Sew much to do, sew little time - but it was worth it! New PTR link posted! ~~~~~~~~~

[nowellsl]

I can't wait to see the final product! I love the colors!

 

[VBAndrea]

Then I spent the day trying to get some sneak peeks of my launch bag uploaded to Facebook, I am not sure what is going on with Facebook (or me?), but I posted a sneek peek picture to my Fan page, and it didn't show up in my personal feed. I don't think it showed up in anyone's feed, because I didn't have any comments or likes on it at all. I tried 3 different times. I uploaded it this morning to the Main Street Boutiques fan page, and that showed up in my feed (even though it took an amazing amount of time to upload) - so hopefully some people will see it now... And for your viewing enjoyment... I huge sneak peek of my Launch bag:

I contacted one of my neighbors - they have this really awesome limestone barn foundation (which is now a garage) - and I asked her if I can use it for the backdrop of my official Launch bag photos, and she said I could. WHOOT! I am super happy about that, because I just couldn't figure out where to take these photos at... It seems that everyone else in the launch has a pool or something spectacular in their yard to use as a background - not I. I guess I could go across the street to the park too, we have the really awesome old playground equipment over there (you know, the metal slide and the metal merry-go-round) - so that would be a fun place to take pictures too... Maybe next time?

I managed to order our Valleyfair season passes yesterday. My bff is a single mom (her dd was born right in between my girls) - so they have grown up together. Well, on Monday, she lost her job - she has been with her company for almost 15 years. It was very sudden, and she just wasn't prepared. Thankfully, she does have some vacation pay outs coming, and some investment $$ she can use as a last resort. Her car is paid off, and her freezers/cupboards are full. Anyways... There probably won't be much fun in their lives in the near future, and even though her and Josh don't get along, Josh gave me his blessing to purchase season passes for her and her dd to Valleyfair - since they almost always go with us. It wasn't something I was prepared to do in our budget, but I was able to make it work. She has been such a good friend to me for a very long time, and emotionally kept me stable while Josh was in Iraq - I know, in a heartbeat, she would do anything for me - so I was glad to be able to give them something fun to do this summer.

It's supposed to rain today, but I need to run to town to get a few household items. I am going to work on my UPB assembly this morning though. I am also uploading photos for my Day 9 update, since I am up early, I have time to sneak in a little update.

I hope that each and every one of you are having a marvelous holiday weekend! And Marianne, where ever you are, please know I am thinking of you and praying for safe travels to RI this weekend.

D~

OK, since you were kind enough to send me more than a little preview of this bag, I have to say I think the park might be a neat place for a photo shoot of it. I love the bright colors on your bag!

You are so sweet to do the season passes for your friend!!!!

DH has the kids out fishing and I was contemplating going to Joann's for their big sale, but I spent my morning finding fabrics I already have to make teacher's totes. As much as I want to get a couple of other things for gifts, I resisted. I am going to have to go eventually though b/c I need a novelty fabric that the smaller Joann's has for a tote for Alexa's piano teacher. Her recital is June 8 so I need to do that bag first. Today I am going to at least get bags cut and try to do a shirt for Amy and Alexa's unicorn shirt. Plus I have to clean the house (YUCK!).

FYI: Be prepared for this to be a large update... I have TONS of pictures from this day!

The girls and I woke early today (6:45)... We were headed for Rope Drop at MK.

Allison still wasn't feeling well - her stomach was really hurting. After much discussion with her (and Josh on the phone), we decided that Alli would stay behind at the resort this morning, and take a bus over to MK later, if she felt up to it. At this point, we had been using Disney transportation for 9 days - the girls were very comfortable with it, Alli had her cell phone - so if she had any problems, she could call.

I went down to the food court and got the girls and I some breakfast - I also refilled our mugs. V and I had beignets, and Allison requested a muffin.

After lots of instruction for Alli from me - V and I headed out for the bus to MK. The bus stop was rather full, and V was looking very cute today:

D~

V looks soooo cute in her pirate outfit!!! Boo Hiss to A for not cooperating! She had better have been very sick!!!! And weren't you supposed to have a pirate outfit too???? Slackers!

