of questions later!

When my girls were in Kindergarten they also wanted to dress alike. It might be an age thing. It was hard for their teacher, but she did learn to tell them apart! By first grade they rarely dressed alike. Now they never do. But they still like us to buy them similar clothes for the sake of being fair!

We were surprised to get twins, but we did find out pretty early, so that made it pretty easy and we were ready for them when they arrived.

My girls don't seem really taken by other twins, except that their closest friends are also twin girls! They do love being twins, however, and don't mind the added attention it sometimes brings. They are also kindhearted kids and will gladly talk with your boys.

For months I rarely checked in on this thread, but now that we're almost there I can't stop checking in

 

[sdlong329]

My wife ... had bad experiences on Southwest before we were married. I realize it's over 7 years ago, but she's more nervous than I am.

No need to be nervous about flying on Southwest. Heck, anything can happen (could have happened) with any airline ... especially when departing or arriving from specific airports. Hopefully, all will be well for you this time.


Steven

 

[WVURunner]

Just found our flights from Barcelona for $500 (roundtrip ticket though) So excited.

 

[Kirbo]

Just found our flights from Barcelona for $500 (roundtrip ticket though) So excited.

That is amazing! Can you share your details?

 

[sdlong329]

When we were on the EBTA in 2011, Most people (including me) gave more than one gift for FE. Small stuff, like chapstick, small toys, candy, or magnets, but did so multiple times over the 2 week period. ... it just seems more fun on a longer cruise to have the excitement last for the whole thing, not be over with in a couple of days. I don't think ANYONE wants to do an FE group with 60 cabins or 100 individuals. WOW, that would just be too much work I could be wrong though who knows.

We typically give custom-wrapped chocolate from Philadelphia ... the number of pieces distributed to each stateroom are based upon the number of people in the stateroom ... we do not give just one piece one day, then go back another day to give another piece. I guess, what I was trying to say was, if you are going to walk the entire ship 3 different times, to go to 45 different staterooms (15 * 3 trips) ... you are basically doing us about as much as we did on the last cruise (60), and you are likely spending MORE time, since you are walking the entire ship three times ... while we walk the entire ship once (divided 3 days).

In the past, we have often received baggies of various items, single items per stateroom, as well as single items for each person in a stateroom. I can't say we ever recall getting a single item from someone on multiple days. On any given 7-night cruise, it is usually suggested that not everyone distribute their FE's on the first night. Some have opted to make deliveries later in the cruise ... others divide deliveries equally over the span of the cruise. We typically receive FE's on every day of the cruise ... up until after dinner on the last night of the cruise. I believe, if you think about making a single trip to any given stateroom (in lieu of multiple trips), you will find it cuts down on a lot of time.


Steven

 

[WVURunner]

That is amazing! Can you share your details?

Oh sorry, a bit overstimulated right now as my sister just went into labor! So excited to be adding another niece.

Departing Monday June 3rd on Swiss Air out of BCN, layover in Geneva and then on our way to JFK. We will grab a rental car and drive home, which should take us about 2 hours. I don't have the exact flight info on me.

 

[sdlong329]

Even if split into cabins I will keep the numbers of people the same in each group or near enough

Consider that some people make a FAMILY gift ... one per stateroom. If there are 30 people in the group ... some may be bringing 7 or 8 FE's (assuming 4 per stateroom).