Sound the Twilight Bark and Pass the Chocolate Croissants - A London & Paris PTR

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

That all sounds fabulous! I think the Paris at night tour will be awesome! Can't wait to see those pics! Very nice that you have an indoor pool too. I know your girls will love that. Are you planning to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower? Can you even do that? If so, you should get some great pictures from up there.

 

[jenseib]

Wow, things are taking shape. This trip sounds so exciting. I can't wait to read about it.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

sounds like you have an awesome plan!! I am so excited!! I cant wait to hear all about it!! Sarah gets to do the neatest stuff on her bday!! LOL!! Almost all of our bdays are around a holiday,..so that doesn't work out for us! And those cookies look great....is that a Pampered Chef baking sheet I spy?

Yes, Sarah is lucky to have her b-day fall during spring break or right near it. Paige's is usually a week after break, so we are usually done with trips. But we try to celebrate both on vacation.
Of course it's a Pampered Chef baking stone!! Would you expect anything less from me? If anyone needs one, PM me and you can order from my website!!!

Your plans are wonderful! What a great trip you are going to have. I love how its such a mix between touring the sights of France and seeing the parks. It sound like the perfect trip to me!

And one month to go!!!!!

Yeah - we thought we'd try for a little balance in Paris. I must confess, I'm more excited about the city sights than DLP. Sarah wants us all to wear striped shirts and take pictures of us with baguettes and berets acting all "French"! That could be fun!

oh wow! It all sounds wonderful and that pool looks amazing. Though in Paris I think I'd want to be outside sightseeing. Versailles is unreal, as is the Lourve. So exciting!!!!!!!!!!.

I think we'll get an opportunity to take a bus tour and also to wander around some in Paris. We watched Midnight in Paris last night and I can't wait to see the sights and especially all lit up at night!! I will be oohing and aaaahing a lot!

Your travel plans look fabulous!!! Amazing!! You guys are going to have such a good time!!!

Thanks! I am really excited!

That all sounds fabulous! I think the Paris at night tour will be awesome! Can't wait to see those pics! Very nice that you have an indoor pool too. I know your girls will love that. Are you planning to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower? Can you even do that? If so, you should get some great pictures from up there.

Yeah, the night tour will definitely be a highlight for me too. You can go to the top (for a fee of course) and I am planning to do it. I am a bit fearful of heights, but want to get out of my comfort zone so I don't deny myself an amazing view! I would hate to go all the way to Paris and miss something like that! I'm trying to convince my family to do it but who knows? They're a bit chicken too!
The girls will be happy to swim - it's a bonus for them when we travel if they get a pool - even a boring one - especially in winter when we don't normally get to swim!

Wow, things are taking shape. This trip sounds so exciting. I can't wait to read about it.

Thanks Jen! We're really excited. I feel like that's the only word I can use!
There's a chance I may do some FB updates during the trip with a pic or two - got to check with AT&T about using my iPhone over there first and see how costly data is etc. I'll keep you posted!
When we're in London, I will be able to use my friend's computer, so I may post here or on FB then.

 

[Charleston Princess]

Take me with you!!!

Seriously, your plans are awesome! I am very excited for all of you!

 

[jenseib]

My uncle went to Europe a few months ago. He contact Verizon ( i think it was before he had his iphone) and he had to trade his phone in for a Europe friendly one for the time he was gone. But even then, it was going to be like 2.50 a minute and other services were fairly high too. So be sure to check before you use anything.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Take me with you!!!

Seriously, your plans are awesome! I am very excited for all of you!

I wish I could take you!
It's getting close and I'm getting crazy looking at the calendar and all the things on it for the next few weeks!

My uncle went to Europe a few months ago. He contact Verizon ( i think it was before he had his iphone) and he had to trade his phone in for a Europe friendly one for the time he was gone. But even then, it was going to be like 2.50 a minute and other services were fairly high too. So be sure to check before you use anything.

Yeah, I'm going to call AT&T and see what options we have. I'd like to be able to use some things just in case, but if not, that's life.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Well, it seems a good day to talk about some things we hope to do and see in London. I’m home with a sick kid today, so I’ve got time on my hands. Plus it beats working on taxes and cleaning!

