What are you celebrating? Absolutely nothing! TR writing has commenced!

[jackdis]

Great report! I'm hooked. We just got back and will be going again in Feb.

Tell me about your "pin board." What a great idea! We have so many just sitting in a box. I would love to display them.

Also, congrats on the WW. I know it's work!!!

 

[MainStMandy]

Great report! Can't wait to read more

 

[xoktenox]

What a great countdown you guys made! I can't believe how much the stickers cost Who woulda thunk it? Hope you at least got to do a little bit of your Disney day you planned for today!

 

[starlight_003]

Great job on the countdown calendar!!

 

[littleboss]

Hi! Thanks for joining in on the fun! I know what you mean - I want to pack already!

I have started packing!! Call me crazy.
I love the pics, the one with baby at the pool is to die for.

 

[Villainess]

That's really cool! What Boutique in Stone Harbor? My Parents live in North Wildwood in a condo! My mother works in a store in Wildwood yr round. The owners of the store actually live in WW Crest! I live apprx 15 min off the Island! When I purchased my house I knew I didn't want to be in the middle of the craziness in the summer! Some summers I don't even go over there ! I goto Cape May Beach instead . It's a Small World isn't it?

It certainly is a Small World! The boutique is called Alice. It opened there this past fall, but was in Ocean City? - can't remember - before the building they leased was sold.

Great report! I'm hooked. We just got back and will be going again in Feb.

Tell me about your "pin board." What a great idea! We have so many just sitting in a box. I would love to display them.

Also, congrats on the WW. I know it's work!!!

Lucky - where are you staying? Tentative future trips for us include Christmas 2009 and DL in Feb. 2010 to celebrate my 30th bday.

I'll post some pics of the pin board!

Great report! Can't wait to read more

Thanks for joining me!

What a great countdown you guys made! I can't believe how much the stickers cost Who woulda thunk it? Hope you at least got to do a little bit of your Disney day you planned for today!

I think my jaw dropped a bit when the cashier told me the total. Oh well, the kids are enjoying it. They removed the first Mickey today; actually, DS removed 4 so we had to put those back. I had to explain that taking off more than 1 Mickey doesn't speed up the days (I wish!).

Great job on the countdown calendar!!

Thank you! Glad you like it.

 

[kgle]

I am loving the countdown! You guys did an awesome job!

 

[tinkgurl]

Okay, I'm in! I LOVE all the pictures/stories so far. The little ones are adorable. Thanks for sharing your Christmas with us!

 

[Villainess]

Pop Pop decided to create a pin wall display in our den/office so that we can actually look at the pins we have bought/traded/collected for the past 4 years rather than have them sit in binders and such.

He ordered cork on a roll and built a frame around it. It was lots of fun holding this thing up while he screwed it into the wall!

These pics were taken a few days after we started putting the pins up. We now have 1050+ on the wall and still have my pin collection to put up (3 binders and 4 carry cases/messenger bags). There is a bit of organization to the wall - each park is grouped together, fab 5 together, DVC/AP pins together, lanyard series together, holidays, etc, etc, etc.

He is going to be making another pin wall soon as we are already running out of space. He is also talking about track lighting to see the pins better. Don't worry! The only people who go in the den/office are ourselves, DSis, and DBIL. It is up in the bedroom area of the house so our family won't think we have gone completely overboard! OK, well they already do! LOL!

Without further ado, here are the pins on parade!

Today we had a late breakfast at a local diner we frequent. Frequent. Yeah right. They know us; the kids know them and feel right at home walking over to them and asking to be picked up. They joke that the renovation they just completed was funded 1/3 by our family. OK, so we go there a lot. Probably too much, but it's good food and I don't cook breakfast. Anyway ...

After breakfast we stopped at the mall so Nonna could pick up her new glasses. Of course no trip to the mall is complete without a stop at The Disney Store! You know you have your kids brainwashed when the recognize the surrounding stores and start yelling "Donald Duck Mommy!" as they try to wiggle out of the stroller. So, twist my arm (HAHA!) we go to the Disney Store. Pop Pop picked out a Donald tee for DS and a pink Aurora tee for DD that she had gotten for Christmas. Then he picked out a pink Daisy tee. These are adult ones I found at Disneyshopping, and I think DS's is grey but they are close! Only $4.99 each!

I looked for some tee's for me, but they didn't have anything. This one from Disneyshopping is cute

BUT I think I will have to print this out and put this somewhere Nonna and Pop Pop can find it. I have a birthday coming up!

