OK raise your hand! How many of you have some sort of Disney/Vacation Wish List?
I do!
Even w/ money being tight for us and most of the country...it's always wonderful to dream and wish right? and what better place to dream and wish about than Walt Disney World!
As a child, some of my fondest memories are Family Vacations. Every year my parents would take us on some sort of trip, some were small just driving a few hours North into Wisconsin to visit my Dad's Sister and family who loved on a lake and some were large like our only plane trip to WDW and Orlando attractions.
I consider myself quite lucky that my parents invested their time and money into making wonderful family trips a reality for my 2 siblings and I. My sister who is married and has a son, feels the same way as me about vacations, big or small it is such a joy to plan and pick a place to get away from the usual hum drums and stresses of daily life and enjoy some real family time! Now her and I are not alike at all in our planning styles...I am crazily organized down to a T and she is the more plan only what you have to and the rest is going by the seat of your pants...to each their own huh? We giggle at each other and luckily my parents appreciate each of our styles since they frequently now travel w/ us and our children.
One of the reasons I do plan so meticulously is that my son Michael lives w/ HFA Aspergers Disorder. He thrives on structure and routine, and knowing what is next. Even though he is a typical Sensory Avoider, trips to the beach or up to his Grandparents' Lake house in Michigan are not as relaxing as they sound. It is too open-ended for him and can become more of an anxiety than relief. At home he has his own space and expectations of what he can and likes to do, but outside this normal comfort zone can be quite daunting. A trip that is full of stuff to do to a point w/ things to do that are scheduled that can help keep him focused on each new thing is actually the vacation he thrives in and luckily we have found this outlet in WDW! I'm not sure how this Magic works, but it does! and it helps that we all love Disney!
Michael and his twin sister have recently been working on homework assignments of a poster board outlining the Cultural Universals of our Family...and they both included Disney...hehehe
so back to this Disney/Vacation Wish List....what is on ours? Here is a little peek:
2010: WDW November to celebrate Mae and Margaret's birthdays plus Thanksgiving
2011: WDW May to celebrate my husband Matt and I 15 yr Wedding Anniversary
2012: Washington DC Summer and WDW ?? a solo trip for me
2013: WDW ?? the next Family Trip
2015: WDW May to celebrate the twins' (Michael and Aldine) 16th birthdays
Julie
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Friday, September 25, 2009
Are we Going?
No this is not a reference to are we going to WDW...but are we going Potty?
unfortunately, Margaret & I have not quite been successful and have already fallen off the PT wagon....
We were real persistent that first day Monday (no tink in the pot yet), but then it kinda went downhill. Poor Margaret has several food intolerances which cause her little belly to be easily irritated. We shall try again tomorrow to get back on track and basically for her just to get used to the routine will be a good thing!
unfortunately, Margaret & I have not quite been successful and have already fallen off the PT wagon....
We were real persistent that first day Monday (no tink in the pot yet), but then it kinda went downhill. Poor Margaret has several food intolerances which cause her little belly to be easily irritated. We shall try again tomorrow to get back on track and basically for her just to get used to the routine will be a good thing!
Monday, September 21, 2009
New Segment....Adventures in Potty-Training...
So to borrow a phrase either from some cheesy '80's movie or really from my good friend Kathy..."Adventures in....."
I think it would be helpful and somewhat laughable (i hope to be laughing here) to share the "Adventures in Potty-Training" of my youngest Margaret....she is 34 months and 1 day old....and I have had high hopes of training her earlier and faster than my other children....I am just done w/ the whole diaper changing thing.
My first crazy high hopes attempt was last February, thinking "oh what joy it would be to have her potty-trained before our Disney trip (last March)" well that didn't last a week....
Then I thought oh this past summer would be a great time to train her...yeah right! That also never happened.
So now that the older 3 are in school, schedules have calmed down a bit, this is the time, right?
well we'll see. I really think after being sick and having icky diapers she is icked out by doing the business in a diaper. I'm not too sure how this will work...but my goal for now is baby steps, but to stay persistent and not give up!
