Oh the Pressure to do a PTR -- We're Home & Surprise Video up on Facebook

[KatMark]

Hello old friends (and, of course, any newcomers). I had no intention of doing a Pre-Trip Report for our September trip. But due to some pressure from some of my DIS friends, I decided to relent and am now going to do one.

First, let me tell you that this is going to be a slow-moving PTR. You might be asking "why"; the answer is simple...we still don't have our resort picked out, although we do have our flights, our rental car and our ADR's.

So without babbling any longer, let's get to the introductions of your travelers.

[KatMark]

Chapter Links:

Introductions

Travel Dates

Resort Revealed

Day One Plans

Proud Momma moment

Day Two Morning and Early Afternoon Plans

Day Two Evening Plans

Day Three, Part 1

Day Three, Part 2

Day Three, Part 2 (Continued)

Day Four, Part 1

Day Four, Part 2

Plans for a DIS Meet next weekend

Day 5

December Trip Update

Day 6, Part 1

Day 6, Part 2

Change in Plans -- Day 1 and Day 5

DIS Meet

Day 6, Part 3

December Trip Update #2

Day 7, Part 1

December Trip

Day 7, Part 2

Having a DIS Meal at Disney

Special DIS Meet in Chicago

Second Week of Vacation

December Update 3

Recap--First Two Days

Recap of Monday and Tuesday plans

Update for December Trip

[blessedmom4]

I'm First!!! I can't believe I saw this Kathy, I am so excited to join in!

[KatMark]

Traveler Number One is the best husband a gal could ask for. Mark works five days a week as a salesman for close-outs (think dollar stores). But he has a second job in the summer which pays for our Disney and Nicki obsession -- he umpires baseball (and that is why I started this PTR tonight...he's an hour and a half away umpping eight games this weekend to add to our vacation fund; since he was an hour and a half away, we got him a hotel room for the night rather than drive back home and have to drive another 90 minutes tomorrow morning).

My wonderful husband (making our Disney money):



Doing what has become a favorite of my Trip Report followers:



And, then there is me. I will be starting my 37th year at my job this July; I work for a law firm and have been with the same attorney 36-1/2 of those 37 years. In my leisure time, I love to DIS, play Cafe World on Facebook and read.

And, just in case you don't know who I am, here are a couple of photos:





We are the parents of two remarkable young men (I can't really call them kids anymore as they are 26 and 24).

Andy is the oldest. He is still currently looking for a teaching position (he had a disappointment last week...we thought for sure he was getting a position and he didn't); he also is the assistant Varsity coach of the baseball team at a local high school, coaches summer travel ball as well as fall ball, and gives private hitting and catching lessons. He still lives at home and takes care of our sweet dog when we go on our trips.

Andy and his girlfriend Des from their trip to Disney in February:



Then there is Mark, our youngest. Mark lives in Dubuque, Iowa, about a 3-1/2 hour drive from us (and don't tell him...but I miss him so much). Mark is currently working for a subsidiary of John Deere and is the Assistant Varsity Wrestling Coach at a school in Dubuque and he also runs the kids program and the off-season program (including getting All-American college wrestlers to come in and give clinics to the kids). Mark became engaged this past March to the beautiful Alisha; we cannot wait until she is a member of the family. He found a gem in Alisha and we love her as if she's already a member of the family.

Mark and Alisha proposal night:



And last, but certainly not least, our very own Princess, Cookie. Cookie is 14 years old; she was diagnosed with cancer in her mouth over a year ago. We had the tumor removed but chose not to do chemo at her age. She is doing remarkably well and it has never grown back.

Our Princess:



There will be three very important people missing from this trip which has made us very sad. The last two trips, we have spent a great deal of time with MaryAZ and her adorable girls, Avery and Cayley (and a little bit with hubby Jeff); I also took a girls' trip with Mary and the girls this past January. It is going to be very strange not having "my girls" with me on this trip:



Up next, our travel dates and our final three resort choices.

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by blessedmom4

I'm First!!! I can't believe I saw this Kathy, I am so excited to join in!

Boy, you are fast, Judy. and congrats on being my first reader.

[pinkxray]

You didn't really think you could get away with not doing a PTR, did you

I can't wait to hear what your final three resort choices are. Maybe OKW, SSW or CSR?

[annmarieda]

I am here!!! and I think I made first page

[mommy2mrb]

I'm here too...first page??? I am!


happy you caved into our gentle persuasion

so are you going to have a contest for your resort pick???

[annmarieda]

BTW, love the title... It is too funny that we can still succumb to peer pressure as adults.

So glad you did!!!


Love all the intro pictures.

[amandaw]

I have to admit that I am glad you were pressured into doing a PTR! I'm definitely joining in! And thanks for the heads-up!

[shan23877]

I'm in!

[jenseib]

I'm in!

[wigdoutdismom]

Reading along!

[MaryAz]

Thanls for the heads up. I was sad reading through the travelers and knowing that we would not be there. And then you had to go and post that pic of you and the girls. Our trip in Oct will just not be the same...I am looking forward to ur PTR.

[Poolrat]

Did I make the first page??? I'm in.