Great pics with the family MeMom! I'm 8 hours away from the closest relative, and so I'm happy that you and your family get to spend the holidays together.
I don't like being so far away from Trent, but I am at least glad he is in a place that makes it easy for us to see him - as in having transportation and lodging and plenty to do when we go down there. Jill being two hours away is doable. We both wish we were closer so that she could drop the girls off with me to do simple things like grocery shopping and such, but at least we are close enough to see each other regularly.
I know it is hard on you to be so far away. I hope you have special friends close by to fill some of that void. Have you discovered any DIS friends that live nearby? DIS friendships can become very special.
Happy New Year! We are home transitioning back to real world stuff. Still have some laundry to do and grocery shopping. Back to school on Monday...
All this New Year meet stuff for next year is making me sooooo jealous. Anita and I were talking about it last week. But, with us getting a 2 bedroom this summer, there is no way I could swing it.
I wish I had known the webcam was up on the 30th. I thought they only had it up on the 31st.
I do encourage anyone that wants to go to the meet at the Poly that is driving to make an ADR or you won't get in the parking lot. We got in everywhere we wanted to go all week until the Poly on the 30th (did get in there earlier in the week though). We told them we were going to eat at Captain Cooks (we were) but they still wouldn't let us in. We had to park at TTC and walk over. Looooooooong walk at that time of night!!!!
I asked Cheena if she had trouble getting over there on NYE, but luckily they didn't. She said they just took the monorail, and I guess they weren't checking resort cards or anything at that point.
What are your summer dates?
Back to the real work world for me tomorrow, but we get one day without kids. They don't come back until Tuesday.
Well what a wonderful collection of family photos! How nice and how special your holidays were!!! I am so glad you enjoyed the cookies, and hope the Christmas Minnie pen is being put to use!
I was enjoying the Santa gifts that santa brought the girls, if only because they are in DRASTIC contrast to ours... no legos, archery set, AT-AT or punching bag for Bella and Brooklynn, I see!! Only fabulous amounts of pink and lavender, ponies, dolls, and buggies I loved it.
That rockyroad fudge looks AWESOME...
I totally am amazed by your snow!!!! We had hardly any, it usually comes in Jan/Feb... BUT what fun for you, everyone looks so thrilled to be out in it.
Happy New Year to you too! And a happy healthy 2011.... Great New Year's eve scheming too, btw!!!
The Minnie pen is sitting on my night stand. Bella was the one who wanted to 'culah' this time, so I let her 'color' with it. I'm just going to leave it here, and it will be special to them to write with it.
Jill and Brandy were commenting on the differences in their Santa gifts, too. Brandy's boys had all the superhero, Transformers, guns, etc. There was no pink.
That NYE idea just seems to be something that will work for a lot of people. It'll be something to look forward to all year.
New years eve sounds fun! I would love to go sometime but not sure I could ever convince my DH since he hates crowds and that is probably one of the worst times for crowds. LOL! Maybe someday when Caleb is a lot older!
It is crowded, but it's a fun time to go, too, with all of the holiday stuff going on. Maybe you could do like Brook and go later in the week. After the 1st, everyone with school kids goes home, and I bet it gets uncrowded very quickly.
What a lovely Christmas you had!
I loved looking at all of the yummy treats.
Lots of cute girly presents....Santa was extra nice to the girls I see...
The little shopping cart is so adorable!
It must have been so special for you to have snow.
I told my DMom I wanted to stay at Poly for NYE and she said "you better win the lottery then!"
I'll be happy to sit on the grass and then make my way back to "our" home resort.
I was thinking of making an ADR at O'Hana that night...but Kona is great choice too!
Sounds like it will be alot of fun! Can't wait...
*I'm currently using my brand new netbook I bought today....it will take some getting used to the smaller size.
Poly is way too expensive for me, but it sure would be nice just to walk back to your room after fireworks and not spend an hour getting back to Pop.
We just know when we go over there that that is a part of it, though, so we just enjoy our stroll to the bus stop and deal with the wait. We get back eventually.
We're doing 'Ohana this summer, so we'll be ready for Kona again in December.
I didn't realize how behind I was. It sounded like you all had a wonderful Christmas. Wasn't it amazing having a rare white Christmas? It was a great way to spend Ellie's first Christmas. I'll post a picture soon. We stayed at home and had family over.
I'm still not caught up, but jumping ahead to let you know our plans for the 28th and 1st of our Feb/March trip. If I am remembering correctly, we will be at Epcot the 28th for a Le Cellier dinner and MK on the 1st. Abby has BBB in the AM. We would love to try to meet up for the Big Meet.
