Mom and Dad's Dream Trip-34 Yrs in Making-Jun08 SOUVIE PICS PG 51 NEXT TRIP!!???!!!!?

[DisneyDreamnDeb]

CEEEL..E..BRRA..TION!!!....HMMM...sorry, love that song ...now it'll be in my head for the rest of the evening....anyway, thats so great that everything worked out so nicely with your changes, and it does sound like you made a wise choice, it would be a terrible way to start a trip if they are scared.
That's a great suprise Mike has planned, just make sure you bring lots of tissue for your Mom! I would like to book the wishes cruise some time, it's just not in the budget this time since we will attend MNSSHP.

Happy Dance, for your weight loss, thanks for sharing just remember your beautiful no matter the size you wear! Happy Mothers Day!! Have a wonderful weekend!!! Deb.

 

[IluvXU]

Congratulations first and foremost on the weight loss... it is so hard to do!

Wishes cruise.... WOW! That would be so wonderful, can't wait to hear about it.

Glad that you could make changes....

And you are about at your four week mark too! (a couple of hours)


Have a wonderful weekend and Mother's Day!

 

[Charleston Princess]

You have so many great changes and good news! I am just tickled for you!

1. Great pics of Megan and your Countdown Calendar! If I don't get my act together, I will run out of time for making one!

2. Good changes on your itinerary! Even though it means we are no longer at DHS and AK at the same times , I think you made a wise decision. When I was four I was terrified of stormtroopers and Darth Vader. If I had seen them in real life, I would have probably wet myself in fear!

3. Hurray for Mike and the Wishes cruise! That will be a priceless memory!

4. Happy Dance for the Weight Loss!!!! I am so proud of you!!! I know you are so excited!!!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Jen,

Also, Happy Mother's Day to you, too! Hope you have a wonderful day!

 

[Beana9802]

new Buddy!!!

Um, there's no such thing...face it...she's a Buddy's new Mom!

THEY FIT!!!!!!!!

YIPPEE!!

Awesome about the wishes cruise too!

 

[ampc3]

Jenn,

That is awsome about your hard work and weight loss! Keep up the great work

I wanted to cry with you about the wishes cruise! That will be sooo much fun and soo special with the family will your sister still be there?

Happy Mother's Day also!

 

[MegansMom]

CEEEL..E..BRRA..TION!!!....HMMM...sorry, love that song ...now it'll be in my head for the rest of the evening....anyway, thats so great that everything worked out so nicely with your changes, and it does sound like you made a wise choice, it would be a terrible way to start a trip if they are scared.
That's a great suprise Mike has planned, just make sure you bring lots of tissue for your Mom! I would like to book the wishes cruise some time, it's just not in the budget this time since we will attend MNSSHP.

Happy Dance, for your weight loss, thanks for sharing just remember your beautiful no matter the size you wear! Happy Mothers Day!! Have a wonderful weekend!!! Deb.

Deb, Thanks so much for celebrating with me and your kinds words!!! That support has been so helpful along the weight loss way!! I couldn't have said it better if I said it myself about our true beauty not depending on our pant size--you are a sweetheart!! THANK YOU!

Congratulations first and foremost on the weight loss... it is so hard to do!

Wishes cruise.... WOW! That would be so wonderful, can't wait to hear about it.

Glad that you could make changes....

And you are about at your four week mark too! (a couple of hours)


Have a wonderful weekend and Mother's Day!

Thanks for all your congratulations--the weight loss is definitely hard to do, but I am so proud that I can see results. It feels good!

I am looking forward to the Wishes cruise--don't worry, I will post TONS of pics and info about it! Happy Mother's Day!!!!

You have so many great changes and good news! I am just tickled for you!

1. Great pics of Megan and your Countdown Calendar! If I don't get my act together, I will run out of time for making one!

2. Good changes on your itinerary! Even though it means we are no longer at DHS and AK at the same times , I think you made a wise decision. When I was four I was terrified of stormtroopers and Darth Vader. If I had seen them in real life, I would have probably wet myself in fear!

3. Hurray for Mike and the Wishes cruise! That will be a priceless memory!

4. Happy Dance for the Weight Loss!!!! I am so proud of you!!! I know you are so excited!!!

Jen,

Also, Happy Mother's Day to you, too! Hope you have a wonderful day!

