Ringing in 2010, 6 months til we'll be back again

[MeMom]

Yup! I'm going to be sending pictures to Facebook, and probably photo-texting Katie, too. My friend from work is leaving for Disney on Friday, and she promised that, like the last time she went, she'll be photo-texting me. I'm already so excited for her pictures!

I hope this deep freeze is long behind us by the time you get there! We're counting on the pictures to warm us up through the winter.

Ok, where have I been? Well to Disney for a week last month, followed by a much needed real life break that kept me away from the Dis so I suppose this is the reason I had no idea you lovely ladies started a new TR. I feel really out of the loop I tell ya! LOL! I wish I would have been around on New Year's Eve. Trent is a hoot! MeMom, you have such a great son. He seems like a lot of fun. I wanted to check in, tell you I'm here and alive. I cannot wait to read along with this new report. I hope to start a TR today perhaps! I feel like I can't live up to you guys though! It'll be a hard shadow to write in for sure. To make you all feel better about the weather, shall I tell you what our temp in MN was at 6am this morning? A balmy -34 it was! Be very jealous!!

He's an incredible young man, if I do say so myself. Not just being a bragging mom, either, because I have had many people tell me that.

What about you? Do you run faucets all winter or have any frozen pipe problems?

O M G! I think I would die if I had to live somewhere where the temperature got that low! I guess I should not complain about a week of highs in the 30's!

I hope you can find some way to keep warm-and safe! That has to be dangerous!!

We've had some deaths around here, unfortunately. An 81 year old Alzheimer's patient left his home and froze to death and a man trying to work on his woodburning stove caught on fire and died.

30's will seem nice when they come back around.

Just joining in , as I did not even realize the MeMom gang was taking a December trip until I finished reading your previous TR today , not sure how I missed it ?

I read all the live updates and watched the video of Trent this afternoon and they were all great !

Glad you all made it there and back safe & sound

Great picture of BO w/ his Christmas gear , def had me

Can't wait to hear all about your adventures and I hope you get that snow on Thursday !

We had a fun evening at Poly, beginning with a delicious Kona dinner.

I still wish I had had the scarf for Bo.

Hey MeMom! I don't think you saw the pictures I posted right before you left, because they were on the old TR. They're too cute to not see

A few pictures from Kazin's first Christmas!

About to open a present from us. Note the wrapping paper

And a few days ago, I posted some very exciting news. Our April Disney trip is definitely happening!!! My mom could just do it with them over the phone, but I like to be there when we make the reservations

I didn't realize people were still writing on the old report. I'm glad you had a nice holiday with your family. I know the boys add such fun to the festivities.

Of course I noticed the wrapping paper.

Yay for the April trip!

Glad to have you back here safe and sound on the DIS!

I'm glad the trip was alot of fun.

I was there with you on NYE and Trent was so entertaining!
Lexi was laughing so much....she said it must be so much fun to be there....

I love the Santa hat on Bo!

Ya'll make me laugh with all this "it's cold" talk.....if anyone has the right to complain it's me...

I should take a pic of what my yard/snow looks like.

I hope you get your snow day!

Did you bring back any purchases?

True. You truly know what it is like to be cold!

Tell Lexi it was nice seeing it on the webcam last year, but definitely better being there on the beach this year.

We have had buses cancelled here for the last 2 days. the ground is barely covered here in Sarnia, but 1/2 hr drive down the road they have 4 ft of snow (lake effect sucks). I'm here with my fingers crossed that things get back to normal tomorrow!

We have so many hills, so if it is icy, it is very dangerous for buses to try to get out. It's better for us just to stay put.

Hi Jill and Memom,
Welcome home and glad you had a nice time. Looking forward to hearing all about your New Years trip. Loved the pics that were posted on Trent's FB page. Also NYE at Poly looked like a blast!

Nichole

I'm thinking right now of how nice it was that night. The weather was just perfect for a light jacket, and there was no rain. There were people in the Poly pool, and others were dancing out by the pool under the direction of the lifeguards. It was very nice.

WELCOME HOME!!! Sounds like it was fantastic trip

It surely was. As soon as Jill can get the first pictures up, we'll get going.

 

[MeMom]

so i'm sitting in my bed (since my bedroom is the warmest room in the house), watching TV and eating yummy, authentic main street popcorn out of my "celebrate the season" magic kingdom popcorn bucket!

oh, and i do think that pop may be missing a few towels used for packing.