Step 1) Start today! We will go "potty" every hour and sit on her little seat for at least 2 minutes w/ a kitchen timer. Wearing a Princess pull-up we hope not to make the little hearts disappear!
Step 2) well I haven't thought that far yet...ha
Ok wish us luck and I'll let you know how it pans out as we go along....
Julie
I think it would be helpful and somewhat laughable (i hope to be laughing here) to share the "Adventures in Potty-Training" of my youngest Margaret....she is 34 months and 1 day old....and I have had high hopes of training her earlier and faster than my other children....I am just done w/ the whole diaper changing thing.
My first crazy high hopes attempt was last February, thinking "oh what joy it would be to have her potty-trained before our Disney trip (last March)" well that didn't last a week....
Then I thought oh this past summer would be a great time to train her...yeah right! That also never happened.
So now that the older 3 are in school, schedules have calmed down a bit, this is the time, right?
well we'll see. I really think after being sick and having icky diapers she is icked out by doing the business in a diaper. I'm not too sure how this will work...but my goal for now is baby steps, but to stay persistent and not give up!
Step 1) Start today! We will go "potty" every hour and sit on her little seat for at least 2 minutes w/ a kitchen timer. Wearing a Princess pull-up we hope not to make the little hearts disappear!
Step 2) well I haven't thought that far yet...ha
Ok wish us luck and I'll let you know how it pans out as we go along....
Julie
Monday's Update...
Sorry Everyone I got a bit behind in my Monday updates.....
between having a nasty stomach bug rotating thru our home over the last 2 1/2 weeks and who knows what else, not much excitement has been brewing....and I have not had much time to work on my projects....but this is the week to get caught up!
The minor Disney what-not's that have been going on are:
*closed up my trip report from our bounce back Spring break trip from last March on the Disboards
*tweaked this BLOG and added some fun things....have a few more things I hope to do!
*helped my husband prepare a slide show for his parents 50th Wedding Anniversary (that we celebrated this past weekend) and that included some pictures from our '05 trip
*sang "Just Can't Wait to be King" in the car w/ the whole family....it has become a bit of a tradition now when we go up to my in laws Michigan Lake House, when we are almost there, we belt out this tune all-together!
*and of course the movie choices for the kids for the car ride to and from were both Disney films (Bolt and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?)
Have a Great Disney Week!
Julie
between having a nasty stomach bug rotating thru our home over the last 2 1/2 weeks and who knows what else, not much excitement has been brewing....and I have not had much time to work on my projects....but this is the week to get caught up!
The minor Disney what-not's that have been going on are:
*closed up my trip report from our bounce back Spring break trip from last March on the Disboards
*tweaked this BLOG and added some fun things....have a few more things I hope to do!
*helped my husband prepare a slide show for his parents 50th Wedding Anniversary (that we celebrated this past weekend) and that included some pictures from our '05 trip
*sang "Just Can't Wait to be King" in the car w/ the whole family....it has become a bit of a tradition now when we go up to my in laws Michigan Lake House, when we are almost there, we belt out this tune all-together!
*and of course the movie choices for the kids for the car ride to and from were both Disney films (Bolt and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?)
Have a Great Disney Week!
Julie
Sunday, September 13, 2009
The first Project....
(You get a 2fr special tonight!)
Very happily I have been able to stock up on Disney scrapbook supplies and needs and start planning out some special "test" projects to get my ideas out there for my Disney Memory Inspired Products.
As you may recall as I mentioned in my first BLOG post, that I would love to begin a little home business, sharing my love for Disney and preserving these memories by making books, etc for others....how fun does that sound?!
So I have begun!
My first PROJECT is a CHILD'S FIRST DISNEY MEMORY BOOK!
One of my very good friends is going back to WDW next June w/ her two little ones for their first trip. And the idea came to me, a memory book to fill in w/ journal spots and pictures about all the wonderful firsts of going to Walt Disney World.
I will share several pictures below.