Thanks Jackie for all the congratulations!! I am bummed that we will be missing each other at DHS and AK--but you never know when you might just bump into a DISER!!!! Happy Mother's Day to you!

Um, there's no such thing...face it...she's a Buddy's new Mom!



YIPPEE!!

Awesome about the wishes cruise too!

I know what you mean about Buddy Bear--I am not looking forward to September!!! I am super excited about the cruise!!!

Jenn,

That is awsome about your hard work and weight loss! Keep up the great work

I wanted to cry with you about the wishes cruise! That will be sooo much fun and soo special with the family will your sister still be there?

Happy Mother's Day also!

Thanks for the congrats about the weight loss--I am so excited! I am also super excited about the cruise--Kristi won't be there, but we will think of her while we are there!! Happy Mother's Day!

 

[MegansMom]

Happy Monday everyone!!! I hope all your Mother's Days were WONDERFUL ones!!! I had an extended celebration over both days of the weekend--it was great!!! Tom and Megan decided to make Saturday Mother's Day for me, since we would be spending Sunday running around to see both of our moms. It was a really great Saturday--the weather was BEAUTIFUL, and the three of us had a LOT of fun!! The day started out by Tom taking Megs to go pick out my Mommy's day card and gift--I think this is his favorite part because she is so funny to watch "shopping!" Even at four, she is very serious about picking out the right gift, and VERY intuitive about what to pick out for people. To top it off, she gets so excited about what she has picked out--it is just too much fun!!! This year's "theme" for her shopping was CDs--I think because she knew how much she and I wanted the newer Maroon 5 CD. SO she directed Tom to take her to "the Red Store" (aka Target) to go get the "Moon 5" cd. She also made Tom pick out a CD for me from him--he picked out this neat Andrew Lloyd Webber CD collection of the biggest hits from each of his shows. (I happen to LOVE the theater, and ALW is one of my FAVORITES!!!) She also told him he had to buy a CD for his mommy too--he got her the new Neil Diamond CD. She also likes picking out her own card--and the one she picked out was cute! The best part of the card this year is that she signed her own name REALLY WELL, and she wrote "MOMMY" on the envelope!! "A treasure forever!" When they got home from the store, she rang the doorbell, and after I answered it, they paraded in with my presents already wrapped--I had to open them right away of course!!!

After the gift exchange, they took me out to lunch at Applebee's, and then we went to our favorite parks to go for a nice walk. During the walk, Megs got SUPER tired, so we headed back home and put her down for a nice nap. While Megan napped, Tom and I worked on some trip details---setting up the vacation IPOD folder. Tom has a HUGE music library--too MANY songs/CDs/etc. to EVER COUNT--thousands upon thousands upon thousands!!!! Anyway, he wanted to go through his entire collection and pick out the music we wanted on the IPOD for the car ride and the trip. The first thing we put on was our entire DISNEY collection--which is quite large now--we started collecting songs from the parks, rides, and movies a few years ago for Megan, and now we have a substantial collection! Then was the difficult process of picking out the rest of the stuff we wanted on there, but we labored through the list and finally settled on enough to satisfy both of us within the 2000 song limit on his IPOD. It was fun though because it was something we could do to get ready for the trip, and it got us both SO excited!!!
That night I got another EXTRA SPECIAL treat, the two of them had already decided that they were going to take me out to dinner too--so we went to our local Red Lobster for a good dose of seafood! YUM!!! On Sunday, after church we met up with Tom's family for lunch--at Applebee's--it was funny because that was where his Mom really wanted to go, so we didn't mention that we had just been there. It was a nice lunch, and afterwards we headed over to my Mom's to celebrate Mother's day with my grandmother and mother. We took our traditional large hanging baskets of petunias for each of them--something we started a long time ago and that they each insist we continue each year! We enjoyed a lovely afternoon of chatting--unfortunately inside and not out on my Mom's lovely deck because of all the rain. Later that night, Mike and the kids showed up too, and since it was raining so hard, my dad decided to go pick up carry out for dinner since he couldn't grill and he didn't want any of us Moms cooking on our day. He ran up the street and picked up carry out for all 13 of us at Logan's steakhouse, and we enjoyed our delicious meals when he returned! After dinner, we all gathered in the family room for----WDW BOOT CAMP!!! I just went through with the kids and my parents who haven't been there in a while how to use the tickets at the gates (including info about how they were going to be scanning their finger), how the dining plan worked, how to use the KTTW card for dining at CS and TS restaurants, what the DDP included for each of us at every meal, what types of snacks they could get with their snack credits, and how those credits worked, etc., etc. We all just started to talk about the trip and how excited we all were!! We also went over the new itinerary so everyone would understand what we were doing on each day, etc. It was fun evening!!

