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

[2xcited2sleep]

Hope all the teachers have fun finishing up another year!

Looking forward to the next update. The big reveal is this weekend, right?

 

[jeremysdisneymom]

Happy Dog:

I didn't get to post yesterday so I will send you some dancing today for 24 days!



I am sure you are getting excited!

Erika

 

[Happydog]

Yeay for 25 days!!!

THANK YOU CP!!!! So happy for you that Summer has started!!!!

YAY!!! 25 days!!! WOOT!!!

YAY!!! I know!!!

Wow! You have a lot going on!! Your trip is going to be a nice reward at the end of the craziness!!

The t-shirts look great!

Yes, too much happens in May!!!

Your trip is so close

The end of the school year is always SO busy! Are you at an elementary, middle, or high school? I teach 3rd grade at a K-12 school and it's been crazy.

High School, so lots of stuff with Seniors, etc.

BUSY BUSY BUSY!!!!!

 

[Happydog]

For sure!!!
Our kids have a full day today and a half day tomorrow. Teachers are doing inventory of books, end of the year assessments, putting lots of numbers in lots of grids on lots of papers.

And crowd control.
That's about all you can do with kids who are feeling the summer break big time!

To all my teacher buddies - Good luck as you close out another year!
Look forward to happy times on Disney trips
and other trips
or just relaxing time at home not hearing your name called all day.

Happydog - 24 days for you. We're not real far behind that.
Keep on counting!

Oh MeMom you are not kidding! Then you add to this all the celebrations, the end of year events, and WOW, those are just the events at my school and then I have events at two kid schools!!! I will be catching up on rest this weekend!!!!

 

[Happydog]

Woo Hoo!!

THANKS LL!!!

Hope all the teachers have fun finishing up another year!

Looking forward to the next update. The big reveal is this weekend, right?

YES! IT is!!!! And an update or two should be possible! I ended up with a 4 day weekend!

Happy Dog:

I didn't get to post yesterday so I will send you some dancing today for 24 days!



I am sure you are getting excited!

Erika

Oh from here to "0" days, I will be excited! So 24 is just better than 25!!!

 

[Happydog]

Hello everyone! I have been very slow to update I know, but as I mentioned, May is the craziest busiest time of year for me... I hope you are still reading along with me, and this is one of a few posts I have set up for this weekend.

So as it turns out, all of a sudden, here we are, just a mere 21 days from our big finale of a Disney World Trip!

Our 10 night trip!! Five with a washer and dryer As a mother of two boys -- I am very happy about that!!

Over the past few weeks, I really have been busy making trip plans and purchases...

First, my scarf I mentioned on a previous post… I really like this one. It is very light weight, and fun, and while I may not wear it this summer in FL, I will wear it else where this summer! So I know it will get plenty of wear.

It is really cheerful and I like the bright green!


Second, PINS! Now I don’t have the pics yet, because the pins have not arrived, but I purchased a "lot of 10 pins" from Ebay – a mixed group, when they arrive, by next week I hope, I will share the pictures! These are for trading, so the guys have something to trade -- who knows we might like a few... I also scored a green Monorail, and a Rock-n-Rollercoaster pin for DS7!, and I found a fun Tiki pin for me… They should come this week as well. I will share photos once I get them.

Now, on to the suitcase and packing dilemmas....

I am starting to consider the packing plans. While I realize it is EARLY, the problem with waiting too late, is that I basically have to have the luggage for the boys and me packed the Sunday BEFORE we leave. This is because I leave for New Orleans on the 15th. It will be my last opportunity to pack before I go, and DH CANNOT DO THE PACKING!!!! Remember, I am leaving town and flying from New Orleans to Orlando, and they are taking the Auto Train together at the end of the week. It is going to be very interesting to say the least!!!!