Other projects that I have in mind are:
* Mini Autograph Books
*Fill-in Scrapbook Pages
*Custom Memory flip books
*Special Guidebooks for children (thinking in mind of my son Michael who has Autism)
So here is a first look at a future Julie's Mickey Memories Item....ENJOY! (Comments are welcome)
It will be a 5-section tabbed book held together w/ 3 jump rings. There will be a section for each of the 4 parks with 2 additional pages in each section for journal and pictures, plus 1 just for fun section for misc things.
COVER
MK TAB
1 of the MK pages (sorry blurry)
Opinion requested!!!! w/ the new Fantasyland Rehab beginning ??? I assume sometime late this yr or beginning of next...do you think the Dumbo ride will still be open in the original location during construction before re-opening in the current Toontown area? I also read that Toontown will be razzed for this expansion but Mickey and Minnie's houses will be moved to the front of the park. My concern is of course I already designed this page and what if when they go, they can't even go or get to these things....huge bummer and flaw in the book then...kwim? thanks
EPCOT TAB
1 of the Epcot pages
I am hoping to finish up the Studios tab and pages and AK this week...can't wait to share some more and then the finished product.
thanks,
Julie
Very happily I have been able to stock up on Disney scrapbook supplies and needs and start planning out some special "test" projects to get my ideas out there for my Disney Memory Inspired Products.
As you may recall as I mentioned in my first BLOG post, that I would love to begin a little home business, sharing my love for Disney and preserving these memories by making books, etc for others....how fun does that sound?!
So I have begun!
My first PROJECT is a CHILD'S FIRST DISNEY MEMORY BOOK!
One of my very good friends is going back to WDW next June w/ her two little ones for their first trip. And the idea came to me, a memory book to fill in w/ journal spots and pictures about all the wonderful firsts of going to Walt Disney World.
I will share several pictures below.
Other projects that I have in mind are:
* Mini Autograph Books
*Fill-in Scrapbook Pages
*Custom Memory flip books
*Special Guidebooks for children (thinking in mind of my son Michael who has Autism)
So here is a first look at a future Julie's Mickey Memories Item....ENJOY! (Comments are welcome)
It will be a 5-section tabbed book held together w/ 3 jump rings. There will be a section for each of the 4 parks with 2 additional pages in each section for journal and pictures, plus 1 just for fun section for misc things.
COVER
MK TAB
1 of the MK pages (sorry blurry)
Opinion requested!!!! w/ the new Fantasyland Rehab beginning ??? I assume sometime late this yr or beginning of next...do you think the Dumbo ride will still be open in the original location during construction before re-opening in the current Toontown area? I also read that Toontown will be razzed for this expansion but Mickey and Minnie's houses will be moved to the front of the park. My concern is of course I already designed this page and what if when they go, they can't even go or get to these things....huge bummer and flaw in the book then...kwim? thanks
EPCOT TAB
1 of the Epcot pages
I am hoping to finish up the Studios tab and pages and AK this week...can't wait to share some more and then the finished product.
thanks,
Julie
What's Old is NEW Again...
Ok I know this doesn't have to do w/ Disney, but it is so cute....
The other Day my Mom called me to tell me that my Dad had found an old box of mine in their attic marked "Barbie's". So she brought it over and her, Margaret & I dug through the old box of my childhood treasures. I really didn't know I had any Barbie stuff left at their house...but we indeed found some treasures and Margaret was so excited.
There was some clothes, kitchen dishes, furniture, a little stove and the jackpot was the Barbie spa Hot-tub..complete w/ bubble action that you supply by pumping the pump on the side.
later during the weekend all 3 girls played w/ the hot-tub and a few Barbies including an Ariel....(oohh there you go the Disney tie-in HA) and had such a BLAST....
Margaret wasn't too crazy about getting her picture....
and one of the funnier parts of this story, is my brother and future sister in law stopped by last night and I was telling them about the box and she just flipped that I still had this....she remembered having it as kid too...I told she could come over anytime to play....hehehe
Julie
The other Day my Mom called me to tell me that my Dad had found an old box of mine in their attic marked "Barbie's". So she brought it over and her, Margaret & I dug through the old box of my childhood treasures. I really didn't know I had any Barbie stuff left at their house...but we indeed found some treasures and Margaret was so excited.