Today I am going to start working on all my lists again--I want to make sure we have all the things purchased that we need--I know that I still need to get spray fans, but I am not sure what else I need--time to go through the supplies!!!

Talk to you all again soon, Jen

 

[DisneyDreamnDeb]

Hi Jen, I'm happy to hear your Mother's day weekend was so nice.
I recieved my travel organizer today and I LOVE IT!!! Thanks so much!!! I also want to thank you for the Mother's Day card that was so sweet!
Can you please tell me what the finger scan is? sorry if it's a dumb question just !
I'm also on the hunt for mister fans, all I can find are mini-fans, no mister, so good luck on your hunt I hope you have more luck than I have had! Deb.

 

[MegansMom]

Hi Jen, I'm happy to hear your Mother's day weekend was so nice.
I recieved my travel organizer today and I LOVE IT!!! Thanks so much!!! I also want to thank you for the Mother's Day card that was so sweet!
Can you please tell me what the finger scan is? sorry if it's a dumb question just !
I'm also on the hunt for mister fans, all I can find are mini-fans, no mister, so good luck on your hunt I hope you have more luck than I have had! Deb.

Hey Deb!!! I am so glad you received your travel organizer today--and even MORE GLAD THAT YOU LOVE IT!!!! I KNEW you would! I hope your Mother's Day was just as nice!

The finger scan is part of the entrance policy--you will go up to the gate, insert your ticket into the machine, a small blue light will light up on top, and then you will place your right index finger on it until the machine accepts your ticket and comes out the other side. Basically, they have devised this process so that they can lock up identification for each person to each ticket--no one else will be able to get in on your card once you have initially activated on the first day of park touring. I hope that makes some sense. Let me know if you have ANY more questions!!!

As far as the mister fans are concerned, I believe the best place to find them is at your local Walmart store. According to Lesley (aka timandlesley on here) they have them fairly inexpensive--I'm not sure exactly which department--sporting goods maybe?

Hey Lesley--can you help us out on where exactly to find them? Thanks so much in advance!!!!!






I just wanted to post that I am in the middle of my "Need to buy at the store" list--I KNOW it will get longer, but here it is so far:

--mister fans
--24 pk. of bottled water
--2 Large boxes of Pop Tarts (Brown Sugar Cinnamon & Strawberry) for Megs and Tom
--2 Boxes of Granola Bars for me
--12 pk of juices in plastic bottles (Welch's)
--Snacks for room (if needed--ask Tom)
--Snacks for car
--Clickable sharpies (4)
--Instant Oatmeal Packets HELP HERE PLEASE--I always take down oatmeal packets to eat in the morning, but now that we are staying in the studios and they changed to disposable bowls, will I be able to microwave the oatmeal in the bowls they now provide? HELP ME PLEASE!!!!!
--12 pack of Cokes for Tom--INPUT NEEDED HERE--I am actually considering talking to him about purchasing a refillable mug instead, I just don't know if it will be cost effective for him or not. I do think we will be at the pool a little more this year, so I could see him refilling it there a LOT, but I don't know if he would miss having his Cokes right in the room for the evening. PLEASE PUT IN YOUR TWO CENTS ON THIS ISSUE!!!! I JUST DON'T KNOW!!! I don't think I would use it because I don't drink soft drinks--I really only drink water now, but he has to have his Coke fix!!!
--The only other things are personal items for myself--needing a new belt and undergarments

OKAY--Please start helping me fill in the blanks--I am so petrified of forgetting something! If you have something you think I am forgetting, let me know, and then if I have it, I can mentally check it off!!! I need to make my huge packing list---that always feels somewhat overwhelming!!! Do they still have towels and life jackets available at the hotel pools? I would LOVE to save room in the suitcases by NOT packing those!!!! Let me know----TIA!!! Talk to you soon, JEN

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hi, Jen!