The new Dumbo looks awesome. I love the bright colors

 

[DMGeurts]

OK, since you were kind enough to send me more than a little preview of this bag, I have to say I think the park might be a neat place for a photo shoot of it. I love the bright colors on your bag!

Hmmm.... Now that you say that - I believe you might be right. And the limestone garage will be the perfect location for the next Launch bag I have in mind... Thanks Andrea for sorting this out for me!

You are so sweet to do the season passes for your friend!!!!

DH has the kids out fishing and I was contemplating going to Joann's for their big sale, but I spent my morning finding fabrics I already have to make teacher's totes. As much as I want to get a couple of other things for gifts, I resisted. I am going to have to go eventually though b/c I need a novelty fabric that the smaller Joann's has for a tote for Alexa's piano teacher. Her recital is June 8 so I need to do that bag first. Today I am going to at least get bags cut and try to do a shirt for Amy and Alexa's unicorn shirt. Plus I have to clean the house (YUCK!).

Have fun cleaning and sewing today!

V looks soooo cute in her pirate outfit!!! Boo Hiss to A for not cooperating! She had better have been very sick!!!! And weren't you supposed to have a pirate outfit too???? Slackers!

The new Dumbo looks awesome. I love the bright colors

Ahem... I can see where you would think that I was not dressed in proper Pirate attire, but I assure you, I most certainly was. I know the pictures I posted didn't quite capture my whole outfit... This is the best one I can post until later in my updates... But, as you can see - I am definately wearing my red Donald Pirate tee, and I also have Beth's Pirate clippies clipped to my shoes, and you can't see them very well - but I am wearing my Pirate rag capris too...

D~

 

[Lidian]

So sorry to hear that V was really feeling bad.

Totally love the Dumbo and train station pictures! I was so bummed that we missed it again this year. That is FOUR years in a row of never getting to ride Dumbo. Yep, I said it. We've never been on Dumbo ... and March was supposed to be the year we fixed that. Sigh.

Anxiously waiting for more!

 

[mommy2mrb]

I think I know the theme of your newest bag if its what I think, the park will be the perfect place for photos can we put in guesses here? I'm PMing you too with it!

sorry Alli wasn't feeling well on your MK day....you and V look so cute sitting on the steps! can't wait to experience FL next year!

 

[VBAndrea]

Hmmm.... Now that you say that - I believe you might be right. And the limestone garage will be the perfect location for the next Launch bag I have in mind... Thanks Andrea for sorting this out for me!



Have fun cleaning and sewing today!



Ahem... I can see where you would think that I was not dressed in proper Pirate attire, but I assure you, I most certainly was. I know the pictures I posted didn't quite capture my whole outfit... This is the best one I can post until later in my updates... But, as you can see - I am definately wearing my red Donald Pirate tee, and I also have Beth's Pirate clippies clipped to my shoes, and you can't see them very well - but I am wearing my Pirate rag capris too...

D~

My bad -- I can't see your outfit well in the photos though I will have to get my magnifying glass out to look at your shoe clippies!

I haven't cleaned yet but I am working on one of my teacher's bags. One is going to have the main fabric patchworked together so that one will take more time. I'm still hopeful to get it cut today. DH will be making dinner so that will save me some time (fresh catfish -- Alexa caught the biggest one! Don't get excited though, it was a 5 pounder. Good sized but not as big as a couple dh caught in the past).

I think I know the theme of your newest bag if its what I think, the park will be the perfect place for photos can we put in guesses here? I'm PMing you too with it!

Did my oh so subtle hint help you out? I think D~ captured the fabric perfectly.

 

[DMGeurts]

Remember last year, when I made that huge wedding gift for my BIL and his new wife? I spent a good two weeks sewing non-stop... a fairly simple project turned into a much larger one because I didn't taken into consideration all the cutting and ironing...

I had made them service for 12, reversible placemats, reversible table runner and napkins:

And then here's some pictures of them opening their gift from us (no, the baby is her neice)... Aren't they just the sweetest couple?

(yes, that's me peeking back in the corner - I was so nervous!)

And why is this relevant now, you ask? Well, yesterday was their 1st Anniversary, and they had a nice dinner at their house... Myrthe was so kind to send me pictures of their place settings... I makes me feel wonderful that they truly loved them and are using them - so I had to share... Itsn't it marvelous?