There was some clothes, kitchen dishes, furniture, a little stove and the jackpot was the Barbie spa Hot-tub..complete w/ bubble action that you supply by pumping the pump on the side.
later during the weekend all 3 girls played w/ the hot-tub and a few Barbies including an Ariel....(oohh there you go the Disney tie-in HA) and had such a BLAST....
Margaret wasn't too crazy about getting her picture....
and one of the funnier parts of this story, is my brother and future sister in law stopped by last night and I was telling them about the box and she just flipped that I still had this....she remembered having it as kid too...I told she could come over anytime to play....hehehe
Julie
Thursday, September 10, 2009
WDW Mom's Panel
So I just submitted my application for the WDW's Mom's Panel for the 2010 Panel. I applied for the 09 panel as well....but it didn't go anywhere. So hopeful as ever I am trying again.
I just love to go, plan and preserve all thing DISNEY...that I think the Mom's Panel of helping other guests, first-timers and people like myself w/ their trips and questions...it would be so fun and very rewarding!!!
Plus not to mention a free trip for 4! Now who would I bring...hmmmm
Wish me some great Magical Luck!
Thanks,
Julie
I just love to go, plan and preserve all thing DISNEY...that I think the Mom's Panel of helping other guests, first-timers and people like myself w/ their trips and questions...it would be so fun and very rewarding!!!
Plus not to mention a free trip for 4! Now who would I bring...hmmmm
Wish me some great Magical Luck!
Thanks,
Julie
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Monday's Update...9-7-09
So this will be my attempt at a weekly start of the week update to let you know what is going on and what Disney stuff has happened to me or someone in my family....
Yesterday was Labor Day and I was working...no Holiday for a SAHM, huh? So what did I do?
Well we can start off in the wee hours of the morning w/ being awoken by screams of one of my children, Margaret, waking up after getting sick in bed. My husband gets up w/ me, we take care of her and the mess and then get her back to bed and ourselves when not 20 minutes later, she threw-up again...oh no. so you get the idea of how the rest of my day went...and no different today as all 4 kids are sick and the 3 older ones are home...ICK!
But on the upside I also did this:
*laundry (several times)
*checked in on the Disboards
*Typed up the "history" post here
*did a little emailing
*ran to the grocery store
*watched a movie during lunch and folded laundry
*and the most fun thing....I worked some more on my first Disney Project!!!!
I will be introducing my first Julie's Mickey Memories and More project in the coming days.
thanks,
Julie
Yesterday was Labor Day and I was working...no Holiday for a SAHM, huh? So what did I do?
Well we can start off in the wee hours of the morning w/ being awoken by screams of one of my children, Margaret, waking up after getting sick in bed. My husband gets up w/ me, we take care of her and the mess and then get her back to bed and ourselves when not 20 minutes later, she threw-up again...oh no. so you get the idea of how the rest of my day went...and no different today as all 4 kids are sick and the 3 older ones are home...ICK!
But on the upside I also did this:
*laundry (several times)
*checked in on the Disboards
*Typed up the "history" post here
*did a little emailing
*ran to the grocery store
*watched a movie during lunch and folded laundry
*and the most fun thing....I worked some more on my first Disney Project!!!!
I will be introducing my first Julie's Mickey Memories and More project in the coming days.
thanks,
Julie
Monday, September 7, 2009
My "history" w/ Disney...
The other night my family was playing a quickie version of Disney's Scene It before bed...it was our own Blitz rules version and we started adding in Bonus Questions to get around the board quicker...when the Bonus Question came up..."what are Daddy's two all-time favorite animated Disney movies?" (btw the answer is Alice in Wonderland and Fantasia) and that got me to thinking about moments in my life where Disney has been part of my history or I was part of a bit of Disney history...
so here you go:
The 2nd official date that my husband & I went on, when we officially began dating was Aladdin (April, 1993)
I was working for the Disney Co when The Lion King came out in the theatres (Summer of 1995)
I was not quite 1 1/2 when the Space Mountain Attraction opened (January 15, 1975) and my Parents w/ my older sister went to WDW for the first time, I stayed home w/ grandparents.
