My Name Is NOT Broccoli!

[MeMom]

I'm here! I'm 14 pages behind but I just caught up. At least I have an excuse since I was away, although I have been home for 3 days

Sad to see "Pop to the Top" end but excited for "My name is not Broccoli" to begin. Maybe one day Tink and I will finish our July report

Your house looks so lovely for Christmas. I can't wait to own a home of my own and decorate it with all those Disney touches for the holidays

I plan to spend the next three days being productive and being lazy intermittently. I am going to clean a while and sit here on the computer a while. In the end, I will have gotten all my work done and had plenty of time to hang out here with my DIS buddies and see how Christmas is going for all of you.

Don't get in any hurry on that report. It's fine to stretch it out and make it last.

Your house in Florida?
Close to Disney World?

just love all the disney animals with all those yummy treats!! Your home pictures and celebrations always always make me smile!!! Have a great break from school and stay warm!!

On the outside, I am a mild-mannered old school marm. On the inside, I'm a silly little school girl setting up my plush toys all over the house.

Surprisingly, Drew has kept all of his comments to himself. He has even allowed his friends to still come in, in spite of the big Sulley with the stocking cap greeting them from the couch. I guess he's just resigned himself to life with me.

Last day is always bittersweet. Looks like ya'll made the most of it though! Looking forward to the new report. Love the "life" pictures...except for the ex-car. That one was pretty scary! Glad to know I'm not the only one that wraps thing separately so it looks like there are more presents!

Most of life is going very well. There is way more to be grateful for than to be upset with.

I did the same thing when my kids were little, because we didn't have much. A pack of socks was wrapped. A favorite candy item was wrapped. Just about anything was wrapped to make things look bigger.

Aww last days are so sad. That's neat you found a new secret place. I had no idea Casey's was open in the morning, very cool

I love all the Disney touches around your house for Christmas

It's our new secret place, but unfortunately it can only be the secret place in the morning. The rest of the day - not so secret.

Now I have to go clean up all the dust and cobwebs around all my little Disney friends.

I like Peppermint Bark too, but only at the holidays. I overload on Peppermint everything and by Jan. I am over it. Until next year.

I also wrap in different paper. Not really sure why.... because my mom did!

Jill likes is. It is a little expensive, but good.

Wrapping is one of my least favorite chores. I like the buying, but I'm a horrible wrapper. Jill is much better than I am at that.

Love all your Disney characters with all the yummy treats. I am sure the girls will have a ball with everything. I love the Peppermint bark also!! I love anything with mint & chocolate.

Love your new Mikey. He is adorable. I have a big Mickey & Minnie that my best friend gave me a few years ago for Christmas. They are keeping guard of our Christmas tree.

I hope the girls have fond memories of time spent in my shabby house having lots of silly fun.

Everybody should show a picture of their Disney trees.

Just a quick Season's Greetings to you!

As you know I am knee deep in holiday shoppers...

I have worked so many hours in the last while I think I should just sleep there.

It will be nice to have the time to relax and DIS in the New Year.

Hope you are enjoying the quiet time before the family comes.

Love the Disney Christmas treasure hunt you set up. Very cool!


So excitting that Trent comes home this week!

I'm excitted about watching the Disney parade on Christmas morning and not having to go into work.

Take Care

We'll have the parade on, as well.

I know you are working long hours. I worked at McDonald's when I was a teenager and into my young 20's, first just as a worker, and then as an assistant manager. We went fast and furious to keep up with the crowds during Christmas. Enjoy your break later this week. You deserve it!

Trent is so excited about spending the holiday with all of us. I think he's equally excited about all the food that he knows is coming!

Love all the decorations. Can't wait to see the girls faces when they see what is waiting for them. The picture of your car was scary. It's amazing that Drew and his friend were ok. The Lord was watching over them.

How are your ribs feeling? Did you ever go to the doctor?

I went to my DIS doctor right here - Momof2TNboys!