After paying and letting the kids take a WDW vacation brochure, we wave goodbye to the fab 5 statues and head over to Hallmark. Pop Pop mentioned that DSis missed not getting an ornament at Christmas as we always had in the past. Growing up, each of us had a series of ornaments we collected. The last item we opened in our stocking would be that year's ornament for our series. Pop Pop's and my series have long ended (I loved my rocking horse collection!), but my parents would still get an ornament they thought I would like. Pop Pop bought Nonna's her ornament but they both forgot to get ornaments for DSis and myself (Pop Pop buys lots of ornaments when they are released in the summer so Nonna picks one and wraps it since he hasn't liked any of the series ones lately). Into Hallmark they went to see if they could find any ornament DSis would like. As luck would have it, there was one ornament left of DSis's actual series! So they bought it for her, but they didn't get me an ornament.

I had looked in The Disney Store for a notebook I could get to take with us to WDW so I can jot down each days memorable moments, photo tips and notes, etc. See I'm already planning the TR! Unfortunately, they didn't have anything other than Camp Rock, Phineaus and Ferb, and High School Musical. Not interested.

I debated for 10 minutes - no exaggeration - over which Vera Bradley pattern to get. (Sidenote: I love VB bags!!!!! I have 2 VB diaper bags and 2 Villager bags. I am in the market for a new bag, but I'm waiting until the trip is closer to decide which pattern I want, and I'm going to buy some coordinating accessories. [Read: I can't choose a pattern bc I like about 4 at the moment] ) I ultimately chose this one, but may go back and get the Raspberry Fizz pattern one too! After all, there is only 160 pages in the notebook and I'll have 19 pages worth of TR to write! That's only 8 pages/day!

With a small bag for myself, we decided to leave the mall and go to Babies R Us and exchange the safety gate I had bought yesterday. We re-examined all the gates, bought another of the brand we had just returned and a third. We are still looking for a 4th but this is for an extra wide stairway and we have iron banisters so it is very difficult to find something that will work.

We are done shopping and head home. Pop Pop installs one of the new gates, and let me tell you DS and DD are not happy! DD used to be able to move about the house but not anymore. DS just hates being trapped and is trying with all his might to figure out how to open the gate, break the gate, tear it down, etc. One thing: these gates are a PIA! I can barely open them. With two very upset children I started dinner - Pot Roast. Easy once it gets going and we ate pretty early tonight.

Then I had the lovely fortune of going grocery shopping - real shopping, not sherbert and toiletries for WDW! I decided at the end of my shopping that I want to cook Chinese this week, so I began my 2nd loop around the store to pick up everything I needed. It would be so much easier to order take out, but nooooooooooo I have to be severely allergic to MSG and most of the restaurants here use it in all their food. A piece of useless info: did you know that Doritoes have MSG?

Wow. Not only did you get to see the pins on parade, but an entire rundown of our day. And a free box of too! What a deal! LOL!

 

[Villainess]

I am loving the countdown! You guys did an awesome job!

Thank you! I've had to do some minor reconstructive surgery to it as the glue dots I bought apparently are removable ones and not the permanent ones so they aren't sticking to well to the grosgrain ribbon. I've been gluing them on now.

Okay, I'm in! I LOVE all the pictures/stories so far. The little ones are adorable. Thanks for sharing your Christmas with us!

Thank you! I'm glad you are enjoying the stories and pictures!

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Hi there! I found you via that express monorail...LOL! Count me in for your PTR! Since we will be there at the same time I figured we could pass the time together!

The pics of your kids are absolutely beautiful!

Also bummed about Space Mountain being closed....

Looking forward to more!

 

[DARuss]

WOW. Nice pin board. Don't DW would be too happy with me if I were to try something like that. We are only just starting our collection so maybe in a couple of years I might talk her into something close to that.

Loving the updates. subbin' to enjoy the fun.

 

[Goofy22]

Pop Pop decided to create a pin wall display in our den/office so that we can actually look at the pins we have bought/traded/collected for the past 4 years rather than have them sit in binders and such.

He ordered cork on a roll and built a frame around it. It was lots of fun holding this thing up while he screwed it into the wall!

These pics were taken a few days after we started putting the pins up. We now have 1050+ on the wall and still have my pin collection to put up (3 binders and 4 carry cases/messenger bags). There is a bit of organization to the wall - each park is grouped together, fab 5 together, DVC/AP pins together, lanyard series together, holidays, etc, etc, etc.

He is going to be making another pin wall soon as we are already running out of space. He is also talking about track lighting to see the pins better. Don't worry! The only people who go in the den/office are ourselves, DSis, and DBIL. It is up in the bedroom area of the house so our family won't think we have gone completely overboard! OK, well they already do! LOL!

