Disney Update!!!

A lot has changed about our trip and with our life.  First I will talk about our trip changes.  My mom is now going with us!  Our dates have changed as well because we wanted the free dining since we have so many of us going. We are leaving Labor Day, which we are planning on spending with family in GA.   I have been looking relentlessly on the Disney site for 'Ohana reservations for our new dates and finally got one last week!  We are still staying at POR.  We upgraded to a premium room, so we are closer to the bus stops and main building and boat to Disney Springs.  Our itinerary is BELOW:

9/5: Drive to GA & hang out with family!

9/6: Arrive at POR around 3 or 4 pm check in and head to Boatwright's for dinner at 6:15

9/7: EPCOT: Wake up early for breakfast at The Garden Grill 8 am.  Dinner at 'Ohana at 4:10.  back to EPCOT for nigh time fun.

9/8: MNSSHP: dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern 4:25

9/9: off day: chill at the pool/Disney Springs, Breakfast at 'OHANA 10:15

9/10: off day: pool/ Disney Springs, dinner at Cape May Cafe 5:40

9/11: Animal Kingdom: Breakfast at Tusker House 8:25am 

We are hoping that AK's hours get extended for our day there.  We are hoping to get a chance to experience the new night time activities.  

The reason my mom is going with us below:

Now life has changed as well...I started working at the co my mom had worked at for 17 years.  The previous owners sold it and the new owners were changing things and needed me to fill in for the summer.  Well, unfortunately that didn't end up working out.  My mom had warned me that the new manager was picking on her and bullying her...I thought maybe the lady was trying to find her place.  The new manager acted like she was laid back and down to earth and a team player in my interview so  I agreed to give it a go.  Little did I know that less than a week of working there I would witness what my mom was talking about.  I don't approve of bullying.  I stood up for my mother and proved the manager wrong by going to my supervisor and it made her even more angry.  My mom LOVED HER job, and did everything she was asked plus more and was till treated like crap...Never late, last to leave and didnt take as many days off as the other workers, but was the one picked on...not cool...the lady told my mom to get her things and leave.  As my mom was gathering her things she follows her like a thief.  Then after she fired my mom as we are walking out the door tries to take it back and say if you don't come in tomorrow you quit!  I am so happy my mom is no longer working for a person that made her sick to her stomach from stress.  

Guess What?!

     We are going to Disney World....AGAIN!  What started off as just my oldest son and I going has turned into the whole family going...That means another 14 hour drive with 3 kids!  We will be leaving around 8 to 9 am.  We are planning on taking a lot more breaks and stopping over night to rest and then get up and make the rest of the trek down.  We are going to stop and stay with family if we don't think we can make it to Valdosta.

     We are planning on going in September this time.  We are going to do M.N.S.S.H.P. again, too.  We are planning on doing 3 days at the parks including the party,  one day at Epcot for the opening day of Food and Wine, the Halloween Party, and then our last park will be Animal Kingdom.  We are doing off days between those days  so we can relax by the pool and chill out.

      We have to stay at Port Orleans Riverside this time because its just the 5 of us going and no extended family this time.  We liked the feel of the resort when we ate at Boatwright's last year.  It just feels laid back and relaxing.  We also liked the fact that we can hop on the boat and ride over to Downtown Disney.  This is a selling point for my oldest who LOVES the Earl of Sandwich...
     For our dining reservations we are going to eat dinner at Boatwright's the day of arrival.  Our second day we are eating breakfast at The Garden Grill before Epcot opens!  Our third day is a break day and we are going to have dinner at Cape May Cafe.  Our fourth day is our MNSSHP day and we are going to have dinner at Liberty Tree Tavern.  Our fifth day is another break day and we are having dinner at O'hana!!!  I tried multiple times our last trip to get reservations, but we couldn't manage to get them.  Luckily there were plenty of times available this trip!  Our last day we will be at Animal Kingdom.  We are having another early breakfast before park opening, this time at Tusker House!  We figured breakfast is a safe bet for the kids and the options are similar to Boma's so we are pleased with this option.  My next post will be about our wish list of things to do this coming trip.

Sick/ Goals

We have had the worst luck with getting sick lately....We ended up with a stomach bug at the beginning of the month and now we all have a cold that is lingering....its been going on all week....I am finally starting to feel better, but my ears and sinuses are still on the mend...A and B are better, but C and hubby are still sick.....It is in their chests....Lots of Albuterol to help them break it up and open up their airways....Hopefully I will feel back to myself Monday when I have to do the grocery shopping....