I can tell a big difference now. In the past few days, I can really tell a big difference. It pretty much stayed the same for two weeks, I guess, but then I just started moving more and more normally, so I think it's really starting to heal well now.

Last year, when they got here, I had Christmas lights all over the kitchen. Brooklynn had a funny/happy look on her face when she saw them.

I wish I had some of those peppermint bark things. My mom says they're too expensive, but she's wrong. I love all your Disney animals.

TWO MORE HALF DAYS OF SCHOOL!

....and four finals I haven't studied for....

They are a little pricey, but it's Christmas. I get Ghirardelli for special occasions like this. Maybe Santa will surprise you with some.

Good luck on your finals!

I actually thought of our Atlanta DIS meet while I was there since it was the same mall!

Your poor car! I am so glad Drew was okay!

Love all of your Christmas visitors -- I got quite a laugh over Abu hiding the Christmas tree cakes.

Jill and I need another Disney Store trip. Too bad there is not on anywhere near us.

I had a talk with Abu about sharing. I think he'll do okay when the girls get here. They're going to be here several days, and Brooklynn is like me, a grazer, so we'll need plenty of snacks around here. I get to spoil them with junk food, late nights, and whatever else for a few days before they have to get back to normal life for the new year.

 

[MeMom]

What a fun updates after update these past few days! You have been busy and I love how your TR gets these “we interrupt our regular viewing to bring you an important announcement” additions from you… always precluded with the tell-tale line of colored asterisk!!!!!!!!!!!!!

***************************

So fun! Summer... my trip seems like a memory now, too, so thank goodness for TRs!!!!

I am with Jackie, some photos really do send you right back there! And I love waiting for park entrances too! Anticipation!!! Oh, what a cute picture trying to hoola hoop!!! Your parade photos had me pining for a Disney trip!

I love watching from the railway station, too! I like seeing everything come out from the secret door!!!

I so enjoyed all of your Holiday decorations MeMom! So fun at your house. It always looks so festive. The Caroling Mickey, toooo cute!

I bought a few things off the Disney store site myself just last week, with the 2 for one deal on stuffies it was hard to pass up!! Your summer trip has me longing for warmer temps… We only had a two hour delay Friday, but they say snow on Christmas so that is special.

I am looking forward to seeing your fall trip pics, too! I have almost finished my Disneyland Halloween TR, btw, and will be up and running with my short Disneyworld Christmas trip in just a few days!

Will you be home this week? Are you going visiting or are you having Christmas at your house? You may have already said as much but I may have missed it!

I will be going to Jill's Thursday. We'll all come back here Christmas evening. So, I'll be doing both staying home and traveling.

One things I plan to spend a lot of time doing this week is catching up on reports.

Light snow falling on Christmas, enough for beauty but not harsh travel conditions, would be perfect.

As soon as New Year's Day has come and gone, I will be ready for it to be spring. It should be cold during the holidays, but after that, fast forward to spring for me.

 

[dancin_princess]

When will you know if you are moving or if you are staying in FL?

I already know, I plan to be leaving some time in January. It's been too long and the boyfriend doesn't think he'll be coming before then.

 

[MeMom]

Back at Pop Century, we were just going to hang out for the rest our wait until that evil Magical Express bus came to take us away.

John got all our bags checked in at Luggage Services while the girls enjoyed playing around here.

We spent the rest of our time with the ducks out by the kiddie pool.

It is always a good thing to let the girls have swim time before getting on a plane. They get to expend some energy, and it makes them nice and sleepy.

We really do love this place.

My last 'view from where I sat' picture.

There was a bit of drama when we realized that the guy at Luggage Services had kept our driver's licenses and then could not find them anywhere when we went back to look. They were going to be necessary for getting on the plane soon. The sad thing was that they didn't seem to have a central location for lost and found - they were just looking all over and under everything from the beginning. It was kind of strange. We stressed about it a little, but if I had had to stay in Disney World for another night on their dime until they found them, I would have been good with that.

