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

[englishrose47]

Originally Posted by KatMark

I'll do responses a little later.

Have I ever told you all how proud I am of my sons?

Our youngest son, Mark, has a wrestler on his youth team (age 10) who was diagnosed with Leukemia two days ago and is in the hospital.

Mark has already contacted the University of Iowa and a couple of other colleges to donate some "gear" for this young man, and Mark is having t-shirts made up and is selling them and the profits will go the family to help with the medical expenses.

The t-shirts will say:

Front: "Alex E putting cancer in a headlock"

Back: "Leukemia, just another opponent Alex WILL pin".

He has sold 75 shirts already.

That child of mine made me very teary-eyed this morning.

You have every right to be teary eyed and proud !!What a wonderful young man !!!

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by mommy2mrb

will keep Alex in my prayers

Thank you, Lisa. Prayers are definitely needed.

Originally Posted by englishrose47

You have every right to be teary eyed and proud !!What a wonderful young man !!!

Thank you, Rosie. He brings me to tears a lot with his good heart.


As of this morning, Mark had an order for over 100 shirts. He has raised almost $2000 and he is taking orders until Friday. I have to say this: MY SON ROCKS!!!!!!

[englishrose47]

Well I am all caught up confused but all caught up!!! I have a feeling out Grannies trip is gonna be the same in deciding where I will stay !!I am leaving that up to Linda and Christine !!

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by SoonerGirl

Sounds like a perfect arrival day to me!

Yum EoS

Thanks; I'm very happy with the plans for Day 1; and definitely yum on EOS.

Originally Posted by amandaw

I feel like my double digits will never get here.

Yours will be here soon...you are right behind me.

Originally Posted by Captain_Oblivious

Ooh, I know how this goes. Kathy's going to nail Glenn for being a skimmer! Can't wait!



And...nothing. I see how it is.

Arrival day sounds very relaxing!

Sorry to disappoint you, Mark. I'll do better next time...I promise.

Originally Posted by oceanwave

OKW looks like a wonderful resort!

Your first day plans look fab. Nice and relaxing! That dessert looks soooo yummy! What is it and where do you get it?

Double digits

And yes you should be a proud mom! What Mark is doing is fantastic. My heart goes out the young man and his family.

OKW is beautiful. That was Mary's dessert on our January trip. She got it at Ghiradelli's at DTD

Thank you; that son of my continues to amaze me with his generosity. I told him yesterday how proud I was of him. He said, "someone raised me right." I jokingly said back, "you mean Dad?" His response: "Yes, Dad was a part of it, but you (meaning me) and Putz (my Dad) were the biggest influences on his life." Way to make your mom cry, Markie!

Originally Posted by dizneeat

BEST feeling evaaaaahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!

Yes it is...next to single digits.

Pixie dust and good thoughts on the way for Alex, so he conquers his cancer and


your son MARK ROCKS!!!!!!!!

Thank you, Karin.

Originally Posted by annmarieda

You should be very proud!

Thanks, Ann; I am....more than you know. Markie was always our "problem" child, and he has turned into an outstanding young man. I guess some of them just have to go through a few rough patches along the way.

Originally Posted by amandaw

You have fantastic sons & should be extremely proud!

This is amazing what Mark is doing for this young boy & his family. I'll say prayers for Alex as well.

Thanks, Amanda. Thank you for the prayers...Alex is going to need them.

Originally Posted by Poolrat

A proud mom moment indeed.

Keeping Alex in my thoughts and knowing your son will help the family is great.

Thanks, Pat...much appreciated.

Originally Posted by MinnieLovesMickey

for double digits! I'm in double digits for DL and when I get back, I'll almost be in double digits for WDW. Oh, so long to wait.

Back on track, yay for getting your resorts booked. Your first day sounds so nice and relaxing. Oh what I would give to be in a Disney pool right now.

Can't wait to hear about CSR. This is one of the 2 resorts that we want to stay in next May.

Wow....two trips -- and different parks to boot.

I wish I was in any pool right now...it's hot here.

Ask anything you want about CSR; we've stayed there nine times and LOVE it--that's why it is perfect for Mark's 60th.

Originally Posted by SoonerGirl

So sad for that young man, I will keep him in my prayers!

You have every right to be a proud mama, Mark sounds like an amazing
young man

Thanks for the prayers, Michelle. I know the family appreciates it. Mark is awesome!

Originally Posted by Queenofallthings

I'm Here Kathy.....I have to go back and read everything, but I'm here and have subbed!!!

Queen is here....all is right now! Welcome again, my friend.

Originally Posted by Amy&Dan

Oh my gosh, Mark is going to be so excited! When are you going to tell him???

Glad you picked CSR, somtimes you gotta go where you know you will love it if you know what I mean!

Excited for OKW too!

Glad I checked fb today, I just don't get on the dis enough anymore, even though I have two trips in the works, one of which is in 30 days and not nearly planned enough yet!

So glad Cookie is doing so well, she's such a cutie.

Hi, Amy; I'm glad you were on FB too so you could join us here.

We won't tell Mark until the night before we leave. Andy is going to put his suitcase on his bed before we get home from work so he can pack as we leave the next morning. I'm going to make a big sign or something.

You have two trips? Where and when?

Cookie is doing great!

