Oh Readers!!! POR Pre-Trip Report ~ We're back...trip report link on page 8!

[michael's mom]

Well, I have to say that 6 months ago, I never thought this week would come. I can't believe my ticker is in single digits! I can't believe I have one more weekend left to get all of my things ready before we leave on Friday.

Here's a brief update:

I ordered my Photopass CD last night...now, to make sure I get my $$'s worth. I am thinking that my sister and aunt (and maybe my mom) will split the cost with me. Then, if we purchase 2 photos each, we've come out on top.

I finally finished my project (for the second time). I don't think it's as great as the first one, but it is still pretty cool. I wrote a little "itinerary" for our entire trip, complete with abbreviated menus for each restaurant we'll be dining at, photos from the parks and resorts, featured attraction lists, the 2009 confirmed snack list (Thanks Disers!), and some journal pages from www.themouseforless.com for anyone interested to write in. Then, DH printed them all out last night and I bought book binders and used the binding machine in school today to make them. I stopped by Staples this afternoon and purchased size A2 (invitation size) envelopes to make my mousekeeping envelopes, (thanks Mrs. Heg, fellow Diser), and put the packets together for the familiy, addressed my cousin's and I'm mailing it out to Fort Lewis overnight tomorrow! I'll give everyone else their's this weekend during our Easter dinner.

I also counted up DS's $$ in one of his banks (he call's it a truck bank, but it's really a Boston Bruin's zamboni bank from his uncle) and my aunt (not the one coming on this trip, the one taking care of my cat) went out to the nearest Disney store and bought him his very own Disney Dollars! Now, I just have to remember to pack them. I think I'll go do that right now.

I am sure I mentioned that we are all packed. I have to pick up a few things for our carry-ons but everything that we will desperately need in Disney is all packed!

The worrisome part of the upcoming week for me is that I have 20 report cards to send home on Friday and I left school in such a hurry today to get DS to his and my haircut appointments that I forgot them all at work, and, due to Good Friday, we don't have school tomorrow so I REALLY need to have my suitcases and carry-on's plane ready by Sunday night because M-Th will be serious, stay-at-work-late, up into the wee hours, report card time. you wouldnt mind, but these report cards take FOREVER to do because they are 'standards based' and each student has 75 marks, plus a comment, and I have to update attendance, and the kicker....









...it all has to be handwritten because my district ran out of money and never purchased the technology for these to be done electronically

Anyway, thankfully I'm one of those people who works great under pressure, gets tons finished and done pretty well too.

Tomorrow DS has his appointment with his doctor to finally formally diagnose him with asthma and probably put him on preventative medication after last weeks "almost going to the ER at 2am" experience. Then, we'll run a few errands with my mom. She needs to food shop for Easter, I need to turn in my rolled coins and get some $1 for my Mousekeeping envelopes, and come home and do laundry.

Then, on Saturday, DS and I are going shopping with my mom, sisters, and maybe my aunt for those last minute things that we need. Then, out to lunch at my new favorite "chain" restaurant, Red Robin. I love, love, love their Whiskey River Burger (and I'm not a huge burger eater). I converted my sister too! We were there a few weeks ago and she called my mom on the way home and told her that if she wasn't so full from the first one she'd get a second because it was that good. Thank God the closest one is 45 minutes away because we only go there when we are down in the area shopping.

Okay, off to see if I can catch Monday night's episode of House online.

I'll update again this weekend I'm sure!

 

[nelep]

Anyway, thankfully I'm one of those people who works great under pressure, gets tons finished and done pretty well too.

Just want to let you know I'm still reading! Little comments like the one above makes me crack up because I realize how much alike we all are!

 

[michael's mom]

glad to still have you here! I have to keep telling myself that I'm great under pressure so I don't start to panic that my report cards are locked in a file drawer and not on my kitchen table. But, I'll let you in on a little secret...I'm freaking out a bit!!!

 

[michael's mom]

Happy Easter everyone!

I promised an update after my shopping adventure yesterday so here it goes.

