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

[Tinker_Tam]

Thanks everyone! Gavin did pretty well during the day today but as evening comes things start to get worse. I think that is the case with any Ouch-ie though. I do so appreciate all of you thinking of us.

I spend my online time today trying to catch up on other threads but I am hoping to have an update on our trip tomorrow... along with a cute Gavin story. I will get to shout outs tomorrow too.

Thank you again for being so sweet and thinking of my CrAzY family!

 

[exwdwcm]

yeah, so glad everything went well and he is recoveringn nicely. I hope each night gets better and better!

 

[smidgy]

give gavin hugs from all your disney friends!!
what a trooper!

 

[eecteacher82]

I was just thinking, we should exchange numbers! We will both be at POP at the same time, and it would be great to meet up! How funny would it be if we were right down the hall from each other?! I've requested BLDG 1, 4th floor, pool view. That is our favorite area of the resort!!! It is so quiet and a quick walk to Classic Hall. Did you ever end up making room requests? I cannot wait for our trip!!!! It's getting SO close!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

I have been meaning to get replies out and at least another day posted but Gavin has been having some rough nights. He does great during the day but when the evening rolls around he is hurting. The Peds surgeon said he is not concerned yet.

I just wanted to hop on and let you all know I haven't forgotten about this PTR. I have just been super busy taking care of my little man. Weds I did girls day with Brenda while Jon was home with Gavin. I know she has been feeling neglected lately. We had a fun day of shopping. She was just happy to be with mom. Today I took 30 minutes while Jon was home and got my hair cut! I knew it was going to be one of the last chances I get to have my own done... and I hate it for about the first week after the cut. So I wanted it to be ok for Disney.

Then, it never dawned on me till earlier this evening... I should be doing the Teen dance!! We have 19 days till we get to Disney!!

So that has been life lately. I will try to get replies done soon. Please don't think that I am unappreciative of the thoughts and prayers you all have sent out to Gavin and my family. Its just been much more to deal with this time. I am grateful to have you all sticking it out with me!

 

[Caretames1]

You are doing great with your PTR, Gavin is so lucky to have such a great Mommy

Congrats on 19 days, my Dh just got excited about our 2 months, 1 week & 2 days

 

[stephielela]

I'm so glad Gavin got to have his surgery!!! That's funny about the DVD player. I'm sorry he's still in pain, I will cross my fingers that his nights get better. I know I always feel worse at night if there is something wrong! And yay for Brenda, she sounds like she is an amazing big sister.

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Just some shout outs to you!

Tam, you know that we will ALL be thinking about and praying for Gavin tomorrow. If you are trying to keep occupied, I updated my TR last week with halloween costumes, etc., if you want to have a good chuckle to take your mind off things.:

I know you posted this a while ago but I wanted to let you know that I have started to read your TR in my spare time. Haven't really commented much but life has been CrAzY lately. I am hoping to finish the links tonight! I love all the pictures of Mark in the hats. I may have to see if I can get Jon to pose for a few hat pictures for me.

When I started reading I thought to myself, "Self, you are supposed to have subbed to the thread a while ago. Why are you not getting the updates?" Apprently, I hadn't subbed, but I have now!

Followed you over from someone else's PTR...can't remember who though.

I wanted to read through the whole thread before I commented. Now I have to remember everything I was gonna comment about. We are going to be there around the same time. Our dates are Dec 5 -10. It would be so cool to run into each other!

Your family is very inspiring. I love how you take good care of everyone. You seem very attentive to all their needs and not very concerned with your own. Your hubbie sounds like an amazing man - willing to do 2 jobs and spend his spare time with his family. Your children are adorable - your daughter seems so mature and responsible for her age and your son is heart-wrenchingly cute!

I was so excited when the MVMCP worked out for y'all!!!

One of my tips for families with small children is not to expect the same endurance/stamina that they have at home to be the same at WDW. Kids that can normally go all day - crash. Kids that will sit all day if I let them - all the sudden have amazing endurance. Kids that sleep in a stroller - won't nap at all. Just be prepared for any possibilities and go with the flow. Don't get upset or frustrated or think 'I'm spending all this money and we're not doing half the stuff I planned.' Be grateful you're there and enjoy whatever you get to do!

