Party of 9, 3 generations, from LA to FL... let's geaux!...COMPLETE

[TeaForTulips]

Hello to mi familia and Holly and in keeping my hope alive, any other readers I may have!

There have been some changes made to our plan so it is time for an update!

My mother-in-law, Mary, came to visit this past weekend! We took her to EPCOT and Daytona Beach. we had a blast!

While she was here though we decided it was time to change the game plan because Mary is not a Disney freak like the rest of us. She is coming in September really just to see everyone and spend time with her only daughter. She could take it or leave it really and isn't able to do the parks all day, every day. So!

The new plan is Jen and Mary are not going to stay on Disney property. They will come to the parks a bit and try to eat with us a few times, but they are going to go to Kennedy Space Center and prolly the beach.

I changed our reservations with Disney to 2 preferred rooms at ASMu instead of one room and one suite. Jen and Mary will stay at the condo, Trista, Mario, and the kiddos will be in one room, and myself, Marmee, and Bobo will be in the other room.

This new plan is saving us almost $2,000!!!

Mary and Jen will still be spending money on their plans, but I assure you it will not come to two grand! We are excited for the savings and glad to know everyone will have a good time doing what they like to do.

In other news, Tour Guide Mike (I am addicted) released crowd charts for September which is basically releasing hours too! I had to make a few tweaks to my chart based on last years hours and was lucky enough to not have to cahnge any of our plans for what parks on what days!

We're just good like that!

Some other small updates...

I FINALLY tried the grand marnier orange slush in France. YUM!

The caramel shop lost its luster the second time around. My caramels weren't as amazing as they were the first time we went... dunno what happened.

I ordered the kids some travel trays for the car trip. I have also got them some invisible ink books, crayola wonder markers (whatever they are really called... the ones that only write on their special paper)

I also got some new swim arm wings on clearance at Target. The good ones that are usually $12 I got for $2!

Things are shaping up! I cannot wait to make our dining reservations!

Hope everyone has a good day!

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

That stinks about Jen and her Mom but as long as everyone is happy then that is what counts!!

Oh and saving money too, that is always a good thing!

I was looking for you on Facebook but didn't see you so I came over here to talk to you!

I get emails from touringplans.com all the time about the crowd level changes for my honeymoon week and I have started ignoring them because I can't change the week I am going so we will just deal with the crowds and be there early enough to beat them..Take that afternoon break and go back at night! Worked out wonderful for us in December so I am hoping the same works now!



Shew...I accidentally clicked on something and it took me away but when I came back to this page this was still here...Lol!



Well I hope you are having a great week and enjoy your weekend! This is Ash and mine's anniversary weekend! We were going to go somewhere but instead are just going to find things to do around here! I hope you have a great weekend!

Oh and next time you are in Disney and see my other partner, Tigger, give him a big hug for me!!

Off to hang up the laundry now! (Always wanted to use this..Lol)

 

[TeaForTulips]

That stinks about Jen and her Mom but as long as everyone is happy then that is what counts!!

Oh and saving money too, that is always a good thing!

I was looking for you on Facebook but didn't see you so I came over here to talk to you!

I get emails from touringplans.com all the time about the crowd level changes for my honeymoon week and I have started ignoring them because I can't change the week I am going so we will just deal with the crowds and be there early enough to beat them..Take that afternoon break and go back at night! Worked out wonderful for us in December so I am hoping the same works now!



Shew...I accidentally clicked on something and it took me away but when I came back to this page this was still here...Lol!



Well I hope you are having a great week and enjoy your weekend! This is Ash and mine's anniversary weekend! We were going to go somewhere but instead are just going to find things to do around here! I hope you have a great weekend!

Oh and next time you are in Disney and see my other partner, Tigger, give him a big hug for me!!

Off to hang up the laundry now! (Always wanted to use this..Lol)

My schedule changed for the next few weeks, so I am not working as late.

Our crowd levels show middle of the road so I am good with that. I have a bunch of lists and charts for our plans and things. We are 37 days away from our 180 day mark so I am making a list of the order I should request reservations...i like lists.

happy anniversary to you and ash! i hope you guys have a great time! Jen works this weekend so no disney this weekend, but next weekend we are volunteering at the princess half marathon so i will hopefully have lots of pictures from that!

