Hurray for your weight loss! That's awesome!!!
It's also super great that your sister will get to stay longer.
What's the countdown, Jen???
I am so excited for you!!!!!!!! I feel like I am going too. I know you guys are going to have a wonderful time and alot of crying during the wishes cruise because your mom's wish came true.
There is nothing like family
And I couldn't have said it better myself--there is NOTHING like family, and I am SUPER lucky with mine!!!Hooray for you guys! Won't be long now! Can't wait to spend the next couple of days with you on your trippie!
CONGRATS on the weight loss. As for how to know what you should weigh, if you search for BMI charts online they will tell you what a desired weight for your height is. I have been working at weight loss for 1-1/2 years now and I am getting close to goal, but it is a challenge each and every day. You should be very proud!
Her picture is a little harder to see because the material of her bag is silky/shiny. We'll just wait and see!!!
I should probably start packing or something. 
First of all---I LOVE your quote in your siggie about vacations being an investment in your family!!! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it!! I totally agree! Life is too short not to take some quality family time and enjoy each other--especially when you are at the Mouse's House! We weren't able to make it to the exhibit this weekend, but we are planning on going soon, so please stay tuned to hear all about that exhibit in a future update!
We had a great weekend Cheri--I hope you did as well!! Frisbee golf is a LOT of fun, and I DEFINITELY think you should tell your hubby he needs to take you some time soon! It is a great way to hike and play a game at the same time! Tom is pretty good--me not so much--but we have fun! Tom even has "professional discs" that he uses---YES, it is actually a PROFESSIONAL sport!!!! I just use the regular old frisbees, and now chase Megan around as she uses her own little frisbee. It is NOT just a "GUY thing!"
We LOVE playing board games whether it is just us two or the three of us. I so totally am lusting over your electronic version of Battleship--HOW COOL!!! Bargain Hunter is an old 80s game that Tom still has from when he was a kid that we love to pull out and play--it is right up your alley Cheri because it is all about SHOPPING!!! You can still find them on Ebay, and there is a modern version called Mall Madness--although not as good as the original IMO! SO MUCH FUN! You and Tom would get along great in respect to Monopoly--HIS FAVORITE GAME!!! We almost ended our relationship though over a heated Monopoly game back when we were in college (NO JOKE--LONG STORY!!), so it takes a LOT to get me to play that game with him now--at least a couple of glasses of wine and at least ONE backrub! He even has a version you can play on the Playstation! It sounds like you would be the kind of person he would LOVE to play that game with!!!! One of my favorites is Scrabble--but he feels I have an unfair advantage because I was an English teacher--go figure!
Cinderella II was released directly to DVD in 2007--if you can't find it at your video rental place, try the library. We get most of Meg's movies there because they are FREE!!!
I would give Indy a 7 or 8 out of 10. There were a couple of "WHAT?!?!" moments, but it is an enjoyable movie, and DEFINITELY worth seeing in the theater on the big screen!
We try our best to jam pack our weekend with fun things to do because that is usually the best quality family time we get all week due to Tom's long work days and huge work load. He tries to make up for missed time in the evenings with Megan by doing fun family stuff together on the weekends. We have season passes to the Cincy zoo and the Cincy museum complex so that helps us get out and see and do plenty--it feels like it is free (I know in reality it isn't) but we can come and go as we please there without having to pay any additional fees. My life during the week would probably put you into a coma though--very monotonous and routine (laundry, house cleaning, cooking, etc.)--but at least Megan's sense of humor and wit livens up my days!!!
The Bodies Exhibition is a touring exhibit with real human bodies that are on display to demonstrate the anatomy and physiology of our human body. The bodies have been preserved through a plasticization process. Here is a link with a little info about it on it:
http://www.cincymuseum.org/explore_our_sites/special_exhibits_events/current_exhibits/
We didn't make it on Monday--too crowded due to the holiday--but will be going soon, and I will post an update about it!! STAY TUNED!!! We got free tix from my sister when she used to teach Nursing classes at a local community college--she took her students there on a group trip so they could learn more about the anatomy and physiology elements they were learning about in the classroom. She had two extra tickets, so she passed them my way. What a great Sis!!!
We couldn't go on Monday--too crowded due to the holiday--but will be going soon--STAY TUNED FOR THAT UPDATE!!!
Thanks for joining in and reading along on my PTR!!! Thanks also for the kind compliments on Megan--she is our PRINCESS!! How ironic that you take care of a little 4yo preemie Megan too!!! Did either of the two have any setbacks or difficulties due to their prematurity? Please stay tuned to hear all about our trip!! I can't wait--only 10 more days!
We had a great weekend!!! Tom and I have great memories of hiking in Colorado in 1993--we were at Estes Park--BEAUTIFUL!!! We couldn't get over the fact that it was August, and we found snow up on some of the hilltops as we were hiking!! I haven't tried either of those games, but that sounds like something fun to do with our whole family some night!!! I hope there is some way that we can go with Tom to Miami, but the outlook is looking bleak--airfare from Cincy is OUTRAGEOUS, and we all know about the gas prices!!We will miss each other terribly, but will hope the week goes quickly! AND I DO know what you mean about those reunions though--
!!! AND TOM is ITALIAN!!!
Hee Hee Hee!!!!! Oh Deb--you took my mind to the gutter!!! Hee Hee--THANKS!!!
We had a great weekend--so much fun stuff to do! We found out at the movie Saturday there are only 400 drive-ins left--funny we actually have two within driving distance! We didn't get to Bodies yet, but I will post an update here once we do--I think it will be interesting, and I actually don't think I will be too squeamish. Since the bodies are plasiticized, there is no ooey, gooey, bloody stuff to look at--thank goodness--because that is the one reason I chose teaching over becoming a doctor!!! I think I headed in the right direction!!! DON'T YOU?!?!?!?
