The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 20

[Glynis]

She got it done at a local video place.

I would definitely recommend to anyone that is interested to do it. It was the one thing that I asked her for Christmas. I can't tell you how wonderful it was seeing both sets of grandparents, my parents, cousins, aunts & uncles, etc. on tape. My grandparents & father have all passed away. There is actual footage of me dancing with my grandfather. He passed away when I was 16.

Alan did that 2 years ago for all his siblings. He has 11 brothers and sisters, and thousands of hours of home movies. It was really cool. He put them all to music, created menus according to child, and another menu according to year. It took him forever, but it is a treasure. It ended up being a 5 DVD package! His siblings were so amazed! They all just figured the movies had been lost. Little did they know that we had gone scrounging in MIL's storage unit after FIL died, and found them. He knew that she would throw them away (she typically does stuff like that at crisis times), so we brought them home with us!

 

[lovesdumbo]

So Tia what kinda of games would you do what food would you do.

My sister did a Rubber Ducky themed baby shower and made a blue punch and put cleaned Rubber Duckies in the punch. Maybe you could use a fish bowl and put in some plastic fish.

I've got to start taping this disney show. Nicholas will love the part about ToT and RnRC.

My DH gave me the DVD for my birthday last year.

Hi! Just got home from the city a few minutes ago. Boy was it cold!!!!

We got in early so we decided to pop into Tussaud's wax museum first. I was there in 2001 but Katie had never been. We saw Johnny Depp as Captn Jack.

he had a whole room to himself. We bypassed the horror part, neither of us wanted to see that. We spent about 2 hours in there. After that we went to the theater which is only 2 doors down. Mary Poppins was fantastic!!!! The singing & dancing were great. The woman who played MP was the same woman we saw in Beauty & the Beast last year..she is terrific. "Step in Time" was one of the best dance numbers I have ever seen done on the stage. Lots of fun! After the show I took katie to Ellens Starlight diner which is a 50's diner where the waitstaff all sing. (most are up & coming actors/singers) I am going to try & get some pictures up.
How is everyone tonight?

Sounds like you guys had a great day! LOVED your photos.

A quick trip to downtown Disney and a hot fudge sundae would be a nice way to start the trip.

When planning my April/May trip I was considering doing the park & fly thing again at the airport but then I thought just take an afternoon flight down the day before-don't even plan on doing the parks that day (sundae sounds perfect!!!) and stay at Pop-much cheaper than park & fly and I'd already be at WDW the next morning.

You could get little buckets and cook something in them. Maybe mac and cheese with a breadcrumb coating on top. It would look like a bucket of sand. If you could find really little shovels for them to eat with that would be very cool

Deb

ETA: make that shells and cheese

Lizzy has ALWAYS been a super picky eater-she was vomiting on 1/2 a cheerio at 9 months. I knew she'd never eat cake on her 1st birthday so I made cupcakes in ice cream cones, frosted the outside of the cones-to be colored pails, put crushed vanilla wafers on the top for sand and used a piece of string liquorice as a handle for the pail. I also made ice cream sandwiches out of ginger bread cookies (I used Petridge Farm rather than make my own) and used gel frosting to add swimsuits to the cookies. Some were girls with bikinis and some were boys with trunks.

I saw my PCP this morning. He is pretty sure that the pain that I have been having is muscular in nature. He is confident that they have eliminated anything that would be serious to my health. I told him that I had recently started exercising and that we are getting a new mattress. He thinks that both things will help along with adding in some stretching. He also prescribed a sleep aid as I have difficulty falling asleep and I tend to wake frequently. He was in a really good mood and spent a lot of time discussing my overall health and concerns. We also discussed my weight loss over the last 4 years. He is pleased with what I have accomplished, but thinks I should lose another 15 to 20 lbs. I had planned on 10 so I guess I have a little farther to go than I thought. He said that a healthy adult should have a BMI of 18 to 25. I am at 24 now so I am high end of the range. Now I know what to work for. That was good information and I'm glad that he took the time to discuss it with me.

Hope a new matress, exercise and stretching and more sleep help real soon.

Please say prayers for my FIL, Mel. His last childhood friend died today. There were 4 of them that used to hang out as kids. They would have reunions every year with the 4 guys and their families. They continued for years (even after Chuck & I married). This is going to hit him very hard.

I may end up driving him to Milwaukee for the funeral on Monday. It is a holiday for me. Chuck starts his classes at the college that day and can't really miss that. Chuck's SIL is having hip surgery so his brother can't take Mel. I don't know if Mel will let me take him but I would love to spend the time with him if he'll let me.

You, Chuck and Mel will be in my prayers.

Here is an article about Daniel in todays paper. Hope you all don't mind me sharing.

http://www.register-mail.com/stories/011007/MAI_BC2D6OAB.GID.shtml

Robin remains in my prayers.