Ok, going back to catch up now
Happy New Year!!!!!
You must be with us on Small World!
What time is your BBB?
The plan is for us to be there at rope drop and go to Dumbo and Peter Pan. Then we'll start gathering at Small World, as a few people have Crystal Palace ADR's before park opening, and they should be finishing up. We'll just meet out in front and fill up a boat. It's going to be fun! After that, maybe we can ride the Carrousel before we all part ways. That would make for nice pictures.
Happy New Year!!!
I'm back at my house again, no more waking up in Disney. Although I'm disappointed it does give me more time to sleep in before work.
I was nervous at first because when MeMom told me to find them they weren't outside and I didn't want to walk up to there room all creeperlike.
When I thought about leaving, Dave was outside and thats when I walked up and well you know the rest. lol. They both are so nice, my sister thought so too.
Pat you had me cracking up (not creeped out) when I read your post.
What a beautiful family picture!!!
Brooklynn's boggle brings back memories of my childhood.
I won't make any official plans about being apart of the FEB meets since I haven't started planning my move...but my boyfriend does want to come up and have some Disney time, then we would leave together - so I wouldn't have to travel alone. I was shocked when he announced he wanted Disney time and instantly wanted to plan something over the top but my budget doesn't allow for that when planning to move.
I wish you guys could just stay there in Orlando, but I know you have to do what is best for the whole family. Maybe you can visit regularly, though. If you leave before the Feb. trip, we'll get a picture of Ed for you. We plan to go to Hollywood Studios on Sunday.
Jill had Boggle, too, and played with it often. It was very nostalgic to see Brooklynn with it.
I know you were a little hesitant to go and talk to Dave and Kathy, but I'm glad you did!
Great Pictures! I love all of the detailed shots, many of the unexpected treasures of WDW. I look forward to the rest of the trip!
I'm glad you like unusual pictures. You are in the right place for those.
After that brief Christmas intermission, we'll be back to the report soon.
Sadly, not. We normally do NYE at our house, but this year, my MIL's husband had his son and family visiting. Because there would be so many people (15 total), it was decided we would do it over at her house. It was an interesting night -- apparently, the son is not used to children being loud (even though he has three children of his own) and complained about the kids being too loud. I didn't think they were loud at all, but maybe my tolerance level is higher. All the more reason for us to party at the Poly this time next year.
Now, on to your great Christmas pictures...first and foremost, the picture of you and all of your children and grandkids is precious!
What a wonderful Christmas miracle that Drew came to Jill's!
I would recognize those XBox controllers anywhere -- we have several lying around here, too.
I spy the Muppet Christmas Carol playing! One of our favorite movies! "Light the lamp, not the rat! Light the lamp, not the rat!"
Brooklyn and Bella did a great job decorating the cookies! Yum! In fact, all of the Christmas goodies look very tasty!
Bella's little fur coat is adorable!!!
Charles watched the Florida/Penn State game yesterday -- I was packing up Christmas decorations but thought of Trent and Tanya having a fun time there.
That Santa sure is a fast-working guy! You must have been having a lot of fun chatting and hanging out with everyone for him to be able to sneak in and leave presents without anyone noticing! He left lots of fun stuff -- I so miss the days when he would leave lots of little girl stuff -- now it's all clothes and accessories at our house. Luckily, he is still leaving toys for Connor. What would I play with otherwise? LOL!
Ah, your snow pictures are so fun! That was one of my favorite things about this Christmas!
Is this your last day off, too? If so, enjoy it before we head back into the classroom tomorrow!
I think teachers definitely have a higher tolerance level for noise and chaos. I know John was having fits inside when the Brooklynn, Bella, Carson, and Parker were running all through the house the other day, but he did surprisingly well. He kept his huffs and puffs to himself and didn't walk around nervously or rub his forehead multiple times.
That's a big step forward for him. I have to give points to him for that and to Drew for holding 'the baby'.
Brooklynn chose Muppet's Christmas Carol, and we all enjoyed it. I think Jill and Trent can recite the entire movie.
Trent said they had a great time at the game. I'm sure he was in heaven, but he said Tanya enjoyed it more than he thought she would, too.
Yeah, this is my last free day. Tomorrow is a teachers' work day, so I'll be busy doing things I should have done at home for these two weeks. I just didn't find the right time to have my school work intrude into my family life and leisure time.
You get to keep all your bananas!
This is a big year for you!
Only fabulous amounts of pink and lavender, ponies, dolls, and buggies 
I loved it. 
and instantly wanted to plan something over the top but my budget doesn't allow for that when planning to move.
I didn' think you would mind but the thought of people watching you and letting you they were watching you might be ... well you know odd. 
