Welcome Aboard my Mexican Riviera!

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Hmm where to begin....I guess today, which is Dec 2, 2008. We have 10 months till cruise time. Wow is that far or what.

Let me introduce you to the characters on this upcoming cruise. There is me-the coach, Del-the DH(ha-sounds like a baseball line up), Sydney (8-now...9 in June) and Nelia (4 but 5 in Jan). Me--I am the Disney freak, I stay at home..not eating bon-bons...mmm no I pick cookies or something better.. Del works for the USPS, yeah sounds good but just a little FYI...when the stamp goes up- his income doesn't but my insurance does. Del loves cruising and likes our trips to Disney but he just shows up. I am the planner, I pack everything, I make sure our wardrobe is appropriate, etc. Del gets the time off, jumps on the plane and well I wouldn't want him packing so it's all good. Sydney is 8..umm and a great daughter. She dances competition(which is why in 2010- we will be at nationals and not on the DCL...hmm should have never joined the comp. team). She also loves golfing and is working on learning and getting better by taking lessons, she also loves swimming, playing the Wii and her American girls. Nelia is our baby. She is a dancer, and basically loves all the above mentioned for Sydney. Though I think she will venture out and do other things Sydney doesn't do. Sydney is a good friend, has a very contagious laugh and very loving. Of course she does have a little attitude brewing at 8 1/2...I should have known it was coming. Nelia on the other hand...well she's my mini me. She is very blunt and honest, very much likes things her way cause as you know thats best, and also very careing to others. She is the mother of her pre-school class. They say she mothers others when they cry or having a bad day. Like I said she is her mothers daughter.

Well now that you have met the staring rolls...onto the script. We are DCL vets. Our first cruise was Sept. 2006. Nelia was 2 and Sydney 6...WOW seems ages ago. We brought along my parents. I am an only child so my girls are everything to my parents. I liked traveling with them but when traveling with others I felt I had to say "we are doing this ....is that work for you?" So then we planned to go on the Sept 2008 Double dip cruise. We were booked and then Dec 2007...I kinda got DCL withdrawl and decided we would go Feb 2008. We went with friends that we met initially on the Sept 2006 cruise. I wish we would've kept the double-dip cruise though. Now we are booked on the Oct 3,2009 western cruise! My Sis(ok yes techically I am an only-child but Donna is my sis I chose.) We tell everyone we are sisters with different parents..ha My kids call her aunt and vise versa. Donna and family(DH-Rod,DS's Liam and Zane) were supposed to go with us in Sept 2006 but bowed out, though we are hoping they go In Oct 2009, I am not holding my breath cause they just moved back here and switching jobs and all. I think they should go but we'll see.
Thank God they offered the 50% off deposit offer...wow that saved us.
Gotta get the babe a pop-tart.

Continue later

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Ok---So anyhow...I booked the cruise and was researching( remember I AM A PLANNER) and stumbled upon the DIS boards. i can't believe I never found this before. I am so much more excited to travel. I am excited to do the FE exchange. I have found that you get to know people and get excited for happiness in their lives just from talking to them on here. I have found I am not the only OCD organized planner, there are a few more on my thread. There are also those who have nothing done for the cruise and probably will whip it all together 3 months before we go. Umm if you are readin you can figure out which one you are ...

I have already gotten all the dinner wardrobe, well I need some pieces. I am kinda anal so I want to make sure all 4 of us match as best as possible. Ya know I need good photo opportunities. I have a cruise closet which houses our dinner wardrobe and 3 totes of travel things. I have one tote of things like tolettries,meds,bath sponges, hooks , etc etc that I take. i buy things between now and the cruise at the dollar store and such so it doesn't seem like I have to buy so much at once. The other tote is day wear, bathing suites, towels , cover-ups, etc etc etc. and the final tote this year is the FE things, door magnet stuff and things for the gift bags for the girls.

