So Much To Celebrate - LIFE and Sophie Kate!

[oopsiDAISY]

Thanks for the shopping trip this morning! Add me to the ever growing list of folks that have never visited Basin... Our DTD shopping usually revolves around the kids... Once Upon a Story, World of Disney, Lego Store. I must say that I would probably break the bank at Mickey's Pantry....love to cook + love Disney= financial ruin! I have never been in the Christmas store either since we always went in March. I MUST visit there this October and start a new tradition... a new Disney ornament every year!

Yes, I have had conversations with that RFC hippo too....you wouldn't believe the stuff he says about you when you aren't around,MeMom!

 

[DisneyBelle99]

We haven't been to Downtown Disney since we had a kiddie with us......so guess what we just added to our "things to see list" for September??????

 

[MeMom]

I love to visit Basin and smell everything, but it is another store usually leave without buying anything.

The Christmas store I want one of everything, but try to leave with only one item with the year on it.

I need to visit Mickey's Pantry they have several really cute items that my kitchen needs. I did buy the set of salt & pepper shakers that are in the picture back in Jan.

I probably buy something one out of every five visits, and when I do buy, it is as souvenirs for others. I think I have actually gotten myself one thing from there ever. I think the soaps are cute for the main bathroom, but they don't have a lot that goes with an Animal Kingdom Lodge theme.

My souvenir budget tells me I must look and not touch when it comes to going through all the DTD stores.

Every time we went by Belles the line was so long.
Peoplemover is so relaxing. Love it.
The Minnies bake shop cookies I found out last trip are SO good.
In Goofys I always get the White Chocolate Reeses.
I love walking into Basin and just smelling it all.
That Christmas store can make me very poor. I want everything in it.
All caught up again.

Basin does smell good. It smells like 'clean'.

I like white chocolate pretzels, but I rarely buy one. I'm really more apt to buy a drink in Goofy's than something edible.

There are so many cute ornaments and stockings in the Christmas store. October is a good time to go in there to get psyched up for the holiday season. It's a little harder to get into it, at least for me, in the summer.

Toffee from Goofy's please!

It's a good thing I didn't go into Basin either in October or last August, I could have spent a bundle on some of those soaps, so cute!!!!

Your trip is so soon, how very exciting and for a "test drive" of the AoA suite for a night, I think that's brilliant and am thrilled Jill's boss is letting her out early.

If I had thought about it today, I could have played This Time Next Week....

I can't believe I've never been inside Basin! Those soaps are so cute. I'll take one of each, please!

I bought the throw in November. It's so soft.


I think I'll go to bus stop 2 or 5.

You can smell Basin as you get close to it.

So you are in line for a monorail resort or an Epcot resort?
It just might be, that we are in one of those lines, as well.

Well, here I sit reading another Memom/Jill TR, and yet again, someone is nearby cutting onions. Dang onions! Curse you, onions!!!! Seriously, very well put. So happy everything turned out the way it did eventually.

IT'S DAISY!!!!

Great start...will be back to read more later. Marking my spot on page 5!

Good to have you here, Dawn. We miss all of our old pals.

You know, I think my vet may have had some onions in his office today when he was talking to me about my sick little kitty.

I really love wandering DTD with you! I always get an ornament with the year on it. Sometimes I need to buy a new baby his or her first Disney ornament too.
The pantry and Basin are other favorites of mine. I love those soaps, and usually get some to bring to people back home, like the girl who gets our mail and teachers. I bring some to myself too, but sometimes they're so cute, I don't want to use them!
We like the bath bombs, but I don't get to use them as much as I'd like. I really could use a bigger tub! HA! Last trip Sarah made me a candle there and secretly bought it and gave it to me as a gift! Very sweet!

I sure wish I was going soon again - it's been miserably grey here lately. I was thinking of Cynthia - it feels like Seattle weather! I hope you get nice sunny days and not too hot or stormy weather!! Good luck with your packing and shopping!

That was sweet that you got a special Basin gift from Sarah.