Without further ado, here are the pins on parade!

Today we had a late breakfast at a local diner we frequent. Frequent. Yeah right. They know us; the kids know them and feel right at home walking over to them and asking to be picked up. They joke that the renovation they just completed was funded 1/3 by our family. OK, so we go there a lot. Probably too much, but it's good food and I don't cook breakfast. Anyway ...

After breakfast we stopped at the mall so Nonna could pick up her new glasses. Of course no trip to the mall is complete without a stop at The Disney Store! You know you have your kids brainwashed when the recognize the surrounding stores and start yelling "Donald Duck Mommy!" as they try to wiggle out of the stroller. So, twist my arm (HAHA!) we go to the Disney Store. Pop Pop picked out a Donald tee for DS and a pink Aurora tee for DD that she had gotten for Christmas. Then he picked out a pink Daisy tee. These are adult ones I found at Disneyshopping, and I think DS's is grey but they are close! Only $4.99 each!

I looked for some tee's for me, but they didn't have anything. This one from Disneyshopping is cute

BUT I think I will have to print this out and put this somewhere Nonna and Pop Pop can find it. I have a birthday coming up!

After paying and letting the kids take a WDW vacation brochure, we wave goodbye to the fab 5 statues and head over to Hallmark. Pop Pop mentioned that DSis missed not getting an ornament at Christmas as we always had in the past. Growing up, each of us had a series of ornaments we collected. The last item we opened in our stocking would be that year's ornament for our series. Pop Pop's and my series have long ended (I loved my rocking horse collection!), but my parents would still get an ornament they thought I would like. Pop Pop bought Nonna's her ornament but they both forgot to get ornaments for DSis and myself (Pop Pop buys lots of ornaments when they are released in the summer so Nonna picks one and wraps it since he hasn't liked any of the series ones lately). Into Hallmark they went to see if they could find any ornament DSis would like. As luck would have it, there was one ornament left of DSis's actual series! So they bought it for her, but they didn't get me an ornament.

I had looked in The Disney Store for a notebook I could get to take with us to WDW so I can jot down each days memorable moments, photo tips and notes, etc. See I'm already planning the TR! Unfortunately, they didn't have anything other than Camp Rock, Phineaus and Ferb, and High School Musical. Not interested.

I debated for 10 minutes - no exaggeration - over which Vera Bradley pattern to get. (Sidenote: I love VB bags!!!!! I have 2 VB diaper bags and 2 Villager bags. I am in the market for a new bag, but I'm waiting until the trip is closer to decide which pattern I want, and I'm going to buy some coordinating accessories. [Read: I can't choose a pattern bc I like about 4 at the moment] ) I ultimately chose this one, but may go back and get the Raspberry Fizz pattern one too! After all, there is only 160 pages in the notebook and I'll have 19 pages worth of TR to write! That's only 8 pages/day!

With a small bag for myself, we decided to leave the mall and go to Babies R Us and exchange the safety gate I had bought yesterday. We re-examined all the gates, bought another of the brand we had just returned and a third. We are still looking for a 4th but this is for an extra wide stairway and we have iron banisters so it is very difficult to find something that will work.

We are done shopping and head home. Pop Pop installs one of the new gates, and let me tell you DS and DD are not happy! DD used to be able to move about the house but not anymore. DS just hates being trapped and is trying with all his might to figure out how to open the gate, break the gate, tear it down, etc. One thing: these gates are a PIA! I can barely open them. With two very upset children I started dinner - Pot Roast. Easy once it gets going and we ate pretty early tonight.

Then I had the lovely fortune of going grocery shopping - real shopping, not sherbert and toiletries for WDW! I decided at the end of my shopping that I want to cook Chinese this week, so I began my 2nd loop around the store to pick up everything I needed. It would be so much easier to order take out, but nooooooooooo I have to be severely allergic to MSG and most of the restaurants here use it in all their food. A piece of useless info: did you know that Doritoes have MSG?

Wow. Not only did you get to see the pins on parade, but an entire rundown of our day. And a free box of too! What a deal! LOL!

That Pin Board is amazing! And your count down calendar is too cute also!

 

[jackdis]

LOVE the pin board!!! Thanks for the pictures!
And I also love that little Mickey hand on the bookshelf to the left of the pin board!

 

[xoktenox]

Wow that is an insane amount of pins, I'm jealous!

