We went from 5people to 14 to 10, 9, 8??!?! PTR 1 WEEK TO GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[starann]

The same friend who I mentioned earlier came over to take pictures while her son was here doing a college visit.....these are some of them!

All 3 boys, all looking the same way

LOVE this one!

Casey

Shane

another of Shane

Cody

another of Cody


I can't wait to see the next set of pictures she just did!

 

[starann]

I just sold a BUNCH of stuff on the online yard sales and have $316 to be deposited into the bank this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have a Disney jar and we have a counting bank (the ones that count how much is in there), so for now I am using the counting bank to keep track of money saved in coins, once it fills up I will take it and put it in the Mickey bank.


School news....

The kids got back to school next Monday. Just got off the phone with DH who had been speaking to the lawyer. The district agreed to the terms of our settlement which is good, but we still may end up paying for some of this which is frustrating. The test we wanted Cody to have (an outside eval) should have been covered. We should not have had to get a lawyer to get him the test, the school district now has to pay for the test, their lawyer fees and our lawyer fees (up to $6,5000). Such a waste of taxpayer money, when if they had orginally agreed to the test it would have only been the cost of the test.

Per Cody's 504 plan he is supposed to get to meet his teacher 'a few weeks' before school starts. I emailed his teacher since I had not heard from anyone at the school and she got back to me yesterday and said the school guidence counsler would be getting in touch with me for a meeting thurs or fri. Of course both those days I had things planned, so now I sit in limbo as to if they will happen!

The boys are all ready for school. We have their 1st day outfits (I always let them pick a new shirt for the 1st day) I just need to get them sneakers this week (another tradition of getting new shoes for back to school as they are not allowed to wear sandals to school).

I am supposed to go to a meeting at work on Wednesday afternoon for 2 hours (and get paid my weekend rate!) that is if I can find a sitter for the 3 boys! Usually I ask my sister but she said she couldn't so now I am stuck. I have a friend getting back to me about watchign them (she offered) but she has to make sure that she doesn't have to pick her mom up from the dr. The extra money would be nice in my next pay check!

 

[starann]

That is not a typo. I think our nice cozy family trip for 5 has become a Grand Gathering of sorts. How you ask, cause I am CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!

My mom is currently selling her house in NY (she already has a house in Las Vegas and is living there). She just got an offer and they are set to go to settlement in November. IF everything goes as planned she wants to take us ALL on a family vacation. She has mentioned in the past about buying us furniture or gifting us money and once, very briefly she mentioned a family vacation (but quickly realized she could not stand to be around all of us for that long!). So today when she told me about the house maybe (crossing our fingers) selling I wasn't too shocked when she said she wanted to take us on vacation.

I asked where and she said "Oh I don't know, maybe Disney, but we are NOT staying at that resort you always stay at, it was too many kids (hello, you ARE in Disney) and too far from everything" She would LOVE to stay at GF, but I think she would go into sticker shock for 4 rooms at GF for over a week!!! And she mentioned doing Seaworld and Legoland and paying for just about everything (well we can't go nuts on souvies).

My sister does not work and is always poor (like cable being shut off). She could NEVER afford a WDW vacation and she has 3 kids, my DNi-17, DNe-9 and DNi-4. The oldest has been to WDW many times (we have taken her twice) but the other 2 have not, in fact I doubt they have ever been on a vacation. My mom feels bad that they have never been and has wanted to take them, but said if she does for them, it was only fair for her to do the same for my 3. My DB is 24 and single and was recently down at WDW for work confrences and enjoyed it (he had been as a child) and said it almost makes him want to have kids just to bring them to WDW.

So now, if the hosue sells, and if I can convince my DH (who will NOT like the idea of vacationing with anyone, but might LOVE the idea of not having to pay for it) we will be going with

Mom, Stepdad
Bro (and maybe mom will let him bring someone and pay for it so he has someone to hang out with)
Sis, her BF, and her then 18yo, 10yo and 4.5yo
Me, DH, and out then 9 yo, 8yo and 2yo

So a grand total of 14!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (I think I should put in 14 of those faces!!!!


I alreay told my mom we would book thru an agent as it is too much for me to do online for everyone, but I would handle our days together.....as in we have days 'off' as individual families and a few days on together with my mom and SD, maybe 1 day of us all together, and some meals together. (my sister is HOURS late for everything, so there is NO way we would plan much that is timed with her unless we are ready to skip it or move on if she is not there)


Hubby's reaction will be this when I 1st tell him, so I am not telling him until it is a done deal (as in the house is sold and mom wants to book). Mom did mention leaving the spouses at home, but it would be Casey's 1st time and I can't ask hubby to miss that.


