EPIC isn't ONCE in a lifetime~ Final entry before GO time (4/17)!!! April 2013 PTR

[MHTeacher]

I have read some of your posts on the RC thread, so I was glad to be able to put a face with your name! You have a beautiful family. I have two girls that are also two years apart (27 months to be exact)--they are 19 and almost 17 now.

We stayed at YC during a New Years trip a few years ago, and we loved it! The location can not be beat-and this is coming from a self-proclaimed Poly girl!

[Mousemommy1]

Originally Posted by MHTeacher

I have read some of your posts on the RC thread, so I was glad to be able to put a face with your name! You have a beautiful family. I have two girls that are also two years apart (27 months to be exact)--they are 19 and almost 17 now.

We stayed at YC during a New Years trip a few years ago, and we loved it! The location can not be beat-and this is coming from a self-proclaimed Poly girl!

Thank you!!!!

Yes, we are very excited for the YC. April can't get here soon enough!

I do "see" you often on the Poly thread, where I mostly lurk....we will stay there someday (after the refurb). I'm thinking next year....

[Mousemommy1]

Well, well, well.....I am 59 days out from my trip and I did ON-LINE check in today!!!

I wasn't going to do it, but it was too hard knowing that I could do it, and not doing it. Plus, my BFF did it and peer pressured me into it

Time to fine tune all of the plans...making packing lists and shopping!!!! It's about to get real!!!!

[danceintherain]

Originally Posted by Mousemommy1

Well, well, well.....I am 59 days out from my trip and I did ON-LINE check in today!!!

I wasn't going to do it, but it was too hard knowing that I could do it, and not doing it. Plus, my BFF did it and peer pressured me into it

Time to fine tune all of the plans...making packing lists and shopping!!!! It's about to get real!!!!

I keep going back and forth on online check-in. It seems so crazy that you can "check-in" so far out...

[Mousemommy1]

Originally Posted by danceintherain

I keep going back and forth on online check-in. It seems so crazy that you can "check-in" so far out...

I had heard of so many issues with people trying to do the on line check in, I didn't even want to bother with it, but in all honestly, it was quick and easy!

Checking in always makes it seem so close!

[Mousemommy1]

Well, here we are. 55 days out from our trip!!

I admit, I had been feeling a bit anxious because by now, I have started the packing lists, brought the suitcases up and maybe even started putting stuff in the suitcases....

When 60 days rolled around, none of this had happened.

Well, today, I ventured to the mall with my BFF, who was super motivated to buy some stuff for the trip from the Disney store, and that was it!!
There was a sale at the Disney store on tee shirts. $8/kids and $12/adults! I got the girls a few shirts and DH and I a shirt each.

Then I went to Old Navy and got the girls some new shorts and more tee shirts, plus some shirts for DH.

I am so excited and since we have done on line check in already, I'm hoping that the next 54 days goes by quickly.

Here is a sample of the shirts I got for the girls:

[danceintherain]

Originally Posted by Mousemommy1

Well, here we are. 55 days out from our trip!!

I admit, I had been feeling a bit anxious because by now, I have started the packing lists, brought the suitcases up and maybe even started putting stuff in the suitcases....

When 60 days rolled around, none of this had happened.

Well, today, I ventured to the mall with my BFF, who was super motivated to buy some stuff for the trip from the Disney store, and that was it!!
There was a sale at the Disney store on tee shirts. $8/kids and $12/adults! I got the girls a few shirts and DH and I a shirt each.

Then I went to Old Navy and got the girls some new shorts and more tee shirts, plus some shirts for DH.

I am so excited and since we have done on line check in already, I'm hoping that the next 54 days goes by quickly.

Here is a sample of the shirts I got for the girls:

Fun!

[Mousemommy1]

Well, my friends! It has been awhile since my last update, so here I am...and only 45 days away from our trip!!!

DH and I have been so busy with work, and the kids, etc...and now I am starting to panic because usually by 45 days out, I have gotten alot more pre-trip preparedness done...

Well, my BFF and her family are soooo very excited about this trip...we have planned alot of fun stuff (meals, golfing for the guys, etc...) and I really think my non-Disney loving friends have already gotten bitten by the Disney bug (they even bought matching Disney shirts for the trip)

I have finally gotten clothes out and done inventory for our packing...this is what it looks like now...



Yes, it is a HOT MESS!!!

I need to organize them and put them neatly into these bad boys...



NOW, for those of you who have not seen or used this method of packing before...I'm telling you, it's amazing. I do individual outfits in each bag for each day of the trip. I am talking outfit, underwear, hair accessories, etc...This way, you can just pull out a bag, toss it to your child and have them get ready. So quick and easy! So, I'll be working on getting that done little by little. Problem is, my kids need underwear, so I can't really put those into bags just yet...unless I just buy new ones...