I am also planning on getting myself back to working out....TurboFire was awesome and even though the scale only moved so far and then stopped I was feeling great....I need to feel that way again...I am planning on adding Cize in this time to break things up and so I wont get bored....I am a plus size girl and I don't mind physical activity.  I have always been good at sports and I want to get back to the point where I feel like I can play a whole game of basketball again....I know I will NEVER be skinny...I don;t have the build to be, if i was to get to a certain size I would look sick...I have broad shoulders and big hands and feet, always have even when I was smaller...I just want to be healthy...Healthy doesn't mean skinny...You can have some meat on your bones and be much healthier than the skinny person next to you, as long as your exercising and eating healthy foods...I have been wanting sweets less and less lately....I usually only drink water, but since I have been sick I have been drinking pop again...I am stopping that bad habit today....water water water....

I do remember craving pineapple, bananas, and meat tons while working out. IDK why, so i better stock up on those things Monday.  Getting back on the workout wagon is daunting, but I know after a couple weeks I will feel good again.  Please feel free to leave a comment or any tips.

Family Day Trip

We came home from our weekend trip with my mom and still had one day left with our rental van.  Juve and I decided to take the kids to the Newport Aquarium and go to Ikea afterward.  We had never been to the Newport Aquarium before and we all enjoyed it very much.  It is located in Newport, KY.  A was looking forward to the gators and sharks, B was looking forward to the turtles, and C was looking forward to everything.


Right now they have the Shark Bridge.  It is a suspension rope bridge over a pool of about 12 sharks.  We all did it, even C who was terrified at first.

Here are some videos I shot because we all know a flash and glass don't mix...They are pretty much a walk through of the whole visit.  

 

January 2016

We rang in the New Year quietly.   We had 4 birthdays this month.  My baby sister, my youngest, my husband, and one of my mom's cousins who is like a sister to her.  My youngest turned 4!  I can't believe I am typing that.  He wanted a Mickey Mouse "party".  We don't really do parties, but I do decorate the kitchen to their liking and try to get or make them a special cake. This year I made his cake.

We went to Disney on Ice for his birthday.  I am trying to buy less and make more memories by do things with them.  We all had so much FUN!

For my hubby we did a dinner and cake of his choice the day after his birthday since he had to work on his birthday.  We took a road trip to TN and Ga for Sheri's birthday!  I am so glad we did.  The kids got to play with cousins and all of us got to enjoy each other and celebrate a wonderful person.

some of the cousins...

The birthday girl is on the left....

I had a really great time getting to catch up and hang out with family.  I didn't take very many pictures due to the fact that I was busy being present.  Feeling the love in the room was such an awesome feeling.  It is still hard to describe.  I know Sheri really was surprised and LOVED it. 

Christmas 2015

This year we didn't want to buy the kids too many gifts.  We wanted them to enjoy what they got an play with it and not be overwhelmed by it all.  It was a plan that worked well for us.  They only asked for a couple things anyway.  B wanted a critters house and things to go with it.  I couldn't justify spending $80+ on a tiny house.  Instead my dad built one and I painted and decorated it.

It took a couple of weeks to finish and get together.  It was a BIG hit on Christmas morning.  She said she is keeping this for her kids!  I am glad she LOVES it.  

We also did a picnic under the tree during a sleepover with their cousin.  They had fun doing that too.  We made ornaments to put on the tree, too.  We also went to a couple local museums to do a few festive things and visit Santa.  We did Christmas Eve dinner with my sisters, so we could enjoy a relaxing Christmas Day without going anywhere.  

Christmas Eve

Day out with Mommy and Nana

He did't want his picture taken.

Picnic dinner under the tree

Made by my dad and I.  These are the stockings from my childhood.

Sprinkling out reindeer food.

Sleeping with his new dragon Fluffy.

They were stuffed.

Christmas Eve dinner.  Lasagna, salad, garlic bread, brownies,cheesecake, and oreo balls.

They were ready to eat.

Both of our miracle babies.   Ace was a 27 weeker and M was a 26 weeker.

Giving Nana hugs because she got her a unicorn!

Christmas morning

He got what he asked for.  He was happy.  

He got what he wanted too...