traveling with multiples!!

[llp479]

I gave up trying to do kid's party for my twins. Got way too complicated, and their birthday is March 27th, which around here is always Spring Break. (Not to mention we're usually not home - either at WDW or last year in HI.) After their 8th b-day when only one little girl showed up, I was done. Poor girls, this was only the 2nd kid party we had attempted.

We have always had 2 birthday cakes. I have a friend who is a twin and so is her husband. Their advice was that it's bad enough to share your birthday, but to have to share the cake and candels too! Plus the girls have very different tastes, so to try to compromise on a cake was just about impossible!

They will turn 12 this year on the Wonder. I've already requested two cakes. Now my dilema, is dd3 is jealous because the twins are always somewhere other than home for their birthday! Problem is hers is April 18th, so we can't just take off. I'm trying to plan something big for the next time her birthday is on a weekend.

 

[kikakeko]

The girls got their own leapsters from Mamaw and Papap and we bought some games- all of our friends know that we are going on vacation so they bought things for our trip (hair things stuff for the car ect)..- But I can say that the Leapsters were a Huge Hit -they have played nonstop with them.

As for the cake I went to Sams and ordered a huge sheet cake (26.00) and had them split it down the middle half for one white and the other half for the other chocolate. Seperate candles for both.

I very rarely do friend parties for any of the kids because Karleigh's bday is in the middle of summer and we can NEVER get anyone to come because of vacations,visitations, ect.. . so we just do the big family thing all around and something special with close friends like going out on the river or to a lake.
Most of our friends are just now having their kids so we are kinda out of the loop.

A friend of mine- when she sends out invites for her kids parties sends a list of "cheapies" that are ideas for gifts like bubbles, stickers, lip gloss, light up necklaces and such and asks that no one goes over 5.00 which I like that idea for my oldest she likes all the little things and no one feels like they need to spend a lot.

 

[tweedlewtwinsmama]

Happy Birthday to the 4 year olds!

 

[kritter]

I hear all of you...I feel like this year and last year the well all of the years the parties are out of control..I know I know who is to blame me I know...The first two years we had 60 plus people with about 25 additional kids/mulitples...So last year I was sick in the hospital with a collapased lung so Dh did a party at the gymnastic center and had family and friends...then the kids brought the gifts home and came and opened them with me..I had inteneded to do a kid party at the gym...and then a family party at home but it did not work out with me being sick and all...
So this year party for the kids 20 plus kids at creative playthings where you buy swingsets etc.. then the next day family party thirty plus so not so bad...But the kids party is out of control since it is friends a few multiples so that adds up fast one set of triplets, and two sets of twins....My twins keep getting invited to kids parties from their preschool and I truely do nto have any mroe room to invite any other kids to their party for the kids...My kids keep asking if they can invite more kids from school I told them this morning no kids from school you already have enough kids coming..The party thing always seems to get to be a ton...Since it is soo close to christmas and all hoping they get spring and summer clothes....The play place provides everything pizza, goody bags, etc...so that is great....
At home I think I will do pasta well baked zita and meatballs, sausage etc...easy... I come form an Itailain family so I have to cook...The cake thing I can not make a cake so it will be cupcakes and then pony rings on top of them.....I even made the pony invites for the family party....
I really am not complaining I love planning the party and all and think it gives me something to plan....The kids look forward to their parties as mucha s I do..This year I feel like I need to make it over the top since I was not there for the b-day last year and it really made them so upset..On the day of their actual b-day Dh took off from work and we will give them our gifts and then take them out to a restr... their favorite chineese food...

Ok enough about the party......
I would love to take them to disney for their b-day..anyone ever been in Feb???

Kristin

 

[Pea-n-Me]

kritter, we went to a party last weekend in fact at Creative Playthings and it was really great. I was very impressed with not only how clean it was, but how attentive the young girl was to all the kids. As soon as their dishes were empty (pizza), she was right there asking if they wanted another slice. She also wrote down all the gifts which I've never seen done before at any places. I'd been in there before but I hadn't realized they do parties.

We were in Disney this week last year (pretty close to February). It was awesome, as long as you didn't mind the weather slightly chilly in the morning and at night. It was -1 Farenheit when we left home so we didn't mind at all. DH loved it because he's always overheated, and I liked it too. It did impact swimming a bit, but the kids still went in the pools because they were heated and steamy. The air was cold so as long as you stayed in the water you were fine (I don't think we would have enjoyed a water park that week). It was really strange seeing the lifeguards at their stations in hats, scarves and mittens. As far as the parks, it was nice, no crowds at all. In two EMH's at MGM we did RnRC 14 times - it was the first time the kids were tall enough to ride so that's all they wanted to do. In between we did ToT 10 times! So yes, winter is a pretty good time to go. We will be there in 3 weeks so I'll let you know when we come back what the weather was like.