Love the Disney shirts and I also am sooo in love with VB! I bought a VB hipster in the pink elephants pattern (it was retiring and cheap and cute) and then I got a wallet and wristlet to match. About a week ago I ordered a new laptop case in caffe latte, I loooveee it! I didn't know they had notebooks though...I need to stay off ebay or else I'll spend wayyy to much money

 

[tinkgurl]

I love the idea of displaying all your pins like that! And I love those shirts! You should definately ask for them.

 

[Villainess]

Hi there! I found you via that express monorail...LOL! Count me in for your PTR! Since we will be there at the same time I figured we could pass the time together!

The pics of your kids are absolutely beautiful!

Also bummed about Space Mountain being closed....

Looking forward to more!

Glad you found me! Thank you; I'm glad you like the pics. Oh, also completely bummed about TTA being closed now too. Actually just plain mad! Hopefully, they will update a few of the windows and such on it though!

WOW. Nice pin board. Don't DW would be too happy with me if I were to try something like that. We are only just starting our collection so maybe in a couple of years I might talk her into something close to that.

Loving the updates. subbin' to enjoy the fun.

Thanks. Nonna wasn't thrilled with it at first, but then she figured that they have spent $$$$ on these things to only sit in a binder and never be seen. Also the room isn't a room that visitors go in, well now they do as Pop Pop shows everyone the pin board! LOL! I'm sure no one is surprised by it in our family; our entire house is decorated in Disney!

That Pin Board is amazing! And your count down calendar is too cute also!

Thank you. The kids are having fun pulling off the Mickey's.

LOVE the pin board!!! Thanks for the pictures!
And I also love that little Mickey hand on the bookshelf to the left of the pin board!

Thank you! The little Mickey hand is actually a book end; there is another one on the other side of the shelf w/ a turquoise book. They used to actually be used as book ends but now we have too many books, they are just decor. Nonna got them when she was a manager at TDS (way before TCP took over).

Wow that is an insane amount of pins, I'm jealous!

Love the Disney shirts and I also am sooo in love with VB! I bought a VB hipster in the pink elephants pattern (it was retiring and cheap and cute) and then I got a wallet and wristlet to match. About a week ago I ordered a new laptop case in caffe latte, I loooveee it! I didn't know they had notebooks though...I need to stay off ebay or else I'll spend wayyy to much money

I love the idea of displaying all your pins like that! And I love those shirts! You should definately ask for them.

I have a Villager in the caffe latte pattern and the peacock pattern. I also have a diaper bag in java blue and some other one that was pink/orange, but can't find the name of right now. I bought my mom a mini hipster in Mediterrean blue for Christmas. Right now I like Raspberry Fizz, Capri Melon (which is being discontinued), Mediterrean blue - but since Nonna has it, I probably won't get it, and Pinwheel Pink. I'm waiting to see if anything else may come out before the trip though! Looking at their site, they released a bunch last January, so I'm hoping they will release some soon!

Right now, VB is having lots of sales; the mini notebook I bought is $14 - what I paid at Hallmark, but on the Vera site it is on sale for $10. (Why I'm contemplating the other one!) Lots of other stuff on sale there too and free shipping (code: HAPPYNEWYEAR) on orders of $75 or more ends today. I know, I'm sure this isn't helping you save money, right?

 

[Lady Lallie]

I'm jumping on board your PTR.

Your kids are adorable! You also take awesome photos, they are really great.

I love your countdown calendar and your awesome pin wall. That is too cool.

Looking forward to reading more.

 

[ariel2007]

Sounds like you have had a busy weekend, great updates. I love having Disney days, they make the upcoming trip even more exciting. Your calender looks great, I love all the stickers. I always spend a crazy amount on stickers too, and then they all just end up in a drawer. So at least yours are for a good cause. I love the girls ear and the boys ear on the big Mickey head, and the Peter Pan stickers are so cute. Good job. I cannot believe how many pins you have. We have about a tenth of what you have and they have invaded our house so cannot imagine how much room they take up. Pins are just so addictive, Disney know how to get us don't they.

 

[Villainess]

FINALLY! My NYC report - only what 2 weeks after I went!

I'm sure this is going to take a few posts with the amount of photos I have, so I encourage you to sit back, grab some and

I'll begin on the eve of the trip: 12/29. I was able to get the kids to bed at a very undecent hour after baths, DD's numerous trips to the bathroom (woo hoo for being potty trained - no more diapers! 1 down, 1 to go!), and DS's extra cup of milk. I was supposed to be getting everything together for the morning, but what was I doing? DIS'ing? Is that a word? OK, well now it is! Hey, if the anacronym Rachel Ray coined, EVOO, can make it into the Webster's Dictionary, than I believe, so can DIS'ing! Actually, I think I was posting a chapter in here. After getting most of the stuff together, I went to bed at a very late hour.

