There's a First Time for Everything! A Christmas In November TR

[Charleston Princess]

Thanks, Sheree!

 

[MeMom]

Awesome party!
We're doing a Mardi Gras meal when Princess & Frog comes out in March. It'll be during my spring break, so that will help offset the pain of no spring break trip.

Keep doing the meals. We do them fairly often, and they really are fun! I agree with the tropical theme. We are supposed to get near 50 degrees today, and it seems like summer after all we've had. The sun is shining, too!

Maybe after you get back to work you can take just a tiny trip - maybe a long weekend sometime. I promise you, I'm so crazy stupid that if I could find someone else equally as crazy stupid I would drive down there just for one night and be happy just to do some resort hopping and DTD shopping. Trouble is, nobody else is that stupid crazy!

 

[lexmas]

Oh dear! I can't believe you have to cook a real meal every night! That must be a lot of work. I cook real meals MOST of the time, but if it's been a long day, I love a boxed or frozen meal. I probably cook real food, six days a week, but that 7th day, I need a quickie! That must be frustrating when eating out too. It must be difficult to know what you can order and what you can't. DD breaks out in whelps like that REALLY bad about twice a year but we have yet to figure out the cause. So I feel for you b/c that can be really scarry as a parent.

Yeah, it's not a lot of fun, but you get used to it. Lucky for us (is it lucky?) DS is a real terror at restaurants, so we don't eat out often!

DS used to have pretty bad food allergies (he outgrew them) and Disney was pretty good about them. I haven't contacted them yet about preservatives, but I'm sure they'll be able to help me there too. So that always makes me like Disney even more when they just e-mail me lists and lists about what we can and can't eat! Really above and beyond, you know?

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I ordered five of the pendants from Rinky's ebay seller and got them in just a few days, it was incredible service!
It's pick a pearl for me next month!

Oh! I can't wait to see your goodies on your TR!!! Make sure you take pictures of it all for me!

I have GOT to remember to do that! Somebody remind me to order those carriages!!!

You've got plenty of time, so don't panic yet! Well, that is, unless they sell out. Maybe you better go order them now after all!

Lexmas, Turkey sausage is fantastic sliced up in a skillet with red and yellow peppers, and onions served over warm, buttered egg noodles!

That sounds VERY good! I love peppers and onions with almost anything! I will be trying that one!

What a fun night!!! And YUMMY that looks delicious! I love that you weren't allowed to cover Princess Tiana's face. So cute!

Yes, DD insisted that a princess CANNOT have rice on her face!

Hey Jackie! Don't forget to order the carraige necklaces!!




I have to remember to do that too.

I think I should contact that ebay seller and ask for a commission!

Hey girl!! Sorry I haven't checked in this week but now I'm all caught up!! I'm so sad your trip is over but I'm loving the mini updates and flashbacks!! You might as well extend the magic for as long as possible, right?!

Yay! I am so gald you are sticking around a litte longer for the flashbacks! And yes, I'm trying to stretch the fun out as long as possible. It has really helped get me through the winter blues!

Awesome party!
We're doing a Mardi Gras meal when Princess & Frog comes out in March. It'll be during my spring break, so that will help offset the pain of no spring break trip.

They really do help hold you over. I just don't know how long my Disney nights will fill the whole for me before I HAVE to have another trip!

Keep doing the meals. We do them fairly often, and they really are fun! I agree with the tropical theme. We are supposed to get near 50 degrees today, and it seems like summer after all we've had. The sun is shining, too!

I KNOW!!!! It is going to hit 60 this weekend! It's time to break out the bathing suits!

I'm thinking the next meal should be our Ohana dinner. Our waiter in '08 gave me the recipe for the peanut sauce and the honey lime salad dressing. We had an Ohana night about 6 months after we got back from that trip and I used those recipes. It was SO GOOD!! We decorated with our leis and some other stuff I threw together. It was a lot of fun and I think it's worth repeating, especially with this very cold winter we've had.

