Welcome everyone! For those of you that don't know me, my name is Stacy. I am a 41 year old wife, mother, and 2nd grade teacher. My husband, John, is an electrical engineering manager. I have two wonderful children: Ben who is 11 and in the 6th grade and Ellie, my 9 year old 4th grader. We are a Disney loving family and have owned DVC for a couple of years now.
Over a year ago my sister called and told me she was going to take her granddaughter on a Disney cruise during spring break. After a quick calendar check we realized that it was our spring break too. John and I discussed it briefly and quickly decided to book it too. Another of my sister's daughters and her husband were going to go as well but due to finances weren't able to in the end.
Details and cast of characters:
April 10-15th on the Disney Dream
Me-Stacy
John
Ben
Ellie
Melody (my big sis)
Alexandra-her 5 year old DGD
As I said, we booked this cruise in January of 2011 so it seemed like it would never get here. Then, when it finally got close, it seemed to come on like lightening!! I signed both our cabins up for our cruise's Fish Extender and Mel came down one weekend and we made our extenders. I made my gifts and some magnets for our door. It was a very busy time at school and one week before we were to leave my principal assigned us a project that was due during spring break. I worked double time to get finished as there was no way I could or WOULD be doing that on the cruise. By the time Easter got here, I was dead on my feet.
Our plan was to leave in the wee hours of the morning Monday and stay at a hotel right near the port. We'd leave the car parked at the hotel and they had a shuttle to and from the terminal. Mel and Alexandra were flying in to Orlando Monday and coming on Disney transportation to the port. We ended up renting a car to save wear and tear on our vehicle as we are driving to Vero and Disney in June and then again in December for the kids' surprise Christmas trip.
We picked up the rental van Easter morning and then had dinner with John's folks. We came home and packed the car, got showers, and prepared for the morning. I had scheduled a character call and almost didn't remember and let it ring but grabbed it just in time and let Ellie listen right before she went to sleep. I didn't think I'd be able to sleep because I was so excited but I did (probably because I was exhausted!!) and before I knew it the alarm was going off.
We quickly got up, got ready and headed out.
The time was
Ellie was ready
I don't have a picture of Ben. For one, he sits right behind me and it is hard to get a good one. Secondly, when I tried to contort myself and snap one, he covered his head so I gave up. Gotta love the tween years!!
The drive down was uneventful. A few rest stops, lunch, and the Florida welcome center for our free juice! A short (ha) 12 hours later we were at our hotel checking in!
I don't appear to have an outside hotel pic. It wasn't memorable anyways.
Next up: the rest of the afternoon and evening.
Over a year ago my sister called and told me she was going to take her granddaughter on a Disney cruise during spring break. After a quick calendar check we realized that it was our spring break too. John and I discussed it briefly and quickly decided to book it too. Another of my sister's daughters and her husband were going to go as well but due to finances weren't able to in the end.
Details and cast of characters:
April 10-15th on the Disney Dream
Me-Stacy
John
Ben
Ellie
Melody (my big sis)
Alexandra-her 5 year old DGD
As I said, we booked this cruise in January of 2011 so it seemed like it would never get here. Then, when it finally got close, it seemed to come on like lightening!! I signed both our cabins up for our cruise's Fish Extender and Mel came down one weekend and we made our extenders. I made my gifts and some magnets for our door. It was a very busy time at school and one week before we were to leave my principal assigned us a project that was due during spring break. I worked double time to get finished as there was no way I could or WOULD be doing that on the cruise. By the time Easter got here, I was dead on my feet.
Our plan was to leave in the wee hours of the morning Monday and stay at a hotel right near the port. We'd leave the car parked at the hotel and they had a shuttle to and from the terminal. Mel and Alexandra were flying in to Orlando Monday and coming on Disney transportation to the port. We ended up renting a car to save wear and tear on our vehicle as we are driving to Vero and Disney in June and then again in December for the kids' surprise Christmas trip.
We picked up the rental van Easter morning and then had dinner with John's folks. We came home and packed the car, got showers, and prepared for the morning. I had scheduled a character call and almost didn't remember and let it ring but grabbed it just in time and let Ellie listen right before she went to sleep. I didn't think I'd be able to sleep because I was so excited but I did (probably because I was exhausted!!) and before I knew it the alarm was going off.
We quickly got up, got ready and headed out.
The time was
Ellie was ready
I don't have a picture of Ben. For one, he sits right behind me and it is hard to get a good one. Secondly, when I tried to contort myself and snap one, he covered his head so I gave up. Gotta love the tween years!!
The drive down was uneventful. A few rest stops, lunch, and the Florida welcome center for our free juice! A short (ha) 12 hours later we were at our hotel checking in!
I don't appear to have an outside hotel pic. It wasn't memorable anyways.
Next up: the rest of the afternoon and evening.
can not wait to hear all about it....
I'm so glad you didn't take that work with you! 
I can't believe how much older your kids are! I know time doesn't stand still, but Ben a 'tween 
It just doesn't seem like that long ago! She looks so growny! Boy time flies!
