"Reach for the sky!" We're finally getting there in JAN 2012!!!TR LINK PG 69!

[Stringbean&Wingnut]

Love that Boardwalk view...

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

30 Day Disney Photo Challenge! LAST DAY!!!!
Day 30: A picture that always makes you think of Disney.

First off, I made it to the end! Woot! What a fun challenge! I used only my own shots and had a really fun time. It actually gave me a lot of insight into what kinds of pictures I want to get on THIS trip, so I'm really pleased!

Now, on to the last picture. ANY Disney picture reminds me of Disney (had to nitpick their wording just ONE last time!) but this is one of those quintessential Disney shots that most photographers try to get. I actually went back in my unedited shots to find this one and liked it so much I have it as my background for now!

So, I have been piddling around doing a few trip related things! Yesterday I printed out all the Mousekeeping envelopes and the Dinner Invitation/announcements that I will clip on the door each morning so everyone can see where what TS we have that day. I'm also going to take the journal/activity books up to Staples to be spiral bound today, I think.

OH! And I printed out an ultimate Disney packing list and then went through it marking out all the things we wouldn't use or need to bring...still looks totally disorganized. I have no idea why I'm having such an issue with packing stuff, there are 6 of us and I am not bringing 6 suitcases, I think that's part of the problem! Help!

 

[-Hope-]

Maybe you could assign a function to each suitcase (as opposed to a person to each suitcase). So one (or two) could be for clothes, one for things you need in the parks, one for things you need in the room, etc. Then you'd still have an organizational plan without everyone needing their own suitcase.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Maybe you could assign a function to each suitcase (as opposed to a person to each suitcase). So one (or two) could be for clothes, one for things you need in the parks, one for things you need in the room, etc. Then you'd still have an organizational plan without everyone needing their own suitcase.

OR you can just come over and do it all for me! No, seriously, good idea! I've already got it started that way since all the shirts are in one bin and disney "stuff" in another!

 

[Colleen27]

I'm going to have to borrow Hope's idea! I usually pack one suitcase for DH & DS, one for the girls, one for me but purpose-based organization sounds like a better plan, especially since we'll be getting in late and wanting everything on hand to get to bed without too much unpacking.

 

[-Hope-]

OR you can just come over and do it all for me! No, seriously, good idea! I've already got it started that way since all the shirts are in one bin and disney "stuff" in another!

We'll have to have SOMETHING to do while the girls are hanging out on our next Disney day.

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!
I'm pretty sure it's going to be a good year for us! It's definitely starting off well in January! I really cannot wait for "the holidays" to be over, I still have two more days here because my SIL is visiting, but after that, it's FULL ON DISNEY!

JUST 26 DAYS!!!!!!!!

 

[-Hope-]

2012 is YOUR year! And you sooooo deserve it!

I'm ready for the holidays to be over at your house too- I need to come hang out, help you pack and fill you in on all my traitorous Universal plans!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

****For anyone going in the next month who is interested in a photopass share, send me a PM! I know they are not endorsed here but I'm in a group from the TGM site and we lost a person, so if anyone wants to join up! Contact me!

 

[Victoriasmom98]

happy new year my friend.

 

[DrMomof3]

Happy New Year Karen!

I hope 2012 brings you all the blessings in the world!

Amanda

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

2012 is YOUR year! And you sooooo deserve it!

I'm ready for the holidays to be over at your house too- I need to come hang out, help you pack and fill you in on all my traitorous Universal plans!

Whoohooo! Can't wait!

happy new year my friend.

Thanks Ann! Happy New Year (and Disney planning!) to you too!

Happy New Year Karen!

I hope 2012 brings you all the blessings in the world!

Amanda

Thanks Amanda! Happy New Year to you!

 

[Tink-erin-belle]

Great photos again, Karen! Your trip is so close! I’m so excited for you! Happy New Year!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Thanks Erin!!! I'm getting nervous and excited all at once!

 

[exwdwcm]

Happy New Year Karen! I am so excited (and jealous) that you are leaving so soon! Truly thrilled for you guys!!!! so keep us posted on the packing! Something else I learned to do is always pack one change of clothes in a carry on for each of us- you never know where your checked bags might end up!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Happy New Year Karen! I am so excited (and jealous) that you are leaving so soon! Truly thrilled for you guys!!!! so keep us posted on the packing! Something else I learned to do is always pack one change of clothes in a carry on for each of us- you never know where your checked bags might end up!