 

[kritter]

kritter, we went to a party last weekend in fact at Creative Playthings and it was really great. I was very impressed with not only how clean it was, but how attentive the young girl was to all the kids. As soon as their dishes were empty (pizza), she was right there asking if they wanted another slice. She also wrote down all the gifts which I've never seen done before at any places. I'd been in there before but I hadn't realized they do parties.

We were in Disney this week last year (pretty close to February). It was awesome, as long as you didn't mind the weather slightly chilly in the morning and at night. It was -1 Farenheit when we left home so we didn't mind at all. DH loved it because he's always overheated, and I liked it too. It did impact swimming a bit, but the kids still went in the pools because they were heated and steamy. The air was cold so as long as you stayed in the water you were fine (I don't think we would have enjoyed a water park that week). It was really strange seeing the lifeguards at their stations in hats, scarves and mittens. As far as the parks, it was nice, no crowds at all. In two EMH's at MGM we did RnRC 14 times - it was the first time the kids were tall enough to ride so that's all they wanted to do. In between we did ToT 10 times! So yes, winter is a pretty good time to go. We will be there in 3 weeks so I'll let you know when we come back what the weather was like.

Glad to hear that about the creative playthings party heard they were good..we got invited to one last year and could not go....

Oh my gosh sound like winter is a great tiem to be there...we were there once well twice in jan.. before kids and I think it was like that then too...
Just checked height require,. and mine are tall enough to ride as well...this year will be great since they can go on some cool rides....
Where are you staying in three weeks?? Forgot if you told me...It should be soo much fun...aren;t you going on a cruise soon??
hope you had a nice weekend...
Kristin

 

[kritter]

kritter, we went to a party last weekend in fact at Creative Playthings and it was really great. I was very impressed with not only how clean it was, but how attentive the young girl was to all the kids. As soon as their dishes were empty (pizza), she was right there asking if they wanted another slice. She also wrote down all the gifts which I've never seen done before at any places. I'd been in there before but I hadn't realized they do parties.

We were in Disney this week last year (pretty close to February). It was awesome, as long as you didn't mind the weather slightly chilly in the morning and at night. It was -1 Farenheit when we left home so we didn't mind at all. DH loved it because he's always overheated, and I liked it too. It did impact swimming a bit, but the kids still went in the pools because they were heated and steamy. The air was cold so as long as you stayed in the water you were fine (I don't think we would have enjoyed a water park that week). It was really strange seeing the lifeguards at their stations in hats, scarves and mittens. As far as the parks, it was nice, no crowds at all. In two EMH's at MGM we did RnRC 14 times - it was the first time the kids were tall enough to ride so that's all they wanted to do. In between we did ToT 10 times! So yes, winter is a pretty good time to go. We will be there in 3 weeks so I'll let you know when we come back what the weather was like.

Glad to hear that about the creative playthings party heard they were good..we got invited to one last year and could not go....

Oh my gosh sound like winter is a great tiem to be there...we were there once well twice in jan.. before kids and I think it was like that then too...
Just checked height require,. and mine are tall enough to ride as well...this year will be great since they can go on some cool rides....
Where are you staying in three weeks?? Forgot if you told me...It should be soo much fun...aren;t you going on a cruise soon??
hope you had a nice weekend...
Kristin

 

[kritter]

kritter, we went to a party last weekend in fact at Creative Playthings and it was really great. I was very impressed with not only how clean it was, but how attentive the young girl was to all the kids. As soon as their dishes were empty (pizza), she was right there asking if they wanted another slice. She also wrote down all the gifts which I've never seen done before at any places. I'd been in there before but I hadn't realized they do parties.

We were in Disney this week last year (pretty close to February). It was awesome, as long as you didn't mind the weather slightly chilly in the morning and at night. It was -1 Farenheit when we left home so we didn't mind at all. DH loved it because he's always overheated, and I liked it too. It did impact swimming a bit, but the kids still went in the pools because they were heated and steamy. The air was cold so as long as you stayed in the water you were fine (I don't think we would have enjoyed a water park that week). It was really strange seeing the lifeguards at their stations in hats, scarves and mittens. As far as the parks, it was nice, no crowds at all. In two EMH's at MGM we did RnRC 14 times - it was the first time the kids were tall enough to ride so that's all they wanted to do. In between we did ToT 10 times! So yes, winter is a pretty good time to go. We will be there in 3 weeks so I'll let you know when we come back what the weather was like.