We've got flip flops and sunglasses for the girls!!!



And our binder is full of all of our reservation confirmation stuff and ready to go!!!!



I still need to:

• Order Photopass+
• Order Disney iron-on decals from Miss Morgan's Designs
• Get DD8 new sandals and sneakers (her feet grew 2 sizes over her last basketball season)
• Finish shopping for toiletries

I am sure there is more stuff, but these are my focus items right now.

We're getting close!!!

[basketlacey]

Great update! You are getting things done!

I haven't tried the "Baggie" method yet but I think it would be great for my youngest. Do you just do this for the kids' clothes?

[Mousemommy1]

Originally Posted by basketlacey

Great update! You are getting things done!

I haven't tried the "Baggie" method yet but I think it would be great for my youngest. Do you just do this for the kids' clothes?

I do it to an extent for our clothes too...and I'll tell you why....I'm a germaphobe and bugaphobe....and having the clothes in the baggies protects the clothes from "outside elements" and allows me to unpack the clothes into drawers (after a good Lysol spray and wipe).

That brings me to the revelation I had last night....my kids are getting bigger

When we brought them on their first trip in 2009, we bought them their own little suitcases...these



Well, they have accompanied the girls on three trips to Disney since then, and I'm not sure they will make it for the fourth....their clothes are getting too big! I filled DD8's suitcase last night, not including PJ's, or extra shoes and outfits....it looked like this



Darn near full already!!!!

I may be adjusting our normal packing structure....

[danceintherain]

Originally Posted by Mousemommy1

[B][COLOR="Blue"]Well, my friends! It has been awhile since my last update, so here I am...and only 45 days away from our trip!!!

NOW, for those of you who have not seen or used this method of packing before...I'm telling you, it's amazing. I do individual outfits in each bag for each day of the trip. I am talking outfit, underwear, hair accessories, etc...This way, you can just pull out a bag, toss it to your child and have them get ready. So quick and easy! So, I'll be working on getting that done little by little. Problem is, my kids need underwear, so I can't really put those into bags just yet...unless I just buy new ones...

We've got flip flops and sunglasses for the girls!!!



And our binder is full of all of our reservation confirmation stuff and ready to go!!!!



I still need to:

• Order Photopass+
• Order Disney iron-on decals from Miss Morgan's Designs
• Get DD8 new sandals and sneakers (her feet grew 2 sizes over her last basketball season)
• Finish shopping for toiletries

I am sure there is more stuff, but these are my focus items right now.

We're getting close!!!

I love the concept of packing in ziplocs, but we rewear too much to make it practical. I'll have to see how it goes this year. DS might just have enough pants this time around after I buy him some summer stuff, since he'll still fit ok in last year's stuff in April. It definitely would help with DH getting him dressed. Daddy's don't know much about matching.

[Mousemommy1]

34 days out!!! Guess what came in the mail today???



Wooooohoooooo!!!!!!!

On top of that, I ordered our Photopass+ stuff, ordered our Disney decals from the Miss Morgan site, got the girls sneakers and sandals, got the supplies for our tie dye shirts...just need to start pulling everything together!!! I cannot wait!!!!

[Mousemommy1]

There it is...30 day countdown is on!!!

Tomorrow we will be in the 20's and it really hasn't sunk in that our trip is coming so close!!!

I have been getting prepared though. Today up here in NH, we got another foot of snow. This means that the girls had another snow day, and I got to stay at home from work with them (it was my turn...). We used the day to get our Mousekeeping envelopes done. The girls did their own designs, here they are...



I also got a little something that I had ordered in the mail today...last year, I had painted Mickey heads on our nails myself, it came out ok, but was a real pain to do...this year, I found these on Etsy...so cute!!!



I am still waiting for my decals from Miss Morgan design so I can make our tee shirts, and we still have some tie dying to do...

It will all get done, I hope...I've got 29 more days (as of tomorrow)....


On a personal note, I have been working my toosh off in completing some testing/certifications for work that result in raises for me. Some of you who have been reading along will remember that a few months ago, I went in to my bosses and asked for a raise. They had met me partway and said that I will see another good part of it in our April raise...so I am waiting to see how that pans out, but in the meantime, I am taking advantage of a program they have that gives pay raises for completing particular continuing education credits....well, just in the past week, I have raised my salary by $1000!!!! I am hoping my merit raise in April is a really good one...I have had the talk with management so they know where I am coming from and I had a stellar performance evaluation recently to back it up...Fingers crossed!!!

[Mousemommy1]

Got another piece of the puzzle done! Here is how our tee shirts with the Miss Morgan decals....DH did it and he did a great job!!



what do you think???

[MHTeacher]

Love the shirts! Your DH did a great job!