So as I have made packing plans, one thing I have done is to collect all of the Park Tee-shirts for the boys –

They have the two new shirts I made, plus two sets which I bought in the past year – the brown ringer’s and the blue I “heart” Goofy. Their “Be Green” Mickey shirts from last year will be on this trip again (since they fit still!) They each have a Pirate’s of the Caribbean shirt – one from the Cruise we took in February, and ONE from CP!!!, she sent me a shirt that Connor had outgrown and it is PERFECT! Actually DS4 LOVES this one… he has already worn it a few times!! Both have a “Star Wars” shirt beside the one I just made… I had picked up the Storm Trooper Tee-shirt when we were at Tatooine Traders in February. The AP 20% discount was a great incentive that trip!!! But I bought a kid’s medium. It is very big. Each time I have been to Disney over the past year I have looked for a child’s small. I have never had success. So I am half thinking I will bring the shirt with us still with the tags on it, and my receipt to see about swapping it out. I will do this ONE more time to see if after Star Wars Weekends, MAYBE they have more stock… If not, the Medium will have to suffice, and he'll just grow into it.

Sadly, I am afraid DS4 is really pushing the seams or length on his Toy Story shirts… Angry Eyes and little Green Man … I have a feeling I will have to get him another one of these.

I happened to go to Michael’s today, and Target. I had normal shopping to do, but I also searched for some fun goodie bag stuffings, and I found these…

With the onset of ToyStory 3 – they have released a whole new series of action figures and toys… I found these great “army men” with parachutes, and I grabbed this puzzle and pez dispensers… I also found Phineas and Ferb fruit snacks, and, what made me laugh the most, Mater teeth lollypops!!! I know my boys will both think these are funny.

I also found something I had bought on the cruise, but forgot to show you before – I had found the little bags of chocolate coins at the cruise gift shop, so I bought them for this trip!

NOW on to other items, you know, the Practical Logistical stuff …

The BINDER-Thingy!! I thought I would give you all a preview…. I have to cut and laminate my pages, but here is my beloved Trip binder, which has been with me through thick and thin! For those of you who read my FIRST PTR, our June/July 2009 trip, Here is my Binder-thingy making another appearance! This is a MEAD binder, it is 7x10 approximately. The bind is soft, the materials flexible, and so it fits in my park bag easily. I do often bring it to the park b/c it has all my info in it. It fits in the mail bag, and since I don’t carry the mail bag all the time it works.

The goofy Mickey heads I made with puffy paint pens, the binder I got last year at Target on clearance for $4.98!

I am making a list of things to do in this category of "logistical practical stuff"... groceries to pack, things to pack in the car for the villa, appointments, and such... and one item on my list is to call Disney Visa and get my rewards cards cashed in! I have 218 points to transfer to my gift card. So I am very thrilled for that! There is my souvenir budget! Or my Hurricane Hannah’s Bar budget…..

I bought a new Swim suit today... No it wasnt that bad, but I went to Lord and Taylor -- they were having a 20% Memorial Day sale. I am looking for some shorts, and maybe a few tank tops. I always end up at JJill or Target, frankly, for the tanks. I really like Target's basic cotton tanks b/c they are good quality, last the summer, and are very reasonable ... The shorts, I may splurge and get some at JCrew. They have the kind I want. Lately I see shorts which are too short for my taste, or shorts that are too long -- bermudas, but not midthigh. I saw the length I want so I have to go back and look again to make sure, not really wanting to pay full price, so hopefully they will have a discount coming up. I don't shop there too much. Just like a few pieces now and then.

SO how about that big reveal for the trip I have planned??!! WELL it is supposed to be this weekend.

I think....




we have decided ...




that we are going to wait two more weeks.


WHY?!!??


Well, DS4's FIFTH birthday is next Sat, and DS7's EIGHTH birthday is the following Sat... With fun parties planned, gifts, and such, I really think the Disney trip won't get the attention it deserves!!!!

