One big (blended) happy (sometimes) family PreTrip June 09 *new updates* pg 8 6/11

[3princesses+aprince]

Yay for being almost all paid up, I enjoyed that feeling myself!!!
Yours and Catherine's MK day seemed to be wonderful. Oh, how I cannot wait to be there!!!!!!!! Glad you guys had a nice Mommy/daughter day, that's nice!!!

 

[catherines_mama]

Catherine looks so much bigger than the last pics, did she get a haircut? It looks so cute!!

We'll she's 8 now. She's just getting so grown up. Not just growing tall, which she is, but just maturing before our eyes.

I don't LOVE the haircut. Steve took she and Jack to get haircuts and she told the lady how to cut it. I like the length, but the front is too short for my liking. I like to see her eyes, and her hair is ALWAYS covering her eye. I've recently instated a "You MUST wear a clip" rule. That or it must tuck behind her ear. When it grows out we'll probably keep the back length but work on the letting the bangs grow out.

That got long LOL SORRY! Who know I could talk THAT much about the kid's hair.

 

[princess&her4princes]

YAY - I love calling there! It was funny calling from work. The voice response unit that you have to TALK TO. If I don't talk slow & soft it never understands me (note: I talk kind of fast sometimes).

Anyway so I'm saying "YES" "ORLANDO" "YES" "YES" "NO" and the guy I share a cube with was like "WHAT are you doing?" Heehee!

So I paid the rest of Steve's reservation!! YAY! Paid he and the kids in full. I still have to pay the rest of MINE and I just don't have the $ until next week. They said that is fine - THANK YOU.

It just felt good getting his paid up

Always a good feeling!!!!

 

[princess&her4princes]

We'll she's 8 now. She's just getting so grown up. Not just growing tall, which she is, but just maturing before our eyes.

I can completely understand that, my oldest, is 6 1/2 but I can see how much he is maturing and growing up! He looks like a boy now, not a little kid..it's sad how fast they grow!!

I don't LOVE the haircut. Steve took she and Jack to get haircuts and she told the lady how to cut it. I like the length, but the front is too short for my liking. I like to see her eyes, and her hair is ALWAYS covering her eye. I've recently instated a "You MUST wear a clip" rule. That or it must tuck behind her ear. When it grows out we'll probably keep the back length but work on the letting the bangs grow out.

That got long LOL SORRY! Who know I could talk THAT much about the kid's hair.

You were brave letting Steve take her for a haircut, but you lucked out, it looks cute. I worry about my boys hair with my DH getting it cut without me there, let alone a daughters hair!! A boys cut you can't (really) mess up, so you lucked out!! SHe looks adorable. I remember my Mom having that same rule....she would always say "Kristen, get that hair out of your face!!" and now I can't stand it near my face...lol!!

 

[catherines_mama]

So, when I called to pay the rest of Steve's ressie (we are on 2 ressie's b/c Cat & I have APs) anyway, I went to pay his off and that was fine. I asked the CM to put in a note in my ressie that I'd call later this week to pay mine. He said "no worries, you have plenty of time".

Well, I called today to verify the amount I had remaining and she told me its due tomorrow and if I do not pay it tomorrow they will cancel my ressie. She said that she could put a note in it to give me an extra week but that she cannot promise they wouldn't cancel it.

So I moved some $ I didnt want to move yet and paid it off. Just frustrating that the one guy told me I had "plenty" of time. OOKAY.

Oh well - we are ALL paid up now! Only $ left for WDW is spending money
Food - CHECK
Room - CHECK
Tickets - CHECK

WOOHOO

 

[princess&her4princes]

So, when I called to pay the rest of Steve's ressie (we are on 2 ressie's b/c Cat & I have APs) anyway, I went to pay his off and that was fine. I asked the CM to put in a note in my ressie that I'd call later this week to pay mine. He said "no worries, you have plenty of time".

Well, I called today to verify the amount I had remaining and she told me its due tomorrow and if I do not pay it tomorrow they will cancel my ressie. She said that she could put a note in it to give me an extra week but that she cannot promise they wouldn't cancel it.

So I moved some $ I didnt want to move yet and paid it off. Just frustrating that the one guy told me I had "plenty" of time. OOKAY.

Oh well - we are ALL paid up now! Only $ left for WDW is spending money
Food - CHECK
Room - CHECK
Tickets - CHECK

WOOHOO

Oh no!!! That's weird that they couldn't get their story straight.....oh well, one less thing to worry about, right?

 

[catherines_mama]

5 more weeks (and a few days, but who counts those) to our trip!!!

I'm getting excited! I need to get on the horn and get some stuff done. I think this weekend I'll try to sneak out and get the autograph books made. I also need to order a few tricket gifts.

I like to give the kids gifts every night (just small things) and I really think it cuts down on the "i wants". LOL I have stuff for Emma & Jack that I got on my day trip with Catherine, but I don't have anything for her OOPS

This weekend I have to: buy Steve's ring, shop for a new phone (free upgrade 6/10), do autograph books. That's my plan!!