 

[TeaForTulips]

I have done some shopping for the trip lately, so I thought I would do a little post. Some of the little things I already mentioned like swim floaties, invisibile ink books and such, but here is some other fun things...

I ordered these lap trays for the kids in the car. I thought they will be good to keep markers and toys from rolling all over the van along with keeping food contained.

I read on the DIS of course that you can get little mickey id tags for kids for free when you go to the parks that all cast members know to look for if they come across a lost child... because they are fun and to add a little more insurance though i ordered these...

Cute right? They last up to 2 weeks.

Also on the DIS so many people recommend croc capri flippers and a new version came out on sale on a website so i ordered some... I used them while Jen's mom was here and I love them!

We are going to try to ensure everyone is outfitted in their croc gear before the trip!

The Disney store added swimwear recently and I had Trista let the kids look at them and pick a new suit for the trip. I was going to wait til summer for a sale, but I got paranoid due to size limitations and popularity that if I waited til summer I would totally forget and they wouldn't have the sizes I needed...also if you have children i am sure you know that they remember everything they want to remember so i needed to make sure i delivered on what i told them. SO! With free shipping going on I went ahead and got them... I was not surprised with their choices. I also got matching shades but told Marmee and Trista they weren't allowed to have them until the trip... they would be broken between now and september.

Hallise's choice

Pierce's choice

I also got Pierce a black and grey rash guard to match from Target since Disney didn't offer one for those trunks.

Fun stuff!

Jen and I get emails that are updates with passholder news and offers. The most recent one read "Saturday, March 5, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Passholders! Sign up in advance for your chance to be a part of a special after-hours Expedition Everest® Five-Year Anniversary celebration! It's there just for you to ride and enjoy!"

Woop! I am signing us up today when the sign up opens! How fun right? After hours Expedition Everest! I am super excited and hope sign up goes well because spaces are limited!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! I am going to a local home and garden show this weekend. It will prolly make me want to buy a house but that is ok! Once we get more settled in the area I will feel comfortable house hunting. I can't believe we've lived here 6 months already...

 

[TeaForTulips]

After over an hour of errors, frustration, and a stern email to Disney I was FINALLY able to get our tickets for the passholder event for Everest after hours. Theres a whole thread on the DIS about how everyone was having issues with it. It shouldn't take all that trouble so while I was finally able to get them, I had already sent an email to Disney explaining my frustration and disappointment. Haha. Oh well. Things we do in the heat of the moment...

SO EXCITED!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Well, I'll tell you!

I really wish there was a way to put my chart on here that I made... its so organized and cute.

THE PLAN

Friday: Arrival day.
Mary is flying in. No flights have been booked yet.
The van crew (everyone else) is driving, leaving at 4am. Hard to know when they will arrive as I am sure potty breaks, gas, and food stops will add more time that anyone would like.

Saturday: EPCOT day. 9 am - 9 pm / Jen & Mary will join us this day.While I would prefer MK to be the first day, it just didn't work out that way.
B: Akershus Royal Banquet
L: OPEN - Counter Service
D: La Cantina de San Angel - we usually sit here for Illuminations. The new seating though will make this a little tricky. The tables and chairs do not move. The layout also does not provide many tables with great views. I shall be a mission to seek out a good viewing area between now and then.

Sunday: Magic Kingdom day. 9 am - 1 am (EMH are not yet confirmed, but going off of TGM)
B: Main Streek Bakery & Bring from home
L: Columbia Harbor House
D: Crystal Palace
We we also be staying for MSEP and Wishes this evening. I have learned from recent visits the latest seems to be bring a blanket to help claim your "area". I plan to follow this. We usually claim our spots and then take turns looking in shops while some stay to guard.

Monday: Water Park (10 am - 5 pm) and Hollywood Studios (9 am - 10 pm)
B: Bring from home
L: Water park counter service
D: Sci-Fi Dine-In
Not having to get to the water park until 10 will be nice after a late evening.

