wind blowin',sun shinin',Soarin'on a magical celebration!April/10: Final thoughts!

[longing2Batdisney]

Connie, Dayne will change his mind numerous times before he finally settles -- believe me I know. Andy went for a degree in journalism or broadcasting; he did get his Communications B.A., but he is NOW back at school to get his teaching certificate (he starts student teaching in September) and he is paying for it. Markie started out wanting to be a P.E. teacher; then he was going to be an elementary school teacher; he will graduate in 2011 with a degree in Health Wellness (in other words, he can be a personal trainer and do physical therapy); once he graduates, he will come back home and get his teaching certificate. It is best he just get the classes done that he must do his first year.

Kathy,
sounds like your boys are on track!

Gwendolyn started out for her R.N., than she changed to micro/macro biology (she wanted to work for the CDC), now she is working on a major in psycology and a minor in biology. She was suppose to be graduating on May 15 but will be graduating next May! than, after she graduates she will be going back for her teaching certification...yes, that is right she has decided she wants to be a HS biology teacher...:

I just can't believe I have to go through this again in 14 year...LOL!

I really think Dayne will end up working with Danny and operating cranes. Maybe not we'll see...I really thought Dayne would make an awesome teacher and coach and I really think that is what his heart is cut out for...I just hope he realizes it soon! At least he does not have a girlfriend to tie him down or interfere in his decisions, yet.

 

[KatMark]

Kathy,
sounds like your boys are on track!

Gwendolyn started out for her R.N., than she changed to micro/macro biology (she wanted to work for the CDC), now she is working on a major in psycology and a minor in biology. She was suppose to be graduating on May 15 but will be graduating next May! than, after she graduates she will be going back for her teaching certification...yes, that is right she has decided she wants to be a HS biology teacher...:

I just can't believe I have to go through this again in 14 year...LOL!

I really think Dayne will end up working with Danny and operating cranes. Maybe not we'll see...I really thought Dayne would make an awesome teacher and coach and I really think that is what his heart is cut out for...I just hope he realizes it soon! At least he does not have a girlfriend to tie him down or interfere in his decisions, yet.

I hope they are. But if Andy had listened to me in the first place, he would not be paying for his fifth year of education (we gave him four years and Markie five because Markie participated in a sport and it is very difficult to get a degree in four years when you are in a sport...especially wrestling). I told him to get his teaching certificate because I knew he wanted to coach and he wouldn't be able to do that being a newspaper reporter or a sportscaster. Andy has been coaching at the high school in the town next to us for two years (this is his third year) and they had all thought he was getting his teaching degree when he graduated because they would have hired him on the spot. Markie will end up in school six years by the time he is done (if he graduated with his old high school classmates, he'd be graduating on Saturday).

Dayne will figure it out.

 

[longing2Batdisney]

After we checked in to our rooms and delivered all our belongings we went down to the food court to see what good stuff they had in store for us. (Again no food porn--sorry)

Danny & my mom had his usual a meatball sub, Ashton had a pepperoni pizza (not the child one the regular one--he wanted pepperoni and the kids one was only cheese so Danny bought it--I would have shared it had I known that) all he ate was the pepperoni and cheese from it. I had the yummiest shrimp lo-mein. I don't remember what my dad had but he did not like it. Gwendolyn & Joe split a hamburger they ate like that all week I believe they were the only ones not to gain any weight . Dayne and Luke hit the parks after sharing a large pepperoni pizza (they were the only two with 5 day tickets) these two had us worried in the beginning we do not believe they were eating until they found the pizza at Hess.

After, lunch Danny, Joe, and Gwendolyn went to SoG to purchase our tickets (now Danny and Gwendolyn get lost just turning around--so you guessed it they were lost--took them 45 min to find SoG; they had finally programed the GPS). While they were gone, my dad took a nap and my mom and I brought Ashton to the pool. When Danny & the kids returned, (Gwendolyn & Joe had added the water park and others options to their tickets) and hit Disney Quest (which she said was a lot of fun...they went several times). Danny came to the pool with Ashton, mom & I. Around this time we had to move from the bowling pin pool due to an unexpected cleaning of the pool...so we moved to the children's pool. Daddy came down around this time and we all watched Ashton play in the children's area he had a blast...but, boy was that water cold!

ALL THE POOLS WERE OPEN 24 HRS!

