Yes, I'm On My Way - Surprise Trip 5 Years in the Making! - Non-Trip News 6/5/09

[HeatherBelle614]

Hello! I'm Heather (Belle is a nickname from my mom and DH as my favorite princess is Belle!)

To sum up a long story, my grandparents used to live near Orlando, so we went to WDW every summer until I turned 15. I know WDW like the back of my hand and regularly volunteer to serve as a tour guide any time I know someone that is going. (Hey, I'll be the best free tour guide they've ever had - if they just take me along! So far, no one has taken me up on my offer, unfortunately.)

For 5 years now, I have rolled change, worked any little extra job I could find, and pulled DH in to my WDW trip saving mission - all so I can surprise my parents with a trip.

I am doing this mostly for my mom; she had breast cancer when I was in the 4th grade, but she hid it from me. She was fortunate enough to be a stay-at-home mom at that time, and she was always very involved in my life. She was room mother to my class, head of our school's PTA, active in our church's youth group, and was always the mom that all of the kids adopted as a second mom. During chemo and radiation, she never told me what she was going through because she didn't want to scare me; she still kept up with everything she did for me. I was too young to realize she was sick until she lost her hair during the last doses of chemo. (I can still remember sitting at Taco Bell one day with her, and a bunch of teenage boys pointing at my mom with her cap over her balding head, and laughing. I cried in bed that night, and realized then how strong of a woman that my mother really is.)

Years went by, along with so many great memories. My mom was the one that drove my friends and I around during our teeny bopper years and boy band crazes; we met N'sync and BSB more times than I can count. And, my mom never meets a stranger, so she became good friends with a lady doing N'Sync's PR. On their last tour, we got to stay at the same resort (my mom was with us, of course) and hang out with them when they came through Dallas. I have so many wonderful memories because of her, and she will always be my best friend. (Well, she shares with DH now. )

But then, the summer after my sophomore year, she was diagnosed with a rare form of breast cancer. My life that summer fell apart, but I never let my mom see it. I took care of her this time; I was the one at her side when she was sick, taking care of her at her treatments, and making sure she had something to fight for. (Well, so she tells me now.)

Since then, there is not a day that goes by that the idea of her cancer coming back doesn't dwell in the back of my mind, and I do my best to cherish my mom the best that I can.

And, when I graduated from high school, I started working during undergrad and saving whenever I could. Five years and a DH later, we're ready to take my mom (dad, too) on the trip of a lifetime to thank her for being such an amazing woman - she is a true inspiration and hero to everyone that she has met, and I can not wait to surprise her with this trip!

UP NEXT: pictures and official info on the cast!

UPDATES:

Update 2 - The Cast
Update 3 - The Trip that Almost Wasn't
Update 4 - Making Tentative Plans
Update 5 - Valentine's Weekend & MK ADR/Snack Ideas
Update 6 - Saying Goodbye & Character Honeymoon Photos
Update 7 - DH update, MNSSHP, Costumes?, & ADRs
Update 8 - Costume Choices & Fellow September Trip Goers Request
Update 9 - Mom's Check-Up
Update 10 - Another NIGHT?
Update 11 - Date Changes

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Ok, so I'm stuck already and not very computer savy. I've uploaded some photos on PhotoBucket, how do I put them as images in here??

 

[autumnpalm]

I'll try to explain the Photobucket thing as best I can! If you move your mouse over the picture, there will be a little drop down menu type thing. Copy and paste what's in the little box beside IMG Code into the body of your message and your picture should show up!

Can't wait to hear more about your planning, you have been through so much and it sounds like you have such a fun trip planned. What a great daughter your mom has!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Yay! My first comment!

Thanks for the tips; I'm going to upload some photos when I get home from errands (ugh apartment searching and tax prep on the same day) and lunch with my mom.

 

[HeatherBelle614]

The Cast:

DH - Brad - DH & I have known each other for a little over 6 years; I was too focused on school to date, but he kept bugging me for nearly 2 years to go out with him. I finally agreed, and realized I was already madly in love with him by then. We got engaged July 2007 and married in June 2008. DH has a BA in literature/teaching, but has had a difficult time finding a job. (Many teachers are being laid off in our area.) For now, he's working a retail job and tutoring. (As I tell him, we're just lucky to have jobs right now, and to be going to WDW!) Until he met me, he'd only been to Disney once, and they definitely did not do Disney right! So, that was one of the first things we agreed on when we got engaged - a WDW honeymoon! After our first day there, he proclaimed he never wanted to go home. He now enjoys talking Disney with me often, watching Disney movies, and random trips to the Disney store when we miss the World. (This PTR is named after a song in his favorite Disney movie - points to the first one that knows what movie it is!)

