Surprise... It's Someday!! A Dec 2010 PTR!!

[mom-n-michaela]

Subbing in! Followed you from your post on my PTR

Your family is absolutely beautiful, and you are all in my prayers. I am glad to hear that your little Gavin is doing better recently - and Brenda - what a princess! I love that you take special time just for mom & daughter bonding. As a mom to one with special needs, I know how the needs of one can seem to overshadow the others most of the time and it is a hard line to balance. You are doing a great job!!

I can't wait to hear all of your plans, it seems like we will be there around the same time!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Hey everyone. I meant to get a post on today but the day has been super yucky. I will try for later. If not I will owe you one an extra one tomorrow.

 

[exwdwcm]

love the updates. The stipulations are not too bad! The drive might be an 'adventure', but should be fun if you are well prepared with lots of entertainment for the kiddos.

isn't it nice when a plan comes together? I can't wait to hear how the kids take it too when they get their surprise!

we are the same way with Christmas in my family- ALWAYS go overboard. now that we have our own child, we do a lot better and really minimize. heck, there isn't room for more stuff. my rule is, a new toy comes in, an old one goes out (donate etc.). I am kind of a neat freak and can't stand too much clutter. plus, like you said, the kids hardly play with 80% of it.

can't wait for the next installment

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Subbing in! Followed you from your post on my PTR

Your family is absolutely beautiful, and you are all in my prayers. I am glad to hear that your little Gavin is doing better recently - and Brenda - what a princess! I love that you take special time just for mom & daughter bonding. As a mom to one with special needs, I know how the needs of one can seem to overshadow the others most of the time and it is a hard line to balance. You are doing a great job!!

I can't wait to hear all of your plans, it seems like we will be there around the same time!

Thanks so much. We will take all the prayers we can get. Each day is a new adventure. I so love our "girl's days". Don't get me wrong I love Gavin too I just look forward to those times when its just Brenda and I. I sometimes feel like Brenda is left out of some things because I am busy trying to take care of Gavin and do what he needs to be healthy. She seems to understand, even though she is only 4. I really do try to make each of my kids understand, even at this young age, that they are so very important to me and I love them more than anything in the world.

love the updates. The stipulations are not too bad! The drive might be an 'adventure', but should be fun if you are well prepared with lots of entertainment for the kiddos.

isn't it nice when a plan comes together? I can't wait to hear how the kids take it too when they get their surprise!

we are the same way with Christmas in my family- ALWAYS go overboard. now that we have our own child, we do a lot better and really minimize. heck, there isn't room for more stuff. my rule is, a new toy comes in, an old one goes out (donate etc.). I am kind of a neat freak and can't stand too much clutter. plus, like you said, the kids hardly play with 80% of it.

can't wait for the next installment

I was surprised that the stipulations were not worse. Sometimes Jon can come up with a dozy! I don't think the driving will be too bad. The kids will sleep most of the way. I get a little worried about the weather that time of year...at night.

Christmas is just crazy. Every year we say "we aren't getting as much next year". I must admit I have already picked up a few things for Brenda. I have been picking up Littlest Pet Shop sets for the last month or so. Gavin's birthday is next month so I am almost done with Birthday presents. I have to start thinking about his party soon!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

I think it really took a little while for what Jon was saying to sink in. He gave me the guidelines on what we could afford to spend on the trip and still live, eat, and function after the trip. He also gave me a set amount of what I that would leave me for Christmas shopping for the kids.

It didn't take me long to hop on the Disney web site and start getting some price ideas. WOW! Do you all know how much it is to stay from Christmas to New Years?? That is a lot... at least for us I got to thinking. With the amount Jon gave me we could only stay a few days. That is such a long drive for us for what felt like a few short days. I knew Jon was set on the dinning plan and that was a good idea since we wanted lots of character meals for the kids. I started to play around with resorts... Ok, that makes things a little better. Lets stay at Pop Century. Pop looks fun and bright... Everything a resort should be when you have 2 very young children going. Yes, it would be great staying in one of the resorts that a monorail goes to...but I want all the bang for the buck I can get... And I don't want to drive 1,400 miles, one way, for 4 days!