After, swimming we went up to the room to shower, my plan was to check out AKL and WL than eat at DTD. But, my parents did not want to resort hop...now, you say well why didn't you go without them...life did not work for me that way this particular week but no worries...I'll get back there some day! and I love hopping through you guys

Once, we got to DTD (DTD was PACKED! we were hoping this was not what was to come in the parks; but, it was Saturday night) we walked through several of the stores while waiting for Gwendolyn and Joe to join us(and let Ashton take a nap in his stroller-he fell asleep on the bus). We than went eat at one of Danny & I's favs: EoS! We shared a salad and Hawaiian BBQ along w/a bowl of tomato soup for Ashton...needless to say we were all full....mom and dad had the club; and you guessed it did not like it...(you will find a trend here)...

After eating we brought Ashton to build his light saber (did you know you can buy these at walmart now...I seen some today)

after dinner we decided we had an early morning so we headed back to the resort for the night!

up next our first day in the parks...where would we start...

 

[3princesses+aprince]

First off, cute pics of Ashton this year and last at the rest stop! Poor little guy banged his head

Ashton looks adorable in his Mickey hat at the pool! I feel bad that you guys didn't get to do some things you wanted though, like resort hop. All the more reason to go back, right?

Can't wait to hear about your first park day!

 

[my2disneyboys]

I love the kids pool at POP! How fun!! I stayed at POP when Myles was 9 months old but it was the week after xmas and everything was so crowded... I dont think we ever used the pool. I love Ashton's Stitch Suit... I almost bought that the other day..

I think we are going to eat at EOS on the day we get into Disney. I have heard the tomato soup was good.... (that is one of Owen's favorites so I will have to remember to order that for him!)

Looking forward to hearing about your first day in the parks. BTW... I noticed a picture on Facebook of Ashton sitting on your mom's lap on the scooter! All I could think of was you saying before that you didnt want him on that!!

 

[longing2Batdisney]

no offical plans yet, but we're pushing for Dec.
His hip is just OK. He is still having pain and they found he has a peice that is too big sticking out and a muscle is pulling on it. The only way to fix it is to redo it. I am not happy about that. He is letting it go for now, but I am really ticked off about the whole thing. The Dr said he would have to put a smaller peice in if he re did it. this guy is supposed to be great and never has problems and the one time he does it's us.

Oh! Jen I am so sorry to hear that!
Danny's knee does not line up just right since his; but, he said it is not something he cannot live with. I bet he does have some pain if the transplant material is larger than it should have been. Danny's bones are so large that they had to quickly change in the OR to a different size the doc said he did not think his bone was that big...I don't blame either of you for not wanting to go through it again this soon. Maybe he will be able to hang in there for a few years that way he won't need a replacement as soon when he gets older. We figure Danny will need two more in his lifetime (I hope only one but time will tell)...

 

[MickeyisBeast]

Wow, the water was cold?
When we had went to POP's pool, it was warm- we thought the pool must have been heated or something! And we went a few weeks before you... how odd!

 

[jenseib]

Pop's pools are heated, but I think sometimes more than other days. LOL!

What is SoG that you were geting tickets at....oh wait, was it shades of green?

 

[longing2Batdisney]

First off, cute pics of Ashton this year and last at the rest stop! Poor little guy banged his head

Ashton looks adorable in his Mickey hat at the pool! I feel bad that you guys didn't get to do some things you wanted though, like resort hop. All the more reason to go back, right?

Can't wait to hear about your first park day!

Yes, Pam I think the next time will be Ashton and I only and I'm sending Danny to a nascar race (he has never been and he has been wanting to go for years). In fact I was looking at when the last race is scheduled the other day but I really think it is something I would like to do next year (just a thought)....I have the last three race weekends saved on the WDW website w/price quotes :lamo:

I love the kids pool at POP! How fun!! I stayed at POP when Myles was 9 months old but it was the week after xmas and everything was so crowded... I dont think we ever used the pool. I love Ashton's Stitch Suit... I almost bought that the other day..

I think we are going to eat at EOS on the day we get into Disney. I have heard the tomato soup was good.... (that is one of Owen's favorites so I will have to remember to order that for him!)

Looking forward to hearing about your first day in the parks. BTW... I noticed a picture on Facebook of Ashton sitting on your mom's lap on the scooter! All I could think of was you saying before that you didnt want him on that!!

Nickie, I don't care for tomato soup but I really like EoS...mom tried w/the EVC each time she would turn it off to stop and wait for someone or something she had him on her lap; she did try one time to ride with him and I swooped him up and did not let him near her for a long time afterwards. Daddy told her she was a child who liked to push my buttons

Wow, the water was cold?
When we had went to POP's pool, it was warm- we thought the pool must have been heated or something! And we went a few weeks before you... how odd!

