The Smiths are Heading Back...For 10 Days of Disney Magic! (Updated 8/16)

[klacey1]

Hi, I'm just joining in now! I caught myself up and I have to say-- your DD looks just adorable in all of her customs! Do you make them or are you an ebay/Etsy shopper? Too cute!
I would FLIP if my MIL did something like that-- a) not asking you, and b) thinking that a 7 year old (even a well-behaved, super sweet one) could handle being in Orlando and not going to Disney when her cousins get to go.
I love reading your Ireland TR! My father is from Kerry and we traveled there frequently during my childhood. A great place to visit!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I'm loving your Mini TR so far. It's so nice that you have stayed in touch with your ex's family over the years.

I'd be worried about Aisling too but I think that is because we have very similiar MILs.....

I knew you would understand

I'm sure Ash is a bit nervous, I know I would be. I'll be down there too so if you need me for anything, I'll do it

I'm so super excited for you guys for booking David & Vicki! They are super awesome and I cannot speak highly enough of them. They are such professionals and love what they do. I never did get around to doing a TR, maybe I can do one for our February trip.
Here is one of my favorite photos to share with your readers

Thanks Jen!! I love that pic too. So cute. We are going to do our pics at the Boardwalk. I figured that there was plenty of things to do there to keep us busy

What a fun gift!

Your photos are going to be gorgeous!

Thank you! I hope sure hope so

Your MIL would drive me crazy!

First to plan to take your child to FL without asking you first and then to have every kid but her go to WDW and now to agree to take her one day with no plan - !

I hope Ash can relax and enjoy her time there whatever she gets to do. Reminding her of your August trip is a great idea in case this trip does not go well.

What a great present from Randy! I can't wait to see the photos!
We haven't taken a family photo either so one year I took a photopass photo of us in front of the castle, had 5x7's made and told the family that was there family photo of us.

We have gotten quiet a bit of slack the past 2 years because I didn't send out Christmas cards so maybe we'll have one to send out this year. The PP pics are literally the only pics I have of me with them.

Hi, I'm just joining in now! I caught myself up and I have to say-- your DD looks just adorable in all of her customs! Do you make them or are you an ebay/Etsy shopper? Too cute!
I would FLIP if my MIL did something like that-- a) not asking you, and b) thinking that a 7 year old (even a well-behaved, super sweet one) could handle being in Orlando and not going to Disney when her cousins get to go.
I love reading your Ireland TR! My father is from Kerry and we traveled there frequently during my childhood. A great place to visit!

Thank you about the customs. Some of them I make but the really nice frilly ones are made for her by my overly generous friend Stacy who has 2 boys and likes sewing for a little girl. Her bows are made by another DIS friend. Santa bought me a new sewing machine this year but I haven't remotely planned out what I am going to make. I know I have recruited a few sewer friends to make some outfits because 10 days by sometimes 2 outfits a day is WAY more than I can handle when I get home from work at night!


My MIL is an adventure that's for sure. Her latest gripe about me is that I plan things to far ahead. Seriously, she's known me for 11 years, I've always been a planner....no clue why it's bothering her now! She wants to take Ash camping for a week this summer. I have to start paying for summer camp so I need to know by Feb what week she's taking her. She wants to decide last minute. (Again she's a teacher so she's off all summer). Um, I refuse to pay $200 for a week of summer camp and then not have her go. That's good Disney spending money

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Today is 30 weeks exactly from our trip (that sounds soooo long )...which means it's time to start $10 Fridays. Randy and I started this tradition for last year's trips. We had gone without the DDP and I was worried about not having enough spending money to pay for meals OOP. So I sat down and figured out that if we put away X number of dollars per week, we would have more than enough. But I am an awful saver. Awful. For important things (like when we were saving for our house) I needed to put my $ in an ING acct so I couldn't touch it. So if I just transferred the money into my regular savings account- that wouldn't work. (Randy and I still maintain separate bank accounts...I think it's really saved our marriage).

Then I had a thought. If I withdrew the amount every week, put in an envelope and have Randy do the same, I wouldn't "see" it so i wouldn't spend it. Well it worked out so well, we started doing it for other things (holidays and such).

A couple of weeks ago, I figured out that TODAY was the 30 week mark, and that if we each threw $10 a week into the envelope, we'd have $600 by the trip. That combined with our Disney Visa points plus gift cards we have would be at least $1000 spending- since we really don't buy souvies (Aisling has to buy her own...mean parents that we are), we only have to cover tips, OOP snacks, and an adult beverage or two - we should be in great shape! And $10 is easy to put away...seriously, you can skip eating out lunch one day and not miss it.


So Happy $10 Friday my friends

 

[klacey1]

I am also awful at saving, so I really admire your technique! I told myself that I'm going to take $50 out of every paycheck so I can pay off the trip a little bit each week as opposed to paying it all at the 45 day mark.
Gotta love those Disney Visa points! My favorite rewards card!

 

[tinytreasures]

$10 fridays sound great

dh and I always save our change all yr long then cash it in before we go to the state fair. That is our fun money. Dh always wins

 

[twob4him]

I was an awful saver until I met my husband who is a terrific saver. He could go months and years without spending a dime. Anyways, I like your technique!!!