We did look at the vans on Tuesday afternoon. I think it's going to come down to price. There are certain things that I prefer in the Toyota and certain things that I prefer in the Honda. One small thing that annoyed me in the Toyota was the armrest on the driver's side. I need to see in another van to see if this one was broken. It had only two positions. One was up and the other was at a weird downward angle.

Great pictures of Matthew's play!

I've gotta laugh about the armrest. It is the thing both my sister & I LOVE about the Sienna. You put the armrest all the way up then all the way down and as you bring it back up it locks there-so you can have it at any height. I really love it as I usually find them too low. Only problem is when I put my seatbelt on I tend to raise it so I have to adjust it everytime I get in the car. I'm sure I'll get used to it and it will be easier to do the seatbelt without a winter coat on. I cannot believe the salesman didn't know how it worked.

Wow Cinderellas Castle Suite is beautiful!

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1321595

Thanks for posting that link. I wonder what Emma would think of that potty.

MB EMH's were Sunday, Wednesday, & Friday.

Regular EMH was Thursday.

That is exactly what I have in my notes.

i got an early birthday present.yesterday i emailed my cousin if she wanted to go sept 27-oct 4 2008. AND SHE SAID SURE START PLANNING.

Yippee Skippee!!!!

Does anyone know what animated movies from Disney are out for purchase right now?

I know Cars & Little Mermaid.

I have most everything on tape(VHS) & would like to start getting the DVD's. It is very possible we may drive to WDW this summer so I need DVD's for the drive. Thanks!

Have you thought about joining the Disney Movie Club? They have a pretty good deal when you first join. Go to their website and you can see what's available-though they don't always get the new movies right away.

I just got back from the DMV. Had my licensed renewed. I was in and out of there in under 20 minutes. That has to be a record!

That's great. We can renew our license via mail without changing the photo. I think I have to go in the next time in 2009.

Bernadette - If all 3 of your kids trade then I would buy PLENTY! I need to go see what our Disney Store has! Tomorrow would be a good day for that, since that's my usual day to add to our gift card.

They haven't traded yet but I thought they might enjoy it. I may go back to the Disney Store tomorrow and get more.

I love lilacs, too! My great-great grandmother was born in Wales. She and her husband emigrated to the US, and she brought with her a cutting from her lilac tree in Wales. She wrapped the roots in burlap, and used a lot of her water rations to keep it alive. When she settled in Idaho, she planted it beside her front door. It thrived! My grandmother took a cutting from it to her first home, and my father took a cutting from his mother's to his first home. Alan and I took a cutting from my father's tree 3 summers ago, and it is planted by our house. I love it! The blossoms are so dark and fragrant!

What a great legacy she has left!

I thought I had this all worked out, but I am not even close.

Are Garden Grill and Liberty Tree Tavern sort of similar? I know they aren't exactly alike, but if you really think about it, are they kind of? We've never been to either one, but I don't thik I want to do both in the same trip. My problem is that I am getting lazy about eating out of the parks. If we don't do Liberty Tree we can always go to Kona, which we love.

DH wants to try Teppanyaki, which is fine, but we would pay OOP because I have heard they are snarky about Dining Plan. And they are going to be closed until the end of May for "major rehab" so I wonder how different it will be when they reopen?

I am also trying to work out where to eat after our AK day. We usually go to Boma, but I wasn't thrilled last time. We could really take a bus to ANY resort from there, so maybe that will be our night to try Cape May? On the other hand, the new TS at AK will be opening in July so maybe we'll go there. Do you think Pan Asian is too similar to Japanese? Because it would be consecutive nights with Teppanyaki.

Well, both GG and LTT are preplated but LTT is more of a Thanksgiving dinner. I've never been.

We did do Teppanyaki in Dec. I couldn't see the need for a huge makeover. I would think if the new AK is off a menu it may be more like Kona than Tappanyaki.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Jennifer-I had a bakery make a cake like this for Joe's Baptism.

http://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtml?type=content&id=channel1286&contentGroup=KIDS&site=kids&rsc=ns2006_r1

 

[Glynis]

Has anyone seen the footage of when Tiggers attack? On the Today show they just showed Tigger hitting what appears to be an obnoxuios teen.Provoked? Can you really be provoked enough to justify hitting a kid? Makes you wonder about who is under the mask. Cast member has been suspended and there is a law suit.

That all broke while we were there. I don't think the actual incident took place then, though.

One of the reporters we were watching stated that it was being speculated that the kid had his arm around Tigger so tightly that it was choking off his air.

I dunno. It was kind of odd!

 

[Glynis]

I read that, too. I think that there is definitely more going on than the father/kid are admitting.

the fact that they refused to give up the video for such a period of time is suspicious to me. If there really had been something inappropriate, I would have turned over the tape immediately!