I didn't have to work on Friday in observance of Good Friday so I used the day to run some errands. DS had a doctor's appoinment in the morning, then I took my mom food shopping. DS fell asleep in the car so she stayed home with him and I went to get an inspection sticker on the car, I had to go to the bank to get our coins cashed in, and hit up the post office to mail my cousin that special project of mine. Friday evening, DS and I drove to DH's work (Petco), bought the dog's food for the kennel and some things to keep the cat busy while we're gone. Then, we went into the mall there and I bought DS a new Red Sox cap (his is missing) and DH a new hat because his is just gross. Then, we accidentally stole a different Red Sox hat so had to bring that back before we left the mall (I think DS grabbed it as I walked by, but I'm not sure).

Then, on Saturday, we shopped some more!

I left the house at about 11:30 and picked my mom up at her house 5 minutes away. My mom and I decided that before we hit the mall, we'd stop by a jewelry store on the way and finally sell off those old, broken gold chains or earrings that are without a mate. I had a ring from an old boyfriend to get rid of. So I pull into the parking lot and it's pouring and DS is sleeping so my mom hands me her bag and offers to stay with DS (out of the rain of course) while I went in and had the jewerly purchased.

My little quarter sized pile of gold landed me with $61 in my hand, and my mom, who called me before I left to say she wasn't coming because my sister was whining about driving alone after her haircut (I told her to tell my sister to grow up and that I'd be there in 5 minutes) ended up with $311 in her hand. Not too bad to end up with that kind of spending money 4 days before your trip to Disney!

After the jewelry store, I hit up a Christmas Tree Shop (awesome store for those of you not in New England) because I read a cool autograph idea on another thread. I bought a picture mat and some bright colored sharpies. I'm going to have the mat autographed and then we will put a picture of either the 3 of us or just DS in it to hang with our 1st trip picture. I wanted an 11x14 mat for a 5x7 picture and they didnt' have any. I did buy some others just in case I didnt' find what I wanted at the mall.

We get to the mall...sidenote: my uncle just bought my aunt a brand new Ford Explorer...my favorite car, and I wanted to cry when I saw it because it's my fave color Explorer to boot...but, envy doesn't suit me so moving on:

We walked around Macy's for a bit but I really only needed a shoe store and Target. I got to Target and found all the rest of the toiletry type items, a luggage rack if DH thinks he'll need it for the luggage, some new headphones for DH and I, and a gorgeous 11x14 matted picture frame for a 5x7 picture JACKPOT!!!

We left Target and went to lunch at Red Robin (awesome burgers), then went over to DSW where I found a new pair of running shoes (I don't run, but I prefer these to walk in).

Do you all remember my plan to do the parks in my Croc flip-flops? Well, on Friday it was so beautiful out that when I went to get my Edge inspected to get a new sticker, I decided to walk to the CVS (about 1/2 mile away) because the car would be 45 mins-an hour. Well, I am so glad that I did because my ankles were killing me...my feet were fine, but my ankles need more support, so my job this week is to break in my new sneakers!

We left the shoe store (others had shopped elsewhere) and I made my sisters come with me to pick out a pair of sunglasses. My dad is always yelling at me for having the $10 cheapies from the pharmacy so I used a gift card from Christmas to buy them. My sisters had to come with me to make sure my fashion sense was correct. I bought new glasses...pretty cool, went next door and returned the sandals that I bought my son at Stride Rite and put another $50 in my hand (I know, lots of money on sandals, that's why I returned them).

If your keeping track, I have been handed $110 in the last 4 hours. True, my money, but still...right in the vault for Disney.

When we got home last night after a long day of shopping and visiting with the in-laws, I completed the packing as much as can be done until the day we leave. I have to put our sneakers in the suitcase and pack our toothbrushes. DH is taking care of the cameras and such. But, my carry-on bag is packed (the mat for the autographs is in there) and we're ready to go!!

DS is really getting excited too! I told him a few weeks ago that it was time for Mickey's house when the plane came to get us. This is because he asked every time I put his coat on if we were going to Mickey's house now. Well, the plane coming to get us thing didn't help much, and I should have know, because the planes for Logan airport fly right over our house during both landing and take-off flight patterns, and we're close enought that the planes are still low enough to hear.