Thank you so much for letting me share...

I think I get more enjoyment out of seeing people use and enjoy my items than the actual act of making them. That's why I really love to see when people post pictures of my bags in the parks - it gives me the biggest smile to know that people really love my stuff and they are willing to carry it in public...

D~

 

[Terkina]

That's a lovely gift. And it's great that the gift is being used

 

[VBAndrea]

Remember last year, when I made that huge wedding gift for my BIL and his new wife? I spent a good two weeks sewing non-stop... a fairly simple project turned into a much larger one because I didn't taken into consideration all the cutting and ironing...

I had made them service for 12, reversible placemats, reversible table runner and napkins:




And why is this relevant now, you ask? Well, yesterday was their 1st Anniversary, and they had a nice dinner at their house... Myrthe was so kind to send me pictures of their place settings... I makes me feel wonderful that they truly loved them and are using them - so I had to share... Itsn't it marvelous?

Thank you so much for letting me share...

I think I get more enjoyment out of seeing people use and enjoy my items than the actual act of making them. That's why I really love to see when people post pictures of my bags in the parks - it gives me the biggest smile to know that people really love my stuff and they are willing to carry it in public...

D~

Wow! They look even better when in a place setting! Simply stunning!

 

[Lidian]

Now the FB post/pic makes sense. (FB showed me that picture, but I couldn't understand what I was supposed to be seeing.) That's great that they are enjoying the sweet gift!

 

[IheartDDuck]

Allie really was a trooper.

The details there are so cute in the refurb, you're right it makes it so much brighter and fun.

Those table settings are awesome! That was a really fabulous gift.

 

[blessedmom4]

D~ SO happy you got to ride Dumbo and you were finally all together! I must say THIS

Reminds me of this (Should it???)

and I simply LOVE Dumbo, he is such a cutie!!! I LOVE Dumbo although I have always said they MUST have been on some great hallucinogenics when they wrote/drew Dumbo on Parade!

 

[DMGeurts]

I can't wait to see Fantasy land when we go in Sept (or Nov). Great update!

And my master plan is that no one else gets to see your bag until I have a chance to snag it!


Nini

LOL Nini! You are so funny.... I really hope that someone I know gets my Launch bag.

The part of Fantasyland that we saw was just amazing... Just wait until you see the pictures later in the day... mmmm... It's quite awesome!

I totally love your Launch bag

Great update as ususal.

Hope you have a great day. I am enjoying a cup of coffee before I get J up

Thanks Chiara... I am having coffee too.

Looks like a bright and fun morning!

It was.

So sorry to hear that V was really feeling bad.

Totally love the Dumbo and train station pictures! I was so bummed that we missed it again this year. That is FOUR years in a row of never getting to ride Dumbo. Yep, I said it. We've never been on Dumbo ... and March was supposed to be the year we fixed that. Sigh.

Anxiously waiting for more!

ACK!!! I am so sorry you missed Dumbo... It is definately a must see attraction now. You CANNOT miss it on your next trip.

I think I know the theme of your newest bag if its what I think, the park will be the perfect place for photos can we put in guesses here? I'm PMing you too with it!

sorry Alli wasn't feeling well on your MK day....you and V look so cute sitting on the steps! can't wait to experience FL next year!

Thanks Lisa - you can guess where ever you 'd like LOL.

And I do love that picture of V and I too.

My bad -- I can't see your outfit well in the photos though I will have to get my magnifying glass out to look at your shoe clippies!

I haven't cleaned yet but I am working on one of my teacher's bags. One is going to have the main fabric patchworked together so that one will take more time. I'm still hopeful to get it cut today. DH will be making dinner so that will save me some time (fresh catfish -- Alexa caught the biggest one! Don't get excited though, it was a 5 pounder. Good sized but not as big as a couple dh caught in the past).

Did my oh so subtle hint help you out? I think D~ captured the fabric perfectly.

I hope you were able to get everything done yesterday!

Now the FB post/pic makes sense. (FB showed me that picture, but I couldn't understand what I was supposed to be seeing.) That's great that they are enjoying the sweet gift!

Hmmm... You'll have to tell me how my FB post showed up... I feel badly that it was the biggest sneak peek I've done and no one saw it.

Allie really was a trooper.

