Let the Planning Begin!

So, after a rocky 2014, we have made a decision for this year, and we hope all works out.  Our decision - Take Jake to Walt Disney World the 1st week of December for his Birthday!  And, as the Holiday season will be in full force, we will also get to see all the Great Christmas stuff in WDW I've always wanted to see!

So, it's only February, why are we planning already and have since January?  Because you MUST!  That's why!  There's a bunch to consider, a bunch to plan, and a bunch to get all worked up about.  I'm trying to find that balance of having fun planning and knowing that not all plans will work, but some unexpected things will happen, both good and bad!  We have already picked the dates and will be staying at 1 of 2 resorts depending on availability, so it's time to gather information.

I have started off with making my WDW Planner, that will double after the trip for Jake's very own scrapbook of the trip.  I wanted to have something simple, that looked good and that I could easily customize, so I did what I thought and swore I'd never do.  I bought an 8 1/2 x 11 3 ring binder scrapbook - a SN@P! album from Simple Stories.  I am a CM scrapbook girl, and I was highly disappointed about all the changes CM / Ahni to Zoe did this last year, making it really hard to get the one album type that I LOVE.  I HATE POST BOUND AND 3 RING BINDERS for Scrapbooks!  YUCK!  But, with this, pages going in and out, I thought it would be okay.  We shall see....

Anyway, this is what I got...
I actually saw at Michael's a SN@P! binder that was 8 1/2 x 11, which is what I was looking for, but I don't think they are available anymore.  I almost got the 8x6, but I wanted to just print out stuff on my computer and put in in the binder.

Simple Stories SN@P! Album - red

And, this is where I got my ideas and downloads to get the binder together.  I'm changing it up a bit, and once I get it finished, I'll post all the goodies here.

WDW Prep School - Binder

I am changing up the dividers.  The link above goes a little more granular than I want, separating dining as it's own category, I'm going to put it in the parks sections/other section since we will be dining mostly in the parks anyway.

Here are my dividers I'm going to do:

• General - travel plans, "best/worst" charts, daily trip planning, packing lists, etc
• Hotel - Maps, contact information, Magic Bands, etc
• Park section - each park will have it's own section which will include park hours, dining options, what we want to do here, FastPass+ tips
• Magic Kingdom
• Epcot
• Animal Kingdom
• Hollywood Studios
• Other - this will include stuff for Downtown Disney, extra activities, etc

It should be fun getting this all together!  I've already started printing out and reading all about the FastPass+ system.  However, there are so many tips and suggestions on how to use this wonderful thing called FastPass+ it's a little overwhelming, and you start to get worried you will do it wrong and nobody will have any fun, and then....take a breath... it will be alright and everybody will have fun.  Really. They will!

Again, this is the hardest part about planning.  There are some people that so over plan this that they forget they need to enjoy it too!  I want to do as much planning as we know whats going on, but I don't want the plans SET IN STONE because not all plans work.  I just hope we get a good reservation at a restaurant.  You have to make them 6 months in advance.  Yes, I said 6 months!  And, they fill up fast.  I'm just hoping we at least get a reservation!  Last time we called 6 months in advance and all we could get in the parks was at Hollywood Studios at the SiFi Drive in Diner at 5 pm, which was awesome, but we also had late lunch plans that day so we were not too hungry at 5 pm.  Oh well, it was fun!

Oh, and apparently, the wait for Anna and Elsa in the magic Kingdom is generally 5 hours.  Yes, I said 5 hours.  Can you freakin imagine??  I so hope Jake won't be disappointed he doesn't get to see them, and I'm hoping seeing all the other characters are enough!

We are also trying to focus on "non-princess" things to do, and we have read about some great games and suggestions for the boy to enjoy.

Anyway, let's plan!

Out with 2014 IN with 2015

First, let's do some Christmas Posting!  YEY!  We had a nice Christmas, Hermy kept us busy, and we enjoyed Dean getting up after all this time.

 

Silly Hermy

 

Jake discovered his love for Legos, and Hermy is just too fun!

 

Captain Her-merica and ROCKIN JAKE at Chuck E. Cheese

 

Dec 14, Dean gets up for the first time since July!

 

Happy 4th Birthday Jake! 

Buddy in front of the Tree!

 

 

Jake got a Bike from Santa Claus and Daddy helping him ride!

We had a very low key vacation this years since we couldn't travel to the Ranch.  We all missed going down there, and hope to get there soon.  We didn't do much for New Years Eve but we watched the Dick Clark's Rockin Eve with Ryan Seacrest, then we had to try to keep Buddy calm from 8pm until about 1am with all the fireworks.  HE HATES FIREWORKS!

Here's to a happy and prosperous new year!  2014 was a difficult year, especially the last half which you all know and followed me thru all the crazy posts, some I barely believe happened!

