One Family, One Year - An AP finale & June 2010 PTR! - 7/6 TR STARTED!!!

[Happydog]

I think Happydog and Wigd went to the same TR school! ​

Oh no, I seriously have a LOT to learn in that department, I could never sustain, what is it? FIFTEEN pages? of highly important jibber jabber and small talk without even posting ONE photo of my trip! SHE is a pro...

Oh! I must say she did at least post two -- well one of you and one of Jill and her! AND I guess the contest and the souvenirs, AND she did break her arm in it all, so I GUESS she has an excuse...

ME??? I gotta get to it!!!

ARE you ready for the cruise??!! Going to be SOOOOOOOOOO much fun! Get bonine. If you think you might have any reaction to the waves. JUST in case.

 

[Native NYer]

 

[Charleston Princess]

Hi, Happydog! I was just coming over to ask if there was any trip planning or other fun news -- I see you are keeping us in suspense.

 

[Happydog]

Okay, okay, I will at least give you a few updates tonight, and then I will share photos tomorrow!

So, if you have seen our itinerary and ADRs, I have to say we have made one change.... We have decided to try Narcossee's for dinner on the 21st INSTEAD of the Rose and Crown. I know I know, it was a very well recommended choice for dinner, but the more I looked at the menu and thought about summer weather, I remembered why I was hesitant to try it in other trips -- just too hot to enjoy pub food! -- so alas, I have added an ADR for Narcossee's which is just a monorail ride away instead of a drive in the car. We were anticipating making it back over to the MK after dinner, so having dinner at the GF will be a great addition to that daily plan.

I booked our Sandcastle club reservation for the boys today!
SO now we have them scheduled for 7:00 -- I think we are leaning towards the Blue Zoo, but we will see.

I also explored the Dessert party. With the new summer fireworks, etc. I am waiting to see if and when they will extend the party dates... The last party they have is 5/31 so we shall see!

Lastly, we mailed off our GAD project today! I have photos, so tune in tomorrow!

 

[Happydog]

Hi, Happydog! I was just coming over to ask if there was any trip planning or other fun news -- I see you are keeping us in suspense.

Sorry guys! I was still over-busy tonight! I have to get these photos loaded tomorrow am! Then I will share those!

Too much soccer and yard work and grilling! With baths thrown in for good measure! Two dirty mud-puppies needed a bath!

I am wiped out! I'll be back in the morning because the weather will be another gorgeous day! I am anxious to be out in the sunshine!

 

[eandesmom]

I vote for Blue Zoo so I can read about it!

Egypt? Did I miss something??????

 

[Charleston Princess]

There has been a lot of soaking up sunshine at our house, too! I don't want to go back to school tomorrow and be stuck inside all day!!!

Narcoosee's sounds good -- I always like the pictures I see from there.

Woo hoo for the Sandcastle Club -- a date night will be lovely!

 

[Native NYer]

Narcoosee's is a great choice. I think I would have picked that over Rose & Crown also.

I hope the Dessert Party dates are extended .

 

[Happydog]

Well MY DH got to walk like an Egyptian this spring break, and I, well I stepped back from this one. NOT because I didn't want to go mind you, but this was a "scouting" trip for him. I suspect we will be going as a family in a few years. My DH is a regular tour group leader in the spring. We take HS students abroad pretty regularly. It is how we have been able to travel to such places as Thailand, Australia, and numerous trips to Europe, and mostly to Italy. We will be headed there again next spring, to a new region, and I am very excited. We have brought our own children on most of these excursions.
This trip, however, two factors came into play: ONE - the newness of it all. While the other locations were abroad, none were this foreign to us -- we were not sure how they would manage, how we would manage with them, and we wanted to scout it out to see. So the original plan was that I would go and my mother would be here to take care of the kids. Well, then I started talking about doing some work in my back yard... The $ it would cost for me to go to Egypt would pay for a short family trip to Disney if you can do that math, so we basically opted for that. So TWO - I sacrificed going to Egypt this time, we went to Disney in February, and I get my new patio! I also was lavished with many gifts so it wasn't too bad! I know we will go back, it fits with the curriculum that my husband teaches. But it may be China instead, so we'll see! They had to have an armed guard with them as tourists, so I am sure you can tell the difference in travel that this tour required. It was amazing I am sure, and DH said it was very interesting and he is going to plan a different itinerary next time, but hopefully when the kids are older. They are still too young to really go there. Europe no problem. Australia was no problem, either. This was just too new for all of us to consider as a family.

