Joy in the World ~ a magical Christmas weekend! real life update 04/07

[suse66]

Thank you for sharing your report, I really enjoyed it.

No one knows what the new "normal" will be after this. My heart breaks for your boys having their Senior Year cut short. We had a delayed start for Danielle's senior year due to extreme flooding her in 2016 but it was nothing compared to this.

Stay safe!

Thank you so much for joining in! Yes, I am worried about graduation. My Dad was really hoping to come up to see the boys graduate but so much is uncertain. Jamie was involved in the spring play and was so excited about his part. I am trying to focus on the fact that we are together and safe.

Wonderful TR. My DD(14) and I recently returned from a February trip (for her birthday) and it was amazing. The weather was beautiful!!! (we usually go in August) My family and my sister's family are booked for August, fingers crossed that we will be able to get back to the most magical place on earth!

Thank you for reading along! I am hoping to get back in July as we wanted to celebrate our oldest son's 20th birthday. I just bought into DVC as well and had that trip booked on points. We'll just have to see what happens next. I hope everything works out for your August trip!

I've never eaten there, but this really sounds like an add-on that would take me there. I liked the Christmas season there and would love a way to get a bit more out of it next time.

As a solo, it was a manageable expense. It was really worth it to me for the reserved parade viewing spot as it was such a magical way to see the parade.

I"m so glad you have that during this uncertain time. So many friends, and myself included aren't in that situation. :/

I know I have a job to go back to which is a blessing. We are being paid until April 3rd at this point but don't know anything after that date. Hope you that you will ok, Liesa.

I am certain it will too. But may not be for a long, long time.

I'd say a good year before anything will be normal. I am worried that I won't even be able to get down to PEI to see my parents this summer.

 

[Tracy161]

Another lovely TR - thank you so much for sharing it with us. Wow, you really packed a lot in those 72 hours, didn't you?!

I am so fortunate to work for the school board as my job is protected and secure during this uncertain time.

So happy to hear this. I feel so fortunate as well as I'm able to work from home.

I feel so badly for Stuart and Jamie as this is their grade 12 year and who knows what will happen with graduation, prom, school play etc etc??

Ugh, no kidding! So many would-be exciting life events have been robbed from so many people. My sister (who lives in England) was due to fly home today for a month to have her bridal shower and dress fittings. Her June 3 wedding will likely be postponed as well. I hope this goes away sooner than expected and we can all return - safely - to normal life again. In the meantime, thank goodness for the Disboards Stay well, my friend!

 

[suse66]

Another lovely TR - thank you so much for sharing it with us. Wow, you really packed a lot in those 72 hours, didn't you?!

Thanks for joining in , Tracy! No need for sleep at Disney, right???

So happy to hear this. I feel so fortunate as well as I'm able to work from home.

I am glad you are working from home too. I remember you saying how worried you were about your volunteers and patrons.

Ugh, no kidding! So many would-be exciting life events have been robbed from so many people. My sister (who lives in England) was due to fly home today for a month to have her bridal shower and dress fittings. Her June 3 wedding will likely be postponed as well. I hope this goes away sooner than expected and we can all return - safely - to normal life again. In the meantime, thank goodness for the Disboards Stay well, my friend!

I feel so badly for your sister ........that is really challenging. Like you, I hope things will resolve sooner than later. I have a trip scheduled with Jack (my oldest son) in early July and I really don't know if we will be able to go or not. Please take good care of yourself.

 

[ariane37]

Special events: All three were winners for me. I had an amazing time at MVMCP, thought the Tony's Most Merriest was a great value for me on my own (it would have been cost prohibitive on a family trip however) and I absolutely LOVED the Candlelight Processional. In fact, I would say it was the highlight of my trip.

I heard great things from a few people about the Tony's party I kind of wish we'd done it! Glad you enjoyed them all, I think doing those events is a great idea for a short trip.

I feel so badly for Stuart and Jamie as this is their grade 12 year and who knows what will happen with graduation, prom, school play etc etc?

I know we've said this to each other here and on FB but my heart still hurts for your boys, Ricky, and the other seniors. We have not been shut down for the rest of the year as of yet but there's such a high chance we will be

I cancelled the boys' grad trip to NYC and have tentatively rescheduled for late August.

Oh didn't know you rescheduled! That's great, right now anything you can look forward to is a plus Thank you for sharing this trip with us!

