So this is what mid-life crisis feels like? Dec 2011 PTR

[kwitcherkicken99]

So shocky, you're kids are back August 11?? Or the following week? I can't do math.

We start the 11th. My baby starts kindy! It's crazy. I'm scared to death since he's a summer baby (he turns 5 next week) but he was offered a spot in the high ability class so we're going to test the waters and see how comfortable he is with the whole process. Full day kindy is going to be a BIG jump from preschool!

PS - I'm working on that character list. MK is giving me hives...

 

[shocky5]

I am doing off and on staff development this week and next week, then I am back on contract the last week of July! I am so unmotivated too...I have to get staff development prepared for the first 5 days the teachers are back mid August...

Funny about the research class...it was supposed to be my first grad class...it was my last...I took the B option for a grade...my only B in grad school...but it was so worth not doing a research paper! Good luck!

research paper... that's how I feel about that!

That's really great motivation! I have to start it too because I saw a lot of my family have tough times being overweight! So I understand I wish you luck and if you find a good way to do please share!

So far so good... it's getting easier - I'm not wanting to dry-heave when I'm running. I found a good program to follow just to get me back up to where I need to be by the end of August to start the 1/2 marathon training. It's the Couch to 5K program... it is 9 weeks long and highly recommended if you are serious... if a week is too hard, you can always repeat the prior one to build your muscles back up to where they need to be... and the lungs... and the mental toughness!

So shocky, you're kids are back August 11?? Or the following week? I can't do math.

We start the 11th. My baby starts kindy! It's crazy. I'm scared to death since he's a summer baby (he turns 5 next week) but he was offered a spot in the high ability class so we're going to test the waters and see how comfortable he is with the whole process. Full day kindy is going to be a BIG jump from preschool!

PS - I'm working on that character list. MK is giving me hives...

You are too good to me working on that character list!

Yes - we start back the 11th! Can't believe it! I like getting back into the routine but summers fly by so quickly. And I promised myself I wouldn't wish it away to get to Disney quicker... and I haven't... but I do find myself brightening up a bit about getting through the fall semester and having Disney waiting for us!! Still haven't told the kids... happy they are clueless about it!!

I predict your little cutie pie will do great in Kindergarten and LOVE it! Your TR pics just depict a fun, adventurous and happy little boy! The only thing about summer babies that you need to look at when considering if they are 'school ready' is their social level and he seems social to me! But I gotta tell ya... hold on tight because before you know it he will be hitting middle school... or worse yet... high school/college. I'm tearing up... typing this out because my babies aren't 'babies' anymore and it happened way too fast! But they are still so much fun and it's a different adventure at this age, too! I know you know all of this... you are privvy to education, as well. So I'm sure you are making a great decision for him!

 

[shocky5]

Very quickly... I have not forgotten all of you and your PTR's/TR's. This week has been crazy!! In short, kids are/were spread out all over Oklahoma, slowly gathering them back up, working on house, school began for me, etc.... so I've been absent on here! I am headed to pick up DD today, watch her play basketball tonight and tomorrow and come back home tomorrow. SO I hope to catch up with everyone on Saturday!

Hope everyone is still moving through summer in a 'cool' manner! I know for sure that's not the case for Tammie and I... triple digits for weeks now... and no let up this next week either. How about everyone else???

 

[Monknmom]

That's sounds good, maybe I will try it- I think that I've seen it browsing through Itunes right? And the weather here on Long Island, NY has been really hot except that today had a nice breeze so that was good- as far the the temp I am not sure I think that it's been ranging from 95-100? That would be my guess, plus it's been humid! You'll catch up! I wasn't on for a while either and finally caught up!

 

[shocky5]

WOW!!! Hello everyone! Hope this finds you doing well.

Since my prior post... I have regathered children, came back home, packed up myself, DD, and DS (10) and finished a week of church camp this past week. It ran from Sunday thru Friday. We got home Friday about 1pm, and after sorting laundry, and semi-unpacking, I fell asleep at 4p on Friday, did not wake up until 7a Sat morning... took another nap on Saturday for about 2 hours which left me with a week's worth of homework to get done today. Just finished that up and wanted to check in with my dis friends before going to bed. Funny how even after all that sleep, I'm still trying to recuperate!!!

Bad news is... I didn't get my running in like I thought I would during church camp. My cabin of 10 girls, ranging from 13 - 15 kept me rather busy! Good news is... I sweated more than enough to hopefully stay acclimated to the 'running in the heat' that I will return to this week. Sounded good until I had it typed out... oh well... I will return to the week I had finished pre-church camp and repeat it and go from there. No biggie.