SO, moving on from explanation to pictures!!!

Here are some of the treasures DH brought home!

Okay, I know it doesn't look like much, but if you cook with it, you will appreciate it... this is a bag of saffron. Less than a teaspoon sells for $12.00 at the store, so I hope you can appreciate that my DH bought it for $5.00...

He also bought several other spices for really really cheap and direct from the source!

For our boys he bought the following... These are their names in Hieroglypics, and a scarab image with (beetle and cat). I am waiting for a 50% discount on custom framing from Michaels. then I will get them framed up and in their rooms!

THEN he brought me the following...

I wanted a wrap or scarf, he got me this, it is very delicate fabric, with embroidery, like a pashmina but egyptian cotton... would look nice with a black summer dress, or something like that.

Jewelry... I love funky jewelry like this, goes well with my wardrobe, and I can usually get away with interesting necklaces for work, and I like to wear wood jewelry with all my bangles in the summer...

This is a rather delicate bracelet -- I have a really cute yellow cotton and eyelet tanktop that it will go nicely with.

Here is another scarf, very light and sheer fabric...

These are really cool! The red on is longer, like thigh length with slits. It is sheer, so would be great with a tank under and possibly as a swim coverup!
The tan one is not sheer, but has neat contrasting embrodiery, and will be nice with heeled sandals and jeans in the spring/fall.. It is shorter, more low hip length... The cotton is really nice, these are fitted but loose, if that makes sense!

AND for the boys... a game... it isn't exactly EGYPTIAN, but...

He bought them some Teeshirts, too, I forgot to take a picture, but they are cute, with Egyptian symbols down the front.

So those are our souveniers!! PLUS a few things from Duty free... my DH bought me a large bottle of my FAVORITE perfume...

I had Easter cookies and several stone and pavers catalogs to share with him...

NEXT up...

What else for Disney? WELL.... I had signed my family up for the GAD project this winter. We were able to sign up and then plan our activity for spring break, and so over spring break we made blankets for the Project Linus organization (they make little security/comfort blankets to give to children in the hospital, if it is them or their family who is being treated). SO we bought fleece, some nice kid patterns, and made toggle blankets. here are the final products, before I mailed them off!

It was a fun project. We will use these vouchers when we go to Disneyland this fall!!! Another Trip I am really looking forward to, so I cant wait to start researching this! I already have a few guidebooks in my Amazon shopping cart!

I am working on my daily touring plans, and my Binder Thingy! Yes, it will make a new debut this trip! AND Tshirts for the boys! I have some ideas!! I found a couple great DISigns, I hope to use!

so my ticker says... 68 DAYS! WOOT WOOT!!!!

 

[Happydog]

I vote for Blue Zoo so I can read about it!

Egypt? Did I miss something??????

Just Keep Reading...

I think that is what we are leaning towards, too...

 

[Happydog]

There has been a lot of soaking up sunshine at our house, too! I don't want to go back to school tomorrow and be stuck inside all day!!!

Narcoosee's sounds good -- I always like the pictures I see from there.

Woo hoo for the Sandcastle Club -- a date night will be lovely!

Yes, the food is right up our alley, mussels, etc. SO we can have seafood together this summer CP!!!! YAY for mussels, calamari, salads, and chardonnay! I don't think we will get past the appetizer menu...

Yup! We all have a good time, boys too! So that includes dinner and we use the DDP for them on another night!

Narcoosee's is a great choice. I think I would have picked that over Rose & Crown also.

I hope the Dessert Party dates are extended .

Given the time of year, it made the most sense.. SO we will try R & C some time when we go back in the winter.

I REALLY hope the Dessert Party is extended!!! I had reserved this last summer then got cold feet, thought it was too expensive, DH wouldn't think it was worth it, but then I told him and he exclaimed, "WHAT? You cancelled that? It would have been great to get out of the crowd!" So... Hopefully we can again! I have a perfect night waiting for it, should they extend the dates!!!!

 

[Native NYer]

Love the souvenirs from Egypt. The scarves and necklaces are beautiful.

The blankets for Project Linus are adorable.

 

[stace208]

Your husband brought home some beautiful things! My DS would love that Lego thing too!!

