- We didn't sleep as good last night as we do when we are in the camper. That dog was the problem. On trips, she sleeps in our bed, and I think that she may have gotten a little bit used to it. Usually we go through this the first night home from a trip so hopefully she will do fine tonight.
- Robby did let her out after she barked some. Then I could hear her drinking her empty water so I had to refill it in the middle of the night. Plus occasionally she would stand up and bark at the window during the night. We all survived and Robby and I still woke up before our alarms went off this morning.
- Hopefully, we will wake up again at a decent time tomorrow-my list is even longer tomorrow than it was today (partly because I didn't finish today's list.) Even though it is almost 12 the kids aren't in bed, I have to have my shower and there is a cookbook that I plan on reading once I do get into the bed tonight so I am not too sure if I will wake up with the sun tomorrow.
- This morning I tried to mark things off of my list-even called a few places and was unsuccessful at all of them. Get a dumpster from the city-not in the city limits, move an orthodontist appointment-probably not, but ask another day, get a bike tune up-not for a while because prices were super expensive. Thankfully, I didn't have any other phone calls to make.
- Soon the kids were starting to wake up and start on their school work. This was a fairly light day of school for them so that made everyone happy-even me.
- Around noon I left pretty much for the day. First, I went to Nonna and Pops' house to pick up some presents and drop some off, and then I stopped at the library. Next up was one more errands before Walmart, and then going to the pregnancy center for a little bit.
- When I did come home, the kids were all gone-they had gone to Defy with Robby for a little bit. They jumped for a long while, but pretty much as soon as they came in, it was time for Robby and I to leave.
- Tonight we helped usher at a Natalie Grant concert at Rock Creek. That woman can sing for sure. It was fun evening-we made it home late, but there were freshly baked cookies waiting for us made by Keaton.
December 15, 2022
Christmas Ornament Countdown 2022: 10 Days until Christmas
The town of Marceline, Missouri had been on our list of places to visit for quite a while because Walt Disney lived there for 5 years and even modeled Main Street in Disney after this town. On our way to Michigan last year, we were able to stop there and tour the museum. It was a neat little stop, but the most interesting thing to me was that Walt had wanted to open a theme park in Marceline. What if Disney had been so close to home?
I was just doing some reading and the flag that we bought was a replica to one donated to the museum by Walt that once flew over the railroad station at Disneyland. It is a fun addition to our Disney tree. Here is the link to that trip.
December 14, 2022-Disney in December
Most kids were asleep last night when we stopped, and everyone was asleep this morning at 7 when we took off again. It was really more like 6:30 when Robby did get up and drive us to the gas station. I also think that most everyone slept until we were almost in Arkansas and a few people even had naps during the last little bit of the drive. I think that my kiddos were pretty tired.
As soon as we did make it home, everyone started to work on unloading the camper. Some trips we have to take everything in, and others we don't have to take as much in. This was a "take everything out" kind of trip. We aren't going to use the camper in a bit so that meant that all of the food needed to go in, not just the unopened food. Plus since it is about to be wintery, that means that I need to take out anything that could freeze (but I didn't get around to that part today.)
The kids were good and helped, but soon there were just a few loads for me to deal with. I kind of have a system-I bring a load out, put it away, put away something in the kitchen, put away something in the mudroom (things seem to get piled up in the kitchen and mudroom), do something with the laundry, and then head back out to get another load. Of course this takes me forever to just really accomplish one goal, but when I am done in the camper, then usually the house is decent-ish.
Around 3, I was finished with everything that I could do in the camper and came inside for my shower. I continued to work on the laundry-I have done at least 5 loads since we have been home. At 5ish tonight, we left for Wednesday night church.
This is the last night before Christmas bread, and this is why we came home a half day early. Now, coming home a half day early was really more like having to come home a whole day early. I am glad that the kids love church, but ugh-we also love Disney.
We really had the best trip. The weather was perfect, and we had so much fun at the park and at the campground. The kids really enjoyed themselves. We would go back tomorrow if that was an option for sure.
Tonight at church was super hectic for our little group-cookies and ornament making and singing. We barely were able to get it all finished. I guess that is good because it was soon over. We made air fryer pizzas when we came home.
Before everyone did go to bed, we all did 2 of our Jesse tree devotional, pulled 10 Santas and guessed 1 ornament-there is just a lot to do at Christmas time. And in just a little bit, I will have to have some one hide the 3 wisemen.