I continued to play around with things on the Disney site. I found that I could save a TON if we moved the trip to the beginning of the month! A TON! Almost a thousand dollars and that meant we could add days!!!

I sat down and talked to Jon. I asked him how much he was willing to bend on his stipulations. He wanted to know which one and when I told him the date one he told me that its about the only one he would budge on...if it was for a good reason. I knew once I went into the budgeting details he would be sold on moving the trip to the beginning of the month.

I should tell you... One of the reasons Jon said we had to go over Christmas, in addition to it being the kid's Christmas gift, was because he wouldn't have to take off work from the job that brings in the money. Jon does have 2 jobs. One job he works pretty much only for the health benefits for the family. With a child like Gavin you have to have the best insurance we can. The other job brings more money, most of the year, and he can't really afford to miss much. I knew this was going to be an issue.

I explained to Jon what I had found. Took him through each step from the monorail resorts...changing and saving by doing Pop Century. I showed him the cute pictures of the resort and he agreed that the kids would LOVE Pop. I then explained to him that we were going at the most expensive time of year. We really could only stay 5 days TOPS! He was with me in that seemed like a long way to drive for only 5 days. I then dropped the BOMB! If we went the week after Thanksgiving we would save so much. We could make it a 9 day trip, which I later turned into a 10 day when there was some issues with stopping at Jon's parents on the way home.

I put all the info out there and just sat and looked at him. He took a few minutes to compute what I had said. Then he pulled up the Penn State football schedule. The whole trip would depend on when the last home game was. There is no way we can afford for Jon to miss a home football game weekend. I knew we would have to schedule around that. The last football game of the regular season is NOV 27... the Saturday after THANKSGIVING. Jon was sold. He knew that he would be missing days from both jobs no matter when we go. The job he works for the insurance is no biggie. He has more than enough vacation time to cover it. He was ok with missing the other job as long as it wasn't during the really busy times. So it was decided that Jon will work the night of Nov 27. He will stay on the same sleep schedule, sleeping all day the following day. When it is time for us to go to bed he will just be getting up...well rested. We will drive 10 hours to NC to Jon's parents, arriving in the morning as the kids are starting to stir. Jon will sleep all day that day and again get up and drive another 10 hours while the kids sleep in the car. We will get to Pop in the morning of Nov 30. Originally we were going to stay till Dec 9. Then we decided to stay till the 10th. We will again be stopping in NC on the way home...this time for 2 nights/3 days. This will be a great time for us all to visit Jon's parents. The kids and I have never been to there place. They usually come here.

There you have it... We will be staying at Pop from Nov 30- Dec 10!!! We will be home for Christmas day!!!

So the award for finding the best bargain and getting the most for our trip in this CrAzY family goes to ME!!!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

As I promised I am going to go ahead and post a second installment tonight.

I was so excited! We had a date. We had a resort. At this point I was still lurking on the Disboard. I had yet to join so I had no one to share my joy with. The kids did not know...nor would they. We still had not officially booked because I didn't realize we could make payments. I thought I had to pay in full when we booked. So Jon and I decided that we would start letting the family know. We would also stress to each of them that Brenda and Gavin were not supposed to know. In an ideal world the first person I would have run to would have been my mom, but she passed away in 2003. We (Jon and I) traveled a lot with my parents. So I knew dad would be excited for us. When I tried to call him he wasn't available so we moved on to the next person on the list...Jon's parents. Yes, we had made plans involving them and never cleared it with them. We both knew they would be fine with things. They would love showing me and the kids around their hometown.

When we told Jon's parents we got a chilly response. The only part of the trip they were looking forward to was the part that took us to NC. Jon's mom was concerned as to wither we were wasting our money because the kids would "NEVER REMEMBER ANYTHING". Wow! That was so not what we were expecting to hear. So we explain our reasoning with her. She was still undecided when we hung up the phone. Oh well! We weren't going to let it get us down.

I am VERY close with both of my 2 Aunts that live nearby. One is my mom's sister and the other is my dad's. They have taken the place of my mom in the kid's lives. They live the kid's as if they are their own. One aunt has no children. She was never able to have any and the other has a 37 year old daughter that has a very nice girlfriend and no hope for any children. So I guess Brenda and Gavin are treated as if they are grandchildren for my aunts. The kids in return love them very dearly. I got pretty much the same response from them. They were concerned about spending the money. They were a tad grumpy with me about our decision to take the kids away. I was even grumpier later to find they had been talking about Jon and I, to each other, behind our backs. I was ticked off!