One thing I could always count on is everyone crashing at night (even me - I get the best night's rest while we are there). Easiest bed times ever are at WDW for us.

I am praying for y'all today and hope everything goes as well as it possibly can.

Merci

Welcome and Thank you! Since our days overlap so much maybe we will bump into each other. I don't remember where you are staying.

Thank you to for the kind words about my family. I know I am the lucky one to have them. We really do work well together as a family. Its simply amazing sometimes. Don't get me wrong, Brenda and Gavin can get on my nerves sometimes but I so love them and cherish every minute with them. Jon is the most amazing man ever! He puts it all out there so that we can all live the best life we can.. and we feel that means 1 of us being home with the kids. I can't imagine dropping Gavin in daycare with the issues he has. Sometimes even dropping Brenda in preschool for 2 hours is a LONG time. I have no idea what I will do next year when she goes to school and we are hopnig to get Gavin into the same Preschool Brenda goes too. It would be a nice little piece of "normal" for him.

Thank you for the tip on kids. I have decided to sit down and decide on 3-5 goals per day. I think that number is doable. Some of the goals well be super easy like "have a Mickey Ice Cream bar". If we get those goals done I will be the happiest ever... if not, I will still know we had a great time trying to get them all done. I know my #1 goal in MK is to ride Dumbo with Brenda. Every time she sees it in the commercials she asks if I will ride that with her. It warms my heart! I almost cried real tears when I heard about the construction and wasn't sure we would get to ride. I think it should be a go at this point. Anyway, my plan is not to push it. It is vacation and I will go with the flow. We aren't really a commando type family since we are traveling with a 3 and a 4 year old1

We still have to pinch ourselves when we think about going to MVMCP!! It is going to such an awesome night!

Didn't mean to write you a small book, but hope you will stick around for the rest of my PTR!

I would keep Mama Melrose! We ate there in May and it was soooo good! I would highly recommend it!!

I do think we are going to keep Mama Melrose. I am not sure what I was thinking with Reglan Road. Thank you for helping make my decision. I can aleays count on good advice from my loyal followers!

Thank goodness that Gavin got to have his surgery today, I am so happy for him!!

YAY for the documents, makes it seem so real doesn't it?

The documents really do make all the difference in the world. I know that I have mentioned to Jon a few times when things came up that we should cancel and use the money for what ever emergency came along and each time he told me not to even think about it. When the documents came I realized that there was NO backing out now!! So glad my husband is smart enough to let me ruin things!

I"m so glad his surgery went smoothly and I'll continue to pray for a smooth recovery.

Also, I would stick with Mame Melrose if you haven't already made a decision. The food is very good.

Second, For Mickey Mail

Thanks for the help, I do think we are keeping Mama Melrose! It is getting too many good reviews to pass up now!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Hello there!

I followed you over from one of the December threads and saw some of your dates fall with ours too! We will be there December 4th - December 11th! As I began reading more I see that you and your family are staying at POP, we are too! And, then a little more reading and you plan on going to MVMCP on the 5th, us too!! Ok ok one more common thing, we will have a 4 year old with us too!!

I am loving your pre-trip report so far and can't wait to read more as the days get closer! You will be leaving before us but we are right behind you!

Hope Gavin is feeling ok today and recovering well!

Welcome to my PTR! Hope you will enjoy yourself and stick around!

Wow! We do have a ton in common!! Hopefully we will bump into each other. With that much in common it should happen!

As for leaving before you, we get the park all warmed up and ready for you! Better than motel 6, we won't leave the light on but we will get the magic ready!

I was just thinking, we should exchange numbers! We will both be at POP at the same time, and it would be great to meet up! How funny would it be if we were right down the hall from each other?! I've requested BLDG 1, 4th floor, pool view. That is our favorite area of the resort!!! It is so quiet and a quick walk to Classic Hall. Did you ever end up making room requests? I cannot wait for our trip!!!! It's getting SO close!

Being close to you would be awesome! I haven't made my requests yet. To be honest, I have been having a little DIsney drag. I know the trip is right around the corner but it just seems like it has been forever. I know a lot of it is what has been going on with Gavin. Just puts so much on my mind that i can't even go to my happy place sometimes! I am working at getting back into the swing of things though.

I will PM you my number tonight. I so hope we can meet up! It would be great, and I bet our girls would get along so well!

