The DDA Trouble Free Zone Part 3

[Glynis]

Glynis,

She loves all Princesses! The boys like Donald, Mickey and the gang, Captain Hook/Peter Pan, Hercules, Pocahontas. I'd love to see some ideas. I was thinking a cake like a castle and put the boys monorails circling the cake.

There's a really cute castle cake in the book that doesn't look too difficult to do. I'll scan the pictures and instructions and email them to you if you want, or I can copy them and snail mail them to you. I also have recipes for Princess Pasta, Cinderella's Coach Crudite and Dip, and several other recipes.

For Peter Pan, there are Pirate Ship Po' Boy Sandwiches, and a really cute idea on how to make racoon head ice cream treats that you could use for Meeko.

There are games like Mermaid Marathon, Starfish fishing, Dress up Dash, The Cinder Sweep, Cinderella's Designer Gown, Once Upon a Time (story writing activity), Peter Pan's Shadow Hunt, Walk the Plank, Capt. Hook's Treasure Chest.

Just let me know what you want and I'll get to working on it!

 

[Glynis]

Glynis-

Hope the kiddos feel better shortly. Popsicles are magical!!

Aren't they? I remember my mom always having popsicles on hand, and we always felt better.

I'm happy to report that my 2 oldest kids are feeling about 90% better. Twins are still napping, which is a good sign. Hopefully, they'll be better when they wake up. I was going to do meat loaf for dinner tonight, but I think I'll stick with something a little more bland for tender tummies instead. Perhaps some chicken soup and cheese sammies. Any other good ideas for dinner for those recovering from illness?

Thanks, everyone, for all the PD. It seems to be working yet again!

 

[Glynis]

What kind of camper do you all have? Is it a 5th wheel or a full-size? My DH would like to go camping, but I don't know if I'm woodsy enough.

I am completely not outdoorsy, but lately I've come to enjoy our camping trips. It helps that DH doesn't make me sleep on the ground anymore, and I always insist on camping somewhere there are flushing toilets (there are some things you just can't do without, ya know?)

We've had some of our best family talks and fun times camping. We are totally reliant on each other to make the vacation the best ever. I highly recommend camping for all families. However, if you've got babies, it's just not the funnest. Once they start walking, it's much better. Try it, you just might like it. I'll gladly share any of my camping tips, recipes, whatever.

 

[Glynis]

Hey Y'all! I am sorry I haven't popped in lately!

Things have been hectic! I promised Dh I would stop dreaming the day away on the computer! He wasn't being mean just helping me get off my duff and beat the winter blues!

Grace has been struggling with her school work, reading specifically and we have been exploring her options then this week --- surprise things seemed to click (oh yeah and a little bribery) and she is reading great. So I read a little but feel so badly not reading it all and responding to so much! I do miss you! Sending best wishes to all of you!

It has been good for me to be on my duff less and I need to get organized!!!!!! Thanks for asking about me and

&
Nancy

Nice to see you again! Glad to hear that things are clicking with Grace. Just check in with us once in a while, or poor Kate has to deal with all of us wondering where you are. We miss you, but totally understand the need to focus on family.

 

[tink2020]

Hey Y'all! I am sorry I haven't popped in lately!

Things have been hectic! I promised Dh I would stop dreaming the day away on the computer! He wasn't being mean just helping me get off my duff and beat the winter blues!

Grace has been struggling with her school work, reading specifically and we have been exploring her options then this week --- surprise things seemed to click (oh yeah and a little bribery) and she is reading great. So I read a little but feel so badly not reading it all and responding to so much! I do miss you! Sending best wishes to all of you!

It has been good for me to be on my duff less and I need to get organized!!!!!! Thanks for asking about me and

&
Nancy

Hello! Thanks for stopping in and saying hi!

Yay for Grace, for being such a good reader!

 

[tmfranlk]

Hi, everyone. Today is much better. I am very impressed with the school system the kids will be going to for Kindergarten. We started the process for Rees to be evaluated by the schools for assistance/therapy/special needs help in K (he'll be mainstreamed). Our meeting with them is 3/10. Well, today at school the head of the eval team showed up at Rees' school to observe him in the classroom so she would have an even better idea of what services they will need to provide for him. I was floored that a public school system would send an educator to a private pre-school! I'm even more excited about it now.

I have a project for the DDA! The kids' 6th b'day party will be a DISNEY THEME!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, I need all you brilliant DDAers to help me come up with party invites, thank you's, games, cake ideas, party favors (was thinking Kate's name design on a tote bag or t-shirt), etc. We are going to have the party at home and will rent a Disney themed moon bounce and probably either a popcorn or snow cone machine. I would expect around 30-40 kids and parents. We're going to do it from 2-4pm so just cake, ice cream, and some snack items. I told DH last night that if I gave y'all the challenge, the kids would have the most awesome party ever! And I'll need some extra back up ideas so if it rains (and the kids can't use the Moon Bounce) I'll have enough to do. Davis wants Power Rangers, Brantley-Kate wants Princess, and Rees wants Donald Duck/Mickey (and Power Rangers).