Me - Heather - I am obsessed with all things Disney; I love to work on planning ideas even when we don't even have a trip lined up! I've got a BA in political science/government, and I love all nerdy things government related. Right now, I'm clerking at a law firm until DH is able to find something full time, then I will be heading to law school. My dream goal is to be counsel for Disney, but we'll see if I can climb that high up my ladder of dreams! All things Disney make me extremely happy; my favorite princess is Belle, and my two favorite fluffy characters are Stitch and Eeyore.

This is one of our engagement pictures:

And, this is from when we left our wedding reception sporting our bride & groom ears (I ordered the old-fashioned ears from Ebay; that's what I always saw growing up, so I hunted down a pair of my own):

DF - David - He works in the telecomm industry for a private company, and adores all things Disney. There will be times that I will randomly catch him watching the planning DVD even when we have no plans to go. He owns the DVDs from at least the last 10 years and can probably recite them all. The last time we went was for Christmas 2006, but I plan on knocking his (and my mom's) socks off from all the tricks and planning ideas/suggestions I've learned from the DIS.

DM - Marilyn - The main reason behind this trip; she is my hero and inspiration in life. When I moved out for college, she "got bored" and started a small, private day care out of their house. She adores those children and loves treating them like her own grandkids. I am an only child, so that's another reason she and I are so close. She adores my DH with all of her heart, and eagerly welcomed him as her son. DH also adores her; he talks to her as often as he can and does things to surprise her all the time. (He bought her a mother/son statue for Christmas and made my mom cry for nearly half an hour over it!) She is more than deserving of a vacation!

This is us on our last trip (don't tell DM or DF that I posted this; they've both lost a lot of weight since then and wouldn't be happy knowing I used this picture):

So, that's our cast and crew!

Up Next: We found out yesterday that my (ex) boss did not explain my tax form (when I worked there half of last year) to me correctly, at all. And, we now owe a good deal of money to the IRS. Will this fact cause us to have to cancel?

Link to the Next Update

 

[Mom2Max]

Oh, I hope not! I need a PTR to follow until September!

Your pictures are adorable! Love the ears

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Oh, I hope not! I need a PTR to follow until September!

Your pictures are adorable! Love the ears

Thank you so much for your compliment!

And, I'm excited to see another September planner! How much do you have done??

 

[HeatherBelle614]

I'm lonely here; please visit me! I'm nice; I promise!

We had a horrible weekend; for 8 months last year, I worked for an attorney as his legal assistant; I was informed when I started there that he would not be taking taxes out of my check. So, I sat down and figured out what I thought I would owe, and made plans to make sure we'd have that money when the time came.

Well, I received my forms from him 3 weeks ago - a 1099. But, he filed me entirely as a non-employee. Because I have that form, my W-2, and DH has three W-2s, we decided to head over to some professionals to have our taxes done. (This is also our first time filing married, so we wanted to make sure everything is done correctly.) H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt wanted to charge us a MINIMUM of $300.00 to work with us because of my 1099.

I gave up that idea, and called DH's dad to see if he'd help me with his Turbo Tax; he said to bring everything tomorrow and we'd get it taken care of. I headed home after that conversation and DH went to work; but, when I got home, I found that the pipes above our apartment had "exploded" (per the apartment handy man) and had flooded our laundry room. Luckily, it seems like nothing is ruined except for some cleaning supplies. It was a major headache to deal with though, and we had no water for a good 8 hours. (I'd already gone home, went straight to the bathroom, and flushed. Who thinks to check the water when they get home? I wasted my ONE flush, but survived the next 8 hours - somehow!)

So, Sunday rolls around and I head to the IL's house. We sit down with Turbo Tax, and start inputing everything. It was then when I realized how much my old boss (who, long story short, I thought was a key figure in my life) really uhm, how to keep this DIS appropriate..let's see..was not very nice with my taxes.

I did not realize that how he filed me was that I owned my own business - which, I definitely did NOT. But, that means I owed almost triple what I thought I'd owe. We start working through the deductions, and I realize how much worse the situation is getting. Because I worked in an OFFICE (not out of my own home or out-of-office like most contractors/self employed folks), I never used my cell phone for work. No deduction there. He paid for my transportation (train) pass; at the time, I thought this was great. But now, I realize he gets to use that as a deduction and I don't. It would have taken nearly $500.00 off what I owe.