 

[suse66]

I heard great things from a few people about the Tony's party I kind of wish we'd done it! Glad you enjoyed them all, I think doing those events is a great idea for a short trip.

It was so fun! Definitely on the pricy side but great for a solo or couples trip.

I know we've said this to each other here and on FB but my heart still hurts for your boys, Ricky, and the other seniors. We have not been shut down for the rest of the year as of yet but there's such a high chance we will be

I know..... Jamie was in the school production of Clue and was so looking forward to it. Now they've had to scrap that and are looking at a different play and are trying to hold virtual rehearsals using Zoom but it's just not the same thing. All I am asking for is to be able to see them graduate...trying to hold out hope for that.

Oh didn't know you rescheduled! That's great, right now anything you can look forward to is a plus Thank you for sharing this trip with us!

It's pretty tentative as you know things are a mess in the city right now. My sister (she's an ER doc and pretty in the know) says I shouldn't consider NYC until next spring but I am going to watch carefully and see if late summer might be ok. My big thing is that I have no idea when the border is going to open again for non essential travel. I am trying to hold out hope for Disney in July but really have no idea if it'll be a go or not. Thanks for joining in as I relived all my Christmas fun!

 

[Steppesister]

I know I have a job to go back to which is a blessing. We are being paid until April 3rd at this point but don't know anything after that date. Hope you that you will ok, Liesa.

I'd say a good year before anything will be normal. I am worried that I won't even be able to get down to PEI to see my parents this summer.

Faring well so far. Definitely in a day by day kind of mode for the foreseeable future. Until elective surgeries are green-lighted ALL of my colleagues are in the same boat. MOST surgeries fall into the non-emergent category which put a LOT of us into mandatory furlough.

Things will get back to normal, I have no doubt, and when it does, for us anyway, it's going to be nutso!! My manager did say we may very well go to a 7-day work week to catch up.

 

[amazingact21]

I'm late, but I'm here for the wrap up!

With a total time in Walt Disney World under 72 hours, I was very happy to have accomplished all that I did!

Wow, it really did not feel like less than 72 hours. You packed so many amazing things into your short trip! Really utilized your time well.

My OOP cost for everything else would have been about $126 but ended up at $94

That is impressive.

Nomads was as always, my favourite lounge

Next time I'm in Animal Kingdom, I'm definitely trying Nomad's!

In real life news, we are all safely at home.

Happy to hear this.

badly for Stuart and Jamie as this is their grade 12 year and who knows what will happen with graduation, prom, school play etc etc??

My heart breaks for all the seniors missing so many iconic moments in their teenage years. Good or bad, they are milestones.

work for the school board

Are you having to deal with any of the virtual learning/ technology measures? If so, how is it going? Poor Landon's teachers and administrators and specialists were a bit overwhelmed with it all at first. I did not envy them having to learn a whole new way of educating in a matter of weeks.

 

[suse66]

Wow, it really did not feel like less than 72 hours. You packed so many amazing things into your short trip! Really utilized your time well.

It was non stop fun for sure!

That is impressive.

I think it was so low because of the prepaid events (CP package and Tony's)

Next time I'm in Animal Kingdom, I'm definitely trying Nomad's!

You will love it!

Happy to hear this.

I am happy to know you are safe at home as well.

Are you having to deal with any of the virtual learning/ technology measures? If so, how is it going? Poor Landon's teachers and administrators and specialists were a bit overwhelmed with it all at first. I did not envy them having to learn a whole new way of educating in a matter of weeks.

Yes, we launched our google classroom this morning. It is a bit of a learning curve but we are trying our best to adapt. I miss being in the classroom so much!

 

[suse66]

Real life update

Hi everyone! I hope you have all been staying safe and healthy in these uncertain times. We are all at home safely together. Jack's university shut down the third week of March so I am happy to have us all at home. We are all figuring out online learning. The twins started their grade 12 coursework yesterday and I started back with my kindergarten students in our Google classroom. Lots of changes and adapting for all of us, especially for Bill who has always worked from home and now has to contend with the whole family being home too!

I cancelled my planned July trip with Jack. Our borders are currently closed to non essential travel and I really can't see that changing by summer. In happy news, I did manage to snag a 1 bedroom villa at Boulder Ridge Villas for December. I loved Christmas so much last year and Bill is going to come down as well, so that is something nice to plan and dream about.