This week proves to be less eventful. DH has a clinic he will be at some of the week but the kids are not too busy. DD will be going to grandparents for a couple of days - she missed out while at basketball camp. And then next week... begins the beginnings of football practice for the boys. Our final sports season (minus DD's basketball season) before our trip!

Now to begin catching up with you all....

 

[veggiemama]

Summer months just fly by, don't they?

Sound like you are having a busy and fun summer. Glad things will be a bit quieter for you this week.

I'm trying to get one more week of holiday time before I really go back to work. I know I need to start planning for sept. I just don't want to give up my summer yet!

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Hey chickie!

Summer gets nutty doesn't it??

Stop by my TR... the last two installments are really meant for you!

 

[annmarieda]

Glad you are home! Sounds like you still have some hectic times ahead.... you are one busy gal!!!

 

[KatMark]

Subscribing...and will be back later to catch up.

 

[momabaarjo]

Whew..what a week you had...time for a little R&R! Hope you pamper yourself a little (or a lot )!

 

[KatMark]

Hi, Amy. Well, as promised, I've joined from Ann's PTR.

First, I have to admit to skimming through a lot of it so I could catch up. You have a beautiful family.

We love the Poly, and I bet you it is wonderful at Christmas.

I'm not sure I got your final ADR's or not, but these are ones we have eaten at: Sci Fi (fun and good food), Cape May Cafe (good food), Crystal Palace (our must do ever trip) and Whispering Canyon Cafe (unfortunately, we hated this one and won't be going back).

Okay, I will be here for the long haul and follow along.


***Oh, and you are still a young thing. WHEN you reach my age, we'll talk.

 

[shocky5]

Hi, Amy. Well, as promised, I've joined from Ann's PTR.

First, I have to admit to skimming through a lot of it so I could catch up. You have a beautiful family.

We love the Poly, and I bet you it is wonderful at Christmas.

I'm not sure I got your final ADR's or not, but these are ones we have eaten at: Sci Fi (fun and good food), Cape May Cafe (good food), Crystal Palace (our must do ever trip) and Whispering Canyon Cafe (unfortunately, we hated this one and won't be going back).

Okay, I will be here for the long haul and follow along.


***Oh, and you are still a young thing. WHEN you reach my age, we'll talk.

Yeah! I'm glad you made it over. And thank you for the compliments on my family. We are a crazy bunch!

We love the Poly. I know we need to venture out... someday... actually, I'm venturing out in Feb with POR so I'm excited about that.

So you hate Whispering Canyon? Do tell... I have that set up for a dinner -just the kids and I... thought it would be fun for them. Is it super loud, yucky food... what's your review?

Also, thank you for considering me young. I am down to 9 days before this decade in my life comes to a close... doing okay but it's bugging me a little bit. My friends are putting a party together for me... I was mortified to find that my 'age' is on the invites. Not sure why I didn't think it wouldn't be....

My already 40+ friends keep telling me to 'embrace' and get that second helping of dessert...it's now a rite of passage!

 

[KatMark]

Yeah! I'm glad you made it over. And thank you for the compliments on my family. We are a crazy bunch!

We love the Poly. I know we need to venture out... someday... actually, I'm venturing out in Feb with POR so I'm excited about that.

So you hate Whispering Canyon? Do tell... I have that set up for a dinner -just the kids and I... thought it would be fun for them. Is it super loud, yucky food... what's your review?

Also, thank you for considering me young. I am down to 9 days before this decade in my life comes to a close... doing okay but it's bugging me a little bit. My friends are putting a party together for me... I was mortified to find that my 'age' is on the invites. Not sure why I didn't think it wouldn't be....

My already 40+ friends keep telling me to 'embrace' and get that second helping of dessert...it's not a rite of passage!

To be honest, I hated 40 too! But not as much as I hated 50!

Whispering Canyon. Okay...you asked for it. We arrived 15 minutes before our ADR time of 5:30. We were not seated until 6:25. Not a good start. We were then put in the back room by Artist Point where there are like 6 tables. I asked if we could be in the main room as there were LOTS of tables and they told us we had to go where we were assigned. Okay, not liking this so far. It took our waitress 15 minutes to take our drink orders and then come back for our meal orders. We both had the skillet. I didn't care for the salad dressing or the potatos or the corn; I ate a little of the pulled pork and it was okay (Flame Tree's was actually better). Mark ate some of the meat because he was hungry and ended up being sick the rest of the night and part of the next day. He thinks it was because the chicken was not thoroughly cooked or the fat on the ribs. We never ordered dessert because it had now been 2 hours we had been there! The best part of the meal was the unlimited chocolate shakes.