Tuesday: Animal Kingdom Day 9 am - 5 pm & Downtown Disney / Bobo's birthday / Jen & Mary will join us.
B: Donald's Safari Breakfast
L: Open Counter Service
D: Earl of Sandwich
The plan is to have Jen bring a little cake of some sort to breakfast so we can celebrate dad's birthday.

Wednesday: EPCOT day 2 - 9 am - midnight. (again hours are not yet confirmed)
B: Trista & Mario @ Kouzzina. The rest will eat things brought from home.
L: Open Counter Service
D: Le Cellier Steakhouse

Thursday: Hollywood Studios day 2 - 9 am - 930 pm
B: Bring from home
L: Toy Story Pizza Planet
D: F! Mama's Melrose
Obviously catching Fantasmic! this night. Hopefully it will be gnat free...

Friday: Magic Kingdom day 2 - 9 am - 7 pm & DTD
B: Crystal Palace
L: Pecos Bill
D: Ohana (hopefully Jen and Mary will join us for dinner)
Last night for shopping- headed to downtown disney after dinner.

Saturday: Departure.
This is actually the first day of the Food and Wine festival that I think everyone would enjoy, but they must leave today sadly.

Comments, questions, concerns, opinions?

 

[TeaForTulips]

Long time no update!

Not that I have any readers... sigh.

School and life in general has kept me busy! Including a trip to Louisiana to surprise our families on my sisters birthday. We took Tucker along for the long car ride. It went better than expected but nonetheless was very long!

I'll start with the biggest update.

During our week of Disney madness, Jen and Mary will be on a 4 day cruise to the Bahamas!

I found a really amazing deal through royal caribbean. Jen and Mary were planning a few days on the beach. Once you add up gas, hotel, food, etc. the costs really add up! With the deal I found for the cruise I thought it was well worth it. We surprised Mary with this idea for her birthday and she of course was thrilled! I am really excited for them because this way they will both really get to have a good vacation.

They leave Monday to get on the ship in Port Canaveral. Tuesday theyll be at CocoCay which is RCI's private island that everyone says is amazing. Wednesday theyll be in Nassau. Thursday is a sea day. Then Friday theyll be back by 8am.

Perfect right?

They will still get to have the weekend before and after to meet up with us! Woop!


Now for other updates...

We have decided to skip the water park. The kids love the water and while we all love water parks we decided it wasn't worth the extra $300 it was going to cost while in town. The kids will be just has happy with the pool at the hotel and so will all the adults. $300 can also go towards so many other things.

I did just buy the kids the cutest Disney water shoes, but they will still be used at home and for the hotel pool.

The question is now what to do instead? The water park day feel after a EMH day at MK til 1 AM. How long we last with the kiddos I don't know, but I expect some if not everyone will make it that long with babies in the stroller.
With that being said I think we will use it as a sleep in day for sure. We planned the early afternoon to evening at Hollywood Studios with dinner at Sci-Fi.

I thought about doing a beach morning. Just an hour or so to let the kids play in the sand and water. I also want everyone to have time to come over and see where we live. Everyone but Trista, Mario, and the kids will have seen it by that time but still want to show them. I'm not sure if thats trying to do too much though if we do them both... so much to think about.

Not too much longer until I'm able to make ADRs!

Hope everyone is having a friendly March! Happy St Patricks Day!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Yesterday was our 180 mark.

I spent all day Saturday at Disney until midnight and was soooo tired that I didn't even remember until later in the afternoon on Sunday!

Luckily, we got almost everything we wanted when we wanted it.

Saturday 24th:
Breakfast @ 8:15 Akershus Royal Banquet Hall

Sunday 25th:
Dinner @ 6:00 Crystal Palace (wanted an early dinner so we can still grab seats for parade and fireworks)

Monday 26th:
Lunch @ 1:25 Sci-Fi Dine-In
Dinner @ 7:45 50's Prime Time Cafe

Tuesday 27th:
Breakfast @ 9:00 Tusker House

Wednesday 28th:
Breakfast @ 8:55 Kouzzina (Trista and Mario only)
Dinner @ 7:10 Le Cellier

Thursday 29th:
Late lunch, early dinner @ 3:15 Mama's Melrose F! Package (was the only time available)

Friday 30th:
Breakfast @ 8:20 Crystal Palace
Dinner @ 7:00 Ohana


The two in red are still in discussion. I wanted Tusker House to get into the park early, but I cannot find a reservation before 9 am. I will keep checking between now and then, but since we cannot get into the park early we don't care to keep it. We added 50's Prime Time as another option for now since Hollywood doesn't offer too many great counter services in my opinion.