So glad it came on a day that you really needed it.

You ratted us out on the towels!
I hope Pop lets me come back.

It's nice that it came on a day when you needed some "pixie dust" too!

It was supposed to be there on the 4th, but it looks like it was best that it came on the 5th after all.

All caught up.

Looks like I missed some crazy action up at the camera. While I was up there I spoke with Dave and waved at the camera , so if anyone saw a crazy lady wave close to the camera about 10:30 or so it was me!

I can attest to the weather- we wore shorts and tees AND heavy winter coats and gloves. Crazy!!!!

In NC it is freezing! Highs at freezing and lows in the teens.

I am also wishing for a snow day on Thursday or Friday - need to check the weather again.

We had some magic on our trip- hardly any lines to deal with, crowd always just behind us and busses that would arrive as we walked up to the bus stop. Bathrooms on the other hand

Can't wait to hear all about your adventure.

Weren't Dave and Kathy just the nicest people?

The girls swam one day, and we had coats and gloves in the evenings. There was definitely a mix.

We didn't have any bus troubles. Standing room only in the evenings, but that is pretty normal. I think Trent's first wait to Animal Kingdom was pretty long, but other than that, it was all normal.

You are welcome to surprise me anytime

I love seeing those pictures!!

Didn't we surprise you with a little present you haven't had a chance to pick up yet?

 

[MeMom]

<---me (I couldn't find a crying face, but since they were happy tears...)

Oh man, you look good. I look horrible when I cry! You know how Oprah says 'the ugly cry'? That's me.

And you deserve a fun surprise like that!

We thought so, too.

Dawn - enjoy the goodies from WDW and wishing you a speedy year until your return to the most magical place on earth.

She's made it a whole year, and I really didn't think she would!

Hi MeMom,
Here to follow along. The video heather posted was great.
Dawn the box of goodies looks wonderful. Cannot wait to read about the trip.
Look for a link soon in my siggie as I am doing a pre tr over here for our October trip. Now that the Europe tr is done. Hope to see you there and of course I will be here reading along.

Going there in a few minutes.

for the record it is 37 degrees here in MIAMI. huh??? Getting ready for work. Everyone have a great day!

That's crazy. Maybe you'll get a snow day, too!

 

[disneyfan61]

Wow all of you down south are getting colder weather than we are in NH!!!
We got snow all weekend last weekend but it only accumulated to about 6 inches. I say "only" because a storm to us is like a foot of snow or more

MeMom & Jill that was so sweet of you to send all those Disney goodies to Dawn. What a wonderful thing to do.

Dawn you were great in getting all those updates up when you got them from MeMom. I Hope you are enjoying all those goodies!! I would have been crying "happy tears" also!!

Today I went to our local mall & I parked next to a van that had the license plate that said "WDWLUVR" and they had a Mickey antenna topper also. I almost left a note on her windshield but decided against it. I have often thought of getting a Disney vanity plate but have had my vanity plate since I was 16 (long time ago).

I hope all of you wishing for your snow day tomorrow get it. You all sound like my 16 yr old. If it is snowing he is always looking out the window & praying for no school the next day.

 

[MeMom]

Man would I like to come and meet the gang. It's only about a 4 hour car trip.
Not sure if Denny(my husband) would let me drive that far with Ty without him. He is working out of town this weekend. Maybe the girls would want to come. I'll work on it. Of course we are suppose to get several inchs of snow and if it's still hanging around I know he'll veto it.

You will have to plan a Nashville trip one of these days when Dawn, Jill and the girls, Erica, and everyone can be here. We could have lunch at Rainforest and pretend we're at the one at Animal Kingdom.

The Opry Mills trip sounds very tempting. It's a 5 hour car trip and I do need a Disney fix. If we didn't have a party that evening, I think I'd do it!

Yep, you have to come, too! Anyone within a six hour drive is expected to be here!

And do you all mind if I plug my TR here? I'd really love for some of you to come check it out!!
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2364396

Stay warm everyone!

Can't wait to see all the good times you had with your kids.

I am covered up with a blanket already.