 

[princess&her4princes]

It's going to fly by!!! Yay for 5 weeks!!!! You're so sweet giving the kids a little gift every night, is it from you or Tink/Mickey or something like that...I've heard of others doing that before and think it's cute...maybe on my next family trip!

Good luck this weekend and getting everything done you need/want to!!

 

[tinkgurl]

We have the same countdown time! 1-1-1!

Here's my ADR's to compare to yours :

Wednesday June 24th: Mama Melrose- 4:00 pm
Thursday June 25th: Chef Mickey's- 7:55 pm
Friday June 26th: CRT- 7:10 pm.
Saturday June 27th: Late Luau- 8 pm
Sunday June 28th: 1900 PF - 6:25 pm
Monday June 29th: Olivia's- 6:00 pm
Tuesday June 30th: Tony's- 6:30 pm

 

[catherines_mama]

I'm currently obsessing over what to pack the kids to wear for a whole week.

Being mid-June, everyone will need 2 outfits each day. A morning outfit and an evening outfit. Its just too hot and humid to be able to wear the same thing all day.

SO - I am thinking Catherine & Emma should be okay. Esp b/c Emma is a dress girl and has a ton of cotton dresses to wear each night so she's fine.

Jack - Even though I'm sure he'll wear board shorts during the day (as will his father) I think will need 2 - 3 more pairs to make it through a 7day vacation. I really don't want to do laundry mid-vacation

And underwear.. no way can we wear 1pair a day. So everyone will need a new pack of undies AND socks.

Everyone already has 2 pair of sneakers so they are okay with that....

I NEED shorts. I have 2 pair that FIT and need a few more obviously. Sigh - I think if I shop a little bit every week between now & then I won't go broke doing it.

AND I don't think I can get away with packing 1 wk ahead. We don't have that much 'extra' clothes and the kdis wear their clothes everyday. I think I'll be able to pack Steve & I early. But the kids... I'll have to do laundry on Friday and pack Friday night.

Its 5 wks away and I'm obsessing... what sucks, is I obsess about this AND at the same time.. I'm obsessing about seating arrangements at the wedding. Who will we sit the ILs with? My parents with? Who will sit with our kids? ahhh!

 

[catherines_mama]

Ok so I went shopping today and got ME some new shorts. I only have 3 pair which really is fine. B/c I wear one on Sat, one on Sunday and one the next Sat when doing the prev week laundry. Well 7 days in WDW.. NEED MORE! So I bought 4 shorts, 2 capris and a skirt YAY FUN!

Nothing for the kids bad me. I'll make Steve take Jack to get some clothes the next time a good sale comes around.

I'm SO glad its Friday! Hope you all have a good weekend!

 

[princess&her4princes]

Ok so I went shopping today and got ME some new shorts. I only have 3 pair which really is fine. B/c I wear one on Sat, one on Sunday and one the next Sat when doing the prev week laundry. Well 7 days in WDW.. NEED MORE! So I bought 4 shorts, 2 capris and a skirt YAY FUN!

Nothing for the kids bad me. I'll make Steve take Jack to get some clothes the next time a good sale comes around.

I'm SO glad its Friday! Hope you all have a good weekend!

Fun shopping trip!! You sound like you made out well!!! TGIF! Have a GREATweekend, too!!!

 

[catherines_mama]

oh gosh.. things have been so busy that I haven't looked at my plan in so long.

and looking at the plan... we need to use our Putt-Putt vouchers. So I just modified Day 6.

Day 6 - MGM.

MGM never takes a full day so this is our afternoon day off.

MGM will be normal hrs - not an EMH day. So we'll get to sleep in a little, which is needed b/c the night before was Wishes! which was late. MGM at rope drop. I have always had a typical MGM plan but with TSM I guess that all gets changed.

I guess we'll head straight to TSM. FP or ride - that's the question. I'm thinking we'll ride TSM (if line is okay). then go get RNR FP and TOT FP. YES - I'm going to cheat the system a bit. Only Catherine & I will ride both rides - Emma MIGHT ride TOT (height requirement = 40'' right?). So we'll have 5 tickets and need 5 FPs. I know... but Steve & Jack WILL NOT ride them.

Then we'll head back and do GMR, Star Tours, MAYBE PlayHouse Disney... Just do whatever there is to do. Hopefully we'll get the bulk of what we want to do done before lunch. Then we can ride the 2 rides, have lunch (maybe a late lunch since we started late) and head HOME!

Once back at POFQ we'll swim - OF COURSE. Take showers - OF COURSE nap - OF COURSE and then head to dinner. This meal will be off the DDP. I have no idea what or where we'll eat. I will let Steve totally make this call since I have fun the rest of the show.

before or after dinner - probably after so its cool out - we'll head to one of the putt putt courses and use our vouchers. We have some putt-putt loving kids and they drive us crazy about it all the time. Living in a beach community that caters to vacationers there are a few good courses around that we drive by alot.

which course do ya'll recommend? I've only played Winder Summerland. It looked more shaded then Fantasmic Gardens. But what is Fantasmic Gardens like?