Anyway, they did find them eventually.

The last few snacks of the trip.

A tiny bit more window shopping.

I don't enjoy seeing people checking in when we are checking out.

Aaaahh, yeah, I do, too. I am excited for them to begin their trips, and I secretly hope they love Pop and Disney World and everything about their trip as much as we did.

Brooklynn loves watching the different cartoons WDW has on their TV's.

Art work on the wall.

Bella loved climbing all over these stools.

John bought two Vinylmation characters.

 

[MeMom]

I already know, I plan to be leaving some time in January. It's been too long and the boyfriend doesn't think he'll be coming before then.

Well, that's too bad. Maybe you can both find your way back to the Orlando area someday. Maybe everything is meant to be better wherever you are going, though. We just have to go into every situation with a positive attitude and an open mind. You are seeing a lot of the world in your travels, so that is something that is cool at the start.

I am sad that we won't get to see you in the spring. I'm sure our trips and your visits home will overlap sometime though.


**********************************


It was inevitable.
The bus did come.
We did get on it.
We did drive away from our happy world.

But, we had this to console us.
Sorry, the first couple are a little shaky.

The video assures us that there are plenty of exciting times to visit the Walt Disney World Resort.

We get to be at Epcot on opening day of this year's Flower and Garden Festival.

And between the time for Star Wars Weekend adventures and Halloween fun, we'll have our summer trip to look forward to. Our dates for the summer will be July 2nd through 9th.

And we are hoping to be back there next year from Christmas to New Year's, so we will have a holly, jolly Disney holiday to look forward to this time next year.

So, like happens to all of us, we said goodbye to another incredible trip, and we looked forward to many more to come.

At MCO.

On the plane.

From the window.

Watcha doin' back there, MeMom?

Up, up, and away!

I am getting misty-eyed saying goodbye to this trip even now. I LOVE with all my everything our Disney trips. I love the excitement and anticipation of the planning, being there and doing all the things big and little with all my girls, being away from real life, and now even more than ever - the whole family spending time together. I wish I had the money to go as often as we all wanted to with me paying for every drop of it, but that just isn't the case. I am grateful for every time we are able to go, and I never, never, never take it for granted, because I know we are so blessed to be able to have this time together.

Thank you all for coming along with us. We treasure the DIS friendships we make as we document each of these trips, and we hope you will continue to come along with us on many more.

 

[eeyore7360nc]

It's always sad to come to the end of the trip. It does make it a little easier when you already have the next one planned.

 

[Poolrat]

While you were with Bella on your last night, this is what Brooklyn, Jill and John were up to.

A safari,

Brooklyn watching sugar cane being pressed.

Dancing

Brooklyn being bribed to taste coconut juice.

 

[Happydog]

So much fun to read your TRs MeMom! What fun over the past few months!

Always love sharing it with you all!

 

[MagicShell]

I am sad to see this report end but am glad that there will be another one. I can't imagine not having a Memom report to check in on.

Your girls are going to LOVE your house for Christmas. I'm glad you get to spoil them for a while.

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

The end of a trip is always so sad.

That evil Magical Express bus! Funny how it induces such excitement at the beginning of the trip and induces dread at the end...

I also hope that everyone loves Disney World as much as I do. It brings me so much happiness and I hope it does the same for others. I know that it does for my DIS friends!

 

[lauren_elizabeth]

Have a wonderful Christmas week!

 

[disneyfan61]

Aw it's over??? I have enjoyed every minute. We can still chat right??

 

[MeMom]

It's always sad to come to the end of the trip. It does make it a little easier when you already have the next one planned.

That it does!

While you were with Bella on your last night, this is what Brooklyn, Jill and John were up to.

Dancing

Sorry I missed that. I am so glad you put those pictures up. I have hardly seen any of Jill's pictures from the few times we were apart.