If I can get there, Abby and I will be there. I will post Sat AM if it doesn't look like we can make it. Oh, and my name is Kim, if you don't want to call me by a combination of my first name and Polish maiden name. Hope it works out to meet you Saturday.

Let's watch this weather. Stay safe over there on your side of town!

I would love to go shopping with you Memom, but that's about a 10 hour drive for me. But if you ever decide to visit a NC beach, let me know! I'll be there!

Ten hours - you are excused from the meet. If we are ever over your way, e will be sure to let you know so we can meet up.

Welcome Home, MeMom and Jill!! Looking forward to reading about your adventures. MeMom, my post break house sounds just like your post vacation house. Must have had something to do with the lounging around in pjs all day and ignoring the "real world" for two weeks.

Where have you been in forever? I've been missing those sweet kids of yours! Hope you guys all had a great holiday. Lounging around in pj's sounds like heaven.

Oh man, I wish I could come say goodbye to the store! Will you pretend I'm there?

We surely will!

Hi, welcome home. I'm hopping on board.
closing another disney store, not good. They redid the store in the mall close to where i work. I'ts nice and big and....icky. The little store by my house is better. Whatever are they doing?!?
anyway...on with the show....

I'd like to hear more about the new store, if you care to share. I'm wondering if that is what they will do to the Cool Springs one. I'll be happy if they re-open the Opry Mills one in the future.

Hannah shared her autograph book today....and a doll since she got cheated out of Tuesday (and probably tomorrow)

I already have a two hour delay for Thursday ... and since I work mornings on Thursday that means I have to be there about 10:30 till 12:30. The hard part might be that it takes me longer to get there and back than I am actually teaching...

I'm glad Hannah got to share. I know it would be disappointing for a little girl to be all ready to show her things and then not get to.

They've already called of a bunch of schools in our area, but not ours yet. It would be nice to know tonight and not have to get up and start getting ready at all.

 

[MeMom]

Wow all of you down south are getting colder weather than we are in NH!!!
We got snow all weekend last weekend but it only accumulated to about 6 inches. I say "only" because a storm to us is like a foot of snow or more



Dawn you were great in getting all those updates up when you got them from MeMom. I Hope you are enjoying all those goodies!! I would have been crying "happy tears" also!!

Today I went to our local mall & I parked next to a van that had the license plate that said "WDWLUVR" and they had a Mickey antenna topper also. I almost left a note on her windshield but decided against it. I have often thought of getting a Disney vanity plate but have had my vanity plate since I was 16 (long time ago).

I hope all of you wishing for your snow day tomorrow get it. You all sound like my 16 yr old. If it is snowing he is always looking out the window & praying for no school the next day.

We do appreciate all of the girls keeping everyone updated. We hope it helped you to be there, sort of, along with us.

I would have left a note on that car!

The teachers pray for snow harder than the kids do! But I think we are supposed to keep that a secret.

 

[SwansLoveDisney]

Oh, I wish I were able to come meet you girls this weekend! I am in desperate need of a Disney fix!

I have a patient who is at WDW right now and one who leaves Sunday for WDW. I am so envious of them!

 

[punkin413]

You ratted us out on the towels!
I hope Pop lets me come back.

i had hoped you wouldn't be upset about that, but it was too funny not to mention! besides, i'm pretty sure you've paid for more than your share of towels in all your stays at pop. heck, i'm sure you've gotten them enough business from other people to supply towels for a year!

by the way, i wish i could make your hippo meet. unfortunately we just got back so no road trip to tennessee for me. i am going back up there the weekend of february 19th. i don't know if it's possible to get the girls together or not because it's a weekday, but i wanted to mention that i'm planning on calling jordan very soon and seeing if she'll let me have margot for the day that friday (2/19). audrey (my stepmom) seems to think she will be fine with it. just wanted to let you know!

 

[uncw89]

That is so nice!!!! So does that mean you take pity on those who can't go to Disney every year? If so, I have no idea when we will get to go back. So does that mean I get a box too????

Just kidding!

I would love to go shopping with you Memom, but that's about a 10 hour drive for me. But if you ever decide to visit a NC beach, let me know! I'll be there!

Count me in on that too since I live near the beach! I too probably live about 10 away from you as well.