I am very happy with how things turned out though! Very excited!

 

[TeaForTulips]

FRIDAY:

Arrival day.

SATURDAY:

Epcot- 9am-9pm

B: Akershus Royal Banquet 8:00 AM
L: La Cantina de San Angel
D: Counter Service w/ Illuminations viewing


SUNDAY:

Magic Kingdom 9am-1am

B: Bring from home
L: Crystal Palace 12:45 pm
D: Columbia Harbor House

MSEP & Wishes

MONDAY:

Hollywood Studios - 9am-10pm

B: Bring from home
L: Sci-Fi Dine-In 1:25 pm
D: Toy Story Pizza Planet

TUESDAY:

Animal Kingdom - 9am-5pm
Bobo's birthday!

B: Donald's Tusker House 8:15 am
L: Counter service
D: Earl of Sandwich/ Kouzzina for Trista and Mario's date night 7:45

I will have some cupcakes from Babycakes and a candle to give Bobo at EOS which is his favorite place to eat. After a little happy birthday, Trista and Mario will head out while I bribe the kids with the train and carousel. Haha.

WEDNESDAY:

Epcot - 9am-Midnight

B: Bring from home or Chef Mickey 7:00 am
L: Open counter service
D: Le Cellier 7:10 pm


THURSDAY:

Hollywood Studios - 9am-9pm

B: Bring from home or Hollywood & Vine 8:00 am
L: Mama's Melrose F! Package 3:15 pm
D: Open counter service

FRIDAY:

Magic Kingdom - 9am-7pm

B: Crystal Palace 8:10 am
L: Pecos Bill
D: Ohana 7:00 pm

DTD after dinner.

SATURDAY:

Departure. Saying goodbye to the family.

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

Your plans look wonderful! Departure day is always a sad time..Especially when you live away from your family. Last December when we went we were there with our family so I am excited to see how it will be different this year with just the two of us. I know there will be not so many princess dinners..Lol.

Sorry I have been M.I.A. from the Dis. There had been a lot of talk about not going to Disney World for our honeymoon because of finances and school. But today I decided that nothing was holding me back and that it was Disney or bust for our honeymoon! Ash agreed and so now we will be down there tentatively late November 6 to early November 16. That all might change depending on work and school schedules! But I am so excited and we have to make a time to meet up! If you want we could even have dinner one night! Just let me know what you think would be best! I make my dining reservations coming up on May 5!!

So excited for your trip! Speaking of family, is your nephew doing better? I didn't see you update about him getting out of the hospital? Talk to you soon!!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Your plans look wonderful! Departure day is always a sad time..Especially when you live away from your family. Last December when we went we were there with our family so I am excited to see how it will be different this year with just the two of us. I know there will be not so many princess dinners..Lol.

Sorry I have been M.I.A. from the Dis. There had been a lot of talk about not going to Disney World for our honeymoon because of finances and school. But today I decided that nothing was holding me back and that it was Disney or bust for our honeymoon! Ash agreed and so now we will be down there tentatively late November 6 to early November 16. That all might change depending on work and school schedules! But I am so excited and we have to make a time to meet up! If you want we could even have dinner one night! Just let me know what you think would be best! I make my dining reservations coming up on May 5!!

So excited for your trip! Speaking of family, is your nephew doing better? I didn't see you update about him getting out of the hospital? Talk to you soon!!

Glad to see you back on the DIS! I try to keep a watch on you with FB. I saw yall might not be doing Disney, but I am so glad its gonna work out!

Dinner or lunch would be great! Let me know what you have planned on a Satuday you are here and I would love that! We both work Mon-Fri, so Saturday is best for us. I hope it works out!!

My newphew did finally get released from the hospital. Thanks so much! His oxygen levels wouldn't get high enough for them to release him for a few days. He had to miss a little school due to frequent breathing treatments but he is back to his usual self now. Cute little guy. It was his first big medical anything so it was killing me being so far away.