 

[Glynis]

I agree with you, Beth.

I also think there needs to be more information given out about the need to make dinner reservations. It amazes me how many families are turned away at restaurants when we are there during busy times because no one ever bothered to tell them you need to make a reservation to guarantee you get a place to sit down and eat a meal. So, you might want to think about covering that too, Chanon.

Hope your brochures come in time!

Yup! While we were in Epcot, we were walking past the French place (can't think of the name), and BIL asked if we should eat there. I couldn't help myself. I started to laugh. The look on his face when I told him when we should have placed an ADR in order to guarantee eating there was priceless. He was like, "people plan their vacations THAT far in advance?" I just giggled and led them to the patisserie for an eclair!

 

[Glynis]

Good Morning!!!!

How is everyone?

On Friday - I got the pleasure of meeting Ellen and Glynis - Lynn was unable to join us after all

Ellen's family was a lot of fun and her boys are delgihtful!! She has raised very nice young men and should be very proud of them!!!

Glynis and her DH were just as sweet in person as you would expect and it was wonderful finally meeting her!

It was a very stressful meal for me as WCC tends to wind your kids up and then we were there for THREE hours!!! I feel like I didn't get to talk much!

I can't wait to hear how the marathon went
my sister (Nancy), her DH and my dad all finished in about 3 hours! It was so inspirational and emotional to be at the finish line -

A little after they crossed the finish line we heard they ran out of medals - how heartbreaking for the people at the end - who the medals would have meant the most to!!

Disney has a lot of work to do on the marathon - we got a lot of misinformation about it!

We were told they were out of medals as well! As my BIL and I crossed the finish line, we were told to give our mailing addresses at the information booth and they would mail us our medals. I was LIVID!!! I really wanted something to show for what I had just accomplished. Scott and I went to the information line, and there were hundreds of unhappy people waiting there. While waiting, we called Alan's phone to find out where he and Carrie were and they told us they had just crossed the finish line and gotten their medals. WHAT!!!!! Apparently, someone had misplaced several boxes of the medals. We explained what we were in line for, and Alan said he'd try to get our medals.

Now, here comes the really baffling part of the story. Carrie tucked her medal into her shirt, but Alan had his out on his chest. They went back to the medal person, and explained what had happened to Scott and me. Alan asked if he could just take my medal to me. The person said, no I need to see her official number first. Then she handed both Alan and Carrie another medal and walked off. So, even though I didn't get my medal as I crossed the finish line, I did get my medal placed around my neck by the love of my life!

It was pretty chaotic there at the finish line, that's for sure!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Bernadette - For $2 per pin I would definitely buy a ton. Those pins are usually $5.50 each, and pins at the parks start around $6.95. I bought some for DS before Christmas but I don't know if he will trade them or keep them. I bought Pinocchio, Blue Fairy, Jiminy Cricket, Captain Hook, Pirate Mickey, Nemo, Flounder, and I think a few others. I need to see what they have on sale and get him some duplicates to trade.
I think we might do LTT and Cape May. Like DH said, I will change our ADRs at least 6 times between the 180 day mark and the day of departure, but I need to have a plan going in!

Glynis - I haven't watched the video of Tigger, but I am wondering if there is some sort of air tube in the costume that the kid managed to crimp or otherwise obstruct so Tigger really wasn't getting any air. One of my charges bit me in the butt years ago, and I ended up knocking her backwards with my foot because I couldn't reach her well enough to make her let go. She just sort of sat down - she wasn't hurt. When something catches you off guard like that you can't always help how you react!

 

[Glynis]

Hi Kate

to your dad, sister and her DH. Shame that Disney ran out of medals, you would think they would make sure they had enough.

Glad you got to meet Glynis and Ellen.

It was so much fun for us to meet Kate and Ellen! Ellen's boys and husband are so wonderful! It was so fun to talk to them, and joke around with them. Ellen has a fabulous family!

Kate's family was darling, and I thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet all 4 of them! I got to sit next to Julia during dinner and it was pure joy! She is a delightful little girl! I told Alan afterwards that it was so much fun to see other people's children at Disney. Nick and Julia were so lively, I can see where it was frazzling for Kate, but it was so neat to see them!

 

[lovesdumbo]

Paula-thanks so much for the postcard. It is really wonderful!

We had a nice "surprise" party for Joe last night. He said "you hide here, you hide here, you hide here and you hide here." Then I'll come in and you all yell SURPRISE. He had picked out a Cars cake so I bought some plates, naptkins, party hats and a tablecloth. He didn't know about those things so I made him leave the kitchen while I set up the "surprise". He kept asking if his surprise was ready yet. We turned out the lights, told him to come in and all yelled "surprise". He loved it.