You are doing great with your PTR, Gavin is so lucky to have such a great Mommy

Congrats on 19 days, my Dh just got excited about our 2 months, 1 week & 2 days

Thank you! You are to sweet... but to be honest, I am the lucky one! I have been given the most amazing family ever! I don't know what I did to deserve it but I am so thankful for it!!!!

Jon is getting more excited every day. He has never been into talking about a trip this much!

I'm so glad Gavin got to have his surgery!!! That's funny about the DVD player. I'm sorry he's still in pain, I will cross my fingers that his nights get better. I know I always feel worse at night if there is something wrong! And yay for Brenda, she sounds like she is an amazing big sister.

I so understand that whole getting worse at night thing. I seems to be the only time he is bothered and each night seems to get a little better. Brenda is a cross between an amazing big sister and a little mother Hubbard! She can really baby Gavin when he is sick too... but they are typical siblings and argue and fight sometimes... just not too often!

*************************************************
Next day plans coming later tonight... have to get the kids to bed. I don't have enough time to do it now... tv time is almost over!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Ok, I really have to get back on track with my PTR! I know you all sit on pins and needles, just waiting to here what amazing things I have planned!! So, here it is...

According to my little color coated chart it is DHS morning. There are EMH at Epcot but that is not the park for us today. Sometime soon, really soon since we are only 18 days from checking in, I want to set down and decide on some goals for each day.

After a fun morning we will either head back to Pop for a nap if the kids need it, or we will head to Epcot. We have dinner reservations at Coral Reef. Now, What I am wondering is, how do I get my family a table at the aquarium?? I really think this will keep the kids occupied. I know it would be a huge hit! If it helps our reservations are EARLY--4:45. Anyone have any great tips to share???

After Dinner we will visit Epcot for a while. I know at some point I want to do pick-a-pearl. Please forgive me if I have mentioned this before. Jon got me a Gift Card for my birthday this past June to do it. He knows how much I want to. I got my carriage Pearl cage off Ebay already and have it set to go. This is something I am looking forward to so much! I brings back memories of my mom. She did the pick an oyster when they used to have it at Sea World in Ohio. I still remember mom picking it. If I remember correctly, the woman dived down and brought the oyster from a pool. Then you took your oyster to be opened. It was a big production... I am sure it will be a special memory for me in Disney too. I picked up an extra cage for Brenda, just in case I get a spare! If not I will put some colorful bead in it for her to wear.

I also think there was some kind of Epcot meet up this night that I might make it to for drinks...

The other thing I am still trying to figure out is how to deal with the kids and all the different Santa's in World Showcase. I think they would be great to see... but I don't know how to rally explain it to the kids. Don't want to ruin the Christmas magic. I am sure that will come too soon.

So there you have it... Day number 8... Seems like the trip is coming to an end so quickly. I know we still have 3 park days left but I am sure I could live here... just need to be a multi-millionaire to do it!

 

[Tinkermom76]

That's funny, my kids never asked about the different Santa in each country, maybe they just assumed each place has their own Santa and never thought to ask

 

[Tinker_Tam]

That's funny, my kids never asked about the different Santa in each country, maybe they just assumed each place has their own Santa and never thought to ask

Maybe mine won't notice. I think it would great to here the story tellers but don't want to confuse them too much. Maybe we will try a few and see how it goes. If they start to ask too many questions then we will move on!

 

[KatMark]

Great update, Tam. I have never done the pick-a-pearl at Epcot. I keep saying I'm going to do it, but I always seem to forget because we get involved in something else. When you check in at Coral Reef, just ask nicely if you can get an "acquarium" seat. I don't know that there is any "special" way to do this. I just always find it best to ask nicely.

 

[stephielela]

Pick a pearl sounds cool!! I have thought about it, and if I have extra money, maybe I will look into it... your plans sound great!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Great update, Tam. I have never done the pick-a-pearl at Epcot. I keep saying I'm going to do it, but I always seem to forget because we get involved in something else. When you check in at Coral Reef, just ask nicely if you can get an "acquarium" seat. I don't know that there is any "special" way to do this. I just always find it best to ask nicely.