164 days for us!

 

[Marmee81]

Just a quick update from me, havent been on in quite some time...got a little scolding! I have started my own personal movie review, have Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Bugs Life, Lilo and Stitch and Beauty and the Beast done. Collecting quite a few items for the road, have to keep the little ones occupied for 14 hours. Tarah of course is the main contributor. I am crocheting a Minnie Mouse sweater for Hallise, almost finished, will post a picture of it when complete...it was an ordeal all in it self finding the correct yarn and embellishments for it. Bobo and I made a side trip to Home Depot and appropriated 150 Mickey Mouse paint sample cards of various colors for Trista to make a count down calendar for the kids as they have started to ask "when are we going to Disney?" The offical countdown will begin Monday I believe (will also try and snag a picture of it.)
Some sad news...Chase is no longer offering the Disney rewards debit card, have to use it as much as possible before July to rack up on some credits before the trip. Was feeling a little sorry for Bobo, kind of left out of all the planning, but he says as long as he gets to eat at Earl of Sandwich...he is good! Getting excited about my vacation in May to see Tarah and Jen...no Disney planned except a side trip to Earls....gotta keep my man happy! Only 28 more days!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Just a quick update from me, havent been on in quite some time...got a little scolding! I have started my own personal movie review, have Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Bugs Life, Lilo and Stitch and Beauty and the Beast done. Collecting quite a few items for the road, have to keep the little ones occupied for 14 hours. Tarah of course is the main contributor. I am crocheting a Minnie Mouse sweater for Hallise, almost finished, will post a picture of it when complete...it was an ordeal all in it self finding the correct yarn and embellishments for it. Bobo and I made a side trip to Home Depot and appropriated 150 Mickey Mouse paint sample cards of various colors for Trista to make a count down calendar for the kids as they have started to ask "when are we going to Disney?" The offical countdown will begin Monday I believe (will also try and snag a picture of it.)
Some sad news...Chase is no longer offering the Disney rewards debit card, have to use it as much as possible before July to rack up on some credits before the trip. Was feeling a little sorry for Bobo, kind of left out of all the planning, but he says as long as he gets to eat at Earl of Sandwich...he is good! Getting excited about my vacation in May to see Tarah and Jen...no Disney planned except a side trip to Earls....gotta keep my man happy! Only 28 more days!

So glad you began a Disney movie review! Hopefully Trista gets the kids going soon too!
The countdown calendar looks great! Def. need to get a picture of it to post.
Very excited for you and Dad to visit soon!

 

[TeaForTulips]

We're flying!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok... well of course I am not flying, but the family is!

AirTran had rates that were too hard to pass up. Including taxes it came to $260 a person to fly from Dallas roundtrip. The best part? 2 non-stop flights!!! No one in our group has flown AirTran, but reading some DIS reviews they don't sound too shabby.

Marmee, Bobo, and Mary will drive in one car and Trista, Mario, and the kids will be in the other. Leaving around 1am they will make the drive to Dallas. The flight leaves at 7am and will get here at 10:30am! Thats like a whole extra day to the trip!

Then the leaving flight will leave at 8pm from Orlando and arrive in Dallas at 9:47pm. The downfall will be that they will still have to drive back to Shreveport, but everyone agrees it is better than a 14 hour drive from Orlando! Also, another almost whole day to the trip! Is this just getting better and better or what?

Now... the tricky parts...

We have planned to have used all of our dining credits Monday through Friday, so we will have to plan for a little out of pocket food costs.

Also, the biggest concern is we have NEVER used Disney transportation. Well, buses I mean. I am so nervous about this. You hear some people love it. You hear some people hate it. I am concerned that I will hate it.

Since we bought the AAA Diamond Parking Pass on Ebay we always get close parking, so I was looking forward to using it! I am going to try with all my might to save enough money to rent a van for when they get here. The cheapest rates right now is about $500 for the week. If we are able to rent a van I will buy another Diamond Parking Pass, so we will be able to use one and Jen and Mary will have one too. At the end of the trip I'll give it to a family for a little pixie dust perhaps since we obviously don't need to keep two. If we can't get the van oh well... but! I really want it.

