~Snowbird Chat~

[sarbah77]

Sarah - I hope you are doing well with your packing list!
I forget - is this the cruise now? Or Europe?

For cruising one easy thing to do for packing is a pair of nice black pants or skirt and then just wear different tops with it. I've done that for the dinners and it worked great. Of course, the pants didn't fit very well by the end of the cruise! HA!
I wish I could start packing already! I know how hard it is to pack for a combo trip and cruises are tough since they want you to dress nice for dinner! I thought it would be fun to dress up, but was so comfy in my t-shirts and shorts!

I'm sure you'll be fine and have a great time! We'll expect a report when you get back you know!

It's Europe! And a cruise!! So it's double-annoying packing, because it's a long flight, luggage restrictions, AND "formal" nights! When we went to Alaska a couple of summers ago (also on a cruise... it's funny, I don't think of myself as a cruiser!), we packed one pair of dress pants for dinner buuuut everyone wore jeans or worse, so we never really needed them. We did enjoy formal night (sort of), but Jeremy only wore a button down shirt and tie.

I'll have my netbook with me, to keep a travel diary!

Sarah, I started packing some of my stuff today. I got the vast majority laid out on my bed (needless to say I can't find my bed at the moment). Luckily with NCL they don't have "dress codes" for some of the restaurants so I don't have to pack any dressy clothes. I'm really trying to stick with 1 suitcase, however I don't think that's going to work out so well.

Hope everyone is having a good day. It's cold and cloudy here today with showers and thunderstorms for the next few days. Take care everyone!

Hey, if I can do one suitcase for two weeks in northern Europe (read: cold!), I bet you can do it for Hawaii (read: tropical!)!

I hope to do more, tonight... but I'm one of those ladies who has a "uniform." I wear jeans/khaki pants/khaki capris/khaki or denim skirt (note a theme? ) and a colored t-shirt. In the winter, it's a long sleeve, in the summer, it's short sleeve! Everything matches everything else! It's not hard to pack.

We always forget the little things. Visiting the in-laws this weekend and we realized that we had 3 ibuprofen with us. He's still recovering from a stress fracture and I, uh, needed some pain killers. We stopped by a CVS, bought a bottle, and left it in our travel backpack! We also forgot toothpaste, but the hotel front desk gave that out (so that's also staying packed).

Wow you're getting so close! Can't wait to hear a full TR when you get back!

Of course!

I'm trying to think of little thank you gifts for some people:

-There's one woman on our cruise who picked up some hair conditioner and some chocolate (J looooves the Aero bars) and said the cost was insignificant and not to worry about it. She's a scrapbooker, so I'll probably go to Joanns and pick up a very small thing or two. I can't afford to Cricut cartridges though! I know there are a few scrapbookers here; suggestions? Should I see if they have cruise related stickers/papers for her?

-One of our friends moved to Helsinki recently (he's always lived in Finland) and he's on vacation when we're in town, so he'll spend the day showing us around. What do you buy for a 20-something GUY? Of course, his girlfriend will be out of town that day. Maybe we'll just end up buying his lunch or something!

Happy Monday Snowbirds! (I can say that since Monday's work day is done ) I've been super busy these days since I took on a newborn. I almost forgot how much work they are. She's the sweetest little thing- 3 months but man does she love to be held! Makes for a long day and has definitely reminded me of why DH and I are done with having any more kids. It's nice to pass them over to the parents for the night.

We had a nice weekend and the kids had a blast at Hershey. We spent most of the day in the waterpark area. It was very hot and all I kept thinking was how I would not want to be at Disney at those temps. Funny how everywhere makes me think of Disney. DH rolled his eyes at me because I made a comment about how it just wasn't the same without the big fat Mickey glove when the workers waved goodbye on our way out.

***Edited: I've tried 2X to make these pics not so big! Photobucket is not my friend today.

We did do a little discussing of Disney again. We're torn between May and November of 2011 but leaning more towards November now. I'd love to see Disney all decorated for Christmas. Plus Andrew always has a couple days off school in the first 2 weeks of school so if I timed it right he wouldn't miss too many days. So now I'm making plans for November to keep myself sane.

Looks like a fun day! I enjoy Hersheypark, except for the people. There's just something about the clientele at amusement parks v. Disney theme parks, you know?!



Edit: Oh my gosh! My ticker says 9 days! Single digit dance!!!!! (I leave a week from today but the cruise is a couple days later!!)

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Sarah - WOOHOO for single digits!! I'll dance with you!

I think some cruise stickers would be a great little gift for a scrapbooker!
Maybe some kinds of treats for your other friend - something he can't get where he is??

