Oct 3, 2009 Wester Carribean

[dismom73]

Oh my gosh, it's cold here!!!! I know I'm not going to get any sympathy from you guys that have been this cold for a month now, but it is 28 degrees here, 28! Did you here me?? 28!!!! Of course, it's clear as a bell, so no snow for the kiddos , but 28! ok moving on...

I am getting our cards out today...Sams club messed up our order though. We ordered 50 and they gave us 25, so I went back to get the rest made and they made the wrong ones and there is a white line along the bottom(that isn't suppossed to be there) and of course I didn't notice until I was stuffing the rest of them in envelopes. At this point I said "Oh well".
That was nothing though, our fridge/freezer went out yesterday!! So we spent 6 hours(and 5 locations) looking for a new one (which we don't have the money for) so our already light Chirstmas is looking to be even lighter! I just keep telling myself what Christmas is all about, so it doesn't matter that we are broke, or don't have a fridge or any food (well we have dry cereal, and soup and crackers)it makes me think about the reason for the season even more. It also makes me talk about it with the kids even more, so I think it's worth having a Christmas like this one every once in a while to remind me what it's really about.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Ok i know I post pics all the time but it makes me feel better....like there will be hope in sight and I try to forget how long we have.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Good morning everyone.........

Andrea- you need a freezeer..just come here and stick your food outside!!!

Today ---school was cancelled. We are having Heavy snow/freezing rain combo...I know crazy!!! Unfortunately I might still have to go out. DD has been coughing like crazy and has been like this for days...so I think it's not ur common cold...Unfortunately I think her sinus' are full and they will have to give her something to drain it.

I checked on on Kristi's blog and they r hoping to be flying home the 29th as planned. Some beautiful picsof their family and Trina too... I am so excited for them!

Hope everyone has a good day. and VAL you might be far enough south to miss some of this ice/snow mix. Oh when r u leaving for WDW? Friends of ours are going the 23rd. wish i was!

 

[Magic3forme]

We do have school today ( the 2 around us were cancelled. I wish we had a delay to see if the roads get any better.) It is pouring here right now and the roads are slushy. The girls have their parties at school today. ( I have to go out later in this....and I am not looking forward to it. )

Dhs flight from Portugal to London was cancelled, so he is flying home now through Newark NJ. and with this bad weather..who knows if he will make it home.

we are leaving Dec 27th for Atlanta ( we want to show the kids their new "potential" home area, and Santa is bringing American girl gift cards...so we are stopping there.
We get tickets for WDW on the 29th..we will be there on the 28th.... our anniversary. we went to WDW for our first time for our honeymoon...isnt that sweet? lol. We will be there until Jan 3.

 

[the great cornholeo]

OKay so today we are supposed to get 14+ inches of snow and then another storm on Sunday....You have to love living in New England in the winter, although Michelle seems to be feeling my pain. I actually would take snow over rain thought so that make me crazy doesn't it.

I can't believe that Christmas is next week and I haven't done any shopping. I guess you know where I'll be on Saturday. Hopefully I'll catch some good sales.

OKay well I better get back to work. talk to you all later.

 

[DH of dolphingirl47]

we ended up buying a new suitcase in Orlando.

We always end up buying new suitcases in Orlando, I dont think weve been once without that happening.

 

[dismom73]

Well good moring everyone! So sorry to hear about the bad weather. We are back to normal today...50 or so, but it is raining off and on.
Michelle, that's too bad that the last day of school got canceled. Was Sydney supposed to have a party in her class? Riley would be so bummed to miss the Christmas party, of course they never cancel school here. I'll never forget the first time she saw Snow Day, she left wondering why we never have snow days. She didn't even realize they exsisted.
Val--I am so excited for you guys! I wish we were going too! I love the parks at Christmas time. I forgot where you are staying, is it Coronado Springs? That's where we stayed last year.
Laura, I can't believe you haven't done your shopping yet!! I guess we should have gone out on black friday. What are you getting Jason? Did I tell you I found the pink leapster for Bailey? I am all done and wrapped, it is a wonderful feeling. Especially because this has never happened before. I always intend on having everything wrapped in advance so I can go to bed at a decent time on Christmas eve, but it never happens. Well there was so little shopping this year that I got it all wrapped at the same time I bought it. I only have one thing left to wrap...every year the girls get to open one present on Christmas eve, well this year there was so little bought that I wasn't going to have them open anything on Christmas eve, but we were at the Disney store the other day (getting Riley's teacher---who is going on the DC in two weeks --a Disney gift card for Christmas) and they had a Disney tree topper, it's a light up star with Mickey sitting on one side and Minnie sitting on the other, for $11(it was 70% off). So I got that and I'm going to let them open that on Christmas eve. It's a little off the tradition of each of them opening something, but I figure it's better than nothing.

 

[Magic3forme]

We are staying at the Port Orleans Riverside. With 5 people unfortunately our choices were limited. We have not stayed there before. ( we requested a room in the one area...who knows if we will get it.) I have to tell them it our anniversary too.

 

[dismom73]

When we went last year my parents went with us, while we were there they stayed at CS next to us, then after we left they stayed an extra 4 days by themselves and they switched over to PO, but I can't remember if it was RS or FQ. Anyway, they said they LOVED it. They liked it even better than CS. I didn't know that their rooms accomidated 5. I thought only a few of the deluxe ones, and the WL cabins would accomidate a family of 5. I will have to look into them for next year if we are able to do MNSSHP. If we do that I think we will stay on Disney property the night before instead of near the port. You'll have to let me know how you like it.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

OK...Finally i can get on. I just regained power....we lost it this morning. Left at 8:30am to take Nelia to the Peds (had power) came home and garage door wouldn't open...oops did someone not pay the electric bill? Well thank god I took my back door keys or we would have been stuck outside with no-way onto the garage. So we get in, I call and yes weather has taken power. Though I count us lucky compared to the East coast.