Christmas Ornament Countdown 2022: 11 Days until Christmas
Oh, this is a fun ornament! Obviously, I couldn't hang a huge Ikea bag up on the tree, but instead we found this little coin purse type bag that looks like an Ikea bag. Ikea has been one of my favorite stores for the longest time.
Since we have been there quite a few times, some of the sections aren't that interesting to me anymore. However, all of the sections at the end I have never been able to spend much time there becuase by the family gets to that part; they are done and ready to leave so we have to hurry through the last little bit.
It looks like our first trip to Ikea was in 2008. That was so long ago that the picture links don't work correctly anymore, but here is the link for that first Ikea shopping trip.
December 13, 2022-Disney in December and Happy 16th Birthday Anderson!
This morning was early-Magic Kingdom opened at 7:30. We didn't quite make it there before they opened, but we were on the boat over when it did open. This meant that we were all awake by 6:40, and I can tell it right now. Anderson, Whitman, Keaton and Campbell were already sound asleep before we stopped tonight.
Since this was Anderson's 16th birthday, and since we rode Space Mountain at midnight when he turned 13, we certainly headed straight there. The line was so short that Keaton and Campbell rode it again. While they were doing this, the other kids went to Buzz Lightyear. This is where Anderson also joined the ranks of Graham by getting a perfect score on the ride. He too received a sticker and became a Galactic Ranger. Thankfully for Anderson, the person giving out the sticker did not make him take the pledge to defent to galaxy to infinity and beyond.
We all then did the Buzz ride again, and this time Robby joined the big boys by also becoming a galactic ranger. We then walked across the park to ride Splash Mountain which will be closed and rethemed for a very long time starting in January. Then it was one quick ride on Big Thunder before riding the Jingle Cruise.
We ended our perfect Magic Kingdom morning with Dole Whip. Then we hurried back to the boat. We needed to check out of the campsite by 11. We were as ready as we could be, but we had to work fast. Anderson and Graham helped load the bikes while the others took Bentley to the dog park.
Then as people came back, we zoomed out of our site just a few minutes late. Anderson and Graham stayed back at the campground in the golf cart while the rest of us went to meet the golf cart man. Robby then had to go back to the campground, in the golf cart man's truck, to pick up the golf cart and the boys. (Yes, this is a hassle, but this also saves us half of what a Disney golf cart would cost so it is worth it.)
From there, we hit the road. We stopped once for gas while I ran into Sams to buy buns. Then there was another stop at Buccees where we bought bbq for supper. This is when we did stick the candles in Anderson's bun and properly sing to him. There was one more or possibly two more gas stops before we made it almost to Tupelo at our stop for the night.
It is about to start raining pretty good here, but my crew is pretty tired and probably won't notice. Today was a great day to end on-the crowds at Magic Kingdom were great. They were actually so great that I wish that we could have stayed all day long.
Christmas Ornament Countdown 2022: 12 Days Until Christmas
This ornament about caused me to lose my mind. As I was preparing my ornament countdown, I could see that this ornament from 2021 had not been spotlighted, so I set out to find it. I was pretty sure that it wasn't on any of the trees so I headed to the attic. There I went through all of my ornament boxes without any luck. It is dark up in that attic plus it is a cramped, so I decided that I needed to slow down and go through them all again. I did finally find it-one my second look while looking through the very last box.
On our way to Michigan last year, we stopped in Indianapolis for a Festival of Trees at their Historical Society. It was quite the event and was lots of fun. There were trees decorated all kinds of ways including with postcards and even a ChickFilA tree.
For registering early for this event, we were given this ornament with a cardinal on it. After a bit of research I now know that a cardinal is a symbol of beauty and warmth for the holiday season. Who knew? I sure didn't. Here is a link to that day's event in Indiana.
December 12, 2022-Disney in December
Once again Robby and I were awake at 7 trying to get the Guardians of the Galaxy ride at Epcot. We were again able to snag it. This meant that we could all be a bit lazy this morning. We still did wake up at a decent time.
Before we left this morning, I had taken Whitman to the front to find the last scavenger hunt clue. Then we turned in those papers to earn a pin before we went looping around. On most loops there is at least one campsite that has a pin board to trade or a bowl with candy for people to take. One place today even had dog treats which we took Bentley to two different times.
At Epcot, we rode the Guardians ride and even bought a Christmas ornament to remind ourselves of that ride. After the ride, we tried 4 different doughnuts-the croissant doughnut was rated the best by the Dennies with the sprinkle and peppermint coming in second and thired followed by the egg nog as last.