Maybe after you get back to work you can take just a tiny trip - maybe a long weekend sometime. I promise you, I'm so crazy stupid that if I could find someone else equally as crazy stupid I would drive down there just for one night and be happy just to do some resort hopping and DTD shopping. Trouble is, nobody else is that stupid crazy!

I am just as crazy stupid as you , Memom because I would do that in a heartbeat. No way would my DH agree to that though. He is very old fashioned and would never let me travel alone or just with another woman. If only it wasn't so far to drive! If I could get there in 5 hours or less, I'd take off on a whim for a weekend quite often. Hmmm, if I could just find some way to remove SC from the map, then that would cut down the drive perfectly!

replies in red

Yeah, it's not a lot of fun, but you get used to it. Lucky for us (is it lucky?) DS is a real terror at restaurants, so we don't eat out often!

DS used to have pretty bad food allergies (he outgrew them) and Disney was pretty good about them. I haven't contacted them yet about preservatives, but I'm sure they'll be able to help me there too. So that always makes me like Disney even more when they just e-mail me lists and lists about what we can and can't eat! Really above and beyond, you know?

I agree! Disney does go above and beyond on things like that. I can't think of ANYWHERE else I have done business that treats their customers with such high regard. Yeah, there's always an idiot here or there, even at Disney, but 99% of my experiences have been VERY positive.

My DD was very bad in restaurants when she was little too. We almost never ate out until she was three. She just cannot stand to be confined, like in a high chair or car seat. She was awful in the car too! But she grew out of it. I'm sure your DS will outgrow it too. But hey, look at it like this, you've saved a lot of money having to eat at home!

 

[jenseib]

Hi, I'm joining in! Just read your day 1! That cruise is something I have looked into lately as well...but the price is so high, and my DD is kind of afraid of pirates right now...so I guess we'll have to wait till she outgrows that phase. What kinds of snacks did they have? I did read they weren't very good in selection and they should put something better out for the price.

Off to read more!

 

[stace208]

Oh Rinky, your flashback photos did this tired, stressed out ole' brain a world of good!

your Disney dinner night! How creative! I must find some Princess and the Frog plates. I'll use those the weekend we go to pick up the movie!

I've been where you are in terms of deciding to go back to work. I know it's not an easy decision. Overall, though, I am glad I did. Of course, being a teacher in VA right now is NOT a good thing at all. I might be looking for a job too.

Keep the flashbacks and chatter coming...love seeing it all!!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

We had another great day at MK! Look at the engineer waving! Don't you want to be riding on that train with him right now? I sure do!

I loved this!

The theme for 2008 was "Year of a Million Dreams." Well I really wanted to "win" a dream! I made these shirts for us hoping that it would help. They said "Wishing for a Dream" at the top! I was convinced it would work. DH said I was nuts!

This is one of my fondest Disney memories. When we arrived in MK that day, the trolley had just pulled up near the flagpole, so we jumped on just for fun. Well, as soon as we got settled, the carolers hopped onto the back and started singing Christmas carols acapella! I will never forget the sound of the horses hooves on the street and those singers on the back of the trolley. It was another surreal Disney moment! SO MAGICAL!!! I honestly can remember it as if it happened yesterday.

DD said this was Santa's sleigh!

As we were coming off of the Haunted Mansion, we were chosen by the Dream Squad to win Mickey ears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was soooooooo excited!!! I'm sure it had nothing to do with the shirts (it seemed very random) but who cares! I was thrilled to get them. This is the only picture that I got of us together right after we won them. The picture of me is just hideous!!!! I could NOT post it on the internet, but it is the only one I have of our special moment so I blurred out my face!

DD loved Minnie's mailbox.

Mickey's place

DD had been begging for a pair of Minnie ears. When we won the Year of a Million Dreams ears, I thought she would be happy with those, but she said they were not "girly" enough! So she found a pair she liked in the Philharmagic store. DD checked them out in the mirror before deciding they were the ones. This is my favorite picture from the entire trip............ maybe even my favorite from both trips. It just makes my heart happy!

She took them to Sir Mickey's and had her name embroidered on the back.

Time for Fantasyland

Pooh's place

Continued in next post..........................

