The Last of the OCD Type A Planners To Get Her Dec 2011 TR started...

[shocky5]

We made our way over to Kilamanjaro Safari... we'd never rode this ride in the afternoon - we'd always gone first thing in the morning on our previous trips. It actually felt like the animals were active on this trip!

Here are some of the favorite pictures I snapped:

All in all, we had a great 1/2 day at AK. We left before the afternoon parade and headed back to the Polynesian to let the kids get their swim on.... and what a night we had! <cliffhanger...>

 

[KatMark]

Great updates, Amy. Sounds like a perfect 1/2 day at the AK. And for all three kids doing EE!!!!

You got some terrific shots on the safari...and I don't recall seeing a single "rear end" shot.

 

[shocky5]

Great updates, Amy. Sounds like a perfect 1/2 day at the AK. And for all three kids doing EE!!!!

You got some terrific shots on the safari...and I don't recall seeing a single "rear end" shot.

Thanks Kathy! I hadn't thought about the "rear end" shots but that may become a goal next trip!

I know I've liked your status announcement on fb but I wanted to personally tell you CONGRATS on Markie's engagement! So exciting! Can't wait to hear how the details of their wedding come about!

 

[annmarieda]

Very cool on the job. I saw you added it to your work on fb... and thought "hmm... I didn't know she worked in the medical field"

I can't believe your experience getting lunch!! I also for the life of me can not figure out where you are eating.

The pictures from safari are excellent!!!

Can't wait to read more.

 

[shocky5]

Okay - I'm going to go ahead and finish up 12/22 day of our trip.

We left Animal Kingdom after the Safari content with all we had accomplished! We wanted to head back to the Polynesian, let the kids swim, and just let the evening unfold.

We caught a bus back to the Poly, don't recall any issues with crowdedness, I actually think we got on pretty quickly! After one stop at the Contemporary, we were pulling into the Poly. I had decided I would do another quick round of laundry - basically because our trip was so warm, we were running out of shorts again and we still had a day at MK to go before our trip came to an end.

When we got to the Poly, Nolan wanted to get his 'girlfriend' a Christmas present and Erin still wanted to get her bff's something as well. So we stopped in the Boutiki shop and found a cute necklace for Nolan's sweet friend, and some bracelets for Erin's friends. While the family was browsing, it dawned on me that I hadn't stopped by the Wyland Gallery yet in the Polynesian lobby. During the 14 month planning and building phase of our new clinic at work, we were purchasing pieces of art through Donna, the manager, at this gallery. So I'd emailed with her and spoke to her on the phone but had not met her personally. I stopped in, introduced myself and was thrown into a huge bear hug and before I knew it she was introducing me to her staff. I "think" not many people purchase the quantity of paintings we purchased from Wyland. Donna was so incredibly sweet. Erin is super into art and Donna caught on to that quickly and gave her several art books, coffee table style, to Erin for "christmas." Erin was ecstatic and so was I. I was sort of concerned about the weight they were going to add to our luggage... We ended up buying a tote the next day at MK though to just carry them on the plane.

We finally said our goodbyes - the kids were wanting to go swim and I was a nervous wreck with how comfortable they were beginning to make themselves in this art gallery.... Donna insisted on taking our family picture by the Christmas tree in the Polynesian lobby.

And we insisted on taking a picture with Donna.

She was such a special, sweet lady and she is undoubtedly the one I will send pictures of our new clinic to.

Back to the Hawaii longhouse we went and soon the kids were in their swimsuits and chomping at the bit to go to the pool. We were pretty sure this was their last time to get to go swimming as we had a full day ahead at MK the next day. Eddie took the kids and I went to the laundry mat. I decided this time to just stay there and wait for the wash cycle to complete and read my book (it was so pleasantly silent) and then toss them in the dryer and head to the pool.

Later that evening, our friends from home that we met up with some texted us to tell us they were at the luau and wanted to know if we wanted to meet up poolside when they got out. We thought we'd have time to feed the kids but failed to get that done before they were texting us that the luau was over. So we got some snacks from Samoa Jack's and headed back to the pool.

