Bah. Snow stinks. I really do not like anything about it. And down here in NC when snow comes (thankfully hardly never), it is always a nasty, wet snow, frequently accompanied by rain and ice. Yes, that means it's good for snowmen and snowballs, but it makes the kids so wet so fast that by the time you've spent 30 minutes getting 3 of them into proper attire (or what has to pass for proper when you don't bother buying snowsuits anymore since they're a waste of $$ down here), they're back inside complaining of being cold less than 30 minutes later. Then there are puddles and piles of nasty, wet snow clothes all over the porch. Which require being washed and dried and put away.
And I'm BUSY right now! I'm supposed to be getting the house clean and all of the regular laundry clean and suitcases packed for myself and all 3 kids. I just don't have time for this.
I managed to keep them inside most of the day since it was raining. And I am NOT having them play in the snow while it rains on them and makes them wetter even faster. But now the stupid rain is over and the kids are out in the stupid snow. And I have to sit here and watch them so I'm not getting the stuff done that NEEDS to be DONE in less than 44 hours.
Have I mentioned how much I dislike snow? Perhaps we need to move even further south so that I never have to deal with it again...
OK. My rant is done. Happy *bleeping* winter. Only 64 days left.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Count Down to Disney...
We are down to just 2 1/2 days until we hop on a plane to go to Disney World for the kids and my very first time! Or as we describe it to the girls--3 more bedtimes (including tonight).
They are calling for a lovely ice storm late tonight and into tomorrow, but that shouldn't have any impact on us by Saturday. We'll be leaving daytime temps in the 40s and 50s and going to daytime temps in the 60s and 70s. Not too hot to need shorts or summer clothes, and also not too hot for standing on line for rides and attractions.
Tour Guide Mike has helped us to figure out where to stay (the Port Orleans River Watch) which is the only moderate resort with sleeping arrangements for a family of five. We thought about doing the deluxe resorts, but the price is just so high, and the weather's not going to be warm enough to enjoy all the themed pools, so we went moderate (less than half the cost!).
We also have a fairly detailed itinerary planned for each day thanks to Tour Guide Mike (I highly recommend the small fee for this service--he has all the inside information and has been so helpful in our planning).
Here's a brief idea of what's ahead for us in the next week:
Saturday - Arrive in Orlando around 4 p.m., and at our hotel around 5. Settle in, dinner at Downtown Disney and then off to bed.
Sunday - Hollywood Studios (used to be MGM) including Fantasmic that evening.
Monday - We're laying low this morning, exploring the resort, a nice breakfast and then a good nap. In the afternoon, the girls are going to our neighbor Mia's birthday party at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique while Kevin and Ryan explore the LEGO Imagination Center. Then we're all off to dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table. THEN that evening we're staying up late to have big fun at the Pirate & Princess Party.
Tuesday - We're taking it slow again this morning, and hopefully sleeping a little late. We have brunch reservations at Chef Mickey's. Depending upon the moods of the kiddos, we will possibly take another nap before going to explore the Animal Kingdom that afternoon. Early Bedtimes!!!!
Wednesday - We're getting up bright and early this morning and heading to The Magic Kingdom. We will have had a fair amount of time there Monday night (hopefully without crowds and also with special parades and fireworks). We'll check things out during the day and I'll be busy snapping pictures! We'll be heading over to Epcot after the 3:00 parade for dinner at the Coral Reef - a restaurant inside (as in surrounded by!) an aquarium! We'll be up a little later that evening for the IllumiNations.
Thursday - Back to Epcot to ride rides and snap pictures this morning. Nap in the afternoon (if necessary), and then dinner at 1900 Park Fare - a Mary Poppins themed restaurant. That evening we're getting on a private pontoon boat for a family cruise over to the Magic Kingdom to watch the Wishes Fireworks show from the water.
Friday - Hopefully up fairly early to get to the Animal Kingdom. This is our day to take the morning safari and see all those animals! Depending on the kids, we may go to the SpectroMagic Parade that evening in the Magic Kingdom, or we may check out Downtown Disney again.
Saturday - We are having a character breakfast at the Polynesian resort this morning with a Lilo & Stitch theme--it should be wonderful because it's hyped as having all types of Hawaiian/tropical fruits and foods. We'll either spend the remaining few hours before heading to the airport at the resort or in Downtown Disney.
I can't wait!!!!
They are calling for a lovely ice storm late tonight and into tomorrow, but that shouldn't have any impact on us by Saturday. We'll be leaving daytime temps in the 40s and 50s and going to daytime temps in the 60s and 70s. Not too hot to need shorts or summer clothes, and also not too hot for standing on line for rides and attractions.
Tour Guide Mike has helped us to figure out where to stay (the Port Orleans River Watch) which is the only moderate resort with sleeping arrangements for a family of five. We thought about doing the deluxe resorts, but the price is just so high, and the weather's not going to be warm enough to enjoy all the themed pools, so we went moderate (less than half the cost!).