A few days later we got in touch with my dad. I thought for sure that he would be supportive of us. I should tell you that my dad is now a very different man than the man I grew up with. He had been married to my mom 28 years when she passed away unexpectedly. It took him 7 months to meet a new wife, and move from PA to MN. He completely changed...and I should have kept that in mind when I was telling him about the trip. I heard a sentence from his mouth that I had NEVER heard. "You are a complete idiot!" That is a HUGE smack in the face. He went on to tell us that he has no idea how we are affording this trip. How it was a bad idea. Only bad things would come of it. We should take the money we would spend going to Disney and go to MN instead! And there we have it...the real answer. We had been to MN before and I was so bored, other than the Mall of America. To expect us to give up the happiest place on Earth to go to the Frozen tundra of Dec in MN...NO Way. I think that is when I got my backbone. He had hurt me to the point of being in tears on the phone. I just couldn't take anymore from my OWN DAD. So I stopped him. I told him that all my bills are paid on time, I never ask anyone to borrow any money and we get by without an help from him. I then told him that when he could treat me like a person, and except the decision we made he could call me. And then I hung up. He called back a few days later. He has never apologized and we don't talk about Disney.

In the meantime Jon's mom had talked to others that had taken children younger than Brenda and Gavin to WDW. They explained things to her and she is all for the trip now. The most supportive. She is even making Brenda some costumes. Jon's mom has her own shop and is a professional seamstress so they should be awesome. We will have final fitting and pick up the dress on the way through.

My aunts have also chosen to keep their opinions to themselves. They "waste" their money their way, and I can spend mine my way. I do mention things about Disney to them...Things I want to do with the kids and they always seem interested. My dad's sister even lived in Orlando for a while and she tries to give me tips here and there...I don't bother to tell her that Dis gives me all the info I need!

So the award for biggest JERK when told the news in this CrAzY family goes to my dad!!!

Up next: Gavin breaks the news!

 

[mrsksomeday]

Oh Tammy I am so very sorry about how your families reacted to the Disney news. You just wanted support and happiness and got judgment and arguing .

It is great that Jon's mom has come around though, I can't wait to see the dress for Brenda!!

Good for you for standing up to your Dad, you and your husband are doing something wonderful for YOUR family so good for you!

 

[exwdwcm]

yeah for Jon being supportive on moving the dates! so nice when everything falls into place, but sorry your family was not more supportive, what a bummer.

BUT..........it is your life, your family and your money........and your memories to create. So roll with it, enjoy it and don't sweat it! You will have the time of your life and you know it. don't let anyone else bring you down. The kids will have a ball- whatever age. We just took my son last year, he had just turned 2. Does he remember, no not really, but he loves looking at our photo album and pointing out pooh bear etc. And he asks everyday to go eat with Pooh bear again. And WE created great memories we will cherish forever, even if he doesn't remember, we do. he had a ball.

 

[eecteacher82]

SOOO sorry for the reactions you got from your family! I know the feeling though. Lots of people in our family still think we are wasting our money each time we go and I get a lecture about the money we spend. We took Olivia for the first time when she was 15 months old (she will be 3 in two months) and I knew she wouldn't remember the trip at all, but she had an AMAZING time while we were there! Looking back at the pictures, she always had a huge smile on her face, and those pictures will ALWAYS be there for her too look at. So I say, you know what you are doing is right and your kids will have a magical time because of YOU!

 

[KatMark]

that is for the way your various family members reacted to your news. First, it truly is none of their business, and second, I can tell you that we took both boths when they were 18 months old and THERE ARE THINGS EACH OF THEM REMEMBER FROM THEIR FIRST TRIPS. So don't let anyone tell you they are too young and will never remember anything.

I'm so glad that Jon was agreeable to changing the dates and that it worked out with the football game.

I'm looking forward to the next update.

 

[taramoz]

So sorry about the family's reaction. Clearly you had already thought through all of the issues and didn't need the negative reaction. But glad to see you are keeping positive about it! Your kids will make great memories.

