October 7-14 2011 WDW with DD6, my Mom, and my Hubby (his first visit finally!)

[RebeccaMcK]

It's an official snow day today (had a blizzard some time between last night and early this morning) so there's NO SCHOOL (the only reason I like a blizzard, if I don't have to drive anywhere - and today I don't), so among other things I finally used my free $20 credit today on the Shutterfly photo site to order TWO photo books (identical, so my mom can have one) of all the character photos we've taken of Kimberly (with just Disney characters) between November 2009 and October 2011. Just the best ones, whenever there were duplicates. I had to get TWO albums in order to use the credit because otherwise before tax my order of just one photo book didn't qualify to use the discount (it appears photo books are on sale right now with Shutterfly). Anyway, that'll be a nice Christmas present for my parents and they can show it to my sister and grandma while we're all down there in December (I still have to book those flights).

So, while you've seen all the October 2011 and July 2011 (Disneyland) pics I thought that while I have all these pics neatly organized in a folder on my desktop and I'm somehow not able to get the code to embed the actual photo book into this trip report, I will go ahead and share the other photos here (probably in a few posts since I know one won't hold them all) and you can see how Kimberly has grown since the November 2009 cruise (when she was 4). The other trips these pics come from are Disneyland December 2009, WDW May 2010....and I think the Peter Pan and Wendy pic from Disneyland July 2011 are in this TR already along with all the WDW October 2011 pics. So there aren't too many more to add. Enjoy.

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That is the first time Kimberly ever met Mickey Mouse, before boarding our cruise. We had been in line to meet Chip'n'Dale near the ship's model - but they left when we were about six families from the front and Mickey came out to take their place. You'd have thought a big movie star had entered the building, everyone went NUTS!

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The above pic is the first time she met Minnie Mouse, just walking around on the ship while waiting for our cabin/stateroom to be ready. I mean WE were waiting for that, not Minnie.

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Above is the Belle aboard the ship with whom I wasn't too happy. She was nice and all - she just didn't resemble Belle very much (which is why we looked for Belle this last trip at Epcot - even just in the villager blue and white dress rather than the gold gown she looked EXACTLY like Belle). But anyway, this was Kimberly's first time meeting Belle.

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Above is our only photo with Goofy, on Castaway Cay (Disney's island out in the Caribbean). Kimberly is squinting because she didn't yet own sunglasses.

More to come in another post.

[RebeccaMcK]

Oops, the Cinderella pic I just tried to post and didn't think it would DID after all, as an attachment (refer to bottom of previous post if you need to see it again). So now here's the story about that:
It was a freak encounter (unplanned, I mean) with Cinderella near one of the elevators/stairwells in the ship. No one else was around and we caught Cindy slipping down the stairs (I don't mean she was falling - I mean she was sneaking off somewhere). She obliged to take a lovely photo with Kimberly. And the background came out too dark but I don't care. It was fun. I like this photo better than the more "formal" one we did later where we lined up to see all four princesses at once (one at a time).

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Above is Pirate Minnie....our cruise had a pirates party night, and all the characters were dressed up as pirates.

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Above Kimberly is shivering with Daisy Duck as we were about to get back on the ship after a day ashore at Castaway Cay. She does NOT remember ever meeting Daisy, which is good because then we met her again at DHS back in May 2010 (six months later):
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That's also the only time so far we've been able to meet Donald for a pic (and now we don't seek him out unless maybe we do a Tusker House breakfast some day on a future trip).

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Above is the best ever Snow White, who was aboard our cruise. I mean, she looked perfect. This is why we haven't sought her out on other Disney trips. Can't beat the first one. More in the next post.

[RebeccaMcK]

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That was Kimberly meeting Minnie at Disneyland outside her house in Toontown in December 2009. Minnie met people OUTSIDE her house before you go into it, whereas Mickey waited at the end of the long line THROUGH his house (and we didn't meet him that trip, at least not in Toontown). Rather, we met him on Main Street just after entering the park that day:
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And then we met Pluto for the first time (this is my mom with Kimberly in this and the previous photo - it's the only time so far Mom has been to Disneyland with Kimberly. Dad has been with her twice, including the July 2011 trip in this report):
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And that's it for Disneyland 2009 (and the November 2009 cruise). Now here are some pics from the May 2010 trip, in no particular order except how they're listed in my desktop folder (just after this trip ended, Kimberly turned 5):
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That was a good Jasmine, looked just like her. More in next post.

[RebeccaMcK]

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Above, a nice Tiana and a dreamy Naveen (women of all ages gathered around to look at him, seriously).

