Never challenge a DISer to find a deal--a Nov/Dec PTR 11/26: Today's the day!!!

[moparop]

My favorite scrapbooking site (other than Creative Memories, of course!) is Scrap Your Trip. The owner sends out such wonderful e-mails every week and they have the cutest things. I've gotten tons of Disney stuff from both of those sites.

I have never heard of Scrap Your Trip! I just went over and checked it out. It looks awesome! I am totally adding it to my bookmarks. I started scrapbooking with all CM stuff many moons ago. I swear by their albums. Liam's first year scrapbook is 90% CM stuff as well.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I have never heard of Scrap Your Trip! I just went over and checked it out. It looks awesome! I am totally adding it to my bookmarks. I started scrapbooking with all CM stuff many moons ago. I swear by their albums. Liam's first year scrapbook is 90% CM stuff as well.

Yay for Creative Memories! I am not a scrapper but CM was co-founded by the Mom of a family in one of the towns I used to live in, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. They have a HUGE plant there - not sure if it's the main/only plant? I know the family still lives there, I knew one of their sons - from what I know of him, fantastic people! A company I would completely support...if I scrapped.

 

[moparop]

Yay for Creative Memories! I am not a scrapper but CM was co-founded by the Mom of a family in one of the towns I used to live in, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. They have a HUGE plant there - not sure if it's the main/only plant? I know the family still lives there, I knew one of their sons - from what I know of him, fantastic people! A company I would completely support...if I scrapped.

They really stand behind their products too. I am glad to hear that they are really great people. Trust me, don't start scrapbooking (at least not yet). It's a VERY expensive hobby! You will "need" to start once Henry gets older so he can have a scrapbook of his life when he graduates from high school. You guys have so many awesome pics to share!

 

[PoppyGirl]

Yay for Creative Memories! I am not a scrapper but CM was co-founded by the Mom of a family in one of the towns I used to live in, in St. Cloud, Minnesota. They have a HUGE plant there - not sure if it's the main/only plant? I know the family still lives there, I knew one of their sons - from what I know of him, fantastic people! A company I would completely support...if I scrapped.

Was it Rhonda Anderson? Or Cheryl Lightle? Probably Rhonda. Yes, the St. Clould plant is the only one now. I think they had one in Richmond for a while but now just the MN one.

 

[999ghostslover]

I love it! I am good at remembering the name of our favorite Mexican restaurant in town too! Is Abby liking kindergarten so far?

She loves it. All of my friends who have boys call me to get the scoop. Abby tells me every detail of her day and their kids come home and say "fine. Good." Is that how it is in your house?

 

[moparop]

Arrival Day Plans

We are flying to Disney on Black Friday and this will be the first Black Friday I have ever woken up in my home. So, depending on the Black Friday deals, I might be out of bed bright and early to do a little Christmas shopping. I mean, I won't be sleeping anyhow, might as well score a few necessary items right?

Part of the trip planning revolved around the hubby working a half day on this day, so he'll be headed into the office around 8 while I try to keep the kids from bursting with excitement. Any suggestions for good things to do with the crew this AM? I am sure the boys will be up by 8 and nothing will be happening for 4 hours.

Ryan will be leaving the office at "twelve". Twelve is in quotes because I know most of you know how this works. At 11:55, he looks a the clock and says, "ok, I need to leave in 5 minutes." Then, he sees an email that cannot wait until he gets back so he answers it. Once he has responded 4 people walk by with uber important questions that will only take 30 seconds. at 12:20, I'll call his cell phone to find out how the drive is going and he'll say "I'm just shutting down the computer." As he's walking out, 3 other people will stop him to say have a great vacation and slip in their question or concern for the day. At close to 1:00, I'll finally see him.

I plan to have loaded the car the night before so when he pulls in, we are ready to go. The plan is to either feed them snacks from the house or do a quick drive thru stop on the way to airport for everyone. We've got exactly a 2 hour drive from our house to the airport. I am hoping Aileen uses the drive as an opportunity to take a little nap. I may try to adjust her day so that happens, we'll see! Barring any long stops, we should be pulling into the airport around 3:00. We have not worked out details yet of where we will park and if we will all shuttle to the car or what, but that should give us 2:45 to figure that out, check in, and get to the gate. Because of the great deal we got on tickets, we cannot do assignments until the day of (does anyone know how this works on Air Tran?) so getting there early will be of extra importance, considering our crew!

We are scheduled to land at 7:45 at MCO and will be off to find DME. Once we get to Pop, there will be plenty of celebrating from the boys and hopefully a few snores from the girl. I am planning to check us in while Ryan is over at the food court securing a pizza, breadsticks, and maybe refillable nugs for us. On Memom's suggestion I have asked to be in the 80s or 90s wing because they are all done with the refurbs there. I am hoping that I'll be able to grab the kids and the carry-ons and head to the room and leave Ryan to wait for the pizza. While everyone eats I'll organize the room a bit and wait for our luggage to arrive. Once we have luggage, we'll all be off to dreamland dreaming of all the fun we will be having that week!