 

[stephielela]

That's so rude! I can't believe people reacted that way! I know my family thinks I'm crazy to spend as much time and money as i do on Disney, but the way I explain it to them is Jack (my son) is 2. There aren't a whole lot of vacations to choose from for kids. If we go to the beach, I spend all my time chasing him down. If we go to a city, I spend all my time pushing him around in a stroller. So why not go someplace where we can both have fun? And it's really not that expensive if you budget for it! Jack is very excited about going to see Mickey, and I know he won't remember everything, but there will be things he remembers. He loves looking at the pictures of himself from the last trip, he was 14 month old then. I hope the rest of your family comes around!

 

[PoppyGirl]

Wow...I just caught up on all your new installments. I'm so sorry about how your family reacted to your news. That's just really sad.

And let me just say that after LAST winter....there is NO WAY I'd be going to MN in December either!!!!! I was actually just thinking about that today (well, not going to MN but the coming winter) and dreading the potential snow and cold. Blech!!! Head for the sun!!!

People who don't "get" Disney just don't "get" that it could be so meaningful for the rest of us (the ones who do "get" Disney). You are going to have a wonderful trip with wonderful cherished memories.

You are a great story-teller and I'm really enjoying reading.

 

[brookelizabeth]

I'm here now and all caught up!

I am SO sorry to hear about that awful reaction from your Dad. Good for you on having a backbone about it though! You are an adult, you can choose how to spend your money. And it's not like this trip was on a whim!!!

Anyway, I'm enjoying your PTR and I LOVE the title!!!

Do your dates have any discount codes available so you can get free dining or something???

 

[Mickey_Mom]

Caught up again! Geez, I can't believe I didn't catch the changed stipulation - doh! We'll be there together....

I'm so, so sorry you didn't get the happiness and support from your family. I'm glad they've come around a little bit. As far as being too young to remember anything..... let's remember this is a family vacation. The children will have an absolutely wonderful time while they are there and even if they don't remember everything.... YOU and Jon will. Priceless!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Oh Tammy I am so very sorry about how your families reacted to the Disney news. You just wanted support and happiness and got judgment and arguing .

It is great that Jon's mom has come around though, I can't wait to see the dress for Brenda!!

Good for you for standing up to your Dad, you and your husband are doing something wonderful for YOUR family so good for you!

We are glad MIL turned around. Jon's family never did vacations when he was little. Vacation for them was once every few years they would drive to grandparents house in NJ...about 4 hours from here, and stay there. They wouldn't really go do anything...just sit around the house. Jon said it got pretty boring. He had never really had a vacation till he and I were engaged and went to DC. That was the first time he had stayed in a Hotel of any kind...and we were 22 years old! That was bizarre to me because growing up we did a vacation every year. It didn't take me long to break him of the non-vacation mind set. MIL, later, admitted to me that she thinks this is a great idea. She regrets never putting importance on some kind of vacation. She told me its one thing she wishes she could go back and change. I was floored by that revelation!

We did buy Brenda a Cinderella dress and a Princess Tiana dress before MIL came around. She was so excited to make Brenda some other dresses I could turn her down. I may have to dress her in the dresses and take pictures EVERYDAY!

yeah for Jon being supportive on moving the dates! so nice when everything falls into place, but sorry your family was not more supportive, what a bummer.

BUT..........it is your life, your family and your money........and your memories to create. So roll with it, enjoy it and don't sweat it! You will have the time of your life and you know it. don't let anyone else bring you down. The kids will have a ball- whatever age. We just took my son last year, he had just turned 2. Does he remember, no not really, but he loves looking at our photo album and pointing out pooh bear etc. And he asks everyday to go eat with Pooh bear again. And WE created great memories we will cherish forever, even if he doesn't remember, we do. he had a ball.

I really think the only one we would have changed our trip plan for would have been one of Gavin's drs. But they are all for it. They have been beside us every step of the way and KNOW that our family needs this. We have been through so much in the last 35 months that I am not even sure how we got here. I was just hoping my dad would understand that too. I know my kids will have such a great time. Even if Gavin is too sick one of the days...he will more than make up for it the other 9. I just have to be prepared.