Packing is so much fun isn't it? (She says sarcastically) I don't know why, but I love to make the list, but don't like the actual packing of the clothes. Kind of odd, I know. I should just be excited to be going, but it's a bit stressing. I think maybe I should have picked different things or I forgot something (hence, the need for a list). I just don't want to have to pay exhorbitant prices at WDW for something like advil or saline. So I pack a small medicine chest! This trip shouldn't be so bad since we're only at WDW for 4 nights and then we'll be somewhere I can get stuff from a grocery store at normal prices.
Okay - get to your packing!

Kim - Hershey looks like your kids had fun! I've only ever done Chocolate World about 5 years ago. I love the smell of the chocolate!! And in case I haven't done it yet, congrats on the new day care room! It looks wonderful and I'm glad everything passed inspection!

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

We did do a little discussing of Disney again. We're torn between May and November of 2011 but leaning more towards November now. I'd love to see Disney all decorated for Christmas. Plus Andrew always has a couple days off school in the first 2 weeks of school so if I timed it right he wouldn't miss too many days. So now I'm making plans for November to keep myself sane.

Woo Hoo!!! Do I hear the makings of a SNOWBIRD reunion in November 2011???

What part of November are you looking at? Before or after Thanksgiving?? The cost alone is forcing me to rethink BEFORE thanksgiving - I know the crowds would be much better before but it would cost us almost $1500 LESS to go AFTER thanksgiving!!

 

[sarbah77]

Sarah - WOOHOO for single digits!! I'll dance with you!

I think some cruise stickers would be a great little gift for a scrapbooker!
Maybe some kinds of treats for your other friend - something he can't get where he is??

Packing is so much fun isn't it? (She says sarcastically) I don't know why, but I love to make the list, but don't like the actual packing of the clothes. Kind of odd, I know. I should just be excited to be going, but it's a bit stressing. I think maybe I should have picked different things or I forgot something (hence, the need for a list). I just don't want to have to pay exhorbitant prices at WDW for something like advil or saline. So I pack a small medicine chest! This trip shouldn't be so bad since we're only at WDW for 4 nights and then we'll be somewhere I can get stuff from a grocery store at normal prices.
Okay - get to your packing!

I can't pack right now! They make me work at work! Or, uh, pretend. A suitcase would be obvious!

Packing is always a challenge, with Jeremy. His idea of folding is balling things up and throwing them in to the suitcase. Also, he tries to pack two shirts a day, every day! I ended up buying some packing folders (from Sierra Trading Post) and we gave them a test run for his marathon trip. We managed 6 days of clothing in half a suitcase, with plenty of room for toiletry kits and shoes in the other half. So I bought two more! (For Christmas, we had a 5 day trip and it was not a pretty scene, as he overpacked so badly I couldn't bring enough clothes along. Funny, in retrospect!)

Generally, I know I can get stuff if I forget something. A little more concerned about Europe, since it'll also be in a foreign language! Luckily, another person is buying (with expectations of payback, mind) hand sanitizer for all of us who want any. There's been an outbreak on the last sailing of the ship....!

Do you think that a Joanns would have cruise-ish stickers for scrapbooking? Perhaps I'll just go in with an open mind! I'll probably try to keep it under $10.

20-something year old guys are hard to buy for, when I know them well and they live in the US! He'll be flying here in the fall so he said there's nothing that he'd want us to bring (plus, the Euro is pretty weak to the USD right now)

(Can't forget the Sudafed. And the hydrocortisone cream... and bandaids)

 

[Mndisneygirl]

OOH, I'd love to go in November 2011! If I have any money left after Europe! HA!

Sarah -yes, Joann should have cruise stickers etc. Check on line for coupons, if it's not on sale you can sometimes get 40% off. I think this week they have some on sale.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Kim and Kim...yes...lets all go back in November of 2011!!!! I know me and Shelly will be there!!! Hee hee!!!!
Sarah....my dh is an uber-overpacker!! He has the biggest suitcase you can get it barely zips!!!! he has to pay the overage fee!!!!! I have considered some of those packing cube things..but I don't know if that would work for him....toooooo many clothes!!!
Shelly--can't believe your trip is so close too!!! You better take looots of pics of Hawaii! I probably will NEVER make it there!!!!ha!

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

I'm up for a November 2011 trip!!!

I'd like to go the second week of November again, but may have to go Thanksgiving week. DS will be in middle school by then and I think it will be too rough for him to miss 5 days. So 2011 will either have to be summer or a school holiday.

 

[Dancegrl624]

November 2011 sounds great! I don't think I could get my DH to agree to it, but who knows?

 

[Northern Disney Girl]

November 2011 sounds great! I don't think I could get my DH to agree to it, but who knows?

Won't you have a new little baby by that point Meghan??

