Okay, so on with the trip....
I am very excited today. It seems things are coming together.
So, DS#1 finally committed. Well... actually DH & I forced him to make a decision. So, I put the figures together for him, and he agreed he can afford what it will actually cost him for the trip. So, I went ahead & booked his flight for him.
So, these are how the flights will work:
DD#1, DDBF, & DS#2 will fly out of Boston morning- Jetblue
DH, me & DD#2 (the birthday girl) will fly out of Providence - Jetblue at 3pm ish
DD#1 will fly out of Providence - Southwest at 2pm ish
So, the new "reveal" plan is:
DD#1, DDBF & DS#2 will be driven into the airport by DH very early in the morning before DD#2 wakes up. She will have celebrated her birthday the weekend before, and will be told they are doing a day trip somewhere & will be home for dinner, cake & icecream.
DS#1 will be recruited to be going out to lunch with us. At which time we will ask DD where she would like to eat for her bday lunch. When she says a restaurant in Disney (which she almost always does. Hopefully this time it will be BoG), we will say...okay. And ask DS#1 to drive us. Which he will of course and then he will tell her he will see her when we get home & he will give her her bday present then. Leading her to beleive we will be home either that night or the next day. He will drop us off. (apprx. 3 hours early). Then he will park the car in long term parking & catch his flight.
When we get to WDW DD, DH & I will (hopefully) rent a car. The other "kids" will already be at the resort via ME.
Depending on the time, DD, DH & I will either check into the hotel, or head right over to our BoG ressies. The older "kids" hopefully will already be there, and seated. Then when we get led to our seats, the kids will say surprise!
Now for the if's ands buts...... If you remember our ADR is for 5. I called ans asked about adding 1 more & was told, since the tables are in even #'s adding 1 shouldn't be an issue. BUT, NOW we have to add 2. I'm not sure what I am going to do about this. Just show up & pray they will let us all sit together. Or make a ressie else where. I really really really hate to give up this ressie. The only reason I made it was, DS#1 said he wasn't planning on eating with us. But, now he really really wants to. So, this I will have to think about.
As for the resorts:
DH, DDs, & myself, are still staying the AKV the first 3 nights in a studio.
I had made ressies for POFQ for the 2 adult boys. Now, that isn't such a great fit with the 3rd adult male. So, I researched. And researched. And crunched numbers, and researched. With a lot of help from dissers, I finally changed their resort to Coronado Springs. It is the best fit in the moderate range for 3 beds.
I am a little sad DS#1 has decided he is only staying 2 nights. Just long enough to be there for the surprises. To me it seems like a lot of money and travel time to stay on 2 nights. He says it is because he doesn't want to miss work. But, I know he thinks he is in love. blah, blah, blah (oh, a little too cynical?).
I haven't started on any goodie bag stuff yet. I am too wrapped up in DS#2's graduation. Which is this Saturday. He had said he did NOT want a party. So, we told him we would take him out to a formal dinner. Well, he also does not want that. So, I gave him the speech of how proud we are & he should be of his accomplishment. I told him we want to celebrate this, he can chose a party, or a nice dinner. He chose a party. SO>>>>>> now I have to put together a party. Thankfully, all our friends & family would be perfectly happy with a cookout style. So, that will most likely be what it is.
Here's what I found funny. I told him to write up a list of who he would want invited. He said, just the regular people that usually come to stuff we have. I thought, then said..."basically me & Dad's friends & their kids"? He hesitated, then said... "yeah, I guess SO.". hahaha We will include my brothers & their families, and DS's 2 aunts & families on DH's side, and of course the 1 grandparent DS has left, then some close friends that have watched him grow since he was born. Honestly, I am secretly pleased. He has conquered many obstacles without missing a beat & he deserves to be applauded. It will embarrass him a little, but he'll get over it & be the center of attention he should be.
Now, DD#2.... a carbon copy of her older brother that is graduating this w/e. Well, her nose is a bit out of joint. She has expressed disappointment (and by that I mean a melt down) that she is not getting any attention for graduating elementary school.

Apparently, because the school is making a big deal of it, she expects a party too.

Of course during this melt down other issues came up (which I figured there was a background issue of what was REALLY bothering her). We talked those issues out, and she is fine. Ironically, one of the issues was that when her brother put on his cap & gown to show us, she got choked up (just like mommy) and her brother accused her of faking it. Her feelings were truly hurt that he didn't believe her, and that he doesn't realize "how proud she is to be his little sister.".
So, DH & I are

as what to do for her. I think I might let her invite a couple of friends over & make them icecream sundaes the last day of school.
During her melt down, she mentioned that not only is she not getting recognized for "graduating 4th grade", but for her big 10th bday, her big sister will be graduating, so she will get no attention then either. When she said this, my head was yelling "NO DO NOT TELL HER!! DO NOT TELL HER! DO NOT EVACUATE PLAN!!" I didn't tell. But boy, my heart was breaking for her. Which opened a whole new can of worms. Oh, my gosh, we are going to have to recognize DD's graduation too..... IN AUGUST! ... will she want a party? dinner? yikes!
Well, off to resolve, then hopefully laundry.
Have a wonderful Wednesday everyone!