 

[burly]

When they redid the Disney store by my work, they bought out a store next to it closed and expanded. I thought, awesome, so much room here. Beautiful to look at with a big Mickey head that you walk through. but then i noticed that while bigger, it seemed to have a lack of certain things. Like Waterballs, adult clothing, adult orientaed anything really. no mugs etc. Kind of dissapointing. Big and beautiful and full of childrens delight. But not enough for the big kids, if ya know what i mean.
hijack over......
conitnue with the goods....he he.

 

[littleE]

Great Report so far! Glad you had an awesome time!

 

[MeMom]

Oh, I wish I were able to come meet you girls this weekend! I am in desperate need of a Disney fix!

I have a patient who is at WDW right now and one who leaves Sunday for WDW. I am so envious of them!

We wish you could come, too! We need to find a centerpoint for all of us and have a big meet sometime. It'll have to be near a good mall that has a Disney Store and maybe a Rainforest Cafe. We could pretend we were at Animal Kingdom.

i had hoped you wouldn't be upset about that, but it was too funny not to mention! besides, i'm pretty sure you've paid for more than your share of towels in all your stays at pop. heck, i'm sure you've gotten them enough business from other people to supply towels for a year!

by the way, i wish i could make your hippo meet. unfortunately we just got back so no road trip to tennessee for me. i am going back up there the weekend of february 19th. i don't know if it's possible to get the girls together or not because it's a weekday, but i wanted to mention that i'm planning on calling jordan very soon and seeing if she'll let me have margot for the day that friday (2/19). audrey (my stepmom) seems to think she will be fine with it. just wanted to let you know!

Wouldn't it be cool if they had a referral perk? I'd love getting a discount or a gift card if someone wrote down that we referred them to Pop.

We'll watch and see what this impending snowfall does to the streets here before we decide for sure about Saturday. We would be happy to wait on you, but the Disney Store only has three Saturdays left.

Jill can look at the 19th to see if that's a possibility. I'm free any time after school. I'd love to have a picture of Margot and Bella together.

[/B]
Count me in on that too since I live near the beach! I too probably live about 10 away from you as well.

Do you go over to the beach very often? When I lived in St. Pete, I loved going to the beach. Every time I go to Florida and see the first palm tree, it brings back so many good memories of going to the beach.

When they redid the Disney store by my work, they bought out a store next to it closed and expanded. I thought, awesome, so much room here. Beautiful to look at with a big Mickey head that you walk through. but then i noticed that while bigger, it seemed to have a lack of certain things. Like Waterballs, adult clothing, adult orientaed anything really. no mugs etc. Kind of dissapointing. Big and beautiful and full of childrens delight. But not enough for the big kids, if ya know what i mean.
hijack over......
conitnue with the goods....he he.

It will be interesting to see if we get to keep Cool Springs. I hope so. If we lose that one, we'll have to do some research to see where the closest one is for when we get in dire need of a Disney fix.

Great Report so far! Glad you had an awesome time!

Welcome to the DIS! We hope you will enjoy all the many good trip reports around here. A lot of people who read on this report have awesome reports of their own, so be sure to check them out!



The snow gods were good.
Snowbird and Snowhound (mascots on two local stations) have reported the good news this morning!

In totally snow unrelated news, I heard last night that Taylor Swift, who lives here in my city, just donated $250,000 to two of our schools. I thought that was pretty nice and worthy of a little praise. It is nice to hear of young people doing positive things for this world.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Did we see those?

No. I didn't take a picture of them. They are hot pink with black Mickey heads -- I think they found them at Walmart and I would live in them if I could.

Yeah, all of our covert operations are going to be for naught if she sees the big old Grand Floridian sign!

So far, so good.

The snow gods were good.
Snowbird and Snowhound (mascots on two local stations) have reported the good news this morning!

Hurray for a snow day for you! Our snow is not supposed to reach us until this afternoon. Our county decided to implement an early release this afternoon, so we will be dismissing students at 1:30. I won't complain too much. Now, we are all crossing our fingers that they cancel school for tomorrow if the roads are dangerous.

 

[kschafer]

Well, EVERYONE around here is closed! Frankly I'm a little surprised because we didn't get as much snow as predicted but the wind is supposed to get terrible as the day goes on and temps will be dropping. In fact they are saying tomorrow's HIGH temp will be -3 with 20-30 below wind chills...UGH!

did you get those Mickey heads drawn in on your jammies for our Dis party? I'm proudly sporting Tink

 

[nowellsl]

It will be interesting to see if we get to keep Cool Springs. I hope so. If we lose that one, we'll have to do some research to see where the closest one is for when we get in dire need of a Disney fix.