The details there are so cute in the refurb, you're right it makes it so much brighter and fun.

Those table settings are awesome! That was a really fabulous gift.

Thanks! I am just so happy that they are using them. And they look pretty cool with their place settings.

I see that you are on myfitnesspal.com... I just joined (and love it)... feel free to friend me there - same name as here. And WTG on your amazing loss so far!!!

D~ SO happy you got to ride Dumbo and you were finally all together! I must say THIS

Reminds me of this (Should it???)

and I simply LOVE Dumbo, he is such a cutie!!! I LOVE Dumbo although I have always said they MUST have been on some great hallucinogenics when they wrote/drew Dumbo on Parade!

Maybe........

I know - I think Dumbo is adorable too. LOL about Dumbo on Parade - I've thought the same thing.

Crazy day yesterday... Crazy day today. I am headed up to my sewing room shortly, so I can get a few things done before the girls and I leave... We are headed to Valleyfair for a few hours this morning. I want to be headed home by about 1:30 though, because it's supposed to be 90°+ this afternoon, and I hate driving in the heat... I know that sounds really dumb, but every car I've owned in my adult life enjoys over heating in the summer time. What's really funny - with all of them - as long as I didn't stop for too many stop lights, they were fine... So, I have the routes to almost everywhere with very little stop lights or stopping at all.... Which aren't always the most direct routes.

I am going to text my bff in a little while here, to see if they would like to join us today.

Otherwise, nothing exciting is happening in my life today. Oh - I might try to sneak in another update though...

D~

 

[DMGeurts]

I always love the stories about WDW and how the lands change from theme to theme, seamlessly. But I never really paid much attention to it. I was explaining this to the girls as we were walking from Fantasyland into Liberty Square - and I took a picture of the "bridge" just to prove my point.

Here's a photo of both sides of the same bridge:

As we were walking into Liberty Square, we encountered a Photopass photographer... We said the same thing to her that we said to many others over the course of our trip... "We've pre purchased the CD, and we'd like to fill it up". She offered to take a couple of pictures of us... Then she walked with us to Haunted Mansion, and took a few more fun pictures. Before we knew it - we had our own personal Photopass photographer following us around MK... It was not intentional - but it just happened that way.

JoAnna took over 100+ Photopass pictures of the girls and I over the course of this day... Every where we went, we ran into Joanna. After a while, it became a joke.

She also managed to take a lot of my most favorite pictures of the girls... And my ULTIMATE favorite picture (I'm sure you can't guess why it's my favorite....)

And even though, I am not sharing our photopass pictures until the very end of my TR... I have to show you this one - because it's just the BEST!

Once we were done with these pictures, we parted ways with JoAnna, and got in line to see Donald Duck... This time he actually liked my outfit.

When we exited his line, we bumped into JoAnna again, and she offered to take a few more pictures of us.

Victoria offered to run over to Splash Mountain and grab Fastpasses for after lunch.

While V was doing a FP run, Allison was still feeling really awful, and we tried to check in a bit early for our lunch ADR at LTT, but they wouldn't let us check in. So the Alli and I found some shade sitting on the steps of Diamond Horseshoe Saloon. We were talking to the CM who was standing outside - since if was a busy time of the season - they were opening DHS for meals. This place hasn't been open since we were first here in 2003 - and at that time, it was a Toy Story dancing show, so I asked the CM if we could go in and take a few pictures... She was very nice and let us go in. Since no one had really started lunch yet - the place was empty.

Allison put on a happy face and let me take a few pictures of her...

Just as we went back outside, V showed up with our FPs. We noticed that LTT was finally letting people check in for their ADRs - so we got in line to do that. The girls found a bench to sit down on... Allison was still feeling awful. I was beginning to get concerned. She was afraid to eat - yet she wanted to eat because she thought it might help her feel better. Poor girl.

I was just laughing at her last night, as we were looking through these pictures, because looking at them, you'd never know she was as sick as she was - she has this uncanny ability to "strike a pose". LOL However, if you look closely - she is quite pale.

We were the 3rd family seated, it took us a few minutes to decide what we wanted. Despite the fact that we were on Day 9 of the dining plan, we were quite hungry today. We all decided to order the same thing... Freedom Pasta.