Jake is OMG FOUR YEARS OLD!

My baby boy is growing up!  He is so smart, funny, and a joy to be around (well 90% of the time anyway).  Since we had so much going on last month with Dean coming home right before Thanksgiving, we did an "easy way" out.  We went to ...

Chuck E. Cheese!!!

It was really quite a good time!  There are something like 10 tables the length of the party area, and each kid gets one table length.  Each table ate at then same time.  Then had the birthday song sung and candles blown out at the same time while Chuck was walking around. IT WAS GREAT!  Caos! But GREAT!

I made a Captain America cake, and the two tables next to us were spider man and Batman theme, so we were the super hero section!

Jake also got to do the ticket booth, where you stand in the booth and tickets and ticket vouchers fly around you.  It was loud so he didn't do it for the whole 30 seconds, he only grabbed 4 or so tickets.  HOWEVER, the 100 ticket voucher landed on his head!  But, he looked down and it fell of.  Really funny.

Before the storm!!

Jake playing GAMES!

Jake and Anna riding the helicopter!

Jasmine beating Jake at air hockey, these kids are GOOD at this!

Party time!

Jake smiling for the camera, not mine, someone else's, probably Nonnie's. :)

ROCKIN with Chuck!

 

Birthday medal time!

Blow!

This says it all, he LOVES Chuck!

Thumbs Up!

THIS is some Yummy Cake

SKEEBALL!  He is really starting to get good at this too!  

He won just as many tickets as I did!

THAT's MY BY!

This is the best pic we got of Jake and Liam :)

I'm not sure what Jake is doing, Strike a POSE!

Nonnie gave him some LEGOS!

Happy 4th Birthday Jake!

We Love you!!!

Being Home is Good!

Howdy everybody!  Sorry I've been away a couple of weeks, but it's been busy!

We had a lovely Thanksgiving despite the Aggies loosing and the crazy last play that should have been called back.  Oh well, bring on the bowl game!

  

GIG EM AGGIES!

Alfredo, Dana, Joe and Lexi

Me (Dayna), Alfredo, Queenie, and Jake.

Jake and I spent the whole entire weekend getting our house ready for Christmas, inside and out!

 

 

Now, we are trying to get most of our shopping done online,and filling in when we can in the stores, and getting ready for Jake's Birthday!  We are doing the Chuck E. Cheese birthday package, so lets hope it's fun!

The best news is we are going to SLOWLY be getting Dean up and around the house starting soon. We are taking it slow because he has an appointment in mid January to get a new cushion for his chair which we feel the old one is what caused all this stuff in the first place. 

I'm also glad to report that Dean is really glad to be home, and he's feeling really great.

Have yourselves a merry little Christmas!

The Holiday Season has begun!

Hello everybody!  Glad to report that Dean has settled in and we had a very boring weekend together at HOME!  I was getting ready for Thanksgiving, and Jake was playing with all his toys and messing up the place after I cleaned it! :)

The weather on Saturday was crazy warm and beautiful!  Jake and I went outside to Play!

 

Jake flying his kite!  He's awesome!

 

And, of course a little scooter time!

I also got a chance to put up some Christmas Decorations!  I have a long term agreement with Dean that I will wait until after Thanksgiving to put our tree up, BUT, he agreed that I can put up my nutcrackers and my nativity scene.

I have 55 nutcrackers and counting.  Do I need more?  YES, do I want more?  YES!!!

 

SON OF A NUTCRACKER!  I LOVE THEM!

All set up!

And, Jake put "Jacob the fisherman" and "Michael the angel" next to baby Jesus.

I do believe that is where they should go!

I also was able to get some of our yard decorations ready.  

We are going to have a GREAT Christmas Yard!!!

 

We have 4 of these reindeer.  We thought they were small, the box was small, but everything was tucked inside the body!  They are taller than Jake!

And, just a quick update on Dean.  He's doing great!  He's enjoying his time home and getting back to the normal swing of things.  He still has some recovery to do, but so far things have gone very well.  He will be up and rolling soon!  Please pray for continued healing and strength!

On that note...

May you all be thankful for everything you have this Thanksgiving.

Please pray for our service men and women serving away from their family's.  

Thank you for all you do for us.

Please think of everybody who has to spend the holidays in a hospital bed.  And pray that they have nurses and staff who care and take care of them properly and that they have visitors.

I am so thankful for friends and family for all the support I've had these last few months.

I am grateful Jake, my wonderful son, who really took care of me as well.

And to his courageous birth parents who I think of every day as I look into their faces every time I look at Jake. 

I am thankful that my awesome husband Dean was able to come home before the holidays and spend some much needed time with his family.  

Happy Thanksgiving!