This is where 'bad parenting' ensues... the beach movie was on - so we put Erin in charge of the two little ones and the oldest boy of the other family in charge of Nolan and Nate. They stayed right there by us - watched Tangled and we sampled drinks from the poolside bar. Tangled ended, the CM's picked up the screen and we continued to sample drinks from the poolside bar. The kids asked if they could go swimming and of course we said "SURE! Have at it." While we continued to sample drinks from the poolside bar. By this time, we were on a first name basis with the bartender... It was pretty harmless... the only thing I feel really guilty about... was that the youngest child of the other family kept coming and hiding in this bush (picture tall reed type bush, bamboo maybe?) right by our table. It finally dawned on us to ask him why he kept getting inside the bush... turns out the boys told him that the ferry boat would take him away so everytime he'd hear the ferry boat horn, he'd come hide in the bush... poor baby... We did watch the electric water pageant, pieces of the Memories, the Magic and You, as well as Wishes. It was a great time! We closed the pool down and then some... which was a good thing because the poolside bar closed down as well and it was time to make a decision... figure out how to get our friends back to their resort or let their family of 5 crash on our floor. Eddie and I sent Erin and the boys up to our room and we dutifully walked them over to the Transportation and Ticket Center, giggling the entire way, before it dawned on us that there are no resort buses at the TTC. SO they caught the monorail back to MK, and caught a bus there back to their resort. I think we were in bed by 12:30a (thank God the monorail was still going) and they made it back by 1:30a. "I think"

As Eddie and I walked back to the Polynesian and to our room, happily hand in hand, he says "What time do we have to get up in the morning?"

 

[shocky5]

Very cool on the job. I saw you added it to your work on fb... and thought "hmm... I didn't know she worked in the medical field"

I can't believe your experience getting lunch!! I also for the life of me can not figure out where you are eating.

The pictures from safari are excellent!!!

Can't wait to read more.

I think I will always consider myself a teacher! Even though I'm not sure I will ever go back in the classroom. I could see myself doing that when the kids are high school/college age or after they are out of the house and I need to work a few more years... I keep up with my licensure... still pushing towards finishing my masters (which I should have finished last year but life interfered with that a little bit) but I'm going to reach a point when all I have left is intern hours and I don't have an answer for myself on when I will get that done... I don't even know if I consider myself in the medical field... lol Although I surprise myself from time to time in diagnosing my own kids... Drives my boss, their pediatrician, crazy. It's not a 'career' I was looking for, but I do enjoy the work and it pays well and I'm definitely a 'kid' person so it works for us right now. I do miss my summers though...

Okay the food stand... the stand reminded me of a circus train cart... it was like a box... one window where you ordered and paid and the second where you picked up your order. It is on the walkway from EE over to Kilamanjaro Safari or Tusker... It's next to the water that separates Asia from the Tree of Life... I will do a search and find a name for you!

 

[annmarieda]

Okay the food stand... the stand reminded me of a circus train cart... it was like a box... one window where you ordered and paid and the second where you picked up your order. It is on the walkway from EE over to Kilamanjaro Safari or Tusker... It's next to the water that separates Asia from the Tree of Life... I will do a search and find a name for you!

No worries, I think it is safari wings or something like that. I just can't place where it is. I bet I have walked by it a dozen times.

Love your wrap up of 12/22. I dont think you are a bad mom for having the evening you did with friends. Sounds pretty harmless to me. I think it is neat you were able to do it. 12/22 was the day we flew home. I thought you texted me back and forth that night...

The photo of you in front of the tree is priceless! I think it is definitely a "Christmas 2011" keeper.

How cool you got to meet the gal in the gallery How special that she gave Erin a present!

 

[shocky5]

No worries, I think it is safari wings or something like that. I just can't place where it is. I bet I have walked by it a dozen times.

Love your wrap up of 12/22. I dont think you are a bad mom for having the evening you did with friends. Sounds pretty harmless to me. I think it is neat you were able to do it. 12/22 was the day we flew home. I thought you texted me back and forth that night...

The photo of you in front of the tree is priceless! I think it is definitely a "Christmas 2011" keeper.

How cool you got to meet the gal in the gallery How special that she gave Erin a present!

We did text back and forth that night because if memory serves me right, you were not happy with the airlines!!

It was fun to spend time with friends that evening - I just don't normally do that and on vacation with the kids no less... let's just say Eddie and I were worried about making rd the next day at MK in light of our late evening!

 

[momabaarjo]

I AM SO GLAD YOU DID A LIFE UPDATE....I HAVE BEEN SO CONFUSED WITH PICTURES ON FACEBOOK AND WHAT I THOUGHT I KNEW ABOUT YOU FROM HERE...and I really thought I lost my mind.
Congrats to you, I sure wish a new door would open for me!