My first trip to WDW was in the summer of the 1985, I was almost 11 yrs old. (I have since been 6 times), and I have been Disneyland once in the summer of 1988 and rode the original Star Tours there.
I remember seeing both the original Tiki Bird room (before it went under new management) and Pirates of Caribbean when the Pirates chased the ladies (or wenches).... in the Magic Kingdom.
And in Tomorrowland, I have rode on both the WED-way people mover (1985) and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority and endured the orginal ExtraTERRO-Restrial Alien Encounter (circa August 1995)
I celebrated my 21st birthday at Pleasure Island in WDW at in the now gone 8-Trax is where I ordered my first drink (I think a strawberry daiquiri)...(August 30, 1995)
Some other long gone Magic Kingdom attractions that I remember going on as a child and adult were...the Skyway across Fanstlyland, Mr. Toads's Wild Ride and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride. (circa 1985 & 1998)
The first movie we took our then 2 1/2 yr old twins to was Disney's PIXAR Monsters Inc. We still have our, Mike, Sully, and Boo plush/doll (circa 2001)
We were on a plane for a WDW vacation w/ our twins and my parents when we were forced to land in Indianapolis Indiana on September 11, 2001.
We were vacationing at WDW on May 5, 2005 when Soarin' opened in EPCOT, though we didn't ride till our trip in 2008.
At EPCOT, I remember The World of Motion (now the Test Track Pavilion) was my favorite part of Epcot when I was a kid (1985), I also remember the original Journey Into Imagination w/ Dreamfinder and Figment.
I vacationed at Epcot when it was known as EPCOT Center (1985), Epcot '94 and Epcot '95 and now just the current name Epcot....
I remember falling and scraping my knee during our 1985 family trip, and you can see me looking at my wound in a picture of my Mom in the UK pavilion in a red phone booth.
It wasn't till I came home from our 1998 trip, did I realize I was pregnant for the first time.
I remember when Disney Hollywood Studios was MGM Studios...
The first parade I saw at a WDW park (besides walking out during DL's "Spectro" was MGM Studios Aladdin and Friends Parade. (1994)
I owned and wore the classic YELLOW Mickey rain poncho. (1995)
I saw the Sounds Dangerous Starring Drew Carey show in 1998.
I vacationed at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park in it's opening year of 1998.
We saw the fully walking Audio-Animatronic baby brontosaurus, Lucky during our trip in May of 2005 (at AK).
We bought a piece of the magic (DVC purchase of Disney's Bay Lake Tower) during our March 2009 trip.
well that is a little of my history w/ Disney and I'm sure there is more to come....
Julie
so here you go:
The 2nd official date that my husband & I went on, when we officially began dating was Aladdin (April, 1993)
I was working for the Disney Co when The Lion King came out in the theatres (Summer of 1995)
I was not quite 1 1/2 when the Space Mountain Attraction opened (January 15, 1975) and my Parents w/ my older sister went to WDW for the first time, I stayed home w/ grandparents.
My first trip to WDW was in the summer of the 1985, I was almost 11 yrs old. (I have since been 6 times), and I have been Disneyland once in the summer of 1988 and rode the original Star Tours there.
I remember seeing both the original Tiki Bird room (before it went under new management) and Pirates of Caribbean when the Pirates chased the ladies (or wenches).... in the Magic Kingdom.
And in Tomorrowland, I have rode on both the WED-way people mover (1985) and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority and endured the orginal ExtraTERRO-Restrial Alien Encounter (circa August 1995)
I celebrated my 21st birthday at Pleasure Island in WDW at in the now gone 8-Trax is where I ordered my first drink (I think a strawberry daiquiri)...(August 30, 1995)
Some other long gone Magic Kingdom attractions that I remember going on as a child and adult were...the Skyway across Fanstlyland, Mr. Toads's Wild Ride and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride. (circa 1985 & 1998)
The first movie we took our then 2 1/2 yr old twins to was Disney's PIXAR Monsters Inc. We still have our, Mike, Sully, and Boo plush/doll (circa 2001)
We were on a plane for a WDW vacation w/ our twins and my parents when we were forced to land in Indianapolis Indiana on September 11, 2001.