So we are going to announce the trip and have ONE DISNEY celebration, on the final Sunday before the trip, ONE week from the departure to Florida on the Autotrain. So that way they have a count down of one week, I can manage to create at least ONE successful Disney night and our trip will have its own celebration this way!!! THEN, Friday the 18th is DH's birthday and the opening night of ToyStory 3 -- so they will have that to look forward to as well!!! DH promises me we can go see it again in Disney. I was really bummed I was going to miss this!

So that is all for now, I hope you will be back to read more!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Such excitement in the HD household! I can't believe your trip is so close!!!

Love all the park shirts your sons have. They always look so cute in your pictures.

Dontcha just love the Disney visa? Those points are perfect for bar budgets!

I think your plan for deferring the big reveal is great. We certainly want to ensure that the Disney news gets its due. And how fun will it be for the boys to hear they are going in one week??

I am so looking forward to this trip!!

 

[Happydog]

Such excitement in the HD household! I can't believe your trip is so close!!!

Love all the park shirts your sons have. They always look so cute in your pictures.

Dontcha just love the Disney visa? Those points are perfect for bar budgets!

I think your plan for deferring the big reveal is great. We certainly want to ensure that the Disney news gets its due. And how fun will it be for the boys to hear they are going in one week??

I am so looking forward to this trip!!

Thanks Christine! Well it is always a little exciting, yes!!! In my opinion, a Disney trip deserves a FULL on celebration, and between bdays, it wouldn't be the same, so I like this plan much better!!! Exactly, ONE week from our "Disney Night!" So now I have to do a little of everything I guess! That is where the photos I am getting from various DISers will come in handy!!!

 

[stace208]

Boy, May AND June are busy months at your house!!

I love all the boys' shirts! Wish they made that potato head angry eyes one in grown up sizes! I've started to gather up shirts as well and then will pull shorts when it's time to pack.

Can't wait to see pictures of your pins. I bought a lot on ebay last summer and the kids kept a few of them but they have served us well in our trading endeavors. I need to head over to ebay again myself!

Enjoy your long weekend!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Just three more weeks!!!

Can't wait to see the tiki pin!!! I bet it is super cute!

I am so thrilled that DS4 loves his pirate shirt!

Oh, and I am pretty sure I need to head to Target soon -- I think we need some TS paratroopers at our house to go along with the absolute battalions of army men we seem to have.

 

[Lady Lallie]

I love the boys' shirts. They are so cute. It makes me want to have more Disney shirts for myself.

Your trip is going to be here so soon!!! I'm so excited for all of you.

 

[Happydog]

Boy, May AND June are busy months at your house!!

I love all the boys' shirts! Wish they made that potato head angry eyes one in grown up sizes! I've started to gather up shirts as well and then will pull shorts when it's time to pack.

Can't wait to see pictures of your pins. I bought a lot on ebay last summer and the kids kept a few of them but they have served us well in our trading endeavors. I need to head over to ebay again myself!

Enjoy your long weekend!

Thanks! Yes both months are busy! Three birthdays in this house alone! I think I saw that shirt in an adult size? Or I thought I did anyhow. He likes that one a lot. I wouldn't be so busy about packing if I wasn't leaving a week early!

I think the pins will be here by the end of the week first of next. I am excited to see them too!

Just three more weeks!!!

Can't wait to see the tiki pin!!! I bet it is super cute!

I am so thrilled that DS4 loves his pirate shirt!

Oh, and I am pretty sure I need to head to Target soon -- I think we need some TS paratroopers at our house to go along with the absolute battalions of army men we seem to have.

Yes he loves it! I thought the paratroopers were really cute, so I got those to go with the little finger kites I had found earlier this spring. Just some little fun stuff... The boys totally love parachute men (the kind the get at the Dentist in the "treat bin" ) But they inevitably get tangled... then we use a grocery bag and a rubber band but that doesn't work as well So they each have two this way... we'll see how long they last!