 

[momabaarjo]

I love the lady helping you with your tray...poor Eddie!

How fun for you to pick out art that is Disney and Poly and get to see it everyday!

Love the picture of the family that Donna took!

I like your bad parenting...hanging out at the bar and getting to know the bartender sounds like a lot of fun. Why can't I have fun friends like that?

 

[shocky5]

I AM SO GLAD YOU DID A LIFE UPDATE....I HAVE BEEN SO CONFUSED WITH PICTURES ON FACEBOOK AND WHAT I THOUGHT I KNEW ABOUT YOU FROM HERE...and I really thought I lost my mind.
Congrats to you, I sure wish a new door would open for me!

Glad I cleared the confusion! You just never know about opportunities, Tammie! Mine hit when I least expected it and while I continue finishing my masters, and wonder while I'm doing endless writing assignments, if it's all for not. But I'm too close to not finish it...

I love the lady helping you with your tray...poor Eddie!

How fun for you to pick out art that is Disney and Poly and get to see it everyday!

Love the picture of the family that Donna took!

I like your bad parenting...hanging out at the bar and getting to know the bartender sounds like a lot of fun. Why can't I have fun friends like that?

You have fun friends like that - we are just spread out nationwide! I'll be thinking of you and your family heading back into school tomorrow. We officially start our spring break this week so I've taken most of the week off from work- going in briefly tomorrow, working 1/2 day Tuesday and that's it. My goal, you ask, for the week? FINISH UNPACKING the last remaining boxes from our move 11 months ago...

 

[shocky5]

I last left off with Eddie and I walking back to our room from the TTC with our friends, to find our children actually in their PJ's and IN BED snoozing. Score 1 for big sister making that happen.

I think I failed to show you what towel animal we found when we got back to our room...

So on one of our prior days we found this towel animal in our room... We'd been to DTD the day before and of course the kids loaded up on candy at Goofy's... and mousekeeping took full advantage of the boy's candy!

Thought it was so cute!

Even though Eddie and I could have easily slept in from the prior night's activities, we valued our final day at Disney World and were going to spend the day at MK. Our first day there had been just the kids and I and while we ended up having a great evening, the day was not what I had 'built up in my head' for that particular day, so I was hopeful this day would make up for that.

We got up, one more Mickey wake up call, got the kids dressed, grabbed breakfast from the concierge lounge, and proceeded to the monorail. There was no way for us to make rope drop but we were going to do our best to get there as early as we could and enjoy our day. I took a few more shots of the Polynesian as we walked to the monorail station.

It was promising to be a beautiful sunny day. Our objectives for the day were to ride Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, BTMRR, Snow White, Winnie The Pooh, Peter Pan, POC, HM, the train, and catch the Christmas Parade (since the kids and I had missed it on our MVMCP night).

We made it into the park with very little trouble - I don't even recall that the park seemed very busy which was a pleasant surprise since we were two days away from Christmas Day. We opted to head over to SM and grab fast passes and then go back over to BTMRR, SplashM, and Fantasyland.

We were able to snap some pictures upon entering the park, this time with Eddie in them.

Eddie was quickly impressed with the holiday decor at MK. I know this because he hadn't commented too much about the decor in the other parks - he had mentioned that he liked the Christmas trees, etc. but he really made several comments about all of the decor in MK.

We did stop and complete some 'fast shopping' on Main Street. We wanted to buy Erin's basketball coach a tie, who has close to 100, for Christmas and I found a waterproof tote for the day... after all, Splash Mountain was on today's list.

After we gained our SpaceM fp's, we walked back over towards Adventureland and saw this show going on at the Castle.

We were going to go to Frontierland first but dared to ride this ride as we approached.

After riding POC, we ran into this character... a first meet and greet for us!

He really played the part very well. He was completely into chatting it up with the boys, pretty stand-offish with Erin - he did comment on 'the treasures on her teeth and said he'd like treasures on his teeth, too.' She thought that was funny!

We next stopped by a photopass photographer who took some great shots of our family, even a few of just Eddie and I and a few of just the kids. These proved to be some of my favorites. (side note: After I finish this report, I'm going to upload those and share our photopass pics with you as a grand finale to this TR.)