I usually board the boat go to Parott cay and feed the troops, we reserve things like tea, etc and then Del takes them to the pool while I get into the room and lay out their gift bags that they think are from Mickey and Minnie. Just things like new goggles, sunglasses, lipsticks, glow spinning globes for pirate dinner, new mech. pencils to do homework, their new autograph books(though not sure if Sydney is doing that next yr) and whatever else I find that is small and fun. Then whenever luggage arrives I unload it all, the girls have the same drawer each cruise and I usually have everything done before the sail-away party. I like to feel that everything is organized(who would have thunk). Though I may be interrupted next yer by the Disney dreamers meet at 3pm. O well I guess I can adjust....though if I am twitching....you will understand why.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

OK...today is cold. I am feeling a little like a PJ day. Nelia and I are just hanging out. So I had to go on and change our health benefits. It's open season now and our existing benefits are going up like $40. With that I can add dental and vision ins and change to another health benefits. U'd think that working for the USPS(gov.) we'd have great benefits...well no. USPS is only gov when it's convenient for the gov.

I am eagerly awaiting for my FE to arrive. Tiffany is making it and I just love her work. I have come up with some cute ideas. Just trying to figure out how to transport it all.

I think we have like 20 something families in our thread. Sydney is so happy to meet the kids. She has been emailing Dismom's daughter Riley. I think it makes it more exciting so that they feel more comfortable with each other. I feel excited to meet everyone...maybe we will run into each other on the boat or our kids will hang at the club...all in all I think the thread is a neat thing.

I am researching for my car rental. i have a good deal for the way to the ship, now trying to find a deal for the return. I am thinking we will come in on Thurs and stay with our friends in Longwood one night and then go to cape canaveral friday night. I have got to get to the port by 10am no later. Who knows they may decide to go on. Though I am hoping not. I just want my kids to feel free to play with other kids and our friends kids can be territorial....I don't want my kids to feel obligated. Ya know? My kids make friends pretty easy and I want them to feel they can.. maybe I am worrying for nothing. We'll see. I am hoping to go to MNSSHP, I loved it last year. I am afraid unless Obama gets us a good stimulis We will have to many bills to pay. Always something, maybe that will change when I get a job when Nelia goes to school.

 

[dismom73]

Hi Michelle...just thought I would pop in and see how it was going. Good job so far, but if you were referring to me I'll have you know that I have already reserved our car to AND from the ship and have half of my door magnets printed out (OK, Laura did that) but I made the car reservations! Did you go with Budget? We got a really good deal on the first end too, a little less of a deal on the way back, but it's always more for the car on the way back. I'm still holding a tiny glimmer of hope that we will be able to do MNSSHP, but I'm sure that glimmer will be extinguished before too long. See you on the thread! Keep up the good work.
Andrea

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Yes I booked through Budget. On the way to the ship I got like $30 total.

Today...I contacted AAA and inquired about the fuel surcharge being adjusted. I am hoping that it's not credited as an onboard credit and actually just adjusting the balance that i owe. I already have an onboard credit and honestly I would rather my account balance be a bit smaller to pay off. Usually I don't spend much on the boat. Maybe a pic, the girls get one small tricket from the gift shop and thats it. It's not like I have excursions to book on Disney, cause I am booking the dolphin encounter on my own.

It was so much cheaper to book the dolphin encounter myself. Disney wants to charge for Nelia and the actual place says she's free....if that's crazy or what. Why would Disney charge for her and more then the place even does for an adult. crazy!!! Even Sydney and I are cheaper. I think I am saving like $100...wow thats a savings!!! We are so excited to do this. Wish I could swim with them like a belly swim but Nelia is to small so we have to do the encounter. So does anyone want her on that day?? J/K of course! I wonder if anyone else in my thread is doing this.....

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Let's see.........9 months 4 weeks ok so that is really basically 10 months but I like 9 better.

Today I was looking at a few double- dipper dis members trip reports and thought wow....I am getting some good ideas from them. Like Palo brunch sounds really nice. I think that Del and I are gonna look into doing that.

nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Oops dozed off with my hand on the N's.