Part of me is excited about going on someone elses dime (means I can cut back my hours and we can get a fence and roof with the money I do make) but part of me is not excited as I know it could be a disaster waiting to happen!

 

[tlenzendorf]

Hi! Joining in from inkedupmommas report

14 people??? Oh my goodness! That will be some trip!

Have you done quickrewards at all? They are a points/money site that pays you many different ways. Including Disney gift cards! I'm hoping for our trip in just under 2 years (so far away ) that I can pay for all our souvenirs and some dining between mypoints, quickrewards, checkpoints, swagbucks, inbox dollars, wikets and shopkick. I spend a lot of time doing those for the free moola, lol!

 

[starann]

Hi! Joining in from inkedupmommas report

14 people??? Oh my goodness! That will be some trip!

Have you done quickrewards at all? They are a points/money site that pays you many different ways. Including Disney gift cards! I'm hoping for our trip in just under 2 years (so far away ) that I can pay for all our souvenirs and some dining between mypoints, quickrewards, checkpoints, swagbucks, inbox dollars, wikets and shopkick. I spend a lot of time doing those for the free moola, lol!

I used to do quickrewards, but never really got much (I guess I was doing it wrong) but I do mypoints, SR, Checkpoints (again not a lot), swagbucks (not alot either!), shopkick, Savings Star (free app, you register your grocery cards and get money back that way). I also spend too much time for 'free money but some of them are really easy!

And 14 people....the thought of it doesn't overwhelm me, the thought of planning for 14 ppl does!!!!! I told my mom I am going with an agent as there is just too much that could go wrong (and I don't want to be the one who ruined vacation!!!LOL!)

Thanks for joining in, I was starting to feel like I was talking to myself!

 

[beachphotog]

Hi, found your PTR and am joining in! I love when I find people who are relatively local to me (I currently live close to Willow Grove)!

Wow, planning for 14 people? I love planning events and I think even this would make me crazy!

I hope that it all comes together and you can cut back your hours!

 

[starann]

Hi, found your PTR and am joining in! I love when I find people who are relatively local to me (I currently live close to Willow Grove)!

Wow, planning for 14 people? I love planning events and I think even this would make me crazy!

I hope that it all comes together and you can cut back your hours!

WELCOME!!! And thanks for reading!!! I would LOVE to cut back my hours, but even if mom commits 100% to this trip (which I will know for sure in Nov when her house sells) we still have things we need to save for (a fence, a roof, work i nthe upstairs bathroom...sadly, this list could go on and on!).

Now that the kids are back in school I am really starting to 'feel' it. Four hours of sleep last night and an active toddler makes for a tired mommy!

I think it will be a 'this is where we are eating tonight, we hope to see you there, but if you make other plans please let me know so we don't wait for you' I will give reccomendations on what to do (like BBB for my 4yo niece and PL and Jedi training for my nephew) but then they are on their own.

I may talk to my mom about doing family photos at one of the resorts. It may be the last time we are all in the same place!

 

[tlenzendorf]

I used to do quickrewards, but never really got much (I guess I was doing it wrong) but I do mypoints, SR, Checkpoints (again not a lot), swagbucks (not alot either!), shopkick, Savings Star (free app, you register your grocery cards and get money back that way). I also spend too much time for 'free money but some of them are really easy!

And 14 people....the thought of it doesn't overwhelm me, the thought of planning for 14 ppl does!!!!! I told my mom I am going with an agent as there is just too much that could go wrong (and I don't want to be the one who ruined vacation!!!LOL!)

Thanks for joining in, I was starting to feel like I was talking to myself!

That sounds like a good idea going with an agent! Although have you thought about renting DVC points? That's how we go every time now

I seem to rack up the most with quickrewards when I do surveys. Otherwise it is pretty slow going!

 

[starann]

I have thought of renting points....mainly because my mom wants to stay at a Deluxe (cause she is a bus snob) but almost pooped herself when she found out the GF is $500/night a room!!!! LOL! I may now spend hours looking up and comparing the prices for different rooms vs rental!!!

Can you book the dining plan on a rental of DVC points?

 

[tlenzendorf]

I have thought of renting points....mainly because my mom wants to stay at a Deluxe (cause she is a bus snob) but almost pooped herself when she found out the GF is $500/night a room!!!! LOL! I may now spend hours looking up and comparing the prices for different rooms vs rental!!!

