MVMCV-Melanie's Very Merry Christmas Vacation - We're BACK!!!

[raider97]

LOVE your latest shirts. That car one is so adorable!! And WOW on the tree!! It is so beautiful!!

Stephanie

 

[DisneyMom14]

That is my plan and intentions!

Yay! I'll be there!

Since our trip is a surprise and all the holiday stuff going on, I keep feeling like I'm forgetting something. I've gone over my checklists and my DH keeps telling me we didn't forget anything. I guess I'm in the habit of talking about the trip with the kids that it's different this time so that must be it.

Your tree looks great! Congrats on the new house also. My DH put up the outside lights this weekend. My boys and I will put up the tree tonight while watching the Saints beat the Patriots!!! 11-0!!!!!!

The countdown is getting closer! I'm so excited!!! I know you must be also.

Geaux Saints!!! 11 - 0 baby!!! I cannot believe this is happening! I am so proud of our boys. I am in love with Drew Brees! Shhh! Don't tell my husband!

I know what you mean. I'm sure that I am forgetting stuff and when I look at my packing lists from last year, I start feeling so overwhelmed!!!

I hope you enjoyed decorating your tree while watching the big win!

So your shirts are too cute! And I think your plans are perfect! I like that you are giving yourself some days with down time and others with lots of great activities!!! Your trip looks like so much fun!!!

Thank you! Sometimes I feel like I'm trying to fit too much in. I spend so much time figuring out the best plan so that we have the most fun. My husband has no idea. He just knows I'm on the computer all the time. It is just so much work, but so worth it when the trip works out well.

LOVE your latest shirts. That car one is so adorable!! And WOW on the tree!! It is so beautiful!!

Stephanie

Thanks! The cars shirts are my favorite too!

 

[raider97]

Just checking in on you!! Our trips are coming up so soon!!

Stephanie

 

[DisneyMom14]

I am officially celebrating

SINGLE DIGITS!!!!!





We are actually leaving in 8 days!!!
Here's where I've been: Last week/weekend/beginning of this week was BLAH! Everyone but me was sick with Bronchitis (DH, DS, DD, and DM-inlaw) with my DD having the possibility of having to go to the hospital!!! I'm still paying on her last hospital visit for asthma/bronchitis, etc. I brought both kids back to the doctor Friday and my DH also went to the doctor. All on antibiotics, cough medicine, oral steriods, breathing treatments.....Finally, it seems like they are getting better - not great - but definitely better. I think we have avoided the hospital, but for a while I was thinking "OK well if she HAS to go in, we need to do it quick before we leave for Disney!" I kept reminding DD to take care of herself, not get overheated, etc. but I couldn't tell her WHY it was sooo important to try to get well soon! Ugh!!! I was just starting to feel good about everyone feeling better when I noticed the tooth that I JUST got a filling in was sensitive and rough. A piece of my filling broke off!!! Man! Now, I have to go to the dentist before we leave so I can eat a Dole whip at Disney otherwise I would be in pain and I ain't missin' my Dole Whip!

So my crazy life continues. This week will be a challenge trying to wrap up all the loose ends for the trip (in secret) and of course, with the holidays comes Christmas concerts, church activities, and have to see Princess and the Frog before we leave!!!!

What I've been doing for Disney:
Worked on my pocket/itenerary cards
Updated my binder
Last night, packed our travel toiletries (yay!)
Got suitcases down from attic
boxed up neices and nephews Christmas presents - now I need to wrap (not actually a Disney thing but has to be done before we leave)
Got info on boarding our doggy (never did before)
Bugging DH to get the van checked out before we leave
Sent a few pairs of pants to get hemmed (so we can pack them)
Spoke to DD's teacher about trip, wrote a note to DS's teacher about trip

Still to do:
Pack more (of course)
Go to dentist
Finish Christmas wrapping, etc.
Get camera/stuff ready for trip
last minute shopping (snacks, etc.)
Window decorations
Make surprise box
See Princess & Frog

Maybe more but hard to think at work!
I hope to update later tonight with more.

 

[jordanyosh]

Congrats on single digits!

Hope you're all better before you go!!!!

 

[DisneyMom14]

Can you say "AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!" 4 1/2 days til we drive away to the world!!!!!!!

I have managed to squeeze in a few things for the trip.
* Printed, cut, and put my pocket itenerary cards on a binder clip (made one for DH and DM-inlaw, too)
* Created my window xmas tree - only a few things left to for our window decorations
* started packing the kids' clothes
* picked up a few more items for the trip

I'm still asking myself if I will actually be able to pull the surprise off and get everything packed and ready for this trip. I'm praying all goes well this weekend.

Can't wait to see Princess & the Frog tomorrow and the Saints on Sunday!!!

 

[jordanyosh]

you're almost set to go!

 

[DisneyMom14]

I am ALMOST THERE!!! 2 1/2 days before we leave!!!

Saturday, we watched Princess & Frog. Absolutely a beautiful movie with wonderful music and lots of emotion. I had lots of chuckles because some of the cultural references were so dead on. What I don't particularly care for is that in EVERY movie I've seen (maybe there are others I haven't seen) "us Cajuns" are always portrayed as bumbling idiots. It's a good thing we have such a good sense of humor and can usually laugh at ourselves and the way we are portrayed. My FAVORITE one liner from the movie is when the frog prince is telling Ray (the cajun firefly) that he is from a land far, far away. Ray responds, "May, Cha, you's from Shreveport!?" in a REALLY heavy accent. I just cracked up laughing. Shreveport is probably the furthest city in Louisiana from the swamps south of New Orleans (we live about 50 miles southwest of N.O.). I don't know why I thought that was so funny but I really enjoyed it and the whole movie. So familiar and such a good story.