I think tomorrow I am gonna make some descisions on magnets tomorrow. I looked in the cruise closet and checked the totes...the girls have pj's( matching and like 4 pair), everyone has new undies...but I might take the old ones instead and pitch them throughout the cruise, More room for stuff!!!! Eww maybe not now..then u all will think I am wearing crusty undies. ..yeah I will keep all new ones!!

Well here is the cruise closet............

OK somehow my pics disappeared...how is that...maybe I will try again


I think some of these outfits may change cause I am sure I will find more outfits within the next 9 months. Below the clothes are 3 totes of stuff.. Well I am off to check out door magnet ideas.

 

[dismom73]

OK, you are way ahead of me. I haven't bought any new clothes yet for the cruise. It looks like Ashley will be going to the winter ball next month, so I'm going to have to take her shopping for a formal, and then hopefully that will still fit her for the cruise.

 

[disneydiva16]

Michelle Great pre trip report. Your pictures didnt come out (atleast on my end). Could you try and post your closet again? I love clothes shopping. I will start getting stuff after christmas. I like reading these reports, so definatley looking forward to reading more of yours. Have fun with it!!!!

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

So the day began....blah. I don't know why I torture myself and live here in the cold!!!

Still waiting to hear from AAA about my cruise fuel charge adjustment. If it wasn't for the $150 onboard credit I wouldn't be with them. I hate not having control of my travel stuff.

Well I have found some cute signs....I just love how creative our Dis members are. Is anyone done printing? I have printed 2. We have a family friend who has a printing company , so I am taking my flash drive to them to print them for me. Cheaper to pay them then to use all my ink. My ones without a date I am printing on magnet paper so I can reuse them again. BUT the ones with dates I am printing, laminating and just using magnet strips like I did our first cruise. I figure I probably won't use them again except on the frig.

I have checked a few airlines, But everyone except Southwest is charging for baggage. For 6 pieces it would cost me $120 each way. Shoot I am hoping to fly southwest or get real cheap airfare on Spirit. I will try and squeeze into less luggage but I pack alot....dang overpacker i am!! Most at sea days I could just pack suits/cover ups but then if the girls wanna go to the club , they need clothes....ohh uncertainty...owell just over pack...

Well off to watch Survivor...BBL

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

gotta love when they say------

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Ok I swear I will be saying is it June yet? Forever!!!!

So this weekend was our families 10th yr for Make-A-Wish fundraiser. Wow, 10 yrs! Last year, the day before Thanksgiving, my grandmother passed away. This make-a-wish thing was her baby...she lived for it every yr. Last night we had 205 kids...Grandma would have been so proud. My cousin,,(who really is more like my sister) and I just tried to enjoy it, however every now and again we would look over at the wall with her Mrs.Claus photo and just wish she was here. The thing that makes it all worth while is the donations that we give to Make a wish. Knowing that a child gets to do something they want. I will have to post some photos of the house all decorated.

well ttfn...tata for now

 

[Magic3forme]

Michelle: Great tr so far!

I havent even thought about clothes etc yet. lol. I am not the big planner, that would dh, I am just the overpacker! John could have cared less about the fe, but the kids had so much with it!

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

I got my FE!!! What a good job Tiffany did. Ok so now this is one last thing I need to go. I think after xmas I am going to start pputting together bags for the kids. I need to see what I might need. Ok any suggestions for the boys? Girls are easy...pencils, lip gloss, tricket junk.....actually the hard ones are the older boys...even as the girls age they still like make up and tricket junk...and still at 36 we like that stuff....
So besides bugs, what do boys 10-16 wants in their FE's?

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

oh boy...ok The girls got scooters for Xmas from the in=laws and I said they could bring them in the house(since they r new)but I see broken bones soon...LOL

Today I made some magnets. I made transfers for shirts. Now I just need to make them for the boarding day. I know I know it's only 9 months away so I better get my butt busy. I guess I just figure i should get this stuff done in the next few months. I am just not a person who likes doing last minute stuff. I need a magic wand for that.