Sounds like you had a fabulous Mother's Day weekend -- with a little WDW planning thrown in -- how perfect!

Yes, they do have life jackets and towels at the main pools -- not sure about the quiet pools (they usually have a little sign that says bring towels from your room and call Mousekeeping for more).

Don't know about the disposable bowls and the microwave.

As far as 12-pack versus refillable mug -- we always do the mugs -- I figured that we would have to drink six fountain drinks to break even and DH can do that in the first two days (he is the big soda drinker). But, will Tom only drink a 12-pack? Because that would be $4 versus $12.50 -- not sure on that one.

I'm not much of a help tonight, am I?

Had to laugh when I saw your list -- I posted mine on my PTR tonight -- must be getting to be that time!

 

[cherbear]

Hey Jen! I love to have chewing gum with me at all times. So I buy a big multipack before we go to WDW, and make sure I have some with me every day before we leave the room. It is a blessing after meals when you can't go brush your teeth. That's the only thing I can think of.

And your mother's day weekend sounded wonderful! How sweet of everyone to do all that!

 

[cherbear]

wow....great pictures of the snow white dress & accessories! It is so pretty! "you done good"

WOW...changes, Wishes CRuise , and weight loss!

I missed a lot! Way to go on all counts!

 

[MegansMom]

Hi, Jen!

Sounds like you had a fabulous Mother's Day weekend -- with a little WDW planning thrown in -- how perfect!

Yes, they do have life jackets and towels at the main pools -- not sure about the quiet pools (they usually have a little sign that says bring towels from your room and call Mousekeeping for more).

Don't know about the disposable bowls and the microwave.

As far as 12-pack versus refillable mug -- we always do the mugs -- I figured that we would have to drink six fountain drinks to break even and DH can do that in the first two days (he is the big soda drinker). But, will Tom only drink a 12-pack? Because that would be $4 versus $12.50 -- not sure on that one.

I'm not much of a help tonight, am I?

Had to laugh when I saw your list -- I posted mine on my PTR tonight -- must be getting to be that time!

Thanks for letting me know about the towels and life jackets--hopefully one last thing I won't have to bring!!! YEAH!

I have to find out about the bowls--maybe they will have something over on the DVC board about that. Thanks anyway!

I talked to Tom about getting him a mug--I really don't think I would use one at all--but he wants to stick with the in-room Cokes. He likes to come back and chill out in the room at night at times, and wants the convenience of having them right in the room--not having to (God Forbid) walk anywhere to get his Coke. Since they are strictly his--I don't do carbonation--I will let him do what he wants.

It is definitely down to packing and list making time!!! YEAH!! My favorites!

Hey Jen! I love to have chewing gum with me at all times. So I buy a big multipack before we go to WDW, and make sure I have some with me every day before we leave the room. It is a blessing after meals when you can't go brush your teeth. That's the only thing I can think of.

And your mother's day weekend sounded wonderful! How sweet of everyone to do all that!

Thanks for the reminder--definitely adding chewing gum to the list--Megan likes to chew gum now too, so I will have to let her pick out some for herself!

I agree about Mommy's Day--I was really treated well! (Tom says it is the least he can do to show how much he appreciates all I do around the house and with Megan--even if it is just once a year! I'm GETTING him "trained!"

wow....great pictures of the snow white dress & accessories! It is so pretty! "you done good"

WOW...changes, Wishes CRuise , and weight loss!

I missed a lot! Way to go on all counts!

Thanks for the compliments on the dress--I think she is going to look so cute--but I am SO biased! I will have PLENTY of pics of that--don't you worry!!! I think I will probably "PIC" you all to death once the TR gets around!! I can't wait!

We are all really excited about the changes made, I am EXTREMELY STOKED about the cruise, and in ABSOLUTE SHOCK AND AWE about the weight loss!! Thanks for all your kudos and dancing smilies--it means so much!!!

 

[DisneyDreamnDeb]

Jen, thanks for the info on the finger scan, that's pretty much what I thought it was, but it did bring this question to mind, do the tickets have your name on them or a number to prevent confusion? I could just see us at the gate holding up the line while we try to figure out whose is whose!
I'll have to check wall mart for the mister fans next time I'm there, thanks again for your help. Deb.