Glad to hear that about the creative playthings party heard they were good..we got invited to one last year and could not go....

Oh my gosh sound like winter is a great tiem to be there...we were there once well twice in jan.. before kids and I think it was like that then too...
Just checked height require,. and mine are tall enough to ride as well...this year will be great since they can go on some cool rides....
Where are you staying in three weeks?? Forgot if you told me...It should be soo much fun...aren;t you going on a cruise soon??
hope you had a nice weekend...
Kristin

 

[kikakeko]

You all are very lucky to have fun things to do for Birthdays- here we have NOTHING!! Not even a chuckie cheese.closest one of those is 2.5 hours away... You can book McDonald's but it is so over priced for what you get it is sad. I would love to do these fun things but we are stuck in small town USA for awhile longer.

 

[Disney Pal]

Our first Disney trip was in Oct 2005 when our girls were 2.5 years old. Would I do it again at that age probaably not. Are we going back this year? Absolutely! So hopefully at 3.5 I will see some change for the good! The plane ride was WILD! I thought I had all the proper distractions....minus a DVD player. They spotted one and all wanted to watch. It was crazy Thank God I had a helper with us. The parks were very limited 3-4 rides and they were ready to go back for a nap. We were able to get out a couple of nights since we had a babysitter with us. But staying at the BWV was great! It was fun at night for them to walk around. We are looking forward to this year. Our expectations aren't as high. Can anyone tell me if 3.5 will slightly better?

 

[kritter]

HI all,
we really do not have that much to do here either..slim picking for b-day parties and all...But at least we have something...

Three in a half was great.. when we went they could not do to many more rides. But they enjoyed the parades, and shows so much...They really loved the interaction with the characters and were excited to get the autographs...By the way you got the books yet??If not PM me I got a solution for you...\
\kristin

 

[medic2707]

thanks for the advice I think and am hoping that the twins will enjoy the clubs.. I will feel bad letting them go to the clubs and not spending family time...But hopefully they will love it and we can have a nice time enjoying the boat and the cruise ourselves....
What type of room are you getting on the cruise...???
Nice to meet you..and welcome...glad that our little thread is growing..
kristin

Kritter, we have two sph rooms(cat 10) reserved for this cruise. We had a cat 5 last time, but, since we need two connecting rooms cat 10 seems to be our best option. We do not trust our DS's to keep sliding door locked and our princesses to stay away from the veranda. DW is slightly sad not to have veranda this time. Veranda may have been best part of day at sea. I don't know if anyone has mentioned that a dinner, you can order your princesses meal when the servers take your app. order. This worked well for us. The boys had dinner with us then wanted to go to clubs to play and DW and I got to finish dessert in peace. After dinner we would try to get DS's to join us but most times they wanted to stay in club. That was very disappointing the first couple of times they ditched us. Will your girls be taking their princess costumes? They are very cute. May girls have Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty costumes they wear almost daily to dance along with a Dora video.

I am amazed what I can learn from these boards. Never thought about potential problems of having birthday parties for twins. Now something else for me to compulse over. Hope your plans work out. Sure your girls will have a great time.

 

[dmillerdmd]

Been reading through this thread and loving every minute. As an introduction,I have B/G twins who turned 9 on 12/17/05(unbelievable!) We went through 9 years of infertility tx including 3 major surgeries and 3 IVF-ICSI cycles( lost count of transfers!). After 96 days of heartwrenching and emotionally draining bedrest with a turbutaline pump in place, WE DID IT!!! The twins were born @ 33 wks as healthy as can be! They were small (4#7 & 4#10) but came home with me 2 days later. Then the FUN begins! As you all know those next few months are pretty much a blur. As my husband says, "the light never went off for 3 months- someone was awake!"
We didn't take the kids to Disney until they were 6. Even then, we were in bed every night by 9 o'clock! But it was a great introduction, since neither my husband or I had been before. Don't worry, the poor twins had already been on 2 cruises, the Atlantis, and Hawaii twice (all my husbands incentive trips). The only regret of those trips was taking them to Hawaii at 14 Months old!!! What was I thinking!
We've been to WDW 4 times since and the kids always tell their friends that they are so lucky that their Mommy LOVES WDW!
I really jumped into this thread to comment on the birthday thing. We always had only a family birthday party(lots of local extended family) until they were in school. Always one cake and 2 ind cupcakes. Once they were in school and the other kids started having parties we actually did the "kid party" thing. We live in a small town and no one really goes all out or anything. The first year we waited until June and had a pool party at home. Most of the parents are our friends too so it was great evening. I called it a 1/2 birthday since they share it in Dec (my Dh thought that was quite silly!) The next year we did a karate party at a local instructors gym, again waiting until Jan. The kids loved it. This year actually had a party on their birthday- Dec 17th. She had a "Totally Tink" party at home(which was so cool) and he had a sports party at a gym ( how typical). Both went very well and it was THEIR idea to have separate parties. However, they decided afterward that they never want to do that again! "Mommy, it just wasn't right- WE'RE TWINS!" I must say they do enjoy being twins almost as much as I ENJOY THEM BEING TWINS!
Good luck to all & LOVE your babies!