And did you see my new beach ticker? I'm very excited about that trip too!

I'm glad to see your WDW ticker back. I was afraid you had cancelled the trip. I need lots of Christmas trip people to live vicarously through since I am still having second thoughts about changing to Oct.

It sounds like Rees school is going to be great for him. How encouraging that they go extra steps to observe him to work out the best plans.

I'm not sure about birthday ideas, but will have to think one it. The one thing I did think of was for the popcorn if you rent a machine. Maybe you could buy small white bags at a craft store and print pictures for each child's theme on the bags. I was going to do iron ons onto little canvas bags (about $1 each at the craft store) to use instead of treat bags. I also borrowed your book idea and made the main "treat" item a Jojo book to match her theme.

 

[tmfranlk]

Thanks, Tammi. The beach house my brother rented has 5 bedrooms and a bonus game room with an air hockey table. The kids get a bunk room with 2 sets of bunk beds. And the pool in the neighborhood is 12000 square feet (yes, you read that right). I am so happy he invited us to go with them!

That sounds like so much fun! I would love to do something like that with my family sometime. Hopefully, our big Disney trip next spring will pan out and I'll get a little bit of it that way.

 

[PNO4TE]

YAY!! I will finally get to meet the QUEEN!!!

Now all we need are the rooms!

 

[tmfranlk]

My summer is starting to look pretty busy. We have a 1 1/2 week camping trip planned for our favorite campground in July. The best part is that it will only cost us $50 for the reservation. We usually go to that campground for 3 weekends each summer. They do a lot of themed weekends and offer prizes for site decorating and costumes etc. We did really well last year and won enough contests to have a practically free vacation. In fact we were only going for a week, but Chris won the Halloween costume contest so we had to add more days on. . It is only about an hour from home so Chris may actually work some of the days and join us in the evenings. My Parents booked an ajoining site for 1 week of our stay. We will have a blast, but no internet . I have had that trip planned since last fall. Yesterday we were invited to join my parents and my brother at Point Sebago campground in Maine. They booked 2 sites and apparently the campground is running a special where you can have up to 6 people per campsite for no extra charge. Usually there is a charge if you have more than 2 adults and 2 children. We can join them for the whole week or just for a few days if we like. Mom also said that she would keep the kids the whole week if Chris and I wanted to come home. Since Chris is saving his time this year for our 2 3 week Disney Vacations in 2007 & 2008 I don't know how much he or I will stay in Maine. The campground/Resort even has free kids programs running all day everyday. Here is a link to the Resort

http://www.pointsebago.com/

We also have 3 other camping weekends planned so it looks like we should be busy. It's not Disney, but at least it will be a change of pace.

Deb

How fun!! I love to camp. One of our best summers was when we spent a week camping across Kansas and Colorado with my best friend's family.

 

[marcij]

Glynis -- hope all your kids feel better soon and that you don't get it!

Deb -- don't worry about the pictures. I didn't want you to go to trouble -- you've got enough work to do. Good luck on the sugaring!

 

[UP Disney]

I am completely not outdoorsy, but lately I've come to enjoy our camping trips. It helps that DH doesn't make me sleep on the ground anymore, and I always insist on camping somewhere there are flushing toilets (there are some things you just can't do without, ya know?)

We've had some of our best family talks and fun times camping. We are totally reliant on each other to make the vacation the best ever. I highly recommend camping for all families. However, if you've got babies, it's just not the funnest. Once they start walking, it's much better. Try it, you just might like it. I'll gladly share any of my camping tips, recipes, whatever.

We have a pop-up camper. We go several week-ends every summer. I tent camped as a child and loved it but my DH just isn't into that. I have to admit, I love the camper on those rainy days! We really got interested in kayaking a couple of years ago. It is wonderful being out on the lake day and night. My DH and I really enjoy it together.

I sleep under the stars at Girl Scout camp. I have a wonderful mattress that works great outside under my sleeping bag. There is nothing more magical than falling asleep under a sky full of stars.

 

[my3princes]

What kind of camper do you all have? Is it a 5th wheel or a full-size? My DH would like to go camping, but I don't know if I'm woodsy enough.

We have a 30 foot Travel Trailer. It has all of the conveniences of home. We started out with a tent, when Nick was little we moved up into a
$500 very used pop-up. We had that for a couple of years then bought a little Toyota Motor home. I really liked that, but it was hard to go anywhere once you set up. Once the 3rd kid came along there wasn't enough room for all of us. Chris got a new truck so we sold the motorhome and bought our current Travel Trailer. This is the first new camper that we have had. I expect that we will have this one for a long time to come. My parents have a 5th wheel. They are nice, but you have to have a tow vehicle that will pull it. My parents bought their camper and were told that their truck would have no trouble pulling it. They ended up buying a diesel as they hated pulling with the old truck. Now they wish they had gotten a larger 5th Wheel. My brother also has a diesel truck and an older 5th wheel that he bought used.

If you are really thinking about getting into camping I would suggest borrowing or renting a camper and going for a trial run. We really enjoy it, but we aren't woodsy at all. We camp at private campground with lots of activities. It is a relatively inexpensive way to get away for weekends.
I think I have a photo of us at Fort Wilderness. I'll see if I can find it.