 

[MegansMom]

Every one will sign their ticket on the back---so hopefully it won't be too confusing.

 

[MegansMom]

Good Morning everyone!!! I hope all your Tuesdays were EXCELLENT!!! Ours was GREAT!!! You wanna know why?????????????????

















Can you guess?????? KEEP GOING!!!























LOOK WHAT CAME TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is Megan's ticket!!!! (Megan--"Look, it's MICKEY MOUSE!!!!!! I love him!")

MINE----OHHHHHH!!!! I feel JUST like a PRINCESS!!!!

AND HERE'S TOMMY'S!!!!!!! Okay---I just have to say it, I thought it was HILARIOUS that his had GRUMPY on it!!! But seriously, he really isn't grumpy at Mickey's House---that is one of his "Happy Places"--mainly because of the never-ending supply of yummy Disney food and fun rides. (He is already bargaining with Mike's boys to try to buy off their snack credits--God help us!) I did have to tease him about it just a LITTLE BIT!!!! I said, "See Honey, even Mickey knows who is the Grumpy one in this house!!!" It did make him laugh too!! Hey, I let him have his grumpy moments every now and then--he does have to live two girls!! Poor GUY!!! I feel bad for him when we get to the point where we are both menstrual! He will probably want to move out!

So as you can imagine--we were on Disney CLOUD NINE yesterday!!! Since we are renting through DVC and ordered these tickets through Undercover Tourist, we won't be getting that BEAUTIFULLY WONDERFUL confirmation packet that you usually get from WDW Travel Co.---BOOO!!! I will miss it! (I will just have to pull out mine from the November trip and reuse it--it will work the same!) SO we have to get the same emotional high from looking at these tickets--yes, we did get very GIDDY yesterday when Mom and I picked them up from the post office!!! We rushed back to her house and opened them up and sorted them out right away!!! I have to say that I LOVE the little sayings on these. Mom's was perfect though--I think it almost made her cry. It said something like "The place where all your dreams come true!" HOW FITTING for her since this really is their dream come true trip!!! She was so excited!!

Okay, so on with the planning!!! I was going to do some Disney shopping yesterday, but then thought I had better make my large packing list, and then see what ALL I need first--so after I post this, I am going to write up our OFFICIAL PACKING LIST!!!! I will post it so that you all can peruse and tell me what I am forgetting--if anything! Stay tuned for that WHOPPER of a list!!!

I came across some old pics yesterday, that I wanted to share with all of you----so enjoy!!!

Here are some goofy pics of the two "Belles" from Tom's birthday dinner at PF Chang's in March.

Since she is now an official trip member, I thought I had better post a pic of Kristi--here she is with her hubby Justin at Tom's birthday dinner too!

OKAY--I know what you are thinking--I still don't have a pic of Mike on here--it is in the process of coming---Mom has a GREAT pic of him with his kids at the March of Dimes walk, but we can't figure out how to get her pic from her camera to someone's email, etc. so we can share. AS SOON as we do, I will post it. I only have one of him in it, but it was shot at a strange angle, and you can't really see him that well.

HEY MIKE--WHY DON'T YOU POST ONE OF YOU ON HERE!!!! OR SEND ME ONE SO I CAN POST IT!!!!! THANKS!!!

Okay, so I am going to go write my list--I will be back soon! Jen

 

[IluvXU]

Congrats on having the tickets on hand.... they are super cute. Ahhhh the packing list... which continues to grow and grow and grow. Have a great day!

 

[MegansMom]

Congrats on having the tickets on hand.... they are super cute. Ahhhh the packing list... which continues to grow and grow and grow. Have a great day!

Thanks!!! I hope you have a great day too!!! I am so glad you posted your packing list--helps to have someone else's to start with--great way to recharge the mind about what to pack!!!

 

[r4blessings]

Wow Jen, congrats on the weight loss! What a good, HEALTHY feeling that must be! It is so hard to stay commited in the beginning when you don't see results right away,but way to go!!

Love your pics from the school pic, she is such an adorable cutie pie! And I am so psyched for your wishes cruise! That will be a memory that you and your children (and entire family) will treasure! The kids will remember it their whole lives!

Keep posting, b/c I am hooked!