So much fun to read your TRs MeMom! What fun over the past few months!

Always love sharing it with you all!

We enjoy having our DIS friends join us in the 'replays' of the trips.

I am sad to see this report end but am glad that there will be another one.

Your girls are going to LOVE your house for Christmas. I'm glad you get to spoil them for a while.

We will have a fun few days. Their teachers may have to deprogram them when they get back to school.

The end of a trip is always so sad.

That evil Magical Express bus! Funny how it induces such excitement at the beginning of the trip and induces dread at the end...

I also hope that everyone loves Disney World as much as I do. It brings me so much happiness and I hope it does the same for others. I know that it does for my DIS friends!

Yes, the bus is wonderful when it picks us up and evil when it takes us back. It's called the Split Personality Magical Express System.

Yep, we 'get it', just like you. We will enjoy watching all these DIS babies grow up getting it, too.

Have a wonderful Christmas week!

You, too!

Aw it's over??? I have enjoyed every minute. We can still chat right??

Well, we can chat,
but
if you'd rather
go on another trip,
just follow Brooklynn.

She's at the airport ready to go again!

Bella, ready?
Jill, ready?

So, here we go, off to Saratoga Springs on our fall break trip.....

The trip started a bit different than others. Usually Jill comes to my school or we are already together, but she had to work a little later than usual. My bags were at school, and she was going to swing by and get me to go to the airport.

She called from standstill Nashville traffic, a little worried about getting there on time. Fortunately, a co-teacher that lives near the airport was still at school, and she was happy to give me a lift. I told Jill just to go straight to the airport and I would meet them there. Right when we pulled up to the drop-off point, Jill called to see where I was. They had just walked in the front door, so it worked out nicely.

After we were through security, we found a spot to hang out, and Jill went to get the girls some food.

We also had an extra guest on our trip - Lola, the cow. She was coming along with Brooklynn and would report back to the class of her adventures. So far, she had been to places like the skating rink and birthday parties, but this was her first trip to Disney World and her first flight.

Here she is watching the plane activity, while Bella, a seasoned traveler, is more interested in her food.

Brooklynn enjoying mac and cheese and apples as her pre-flight meal.

 

[MeMom]

Just a few from the plane.

DVD players are just awesome for making travel go smoothly.

Do you recognize where Lola is now?

On the 'fauxnorail'.

We waited here for Jill to go and get our bags, since it was late.

On the Magical Express, we could barely hear the movie.

We waited a long time to leave. The bus driver didn't speak.
I don't think Walt would have been pleased with our fairly unmagical arrival. I feel bad for those who were on their first Disney trip, because I imagine they were less than impressed, at this point.

The good thing was, we were the first stop.

Here we are.

And look who came to greet us!

We were transported to our room by golf cart.

In the room.

It was good to see my big boy again, and he was going to be able to spend quite a bit of time with us on this trip.

He and Tanya stayed just a little while, and we went straight to bed after they left.

 

[Poolrat]

And we are off again!!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Well now this is the perfect way to end the post trip blues... start right in on the next one!

Lola the cow is adorable! I bet she had a great trip. It's going to be tough for Brooklyn's classmates to top that trip, I'm sure.

at Bella the seasoned traveler. So cute!

Sorry your ME ride was un-magical.

Hurrah for arriving and seeing Trent. Let the fun begin!!

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

YAY for starting up the next trip right away!

 

[tumblrbailey]

Woo-hoo! New trip already! If you go over New Year's next year, that's when I'll be there. We get there a day or two after New Year's Day.

 

[Megablocks]

What a nice way to end the report, going right into the next one! It's so nice to get that fix, especially because we are finally getting the first snowfall of the season. I took my dog out around the block and it was so pretty with some of the Christmas lights! It's even prettier now that I'm home and don't have to worry about driving in it again.

 

[disneyfan61]

Another trip woo hoo!!! Don't we all wish it was that quick in between real trips

And lots of time spent with Trent.