After this, we walked around the world past all of the countries. Now, it was crazy crowded today at Epcot. It was tough to just walk around. We did reward ourselves with our last two cookies today-another sugar cookie which completed our Epcot Cookie Stroll. Then we even tried a tamale and pernil (beef and plantain dish-it was good.)
From there, we walked on to the car and had some downtime at the campground. I asked the kids today what they would change about this Disney trip, and at least 2 folks said more time at the campground. There was lots of bike riding today along with golf cart driving.
I did let Whitman make a loop on the golf cart-that boy was so scared. At first he was doing the gas, and we barely moved at all. Eventually, he insisted on me doing the gas, but was terrified most of the time. I wish that my other boys had some of the fear that Whitman does.
We worked on cleaning out the fridge for supper-leftover taco meat for 3 folks, leftover pizza, leftover pasta, and leftover hamburgers are what fed everyone. There are still plenty of leftovers and we didn't even get to two of our suppers (air fryer pizza and breakfast). That is fine though because those meals will keep.
Around 8, we left for Magic Kingdom tonight. We arrived just as the fireworks finished-for ever thousand people leaving the park, there was one entering. We were majorly having to dodge the crowds who were leaving. It was kind of an odd feeling.
Everyone but Reagan and Whitman went to ride the Speedway. The rest of us went to buy an ornament for our February trip. It had 2023 on it, and my pass has a bigger discount right now, so we bought it early. Then we met up with them at the Speedway, and Graham, Campbell, and Keaton rode again.
Anderson had a snack left so he went with Robby to get a brownie sundae. Graham had money left so when he was finished, he ran to make sure that his order for a brownie sundae got turned in as well. We all met up so they could eat, and while they ate Keaton and Robby stood in line at Starbucks for her snack.
The kids didn't get a snack each day on this trip like they did the last trip. These were all leftover snacks. Now, Graham should have earned a snack today because really he was the hero of the trip. At one point toay, we did a lot of packing up and getting things ready to leave tomorrow. Robby emptied the tanks, and then he usually refills them with fresh water to rinse them out.
This rinsing them out shows him how dirty they usually are. At home he can sometimes rinse the tanks out over and over again and the water takes forever to get clearer. To rinse the tanks out, he has a thing where he put the water hose into the tank to fill it. He also has a meter on there so he knows when to stop it. He has also done this so many times that he knows how long it will take.
Since he knows how long it will take, he usually sets a timer. Usually! (If the tanks fill up, then water will start coming up the bathroom sink and up the potty. If that continues, then the water would flow over the potty onto the floor. Again, the water would not be clean-which is a nice way to say exactly what the water would be.)
Today, Robby didn't set a timer. We had driven the golf cart to the laundry room and were about to go around some loops after Robby put the laundry in the dryer. I was sitting on the golf cart talking to Keaton when Robby burst out of the laundry room on the phone saying, "I'll be right there." Then he took off running towards the camper.
He did holler back to me that he forgot about the water. I knew what this meant. I slowly headed home on the golf cart trying to figure out which towels I wanted to use to sop up water and then throw away. I was even trying to remind myself where the gloves are along with if I had any extra cleaning spray.
Thankfully, the water stayed in the potty because of hero Graham. Graham was sitting on the potty when he heard it gurgling. He saw stuff coming out of the sink and saw the potty water begin to rise. He finished and then hopped outside to find Robby who was not there. Thankfully, he thought to call and after Robby's sprint, he was able to turn off of the water before catastrophe struck. Graham saved the day for sure.
Back to Magic Kingdom though. While Robby and Keaton were in line, the rest of us went to Buzz Lightyear. There Graham once again was a hero-a gallactic hero. Anderson showed him where the targets were that he could earn the most points so he was able to score a 999.999-the highest score possible.
Since he did this, he also earned a sticker at the gift shop. Of course to get his sticker he had to say a pledge. It was fun for us to watch him-reminded me of all of the Jr. Park Ranger things we have done.
After this, Robby and Keaton met us and we rode People Mover and some folks rode the Astro Orbiter. Then we high tailed it across the park to ride Big Thunder. We rode once, and were about to get off at 10:53 when the man asked if we wanted to stay on and ride again. Of course the cart went nuts yelling and cheering so we went again. And I guess since it was 10:59 when we came around again, he let us go again. That was a fun Disney magic moment for sure.
We then hurried back to the boat so we could get back to the camper. Campbell and Anderson had showers. By the time that he returned from his, it was his birthday and we had his birthday banner hanging up. Tomorrow will be our earliest morning yet so I better end this blog right here.
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