 

[TeaForTulips]

It's been about a month since my last update that everyone is flying in!

I am not too concerned since no one reads this, but just in case... I am sorry.

Not too much to update, but of course there are always changes!

Our latest plan:

Friday:

-Plane arrives 10:30 am
-Me, Jen, Mary, and Bobo get in our car and drive straight to car rental on Disney property (where we got best deal to rent a van)
-Marmee, Trista, and kids will take Disney bus to hotel
-Have suits in carry-ons and change in hotel bathrooms
-Head to beach. Mario and the kids have never seen the beach

We don't plan on staying long. More than likely not everyone will even get wet. We need to get back to Disney in time for Trista and Mario's Kouzzina ressie at 8:25 pm. Its about 1.5 hour drive to beach so we will just have to see how things work out. The rest of us will get settled in room and eat and swim at hotel.

Saturday:

I wish this day was Magic Kingdom, but it just works out best that its notnot.

-EPCOT 9-9
- Akershus Royal Banquet breakfast at 8am
-Illuminations with Jen & Mary who are diong Animal Kingdom this day
- CS for lunch and inner
-Hoping Mario has a great first impression!

Sunday:

-Magic Kingdom! 9-1
-SOOOOOO excited to have the kids experience this.
-Brought from home breakfast
-Lunch at Crystal Palace at 12:45pm
-CS Dinner at prolly Casey's or Cosmic Ray's
-Nap/Swim day
-Jen & Mary Hollywood Studios day with lunch at Sci-Fi
-Jen & Mary possible meet up for Wishes

Monday:

-Hollywood Studios 9-10
-Jen and Mary drop Tucker off at Best Friends and head to Port Canaveral for Cruise
-Brought from home breakfast
-Lunch at Sci-Fi Dine-In 1:25pm
-Dinner at Toy Story Pizza Planet
-possible nap/swim day

Tuesday:

-Animal Kingdom 9-5
-Tusker House breakfast at 8:15
-CS lunch
-Earl of Sandwich dinner
-Bobo's birthday
-Hoping to get cupcakes from Babycake's

Wednesday:

-EPCOT 9-midnight
-Chef Mickey breakfast at 7am
-Coral Reef lunch at 1:15 (I am still stalking Le Cellier or Garden Grill)
-CS dinner
-Illuminations if missed first EPCOT day
-Nap/swim day

Thursday:

-Hollywood Studios 9-9
-Brought from home breakfast
-F! package lunch at Mama Melrose's 3:15
-CS dinner

Friday:

-Magic Kingdom 9-7 (MNSSHP night but we are not going)
-Jen and Mary return from cruise
-Crystal Palace breakfast 8:10
-CS lunch
-Ohana dinner with everyone at 7
-DTD after dinner
-Jen and Mary take Tucker home

Saturday:

-Do whatever we want or missed!
-Return rental van
-Flight departs 8 so Disney bus leaving around 5:30 I think? Will have to check into this since we have never flown in
-Cry


I have started my Disney stash. I am slowly buying things we will want/need for the trip. With tha family flying I want them to nto have to worry about a lot. I have quite a bit so far with juice boxes, water, gatorade, snacks, stroller fans, sunscreen, etc. Of my little mini fridge for the room and two great lunch bags to hang on the stroller for drinks and things.

In other news Marmee and Bobo came for a visit. The shocker of the trip is my father got a tattoo. An anchor with USN under it on his calf. Never thought I would see the day with my dad having a tattoo. Crazy! We enjoyed their visit very much! Can't wait to see the rest of the family now!

117 days!

 

[TeaForTulips]

Well I have experienced Star Wars Weekend finally!

It was super fun! We did go with a goal set to get an autograph for my brother in law from Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett). I read up online about the autograph fast pass session and the the park was opening an hour early each weekend unadvertised.

I was excited to use our AAA Diamond Parking pass at HS because we had yet to do so there. Apparently word on the early opening was out because we were there at least a quarter to 8 (park set to open at 9) and it was already booming! A very rude parking man informed us diamond parking was full. On our walk up we passed rows and rows of empty spots. This man was not good at his job... Once we got up front we saw a ton of open diamond parking too! Especially since he was rude about it all I was very unhappy.