Ummmm about Ash and MIL My deepest sympathies. Is there a MIL school cause I hear stories like this all the time and its always the MIL. Well, hopefully you've straightened her out a little and she will take Ash to Disney at least once. Glad you are going in August.

I liked your update and it is so nice that you have been able to stay in touch in your ex's family. Sorry about your ex.

That is an awesome birthday present...very creative Randy ~~~ I bet those pics are going to be awesome! I've always said I really wish I had a personal photographer to follow our family around Disney so I didnt have to do all of the picture taking myself. Someone really artistic who could capture all of the fun disney magic on film! It looks like you may have found that! Cool!!!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I am also awful at saving, so I really admire your technique! I told myself that I'm going to take $50 out of every paycheck so I can pay off the trip a little bit each week as opposed to paying it all at the 45 day mark.
Gotta love those Disney Visa points! My favorite rewards card!

Now the actual trip is funded by the interest free loan we give Uncle Sam every year...again...bad saver Getting a big refund means vaca is always paid for

$10 fridays sound great

dh and I always save our change all yr long then cash it in before we go to the state fair. That is our fun money. Dh always wins

We do that too! We had this cool old jar that I found at an antique place in Maine years ago. Couple weeks before Christmas, Randy went into his closet to hide gifts and SMASH! He was so upset so I went out and bought him one of those ones from Target that counts the change for you.

I was an awful saver until I met my husband who is a terrific saver. He could go months and years without spending a dime. Anyways, I like your technique!!!

Ummmm about Ash and MIL My deepest sympathies. Is there a MIL school cause I hear stories like this all the time and its always the MIL. Well, hopefully you've straightened her out a little and she will take Ash to Disney at least once. Glad you are going in August.

I liked your update and it is so nice that you have been able to stay in touch in your ex's family. Sorry about your ex.

That is an awesome birthday present...very creative Randy ~~~ I bet those pics are going to be awesome! I've always said I really wish I had a personal photographer to follow our family around Disney so I didnt have to do all of the picture taking myself. Someone really artistic who could capture all of the fun disney magic on film! It looks like you may have found that! Cool!!!

There SHOULD be a MIL school! And I don't mean to belittle the huge gift that she got Aisling by buying airplane tickets, rental car, food, etc and if the other kiddos weren't going to be there...Aisling probably would have been fine not going to the parks. Aisling informed me tonight that they are definitely going to MK so we'll see.

hmmmmm should I let you continue believing that Randy came up with the photographer idea? Nah! He just paid the bill

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I love the $10 Friday idea! It's amazing how quickly those small amounts add up if you do it consistently.

And yay for that awesome birthday present! I have been lurking on the wedding board and I have read so many wonderful things about David and Vicki. I can not wait to see the pictures!

 

[MelMel11]

Love the $10 Friday Idea. Cannot wait to read more of your post..

 

[oOJulieOo]

It's sounds like your 10 dollar Fridays will put you in great shape for spending money on your trip! Good work!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I love the $10 Friday idea! It's amazing how quickly those small amounts add up if you do it consistently.

And yay for that awesome birthday present! I have been lurking on the wedding board and I have read so many wonderful things about David and Vicki. I can not wait to see the pictures!

Thanks! You guys should look into a Disneymoon session! I have to say, for such accomplished photographers, they are really reasonably priced for the 2 hour sessions. I really wish I had more pics of us from our honeymoon.

Love the $10 Friday Idea. Cannot wait to read more of your post..

Thanks!!

It's sounds like your 10 dollar Fridays will put you in great shape for spending money on your trip! Good work!

Thanks. I really do enjoy how easy it is to save that way.

And on that note....

I actually have 2 envelopes going because I am saving for a very special pre-Disney ME present!

Yup I'm getting myself a new camera. I have $300 saved toward it so far (mostly from Amazon gift cards I got for Christmas/bday ). Randy's little sister is getting married Aug 6th so I'm hoping to have it before then to practice with it before the trip (figured the different lighting situations of a wedding would be perfect).

I've been dreaming of this camera since it came out and since I already have a Rebel, all my current lenses will work with it so I only have to buy the body (and new batteries and memory cards of course...i swear this is a conspiracy..every time they come out with a new camera the batteries and memory card format HAVE to change !)

Now some may consider this not a necessity but as the family photographer I say it is Who's with me?

 

[oOJulieOo]

OHHHH..........

I love that camera! I have been coveting that camera for a few months. I'm slowly talking DH into it.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

OHHHH..........

I love that camera! I have been coveting that camera for a few months. I'm slowly talking DH into it.

I seriously have been going to our local Hunts Photography (only place around here that carries it) to visit it Yup, I'm loony toons. It's just so nice! And the video feature is going to be key because I just can't carry around 2 cameras all the time

 

[SOUTHERNtinkerBELLE]

I think a camera is definitely something good to save up for! After all, you're capturing memories!

 

[tinytreasures]

Ohh my MIL is drooling over that camera too

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I think a camera is definitely something good to save up for! After all, you're capturing memories!