I'm with you on the soaps - they are used for display when I have them here, and after a long while, someone eventually uses them. After a few uses, the little things start popping out of the middle and they fall apart. More often than not, they go to teachers/friends as souvenirs.

I love the Basin!

So you will be there next weekend and I will be there this weekend. And you have inspired me to take lots of shopping pictures!

Have a fabulous trip, MEK!!!

Finally caught up!! I've taken on a promotion at work at a "troubled" store and its definitely testing me. I have had no time for anything this week! Just checking in before heading out for a weekend getaway to the states (Disney Store outlet here I come!). I just did lots of virtual shopping with you which is always lots of fun! . I can't wait to see all of the new merchandise pictures from your next trip!

I have to go get a couple of new SD cards for the trip. I think we're going to DTD next Friday night or Saturday morning. I'll try to take pictures of new and different things.

I'm sure you are doing an awesome job fixing the troubled store. Sounds like an assignment they give a teacher - to help out a troubled classroom.

Love the DTD shopping this morning.

I love it all but especially Mickey's Pantry & Basin. I still have bath salts from when we were there last year so I did not buy anything last month. I probably will in Oct. though.

Jeff & I did eat at Fresh a Peel last month. I wanted to eat at WPE but it was crowded (out the door) so we ended up there. I got the chicken caesars salad.
It was huge & very good! Jeff got a wrap but not sure which one.

Have fun packing!!

It is good to hear that your salad was good. I might have to give it a try. our go to DTD eatery is Earl, and after that, I like Wolfgang Puck Express, but I need to branch out.

I love walking around Basin but have yet to buy anything.
I could spend all my money in the Christmas store!

Imagine how many pretty Christmas trees you could have in your home if you had unlimited funds in Days of Christmas.

Thanks for the shopping trip this morning! Add me to the ever growing list of folks that have never visited Basin... Our DTD shopping usually revolves around the kids... Once Upon a Story, World of Disney, Lego Store. I must say that I would probably break the bank at Mickey's Pantry....love to cook + love Disney= financial ruin! I have never been in the Christmas store either since we always went in March. I MUST visit there this October and start a new tradition... a new Disney ornament every year!

Yes, I have had conversations with that RFC hippo too....you wouldn't believe the stuff he says about you when you aren't around,MeMom!

That hippo! Don't believe a thing he grunts!!!

Your new tradition of a yearly Disney Christmas ornament sounds like a good thing.

We haven't been to Downtown Disney since we had a kiddie with us......so guess what we just added to our "things to see list" for September??????

Oooh, ooooh, ooooh! I know this one!

 

[micandminforever]

I will be thinking and praying about your sick one kitty.

 

[disneyfan61]

Oh no!! Is your kitty going to be ok?

 

[BrooklynnsMommy]

Oh no!! Is your kitty going to be ok?

Sadly it does not look good. He is 12 years old and experiencing liver failure. He is at the vet to run some more tests but I don't think the outcome is going to be a happy one.

 

[declansdad]

Sadly it does not look good. He is 12 years old and experiencing liver failure. He is at the vet to run some more tests but I don't think the outcome is going to be a happy one.

I saw that on Facebook. It is always tough when a pet is like this, they are certainly part of the family but you don't want to see them suffer either.

 

[MeMom]

I will be thinking and praying about your sick one kitty.

Oh no!! Is your kitty going to be ok?

I saw that on Facebook. It is always tough when a pet is like this, they are certainly part of the family but you don't want to see them suffer either.

Like Jill said, it doesn't look good for him. They will run tests to determine the extent of the disease, I guess, and then he said we would talk about many things, as well as 'quality of life' for him. It was sad to leave him, but pretty much all he was doing at home was sleeping, so I will hope that he will do the same there. I hate to think of him wondering where I am while he is in a strange place, if cats are able to think thoughts like that. Normally I would miss him following me around the house from chore to chore, but in the last couple of weeks, he has done much following.

Him not being here may help me think more clearly, if decisions are to be made. It's hard to say I could let him go with him here sprawled out on my bed purring while I rubbed on him. In the past week, he has gotten extremely thin, as his muscle tone has disappeared, and I can feel bones everywhere. He doesn't seem like he is hurting, and he's not crying, but he's just very tired and sad-looking.