Last weekend, we decided to bring a little Disney home! I made a modified Ohana dinner with honey coriander chicken drumsticks, steak skewers, noodles, Lapu Lapus and Ohana bread pudding! We even dressed up for the occasion and listened to Polynesian resort loop music to set the mood. It really helped to cheer us up a bit.



The Lapu Lapus went down pretty easy and Jack polished off three helpings of the noodles!



I followed the exact Disney recipe for the bread pudding and it was divine! There wasn't even a crumb left as Jamie had 2 servings, Stuart had 3 servings and Bill, Jack and I had to be happy with one serving each.

Dressing up was fun to and really helped us to get in the spirit. I wish I had have bought the Tiki dress but the Dole Whip dress was good too. Bill wore his Tommy Bahama shirt I bought him last summer at the Poly and we felt quite festive.



In the meantime, we will keep our happy place close in our hearts and when we get to go again, it will be even sweeter. Stay safe and well, friends!




​

 

[piglet1979]

especially for Bill who has always worked from home and now has to contend with the whole family being home too!

This is the same in our house. DH has always worked from home and now we are all home. It took him a bit of time to adjust too.

 

[vamassey1]

I cancelled my planned July trip with Jack. Our borders are currently closed to non essential travel and I really can't see that changing by summer. In happy news, I did manage to snag a 1 bedroom villa at Boulder Ridge Villas for December. I loved Christmas so much last year and Bill is going to come down as well, so that is something nice to plan and dream about.

This sounds like a really good plan. You'll love sharing Christmas with Bill.

Last weekend, we decided to bring a little Disney home! I made a modified Ohana dinner with honey coriander chicken drumsticks, steak skewers, noodles, Lapu Lapus and Ohana bread pudding! We even dressed up for the occasion and listened to Polynesian resort loop music to set the mood. It really helped to cheer us up a bit.

I love this idea! The food looks delicious and y'all are so cute.

 

[missangelalexis]

Glad you and your family are doing well! Lovely to have a Disney night at home- looked wonderful!

 

[pkondz]

Hi everyone! I hope you have all been staying safe and healthy in these uncertain times.

Certainly trying. Shopping today was a bit nerve-wracking.

Jack's university shut down the third week of March so I am happy to have us all at home. We are all figuring out online learning. The twins started their grade 12 coursework yesterday and I started back with my kindergarten students in our Google classroom.

Lots of change!

Lots of changes and adapting for all of us, especially for Bill who has always worked from home and now has to contend with the whole family being home too!

I cancelled my planned July trip with Jack. Our borders are currently closed to non essential travel and I really can't see that changing by summer.

Sorry to hear that, but... yeah. I have a feeling it won't be open any time soon, too.

In happy news, I did manage to snag a 1 bedroom villa at Boulder Ridge Villas for December. I loved Christmas so much last year and Bill is going to come down as well, so that is something nice to plan and dream about.

Good!

Last weekend, we decided to bring a little Disney home! I made a modified Ohana dinner with honey coriander chicken drumsticks, steak skewers, noodles, Lapu Lapus and Ohana bread pudding!

Wow! What a great idea!

We even dressed up for the occasion and listened to Polynesian resort loop music to set the mood. It really helped to cheer us up a bit.

Wonderful!

I followed the exact Disney recipe for the bread pudding and it was divine!

mmmmm…. I think I need to do this!

You guys look terrific!

 

[suse66]

This is the same in our house. DH has always worked from home and now we are all home. It took him a bit of time to adjust too.

It's a bit of adjustment for my DH too. Hope you are staying safe and well.

This sounds like a really good plan. You'll love sharing Christmas with Bill.



I love this idea! The food looks delicious and y'all are so cute.

You're so sweet! I am happy to have a trip to plan and dream about. I hope you and your family and keeping safe and well.

Glad you and your family are doing well! Lovely to have a Disney night at home- looked wonderful!

Thanks Alexis!An at home Disney night really helped to lift our spirits. I hope you are staying safe and well.

Certainly trying. Shopping today was a bit nerve-wracking.

It certainly can be. Our local grocery store is only allowing 20 people at a time, has one way aisles, screens people at the door and is sanitizing everything in sight. Are you wearing a non medical mask for shopping yet? That is being recommended here in Ontario.