 

[Dancegrl624]

Won't you have a new little baby by that point Meghan??

Hopefully....being the constant planner, I'm aiming for a July birth. 4 months old isn't too young, right?

 

[Monny2AE]

Andrew's first trip was at 6 months so NOPE, 4 months is not too young!


I think a November 2011 Snowbird reunion trip sounds wonderful. I have no idea which week since I don't have Andrew's school calendar yet. We have to watch that he doesn't miss more than 5 days for any reason per quarter (unless it's a documented illness or something serious like that) or they fail him for the quarter. It's ridiculous in my opinion but I'm sure they had some taking advantage and decided to get strict. For the past 2 years they always have off for conferences for 2 days during the second week of Nov. so more than likely it would be that week. It is much cheaper to go after Thanksgiving though when it changes to value season but then I worry about Pop Warner and the crowds. Decisions, decisions.


Sarah- You should be able to find some cute Jolee's cruise stuff. I made my parents a cruise album last year and they had some fun stickers and papers too. For the 20yr old- no ideas but lunch sounds nice!

 

[crzyred]

Aww you guys are making me sad thinking about a 2011 trip! This trip for me will be my last big trip for a couple years. My good friend has asked me to be in her wedding in June of 2012 and they are aiming for a cruise wedding. She is also a huge Disney fan so they are considering that too. Either way, it's going to cost me some money, between the bridesmaid stuff and then travel, but I wouldn't miss it.

 

[Pluto_fan]

Sarah and Shawna, my DH is an overpacker too! What's with that? Sarah, I'll have to look up the packing folders from Sierra Trading Post--thanks for the tip!

Speaking of tips...Shawna, I think it was you who recommended (maybe on Sheree's PTR?) the book "At Home in Mitford". I just fininshed it and really enjoyed it! Thanks! I've just requested the next one from our library.

Is Wendy back from WDW yet? I can't wait to hear about her latest trip! And I'd LOVE to join you all in November 2011! I don't really see it happening since we'll still be here in Belgium, but I can dream, can't I? We went in November 2002 and it was lovely. And Meghan, of course four months is not too young!

 

[crzyred]

Our goldfish died this morning!!! Now I know some of you are thinking....omg. However we are rather thrilled about this, which yes does make us terrible people. Now for some background...we've had this darn thing for well over 16 years (yes that's the truth). Chuckie survived moving into a new house, contaminated water that killed everything else but him and 3 fish tank breaks, the most recent about a week ago which resulted in him living in a rather large plastic container. He at one point had other fish, then the others would randomly start disappearing (not kidding...literally gone). So here we are, mourning our great loss by finally decorating the corner how we've wanted to for years! Also, no way to give him the "proper" burial, as he was well over a foot long and would have clogged the toilet .

Have a great day everyone!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Our goldfish died this morning!!! Now I know some of you are thinking....omg. However we are rather thrilled about this, which yes does make us terrible people. Now for some background...we've had this darn thing for well over 16 years (yes that's the truth). Chuckie survived moving into a new house, contaminated water that killed everything else but him and 3 fish tank breaks, the most recent about a week ago which resulted in him living in a rather large plastic container. He at one point had other fish, then the others would randomly start disappearing (not kidding...literally gone). So here we are, mourning our great loss by finally decorating the corner how we've wanted to for years! Also, no way to give him the "proper" burial, as he was well over a foot long and would have clogged the toilet .

Have a great day everyone!

Must not have been the kind of goldfish you win at the county fair carnival games! They don't live for 16 days, let alone 16 years!
Is congratulations appropriate here? I guess I'll just say best wishes to all! RIP Chuckie.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Sarah and Shawna, my DH is an overpacker too! What's with that? Sarah, I'll have to look up the packing folders from Sierra Trading Post--thanks for the tip!

Speaking of tips...Shawna, I think it was you who recommended (maybe on Sheree's PTR?) the book "At Home in Mitford". I just fininshed it and really enjoyed it! Thanks! I've just requested the next one from our library.

Is Wendy back from WDW yet? I can't wait to hear about her latest trip! And I'd LOVE to join you all in November 2011! I don't really see it happening since we'll still be here in Belgium, but I can dream, can't I? We went in November 2002 and it was lovely. And Meghan, of course four months is not too young!

Yep!! It was me!! I am so glad you enjoyed it! I hope you can read them in order...it doesn't make or break the series..but to me I just hate to read a series out of order!! OCD I guess!! Ha!! All her books are good...even the other ones not in this series....and also, anything by Francine Rivers....Love every one of her books!!! I have read all of them except her newest one! And why can men NOT pack! I am surprised your dh is an overpacker--being a military man!!!