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

We waited an hour to meet Ariel, but it was worth it. They had a deep conversation about lots of important topics!

I took a gazillion pictures on Small World.

I took so many ride photos! I am only posting a very small fraction of them.

Winnie the Pooh ride

Next was Frontierland

I took my first gut wrenching ride on ..............................

We were the only ones in our log so I used my flash to take the pictures.

Opossums in the ceiling

Cont. in next post..................

 

[wigdoutdismom]

I have GOT to remember to do that! Somebody remind me to order those carriages!!!

Hey Jackie! Don't forget to order the carraige necklaces!!




I have to remember to do that too.

Actually, both of you should just go ahead and do it before some one like Wigd, buys them all!!!!!

Oh wait a minute....
she already bought five of them........

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

And my first ride on.......................

DH shelling out $10 for a balloon!!!

Taking the ferry to the Poly.

So we could eat at our favorite restaurant! Ohana!

The girl loves those little umbrellas!

No limbo this time, they had a coconut race instead.

Coming up next is our fantastic Hollywood Studios day!

 

[trixiequilts]

I think I've said it before, but I'll say it again...your pics are amazing!!! You really do have a great eye! I'm loving the flashbacks! Keep 'em coming!

Did you have the same camera in 2008 as 2009? Did I read the info right about the one you have now? 20X zoom? That would be incredible! I need to get a new camera before our next trip. I'm not looking forward to researching and shopping for one. I'm just looking forward to the Disney and Harry Potter pics I can take with it!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

Hi, I'm joining in! Just read your day 1! That cruise is something I have looked into lately as well...but the price is so high, and my DD is kind of afraid of pirates right now...so I guess we'll have to wait till she outgrows that phase. What kinds of snacks did they have? I did read they weren't very good in selection and they should put something better out for the price.

Off to read more!

Yay! So glad you came over to join in the fun! I read your last TR and loved it. I think I posted a few times, but I can't remember for sure. Your little Claire is so precious! And your pictures are so good. I really enjoyed your TR very much!

Pirate Cruise: If she is afraid of pirates then I would wait considering the cost. You don't have to meet Hook and Smee, but they are mingling in the room. As for the snacks, it wasn't anything spectacular, but we didn't care b/c we were so full from our dinner at Garden Grill. But they had chocolate coins, cotton candy, granola bars and lots of other pre-packaged snacks like you buy at the grocery store. It was nothing fancy and nothing was homemade. It was all store bought stuff. They had canned sodas and bottled water as well. I think the reason they have that kind of stuff is so you can take it on the boat. They tell you to grab what you want and take it with you. You couldn't really do that with foods that need a plate and a fork. I didn't mind it at all. The experience was so good that the snacks were the last thing on my mind. When your DD gets a little older, I think she will love it (and you and your DH too!)

Oh Rinky, your flashback photos did this tired, stressed out ole' brain a world of good!

I'm glad I could help! I wouldn't know what to do without my DIS fix either!

your Disney dinner night! How creative! I must find some Princess and the Frog plates. I'll use those the weekend we go to pick up the movie!

I got the plates at Target! That will be a great idea to do that when the movie comes out. It shouldn't be much longer.

I've been where you are in terms of deciding to go back to work. I know it's not an easy decision. Overall, though, I am glad I did. Of course, being a teacher in VA right now is NOT a good thing at all. I might be looking for a job too.

Keep the flashbacks and chatter coming...love seeing it all!!

I don't mind going back to work since DD will be in school all day anyway. I will be glad to have an income again b/c living off of one income for the last 6 years has been hard. I wouldn't change a thing, but it has been very tight. I just don't want to go back to teaching. I know you can understand that! It just sucks the life out of me. I feel like I am wasting my degree if I don't teach though, but I think I'm ready to toss that to the wind and call it a loss. I have a degree in history as well as education, so I am thinking about trying to get hired at a library. A nice, quiet, peaceful, library. Sounds real good to me!

I really feel for you on the teaching thing. Maybe you just said it jokingly, but perhaps you should try to find another career. Teachers just don't get paid enough for the crap we put up with!