EXACTLY

Ohh my MIL is drooling over that camera too

if she gets it before me, you MUST give me her review.

 

[tinytreasures]

if she gets it before me, you MUST give me her review.

she won't buy one unless something happens to hers

 

[oOJulieOo]

I seriously have been going to our local Hunts Photography (only place around here that carries it) to visit it Yup, I'm loony toons. It's just so nice! And the video feature is going to be key because I just can't carry around 2 cameras all the time

I visit it online all the time. haven't ever visited it in person. I'm afraid it would come home with me if I did!

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

she won't buy one unless something happens to hers

Does she have a DSLR right now? If they are used regularly, they only have a 3-4 year lifespan of prime performance. (which is horrible given how much you spend on them). Mine has started to do some funky things (throwing error codes and such) so I decided that it's time. I'm terrified to think of being on vaca and having it die (let us not forget the lens dropping incident last year ) I actually think I'm going to keep the old body for "just in case" situations

I visit it online all the time. haven't ever visited it in person. I'm afraid it would come home with me if I did!

Well since I will be ordering it online, figured I needed to go check it out in person...make sure that it was a comfortable fit to my hand and all

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Back to my Mini-TR of Ireland...

When I left off, I teased you about us being robbed. Robbed was probably a misnomer but our money was definitely taken. If you followed along on FB, this was the day of the EVIL ATM.

As I had mentioned, Randy and I had booked a trip to the west coast of Ireland. It was a 14 hour bus trip. Somehow after our late night, we got up, showered and downstairs for breakfast in record time. Now, one of the cool things about our package deal was that a huge breakfast buffet was included (I took pics of the buffet later in the trip that I will share). Now I'm not a big breakfast person so I really didn't make full use of it but with the food prices in Ireland, it was nice to have a meal for free.

Randy loves breakfast so this was perfect for him...want to guess which plate is which

Well, bellies full (of Cocoa Krispies ), we headed off. The tour left at 8 but they told us to arrive by 7:45. Being the neurotic I am, we got there shortly after 7 But that was fine because I had 2 things I wanted to do- 1) get to a convenience store for some drinks for the day (we were going to the wilds of western Ireland-who knows when we'd see civilization again) and 2) go the the ATM.

Now, the backstory of this is that you can use your regular ATM card in Ireland no problem. I've done it plenty of times BUT after my ATM number was compromised when we were at WDW in May, I have sworn off using my ATM card while traveling. Randy and I had gone to AAA before the trip and got 200 Euros in cash and decided to put the rest of our spending money (again from the envelope method!) on a Travel Visa. Lots of websites and AAA recommended them for use in Europe since you set your pin but since it's not connected to any of your bank accounts, if something happens only that money would be compromised. Also, like the old school travelers cheques, they could be replaced "quickly", if they are lost or stolen. I am here to assure you that the above information is a downright LIE

So we headed off to find an open convenience store...again this is Dublin which operates on a different time frame than the rest of the world. NOTHING was open. We had to walk several blocks without seeing a soul until we found somewhere. We went in, stocked up on Disney priced bottles of water and headed outside. Outside of the store was a regular Ulster Bank ATM (HUGE chain bank in Ireland). So we decided to get some cash. Now because of the insane fees associated with foreign money withdrawals, they suggest that you take large amounts out at at time. So we withdrew another 200 Euros (close to $300). As i was operating the ATM, a young backpacker came up and asked how to get the bus to the airport. I turned around to help him (since Randy obviously didn't know) and when I turned back around there was no money, no card, no receipt. Now the machine had clearly made all the usual ATM sounds. I was immediately convinced that the kid had scammed us somehow and that someone had come around the side of me and stolen our cash. But there was nobody else there and the kid looked clearly concerned for us when I started screaming "our money is gone" loudly on an empty street.

Panicked and crying, I ran into the shop where we had got the water and asked the shopkeeper for assistance. He came out and basically tried breaking down the ATM to help us (Thank you random shopkeeper). Well I still had the little cardboard thing that the card came in with all the emergency numbers. What I hadn't done was write down all the account numbers anywhere (me...who takes pics of the back of her PP cards forgot this important detail????). So we called to report the card missing but nobody could help us. We kept getting hung up on. Oh and we realized that now we had blocks to walk back to where the tour takes off and needed to be there in under 5 minutes. So we ran!

I SHOULD NOT RUN! I ended up tripping when we arrived at the tour site (in front of everyone) fell flat on my face, rented Blackberry (which is still connected to a call trying to resolve this) goes flying, Baggallini goes flying, somehow I manage to save the camera. So now I'm crying, frustrated, hands and knees bleeding, and the whole group got to witness it. And to make matters worse, when I dropped the phone, they hung up on me so we had to call AGAIN! OH and now we were heading out for a 14 hour tour with the equivalent of about $50 in our pocket.

How do you think I handled this? Did I let it ruin my day? Did Randy let it ruin his? Will we get our money back....and if we do, WHEN? And how much would we spend on international phone calls trying to resolve this????

to be continued but before I go...here is the ACTUAL EVIL ATM