Pick a pearl was first on my list! I started talking about it last spring. Jon and I decided no grown up gifts so we skipped birthday and every holiday we could to save money, but he did surprise me with a gift card and strict instructions that is was for that... NOT something for the kids! He knows me too well!
I will be super nice and hope I can get near the aquarium!

Pick a pearl sounds cool!! I have thought about it, and if I have extra money, maybe I will look into it... your plans sound great!

Thanks! I am excited for pick a pearl! Wouldn't it be super sweet if my Oyster was a double and I could give 1 to Brenda too! I would never spend the money for her own oyster but it would be great to get a double!

 

[jenseib]

I remember that at Sea World Ohio too. I always wanted to do it, but I never wanted to buy anything to put the parl in. LOL!

I think with the Santa's around the world, you could tell them hey are Santa helpers from different countries.

 

[Tinker_Tam]

I remember that at Sea World Ohio too. I always wanted to do it, but I never wanted to buy anything to put the parl in. LOL!

I think with the Santa's around the world, you could tell them hey are Santa helpers from different countries.

I "think" I have the pearl mom picked at Sea World all those years ago. I think it is a plastic bag in my jewelry box. She never brought herself to have it set into a setting. That is why I decided I had to get the pearl cage first. If it were not for getting that I don't know I would have even thought about it. Then when Jon got the card and I got hte carriage cheaply I knew I needed to do it.

That is a great idea!!!! I think that is what I will tell them if they ask. I really think it will be more Brenda than Gavin that asks. Thank you for the idea!

 

[20thingamabobs]

Hey, I just wanted to chime in about the whole "Santas" things at Epcot. I've done a lot of research on this while making my passports for the kidcot stations. Not all the countries have a "Santa" per say. For example, without giving too much away, here is an idea of what to expect:

Canada: the storyteller look a lot like our traditional Santa but they actually tell the story of Belsnickles which are little creatures that help Santa.

United Kingdom: tells the history of Christmas cards, Christmas carols, and mistletoe. They do have a Santa but it's basically the same tradition we have.

France: They have La Pere Noel, Father Christmas. Once again, it's pretty similar to the traditional American Santa and they just talk about other traditions.

Morocco: they have Ashoora. No form of a "Santa"

Japan: they have a vendor that is selling Daruma Dolls. No form of a "Santa".

American Adventure: they discuss Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, and you can meet & greet with a Traditional American Santa.

Italy: has La Befana, I won't tell you her story because it's one of my favorites but it's nothing like "Santa".

Germany: tells the story of the history of a Christmas tree. Only thing here is the parents "secretly" decorate it.

China: story of the Monkey King, once again, nothing like "Santa".

Norway: tells the story of Julenissen which is an elf. And then on Christmas day they have a tradition more similar to a different American holiday.

Mexico: is the story of the Three Kings.

I don't think your kids would really notice anything about the different "Santas" but if they start to question it, you could just tell them that Santa uses his magic to change himself to fit in for all the different countries beliefs...

Anyway, I hoped this help without ruining the surprise. Also, I obviously didn't put anything very eloquently but I was just trying not to give too much away.

 

[Tinker_Tam]

Hey, I just wanted to chime in about the whole "Santas" things at Epcot. I've done a lot of research on this while making my passports for the kidcot stations. Not all the countries have a "Santa" per say. For example, without giving too much away, here is an idea of what to expect:

...

I don't think your kids would really notice anything about the different "Santas" but if they start to question it, you could just tell them that Santa uses his magic to change himself to fit in for all the different countries beliefs...

Anyway, I hoped this help without ruining the surprise. Also, I obviously didn't put anything very eloquently but I was just trying not to give too much away.

Thank you for the breakdown. I was wondering what each country did. This sounds like so much fun! I am sure we will take the time to do most, if not all the countries. Thank you!!

 

[Tinker_Tam]

ok, All my readers who are still with me... I have a HUGE announcement!!!!

2 weeks from this very moment we will already be on the road!!!!!!

I am getting so excited... and on the other hand, so tired of "Mom, is today the day?" Even with the countdown calendar they ask... just to make sure it is right! Although, Brenda asked me today if she could just keep taking the numbers off so that the trip would get here already! I had to tell her she could pull off all the numbers she wanted but it wouldn't get the trip here any faster... She is a smart cookie... don't know where she gets it!!!!