Deb

 

[tinker1bell]

I have searched through my digital archives and can't find any photos of our sugaring operation and I have no idea where the old 35 mm photos are. The good news is that we will be boiling soon so I will take photos along the way and post. You can live vicariously through me for the next month or so.

Glynis I am finding links for the recipes that I use

Maple Candy
http://www.newenglandrecipes.com/maple/candyandcookies/maplecandy01.shtml

Maple Sugar on Snow (crushed ice works too)
http://www.newenglandrecipes.com/maple/candyandcookies/maplesnow01.shtml

Maple Cream (you can cut this recipe as it makes a lot)
http://homecooking.about.com/library/archive/bljelly40.htm

Maple Sticky buns
I use frozen bread dough. Roll it out until it is about 1/4" thick. Spread maple cream over the surface. Roll it up and cut into 1 - 2" pieces. Lay them on their sides in a 9" X 9" grease pan. Bake according to bread instructions. They will be similar to cinnamon buns, but much more tasty.


I hope that helps. There are tons of recipes on line for using Maple Syrup in recipes. Baked Beans is a huge one around here. Have fun.

Deb

Deb,
There I was opening my Better Homes and Gardens magazine, March 2006 issue and there is an issue on "Tapping the Good Life" a family in Landsgrove, VT who makes maple syrup!!!
I kept reading thru it, thinking of you and your family.

Terry

 

[babytrees]

I wanted to chime in on the camping and say, although late to camping game we love to tent camp now!! We bought all of our equipment (and I mean all and then some!! ) Labor Day 2004, paying just over $200. Since then we keep adding to the equipment(who knew there was so much you just have to have? ).
It is great to get in the car and go find a campsite for $12 a night and spend a great weekend with the family!! We'll be going for longer than 4 days for the first time at Ft Wilderness this summer. We are so excited!!
I have tent camped as a Girl Scout and my husband used to hunt so we are experienced tenters.
I have promised the girls if we ever won the lottery(we have to actually play) we would buy a motor home and travel from coast to coast taking our own sweet time.

 

[tinker1bell]

Glynis---I remember all 5 of us kids being sick for about a week. I was the oldest and the youngest was 11 years younger than me. My poor mother was so excited when each of us got better so we could help her.


Denise---we have about 105 days till our time at the shore.
I cannot wait. Each of us have our own room, DH will be able to go shore fishing. I know your excitement. What beach are you going to?

Sounds like a lot of good ideas are coming your way for party ideas.

 

[my3princes]

I wanted to chime in on the camping and say, although late to camping game we love to tent camp now!! We bought all of our equipment (and I mean all and then some!! ) Labor Day 2004, paying just over $200. Since then we keep adding to the equipment(who knew there was so much you just have to have? ).
It is great to get in the car and go find a campsite for $12 a night and spend a great weekend with the family!! We'll be going for longer than 4 days for the first time at Ft Wilderness this summer. We are so excited!!
I have tent camped as a Girl Scout and my husband used to hunt so we are experienced tenters.
I have promised the girls if we ever won the lottery(we have to actually play) we would buy a motor home and travel from coast to coast taking our own sweet time.

I have tent camped at FW in July/eary August. All I can say is that is was really really hot. There was no place to get out of the heat other than the buses and bath houses. If you are driving bring an airconditioner to put in your doorway. We flew down with only the bare necessities and I have to say that it is the only time I was ready to leave Disney. We also tent camped a lot, but the heat was something else. BTW Fort Wilderness is our absolute favorite campground and we have camped there 5 times. That is a 28 hour drive from Vermont.

Deb

 

[my3princes]

Deb,
There I was opening my Better Homes and Gardens magazine, March 2006 issue and there is an issue on "Tapping the Good Life" a family in Landsgrove, VT who makes maple syrup!!!
I kept reading thru it, thinking of you and your family.

Terry

I guess I'll need to check out the article.

Deb

 

[my3princes]

Here are a couple of pictures of our Camper. They are not at FW, but at our favorite NE campground. This was a Christmas themed weekend, thus the christmas decorations.

Deb

 

[tmfranlk]

I have promised the girls if we ever won the lottery(we have to actually play) we would buy a motor home and travel from coast to coast taking our own sweet time.

My best friend and I were just taling about doing that last night. Apparently, it's a dream we both have. So, we may be 65 before it happens, but we WILL go. And yes, we will be includiing a good week or two at Ft. Wilderness.

 

[itdjbw]

I have promised the girls if we ever won the lottery(we have to actually play) we would buy a motor home and travel from coast to coast taking our own sweet time.

That is something we would love to do but over a long period once the kids are grown, there are so many places I would still love to see and am not the camping kind.

I Did take my kids 2 years ago and tent camped with some friends that have been going to the same place for 20 years every easter weekend, they are very organized and have everything for camping including the kitchen. The kids had a great time and have been nagging since of course DH stayed at home he is not sleeping in a tent if there is a hotel within 500 miles