They closed the one here a few years ago and I guess the closest one to me now is Orlando - maybe Jacksonville. Oh well, it's probably a good thing! I spend enough at Disney as it is

By the way, were you able to find any of the Mickey casserole dishes?

 

[MeMom]

No. I didn't take a picture of them. They are hot pink with black Mickey heads -- I think they found them at Walmart and I would live in them if I could.


So far, so good.


Hurray for a snow day for you! Our snow is not supposed to reach us until this afternoon. Our county decided to implement an early release this afternoon, so we will be dismissing students at 1:30. I won't complain too much. Now, we are all crossing our fingers that they cancel school for tomorrow if the roads are dangerous.

Jill's school is closing at 11:30, I think she said. so that everyone can get home before it moves in.

Well, EVERYONE around here is closed! Frankly I'm a little surprised because we didn't get as much snow as predicted but the wind is supposed to get terrible as the day goes on and temps will be dropping. In fact they are saying tomorrow's HIGH temp will be -3 with 20-30 below wind chills...UGH!

did you get those Mickey heads drawn in on your jammies for our Dis party? I'm proudly sporting Tink

I haven't drawn on my jamas, which are not really jamas - just sleep pants and an old camp t-shirt. If I have to have Mickey pj's to participate in this snow day event, though, I will gladly pull out the Sharpie!

I am eating a Mickey waffle right now, so be assured I've got my Disney going already.

They closed the one here a few years ago and I guess the closest one to me now is Orlando - maybe Jacksonville. Oh well, it's probably a good thing! I spend enough at Disney as it is

By the way, were you able to find any of the Mickey casserole dishes?

I know it will save me money not to have the Disney Store so close, but I sure will miss it when I need a quick fix. It's only about ten minutes from my school, so it was easy to run over there whenever I wanted/needed to.

We looked at them a couple of times, and I really did plan to get one, but my money ran out. I was determined not to put anything but the rooms and the two big meals on the card this time. When I get a few more paychecks in the bank, I will get someone to pick one or two up for me. I have a cousin going this month, and tinkgurl is going in March, so maybe I can send cash with one of them. I think the bigger one for $19 is a better deal than the smaller one for $15. What do you think?

 

[kschafer]

I am eating a Mickey waffle right now, so be assured I've got my Disney going already.

Oh, that definitely counts!!

 

[MeMom]

It is so much nicer to be sitting in my bed nibbling on a cranberry-orange Mickey waffle Dising than writing morning work on the board.

Since Jill hasn't had time to put the first of the trip pictures up yet, I thought we'd take a walk around Wilderness Lodge, as I have those loaded on my laptop. Those of you sitting around in pajamas can gather 'round with your cup of hot chocolate and enjoy. Those of you who had to go to school and work, maybe you can enjoy transporting yourself to a beautiful Florida/Wilderness Lodge day at break time.

We start at a humongous, beautifully decorated Christmas tree.

A nice place to shop.

Walking around the lobby, there were small trees. This one was over by Whispering Canyon.

The view from upstairs.

Looking outside.

This lodge has many cozy little sitting areas.

Information about the fireplace.

Artist Point.

Warm, quiet place to sit and read.
Or maybe catch a nap.

This is a perfect place for a Christmas trip. The rustic decor is great.

Then over to the Villas for a few shots.

There were people swimming the day I was there.

Anyway, I hope that warmed up your cold morning a little, friends.

 

[MeMom]

Oh, that definitely counts!!

Right now I'm going over to Disney Shopping to do some window shopping. Window shopping only - no buying - but it is still fun to look.

 

[IluvXU]

So no school anywhere around here today. And the kicker... not a snowflake yet. While I like a snowday.... don't waste all five of mine this early in January! (This is the second of five free ones... the other day was a total joke). But if it hits terribly this afternoon I will be thankful that all the kids are at home safe and teachers too.

Sorry about your Disney store... that is the bummer. The only one nearby is almost an hour drive, so we don't get there much.

Memom... I do feel better. Yesterday I felt human again, and better today. I need to tackle laundry and get the house cleaned up after being out of commision a few days.