Sorry to hear that, but... yeah. I have a feeling it won't be open any time soon, too.

I agree. Even inter provincial travel is dicey. PEI is not allowing any out of province cottage owners to arrive until the end of May at the earliest. I don't know what that means for me getting to my cottage this summer and seeing my parents.

mmmmm…. I think I need to do this!

It is such a great and easy recipe and it was absolutely amazing!

You guys look terrific!

Aww, thanks!

 

[Tracy161]

No need for sleep at Disney, right???

Right!

I feel so badly for your sister ........that is really challenging. Like you, I hope things will resolve sooner than later. I have a trip scheduled with Jack (my oldest son) in early July and I really don't know if we will be able to go or not. Please take good care of yourself.

Thank you! I think we've all realized that it's time to accept how the next few months will go, as hard as that will be. I see you cancelled your July trip, so it sounds like you're in the same mindset we are

In happy news, I did manage to snag a 1 bedroom villa at Boulder Ridge Villas for December. I loved Christmas so much last year and Bill is going to come down as well, so that is something nice to plan and dream about.

YAY!!! That really is something to look forward to!

We even dressed up for the occasion and listened to Polynesian resort loop music to set the mood. It really helped to cheer us up a bit.

How lovely! You looked great! As did the food

 

[amazingact21]

What a fun themed evening! I love that you dressed for the occasion and played the Polynesian resort music in the background.
My SIL sent me that bread pudding recipe and it looked like a lot of work! Kudos to you for pulling the dessert off. Sounds like it was a really fun evening.

Google classroom with kindergarteners...Landon's in first and uses that same platform. It was a bit of a learning curve for his poor teacher. Thank goodness she figured out how to mute the students' microphones early on!

 

[pkondz]

It certainly can be. Our local grocery store is only allowing 20 people at a time, has one way aisles, screens people at the door and is sanitizing everything in sight. Are you wearing a non medical mask for shopping yet? That is being recommended here in Ontario.

I went to Costco yesterday and stood in line for over an hour.
Sobey's was next and stood in line outside for about 5-10 minutes. Then, finally, Superstore. Luckily, by then there was no line, but you could see where it was set up for people.
Fun day.
No masks required yet, but of course I do see some wearing them. Hmmm... maybe 5%?

I agree. Even inter provincial travel is dicey. PEI is not allowing any out of province cottage owners to arrive until the end of May at the earliest. I don't know what that means for me getting to my cottage this summer and seeing my parents.

Hadn't heard about that. Sorry to hear that.

 

[luvpoohandcompany]

Love your themed dinner. You both look fab in your photo. Glad you got a little fix disney at home. Stay safe and take care of yourselves

 

[KathyM2]

The twins started their grade 12 coursework yesterday and I started back with my kindergarten students in our Google classroom.

Wow, I can't imagine kindergarten on Google classroom...hats off to you!!!

I made a modified Ohana dinner with honey coriander chicken drumsticks, steak skewers, noodles, Lapu Lapus and Ohana bread pudding! We even dressed up for the occasion and listened to Polynesian resort loop music to set the mood.

I love this!!! Everything looked so good!! Way to go on bringing some of the magic home!

 

[suse66]

I went to Costco yesterday and stood in line for over an hour.
Sobey's was next and stood in line outside for about 5-10 minutes. Then, finally, Superstore. Luckily, by then there was no line, but you could see where it was set up for people.
Fun day.

Oh my goodness! That is an intense day. I am mostly shopping at our small local grocery store and try to go as early as possible. Today I had my google classroom until 11, then went over about 11:20 and it was way too busy for my comfort.

Hadn't heard about that. Sorry to hear that.

It might relax in the next few months but I am not feeling hopeful. So glad I went to see my parents in February.

Love your themed dinner. You both look fab in your photo. Glad you got a little fix disney at home. Stay safe and take care of yourselves

Thank you so much! It was fun and helped to lift our spirits a bit. I hope you are safe and well. My cousin is in Cork and she tells me the situation is being handled well in Ireland.

Wow, I can't imagine kindergarten on Google classroom...hats off to you!!!

It's strictly posting activities and responding as of now. No direct video meets until the school board figures out potential privacy issues with that. They are being very cautious.

I love this!!! Everything looked so good!! Way to go on bringing some of the magic home!

Thank you so much! I figured we all need a little magic in our lives about now.