 

[medic2707]

Good evening dmillerdmd. I have enjoyed reading about everyones twins. Lots of interesting stories. I am living proof GOD has a sense of humor. My DW had horrible pregnancies. Following the birth of our second son she made me promise not to let her talk me into any more children. 3 years later she came home and announced she did not think our family was complete yet. I reminded her of my promise. When that did not change her mind, I thought I had a great argument for not having more children, we enjoy going on trips, with two children everyone has a buddy, with three children someone will get left out. God took pitty on me or laughed. We found out we were having twins during my DW first ultrasound at 20 weeks. Then God had his second good laugh when we found out we having two girls. Since I am lucky to work 24 hour shifts I get to stay home alot with my children. I have learned some very interesting skills during the last two and half years. I can now sorta/kinda put bows in their hair, I can paint fingernails and to my wifes horror I have even tried applying lipstick. My poor wife has had to learn to deal with Mr Mom and several near disaster experiences Hey, if no one is bleeding and nothing to important got broke I figure we've had a good day.

 

[kritter]

Kritter, we have two sph rooms(cat 10) reserved for this cruise. We had a cat 5 last time, but, since we need two connecting rooms cat 10 seems to be our best option. We do not trust our DS's to keep sliding door locked and our princesses to stay away from the veranda. DW is slightly sad not to have veranda this time. Veranda may have been best part of day at sea. I don't know if anyone has mentioned that a dinner, you can order your princesses meal when the servers take your app. order. This worked well for us. The boys had dinner with us then wanted to go to clubs to play and DW and I got to finish dessert in peace. After dinner we would try to get DS's to join us but most times they wanted to stay in club. That was very disappointing the first couple of times they ditched us. Will your girls be taking their princess costumes? They are very cute. May girls have Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty costumes they wear almost daily to dance along with a Dora video.

I am amazed what I can learn from these boards. Never thought about potential problems of having birthday parties for twins. Now something else for me to compulse over. Hope your plans work out. Sure your girls will have a great time.

Great idea for the two rooms..I too wonder how the girls will do with the verandah?? Hopefully they will be ok...I think we will surely enjoy sitting out on it at night....Love the idea about ordering them food when we order app...then they can go to the clubs....They will bring cotumes they wore them so much in WDW this time it was nuts....I think it will be cute for them to wear them on the cruise....

 

[kritter]

Been reading through this thread and loving every minute. As an introduction,I have B/G twins who turned 9 on 12/17/05(unbelievable!) We went through 9 years of infertility tx including 3 major surgeries and 3 IVF-ICSI cycles( lost count of transfers!). After 96 days of heartwrenching and emotionally draining bedrest with a turbutaline pump in place, WE DID IT!!! The twins were born @ 33 wks as healthy as can be! They were small (4#7 & 4#10) but came home with me 2 days later. Then the FUN begins! As you all know those next few months are pretty much a blur. As my husband says, "the light never went off for 3 months- someone was awake!"
We didn't take the kids to Disney until they were 6. Even then, we were in bed every night by 9 o'clock! But it was a great introduction, since neither my husband or I had been before. Don't worry, the poor twins had already been on 2 cruises, the Atlantis, and Hawaii twice (all my husbands incentive trips). The only regret of those trips was taking them to Hawaii at 14 Months old!!! What was I thinking!
We've been to WDW 4 times since and the kids always tell their friends that they are so lucky that their Mommy LOVES WDW!
I really jumped into this thread to comment on the birthday thing. We always had only a family birthday party(lots of local extended family) until they were in school. Always one cake and 2 ind cupcakes. Once they were in school and the other kids started having parties we actually did the "kid party" thing. We live in a small town and no one really goes all out or anything. The first year we waited until June and had a pool party at home. Most of the parents are our friends too so it was great evening. I called it a 1/2 birthday since they share it in Dec (my Dh thought that was quite silly!) The next year we did a karate party at a local instructors gym, again waiting until Jan. The kids loved it. This year actually had a party on their birthday- Dec 17th. She had a "Totally Tink" party at home(which was so cool) and he had a sports party at a gym ( how typical). Both went very well and it was THEIR idea to have separate parties. However, they decided afterward that they never want to do that again! "Mommy, it just wasn't right- WE'RE TWINS!" I must say they do enjoy being twins almost as much as I ENJOY THEM BEING TWINS!
Good luck to all & LOVE your babies!