We were vacationing at WDW on May 5, 2005 when Soarin' opened in EPCOT, though we didn't ride till our trip in 2008.
At EPCOT, I remember The World of Motion (now the Test Track Pavilion) was my favorite part of Epcot when I was a kid (1985), I also remember the original Journey Into Imagination w/ Dreamfinder and Figment.
I vacationed at Epcot when it was known as EPCOT Center (1985), Epcot '94 and Epcot '95 and now just the current name Epcot....
I remember falling and scraping my knee during our 1985 family trip, and you can see me looking at my wound in a picture of my Mom in the UK pavilion in a red phone booth.
It wasn't till I came home from our 1998 trip, did I realize I was pregnant for the first time.
I remember when Disney Hollywood Studios was MGM Studios...
The first parade I saw at a WDW park (besides walking out during DL's "Spectro" was MGM Studios Aladdin and Friends Parade. (1994)
I owned and wore the classic YELLOW Mickey rain poncho. (1995)
I saw the Sounds Dangerous Starring Drew Carey show in 1998.
I vacationed at Disney's Animal Kingdom Park in it's opening year of 1998.
We saw the fully walking Audio-Animatronic baby brontosaurus, Lucky during our trip in May of 2005 (at AK).
We bought a piece of the magic (DVC purchase of Disney's Bay Lake Tower) during our March 2009 trip.
well that is a little of my history w/ Disney and I'm sure there is more to come....
Julie
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Monday 8-31
So it is a start of a new week, the end of 1 month and almost time for a season change....plus I just turned 35....it's all good.
What did I do today and how did Disney play into it?
* I downloaded pictures off my camera's memory card (something I have been putting off for a few weeks now)
* Went on the Dis and got caught up, plus did a few postings
* Organized my old WDW trip notes form the 08 and 09 trips into a folder
* Watched an old Friends tv show (The One with the Poker)
* made meals, cleaned up, etc
* took Michael to a Doctor's appointment
* and the most time consuming thing of my day was organizing and deciding what FREE photos I would order from Shutterfy (an Archivers promo). I earned 100 free ones! I didn't just want to randomly pick anything, so I figured out which one's I'd like for a small scrapbook about our recent WDW trip and ones to finish Michael's Age 6 album and ones to start Mae's Age 3 album which includes her Jo-Jo Circus birthday party. As well I ordered 4 8 x 10 (which 2 were FREE) pictures, 1 of each of the kids that I'm going to do a special scrapbook frame of each child to put up! Oh and some other WDW pictures from various years to start up some cute mini special Disney themed albums!
Can't wait to get my pictures and get SCRAPPIN!!!!
Julie
What did I do today and how did Disney play into it?
* I downloaded pictures off my camera's memory card (something I have been putting off for a few weeks now)
* Went on the Dis and got caught up, plus did a few postings
* Organized my old WDW trip notes form the 08 and 09 trips into a folder
* Watched an old Friends tv show (The One with the Poker)
* made meals, cleaned up, etc
* took Michael to a Doctor's appointment
* and the most time consuming thing of my day was organizing and deciding what FREE photos I would order from Shutterfy (an Archivers promo). I earned 100 free ones! I didn't just want to randomly pick anything, so I figured out which one's I'd like for a small scrapbook about our recent WDW trip and ones to finish Michael's Age 6 album and ones to start Mae's Age 3 album which includes her Jo-Jo Circus birthday party. As well I ordered 4 8 x 10 (which 2 were FREE) pictures, 1 of each of the kids that I'm going to do a special scrapbook frame of each child to put up! Oh and some other WDW pictures from various years to start up some cute mini special Disney themed albums!
Can't wait to get my pictures and get SCRAPPIN!!!!
Julie
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