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I picked this pic of Stitch at Epcot (we met him with no line) rather than the one at the 'Ohana breakfast for the photo book.

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Mulan is in the 4-page princess section of the photo book (of course, Cinderella got two pages all to herself since we did the 1900 Park Faire dinner and had the rest of her castmates in photos).

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We also have a couple pages in the photo book dedicated to Pooh and his pals. She has met Pooh lots of times now (it seems) - and above is the pic from the first time she met him (with Piglet at DHS). More in next post.

[RebeccaMcK]

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It's far away, but it's the only pic I got of her with both Cars vehicles.

Now the two main characters from Monsters Inc (they didn't pose together, we waited for both of them individually):
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Met Frozone and Mr. Incredible just after Mrs. Incredible disappeared for a break (never did meet her, although I photo'd her with my bad old cell phone camera in November 2010 during Characterpalooza):
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Ariel and Eric! This was the year Ariel's Grotto was torn down, and Ariel began doing meets on the Adventureland Verandah in her human green gown. Eric isn't with her there any more.

More later.

[RebeccaMcK]

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Pocahontas, somewhere along the trail to Camp Minnie Mickey. And then we found Chip'n'Dale for the first time ever, as they came out of their changing shack:
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Kimberly was so excited to meet them (FINALLY, since they kept eluding us on the cruise and at Disneyland earlier) she kept jumping up and down. They weren't even at their meet spot yet. In the photo book, this pic is next to the one of them in their space suits in Tomorrowland from the October 2011 trip.

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And above is the last pic....we found Pooh and Tigger by accident in their area in the UK store and were the last people to meet them that night (had a short wait, their time was almost up). My sister Jennifer (who was on that May 2010 trip with us) is in the photo.

The photo book is, I think, 22 or 23 pages long.

[WileyCoyote]

Hello Rebecca
Those photos are lovely ! I think Pooh and Piglet pic is my favourite

Wow, a snow day ? its really mild over here at the moment, havent even got the heating on yet except in the evenings - great for keeping the fuel bill down
I finally sorted all my West coast hotels out - its been a planning nightmare but all sorted now
I have 86 days till I can book my WDW ADRS - now that starts to make it all feel real - just need the confirmed list of DDP restaurants for next year and we can whittle down our shortlist into a priority order.
I am still off work but getting better - had the all clear that its not a heart or respiratory problem - they think its costochondritis or some other similar inflammation within the ribcage so its just plenty of rest and anti-inflammatories - I am hoping to start back to work from next week on a gradual basis - I am getting anxious that if I stay off much longer, they might decide they can manage without me permanently
I'm going to update my pre trippy over the weekend so its all up to date before I start back to work and then have no time to do anything
Take care in that bad weather xx

[RebeccaMcK]

Hi Amanda,

I'm glad the problem wasn't your heart after all - hopefully you can get better soon. We haven't had any more snow since that last time I posted...the temps here have ranged from the low 30s to the mid 50s most days. Sunshine and clouds alternating. Cold but not too cold.

A year ago today I returned from my November solo trip - and a year ago yesterday (my birthday) I explored the Wizarding World of Harry Potter for the first time. This year my birthday wasn't as exciting, lol. But hopefully some day I'll go back to Orlando for this time of year (or Thanksgiving week, which is next week - Kimberly is off school all week and Hubby's mom is coming to visit us for about ten days starting Monday). We'll do an early Christmas with her, since I will put up our tree on Thursday or Friday and exchange gifts with her. She'll be in Japan over Christmas, with her daughter and her family. So this time when we're in CA for Christmas we don't have to drive out to the desert because she won't be there. We leave for CA on December 20th and return on the 31st...I got semi-good airfares finally and booked it on November 3rd. Bye for now.

[WileyCoyote]

oh my goodness that was a year ago I am so looking forward to WWoHP and staying at the RPR for two nights means we wont have to go crazy with queuing ( I hope)

Happy birthday too - i cant believe how the time has flown by

We are seeing my parents next weekend - doing the early Xmas thing as well . The next village do a festival of lights every year on the last weekend in November - they have a fair and stalls and a procession of lanterns and then they turn on the Xmas lights along the high street - its a really lovely afternoon/evening and then we will come home and turn on our lights too and Xmas officially starts in our house !

Take care xx

[kbmoore]

Happy Birthday to you!!!!!! a couple of days late......