SOOO sorry for the reactions you got from your family! I know the feeling though. Lots of people in our family still think we are wasting our money each time we go and I get a lecture about the money we spend. We took Olivia for the first time when she was 15 months old (she will be 3 in two months) and I knew she wouldn't remember the trip at all, but she had an AMAZING time while we were there! Looking back at the pictures, she always had a huge smile on her face, and those pictures will ALWAYS be there for her too look at. So I say, you know what you are doing is right and your kids will have a magical time because of YOU!

Isn't it crazy that family thinks they can lecture you on money! I mean, for me, my one aunt (mom's sister) goes to the Casino in NY at least twice a month and usually spends more than what our trip will cost us! That is crazy. And, its not that her DH has the most wonderful job in the world. He makes about what Jon does. The difference is she was left inheritance..but I surely don't tell her how to spend it!

that is for the way your various family members reacted to your news. First, it truly is none of their business, and second, I can tell you that we took both boths when they were 18 months old and THERE ARE THINGS EACH OF THEM REMEMBER FROM THEIR FIRST TRIPS. So don't let anyone tell you they are too young and will never remember anything.

I'm so glad that Jon was agreeable to changing the dates and that it worked out with the football game.

I'm looking forward to the next update.

I know that the kids aren't going to remember every detail of everything we do. All that I really care that they remember is that they met Mickey and Minnie, got to ride some fun stuff (nothing specific), and had the best time ever with their mommy and daddy who love them more than anything in the world. We have a few special things planned for each that I am sure they will remember. If they each remember that I will know that this trip was worth it. I am scrapbooker so its not like they won't be looking at a million pictures of this trip. Thanks for re-assuring me. It gets so hard to stay positive sometimes.

So sorry about the family's reaction. Clearly you had already thought through all of the issues and didn't need the negative reaction. But glad to see you are keeping positive about it! Your kids will make great memories.

Thanks, I am sure the kids will have the time of their lives. You are right, we had thought things through...even enough to get approval from Gavin's medical team. Telling the family wasn't really even necessary. I just wanted to share.

That's so rude! I can't believe people reacted that way! I know my family thinks I'm crazy to spend as much time and money as i do on Disney, but the way I explain it to them is Jack (my son) is 2. There aren't a whole lot of vacations to choose from for kids. If we go to the beach, I spend all my time chasing him down. If we go to a city, I spend all my time pushing him around in a stroller. So why not go someplace where we can both have fun? And it's really not that expensive if you budget for it! Jack is very excited about going to see Mickey, and I know he won't remember everything, but there will be things he remembers. He loves looking at the pictures of himself from the last trip, he was 14 month old then. I hope the rest of your family comes around!

I think the one that hurt the most was my dad. I couldn't believe he would call me an idiot! That just stung. I am honestly to the point where I don't care if they come around or not...its their issues. I am going to Disney World!!

Wow...I just caught up on all your new installments. I'm so sorry about how your family reacted to your news. That's just really sad.

And let me just say that after LAST winter....there is NO WAY I'd be going to MN in December either!!!!! I was actually just thinking about that today (well, not going to MN but the coming winter) and dreading the potential snow and cold. Blech!!! Head for the sun!!!

People who don't "get" Disney just don't "get" that it could be so meaningful for the rest of us (the ones who do "get" Disney). You are going to have a wonderful trip with wonderful cherished memories.

You are a great story-teller and I'm really enjoying reading.

We always have yucky winters here...and MN is 10X worse. Not to mention the times we have gone out there we haven't done anything but go to the Mall of America. Yes, its a great place but I am sure there is more to do there. The kiddos would be bored out of their mind! The funniest thing my dad said was, he was sure there was a park with swings there we could take the kids to...IN DECEMBER???? I wanted to die laughing. Yea right!

So glad you are enjoying the PTR! I was a little hesitant to start. Wasn't to sure I would get followers since this is my first trip.

I'm here now and all caught up!

I am SO sorry to hear about that awful reaction from your Dad. Good for you on having a backbone about it though! You are an adult, you can choose how to spend your money. And it's not like this trip was on a whim!!!

Anyway, I'm enjoying your PTR and I LOVE the title!!!

Do your dates have any discount codes available so you can get free dining or something???