Can you book the dining plan on a rental of DVC points?

The nice thing about the DISboards(If you have enough faith in other people) is the DVC rental board. I just rent from the same person now that I have her, but I would check that out if I were you. The rental agencies sometimes charge a lot($14-15/points!) and a private owner normally does less($10-12/point seems average).

You can book the dining plan on DVC points rental. You have to pay for it right away when you book it. You can wait to add the dining plan until you are ready, though.

With 5 people we really like the space that DVC affords now. 2 value resort rooms are about the same cost as a 1 bedroom room and just a little less than a 2 bedroom value at AKV. 3 girls plus me and my boyfriend, we like the extra space! And the in room laundry...

 

[starann]

The nice thing about the DISboards(If you have enough faith in other people) is the DVC rental board. I just rent from the same person now that I have her, but I would check that out if I were you. The rental agencies sometimes charge a lot($14-15/points!) and a private owner normally does less($10-12/point seems average).

You can book the dining plan on DVC points rental. You have to pay for it right away when you book it. You can wait to add the dining plan until you are ready, though.

With 5 people we really like the space that DVC affords now. 2 value resort rooms are about the same cost as a 1 bedroom room and just a little less than a 2 bedroom value at AKV. 3 girls plus me and my boyfriend, we like the extra space! And the in room laundry...

So being the huge procrastinator I am, rather than cleaning or whatever else I had to do today, I looked up pricing renting points.......gee thanks!!!

So I called my mom and told her, "Hey mom, you know this trip is going to cost around $17,000 and that doesn't include airfare." Mom was a bit shell shocked!!!! I broke down the prices and the DVC rental points seems to be the way to go (considering we can stay at BLT for about what POFQ will cost us! I think instead of 4 rooms we are going to go with 3....my family, my sisters family, and my mom/stepdad/bro and 18yo neice....otherwise it will be 4 rooms and that is a another $2000. I thought of a grand villa or whatever they are, but there is NO WAY IN HECK that we call could share the same place, having our own rooms is important!

 

[tlenzendorf]

So being the huge procrastinator I am, rather than cleaning or whatever else I had to do today, I looked up pricing renting points.......gee thanks!!!

So I called my mom and told her, "Hey mom, you know this trip is going to cost around $17,000 and that doesn't include airfare." Mom was a bit shell shocked!!!! I broke down the prices and the DVC rental points seems to be the way to go (considering we can stay at BLT for about what POFQ will cost us! I think instead of 4 rooms we are going to go with 3....my family, my sisters family, and my mom/stepdad/bro and 18yo neice....otherwise it will be 4 rooms and that is a another $2000. I thought of a grand villa or whatever they are, but there is NO WAY IN HECK that we call could share the same place, having our own rooms is important!

Check into the YES program for ticket savings, too. The nice thing about staying DVC is that you don't have to buy tickets to get the dining package(unless that's changed since October). That saved us around $400 in ticket prices.

 

[starann]

Since there will be another 9 people coming on this trip (as of right now, I will know for sure either way come November), I thought I would introduce them while my 7yo and I watch Muppets Take Manhattan!!!!!


Mom-aka Lynnis-aka 'the battle axe' (my husband likes to call her this!!!) aka MeMa. Mom retired from Verizon early when they offered her a package she couldn't resisit (she had put in 30 years working with computers and running wires in buildings...she works mostly with guys, so def not a desk job!). She has been to WDW several times and Epcot is her fav park. Jimminy is her FAVORITE character, of course he is the hardest to find! This past June she finally made her dream come true and moved to Las Vegas, leaving behind her 3 children and 6 grandchildren!!!! She will be the one paying for this Grand Gathering.

Vinny-aka Vin-aka PePa he is mom's BF of 10 years, so basically my stepfather (mom has already said she will not get married again, so they live in 'sin' lol!). My kids think of his as a grandfather and I think of his as a stepfather. He is a good guy. He and my mom went to WDW a few years ago (she has a time share at Orange Lakes).

Danny- aka Danno- aka my brother! Danny (not Daniel) had been living with mom until she moved, but now he lives in NY (Staten Island) and works in Manhattan in one of hte World Trade buildings doing IT stuff. He is 23 and has a girlfriend, but not sure if she is 'the one' or not. He was to WDW several times as a child and last year he went for a convention for work. He said 'it almost makes me want to have kids of my own to bring them here' I told him he has 3 nephews who would gladly go with him!!!!

