I wish I could respond to all of you. IM SO FAR BEHIND.
So, as mom said, I'm adjusting to getting back into the groove of work. And now we're back to school. The baby starts daycare after Labor Day. It's just been all-around, hectic. I'm REALLY proud of my mom for stepping out of her comfort zone and trying something new. They're lucky to have her! I'm also REALLY surprised by my baby sister for helping me out with the baby. I think it's shocked us all. Can't believe she's starting college next week. When the heck did that happen?
Mom and I have also been working really hard at planning our NEXT trip. Jimmy and I are taking both kids to Disney in February, over Mardi Gras. Mom's coming to lend a helping hand with the baby. He will be 9 months old the day before we fly out. We did our dining reservations yesterday WHOOP WHOOP! Gia's dance stuido is performing at downtown disney that week (I'm on strike... I will not call it Disney Springs. Just ain't happenin. okay, maybe once i see it all new.). So her mom is meeting us there and our trips will overlap by about 2 days so we can all be there for Gia's performance, but still get our alone disney time with her, each. We are really excited about it, and Gia loves having everyone there for her!
I'm trying to plan a lot of "special" things while we are there. Just little things to make the magic really pop. Things we haven't done before, etc. Mom and I booked the dessert party as a surprise to Jimmy and Gia. I want to get the kids some cute jammies and slippers to wear to do the movies on the lawn our first night after a campfire on d'bayou.
small sidenote: d'bayou means "of bayou"... just because it SOUNDS like we say "on da bayou" when we mean "on THE bayou" does not mean you can slap "d'bayou" on something and call it cajun. sorry. that bothered me. Kinda like that Disney gumbo receipe that was going around facebook. Disney, I love you, stick to what you know. And that's not gumbo.
I'm back at work now, the baby just turned 3 months old and is AWESOME! I'm selling AVON on the side, Jimmy wa promoted at work just before we had the baby, and it's just a lot. BUT I PROMISE I am trying to find the time, the right words, and quite frankly the memory to finish out this trip report before we go on the next one, FOR SURE! Telling our stories make me happy and get me excited for the next trip. When I'm not actively working, I'm outfit planning and typing out our itinerary.
And just to put into perspective my accounting brain and love for Disney. We've moved our trip plans a few times to get closer to the hotel Gia's mom and dance team will be at and also get my BFF's discount. And each time we move it, I have the numbers available for what it costs, broken down, with our trip and mom's part separated. So when we moved it again the other night before making dining reservation, I was able to tell mom within a minute what her trip costs changed to. She says, "What, do you have a spreadsheet or something?"
... So I turned my laptop to her with my spreadsheet and associating formulas.
I'm just THAT COOL.
So that's MY LIFE right now and my GOAL to update the thread by the end of this week! Also, if anyone has any magical things they like or do in the parks with kids. Tips, WHATEVER for our Mardi Gras trip.... please, do tell! We plan to pass our valentines on Valentine's Day for fun. To cast members and what not.