Not All Treasure Is Silver And Gold, Mate - *Update 9-17* P60

[TarzansKat]

What a wonderful time. I'm glad that your DS did much better with the characters this time around. Getting to spend that time with your family is precious.

The dinner at Les Chefs sounds like it was great too. I've yet to make it in there. You can't go wrong with good looking French waiters singing to you though!

Time with family is definitely precious. Even more so now.

Actually, we had lunch at Les Chefs. We have a whole day left to discuss, can you believe that? It's just taking me that long to write it all out.

You should try to sneak in there some time. If not for the good food, then definitely for the waiters.

Now THAT was fuh------------nee!!!

I have my moments.

 

[TarzansKat]

My next favorite memory is a short one, but it's something we do traditionally every year.

We head to Downtown Disney and take a family photo in the holiday shop and use it as our Christmas card photo. It's that simple. We always have fun trying to orchestrate it because no one ever smiles at the same time, and getting my son to look at the camera and smile without doing that cheesy grin is a challenge in and of itself. It's a process, people.

Eventually, after copious photos have been taking on my and Mom's camera, Mom and I eventually deem one worthy enough for our holiday card, and head on our merry way, so to speak.

There's also a really great photo of my parents in the same spot that we took our family photo, and it means so much more to me to have that now.

My mom was always the taker of this photo. Let's face it, my mom was the taker of the photos. One of her favorite things to say at parties, jokingly, was "Pretend I was here." And she'd hand me the camera, and I'd make sure there was at least one picture of her.

I can't tell you how much that statement hits home for me right now. It's not that we don't have enough photos of my mom...well, how much is enough really? But we do have some wonderful ones, and one of the hardest moments I went through when working on the photo boards for the visiting hours was realizing that there wouldn't be any more. No more photos of Mom.

No more "pretend I was here."

Except, you know what? Even if she can't take my holiday photo, and even if she's not physically here, I'm still going to pretend that she is. Because she is. In spirit.

And I so wasn't planning on crying over this little post, but there you go. Who knew that such a little phrase, something that was meant as a joke, would actually be so poignant?

Anyway, we did have fun just sort of lingering in Downtown, and DH and I broke off with DS alone to do a little shopping just for him. We'd planned on buying him a Transformer but couldn't get over the upcharge in price compared to home. Ah, the pleasure of buying it Disney...apparently, you're meant to pay at least $5 if not $10 more than your local Toys R Us. Fortunately for us, he ended up wanting a Wall E toy that transformed, and that actually wasn't too pricey, so we got that for him. I also picked up Eve and Mo (unbeknownst to DS), to save for Christmas and his birthday, which is in February.

Pleased with our purchases and successful photo, it was time to call it a night.



Next Chapter

 

[Lady Lallie]

I think it's such a great tradition that you take your Holiday photo at DTD.

My family grumbles every year at Christmas when I pull out my tripod and set up the camera for a family photo but I think those types of things are so important because you never know what could happen.

 

[MRYPPNS]

And a beautiful family picture it was for a holiday card! I know because I'm lucky enough to have one.....I still have it, it's going in my photo album for that trip.

 

[LegoMom3]

Those family memories are priceless, aren't they? They can happen anywhere, of course, but I know that with us, it's a large part of why we keep returning to Disney. Your son (sons!!) will remember these times!

.

 

[Charleston Princess]

I loved that Christmas photo! It turned out great!

Yes, just remember that your mom will always be there in spirit, but I know it is so hard to realize she won't be there in pictures anymore.

 

[jenjolt]

What an amazing idea! I think once we move I'm going to start a Christmas photo tradition!!

I'm also so glad for you that you have these photos of your mom and you are right she will always be with you in spirit! I know that doesn't always make it easier to deal with her loss, but she is always going to be there smiling down on you!

 

[creativeamanda]

I keep meaning to do that for our Christmas card. You saw when I sent you ours this year, I couldn't decide. Definitely this year, we will use one from Disney.

And I'll think of you when we do it.

 

[All7OfUs]

What a beautiful expression of turning an everyday, seemingly routine sort of tradition into a heartfelt tribute!! I love that, TK!

Nope, you don't have to pretend, her memory will ALWAYS be WITH you in the most tangible of ways!

 

[that's nice]

What a great memory. Once again, some times it is the little things like this that turn into the lifelong memories.

We love the holiday shop too. We always have to go in and see the ornaments.

Are you saying that Disney marks up their products even more in DTD???

 

[If U Had Wings]

I love the tradition of the Christmas photo. My dad is the one who is usually out of the photos because he is taking the pictures. I really try to make an effort to get some of him. Most of the photos of my childhood he is the missing one.

 

[eandesmom]

When you look at the pictures, knowing she was there in the way she loved best, taking the picture, can add a whole new level of meaning to them.

She will always be there.

 

[All7OfUs]

Are you saying that Disney marks up their products even more in DTD???

They have "special" signs they put up when they see you coming, Tim.

 

[TarzansKat]

I think it's such a great tradition that you take your Holiday photo at DTD.

My family grumbles every year at Christmas when I pull out my tripod and set up the camera for a family photo but I think those types of things are so important because you never know what could happen.

It was sort of an accident that we started that tradition, but it just continued, and I'll definitely miss it this year.

I think you should pull out that tripod. Let them grumble, memories are precious!

And a beautiful family picture it was for a holiday card! I know because I'm lucky enough to have one.....I still have it, it's going in my photo album for that trip.

I'm honored that we rate enough to go in the album! I think we look particularly snazzy in our matching tie dye. A lot of my family didn't realize I made those shirts until I told them.

Those family memories are priceless, aren't they? They can happen anywhere, of course, but I know that with us, it's a large part of why we keep returning to Disney. Your son (sons!!) will remember these times!