Nonna was going to wake me up at 7 since she was getting up at 6:30am. I woke up on my own at 8. She didn't get up until after 7 and headed straight to the shower. Pop Pop was up and playing with the pin wall. I got DS ready first and handed him over to Pop Pop. Next, chase DD around the house with her panties. Don't want to wear Pooh? OK, how about Minnie? Daisy? Ariel? Snow White? I don't remember she ended up in. Pop Pop drops DS back off and continues to work on the pins. Ummmm... I still have to get dressed? "Oh." I get dressed quickly and proceed downstairs with DD and DS in tow to finish packing up the diaper bag.

Nonna comes downstairs and the checklist begins. "Danielle, do you have ..." "Yes." "Yes." "Uh huh." "Yup." "Mom! I got it." "Oh, ok. I was just making sure!" It wouldn't be a big deal if she didn't do this on every outing. Moms! LOL!

We call to Pop Pop that we are ready. And call again. He is still playing with the pins. Finally, he comes down. Oh, wait. "Have you seen my glasses?" No, he's not wearing them. Nonna and I are never really phased by this question or "Have you seen my ___________ (wallet, keys, cell phone - insert one)." We checked all the usual places while the kids impatiently waited in the foyers bundled up in their coats and hats. We couldn't find them anywhere and Pop Pop says he hasn't seen them since Christmas. Oh, well they could be anywhere then! With Pop Pop now grumpy he tells us to go to breakfast without him. Wonderful! I knew where this was going.

Nonna and I take the kids to the diner and we have breakfast. She calls to see if he wants her to pick him up but he says no. He hasn't found his glasses and now he doesn't want to go. I'm miffed. Nonna is calling him a baby and we are in a sour mood. After breakfast my feeling was that we wouldn't go and make him feel really bad for ruining our day. Nonna said we would go without him, but I hated that idea.

Back to the house we went. The 10:04am train we were supposed to be on was probably leaving the train station as we pulled in the driveway. Pop Pop decides to walk over to the church (we live across the street from it) to see if he had left them there when we cooked dinner for the homeless shelter. Meanwhile, I'm lugging the kids back in the house since the next train isn't until 11:33am. Nonna calls Mom Mom and no his glasses aren't there either (Pop Pop was over there helping Dee Dad fix a toilet). I don't know what made Nonna look at the wine fridge, but sitting atop it next to the corkscrew was Pop Pop's glasses. She immediately drove over to the church, glasses in hand to pick him up.

What a different mood he was in when he walked in the door! LOL! I guess Nonna had some words, but everyone was going! After rebundling up DD and DS, we pack up the car and head to the train station. Finding a parking spot was easy since it was a holiday week. Pop Pop and DD went to buy the tickets and $60 later he comes back with tickets in hand. Immediately Nonna and my hand extend to retrieve the tickets.

As the gates come down, we gather all our stuff and wait for the train to come to a stop. The train was relatively empty, but within the next 2 stops, that would change. We find our seats and get settled in. DD and DS were very excited. DD loved looking out the window and I think DS was most excited about not being strapped in his car seat. He was free!

Like all good things, the newness of the train wore off and I was quickly pulling out books and such to keep them entertained. DS was tired so Pop Pop walked up and down the aisle to put him to sleep. It didn't take much for DD to konk out either. She crawled into my lap and passed out. The remainder of the train ride was uneventful: Pop Pop fell asleep and Nonna talked on the phone w/ DSis. I was left to remenisce of the days of my commuting to the city. On the train at 5:20am and getting back in my car to go home at 9:40pm. Sleep. Repeat. Six days a week. How I don't miss that!

I woke up DD and DS as the train was pulling into Penn Station. We gathered all our personal belongings, took small children and Pop Pop by the hand, and exited the train in an orderly fashion. Penn Station was bustling! With the kids strapped in the stroller we headed out onto the exceedingly crowded streets of New York. First stop on the agenda: Macy's Holiday Windows!

The windows at Macy's were very nice. Unfortunately it was too crowded for me to take proper pictures by holding the camera lens directly up against the glass to avoid the reflection of the buildings behind us, but I did manage a few decent pictures. I noticed how many of the visitors (read: tourists) were upset that there wasn't a queue to view the windows like Saks has.

See DD and DS's reflection in the window?

Coming Up ... Ring-a-ling! It's Christmas Time in the City! Part II