Jennifer aka my sister. She is 40 and has been to WDW several times while we were growing up, but I don't think she has been as an adult. She doesn't work and really struggles with money, so unless mom pays, she would never be able to go! She is HOURS late for everything and can be moody, but can also be alot of fun! I know she HATES tinkerbell, and LOVES Dopey!

Sam aka my sister BF of many years. This man deserves a medal for putting up with my sister all these years....no really! Not sure of his WDW backround, but I know he wants to take his kids, esp my nephew!

Cheyenne aka baby girl, aka Chey, aka Miss Pumpkin Head, my 17 yo niece. She has been to WDW many, many times, including with me and my crew several times. She LOVES STITCH. She maybe in college when we go next year, that is if she goes to college. She has attitude and knows everything (as most 17yos!)

Samuel James, aka Sammy, my nephew who is 9 currently. He has never been and is a HUGE Star Wars fan (borderline obsession). He also like Pirates, but SW is still his fave!

and last is

Willow, aka Willabelle, she is my sisters youngest, she is going ot be 4 this NOvember and has never been to WDW. I'm not even sure if she is into the princesses, but I know she loves to dress up. Last year for her bday I got her abour 6 or 7 dresses for dress up (halloween 50 and 75% off sales!!!) so she will have a princess dress for BBB!!!


So that is the rest...I will see if i have picts to add of them another time.

 

[starann]

I haven't forgotten about this....just not much to update. Hopefully mom had closing on the house in early Nov then I can book/plan our trip!

I had suggested to mom about going to a Dude Ranch (one we went to many time while my sis and I were growing up) but mom said that she would rather Disney.

DH is still excited to go with everyone. He brought up the trip the other day and worrying about money as the house needs some plumbing work, a roof and now one of our 200ft trees needs to come down (before it falls on our house like one of it's brothers did a few years ago). Some dasy I feel like we live in the Money Pit!

I am working as much as I can, but slowed down this weekend as I was sick with a fever yesterday. Our middle son had viral croup this past week with fevers all week long, but for me it seems to be a sinus infection brewing. oh fun!

I took the baby in for his 15mo check and walked out with an Early Intervention eval and Ped Neurologist. Casey is 16mo and does not talk or point, has some texture aversion and when he gets over stimulated or cries he takes his hands and covers his ears. There is concern that he is on the spectrum like his big brother. We ahve the EI eval on 10/1 and the ped neuro on 11/26 (earliest appts for both!).

Guess that is it for now. I still have to post the picts my friend took, some of them came out Soooooooooooooooo good, but I have to load them to photobucket 1st!

 

[inkedupmomma]

Hey Star! I am a ginat JERK face! I totally thought I was subbed to this, but was not! ANywho, I am here and def subbed for sure now!

Holy cow 14 people! But who am I to talk? I like traveling with lots of people!

OK, so i have to ask, how did 10/1 appt for baby ds go? You seem to have such a good attitude about it! I'm not sure I would. I'm the glass is half full kind of girl! He's so totally amazingly adorable though, all of them are!

Any news on house front from mom?

OK, I'm here, I'll have suggestions once this trip is really a go, which I have a great feeling that it is!

Have you used any discounts that they just released to price out? January 2014 would be nice

 

[starann]

Hey Star! I am a ginat JERK face! I totally thought I was subbed to this, but was not! ANywho, I am here and def subbed for sure now!

Holy cow 14 people! But who am I to talk? I like traveling with lots of people!

OK, so i have to ask, how did 10/1 appt for baby ds go? You seem to have such a good attitude about it! I'm not sure I would. I'm the glass is half full kind of girl! He's so totally amazingly adorable though, all of them are!

Any news on house front from mom?

OK, I'm here, I'll have suggestions once this trip is really a go, which I have a great feeling that it is!

Have you used any discounts that they just released to price out? January 2014 would be nice

That's ok, I just figured you were busy and hadn't gotten a chance to come over!!!!

The house settlement will be the end of Nov. Mom is flying in from LV to do the closing and some Dr appts, and will be staying 2 weeks so she can come to PA for 2 or 3 days to visit with my sis and her kids and me and mine!!!! So excited! By then the house will be sold so we should be able to picks dates and start to book stuff. And she can bring it up to my sister (my mom is private about money and such with most people but me....I am her POA and all that jazz so she has to be more open with me....so she has not told my sis about the house selling or that she is taking us all on vacation!).