We walked up and saw they were already letting people in and I saw the fast pass lines outside the turnstiles. I went over and got a standby ticket. Apparently people had been camping out since 10PM the night before for these things! I didn't know Disney would let you do that!

The atmosphere of SWW was friendly. We met up with a friend and got VIP Beauty and the Beast seats. (he has connections ) It was great!

I was nervous about this standby ordeal with the autograph though. To keep this short... we got it! I also got an amazing surprise video for Mario (brother in law) that I didn't think I would get...


edit version i showed Mario.


Mario was so excited! We got two autographs- one on a real photo and one on a Boba Fett autograph sheet. I plan on framing them together for a little gift.

In other news, 102 days!

 

[VroomVroomLightning]

That is so awesome that you got that for your brother in law! For my sister in law that would be equal to Joshua Jackson..Lol. If I am doing my Math right you wrote 102 days two days ago, so today would be 100 days?? I hope you all have a great family trip! I can't wait until our family trip again next year!

I just wanted to pop in and let you know I am still reading along just been a bit crazy here, which I am sure you read on Facebook!

 

[TeaForTulips]

That is so awesome that you got that for your brother in law! For my sister in law that would be equal to Joshua Jackson..Lol. If I am doing my Math right you wrote 102 days two days ago, so today would be 100 days?? I hope you all have a great family trip! I can't wait until our family trip again next year!

I just wanted to pop in and let you know I am still reading along just been a bit crazy here, which I am sure you read on Facebook!

Thanks! I'm glad you are still here with me, Holly! I do see you on Facebook and try to watch for your updates. Congrats on the new car!

You are right though!

Today is 100 days!

 

[TeaForTulips]

.

 

[TeaForTulips]

I am dying for September to get here.

I have been trying to read up on trip reports with toddlers. I am thinking the biggest thing I am going to have to learn on this trip will be stroller parking. We've always walked by the sea of strollers.. I am going to get a loud colored bandana to tie on it and I think have a couple balloons for the kids tied to it will help me locate it better too. Just some ideas... If anyone is reading this - anyone have stroller parker tips?

Hallise is doing very awesome at potty training. We told her she couldn't go to Disney World in pull ups. She still has a few accidents now and again, but she gets better and better every week. We know she'll be good to go for September!

Jen and I sent the kids some carry on bags filled with goodies for the trip. Trista tells me Hallise keeps putting toys in it saying she wants to bring them to Disney. Hallise is also a little chatter box. Sometimes I still don't know what she is saying but she is adorable.

Aren't they cute? Love it. (Please excuse weird sizing)

Pierce was accepted into a great school for Kindergarten. This schools calendar gives less of a summer break than most, but offers lots of other breaks through out the year to make up for it which is awesome. We are super excited! We are hoping the response to Pierce getting taken out of school for a week will be accepted without much trouble at the new school. Now that he is in and we know the school calendar it will be easy for us to plan vacations around his breaks.

Jen and I have lived in Florida for a year this month. It is crazy to me that so much time has passed. With the holidays coming up I am trying not to think about missing my family, but that is quite impossible. I have only spent one Thanksgiving away from them. I was about 19 and the only girl in my residence hall over the holiday break. I was in Ohio and it was the first day it started snowing. The doors are always locked... when I ran outside to take pictures with my phone in my pajamas out of excitement I didn't grab keys. I was locked out in the snow in my pajamas. To top it off our residence hall was across the street from a psychiatric hospital (no, I am not kidding)... I just didn't think the 2 made a great combination for any passer byers to view. Girl in pajamas in snow wondering around across the street from psychiatric hospital... Hmm.. I can look back and laugh now but I was bawling and very sad at the time. My family will be very much missed this holiday season. Hopefully this trip will help since it is right before the holidays begin.

In other kind of Disney related news- I got us a bunch of watches for Disney. They are usually $30 each. I got 4 for $15 including shipping.

They feel like those little plastic bracelets people wear like the live strong kind. It is water proof and the kind I got Marmee, Trista, and myself glitters in the sun and glows in the dark. Jen got the black one. I got mine in yesterday. Very friendly!



71 days! Need them to go by quickly!