Our goldfish died this morning!!! Now I know some of you are thinking....omg. However we are rather thrilled about this, which yes does make us terrible people. Now for some background...we've had this darn thing for well over 16 years (yes that's the truth). Chuckie survived moving into a new house, contaminated water that killed everything else but him and 3 fish tank breaks, the most recent about a week ago which resulted in him living in a rather large plastic container. He at one point had other fish, then the others would randomly start disappearing (not kidding...literally gone). So here we are, mourning our great loss by finally decorating the corner how we've wanted to for years! Also, no way to give him the "proper" burial, as he was well over a foot long and would have clogged the toilet .

Have a great day everyone!

I think we can say congrats! And ...he was a murderer, so... it was time. LOL!!! 16 years...did you see if that was a world record or anything?

 

[Pluto_fan]

RIP Chuckie! Wow, I didn't know fish could live that long!

Well, today is the boys' last day of school! This was them this morning: It's DS12's last day of elementary school, which makes me a little sad, but not him! The whole school, K (starting at two and a half years in the Belgian section!) through 12, is all in the same complex, so it's not like he'll really be in a different place. He'll still ride the same bus with his brother!

And even better...DH comes home on Saturday!
I guess you could say I'm a little excited! I should have made a ticker for it. He arrives in Brussels at 7:30 in the morning, so we'll have to leave here about 6:30 to pick him up. But here's the silly part. We're coming home, dropping off most of his stuff, and going to London for the weekend. Not my idea! See, DS12, and to a lesser extent DH and DS10 are big Bon Jovi fans. When they found out Bon Jovi was performing in Europe this summer, they made plans to go with another guy and his two boys to the concert in Paris (about 2 hours from here). However...the Paris concert was June 16 and DH couldn't be back until June 19. And the friends are leaving for the States on June 23. Buy hey! Bon Jovi will be playing in London on June 19! So they made the plan to go to that show. It's supposed to be a guys' outing, but I haven't seen DH in 10 weeks so DD and I are crashing the party. We'll just stay at the hotel while they're at the concert. I like Bon Jovi fine, but not enough to go to all this trouble, and not enough to find someone to watch DD while I went. Anyway, we'll all look around London a little bit on Sunday, and come home that evening. The boys are super excited, and I'm sure it will be a fun weekend. I'll just be happy to have DH back!

 

[Dancegrl624]

My DH is the total opposite....he's an under-packer. I always have to remind him how many days we'll be gone and he might want to pack a few extra shirts. I used to be a huge overpacker, but I've toned it down. Now that I plan out each of my outfits for WDW, I don't need to bring 3 shirt options for each day! I also plan out Madison's outfits, so no overpacking there either. It's actually quite great.

Maddie still has 4 more days of school (including today). I'm SOOOO ready for school to be over! Tomorrow they have Field Day and it's supposed to be pretty hot out. I don't really know the point of going to school on Mon and Tues.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

RIP Chuckie! Wow, I didn't know fish could live that long!

Well, today is the boys' last day of school! This was them this morning: It's DS12's last day of elementary school, which makes me a little sad, but not him! The whole school, K (starting at two and a half years in the Belgian section!) through 12, is all in the same complex, so it's not like he'll really be in a different place. He'll still ride the same bus with his brother!

And even better...DH comes home on Saturday!
I guess you could say I'm a little excited! I should have made a ticker for it. He arrives in Brussels at 7:30 in the morning, so we'll have to leave here about 6:30 to pick him up. But here's the silly part. We're coming home, dropping off most of his stuff, and going to London for the weekend. Not my idea! See, DS12, and to a lesser extent DH and DS10 are big Bon Jovi fans. When they found out Bon Jovi was performing in Europe this summer, they made plans to go with another guy and his two boys to the concert in Paris (about 2 hours from here). However...the Paris concert was June 16 and DH couldn't be back until June 19. And the friends are leaving for the States on June 23. Buy hey! Bon Jovi will be playing in London on June 19! So they made the plan to go to that show. It's supposed to be a guys' outing, but I haven't seen DH in 10 weeks so DD and I are crashing the party. We'll just stay at the hotel while they're at the concert. I like Bon Jovi fine, but not enough to go to all this trouble, and not enough to find someone to watch DD while I went. Anyway, we'll all look around London a little bit on Sunday, and come home that evening. The boys are super excited, and I'm sure it will be a fun weekend. I'll just be happy to have DH back!

Congrats on your DH coming home!! And have fun on your little trip. I'd totally crash it too if I hadn't seen my DH in a long time!

I would love to see Bon Jovi!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Yeah for hubby!!!! I too would have to go!!! I would looooove to go to London..no one else around here has any desire to go---my oldest wants to go to Ireland...so it'll be a long trip..we have all of Europe to see!!! I know you are soooo excited to have him home!