Making our way into Frontierland - we had to make a potty break and we chose the bathrooms back behind Splash Mountain. And as we finished our potty break, we see a very empty queue for Splash Mountain. It was around 10 a.m., already warm, so we threw caution to the wind and opted to 'risk getting wet.'

Our seating arrangment... Nate is behind me with Nolan - I was single rider... I chose the front to attempt to duck at the last second to avoid being soaked... did it work??

And the plunge!!!

Successful ride. Of course we were wet but it wasn't bad. I've definitely had worse! So we headed to BTMRR next! It was around 10:30a... wonder what kind of line we would find??

 

[shocky5]

The line to BTMRR was a mere 10 minute walk on! I'm a little bit fuzzy on this one but I do believe we went ahead and grabbed a fp anyway and considered just keeping it on hand should the park get busier.

We were ready to load in no time at all.

We absolutely love this ride. So what did we do? We rode it again. Didn't have to use our fp so we tucked that away for later.

We finished BTMRR one more time and then decided we would grab some lunch. It was about 11a or shortly there after. We were very satisfied with how our morning had progressed so easily. I think this was probably our shortcoming for what would happen after lunch. Not sure if we did the right thing stopping for lunch this early or not but two things sent us to eat...we were starving and we had an early ADR at 'Ohana for dinner so we didn't want to be 'too full' for that meal. We went to Pecos Bill, which by the way we thoroughly enjoyed this quick service. My kids left nothing on their plates (Eddie or I either for that matter), and I think we all had the pulled pork bbq sandwich with french fries. It was great!

After lunch, we thought we'd head to HM. We arrived and opted to go 'through the cemetary.' At first the kids complained about this because they could only focus on 'getting on the ride as quickly as possible,' but once they found the interactive queue, they were completely happy that we opted to go through the cemetary.

"Fake happy" in this picture... still whining about going the loooooong way

And not whining anymore....

And I took the risk of offending those around me and snapped this picture of Eddie and I in the 'stretching room' before the story began.... I like it because his eyes are so big...

After HM, it was time to go ride Space Mountain! I do believe we used our fp for SM, but not before getting another one for later that day. We were planning on leaving after the Christmas Parade to go back to our room and get ready for our 'Ohana ADR.

At this poing in my TR, I either don't have the remainder of my personal pictures uploaded to photobucket yet, or I didn't take anymore, which would shock me... so I will check on that before concluding our day at MK.

SO I will leave you with us riding SM...

 

[annmarieda]

You certainly are getting a lot accomplished. Dont you just love walking right onto a ride and then doing it again?

So Peter Pan... first time you met him, or first character meeting of the trip? Sorry... I am up later than I should be and I am easily confused.

My ds was just like your kids in complaining about going the "long way" round HM. That is until we got into the cemetery good!

Glad your lunch was good at Pecos Bills... you know how my meal there went.

I too plan a finale with pp pictures. Course, at the rate I am going it is going to be a while. Are you that close to being done

And... I hope Ohana was good. It is always a favorite of mine.

 

[shocky5]

You certainly are getting a lot accomplished. Dont you just love walking right onto a ride and then doing it again?

So Peter Pan... first time you met him, or first character meeting of the trip? Sorry... I am up later than I should be and I am easily confused.

My ds was just like your kids in complaining about going the "long way" round HM. That is until we got into the cemetery good!

Glad your lunch was good at Pecos Bills... you know how my meal there went.

I too plan a finale with pp pictures. Course, at the rate I am going it is going to be a while. Are you that close to being done

And... I hope Ohana was good. It is always a favorite of mine.

No, not first character meet - first time to ever meet/see Peter Pan!

I am that close to being done - I have our dinner at 'Ohana and our evening back at MK, then our departure morning and flight home... and no future trip planned back yet! I'm just enjoying your new ticker!

'Ohana was good!!

 

[annmarieda]

No, not first character meet - first time to ever meet/see Peter Pan!

I am that close to being done - I have our dinner at 'Ohana and our evening back at MK, then our departure morning and flight home... and no future trip planned back yet! I'm just enjoying your new ticker!

'Ohana was good!!

I am thinking I will never finish mine. I am coming to the end of 12/18... but then there will be 12/19, 12/20, 12/21 12/22 and then I will do a wrap up for 12/23 (since we arrived home technically on that day and had vacation drama then) That is a lot of updates I still have to do. I just hope to get to them before my trip in the fall. I put a ticker on... but I can't manage a TR and a PTR...so for now, no PTR.