So, we will not be getting the $1,500.00 refund that we should have gotten, and I still have to pay in close to $1,000.00 (which is what I had estimated to begin with - NOT for the additional $1,500.00). Thankfully, I have that $1,000.00 already, but we will still be down what we were planning on as a refund.

I was so angry and upset at the same time. My FIL was trying to make excuses for my former boss that maybe he didn't know what this would to do me, but I know that isn't really a possibility. His own daughter works part-time for him, and he files her the same way. (I was there last year when she was dealing with her 1099.)

I'm even more hurt that I was never even told how this was going to work; I know I should have asked, but I trusted this man. He could have at least given me the option of paying for my transporation and explain those things to me. He knew going in that I obviously don't own my own business and that I'd have no deductions; he also knew I've never been filed as a 1099, too. I've always gotten W-2s.

By the time poor DH got home from work on Sunday, I was crying so hard and screaming angry all at the same time; he kept telling me to calm down before I had a panic attack. That refund was going towards law school for me, and my old boss KNEW that. I'd even had that discussion with him before I left for my full-time job (where I am now.)

I had a long chat with DH about if we should still even go to WDW or if I should put that money towards law school now that we aren't getting that refund we were counting on. He laughed at me (I didn't find it funny); but, he reminded me that I have been saving for 5 years for this trip, and now we can do it. He pointed out that no matter how much I may have needed that money for something else, I have not dipped in to this fund for 5 years. And, that once I start law school (fall 2010, hopefully), I will not have a chance to do this for my mom until after I'm finished with school. By then, I'll be in over my head with law school loans and will have another excuse to put it off.

I realized that if something happened to my mom and her cancer comes back while I'm in school, I can't do this trip. I wouldn't have the time. I don't want to put myself in that situation that I may regret for the rest of my life. My mom has always told me that you have to live your life while you can. So...

...we're living and still going to WDW!! We'll be paying our deposit tomorrow or Thursday. (It's due Friday, but I have to wait on DH to be able to make it to the bank to transfer money from the WDW savings account in to our checking account.)

But, I'm still fuming about the tax situation; I am angry, upset, hurt, etc. at this man that told me he was like a grandfather to me when I left. No; my grandfather would never have done what this man did; sorry. There is nothing to do or say about it now as nothing can be changed; but, live and let learn. I still need rec letters from him for law school, so I'll keep my mouth shut, get those, and try my hardest to forgive. (Forget? Probably not; but I can at least do what I was raised to do - forgive.)

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!

Link to the Next Update

 

[debraW76]

Hey Heather. I am here just like I said.

I love that you are doing this for your mom. I hope that one day my children will adore me as much as you adore her

That stinks about the taxes. I agree with you - he knew what he was doing. That's just not right

Waiting for more

 

[ryanshana]

Hi...great trip report so far. That is so sweet that you are doing this for DM! Can't wait to read more

 

[Synndy]

Best of luck to you!

It's interesting that we are going in September as well & surprising my mom (who is also a breast cancer survivor).

As they say "Its a Small World After All"

 

[autumnpalm]

Oh I'm so sorry you have to go through all that tax junk. People can be so disappointing. It sounds like you're handling the situation with a lot of grace, but that really sucks.

But I'm happy you still get to go to WDW!!

Your pictures are just gorgeous! It's always so nice to be able to put a face with a name. You and your DH make such a cute couple. I love your Mickey ears at your wedding and the picture of your family with Mickey.

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Hey Heather. I am here just like I said.

I love that you are doing this for your mom. I hope that one day my children will adore me as much as you adore her

That stinks about the taxes. I agree with you - he knew what he was doing. That's just not right

Waiting for more

Thanks for joining me! I'm looking forward to keeping up with you, too. PTRs can be a lonely place without some love every now and then!

I think the worst part is that I thought so highly of this man and he let me down like that. I'm over being angry and now trying to deal with the broken heart.

Hi...great trip report so far. That is so sweet that you are doing this for DM! Can't wait to read more

Thank you for the compliment! I'm so excited to keep updating; I've asked another DIS member how to link chapters on my first post to make it easier to keep up with. Hopefully, I'll be able to figure it out!

Best of luck to you!

It's interesting that we are going in September as well & surprising my mom (who is also a breast cancer survivor).

As they say "Its a Small World After All"

Breast cancer survivors are some of the strongest people I've ever met. Have you ever done a Race for the Cure? I spend half my time during those in tears, and the other half laughing and smiling from ear to ear. The survivors there are so inspirational!!