Loved the blankets that you made for GAD! Can't wait to see you binder thingy. I did mine a little differently for the spring break trip and it still has some kinks...love to see what others use!

 

[Diamondintheruff]

I also explored the Dessert party. With the new summer fireworks, etc. I am waiting to see if and when they will extend the party dates... The last party they have is 5/31 so we shall see!

I keep going back and forth over this one too. But it's been getting some really negative press. I think I'm going to settle for making my own dessert wishes party. We'll head to the poly, buy some dessert (okay maybe a dessert drink) and watch the fireworks from there.

 

[SoonerGirl]

Your DH brought you some great stuff back from Egypt! I love the necklaces, especially the middle one, and that bracelet too. Those signs with the boys names in hieroglyphics are really cool

You'll love DL, we went summer of 2008 and had such a wonderful time. I want to go back, but am going to wait until they finish all the renovations at California Adventure.

 

[wigdoutdismom]

Love your Egyptian gifts. Your DH has wonderful taste! Can't wait to see the framed prints on the boys walls!

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Wow, what nice gifts your husband chose. How neat you get to travel to some interesting countries.

The blankets are adorable!

Erika

 

[manntra]

Love your Egyptian loot! The hieroglyphics are really cool and I love the bracelet and scarves! Such good taste that man has!! So what is your favorite perfume?
And oh yes I know how expensive that saffron is....mind you not from actually cooking with it, only from watching cooking shows that tell you how expensive it is

Tracy

 

[Happydog]

Love the souvenirs from Egypt. The scarves and necklaces are beautiful.

The blankets for Project Linus are adorable.

Thanks! I am pleased with the way the blankets came out. I was able to get the fleece really reasonably on sale, and it was not much time to do them, and easy.

Yes, he brought back some fun stuff!

Your husband brought home some beautiful things! My DS would love that Lego thing too!!

Loved the blankets that you made for GAD! Can't wait to see you binder thingy. I did mine a little differently for the spring break trip and it still has some kinks...love to see what others use!

Yes, they really liked the pyramid of lego!

I shared my Binder Thingy back on my summer trip of 09! I made all the pages for Christmas and used them, but didn't get my act together to laminate it all! I am working on it for this year, though, and I have old pictures I can show you!

I keep going back and forth over this one too. But it's been getting some really negative press. I think I'm going to settle for making my own dessert wishes party. We'll head to the poly, buy some dessert (okay maybe a dessert drink) and watch the fireworks from there.

What a drag! Really? I have to explore... that is a shame, seems if they come up with something fun it shouldn't go downhill!!! I like the dessert drink option, definitely!!

Your DH brought you some great stuff back from Egypt! I love the necklaces, especially the middle one, and that bracelet too. Those signs with the boys names in hieroglyphics are really cool

You'll love DL, we went summer of 2008 and had such a wonderful time. I want to go back, but am going to wait until they finish all the renovations at California Adventure.

Thank! Yes I like the stone one too! I am looking forward to getting the prints framed...

We went to DL a few years ago, well, I guess it was longer than that, it was about ten years ago! I am excited to go now, there is so much that has changed I know! I walked around DTD last January when I was in LA for a conference, so it was fun to see the differences, and to see the park poking up in the distance! We walked through the GC, and I can't wait to stay there! We will be there for Halloween, then going down to San Diego.

Love your Egyptian gifts. Your DH has wonderful taste! Can't wait to see the framed prints on the boys walls!

He did pick some great items out for us!

The Tshirts for the boys are too cute.

I will take photos once I get them framed!

 

[Happydog]

Wow, what nice gifts your husband chose. How neat you get to travel to some interesting countries.

The blankets are adorable!

Erika

We do love to travel! The blankets turned out really cute.

Love your Egyptian loot! The hieroglyphics are really cool and I love the bracelet and scarves! Such good taste that man has!! So what is your favorite perfume?
And oh yes I know how expensive that saffron is....mind you not from actually cooking with it, only from watching cooking shows that tell you how expensive it is

Tracy

HA! That is so funny!!! I make paella in the summer, and it is a big New Year's Eve dish in our house!

He is pretty good in the gift selection department! Well he bought me a bottle of my "winter/fall" "going out" fragrance... it is a heavier scent called Delicies by Cartier; he bought me the the eau de Parfum -- it was about $50.00 less Duty Free. I normally wear Narciso Rodriguez, everyday. It works spring, summer, fall, anytime.