The rest of my day was all about washing clothes and secretly packing. I'm just about done!!!

Today, we watched our Saints beat Atlanta (barely) for a record of 13 - 0!!! Geaux Saints!!!

My parents came over to see us before the trip and I got a few things done for Christmas since I won't be home until Christmas Eve. We wrapped all of our gifts!

Now I am making lists of last minute things to do.

I don't know how I'm going to concentrate on work for the next 2 1/2 days but I'm sure they will fly by!

My best friend texted me at 7:45am telling me she was boarding the plane to Disney World. She is sooo excited as this is her 1st visit!!!!! I've tried to help but not overwhelm her. I think she has a great plan in place and I know they will have a WONDERFUL time. I haven't heard from her yet but I'm hoping she lets me know how things are going.

Good luck to my friends who are in the final days before their trips!

Oh and Jordan - thanks for being there to hear all of my excitement. Your trip is getting closer every day!!!!

 

[raider97]

Jsut a few more days now!! So exciting! If I don't get back here before our trip I wanted to wish you a wonderful one! Hopefully we will run into each other sometime there.

Stephanie

 

[Happydog]

Wow! You have been busy!! This weekend was a fury of activity for everyone! Wow I can't believe you are getting ready to leave!!! In just a few short days! HOW fun! I am sure all the last minute details will come together, and your surprise will come off beautifully! I can't wait to hear how the surprise goes!!!

Yay for two more days!!!

 

[DisneyMom14]

Thanks for stopping by!!! I hope you both have a wonderful trip as well!

So today, I got a few more things done:
Van checked (needed oil - glad I got it checked)
Food packed
costumes packed
bills written out and ready to be mailed
Mail delivery stopped during trip
1 more day of work done and better prepared to miss a couple days


More to be done:
teacher gifts - labeled and packed in bags - tonight
"Surprise" to be boxed and ready to insert balloons on Wednesday - tonight
Window decorations finalized (maybe a Home Depot trip tomorrow - weather has been soooo horrible!!!!)
1 more day of work to be totally prepared to be out

Wednesday:
Go to work as normal (must bring home small fridge for trip!!!)
leave about 11:30am
DH - bring dog to be boarded
pick up balloons for surprise
gas up
wrap "surprise"
load up van
set up video camera
pick up kids
Announce the SURPRISE
Leave for Disney!!!!!

I still cannot believe I'm only a couple of days away from my favorite place to be with my family. I'm so excited for my DS4 to be able to go on Soarin' and Test Track. He has wanted to go since his first trip last Mardi Gras - he was too small. I pray that we all have a wonderful trip free of accidents and illness. It's a small miracle we are even getting to go this year financially so I'm hoping that God continues to bless us. **M-in law went BACK to doctor - either a relapse or never got over her Bronchitis. Doctor says she should be fine to go to Disney but her energy level is not what it was before she got sick. I pray for her health and that she can enjoy this probably only trip to Disney with her only grandkids.

Good luck to everyone on trip chores!

 

[jordanyosh]

The kids still don't know?

Hopefully MIL? will get better and have her energy return.

 

[DisneyMom14]

Yes, hoping MIL feels better when we get into some sunshine. Man, it has been cloudy/rainy/cold then muggy for days!

The kids still don't know. I plan to have them open a Christmas present with balloons and a letter telling them we're going to Disney when we pick them up from school on Wednesday. It will also have a letter from Santa asking them to meet him there.

 

[raider97]

Be back to chat more... but saw that you didn't know how to update title. Go to your very first post hit edit and then hit the go advance button and it will let you edit your title. HTH!!

Stephanie

 

[DisneyMom14]

Be back to chat more... but saw that you didn't know how to update title. Go to your very first post hit edit and then hit the go advance button and it will let you edit your title. HTH!!

Stephanie

AHH! Thanks!

Even as I am wrapping up the last minute things, I am really starting to freak out! I have anxiety over leaving for the week. All the things I was too excited to think about have all come down on me. I just need to calm down and know that everything will be fine. Even if they do call for rain Thursday during our MVMCP, we will still have a great time!!!! Even if I have to rent my m-inlaw a scooter, we will have a great time. Positive affirmations!

I have a feeling this is going to be a sleepless night...

 

[Happydog]

Oh you are going to have a fantastic trip! We did a surprise box of balloons that they "found" for our July trip. They were really thrilled! So I am sure that will be a great memory too! I am so excited for you to have a wonderful time. We will be on the lookout for Pirates! Something makes me think we were maybe in a park the same day... I will go back and check your itinerary.. Hope it is a magical time!!

 

[raider97]

Have a wonderful trip!

 

[jordanyosh]

Have a great time Melanie.

 

[DisneyMom14]

Thanks you guys!!! I'm sending this from work. I will be leaving in few minutes to load up, get the kids, and deliver the BIG SURPRISE!!!! I can't believe its finally here!!!!

 

[jordanyosh]

Thanks you guys!!! I'm sending this from work. I will be leaving in few minutes to load up, get the kids, and deliver the BIG SURPRISE!!!! I can't believe its finally here!!!!