And no future trip? What about 2013? You could put a ticker on for that. I would... I might still. I bet that once we get into the summer I might. Sheesh, I know when we all started talking about it 20 months seemed so far. Now with the thought that summer is around the corner, fall 2013 will be a year away in no time. I think we should plan for September. Any thoughts? I will be honest... my reason is that if Betsy and I are sucessful in doing the run in September she wants to then do the princess half in (?) february. If we are also going again in the fall... then getting an AP might make sense for me...but getting it this September means going before it expires...so would have to go next September with all of you.

And...speaking of the princess half... are you planning that?

Ok, I am rambling on...on YOUR TR. I need to go to bed.

 

[shocky5]

I am thinking I will never finish mine. I am coming to the end of 12/18... but then there will be 12/19, 12/20, 12/21 12/22 and then I will do a wrap up for 12/23 (since we arrived home technically on that day and had vacation drama then) That is a lot of updates I still have to do. I just hope to get to them before my trip in the fall. I put a ticker on... but I can't manage a TR and a PTR...so for now, no PTR.

And no future trip? What about 2013? You could put a ticker on for that. I would... I might still. I bet that once we get into the summer I might. Sheesh, I know when we all started talking about it 20 months seemed so far. Now with the thought that summer is around the corner, fall 2013 will be a year away in no time. I think we should plan for September. Any thoughts? I will be honest... my reason is that if Betsy and I are sucessful in doing the run in September she wants to then do the princess half in (?) february. If we are also going again in the fall... then getting an AP might make sense for me...but getting it this September means going before it expires...so would have to go next September with all of you.

And...speaking of the princess half... are you planning that?

Ok, I am rambling on...on YOUR TR. I need to go to bed.

I could put a ticker on for our fall 2013! You are right - it will be here before we know it!

I would love to join you for the princess half in February. Time will tell. I'm getting ready to start beefing up the running again. I got pretty lazy after our vacation and holidays. But I'm starting boot camp back up on the 26th - those are my 5a work outs... Fun but so hard to get up that early until after I've done it a week or so.

I did ask Eddie if we could plan a drive out to Disney World next summer (2013) since it looks like we will plan a cruise in 2014 for my parent's 50th anniversary... he did NOT put his fingers in his ears... so I'm making progress there... The only thing we have on the books this year so far is a trip to Arlington in July to see the Rangers and the Twins play - spend a few days in Dallas/Fort Worth, and then he and I are going to Las Vegas over New Years. So I have a couple of things to look forward to that will get here before we know it and then "voila" it'll be 2013!

 

[KatMark]

Congrats on the real life update. What a great gift from Donna to Erin.

I love your pool time and getting to know the bartender...my kind of pool time.

What a great start to your MK day! Loving all the pictures.

 

[shocky5]

Congrats on the real life update. What a great gift from Donna to Erin.

I love your pool time and getting to know the bartender...my kind of pool time.

What a great start to your MK day! Loving all the pictures.

Thank you Kathy! It was very sweet of Donna to give the art books to Erin.

I'm honestly so happy we spent more time at the resort and the pool this trip. The downtime, as opposed to the 'go go go' attitude made a big difference for us. We seldom ever stop and just 'be' and it was nice to do that for a change.

 

[annmarieda]

I could put a ticker on for our fall 2013! You are right - it will be here before we know it!

Strange to think, isn't it. So... do you think it will be September or October?

I would love to join you for the princess half in February. Time will tell. I'm getting ready to start beefing up the running again. I got pretty lazy after our vacation and holidays. But I'm starting boot camp back up on the 26th - those are my 5a work outs... Fun but so hard to get up that early until after I've done it a week or so.

Wow... 5am work outs I still have to get into a routine. It is hard though since my schedule varies so much.

I did ask Eddie if we could plan a drive out to Disney World next summer (2013) since it looks like we will plan a cruise in 2014 for my parent's 50th anniversary... he did NOT put his fingers in his ears... so I'm making progress there... The only thing we have on the books this year so far is a trip to Arlington in July to see the Rangers and the Twins play - spend a few days in Dallas/Fort Worth, and then he and I are going to Las Vegas over New Years. So I have a couple of things to look forward to that will get here before we know it and then "voila" it'll be 2013!

I wish I had some things other than disney to look forward to. Dh and ds just got back from a beach trip. While, I wouldn't have been able to keep myself busy for a week there.. .it did look nice.