About a week ago he heard the plane fly overhead and this one was particularly loud. he jumped up and ran around the house yelling "my planes here, my planes here, we're going to Mickey's house". If I could have thrown a lasso around that darn plane and flown it to Disney for him I would have.

I just can't believe that I can finally say, "I'm leaving for Disney World this week!"

I'll definitely do some updates while I'm there, but I don't know if I'll be back on before hand because I have those pesky report cards to deal with!

 

[jenbug1]

wooohooo!! you must be so excited! we leave on the 26th ... I would love to hear some live trips reports if you get the chance! I have enjoyed reading yours so far! HAVE AN AMAZING TIME!

 

[michael's mom]

wooohooo!! you must be so excited! we leave on the 26th ... I would love to hear some live trips reports if you get the chance! I have enjoyed reading yours so far! HAVE AN AMAZING TIME!

Thanks, I'm really looking forward to it. I'll definitely be on a few times during the week.

 

[michael's mom]

So that special project that I was working on was sort of a hit! My dad told me I was sick, but he was joking. My sisters both thought it was cute, my aunt and uncle liked it, and best of all no one made fun of me!

I think that they didn't make fun of me because I explained that it was meant initially to be a momento for DS and I just made extra copies for them all.

We had a terrific Easter yesterday. DS was really cute when he saw his Easter basket. I may or may not have mentioned that DS has a very severe peanut allergy (hospitalized at 16 months) so his basket looked a little boring. Hershey's kisses, Hershey's eggs, Hershey's bunny. He is still only 2 so he doesn't need a whole bunch of chocolate anyway so we put some little toys/books in it. There was Stanley the steam engine (newest member of the Thomas cast), a Radiator Springs DieCast Lightening McQueen, a Thomas whistle that blows bubbles, a few books, coloring and reading, crayons, a water ball, and we had an egg hunt and hid some kisses and coins in the eggs. He LOVED getting $$$.

Okay, I'm fighting a cold and need to get some sleep. I'll check in tomorrow maybe!

4 MORE DAYS!!!!!

 

[michael's mom]

Hello readers!

I just had to check in to let you all know that I am finished with everything that I have to do at work (aside from teach for 3 more days) and I can enjoy my afternoons/evenings before I head to Providence for my flight.

In the 8 years I've been teaching I have NEVER had my report cards finished completely 3 days early. I want to photocopy the comment pages before I put them in envelopes, but they are done! I'm so excited.

I went to the supermarket today and got some snacks for the plane and some Sudafed to help with the ear popping.

I have to pick up a gift certificate to a local restaurant to thank my aunt for taking care of my cat and Friday morning after we brush and shave, throw the razors and toothbrushes into the bags. I can actually pack up my car tomorrow if you can believe it!

Okay, the dog's scratching at the door and DS is calling me to play with him so I'm off!

 

[miprender]

We are back, but have a wonderful time and cant wait to hear how everything went.

 

[michael's mom]

Hi All!!! I finally made it online to post to you all. I'll be starting my Trip Report this weekend probably but wanted to give you all a quick hello...thanks for reading along with me and to tell you WE HAD A GREAT TIME!!!!! The weather and crowds were great and DS was even more fun to experience Disney with than we anticipated...we're thinking of going back next year!!!!!

 

[miprender]

The weather in April was just so great I dont think I ever want to go back again in the summer heat

 

[michael's mom]

Thats funny because DH and I were talking about taking DS in the summer because we can afford the airfare a bit better...but after Friday with I think we've decided against that. As a kid, we always went April vacation and had a great time. The best part, when you come home, it's pretty nice out! It was 84 when we landed in Providence, high 60's yesterday, but a sweltering 88 this afternoon. Just like my beloved Disney...only not nearly as pretty!

 

[michael's mom]

Okay, I started my Trip Report thread...only the first thread and nothing you readers don't already know but the link is: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=31588019#post31588019

I hope you can join in!