Here's to ONLY 10 MORE DAYS!!!!
(I'm not an english teacher but I'm an impeccable speller! 
Happy Thursday everyone!!! GUESS WHAT...................................................................................................................................
ONLY 8 MORE DAYS!!!!
I know that was probably a little anti-climactic--my ticker says it all, but I just wanted to celebrate a little more!
Today I am starting to do some "heavy duty" packing and preparing for the trip--going to tackle the Disney laundry and pull out what hasn't been worn yet to prevent it from being worn at all before then. Megan and I have nothing else we need to do today--so it should be VERY productive!!!! I am so excited about today--I know I'm a goof, but hey, I like being that way!
Yesterday I sent the knapsacks I made for Mike's kids with my mom so that she can give them to them the day they leave--so hopefully nothing happens to them before then. SO MIKE--Mom has them--their shirts are already in them as well as some other trip necessities.
I knew your curious minds would like to see them, so here they are!!!
Here is a close up of Conner's:
Remember--he is 11 now, so in order to still be "cool," he went for the camo look with the Mickey iron-on as his touch of Disney!
Here's Josh's:
He wanted a pirate one--couldn't find a specific POTC print, but I think this one works well for him. He wanted to add the gold anchor iron-on "just because."
Here's Maddie's:
She wanted a Tinkerbell bag--we added the butterfly iron-ons because the boys had picked iron-ons and she "needed" one too!!! No good Aunt would say no to that!
Each of them has their Disney shirts that my mother-in-law and I got for them, a pack of tissues, a pack of 2 ponchos, and a case of 15 of those neon light up bracelets. The knapsacks are easy to make, and I think they will work out well for them to easily carry around the parks--not at all heavy!
My mom also brought over some material with which she is going to make a cute little Tinkerbell dress for Megan. It is neat because it is already hemmed, and ruched at the top--all she has to do is put in a side seam and sew on some straps, and voila! A DRESS!! I will post some pics of it here when it is done. She said there is a cute Minnie fabric of the same type, so she might just end up with one of those too!!
I'll talk soon!!! Stay tuned for updates throughout the day! Jen
So that is what is going on here in our humble abode--PACKING CENTRAL!!!
You really are working hard and I commend you!!! (I'm losing weight but unintentionally..... it's the only GOOD side effect of my being sick. )
Cute bags. Did you use a pattern?
WOW, those are awesome!! I just love the Tinkerbell fabric! And the dress(es) sounds like it will be adorable!!
Okay, now my comments on the stuff I didn't quote:
You bought a bunch of stuff...I love your preparedness! I love those peanut butter crackers and I ALWAYS bring them to Disney.
Way to go on the weight loss!!!!
So glad for Kristi getting to stay 2 more days! Oh no..I hope she can get the flight changed without paying much! Here's something I hope helps...
sorry you missed the bodies exhibit.
Thanks for the rating on Indy.....7 or 8 isn't bad!
Congrats on single digits!!!
I TOTALLY made one of those dresses for myself! I'm not a seamstress so the idea of putting in one seam is FANTASTIC!
Hurray for 8 days!!!
The bags are too cute!!! Mike's kids will just love them! Does Megan have one, too?
We are at 10 days!!!
8 Days! Wohoo!!!!
Those bags are AWESOME!!! I can't wait to see a pic of the Meg's dress (or dresses should that be the case)
Good luck with the packing today! I hope you have a very productive day!
love the bags!!! my dd would love that tinker bell one it is her new obsession!
8 days OMG!!! I am starting to feel alittle over whelmed b/c I just haven't gotten to the whole packing thing yet.. I have made some lists and still need to do alot of shopping for it sunscreens , ponchos, fans etc...
Have you tried out the target fan yet?
Just got back from Disney with the gift cards...
getting soo close!
So close!
I am heading to target this weekend, should I buy it??
ok try the fan!
we are sooo close! I can't wait... we are all going to have such magical trips to write about when we get back! It will be even more fun to read each others knowing exactly what is going on, and maybe even doing a "dis shout out" we are going to run into each other at some point~ right?? I mean it's not like there is going to be THAT many people there right?
ok try the fan!
we are sooo close! I can't wait... we are all going to have such magical trips to write about when we get back! It will be even more fun to read each others knowing exactly what is going on, and maybe even doing a "dis shout out" we are going to run into each other at some point~ right?? I mean it's not like there is going to be THAT many people there right?
That is the one thing I think we are nervous about---we don't care if the weather is hot--we have been through hot. But since we are SO used to going during the off-season, Tom and I are nervous about the crowds. It is hard to prepare when you don't know how badly it really is going to be. I am sure in our head we are grossly over-exaggerating it in our heads, but we have nothing to go by or base it on. ATTENTION TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE GONE THIS TIME IN JUNE BEFORE---CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE US A CLUE WHAT THE CROWDS REALLY ARE GOING TO BE LIKE?!??!?! I ask this not just to be curious, but we really do need to know for a very personal reason--Megan. As I have mentioned before, Megan suffers from Sensory Integration Dysfunction, and is HIGHLY oversensitive to any input coming through all her senses. (HENCE--the reason we usually go when it is not too crowded--being in confined spaces with crowds terrifies her.) For this reason, we are going to request a Guest Assistance Card this year for her for the first time--we hope we never have to use it, but it will be good to have in case we are in a queue line with a LOT of people and she starts to get unsettled and melt down. The GAC will allow us to go stand in a more private, secluded area with her until I guess the rest of the group catches up to us. So this is why Tom and I are trying to prepare ourselves for the most realistic understanding about the crowds--we are trying to prepare Megan. It's just going to be our families there, right???