.

That's so true. That's exactly why we return to Disney over and over again. It's not that you can't create memories elsewhere, it's that there's a special quality to things we do there.

I loved that Christmas photo! It turned out great!

Yes, just remember that your mom will always be there in spirit, but I know it is so hard to realize she won't be there in pictures anymore.

Thank you. It is frustrating to think that she won't be there, but I know her spirit is with us.

What an amazing idea! I think once we move I'm going to start a Christmas photo tradition!!

I'm also so glad for you that you have these photos of your mom and you are right she will always be with you in spirit! I know that doesn't always make it easier to deal with her loss, but she is always going to be there smiling down on you!

I highly recommend the Christmas photo tradition. It's a great one.

I keep meaning to do that for our Christmas card. You saw when I sent you ours this year, I couldn't decide. Definitely this year, we will use one from Disney.

And I'll think of you when we do it.

Awww...shucks.

What a beautiful expression of turning an everyday, seemingly routine sort of tradition into a heartfelt tribute!! I love that, TK!

Nope, you don't have to pretend, her memory will ALWAYS be WITH you in the most tangible of ways!

Everything makes me think of Mom, so it's natural to me that when writing about this trip now, it's going to have some sort of relevancy to what's going on right now.

What a great memory. Once again, some times it is the little things like this that turn into the lifelong memories.

We love the holiday shop too. We always have to go in and see the ornaments.

I love looking at the ornaments, too. I rarely buy them there, but I always find them to be absolutely beautiful.

Are you saying that Disney marks up their products even more in DTD???

I love the tradition of the Christmas photo. My dad is the one who is usually out of the photos because he is taking the pictures. I really try to make an effort to get some of him. Most of the photos of my childhood he is the missing one.

It's so important to snag those people and get some photos of them, that's for sure.

When you look at the pictures, knowing she was there in the way she loved best, taking the picture, can add a whole new level of meaning to them.

She will always be there.

You're right, it does add a new level of meaning to a lot of the photos we have, since she was the primary picture taker.

 

[TarzansKat]

Thursday, October 1st. Is there really any better way to start your birthday month than with a trip to the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa?

With Mom, no less?

Say it with me. Spa-ahhhhhhhhh.

Mom and I headed off for our relaxing spa experience, leaving DH, DS, FIL, and Nana to their own devices. My dad headed back home this morning, so he was on his way to the airport while Mom and I were off. I hadn't been in years, and decided to pamper myself with a pedicure and a massage. Mom, since it was my birthday, treated me to the paraffin dip for my aching tootsies as well.

I have to tell you that I used to be the type of person who hated getting massages. The thought of a stranger touching me really weirded me out, and I just could not get past it, so during massages, I would actually tense up instead of relaxing.

It's amazing how we change with age. I guess now that I'm thirty, older, wiser, I figure, if you're going to touch my body and make the aches and pains go away, than have at! What that says about me, we won't analyze. I guess I get a little more as I get older.

My therapist was a woman, and I can't remember her name, but she had a wonderful touch. I got an aromatherapy massage, and went for a citrus type scent that was absolutely divine. She asked if I had any problem areas, and I told her typically my lower back got the most pain, so she worked a bit extra there. It really was a truly amazing experience.

Since the massage was the absolute favorite part of my trip to the spa, that's all I'm going to talk about here.

Well, that and the delight of meeting people for the first time in your bathrobe.

That leaves quite an impression, eh, ladies?

Yes. It just so happened that 2Excited2Sleep, ILuvCrush, and JenJolt, were due to be at the spa for pedicures around the same time that Mom and I were receiving treatments. Now, since Christine, Paula, and Jen are not picturephobic on the internet, like I am, I knew what they looked like beforehand.

So picture this, if you will.

I'm sitting in my oh so lovely spa-provided bathrobe, sipping the lovely spa water, enjoying the lovely spa atmosphere, looking like an absolute wreck because all the essential oils are all over my hair and everything, and in walk three lovely women.

And I recognize them immediately. And make eye contact.

And say something to the effect of, "Hi. I'm Kat from the DIS."

Suave, eh?

Anyway, we said a quick hello before they were ushered off to their pedicures, and we continued our official DIS meet later in the lobby of the Grand Floridian.

I must say, it was a pleasure to meet all of you, and I really enjoyed it. And the fact that you brought gifts for myself and my family was a pleasant surprise! We're still enjoying the Villain Book (actually it lives in our car, Calypso), and DS and I loved making the pirate cut out cookies and the treasure box they came in is so cool.

We all enjoyed a quick meet before we headed to our own respective tea reservations, with plans to meet up later in the evening at MNSSHP.



Next Chapter

 

[Lady Lallie]

I forgot you named your car Calypso! So cute.

I have never had a massage, I've had facials but I really want to try out a massage. As I get older, I freak less about people touching my body as well. Older and wiser and all that jazz I suppose.

You are a brave woman meeting DISers in a bathrobe!

 

[creativeamanda]

I had a spa weekend with my sister in law in March 2005. Best weekend ever.

I know you enjoyed it! It sounds heavenly.

 

[MRYPPNS]

That's exactly how my DH refers to you...."Kat from the DIS" . It's not like I have any other friends named Kat, but I think it just stuck with him from one of the times you called the house and he answered the phone....men

Spa...pedi....that reminds me that I have to do some research

 

[Native NYer]

Ahhh a spa afternoon
I need to try the GF spa...

 

[jenjolt]

Kat, it was such a pleasure to be able to meet you and your mom!!! It was a great afternoon!!!

I have been to the GF spa twice now and loved it both times! So relaxing and rejuvenating!! LOVE IT!