Andrea--yes Nelia had Xmas program this morning which of course was cancelled. Sydney was to have fun xmas stuff in class and then multiage class room was going to see the Movie --Tales of Desp. So she really was upset about that.

Del was off so we went to the Peds, Bob Evans for breakfast and then to the grocery store...nothing exciting. I have a few more gifts to wrap. So what is everyones kids asking for for Xmas?? My DD's are asking for American Girl stuff or furniture for their dolls. DD(8) wanted a DS but I told her No cause they both have had leapsters for years, and we have the Wii. I only got the leapsters cause they are educational and the Wii cause it's active. I hate video games...I don't want my kids sittin on their butts doing that.. Our Family gift is a Y membership I think. So what all did u guys have to hunt for this year?

 

[disneydiva16]

FYI...some of value resorts now accomodate families of 5. Norma called for a rate and they told her that these are now called family suites. I forget which resorts, but I beleive one was Pop Century

 

[dismom73]

I have seen the family suites, I think right now they only have them at the all star sports and they are roughly the same price as two rooms. But I also checked the price of one room at PO RS and it is twice as much as one room at Pop for Oct. 2nd. It's still a long way off, but I like to look ahead. So I'm debating between the 5 of us squeezing into one room (since it's only one night) or maybe getting two rooms at one of the all star resorts, probably Pop
Michelle, that's sucks about your power, at least you got it back quickly. I would be locked out if our power went out, since I get in through the garage door too and I don't even have a key to our house, I should probably get me one of those

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Yeah normally I don't carry it either...it was a fluke I had it. I 2 was looking at the value resorts. I am hoping to fly in Weds or Thurs. We may stay with friends one night and then stay at Disney.....we'll see. i like having my plans done but I feel with money and all i don't feel secure enough to do it all. Like here's the dilema(sp)---stay with friends which of course saves money or stay on site for the fun!!....I am still torn.
But I am thinking definately

So andrea what is a teenage girl asking for this year?

 

[dismom73]

Ashley's not really asking for too much. She knows we are broke and has caught on, I think. She does want a pair of boots (the kind that look like the Ugg boots), she also does talk about clothes and electronics. I would post what she is getting, but sometimes I leave the boards on and walk away from the computer, so I'm afraid she may come accross the posting. So I will fill you in later...
Rileys one big gift will come in really handy for the cruise, again will fill you in later...
Well, I'm sure all of you east coast time zone people are in bed by now, so I will chat with you all tomorrow...
Terri, where are you, you're my only west coast time zone person????

 

[dolphingirl47]

I am officially ready for Christmas. I finally managed to get around to do my Christmas shopping on Thursday and spent most of yesterday baking German Christmas cookies. I ran out of them as some of the team leaders, our quality officer and our old and our new secretary from work went to a Thai banquet. The food was fantastic. This morning I baked the last batch of cookies. We are doing Secret Santa at work on Monday and that was enough of an excuse to get baking.

Most of the ingredients for Christmas dinner are in the fridge. We just need the vegetables now. I have got to make a pasta salad for the bring and share buffet at work for Christmas Day, but that won't take me long to do on Christmas Eve. We are intending to go to the movies on Christmas Eve and See Four Christmasses. This is the only day off I get over the Christmas period.

Right, I better get going. Another graveyard shift is waiting for me.

Corinna

 

[MinFan55]

OK Andria, I'm here. You've got me curious about what Riley is getting, I can't wait to find out.

I've been super busy at work and I only have one day off this weekend. They are letting us work on Sunday so we can have Wednesday - next Sunday off, I have to say that is one of the most generous things they have ever given us.

I was out late last night picking my son up from the airport, he came in from Florida for the holidays. He'll be here until the 5th.

So I've got a question for anyone who wants to answer, do you give the kids gifts in the FE everyday or only certain days? I have no idea what to put in them so I've got to start thinking about it.

Happy Holidays to all if I don't get a chance to tell you again.

Terri

 

[dismom73]

Terri--I'm glad your son got in ok. For the FE each family that is participating brings something to put into everyone elses FE one (or maybe two) times. So you don't have to put something in it everyday, but between all the other families we should end up with something in it everyday. At least I think this is how it works, this will be my first time doing the FE so I'm not totally sure. I ordered our FE this week and I can't wait to get it! You'll have to come over and see it when it gets here! Have you guys gone down Candy Cane Lane yet?

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Terri------Fe's-----i think we decided everyone can give whenever they want. I think they need delivered by Friday morning since we have to pack up and have our luggage out friday night for the CM's to collect and take away for our return Sat. I will tell you i made something for the adults and then I am making gift bags(like celyphan treat bags) of stuff for the kids so I can deliver mine on one day. I figure most will deliver Sun-Thurs.

 

[Magic3forme]

We had gifts in our f/e every day except Friday! (it helped we had over 50 cabins participating.) there was no day when to pass out your f/e gifts either. I passed ours out on Sunday... after we came aboard from Castaway Cay.

 

[dismom73]

It will be interesting to see how many more people join as it gets closer. So far it's still a pretty small group participating in the FE. If it stays small maybe we should assign days so that they don't all come the first half of the week and then the pockets stay empty the second. If it gets bigger I think we would probably be fine just letting everyone go whenever.