[RebeccaMcK]

Thank you Kathy and Amanda. Amanda, that sounds like a nice Christmas tradition in your area. Have fun! I think probably starting next weekend we will see some neighbors putting up their exterior house lights. I only hang some from the inside of the front window (icicle lights), since our roof is so high we can't safely put any hooks under the eaves to install lights for the first time (and we've lived in this house since 2004), but I decorate enough on the inside to make up for the lack of lighting outside.

Starting tomorrow I get to NOT wake up at 6 each morning! Kimberly is on Thanksgiving break after today. I'll drop her off at school today and then go to my local theater and see "Breaking Dawn: Part 1" (bought a ticket yesterday for the 10:10 matinee). I'm also going with a friend Sunday afternoon to see it - we've had those tickets for a couple weeks now. There is no assigned seating, so I'll line up early and get a good seat when they let us in. Yesterday when I was there (I had lunch nearby with a friend) I saw maybe 20 people camping outside for good seats for the midnight show (at 1:30 in the afternoon!). Earlier when I drove by I saw more people lined up, but at 1:30 they were let in for the Twilight Saga marathon (all four movies, starting at 4 pm). I know a couple people on Facebook who went to the midnight show last night but I haven't checked to see their "reviews" yet. Anyway, it'll be fun.

[RebeccaMcK]

Just a quick note....to those of you who are with me on Facebook (Jill, Donna, Jennifer M, Michala....), know that as of last night I quit Facebook and don't plan to go back. Sorry to lose our connection there, but I was fed up with a couple things there and decided it was time to quit (for the third time) and this time it might stick. I emailed some friends to let them know I quit and didn't just unfriend them (basically I unfriended everyone simply by deactivating my account), but I didn't have email addresses for everyone so I thought I'd let you know here. Hope everyone had a good Thanksgiving. Enjoy December and whatever holidays you celebrate.

[RebeccaMcK]

Hey, all, I received this year's Christmas package in the mail today from my sister-in-law and her family in Japan. Along with the usual card and check for Kimberly's gift, she sent a little tin of cookies from Disneyland Tokyo so I thought I'd take a picture of it to show you. There are three types of cookies (haven't tried them yet)...white chocolate, strawberry chocolate, and white chocolate-covered cookie. Actually, just opened the strawberry one and it's just chocolate with a mouse head snowman design on it in strawberry flavor. The white chocolate one is the same but with a white snowmouse. The actual cookie is the larger, dark blue package and it's good - just tried it. Covered in white chocolate with a drizzle of pink "garland" atop it. Here is a photo of the tin with the cookies:
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And I think the Disneyland Tokyo bag they wrapped it in is cute, too - here are photos of it, front and back:
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So that's all...just wanted to share. We leave in less than 2 weeks for California, to be with my family for Christmas. My grandma is in bad shape. Mom phoned me today in tears. Since Sunday she has been in a nursing home (doctor has ordered this as a permanent move, no more living at home with my parents), her dementia is worse, and she doesn't recognize family members. When my sister was there over Thanksgiving last month, Grandma didn't recognize her. And she didn't recognize her own sister when she went there to visit her yesterday. She thought my mom was a nurse. I kind of don't think she'll make it to Christmas - she hasn't been eating, and when she tries, she gags. They have her on an IV for nutrition purposes, and there are physical therapists who want to strengthen her knees and get her to walk with the walker again (the British Home in Sierra Madre won't admit her as a resident unless she can walk inside). But each day things change, and today Mom called to say there is a blockage in her intestines and it might pass on its own but if it doesn't, her organs will start shutting down and this will be it. It's the same thing that happened to my husband's dad in July. Blockage in intestine made other organs shut down - they put him on morphine until he passed away, and it didn't take very long. Mom doesn't want me to change my airline ticket and get down there sooner - she said she'll handle things and for us to keep our planned itinerary. My sister gets there on the 15th, and we get there on the 20th. My mom is strong. She has had some relief lately with Grandma being in a nursing home at long last....and she is getting their priest to go see Grandma some time tomorrow. He has been seeing her weekly, but this time I'm sure it will be for Last Rites.

In case I don't get to write again before Christmas, everyone please have a wonderful Christmas (and Hanukkah) and enjoy the Season.

[jillyb]

Rebecca I'm so sorry to hear about your Grandmother. :(

[RebeccaMcK]

Thank you, Jill. There is no update to her condition yet - I'll probably hear from Mom today or tomorrow. Originally this place where she is living was supposed to be temporary, for "rehabilitation" (therapy), and Mom was supposed to find a permanent place for her - but that plan is off now and the temporary place will keep her for as long as it takes.