We don’t have a schedule really but we hope that our friends will do some things with us on the weekend days and plan to just enjoy being with them when they are not working or in school.

I think our best plan is to make sure what day things are closed (if any) so we don’t try to go somewhere on the “wrong” day. I want to start with one section of the city and do everything in that area at one time so we aren’t bouncing back and forth across town!

Here’s a list of sights:

Tower of London (crown jewels)
Buckingham Palace (changing of the guard for sure – it’s not every day this time of year) I’m not sure what else will be open to touring
Big Ben and Parliament
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Westminster Abbey
Harrod’s
Churchill War Rooms – Museum
Trafalgar Square
London Eye – not sure we’ll go on it!
British Museum
St. Martin in the Fields
Thames cruise
Bus tour
Windsor Castle
Stonehenge
St. Pancras station - Kings Cross station to see Platform 9 ¾ (Harry Potter fans know what I’m talking about!)
Picadilly Circus

Of course we’ll have to take the “tube” and eat at a pub somewhere too!

More things to do before we leave? Of course!
Shoes – Check! DH got his shoes and I got Paige new sneakers, so I THINK we’re all okay for footwear!
Mail pick up while we’re gone – Check! Asked the neighbor girl to do that.
Get Cody in for his vet appointment
Buy a couple extra memory cards
Try on kids’ jackets - just to make sure!
Stop newspaper delivery
Book excursions for Paris (may do that from London)
Call the bank, phone co, credit card co.,
Buy a few necessities – toiletries - makeup remover cloths, Saline solution
Get haircuts – Sarah and I have our appointments on 2/25

I’m sure there’s more!
This all is going to get done in between work, school, scrapbooking weekend, dance competition, selling Girl Scout Cookies, Sarah's oral surgery, choir concert, orthodontist appointment, DISing…

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Have you figured out how to clone yourself? If not, you better put that at the top of your list!

Sorry you have a sick baby. I hope she feels better quickly.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

Wow Sheree you are so busy!! And a sick kid on top of that. I hope she feels better soon.

Your plans look great. I hope you find time to fit it all in there! I know you are going to have the best time ever!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Golly Sheree! A lot to do and a short time to do it!! What is Sarah having Oral Surgery for? I don't think I knew about this...bless her heart!
Sorry you have a sick kiddo!! i was on the couch or in bed for about 90% of this weekend...It was sinus/allergy stuff, but man, I felt like death warmed over yesterday....hopefully you will all be well and she won't share it with the rest of you!
I love your England plans!!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Have you figured out how to clone yourself? If not, you better put that at the top of your list!

Sorry you have a sick baby. I hope she feels better quickly.

It sort of seems worse when I see it all on a list like that!
Paige is doing better for the last couple hours. Good thing I get a good long lunch break to do errands! I'm going to be having DH do a few things on that list for sure!

Wow Sheree you are so busy!! And a sick kid on top of that. I hope she feels better soon.

Your plans look great. I hope you find time to fit it all in there! I know you are going to have the best time ever!

Thanks Shelly! We're going to get this sick thing done now so we don't have to deal with it on vacation!

Golly Sheree! A lot to do and a short time to do it!! What is Sarah having Oral Surgery for? I don't think I knew about this...bless her heart!
Sorry you have a sick kiddo!! i was on the couch or in bed for about 90% of this weekend...It was sinus/allergy stuff, but man, I felt like death warmed over yesterday....hopefully you will all be well and she won't share it with the rest of you!
I love your England plans!!

Yeah, it's a little nuts. Sarah is having 4 permanent teeth pulled to help her orthodontia process. She has her braces on - not on those 4- and this will make room for the front teeth to move into the proper position. She's terrified and thinks she won't survive. I made her an appointment for a haircut AND to get a feather extension the week AFTER the surgery to prove to her that she will survive. She will have an IV (never has before) and be under general anesthesia, so she's freaking out.
Hope you're feeling better too!

Is an England trip still on your radar? Maybe you'll be getting to do some of the same things!

 

[jenseib]

I think you sent germs this way. Claire is sick now to. At least we don't have anything going on

 

[MEK]

Have you figured out how to clone yourself? If not, you better put that at the top of your list!