I will be the first to admit, he was not a wanted kitty when he first arrived at my house. My kids gave him to me, and I couldn't say no, obviously, but I was not in the market for an animal of any kind....ever. It took me a couple of months to let myself begin to love him. He favored me above everyone, though, and I couldn't help but grow fonder and fonder of him. When he had that virus a few years ago, that was as bad as I have ever seen him. I did not think he was going to make it then at all. He had no life in him, wouldn't eat or drink, wouldn't purr - he was in bad shape. One night at the vet, though, and he was on the road to recovery quickly. I realized then that there would be a day that the outcome would be different, and I knew that I had gone from not wanting him at all to really, truly wanting him.

As I have had time to think today, I believe my stance will be that I can do pills for him for a while, if the doctor thinks that will allow him to be somewhat happy and enjoy his normal life for a while, but if he says that it will take more than that, or that he may begin to have seizures or other organs that fail as an off-shoot of this, then I will spill my tears over him and say goodbye. I can't handle more emotionally or financially. I will hate it with everything in me, but I do not want to see him so pitiful looking, and I don't want him to be in pain at all.

Thanks for your concerns. I am hoping to know more maybe even by Monday, and I will keep you posted.

 

[MeMom]

Escaping to Disney World through pictures will be therapeutic for me tonight.

When we left off, we were standing here.



The stop that we went to was #2.

That bus took us here.









Looks so inviting!





Playing in the sand...



and watching fireworks...













is a good way to spend the last night of a trip.

Going back by the pool, there was some lifeguard training being done.



Goodbye, Poly, until next time.







Do you think this castmember can tell that this is my last night?
Do you think she knows I am saying goodbye to the stores and stockings and light fixtures in my mind as I am leaving?
Do I have MY LAST NIGHT stamped on my forehead?



Jill might tell you that it is usually pretty obvious that I don't like leaving Disney World.

Goodbye, Grand!



What resort do I say goodbye to next?

 

[DetTigsGal]

The Grand...checking in 2 weeks from Tuesday

Love Basin, I always get the red "joy" one for the holidays. Wonder what it will be this trip?

Since this a longer stay, might make it to dtd this time, it's been ages.

We will just miss each other. We were at wdw this past NYE, you this year... Last year 4th for you, this year - and probably only time- for us! Someday!!

 

[momof2TNboys]

Good Saturday everyone! I am back at home from our vacation. We got back on Tuesday. I hate to say that it was not a great vacation. I continued to be sick most of the time. I even had to go to the ER at one point because I thought I had a gallbladder infection. I tried to come home mid-vacation but the flights were very expensive to change. I did enjoy meeting Cynthia though but am bummed that my trip was not great. I hope to redeem that with our trip to the Disney soon. I am unsure if we are keeping our Hilton Head reservation or going to change to St. Petersburg, Fl since we have never been there. We will see. My thoughts are with you, Memom. I know it is hard to see your kitty suffering so.

 

[eandesmom]

Good Saturday everyone! I am back at home from our vacation. We got back on Tuesday. I hate to say that it was not a great vacation. I continued to be sick most of the time. I even had to go to the ER at one point because I thought I had a gallbladder infection. I tried to come home mid-vacation but the flights were very expensive to change. I did enjoy meeting Cynthia though but am bummed that my trip was not great. I hope to redeem that with our trip to the Disney soon. I am unsure if we are keeping our Hilton Head reservation or going to change to St. Petersburg, Fl since we have never been there. We will see. My thoughts are with you, Memom. I know it is hard to see your kitty suffering so.

I am so so sad to read this Cara! I hope you are feeling better, you need a do-over. It was so nice meeting you and your lovely family.

 

[Poolrat]

Sadly it does not look good. He is 12 years old and experiencing liver failure. He is at the vet to run some more tests but I don't think the outcome is going to be a happy one.