We also have a fairly detailed itinerary planned for each day thanks to Tour Guide Mike (I highly recommend the small fee for this service--he has all the inside information and has been so helpful in our planning).
Here's a brief idea of what's ahead for us in the next week:
Saturday - Arrive in Orlando around 4 p.m., and at our hotel around 5. Settle in, dinner at Downtown Disney and then off to bed.
Sunday - Hollywood Studios (used to be MGM) including Fantasmic that evening.
Monday - We're laying low this morning, exploring the resort, a nice breakfast and then a good nap. In the afternoon, the girls are going to our neighbor Mia's birthday party at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique while Kevin and Ryan explore the LEGO Imagination Center. Then we're all off to dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table. THEN that evening we're staying up late to have big fun at the Pirate & Princess Party.
Tuesday - We're taking it slow again this morning, and hopefully sleeping a little late. We have brunch reservations at Chef Mickey's. Depending upon the moods of the kiddos, we will possibly take another nap before going to explore the Animal Kingdom that afternoon. Early Bedtimes!!!!
Wednesday - We're getting up bright and early this morning and heading to The Magic Kingdom. We will have had a fair amount of time there Monday night (hopefully without crowds and also with special parades and fireworks). We'll check things out during the day and I'll be busy snapping pictures! We'll be heading over to Epcot after the 3:00 parade for dinner at the Coral Reef - a restaurant inside (as in surrounded by!) an aquarium! We'll be up a little later that evening for the IllumiNations.
Thursday - Back to Epcot to ride rides and snap pictures this morning. Nap in the afternoon (if necessary), and then dinner at 1900 Park Fare - a Mary Poppins themed restaurant. That evening we're getting on a private pontoon boat for a family cruise over to the Magic Kingdom to watch the Wishes Fireworks show from the water.
Friday - Hopefully up fairly early to get to the Animal Kingdom. This is our day to take the morning safari and see all those animals! Depending on the kids, we may go to the SpectroMagic Parade that evening in the Magic Kingdom, or we may check out Downtown Disney again.
Saturday - We are having a character breakfast at the Polynesian resort this morning with a Lilo & Stitch theme--it should be wonderful because it's hyped as having all types of Hawaiian/tropical fruits and foods. We'll either spend the remaining few hours before heading to the airport at the resort or in Downtown Disney.
I can't wait!!!!
Friday, January 04, 2008
New Year Already?
How in the name of heaven did it get to be a new year already? I can remember hearing grown ups talking about how fast time went when I was a kid, and I thought they were nuts. Suddenly I am realizing that they were not as nuts as I had assumed (at least regarding the passage of time...)
We got home from our whirlwind tour of families and friends on January 1st thanks to sitting in traffic on the 31st (which delayed our arrival for what was supposed to be a quick hello at the McQuillans), and a good deal of begging and bargaining on the part of Stephanie. I got the kids loaded in the van (by myself, thanks to the aforementioned bargaining) by 7:25 a.m. on the 1st and we were homeward bound. The van was completely unloaded by 2:30 that afternoon, and I began the unpacking, laundry sorting process. I got a start on laundry that evening, but my good intentions were postponed thanks to a stomach bug that hit Katy, Ryan and me in the middle of the night. Yuck. My only consolation is that since I was sick too, I didn't have to take care of/clean up behind the kiddos.
The laundry is now done, folded and put away. The tree is undecorated and stored back in the attic. All of the Christmas decor is sitting in the living room awaiting Kevin having time to help get down all of the storage boxes. So all that remains to be done is loading up the decor, putting the boxes back in the garage, and cleaning the house.
Then it's time to pack for our week in Disney... Hooray!
We got home from our whirlwind tour of families and friends on January 1st thanks to sitting in traffic on the 31st (which delayed our arrival for what was supposed to be a quick hello at the McQuillans), and a good deal of begging and bargaining on the part of Stephanie. I got the kids loaded in the van (by myself, thanks to the aforementioned bargaining) by 7:25 a.m. on the 1st and we were homeward bound. The van was completely unloaded by 2:30 that afternoon, and I began the unpacking, laundry sorting process. I got a start on laundry that evening, but my good intentions were postponed thanks to a stomach bug that hit Katy, Ryan and me in the middle of the night. Yuck. My only consolation is that since I was sick too, I didn't have to take care of/clean up behind the kiddos.
The laundry is now done, folded and put away. The tree is undecorated and stored back in the attic. All of the Christmas decor is sitting in the living room awaiting Kevin having time to help get down all of the storage boxes. So all that remains to be done is loading up the decor, putting the boxes back in the garage, and cleaning the house.
Then it's time to pack for our week in Disney... Hooray!
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