While we waited I snapped a couple photos of the girls:

I forgot to take pictures of the Freedom Pasta - and I wish we would have. This ended up being our favorite meal of the whole trip (besides CP breakfast - but that's was a different meal)... the food was just what we needed after 9 days of "park food", and it really hit the spot!

I did take pictures of our desserts though...

Alli ordered Mrs. White's Chocolate cake... It was delicious - but she didn't eat all of it.

And V and I both ordered the Ooey Gooey Toffee cake... And it was AMAZING!!!!

We finished our meal, walked out the doors of LTT, and there was JoAnna again. LOL She offered to take more pictures of us, but we had to turn her down - our FPs were about to expire for Splash, so we needed to get over there. I did, however, decide to turn the tables on her - and I asked if I could take a picture of her with my girls... She really went above and beyond for us this day - and we wanted to remember her. She was a bit surprised, but obliged me just the same.

My girls with JoAnna - the most awesome Photopass Photographer EVER!

We then RAN to Splash, and made it about 5 minutes late for our FP expiration... thankfully we didn't get repremanded this time. The FP return line was incredibly LONG... At least a 30 minute wait... I was quite irritated, but the standby line was much longer, so I mellowed out.

In line:

And then we got to ride the best ride ever...

Once we finished Splash we grabbed another set of FPs for later - we were headed for Tom Sawyer's Island - we had some Now n' Then photos that we needed to recreate...

Link to Day 9 Part C

D~

 

[BrerMama]

I want a Joanna. We're doing Photopass Plus, so I'm planning on getting tons and tons of photos. I've got a scrapbook to create!

Looks like a fun time. I enjoyed LTT for lunch last trip, too.

 

[solana131]

Wow, how did I get so far behind? So anyway....the guys in our shop said the Jeep tire covers have a zipper up the back, so they fit perfectly tight. I told them why I wanted to know and they said they were sure either elastic or velcro would work too. They suggested canvas with a waterproof coating sprayed on.

How sweet of you to buy the season passes for your BFF I'm sure they will get lots of use out of them.

And now on to your updates...

I love the new trainstation. Can't wait to see what else has opened up when we get there in July. Did the old Dumbo have a fountain under it? I know I went on it when I was little, but it was closed in Feb and I don't remember much about it.

That sucks that they took so long for a train to come And those crowds at opening really scare me. I hope they aren't that bad for EMH opening as that is when we will go mostly.

LTT looks so yummy. I'm wishing I had chosen there, but I will get there someday

 

[mommy2mrb]

having your own private PP CM can't wait to see the rest of the photos! that is a cute one of the girls

I love looking at all the little details of the bldgs...its amazing what you discover if you take the time!

 

[ZehnJahren]

I'm still reading and lurking here, but I wanted to say that I went and looked at your house album (I think it was on Picasa?) and the renovations you've done - WOW!! Those are some amazing pictures, and what a story! You basically rebuilt your house; amazing. I wish I had some of the knowledge that your husband has, that is real talent.

As for the update, I feel terrible for Allie in these updates - I can do Disney with a cold (though I do complain about it), but doing it with a stomachache is unbelievably tough. I don't think anything at all makes a trip worse than something like food poisoning or the stomach flu; I hope she gets better on your next update.

Awesome about the photographer, though! That's getting your money's worth!

 

[Queen of Cumberland]

D~

I think that this new bag will be another Showstopper! D~, you are certainly a wizard with fabrics. pixie dust:

The new Fantasyland expansion looks terrific - I can't wait to go once it is finished! :good vibes I love your updates and am looking forward to the next one.

Have fun at Valleyfair! I remember it from my youth (I am originally from Northwestern Ontario) - it was a very big deal to trek to Valley Fair for long weekend.

 

[VBAndrea]

She also managed to take a lot of my most favorite pictures of the girls... And my ULTIMATE favorite picture (I'm sure you can't guess why it's my favorite....)

And even though, I am not sharing our photopass pictures until the very end of my TR... I have to show you this one - because it's just the BEST!

D~

Wow! That is so neat how Jo Anna managed to get two separate pics of the girls merged into one to make it look as though they actually like each other

Or is there just a glass wall between their backs?

Seriously -- great pics and I can wait to see all the other photos JoAnna took.