Like Jill said, it doesn't look good for him. They will run tests to determine the extent of the disease, I guess, and then he said we would talk about many things, as well as 'quality of life' for him. It was sad to leave him, but pretty much all he was doing at home was sleeping, so I will hope that he will do the same there. I hate to think of him wondering where I am while he is in a strange place, if cats are able to think thoughts like that. Normally I would miss him following me around the house from chore to chore, but in the last couple of weeks, he has done much following.

Him not being here may help me think more clearly, if decisions are to be made. It's hard to say I could let him go with him here sprawled out on my bed purring while I rubbed on him. In the past week, he has gotten extremely thin, as his muscle tone has disappeared, and I can feel bones everywhere. He doesn't seem like he is hurting, and he's not crying, but he's just very tired and sad-looking.

I will be the first to admit, he was not a wanted kitty when he first arrived at my house. My kids gave him to me, and I couldn't say no, obviously, but I was not in the market for an animal of any kind....ever. It took me a couple of months to let myself begin to love him. He favored me above everyone, though, and I couldn't help but grow fonder and fonder of him. When he had that virus a few years ago, that was as bad as I have ever seen him. I did not think he was going to make it then at all. He had no life in him, wouldn't eat or drink, wouldn't purr - he was in bad shape. One night at the vet, though, and he was on the road to recovery quickly. I realized then that there would be a day that the outcome would be different, and I knew that I had gone from not wanting him at all to really, truly wanting him.

As I have had time to think today, I believe my stance will be that I can do pills for him for a while, if the doctor thinks that will allow him to be somewhat happy and enjoy his normal life for a while, but if he says that it will take more than that, or that he may begin to have seizures or other organs that fail as an off-shoot of this, then I will spill my tears over him and say goodbye. I can't handle more emotionally or financially. I will hate it with everything in me, but I do not want to see him so pitiful looking, and I don't want him to be in pain at all.

Thanks for your concerns. I am hoping to know more maybe even by Monday, and I will keep you posted.

I know more than probably anyone how you feel. I am so sorry your kitty is sick and know the next few days will be tough. I am here for like I said in my text- if you want or need to call, please do.

 

[punkin413]

Just stopping by to mark my place again (page 14). I love that Sophie's first ride was IaSW. I personally don't like it but I know how much the little one's love it, and for me watching Seth on it is the best part. I also remember my sister on it at age 1 - I was 7 and that was my first Disney trip, and one of my first Disney memories.

We didn't make it into Big Top Souvenirs and now I wish we had - I love that divided Casey Jr. plate for my little train-lovin' guy. We just didn't have the time (or energy to some degree) to go in there this trip. Actually I should have ran in there while Seth was playing in the water area, which he LOVED. My mom would have been happy to watch him. But I was having so much fun watching him have fun, I didn't want to leave!

So sad to hear about your kitty. I will say a prayer for you and hope for some good news. And if you don't get good news, doing what you think is best is hard but it's the way to go. When Sherman was in such bad shape last year Ray and I had that conversation, and we were prepared to let him go if he didn't improve in a certain amount of time. He died down in the night so we didn't have to make that call. But I totally understand the situation you're in. Hugs and prayers to you!

 

[MeMom]

The Grand...checking in 2 weeks from Tuesday

Love Basin, I always get the red "joy" one for the holidays. Wonder what it will be this trip?

Since this a longer stay, might make it to dtd this time, it's been ages.

We will just miss each other. We were at wdw this past NYE, you this year... Last year 4th for you, this year - and probably only time- for us! Someday!!

I used to say Grand Floridian was too 'froo-froo' for me and I would not want to stay there, but over the years of visiting, I have become more comfortable with it. I think there will be a one-nighter there eventually. Of course, now that I am amenable to staying there, I'll probably never have the funds to do so.

We may be back to 4th of July week next year, but not Christmas. So much of the summer planning has to be done around camp and school workshops/dates. As crowded as it may be, we don't have camps or workshops during the week of the 4th, so it is safe to plan for that time. Next year, I am hoping we'll be taking a nice long October trip, which means we'll be home for Christmas.

