Day: March 26, 2009

This is our first full day here, and Jim has been on the phone since early this morning to see what park we’re going to and what we’re doing.  I’m up early, because that’s just how my internal clock works, but the kids are tired and sleeping.  That’s a good thing. 

I heard from Brett this morning, and the girls will be delighted to know that they are going to get to spend some part of their weekend with Uncle Brett!  He is one of their favorite people, and he is Granuaile’s Godfather, so they can’t wait to spend some time with him.  The plan is up in the air a bit, but we’ll be in touch over the weekend to decide where we’re going and what we’re doing.

I was able to log on this morning and answer some questions for the Disney Moms Panel www.disneyworldmoms.com .  I love this job, and worried that I may not get my 15 questions in this week.  Thank goodness for the late sleeping children!

Russell is taking me to the airport today to pick up a rental car so I can get around this place!  I’m not sure what to expect when I get to the airport – but I’m pleasantly surprised with a comfortable and roomy Hyundai Santa Fe – and it has satellite radio!  Gotta love that!

On the way back to the house, I stop to get my Starbucks fix for the day.   And no, this isn’t a Poinciana Starbucks cup – this one is file footage from my friend Sandi at my Cherry Hill Starbucks.

The rest of the day is spent really just relaxing, and it’s so nice!  It’s warm and wonderful here, and I am wearing shorts – YAY!  The kids are enjoying the time with Grandmom and Pop-Pop, and it’s so good for them to have this opportunity!  Living so far away, they don’t get to spend too much time together.

Night comes fairly quickly, and everyone gets showered and sent to bed early.  The plan for tomorrow is to be up and out and at Disney’s Hollywood Studios first thing!

So the Facebook invitation came in from Deb Wills, the genius behind www.allears.net , for a Meet and Greet at Animal Kingdom.  The Meet – on March 15th – happens to be the day before my oldest daughter arrives at Disney World for her senior trip; the week that my brother-in-law, just back from Iraq, is also in Florida; and two weeks before my annual passes expire.  Can you feel the alignment of the stars here?  But wait, there’s more!  If I can talk my husband into springing for this trip, there’s a chance I’ll get to catch up with a couple of the other Moms from the Walt Disney World Moms Panel – three of whom will be in the vicinity around the same time I will be there!  This, ladies and gentlemen, is what they call kismet!

The decision is made that Granuaile and I will head down to Florida, stay with Jim’s parents, rent a car, and enjoy a few days in the theme parks, maybe take a trip down to South Florida, and attend the Meet and Greet.  I start to feel really and truly guilty about leaving Eilis at home, even though I know she shouldn’t miss school.  But with Brighid heading down on her class trip, and Granuaile and I now going down there, I can’t help but feel terrible. 

The night before we are supposed to leave, Jim logs on to US Airways and finds that the cost of airfare is the same as it was for Granuaile and I if he adds a ticket for Eilis.  So guess what? 

  She’s going with me!!  This is her replicating the excited face she had when she learned she was going 🙂

The flight down was uneventful, but it took forever to get started!  The plane sat on the runway for about an hour before we took off, because apparently, our flight crew was coming from a flight that had come in late.  I’m feeling really badly now, because my in-laws have offered to pick me up so I don’t have to deal with the kids and the luggage by myself, and now our flight is getting in much later than expected, which means instead of being home to their house around 9, it’s going to be closer to 11 or later. 

We finally get there, and the kids pretty much go right to bed.  They are excited about seeing Grandmom and Pop-Pop, but sleepy too.  The plan for tomorrow – sleep in!