Thanks! I'm still in shock here and honestly can't believe I will be there in 25 days! No worries about a carry on b/c we're driving! 17 hours STRAIGHT THROUGH!!!!!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

THREE WEEKS FROM TODAY!!!!!!

yep! 21 days! What is amusing is that I'm up in the middle of the night and my ticker hasn't changed over yet, so it still says 22. That's ok, by the time anyone wakes up and reads it, it will have fixed itself.

So, three weeks! The closer we get the more in denial I becomes, we aren't really going to WDW, are we?!?!? AND, I'm stressing on money! I hope, hope, hope that I can relax once the trip starts, but now I'm scurrying around and cannot buy anything else for the trip, I have to pay the bills! I'm a little concerned b/c we are going with just the basics: gas money, tip money, and I have my change bucket that I haven't taken to the bank that I will have for souvenirs. That's it really! I just can't squeeze more out of the budget right now. But it's all going to be fine!

Anyway, I finished up the last of my "to do" list stuff yesterday! Well, we won't count packing b/c I'm at a loss for THAT!

I took Savannah, Leslee, and my Activity/Journals up to Staples and they bound them.

Savannah & Leslee have Activity pages/mazes/car games in the front section of theirs and then journal pages in the back. Mine is just ALL journal pages...and yes, from experience, I will fill this! It's what I do without my computer when I still wake up at 3-4am and all the lazies are still sleeping!

I don't think I showed you our finished hats! If the recent weather in Florida is any indication, we will need them! Rey's is the top left, mine is the minnie right under it. Savannah's is the top right and Leslee's is the bottom right. I think they came out so cute but I'm thinking that I should have gotten a monkey too. They are all adorable though!

and I also don't think I showed you the girl's autograph books! (told you it was a long update!) I ended up just getting them from the lady on Ebay that we got our last one from. She was great and sends them wrapped up in little gift packs. That's not a typo, where it says Lelee. Savannah & Leslee have nicknames for each other, they decided they wanted those on the autograph books: Vannah & Lelee

So our chain is getting smaller and smaller, but the kids are so used to me counting down that Dallas actually was SHOCKED when I told him we had just over 3 weeks left, the other day! So, I put up yet ANOTHER countdown right where a teenage boy would notice it...on the fridge!

Here's what is left of our chain! I cannot believe it's this small. How many times can I say I cannot believe it?!?! I'll be walking down Main Street saying I CANNOT BELIEVE we are here! I need to snap out of it or it will just float right by like it never happened! SAVOR IT! Ok, rambling now!

Also, the car...one of the reasons I'm short on money is that I keep having stuff happen to the Durango! There was a noise that I thought was the tires and it turned out that the wheel was going to fall off basically! Two days later it started dying all the time, turns out the throttle somethingortheother was gunked up and I had to have the whole system cleaned out. It's driving great now, but I parked it and I'm using my old junker to drive around b/c I'm afraid something else will break before the trip!

Ok, I THINK that is it for now! Hope and I are having a POP CENTURY PARTY on Monday!!!!!!!! I cannot wait and of course will share pics here after we have our last Disney Day blowout party!

awww! After typing all of this up, my ticker changed over for me!

 

[-Hope-]

I am seriously SO freakin' excited for you!!!

And I love the covers on the girls' journals! We need those for our trip.

 

[danimaroo]

YAY! Super exciting update! I LOVE YOUR MINNIE HAT!

 

[Twoboysnmygirl]

Ok, mini panic attack here. Now, this may not be a big deal to most people, and I admit it won't ruin my trip, but out of all the closures and rehabs, this is freaking me out the most:

go to this thread and check out the 2nd picture, it's of mainstreet: What is this monstrosity?!?!?

Ok, so for most people, it's an eye sore and they deal, but honestly, I can't believe I haven't heard that this thing was there on mainstreet previously. I'm a PHOTOGRAPHER. I'm spending the majority of money I have to souvenirs on renting a LENS b/c to me, the best souvies are PHOTOS. THIS mainstreet will not do! I can't take a picture of that!

If anyone knows how long it's been there, maybe I could convince myself that it will be gone in 3 weeks? It looks like it's been there the whole time the Christmas decorations have been up b/c the xmas decorations stop right at it like it's been there the whole time?

Sigh...I really wanted that mainstreet shot of my kids and the castle. *sniff*

(disclaimer, if you think I'm just a big complainer, I am, but it won't ruin our trip and I'll get over it long before we arrive. Thank goodness I saw this shot before going though, I would have been more bummed to just arrive and see it. Blech. )