Good Saturday everyone! I am back at home from our vacation. We got back on Tuesday. I hate to say that it was not a great vacation. I continued to be sick most of the time. I even had to go to the ER at one point because I thought I had a gallbladder infection. I tried to come home mid-vacation but the flights were very expensive to change. I did enjoy meeting Cynthia though but am bummed that my trip was not great. I hope to redeem that with our trip to the Disney soon. I am unsure if we are keeping our Hilton Head reservation or going to change to St. Petersburg, Fl since we have never been there. We will see. My thoughts are with you, Memom. I know it is hard to see your kitty suffering so.

So sorry your sickness and your trip came at the same time. That really is a bum deal. I sure hope you are feeling better now, and you certainly deserve a make-up trip.

What do you plan to do and see in St. Pete? I used to live there during my teenage years. We didn't really do anything exciting - church, school, and home for the most part, but with the church we would go to Weeki Wachee Springs and inner tube down the clear river, and we'd go to Fort Desoto and have Saturday breakfasts on beach. Since your guys are into baseball, there is stuff to do there with that. Lots of things for families - Great Explorations Children's Museum and The Pier, and of course Florida Aquarium and Busch Gardens in Tampa. Are your guys into fishing either from a pier or out on a boat? I have not been to St. Pete since my kids were little. Drew was probably five, maybe. I want to go back with the little girls someday.

I am so so sad to read this Cara! I hope you are feeling better, you need a do-over. It was so nice meeting you and your lovely family.

I am glad you guys got to cross paths.

I know more than probably anyone how you feel. I am so sorry your kitty is sick and know the next few days will be tough. I am here for like I said in my text- if you want or need to call, please do.

It was very strange not having him here last night. I am trying not to think about it too much, because I know he is spending a lot of time in a cage right now, and that is hard for me to handle. I try to console myself with the fact that he is probably sleeping through most of it.

Just stopping by to mark my place again (page 14). I love that Sophie's first ride was IaSW. I personally don't like it but I know how much the little one's love it, and for me watching Seth on it is the best part. I also remember my sister on it at age 1 - I was 7 and that was my first Disney trip, and one of my first Disney memories.

We didn't make it into Big Top Souvenirs and now I wish we had - I love that divided Casey Jr. plate for my little train-lovin' guy. We just didn't have the time (or energy to some degree) to go in there this trip. Actually I should have ran in there while Seth was playing in the water area, which he LOVED. My mom would have been happy to watch him. But I was having so much fun watching him have fun, I didn't want to leave!

So sad to hear about your kitty. I will say a prayer for you and hope for some good news. And if you don't get good news, doing what you think is best is hard but it's the way to go. When Sherman was in such bad shape last year Ray and I had that conversation, and we were prepared to let him go if he didn't improve in a certain amount of time. He died down in the night so we didn't have to make that call. But I totally understand the situation you're in. Hugs and prayers to you!

You would have enjoyed Big Top shopping. It's a cute store with lots and lots of kiddie stuff.

I know so many of you have gone through sad experiences with your pets. This is my first, as we didn't have pets when I grew up. We traveled with the Air Force, so pets would have been too much of a hassle. Since I didn't grow up with them, and since I really couldn't afford them anyway, my kids didn't have pets except for one lone parakeet named Jack. He was found dead in his cage after a weekend when I was babysitting a lot of kids and it was Trent's weekend to have the class hamster. I don't know if one of them killed him or if the hamster gave him some disease or whether all the kids and their chaos just gave him a heart attack! Poor guy. But, with that, I didn't have to see any suffering or make any decisions, and he had not been around for twelve years, and he wasn't my little buddy. This is so very different. I appreciate all the good thoughts for all of us. I hope by tomorrow the vet will have some hint of a direction to go with this. If he can't really get any better, it is time to let him go. If he says he can live a good life for another year with just a pill a day or something easy, then I will be happy for that. The bad thing is, the dread will never be gone from here on out, knowing what will eventually happen, so it might be good if he just is 'beyond repair' now, although I hope that doesn't sound heartless. I just want him to be happy and active until he goes and not have months or years of just laying around and all of us dreading what is yet to come.