RE luggage: the current proposal is to get a pilot case/carryon per person in the group and fill that with the stuff we will need for Pop. Our checked bag(s) will only have things we need at CR in them. Has anyone traveled like this? How did it work? How much can a kid's pilot suitcase hold? Do you think I could pack both boys in one?

------------------------------------------

Aileen and I are leaving town in a few. A cousin of mine is pregnant and the baby shower is this weekend. Since Aileen is still nursing, and let's face it, baby showers are more fun with babies there -- she is coming along for the ride. We've got a 6 hour trip to make today and Sunday. I pray that it goes well! We'll be staying the next two nights at my folks' house so that'll be nice. It's the first time we've seen them since vacation. Tomorrow, the girls (mom, A, and me) are meeting my college roommate and her mom for a day of back to school shopping. Doug and Aileen need new clothes and my college roomie loves to hit the mall that's 5 minutes from my parents! Perfect for everyone! Saturday night I hope to visit my teaching/traveling buddy to see the new remodel on the house. On Sunday is the shower after we go to church. All in all, a very packed weekend.

I am going to leave you with the professional pics we had done this week of Aileen. Some came out better than others, but overall, they did a good job of capturing the real kiddo!

Here is the only photo I got where you can really see the whole outfit. She's also eating a cracker. I just got an 8x10 of this to put directly into her scrapbook.

And, when she wasn't being cooperative, the photographer invited Liam into the photos. My plan was just to do this to loosen her up a bit, but I thought this came out cute. Liam told me this was his favorite of all the photos taken. Of course, that made me HAVE to buy some of those! I bought one sheet in a small set and he has it hanging above his bed. So cute!

 

[PoppyGirl]

LOVE the photos!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

cute photos!!!

2 hour drive to the airport?? Where are you flying out of?? I've flown Airtran out of Dayton before but that's not 2 hours away??? Perhaps Columbus??

Not sure about the seats..I've always just paid for mine, even if it was just the $6 ones. I guess you could keep a close watch on them online and if you see the plane starting to fill, it might be a good idea to secure seats, even at $6 per person??

Can't wait to hear about the weekend!!

 

[therussells08]

LOVE the pics!!

I think you should definitely do some Black Friday shopping before you leave! Do you have a local Disney Store? Maybe you can grab some deals for your trip!!

 

[MeMom]

I love how she has her little hand on his leg. Definitely one to keep!

 

[BrooklynnsMommy]

Love all the pics! By the time you check in at Pop the pizza should be done. It only takes about 5-7 minutes and boy are they yummy!!!!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Wow! Those pictures are amazing. I would be so pleased to get just a few good ones with either of my kiddos! I don't see one that I didn't look at and say "WOW".

 

[KathyRN137]

Aww... What a good big brother!

Great picture!


Kathy

 

[claryche]

The pictures are great. Were they taken at Portrait Innovations....it just looked familiar to me. I love Portrait Innovations.

Plans for the kids that morning. I'm sure you will think of something cool. Maybe Disney trivia or something like that.

 

[brookelizabeth]

Was it Rhonda Anderson? Or Cheryl Lightle? Probably Rhonda. Yes, the St. Clould plant is the only one now. I think they had one in Richmond for a while but now just the MN one.

Yep, it was Rhonda - I knew her son Joel.


Mop-that travel day is always a tough one isn't it??? Busy, busy, busy - excited kids and one you hope sleeps! I bet you will sleep well that night!

LOVE the pictures! So, so cute! The one of her with Liam is adorable - and I love how he has it above his bed! How sweet. I hope that 6 hour travel time goes smoooooooooothly!

 

[999ghostslover]

Love love love the pics!!!
How stinkin cute. Well, that sure is a busy day...but it STILL beats driving! It will be great.
I am a little jealous that we will likely never get to do ME. It just doesn't make sense to fly since it is only 10 hrs of driving and we have to go see my DH's g-ma in Cocoa. So we would have to rent a big car for at least one day anyway. But I just want to try an ME bus one of these days. I know that is weird!!

 

[magickingdom]

Beautiful pictures, love the smile!!

 

[Happy Elf]

The pictures are adorable! Love the 2 of them together! So sweet!

I wish you good luck with your drive! Hopefully, she's a car sleeper??

Your plans sound great!

 

[stephielela]

those pics are adorable! I need to find someplace that will do pics of my DS and my dog together... Since DS doesn't have any actual siblings

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Those pictures are soooo adorable! Love the big smiles and the one with Liam is priceless.

Loved your description of hubby leaving work -- that is EXACTLY how it works for me !! Maybe one last movie for your crew to watch in the morning? How excited they will be!