Actually, both of you should just go ahead and do it before some one like Wigd, buys them all!!!!!

Oh wait a minute....
she already bought five of them........

You guys better get them now before Widg thinks of someone else who needs those pendants!

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

I think I've said it before, but I'll say it again...your pics are amazing!!! You really do have a great eye! I'm loving the flashbacks! Keep 'em coming!

Did you have the same camera in 2008 as 2009? Did I read the info right about the one you have now? 20X zoom? That would be incredible! I need to get a new camera before our next trip. I'm not looking forward to researching and shopping for one. I'm just looking forward to the Disney and Harry Potter pics I can take with it!

You are too sweet! Thank you! No, I had a Kodak Z740 on the '08 trip. I loved that camera but I literally wore it out. I took so many pictures with that thing that it just died on me. But yes, the Canon SX10 IS I have now has a 20X zoom and it ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!! I love it! But I just got it this summer and they already have a 30X zoom on the market now! You just can't keep up with technology! Happy shopping though! I know what you mean about the research. I spent hours and hours pouring over reviews and checking prices. It look me a few months before I could make a decision! Not fun!

 

[Mndisneygirl]

One more carraige necklace question:
Did you buy a chain from the ebay seller or get one on your own??
I've decided to get one for myself too! Maybe we'll get a double and I'll only have to pay for two instead of three!

TIA

 

[RinkyTinkyTinky]

One more carraige necklace question:
Did you buy a chain from the ebay seller or get one on your own??
I've decided to get one for myself too! Maybe we'll get a double and I'll only have to pay for two instead of three!

TIA

Each pendant comes with a chain, but there's not much to it. The chain that comes with it is the one in this picture:

I think it is perfectly fine for a young child. You don't want to spend much on a necklace for them anyway since they may break it. But I didn't think it looked good enough for an adult to wear. I put mine on a simple box chain that I already had. The chain that you see in this picture is mine:

You can find a simple silver chain at any department store for a very reasonable price. Even Target sells them and they don't cost much at all. Or do like I did and just use a chain you already have.

 

[ladybugmom]

Awww!! I love the new set of pics!! How exciting that you got chosen by the Dream Squad to get the Mickey ears!! Your DD sounds just like my Ally--she would have wanted something more girly, too!! Your DD ended up picking the same set of ears that we bought for Claire on our last trip!! Soooo cute!!

 

[micandminforever]

I think your dream shirts were just right, because just to be at Disney is a dream come true.

The pictures with Ariel are wonderful your DD has such a cute expression on her face. Then the picture with the Minnie ears is a perfect father, daughter moment.

 

[lexmas]

Aww, I love the shirts! Glad you got dream ears. DH got a dream fastpass, but I didn't get anything. We went 3 times that year...twice to disneyland and once to WDW, but nothin'. Guess going 3 times in a year had to be "dream" enough for me! (It was! )

We went to Ohana for breakfast on our last day on our last trip...it is so beautiful! We sat right by the window and had the best view. It may be my new favorite restaurant!

Are the balloons really $10? We bought one a few years ago, but I didn't remember that. I already promised DS that he could get one next time. That price is CRAZY.

Is it just me, or is Ariel a little too naked? Okay, I feel that way about Jasmine too. I think I'm getting old, because I never felt that way back when I was a bikini-wearing teenager...

The christmas decorations are beautiful. We went in January on our honeymoon and saw most of them before they took them down, but I would love to go at Christmas. Not going to swing it any time soon though. It's tough, because DS's birthday is in late November, and then DH's birthday is right before Christmas, and there's Christmas which we celebrate with our extended family and we've claimed New Year's as our "family holiday" for just us, so there's a lot packed into that time frame already. Some day though. I'll keep on dreaming!

Great update!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Your shirts worked! I hope you pointed that out to DH when you won the Dream Ears!

I have always been a sucker for those paper parasols, too!

 

[BippityBoo]

What a great night at Tiana's Place Such a wonderful idea!!! LOVE the flashback pics. Your shirts are adorable and YAY for getting chosen by the dream team!!! You are so lucky!!