I will be sure ot let you know once we book as I would love some advice! I have been getting pins galore from WDW but of course nothing for our potential dates! Go figure. Once we actually need a pin, there won't be one to be found...that's the kind of luck I seem to have!

Thank you SO much for asking about Casey's appt. It went ok, there really wasn't anythign that shocked me and he qualified for early intervention. He is delayed by about a year in speech (he has the verbal abilities of about a 5 to 6 mo old and he is 17mo). So we get a speech therapist/special intervention therapist once a week for an hour. So far we have had 2 sessions and he is already doing better. Now to teach my husband the signs (we use a lot of baby signs and model play) and the play activites...the baby is picking it up a lot easier than he is! LOL! He sees the ped neurologist in Nov and from there we will decide if he needs to see a developmental ped.

Off to bed, back to work in the morning, but hoping to post some picts of the kids this week and an mini update

 

[starann]

Ok, work has slowed down...well not really, but last Friday I stepped on one of the baby's toys and broke my foot!!! This time last year I fell down the steps and broke my heel bone on my right foot...this year it is the SAME bone on the left foot!!!! I am 32 and have had 2 broken bones in just under a year! So I can still work VNA with a spcial boot, but not at the hospital. I'm in the boot for 4 weeks, so no hospital hours until the boot is gone. I must admit it is a nice break, but the money would be nice, esp around this time of year with Christmas coming.. oh well!

Casey had his EI appt and is delayed in speech, but on target for most everyhting else. He seems to understand what you are saying (most of hte time) but does not talk, so we have started speech therapy/special intervention. His therapist comes once a week to work with him and I and then the rest of the week I work with him. He is picking up some of the signs (baby sign language) fairly fast, but still not as fast as he should/could be!

Mom has settlement on her house the end of Nov and will be coming back to the East coast to spend 2 weeks. Besides the settlement she has some dr appts to line up then she will be spending a few days in PA visiting with my sister and I (Staying with me as she and my sister couldn't stand to be with each other day in and day out). I told her we can do some Christmas shopping rather than her sending gifts of money for Christmas, she can get actual stuff for the kids. I am also hoping she will tell my sister and brother about the trip so I can start planning it. I will feel so much better once I start obsessing...errrrr, planning it!!! LOL!


Here are some of the pictures my friend took of the boys

Shane

Cody

Casey

Casey (with the big boys in the backround

all 3 boys

This last one was from Sears...I had a groupon and took the baby!

 

[starann]

An angel in the book of life wrote down my baby's birth,

Then whispered as she closed the book,

"Too beautiful for Earth"

-Unknown


Remembering angel babies today...my Christopher (in my sig) is an angel and I have a huge network of Mommies of Angels on FB.

 

[inkedupmomma]

An angel in the book of life wrote down my baby's birth,

Then whispered as she closed the book,

"Too beautiful for Earth"

-Unknown


Remembering angel babies today...my Christopher (in my sig) is an angel and I have a huge network of Mommies of Angels on FB.

<3 love to you! I just noticed the birth date, that is my Jacks birthday

 

[starann]

It's not even Halloween yet and I had quite the fright!!!!

Mom called me....her lawyer sent her an email telling her that he hasn't heard anything from the agent and no contract or deposit means that he thinks she should keep showing the house. This had her beyond panic as she had just fed ex-ed back the signed contract. He left her a voicemail today stating he had no contract and had no idea what she was talking about. She called me to vent and tell me she thought she was living in the Twilight Zone as she has talked to him in the past about the contract, and had it in her hand. I told her to call him back and talk to him in person.

She did...here he has a son who is a lawyer with the same name (different office and they sound very similar on the phone)...and her dippy agent (who is a dip...the garbage she has pulled!) sent it to the wrong lawyer!!!! So no twilight zone, the laywer (Sr) was calling his son to straighten it out.

In his orginal email he spoke how the deal was not going through and when Mom told me this I thought, well looks like no trip and more stress for mom. I'm glad it worked out, but geeze!


I was in Target tonight and they had some mini coloring book for 70% off, so I got a Star Wars one for my 2 big boys and my nephew. I figure I will make up little goodie bags for the kids to keep them occupied at dinner and in the hotel rooms. My neice who will be 4 will be easy...Princesses, which is something I usually don't get to buy!

Depending on how much I end up getting for them, I may ship it to myself. I worry about flying and being limited with weight of luggage and baggage fees. I could also ship down diapers for Casey, some of his toys, and some snacks for us.