I love the boys' shirts. They are so cute. It makes me want to have more Disney shirts for myself.

Your trip is going to be here so soon!!! I'm so excited for all of you.

They like to wear them, I will encourage them to do so as long as I can I hope I can get a smaller Stormtrooper shirt.

Yes, that trip will be here before I can say DISNEY!

 

[Happydog]

TWENTY DAYS TWENTY DAYS TWENTY DAYS til DISNEY!


Today is a beautiful day! I am running to the grocery store, and then we are heading to the pool today! Such gorgeous sun! Can't wait to soak it in! DS7 has a friend's B-day party today -- the little boy's theme is a "civil war" party.... I am on pool duty with DS4 -- can't wait!!!

I have been working on my binder pages, I will post some of those tonight! I worked on them last night before I fell asleep!

Happy day everyone!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Connor is all about the paratroopers at the dentist, too!

In my 35 years in the South, I must confess I have never heard of a Civil War party before. Too funny!

Grocery store and pool -- those are my plans for today, too!

 

[Lady Lallie]

I think a Civil War theme for a birthday party might be the BEST theme I have ever heard of.

Happy 20 Days!!

 

[2xcited2sleep]

Have a great day soaking in the sun! That's my plan too!!

A civil war theme is quite unusual; I'm sure it will be cute!

20 days!

 

[stace208]

Sounds like a great day!! My DS would a civil war birthday theme! Both my kids love those parachute men too so I'll be on the lookout for those.

Have fun at the pool! I need to vacuum ours so my kids can swim!

 

[SoonerGirl]

Wow - less than 3 weeks!

I love your green scarf, such a fun and pretty color!

The stuff you got for the goodie bags is great too - my youngest would be all over those Mater teeth lollypops

Have a great day today at the pool! Think of me, I'll be roasting at the ballpark..........

 

[gallmcduck]

20 days so close now. The t-shirts are great that you made the design. You reveal sounds like fun look forward to reading about it. The pool party sounds so cool, we don't have the opportunity for pool parties here unless they are indoors, not quite the same affect, we love going to the pool at disney as we don't get to do that at home

 

[Happydog]

Connor is all about the paratroopers at the dentist, too!

Ha! I am sure all the dentists get their loot from the same supplier!! The Armymen paratroopers are in the toy aisle at Target!

In my 35 years in the South, I must confess I have never heard of a Civil War party before. Too funny!

Grocery store and pool -- those are my plans for today, too!

Great minds think alike!!!!

Yeah, well I guess us NORTHERNERS, must have a different point of view... It was really cute. They played capture the flag, then played with a big 6 x 6 set up for their army men... had cake and such. He got a fun bunch of themed stuff, too... "rulers of the South" -- on a ruler -- and a pack of playing cards "civil war theme", a new hat (it was a dress up party, actually, so that was also a hoot) and some penny candy sticks. It was cool. DS4 and I had a lovely day at the pool, and now I am here with my iced tea, ready to grill steaks and corn.

I think a Civil War theme for a birthday party might be the BEST theme I have ever heard of.

Happy 20 Days!!

I tell you, they apparently had a great great time! The boys and the Dad really got into it, and my son is definitely all about dress up enactment stuff!

Have a great day soaking in the sun! That's my plan too!!

A civil war theme is quite unusual; I'm sure it will be cute!

20 days!

Oh we enjoyed it no question! I tried out my new suit, and it was a very mellow afternoon! I think a Civil War party theme is unique too, but it turned out wonderfully it seems!

Sounds like a great day!! My DS would a civil war birthday theme! Both my kids love those parachute men too so I'll be on the lookout for those.

Have fun at the pool! I need to vacuum ours so my kids can swim!

Well, they were at Target, two of the men for $3.99. Kinda expensive for what they are, but they seem more sturdy than the others my kids have had.

How nice to have your own pool! We live up the street so we can walk to ours. It was a beautiful day.