Welcome!
As I said before..the man who is now in my dad's body is not the man that was alive before my mom died. He never would have hurt me so much. To call his only child an idiot... It was just too much for me. Honestly, I think he has a sad life and pretends it's all peachy keen. I understand that he misses us all, but life is choices...choices have consequences... He didn't choose so wisely by moving to MN and now regrets it but that is where his wife's family is from.
At first there was no codes for our days...and I was not getting any pins...even after doing everything that the Dis board suggested. All I can say about what happens is...there is more coming!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Caught up again! Geez, I can't believe I didn't catch the changed stipulation - doh! We'll be there together....

I'm so, so sorry you didn't get the happiness and support from your family. I'm glad they've come around a little bit. As far as being too young to remember anything..... let's remember this is a family vacation. The children will have an absolutely wonderful time while they are there and even if they don't remember everything.... YOU and Jon will. Priceless!

Yea--we'll have to see if I can settle the kids long enough to run into you!

I really do think that the family will either come around or not...in any case. We will have a fabulous time and get some much needed time as a family. I could even understand if they were saying "Hey, were worried about Gavin's health, or worried about the drive" but no, for them its all about the money we will spend.

 

[Tinker_Tam]

I had been hoping to get another installment up for you all tonight. I usually write them in a notebook during the day and then type them in at night. This helps me organize my thoughts. Well, I didn't get anything written today. Gavin has been sick. On top of that Brenda has been having a rough day too. I haven't mentioned it before but next Tues Sept 7 we have to take Brenda to the Children's hospital. She has a lump on the back of her neck that her pediatrician is concerned about and wants her to see a specialist. I first found it around Thanksgiving and it was the size of a small pimple. Last month it is the size of the end of my finger. It has more than doubled in size. On top of that she has lost over 9 lbs in this time frame and lately she has been getting nose bleeds. Not sure if they tie in or not but she had many nose bleeds today. So I keep telling myself its nothing to worry about now. I have to believe that everything will be good...that it is nothing. If not I will spend the next week worrying about both of the kids. So, In short, I had my hands full and didn't get to write anything today. I guess that means I owe you an extra installment.

 

[KatMark]

I had been hoping to get another installment up for you all tonight. I usually write them in a notebook during the day and then type them in at night. This helps me organize my thoughts. Well, I didn't get anything written today. Gavin has been sick. On top of that Brenda has been having a rough day too. I haven't mentioned it before but next Tues Sept 7 we have to take Brenda to the Children's hospital. She has a lump on the back of her neck that her pediatrician is concerned about and wants her to see a specialist. I first found it around Thanksgiving and it was the size of a small pimple. Last month it is the size of the end of my finger. It has more than doubled in size. On top of that she has lost over 9 lbs in this time frame and lately she has been getting nose bleeds. Not sure if they tie in or not but she had many nose bleeds today. So I keep telling myself its nothing to worry about now. I have to believe that everything will be good...that it is nothing. If not I will spend the next week worrying about both of the kids. So, In short, I had my hands full and didn't get to write anything today. I guess that means I owe you an extra installment.

Here's hoping and praying that it is nothing to worry about with Brenda and something very minor. You do have your hands full and do not need to worry if you don't get an installment up each day (I went days before updating my PTR on numerous occasions).

 

[taramoz]

I had been hoping to get another installment up for you all tonight. I usually write them in a notebook during the day and then type them in at night. This helps me organize my thoughts. Well, I didn't get anything written today. Gavin has been sick. On top of that Brenda has been having a rough day too. I haven't mentioned it before but next Tues Sept 7 we have to take Brenda to the Children's hospital. She has a lump on the back of her neck that her pediatrician is concerned about and wants her to see a specialist. I first found it around Thanksgiving and it was the size of a small pimple. Last month it is the size of the end of my finger. It has more than doubled in size. On top of that she has lost over 9 lbs in this time frame and lately she has been getting nose bleeds. Not sure if they tie in or not but she had many nose bleeds today. So I keep telling myself its nothing to worry about now. I have to believe that everything will be good...that it is nothing. If not I will spend the next week worrying about both of the kids. So, In short, I had my hands full and didn't get to write anything today. I guess that means I owe you an extra installment.

I will keep you and your kids in my thoughts and prayers!