I'm sorry Sara, the pools were warm enough to swim in but the children's pool with the sprayers were COLD... the pools on the other hand were about 80 something not hot by any means but swimable.

Pop's pools are heated, but I think sometimes more than other days. LOL!

What is SoG that you were geting tickets at....oh wait, was it shades of green?

the Saturday we got there the pool was really warm; but, I don't think they heated it back up after the rain on Sunday...
yes, Shades of Green.

 

[KatMark]

Love the pictures at the pool -- too cute (but it looks like that water is cold!).

 

[mickeystoontown]

I can tell from Ashton's face that the water was cold.

Sorry to hear that your parents aren't lovin' the Disney food.

 

[aprilisis]

The photos are so cute of Ashton! He looks like he is having a blast- but it does look like the water is cold from the expression on his face in one of the photos.
I didn't have a clue that they sold those lightsabers at WalMart.

 

[Charlefours]

I sure hope you had a great time and your parents did not drive you crazy! I am worried that DMIL will drive me up the castle wall, through it, back up the wall to get out of the castle and back down the wall...

 

[racefanof88]

Cute pictures of Ashton playing in the pool . I think we are going to go to DTD on our arrival day too. I want to try EoS and since McDonald's is closing I may be able to convince Dale

 

[longing2Batdisney]

I sure hope you had a great time and your parents did not drive you crazy! I am worried that DMIL will drive me up the castle wall, through it, back up the wall to get out of the castle and back down the wall...

Stephanie, I had a wonderful time...could I have had a better time...YES!
could they have had a better time YES!

sending you a PM!

groups with different interest should split up! sometimes a week together all the time for a week is too much! especially with me and my dad's personality

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Cute pictures of Ashton playing in the pool . I think we are going to go to DTD on our arrival day too. I want to try EoS and since McDonald's is closing I may be able to convince Dale

If not pick up what the guys would like and head over to EoS for yourself and sit outside on their nice little covered area. We did that last year, we picked up Wolfgang mac n cheese for Ashton and we ate EoS.
We really enjoy their soups, sandwiches, mixed salads, and now their tossed salads...

 

[Cory's Gal]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!! Great start Connie!!! I was so bummed we never ran into eachother, I never once saw a single Dis member!!! Ashton is so adorable and you can just see all that excitement he had when you got into your rooms!!! SUPER awesome you got the bed requests you wanted too!!!! Our pool at FQ was REALLY cold too!! Looking forward to much more!!!!!!!!!!
Beth

 

[longing2Batdisney]

Real quick for those of you just joining along I think a quick background explaniantion of my parents and them joining....

my mom is slightly handicapped (what does that mean) she FX her spine when she was 16 yrs old, while daddy was in the Army in CO(they married young when he was drafted). Well, she was told she only walked again because of her age at the time...

so, she has a very hard time walking for long distances (so, they rented her an ECV), Dad loves to travel but to God made places: the mountains, islands, national parks (in fact he asked me our last night at disney if they had one close he would go do that instead of US ). So, he does not care for amusement parks of any kind and he hates to spend money!!! can you say tight wad...

My children and I are very close to both of my parents and I love to travel with them to the mountains...not to the beach or places like Disney...in fact I am hoping that they join Danny and I next year when we go to Yellowstone!

I believe if they would have said they were coming in the beginning and I would have been able to make some ADR's for them along with letting them know what my goals were things would have been happier for all...

This trip was for them to be with Ashton (I can understand that--they did it with the older children twice) but, in the way they complained about things (food--the older kids not being around) we ended up missing out on alot of things for Ashton; which in turn made me upset and each time dad would complain about something it made me feel bad(I felt like a teen again that did something wrong by accident); I felt like I needed to keep everyone happy....after all isn't this suppose to be the happiest place on Earth!

So, did we have fun?!? YES! I had a great time...would things have gone smoother with a better understanding, before we left; DEFINATELY!!! I had really thought we did that two weeks before we left

So, if you are traveling with a group and you are all on the same page it should be great...but, I would add that I do believe you should have some personal time; it keeps everyone fresh and happy!

 

[Mombits]

Yay!!! Can't wait to read about your trip. I'm hoping you had as much fun as we did!!!

 

[MickeyisBeast]

I'm sorry Sara, the pools were warm enough to swim in but the children's pool with the sprayers were COLD... the pools on the other hand were about 80 something not hot by any means but swimable.

Ohh, thanks for clearing it up
When we went the kids play area with the water spraying stuff, was closed. So, we didn't get to try that out