Now, a lot of people love it, we just didn't and won't go back.

As for the antics for the kids. The night we were there, nothing was going on at all (I think maybe one pony race); we heard none of the ketchup stuff going on, no birthday celebrations -- NOTHING! I've been told it depends on the server that you have.

 

[shocky5]

To be honest, I hated 40 too! But not as much as I hated 50!

Whispering Canyon. Okay...you asked for it. We arrived 15 minutes before our ADR time of 5:30. We were not seated until 6:25. Not a good start. We were then put in the back room by Artist Point where there are like 6 tables. I asked if we could be in the main room as there were LOTS of tables and they told us we had to go where we were assigned. Okay, not liking this so far. It took our waitress 15 minutes to take our drink orders and then come back for our meal orders. We both had the skillet. I didn't care for the salad dressing or the potatos or the corn; I ate a little of the pulled pork and it was okay (Flame Tree's was actually better). Mark ate some of the meat because he was hungry and ended up being sick the rest of the night and part of the next day. He thinks it was because the chicken was not thoroughly cooked or the fat on the ribs. We never ordered dessert because it had now been 2 hours we had been there! The best part of the meal was the unlimited chocolate shakes.

Now, a lot of people love it, we just didn't and won't go back.

As for the antics for the kids. The night we were there, nothing was going on at all (I think maybe one pony race); we heard none of the ketchup stuff going on, no birthday celebrations -- NOTHING! I've been told it depends on the server that you have.

Yikes! That is frustrating for certain!!

I have to correct my typo... the second helping of dessert, according to my friend, is a rite of passage and I put NOT. OOOPS.

Well, hmmm... I'm going to go through my plans tonight and I may be seeking suggestions for first full day meal for me and my kiddos. My other thought process with WCC was wanting to see the decor of the WL at XMAS time. However, we can do that without eating there and we don't need the greasy food tummy upsets right off the bat. That's what I think of when I think of pulled pork.

 

[momabaarjo]

Just when I thought my ADRs were set...Okay now you got me rethinking my WCC ADR! I mostly booked it for the atmosphere with the servers and getting to see the WL...

 

[KatMark]

Just when I thought my ADRs were set...Okay now you got me rethinking my WCC ADR! I mostly booked it for the atmosphere with the servers and getting to see the WL...

You and Amy should NOT change just because of what I said about our experience. As I said, there are others who love it and everyone does have different tastes and experiences. If I had listened to every bad review, I would never have tried Sci Fi or Mama Melrose -- both of which we enjoy and others do not like.

 

[swwake]

Why didn't I know about this PTR? I am subscribing and I'll go back and read maybe tomorrow.

 

[swwake]

we are now officially booked for the Polynesian, arriving Dec. 16th and departing on Dec. 23rd.

Holy poo poo! You are going the same time we are AND at our resort! Why didn't I know this? Why didn't I know? I feel bad now for not paying better attention. We might just have to enjoy a lapu lapu together that week!

We will be at HRH on your first night, but moving into the Poly your second day. And we leave a day earlier than you boo!

 

[shocky5]

Why didn't I know about this PTR? I am subscribing and I'll go back and read maybe tomorrow.

So glad to have you here! No worries! There are many of us all over each other's PTR's!! It's good times!

Holy poo poo! You are going the same time we are AND at our resort! Why didn't I know this? Why didn't I know? I feel bad now for not paying better attention. We might just have to enjoy a lapu lapu together that week!

We will be at HRH on your first night, but moving into the Poly your second day. And we leave a day earlier than you boo!

AWESOME! Would love to meet up for a lapu lapu! I'm going to repost our plans here in a second... specifically ADR's.

We were going to leave on the 23rd initially, but DH's school schedule got changed so he's joining the children and I a few days after our arrival... so we added an extra day for him to enjoy the Disney magic a little longer. As you can see... I was totally torn up about having to stay an extra day.

 

[shocky5]

You and Amy should NOT change just because of what I said about our experience. As I said, there are others who love it and everyone does have different tastes and experiences. If I had listened to every bad review, I would never have tried Sci Fi or Mama Melrose -- both of which we enjoy and others do not like.

I'm going to sit on it for a little bit... I've gone back and forth on this ADR quite a bit, even pre-review. We also like Sci Fi, Kathy! We have not tried Mama Melrose, though.