[RebeccaMcK]

I have two more pics to share. Today at JCPenney (what a madhouse it was this afternoon) I found a couple Mickey and Minnie watches for Kimberly and me for $13.40 each (they were on sale). They're the snappy plastic kind that wrap around your wrist (so they fit anyone, basically). Then they're coated in rubber. Mine is the black Mickey watch and Kimberly's is the pink Minnie. The faces pop out of the heads so you can set the time and wind it up. Here is the pic:
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And since I have the file here on the computer from doing my email cards, here is our Christmas greeting and photo for all of you (Peanut our dachshund makes a cameo in her own photo on the right):
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[josh]

Yes, very sorry to hear about grandma.

[josh]

And cute watches, family, and dog.

[RebeccaMcK]

Thank you, Josh. Good luck with your move next week.

[WileyCoyote]

Rebecca
So sorry to hear about your grandmother - safe travels and bless you and your family over the holidays
Amanda xx

[RebeccaMcK]

Thank you, Amanda. Have a wonderful Christmas. We will do the best we can...I'm prepared for our upcoming trip to be one day of Christmas and the rest will revolve around whatever happens with Grandma.

Grandma is still hanging on but just barely. The doc is going to give her less fluids with the IV now, since they were giving her too much before. Her sister went to say her goodbyes yesterday, saw she was in bad shape. Her kidneys are functioning at 25 percent capacity and her heart is failing. She also might have pneumonia (doc was unable to confirm) so they're giving her antibiotics for that although she can't swallow anything so maybe it's via IV. She hasn't eaten real food in over a week. She'll be evaluated today for hospice care but has permission to stay in the nursing/rehab facility where she is, in order to not move her much and keep her comfortable. I've gone around this morning collecting old photos of her for a collage my mom wants to make for her memorial service (the church is on stand-by with orders for a high requiem mass). I think I took about 63 pics with my cell phone this morning, of photos in albums and on the walls. They look good. My sister flies there from Houston either tomorrow or Friday, and we'll get there next Tuesday. I've told Mom to tell Grandma (even if she can't understand it - since she is in and out of coherency, mostly out lately...she doesn't recognize anyone and asks where my grandpa is, who died in 1984) to not wait for us...no need to suffer longer just to have us see her in person. She has a DNR order on file (do not resuscitate) and now it's just God's timing. I get emails or phone calls every day from Dad or Mom with updates on her condition.

[WileyCoyote]

Oh Rebecca, my thoughts are with you and your family for a peaceful passing for your grandma whenever it comes . God bless xx

[kbmoore]

Rebecca,

Praying for your Grandma and your family......

[RebeccaMcK]

Thanks, Amanda and Kathy. I wound up collecting 71 pics of Grandma that I put in a Shutterfly online album and sent to my mom, dad and sister. Mom is planning a big collage of photos to put on display at the memorial service. So far I haven't received THE phone call...I can't believe Grandma is still hanging on since they took her off the IV and everything on Wednesday once she was approved for Hospice care (and she is staying where she is, they're not going to move her). My sister gets there today and will see her. I'm just surprised Grandma isn't gone yet. Mom told her, "Your business is finished. Let go, and go with Dad and Terry." Terry was my uncle who died very young, at age 34. While I was going through photos I found a few of Grandma at Disneyland...they're not very old. The closeup of my sister Jenn and Grandma was taken some time in 1990 or thereabouts while they were riding Dumbo (Jenn is fond of taking photos up close while holding the camera an arm's distance away - it doesn't flatter everyone):
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And then a few pics from our Disneyland trip in December 2009, which was Kimberly's first visit (and it's why Grandma wanted to go with us):
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We have a low key weekend planned. Church on Sunday (we're attending a new church now, Roman Catholic, closer to us than the Anglican one although I took Kimberly there last week so she could see everyone again). Packing little by little for the Tuesday departure. Movie on Monday with Kimberly and some of her friends (the new Chipmunks movie). Today is her last day of school before winter break. We do still have our 3-day park hopper ticket for Disneyland (with blackout dates starting December 24th), and I'm taking them with us since we have one day left on them...but of course we probably won't go with all that is happening. We would only go if Mom needed to get away for a day and wanted to go get the same military discount deal with Dad's Navy ID (he'd have to go, too). Otherwise, I'm saving that last day on Kimberly's and my tickets for some time next year before they expire in September. And if we do wind up going next week, I won't do a trip report...I would maybe write up a short summary with the highlights. We don't plan to go, though.

Bye for now. Have a good weekend.

[kbmoore]

So glad you had that trip with your Grandma in 2009 and have all those wonderful pictures!!!!