I am babbling.. .I swear my thread is gonna think either I am nuts... or boring. I just hate winter. I swear I get winter blues.....I just could hybernate all winter. Which is prolly why I am on here more then others...well I am always signed in anyhow. I swear I am not boring...not gonna be the girl rockin it in Rockin Bar-D or anything...ok maybe once but not the partier...ANYMORE. Marriage and kids changed all that. With Sydney being 9 when we cruise I know once she goes to sleep I could go investigate the boat but with Nelia only being 5.... Maybe the DH will trade me nights, he gets Football and I get a girls night. yeah girls night. The girls in my thread, we should have a girls night! Ok i guess I have rambled enough and I do have to go in the freezing cold and take the girls to dance...Ahhhhhhh
Someone save me from myself!!!!

 

[dismom73]

Michelle, You could buy Ashley a smoothie and she might stay with the girls, that is if nothing is going on in The Stack. I don't have to worry too much, between the three hour time change (so it's not really that late for my kids) or the fact that my kids are night owls, they will stay in the clubs while Ryan and I check out the party scene. Heck, our kids will out last us when it comes to the party scene. Ryan and I will be ready for bed by 10 and the girls will be begging to stay in the clubs longer.

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Good Morning to me!! Today it is Dec 22nd.....All I want for Christmas is......a cruise!!!!!! I know I know I got one...just one that is 9 months away!! It's sorta like waiting for a baby, well except in Kristi's case( someone from my DIS thread)...OMG over 2 1/2 yrs. That woman is a patient woman! I think it is so exciting that Katelin comes home in a week or so.

Wow today is 1*...yeah COLD! With wind chill it's -20. Good Lord help me!
I have to go out for some food for a dish I am making for Sydney's dance Xmas party!

Ok if I change my mind on FE gifts I will just smack myself. But i think I have decided on something for the kids. I wanna start it after the 1st of jan. cause i can get the kids done we have now and then if we get more it won't seem so overwhelming. and if we just stay our cute small group...then I will make more for the kids. I kinda like this little group of like 22 families we have going. I wouldn't mind more but I am hoping we don't go over 50. Just sounds like a good number...

Well I am off to fold laundry and then motivate myself to go to the store before lunch.

See ya real soon

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Yeah one shirt done for boarding day!!!!!

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Ok today the girls went back to school. I am so glad we are in 2009 and that means we are cruising "this year"!! That is sooo awesome. I think tomorrow I am taking this old dresser I have and taking all the clothes I have for the cruise and putting them in the dresser. I need to look over the dinner clothing options and see which ones I truely love and which ones can go into their closets. I know I will change it based on what I find for myself. Especially If I can drop the lbs. In 6 days I have lost 4lbs. Now just 26 more to go. Well I guess I will check back later when I have something to add...for now Good night

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

Ok....well today.....These last few weeks have been tough! We cancelled our cruise and I was so despressed. I think I had a panic attack when I did it. I have never had a panic attack before but I am sure this was it! I was like wow...all the FE stuff I worked on and now for nothing. All the picking out of clothes and so on and so on. I got the best support from my DIS group....wow what great people!

But then the heavens opened and tada we are cruising again. Ok so the heavens didn't open------I just sat down and figured out some finances and took us from an oceanview room to a inside stateroom cat 12. Yeah I should have done tha before I jumped the gun and cancelled...I mean well just paniced! We saved 1200 just moving rooms! WOW maybe we will just do that stateroom everytime.....thats some good savings. I will miss the view but hey I can go on deck 9 and catch a view! So Now we are going on the cruise again. I have been told that I will be a cat 11 at least cause the cat 12 only house 3 and we have 4. I am praying for an upgrade but hey I don't care. I would rather be on the boat inside then not at all. So now back to planning.