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by englishrose47

Well I am all caught up confused but all caught up!!! I have a feeling out Grannies trip is gonna be the same in deciding where I will stay !!I am leaving that up to Linda and Christine !!

It's really very simple, Rosie.

We are staying at Old Key West for six nights, seven days in September.

In December, I'm taking Mark for a surprise 60th birthday trip, and we are going "home" and staying at the Coronado.

[Simba22]

Sorry, Kathy! I fell a bit behind but I'm all caught up now!

You have me worried that I'll never want to stay anywhere but OKW after this trip! I'm so glad that I have your glowing recommendation! I was really nervous about it since I've never been there before! Can't wait to check it out!

YAY for going back to CSR and YAY for surprising Mark for his birthday! I'm sure that between you and Nicki, it will be an amazing trip!

What Markie is doing for that little boy is SO SWEET! You have every right to be proud!

[MinnieLovesMickey]

Keeping Alex in our thoughts!

You raised a great kid there!

[KatMark]

Originally Posted by Simba22

Sorry, Kathy! I fell a bit behind but I'm all caught up now!

You have me worried that I'll never want to stay anywhere but OKW after this trip! I'm so glad that I have your glowing recommendation! I was really nervous about it since I've never been there before! Can't wait to check it out!

YAY for going back to CSR and YAY for surprising Mark for his birthday! I'm sure that between you and Nicki, it will be an amazing trip!

What Markie is doing for that little boy is SO SWEET! You have every right to be proud!

Hi Ali; you didn't miss too much... Just the surprise and first day. I really, really think OKW will win your heart.

Originally Posted by MinnieLovesMickey

Keeping Alex in our thoughts!

You raised a great kid there!

Thank you very much.

[LuvvsMickey]

Originally Posted by KatMark

Hmmmmm....does this mean you made the change?

Not yet. Have sent several emails and my renter isn't responding. I'm pretty upset.

[solana131]

Sounds like a nice relaxing arrival day I am so excited to try EoS....what was that sandwich, do you remember?? Yum!

[Cafeen]

Yay for 2 trips! And yay for me sitting through and reading all 15 pages at once! Good thing no one from work is on here . And YAY for Markie! And YAY for...well, everything really.

I'll write more eventually, but it's lunch time!

Ok, back from lunch and editing rather than posting again...

Day 1 sounds great. I so wish I could have the discipline to save up to rent points somewhere. Unfortunately, this is impossible for me to do , so Mods are pretty much my future WDW trips (villas are WAY too pricey via cash).

Let's see what other plans you have, maybe we'll bump into each other again . Erm, assuming I'm not changing mine...

Edit: Ok, that assumption... yeah, you may have seen on my PTR, but I did end up changing my dates . At least I DID get FQ though, which was my first choice of resorts! And I get to hang out on Epcot's 30th birthday, and I get to experience F&W drunkenness (not by me, but others)

--Allan
Temporary DIS Sig due to me being bad in TPAS
Active TRs:
Sept 2012 PTR: Learning to NOT Photograph Fireworks Behind Trees
Sept 2011 TR: New Camera? Sounds like a perfect excuse for another Disney trip!

[englishrose47]

Just poppin' in to say Hi!!!

[aprilisis]

You must be so proud of Mark. That's such an awesome thing he's doing for Alex!
How awesome that you are doing a surprise anniversary trip in December!!! Now I have 2 TRs to look forward to!

[jenb1023]

Originally Posted by KatMark

waited less than five minutes and it was 10 minute exactly to the MK. As with any resort, you can have a bad day, but CSR gets consistently good marks for their bus service.

This September? When in September are you going?

Thanks for The CSR bus scoop! I was worried with a big resort there might be issues.

We are hoping for this September - probably the 7th through the 11th - to surprise Jordan for her 9th birthday. However, DH started his own business almost a year ago and things have been a little rocky so it will all come down to finances.

Originally Posted by KatMark

Question for you all????

Do I do one PTR with both trips or two seperate PTR's?

Two! Your PTR is busy enough without having two trips to keep track of!

Originally Posted by KatMark

And the winner is................................................ .......




Yep, we're going to hear the words "Welcome Home." I really fell in love with OKW when we went in September and again in January when I went with Mary, Avery and Cayley.

For those who guessed AKL, that is going to be our place for May 2013 for our 30th wedding anniversary. We hope to get a one-bedroom as we are hoping Mark and Alisha will be able to join us for a few days.

Back to work, and I'll try to update later with first day plans.

Woo-hoo for OKW! Your first day plans sound perfect! We tried EOS for the first time last month and loved it. AKL will be great for your 30th.

That is great that Mark is up to so much money so far! You know I think what he is doing is great! I can't wait to hear the final total!

[oceanwave]

Originally Posted by KatMark

OKW is beautiful. That was Mary's dessert on our January trip. She got it at Ghiradelli's at DTD

Thank you; that son of my continues to amaze me with his generosity. I told him yesterday how proud I was of him. He said, "someone raised me right." I jokingly said back, "you mean Dad?" His response: "Yes, Dad was a part of it, but you (meaning me) and Putz (my Dad) were the biggest influences on his life." Way to make your mom cry, Markie!

I will definitely have to try and visit Ghiradelli's in September!

Those comments from Mark must have made your heart melt! I don't have kids myself yet, but speaking as a kid We probably don't tell our parents/grandparents how much of an impact they had on us. You should definitely give yourself a pat on the back!