This will be an early night. Kids to bed early b/c tomorrow is 8:20 ADR at Crystal Palace. I LOVE Crystal Palace! Crystal Palace is a staple of all Cat & I's trips. Now I get to share it with Steve, Jack & Emma.

 

[catherines_mama]

Quick Wedding Update : We've lost of Pastor who was to marry us.

This has caused some heart ache for me, and I've slipped a little into a "not super excited right now" slump.

Long story short, he lost his morals, lost his relationship with God and has just checked out of what was once known as his life. He's left his family, the Church and lives life as if he were 20 (girls, parties etc). He is a 47 yr old grown man with KIDS and a WIFE and a CHURCH. *sigh*

Anyway, we're trying to figure out what to do, and I know whatever we deceide will work out for the better - it's just a dilemna right now.

 

[princess&her4princes]

Quick Wedding Update : We've lost of Pastor who was to marry us.

This has caused some heart ache for me, and I've slipped a little into a "not super excited right now" slump.

Long story short, he lost his morals, lost his relationship with God and has just checked out of what was once known as his life. He's left his family, the Church and lives life as if he were 20 (girls, parties etc). He is a 47 yr old grown man with KIDS and a WIFE and a CHURCH. *sigh*

Anyway, we're trying to figure out what to do, and I know whatever we deceide will work out for the better - it's just a dilemna right now.

Oh no!! I'm so sorry to hear this for many reasons.....things will work themselves out, just try and stay positive, God will lead you to the right person to marry you. Take care!!!

 

[catherines_mama]

I get home last night, anticipating a refund check from dental insurance... ask Steve "babe, anything good in the mail" (hoping for refund check).

He says "we got two big things from Disney". WOOHOO! Shove small children out of the way to get to the front foyer and YUP! There are our Disney packets!

Since we have 2 rooms, we have 2 reservations, one for me one for him. So we both got to sit down and go through them. - VERY exciting!

THEN we got to talk about our trip and some fun ideas we're having. It was a great chance for us to talk about it. We really don't and Steve wants to... but then it bores him. I'm the planner - he's not. And that's okay.

BUT YAY!!! We got our stuff - we got our stuff!!

Question - why would they give US luggage tags. We are driving. Just was ODD. They are the cool "What are YOU celebrating?" Tags.

 

[catherines_mama]

Okay my lurkers.. come out of hiding!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful and relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

We had a great weekend and I was so sorry to see it go. We swam A LOT and cooked out A LOT - LOL. I woke up this morning feeling a little worse for wear. Too much sun yesterday and not enough water or time-outs. I'm the darkest skinned in the family (Cherokee) and I don't lotion up. I should.. b/c it did me IN this weekend. But after a little extra sleep, I was up and feeling fine. NO I did not drink "grown up drinks" at all yesterday. Knowing today was a work day I was all water .. just not enough I guess.

This week begins week 3 of having the kids consistent. Steve's Ex is still sick, but it is just sad that she has not called them, and we have no way of calling her as her cell ph is turned off. They are doing great though. We can tell they miss her, usually they get a bit ornery around that time. Steve is trying to get in touch to see what her plans are. We're happy having them, but would like to be able to make plans. At least to ensure we grocery shop enough. Having 2 more kids in the house full-time does a HUGE adjustment to the grocery list. Also, we are concerned she'll want to adjust some weeks etc due to this and try to monkey with our vacation. Luckily the custody agreement states "Last two weeks of June" as Steve's consistent summer vacation.

Okay, I guess I should go back to work I REALLY don't want to.

8 more days of school
2 wks of summer camp
DISNEY!!!

 

[tinkgurl]

Only 8 more days of school!

So sorry to hear about the whole situation with the kids. That's too bad she hasn't called them or anything. And why the heck would she have her cell phone turned off?! What if something happened to one of them and you needed to get ahold of her?!

 

[catherines_mama]

Only 8 more days of school!

So sorry to hear about the whole situation with the kids. That's too bad she hasn't called them or anything. And why the heck would she have her cell phone turned off?! What if something happened to one of them and you needed to get ahold of her?!

Like most people, she lives with only a cell ph. I don't know many who have a home phone these days. She just couldn't pay the phone bill that month. She'll call to talk to Steve from a friends phone but its always while he's at work and kids aren't there.

But the good news!!! Kids (Jack & Emma) had their 1st swim lessons last night. Jack just needs to learn to breath better so he doesn't get winded while in the middle of the pool and Emma just needs to learn to swim without her floaties.

Well Jack did great. He was right on target with the other kids in his class, so we think he'll do great, and Emma.. well - Emma started in Level 1 and by the end of the lesson she got to get out and ring the bell and move up to Level 2. That's my little fish girl! I was so proud of her. Catherine said that she did so well b/c she learned to breath in the pool from her (she's on swim team). umm OKAY Cat LOL so silly!

But great 1st swim lesson for the kiddos - really excited for them.

 

[tinkgurl]

That's great that they had a good swim lesson!