WELCOME so glad to meet you and so glad that you have twins...We too went through a few years of fertility...It was so rough....
I love the idea of a half birthday then I could do a huge pool party maybe that is what I will do next year for them...and do just a small family party in feb. the real b-day...
great to meet you...
kristin

 

[kritter]

Good evening dmillerdmd. I have enjoyed reading about everyones twins. Lots of interesting stories. I am living proof GOD has a sense of humor. My DW had horrible pregnancies. Following the birth of our second son she made me promise not to let her talk me into any more children. 3 years later she came home and announced she did not think our family was complete yet. I reminded her of my promise. When that did not change her mind, I thought I had a great argument for not having more children, we enjoy going on trips, with two children everyone has a buddy, with three children someone will get left out. God took pitty on me or laughed. We found out we were having twins during my DW first ultrasound at 20 weeks. Then God had his second good laugh when we found out we having two girls. Since I am lucky to work 24 hour shifts I get to stay home alot with my children. I have learned some very interesting skills during the last two and half years. I can now sorta/kinda put bows in their hair, I can paint fingernails and to my wifes horror I have even tried applying lipstick. My poor wife has had to learn to deal with Mr Mom and several near disaster experiences Hey, if no one is bleeding and nothing to important got broke I figure we've had a good day.

Welcome Mr. Mom and great to meet you...I applaude you for being the mr.mom you know what we all go through...sooo welcome...

 

[dmillerdmd]

Kristen, medic2707 & all,
Thanks for the reply, nice to meet you. You're girls are adorable! I have to laugh because my husband and I just "assumed" we were having 2 girls. I'm not sure where that idea started, I think it was him. I could not have even considered a boy. I secretly lived in fear of having TWO BOYS! The first high level ultrasound we had where they could see the sex was quite a jolt for both of us. They 1st found baby A to have "boy" apparatus, and I of course said "That can't be right!" The DR was very sweet and consoled me that he was quite sure. As I kept thinking,"I have one more chance, I have one more chance"- there she was. I laugh because I think God usually knows what he is doing. He was the perfect, snuggly, sleepy, easily fed, "wouldn't know there was a baby in the house" baby. She, on the other hand was a bit frightening, she cried for about, um, 3 months and occasionally slept only 6 of 24 hrs. I of course loved them both but he was sure a lot easier to like! So, I too believe God has a sense of humor and was hoping I did TOO!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

my husband and I just "assumed" we were having 2 girls. I'm not sure where that idea started, I think it was him. I could not have even considered a boy. I secretly lived in fear of having TWO BOYS! The first high level ultrasound we had where they could see the sex was quite a jolt for both of us. They 1st found baby A to have "boy" apparatus, and I of course said "That can't be right!" The DR was very sweet and consoled me that he was quite sure. As I kept thinking,"I have one more chance, I have one more chance"- there she was.

OMG, way too funny - I could have written that very post!! The same thing happened to us: assumed two girls, nearly when the first ultrasound showed only a "male apparatus" , couldn't see the other until a later ultrasound when we found out she was a girl. I remember the feeling driving home the day we saw just the one boy and realized I could be having two boys! (For the record, the moment my little boy snuggled into my neck when he was born I fell completely in love with him and I couldn't believe I ever felt the way I'd felt. I'm so glad God gave me that beautiful little boy, so I have to agree He knows what He's doing).

One of my favorite photos of my tired little guy after a busy day at Castaway Cay!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

For anyone here who remembers the story of the frozen embryos that we donated to another couple. We found out last night she is doing well and carrying a little girl! We are so very happy for them!!