Sorry for the rambling. My thoughts are still jumbled. I think him being away right now for us to get used to him being gone slowly is a good thing.

 

[CanadianWDWfan]

Hugs to you, I'm so sorry your kitty is sick.

I have had cats all my life and it is never easy parting with one... I get so attached to them and they are wonderful companions.

My sister is faced with your same dilemma this weekend with her cat Jazzy.
She spent $800 on her last week and was told Friday it will be another $1200 and maybe she won't get better.
So heartbreaking and a hard spot to be in emotionally.

I send you comforting thoughts and some prayers too for kitty.

I know you may be finding it hard to get excited about your trip but it is almost here!!!

This is going to be a different trip for you all and I can't wait to see the pics and hear all the stories and to find out how the girls liked SeaWorld.

Happy packing!

Loved your newest pics...I wish I could be in DTD this week.

Take Care, I will be thinking of you!

Punkin I'm sorry to hear about Sherman. I loved the story about when you and Ray got him and I used to enjoy seeing him in your TR's. I remember one video of him and Eli running in the snow... so cute.

 

[tinkgurl]

Aw, MeMom..sorry to hear about your kitty. It's a hard thing to go through!

Loved the Poly pictures. It's always so relaxing there.

Boo for saying goodbye. I hate the last night of every trip!

 

[MeMom]

Hugs to you, I'm so sorry your kitty is sick.

I have had cats all my life and it is never easy parting with one... I get so attached to them and they are wonderful companions.

My sister is faced with your same dilemma this weekend with her cat Jazzy.
She spent $800 on her last week and was told Friday it will be another $1200 and maybe she won't get better.
So heartbreaking and a hard spot to be in emotionally.

I send you comforting thoughts and some prayers too for kitty.

I know you may be finding it hard to get excited about your trip but it is almost here!!!

This is going to be a different trip for you all and I can't wait to see the pics and hear all the stories and to find out how the girls liked SeaWorld.

Happy packing!

Loved your newest pics...I wish I could be in DTD this week.

Take Care, I will be thinking of you!

Punkin I'm sorry to hear about Sherman. I loved the story about when you and Ray got him and I used to enjoy seeing him in your TR's. I remember one video of him and Eli running in the snow... so cute.

There will be many, many pictures of new things this time - staying in a Lion King suite, Vero, Sea World, Kidani, and we are hoping to drive over to Celebration for the first time, since we'll have a car. The only thing I will want to go into a park for, and that's only if there is a time when it's not interfering with anything the girls want to do, is to get a picture of the progress on the Mine Train. I'd like to get a picture with the walls down as much as they are now. I figure maybe I can do that late one night after they are in bed.

For my cat, I just hope he is doing what he was doing at home - sleeping. If he's sleeping, then he's not wondering what in the world is going on and he's not being scared.

Aw, MeMom..sorry to hear about your kitty. It's a hard thing to go through!

Loved the Poly pictures. It's always so relaxing there.

Boo for saying goodbye. I hate the last night of every trip!

After this little guy is gone, if it be now or years from now, I do not want another pet. It's great to love them, but hard to lose them.

I wouldn't turn down a chance to spend some time at Poly.

Last nights are bittersweet. I feel so blessed to have been there, but I am sad to be leaving and going back to the real world. Plus, when trips are over, the pleasure of getting to spend time with Jill and the girls every day is also over.

 

[Stasieki]

I'm so sorry about your kitty MeMom

I love movies on the poly beach. We did it twice last trip since we stayed there. Nice way to end a great disney day.

 

[punkin413]

Punkin I'm sorry to hear about Sherman. I loved the story about when you and Ray got him and I used to enjoy seeing him in your TR's. I remember one video of him and Eli running in the snow... so cute.

Awww, thanks! He died on July 1st of last year. Here's the post I had in my TR at that time, just so I don't have to type it all again.

http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=45346140&postcount=606

We miss him dearly. His ashes are in a really pretty wooden box with his picture on the front on our mantel, and we think about him often. Ray wants to get another dog now but I want to wait another year. I don't want to be potty training Seth and house breaking a dog at the same time!