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I totally have to agree with this. I would be panicking looking at that list. Your "to-do's" for England sound so cool. what a fab trip you are going to have.

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Poor Sarah!! that IS freak-out worthy!!! I would be scared too!
And I ALWAYS have an England trip on my radar! A while back (last month) the tix were running $600-$650...they just went to $1440! YIKES!! And that is for several times of the year,and different days of the week...nothing seemed to make much difference....

 

[eandesmom]

I'd probably be a bit freaked out as well.

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I think you sent germs this way. Claire is sick now to. At least we don't have anything going on

Sorry about that. I hope Claire is better! We recovered (well Paige did) fairly quickly. She had a fever on Monday evening, so I kept her home on Tuesday and it was like nothing was wrong with her. We watched Disney movies!

I totally have to agree with this. I would be panicking looking at that list. Your "to-do's" for England sound so cool. what a fab trip you are going to have.

We're getting there - I keep adding to the dang list though! DH is helping a lot! One thing I left off was to get our taxes done and I can proudly say we submitted and e-filed them last night!! Hopefully we will have our refund before we leave!
I'm getting so excited about all the things we're going to see and do. I was just reading a TR from someone who went on the DIS Adventures by Disney trip to London and Paris last fall - Oh my!!!

Poor Sarah!! that IS freak-out worthy!!! I would be scared too!
And I ALWAYS have an England trip on my radar! A while back (last month) the tix were running $600-$650...they just went to $1440! YIKES!! And that is for several times of the year,and different days of the week...nothing seemed to make much difference....

Yeah, she's always going to be dramatic, that I can count on.
I WISH I could have found tix for $650! That's a bargain. It's rare to see much under $1000.

I'd probably be a bit freaked out as well.

Poor Sarah - she is unfortunately the one who has all the drama and it seems to be multiplied and amplified with her sensitive emotional personality! There are days where she seems like a 3 year old, and days when she seems 14. It's going to be an interesting few years ahead...

THREE WEEKS FROM TODAY WE WILL BE IN LONDON!!!!

The good news is I was able to cross a few things off my to-do list last night. We got the taxes done, my friend sold me a couple memory cards she had (no extra trip to the store!), I stopped the newspaper delivery while we're gone, and I am mostly packed and ready for my scrapbooking weekend!

Of course, I had to add a couple things too. Not trip related, but I have to do some costume work for Paige's dance competition. I have to attach suspenders on one costume and glue a bazillion rhinestone studs on the other. Before 2/18. Guess that will be a job for Sunday evening!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

I just added one more thing to my to-do list. And it's not a pleasant one. Praying for a good outcome for my friend's health.

I have a favor to ask. I know I can count on you for a few prayers. My dear friend that I've worked with over the last 18 years (my friend Jana, who just lost her father) has just been diagnosed with a tumor behind her eye, near the optic nerve, on the lining of the brain. It appears that it is 90% likely to be benign, but has been causing her vision problems. If they can get it all, some of those problems may be reversible. Could you, if you are inclined to pray, add my friend to the list and pray that it is benign and they can get it all out? No word on surgery yet but I imagine it will be soon.
Thanks so much!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Sheree, I will absolutely pray for your friend. I know that must be very scary for her. Please keep us posted.

On a brighter note... yay for 3 weeks!!!

 

[Disney Mommy 3]

Congrats on whittling that list down! 3 Weeks~~~
I can hardly wait!!!!
Jana is on my prayer list!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

Hi all! I'm back from my scrapbooking weekend! It was lots of fun and I got a lot done in the girls' scrapbooks. I need to do 2 or 3 WDW trips yet!

Thank you for your prayers for Jana. She is going to have major surgery on Friday. It is expected to be 12 hours long, then a few days in ICU, 2 weeks in the hospital, and 3-4 weeks recovery at home! I am going to try to do whatever I can (when I'm here) to help out - mostly it will be taking on some of her work, but I plan to make meals for her family etc. I will, of course, be saying lots of prayers! I really appreciate your willingness to do the same! I have faith and confidence that all will be good as a result.

Okay - so YIKES!!! We leave in just over two weeks!!! I don't think I'll be doing much TV watching these days - too much other stuff to do! That's fine though - I've seen enough Whitney Houston tributes for a while. That was so sad!!