When I bought Joe's Cars stuff I got the Pooh stuff for Emma but she told me she wants Mickey this year because she doesn't like Pooh anymore. but was quick to add "I still like all my Pooh toys." I'll bring her to the grocery store to pick out her cake and see what she really wants. Joe wants her to have a "surprise" party too.

So I couldn't stand it anymore. I booked 2 trips today. 4 nights at Pop starting 4/29. Just myself for now. Hope that my friend will join me but I am going. AND 10 nights at POR starting 8/20. Of course we know they aren't "real" until we purchase airfare. I got AAA on both reservations.

 

[my3princes]

We were told they were out of medals as well! As my BIL and I crossed the finish line, we were told to give our mailing addresses at the information booth and they would mail us our medals. I was LIVID!!! I really wanted something to show for what I had just accomplished. Scott and I went to the information line, and there were hundreds of unhappy people waiting there. While waiting, we called Alan's phone to find out where he and Carrie were and they told us they had just crossed the finish line and gotten their medals. WHAT!!!!! Apparently, someone had misplaced several boxes of the medals. We explained what we were in line for, and Alan said he'd try to get our medals.

Now, here comes the really baffling part of the story. Carrie tucked her medal into her shirt, but Alan had his out on his chest. They went back to the medal person, and explained what had happened to Scott and me. Alan asked if he could just take my medal to me. The person said, no I need to see her official number first. Then she handed both Alan and Carrie another medal and walked off. So, even though I didn't get my medal as I crossed the finish line, I did get my medal placed around my neck by the love of my life!

It was pretty chaotic there at the finish line, that's for sure!

Ok, That brought tears to my eyes. I'm glad that Alan got to place the medal around your neck.

 

[bethbuchall]

We were told they were out of medals as well! As my BIL and I crossed the finish line, we were told to give our mailing addresses at the information booth and they would mail us our medals. I was LIVID!!! I really wanted something to show for what I had just accomplished. Scott and I went to the information line, and there were hundreds of unhappy people waiting there. While waiting, we called Alan's phone to find out where he and Carrie were and they told us they had just crossed the finish line and gotten their medals. WHAT!!!!! Apparently, someone had misplaced several boxes of the medals. We explained what we were in line for, and Alan said he'd try to get our medals.

Now, here comes the really baffling part of the story. Carrie tucked her medal into her shirt, but Alan had his out on his chest. They went back to the medal person, and explained what had happened to Scott and me. Alan asked if he could just take my medal to me. The person said, no I need to see her official number first. Then she handed both Alan and Carrie another medal and walked off. So, even though I didn't get my medal as I crossed the finish line, I did get my medal placed around my neck by the love of my life!
It was pretty chaotic there at the finish line, that's for sure!

That is so sweet.

 

[bethbuchall]

I've been trying to work up a logo for the audience participation challenge, but I don't think I'm doing too well. I think what I have is too complex to be a "logo". I think I'll just pack it in and do something else to waste my time.

 

[Blueeyes101817]

i got an early birthday present.yesterday i emailed my cousin if she wanted to go sept 27-oct 4 2008. AND SHE SAID SURE START PLANNING.

Woohoooo!!Great news!!

 

[my3princes]

I'm off to work. Today has not gone at all as planned. My boss called this morning and needed me to book airfare and a car rental for his trip next week. apparently he needed it done now as he walked into the house while I was talking to him on the phone I don't know what your houses look like in the morning, but mine was a mess. Anyhow I got it all booked, but it made the boys 15 minutes late for school. When I got back I checked my email to make sure we received all the confirmations and one leg of airfare was missing. Thankfully I was able to book it then so all is ok. I had also planned to run errands while the boys were in preschool, but my mother (she works in the same building) was short 2 people and needed my help. Oh well, at least the day is 1/2 over. Talk to you all tonight.

Deb

 

[Blueeyes101817]

I just got back from the DMV. Had my licensed renewed. I was in and out of there in under 20 minutes. That has to be a record!

that really is a record!!!

 

[Blueeyes101817]

Elizabeth-congrats on the milestone! i realized we were close last night and then forgot about it!

 

[Tammi67]

So, even though I didn't get my medal as I crossed the finish line, I did get my medal placed around my neck by the love of my life!

 

[Tammi67]

So I couldn't stand it anymore. I booked 2 trips today. 4 nights at Pop starting 4/29.

That's when I will be down there!!!

 

[jackskellingtonsgirl]

Bernadette - Yay! It looks like I will get to see you and Anne Marie in August! We are there until Aug. 24. I am waiting until the airfare goes down a bit. It is still $278 per person, unless we go out a day early on some funky airline and fly to Minnesota first (or some screwy thing). Gotta love how those airfare search sites will give you ALL the option to get from point A to point B!