I'm one of the odd balls out; that ride is one of my favs. I can never get annoyed by the tune. (DM says it is because when she was pregnant with me and they took my younger cousins, she couldn't ride anything but that. So, while my dad took them on all the other major rides, a CM just let my mom sit in a IASM boat for hours to stay out of the heat.)

Oh I'm so sorry you have to go through all that tax junk. People can be so disappointing. It sounds like you're handling the situation with a lot of grace, but that really sucks.

But I'm happy you still get to go to WDW!!

Your pictures are just gorgeous! It's always so nice to be able to put a face with a name. You and your DH make such a cute couple. I love your Mickey ears at your wedding and the picture of your family with Mickey.

Thank you for the kind words!! I'm trying my best to forgive; I think that we're still going to WDW is definitely helping!

Those Mickey and Minnie ears were some of the first plans I made; DH proposed, and I was on Ebay within the week. I wanted the old version of the bridal ears, not the head band. I'd always seen the actual hat growing up and was determined to find them. We actually got the set for less than just the top hat in the parks from a Disney collector on Ebay!

 

[PopArtGal]

Hey!!!

I'm onboard!

This mean is a mean mean man....trying to make it dis friendly hehehe

 

[mommytothreeboys]

Hi Heather! How awesome that you are doing this for your mom! Can't wait to hear more of your plans!

 

[ryanshana]

Thank you for the compliment! I'm so excited to keep updating; I've asked another DIS member how to link chapters on my first post to make it easier to keep up with. Hopefully, I'll be able to figure it out!

Actually that is where I caught your PTR the thread about budget board being the nicest LOL.

If you figure out the links on the first page i'd love to know for my PTR

 

[ryanshana]

Oh yeah....two more things...

Since ex-bad-not-a-nice-name boss said that you were your own company and yada yada yada cant you tell the irs that isn't so? I do not know anything about taxes but it just doesn't seem kosher to me.

Also I love race for a cure. I do it ever October for my DM (she passed away the day after my DS was born, let me tell you that stunk...so much emotion and totally different spectrums) I hope HOPE to do the 3 day for her too one day.

Also we are staying at Poly this year mainly cause that is where mom took me and she loved that place. And since we are staying CL we will even be in the same building I was in w/ the last trip w/ my mom

yep yep cancer SUCKS

 

[Disneyfan71]

I'm here...you are such a cute couple and congrats on the nuptials!! And I'm so sorry that your taxes got messed up. That wasn't fair of your boss to do that to you..the LEAST he could have done was tell you up front how a 1099 works. Have you considered filing separately? The first year we were married, we filed separately. But now we file jointly!! I think it's b/c we were both single for half of 2004.

But I'm glad you're going to Disneyworld!! I haven't been in fourteen years but can't WAIT for June!!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

Oh yeah....two more things...

Since ex-bad-not-a-nice-name boss said that you were your own company and yada yada yada cant you tell the irs that isn't so? I do not know anything about taxes but it just doesn't seem kosher to me.

Also I love race for a cure. I do it ever October for my DM (she passed away the day after my DS was born, let me tell you that stunk...so much emotion and totally different spectrums) I hope HOPE to do the 3 day for her too one day.

Also we are staying at Poly this year mainly cause that is where mom took me and she loved that place. And since we are staying CL we will even be in the same building I was in w/ the last trip w/ my mom

yep yep cancer SUCKS

I tried; they pretty much said it was my fault, too. Oh well; like I said, live and learn. If I'd had to cancel our trip because of it, well..then it would've been a huge problem.

I am so sorry to hear about your mother; that's my biggest fear - that my mom won't be here to see her grandkids. We've been blessed so far, so I hope that continues!

I really want to do the 3-Day, too! But, I wasn't sure about it this year since many people don't have extra to donate to causes like that. I'll make it there some day.

That is so special about the Poly! Where's the link to your PTR?? PM me and I'll copy/paste the instructions for chapter linking that the BB poster gave me!

 

[HeatherBelle614]

I'm here...you are such a cute couple and congrats on the nuptials!! And I'm so sorry that your taxes got messed up. That wasn't fair of your boss to do that to you..the LEAST he could have done was tell you up front how a 1099 works. Have you considered filing separately? The first year we were married, we filed separately. But now we file jointly!! I think it's b/c we were both single for half of 2004.

But I'm glad you're going to Disneyworld!! I haven't been in fourteen years but can't WAIT for June!!

I'm going to run our numbers separately tomorrow now. I'm not sure if it'll help us or not, but it's worth a shot!

We went last June; it was such a perfect time! The weather wasn't too hot yet, and the crowds were very easy to deal with.