After a couple of hectic work days (one of the bosses is heading to Myrtle Beach for two weeks in the near future, so the push is on to get everything done ahead so he can relax without thinking about the office), its high time for a trip planning update. Today is exciting because we've finally hit "the 20's"!
The biggest.....and most exciting......news on the trip planning front is that one of the angels in our lives has surprised us with the Superstar Character Breakfast on our third Universal park day (Friday, April 29th). Yes, the infinite blessings that have been bestowed on us for this vacation have continued yet again, and my heart is so full of gratitude for the kindness and generosity that we have been shown
. We all have been working very hard to pay forward this unbelievable thoughtfulness in our everyday lives, but even I have to admit at this stage that I can't imagine we will EVER be able to repay this level of generosity. We are truly touched and humbled beyond measure, and I can only hope the person who has made this possible for us truly can feel how appreciative we all are.
Knowing that you all are well aware of how much I love the minions, I know you will all appreciate my excitement for this event. I could hardly sleep the night we got the news
. Yes, I freely admit that I am 42 going on 5.
I might be too excited that day to even eat!!!
With that most recent add-on now booked and on the itinerary, getting matching Minion shirts for that park day is an absolute MUST. A good friend and fellow Diser was awesome in pointing us in the direction of Kmart for shirts (even ones in Big & Tall sizes to fit my big Steve!), and as an added bonus....they are all on half price right now! Sunshine and I picked out which ones we wanted to order for everyone (the guys didn't care
, I can imagine that shocks you all!) so I will put that through tomorrow since its the last day for the sale pricing. I had called the Buffalo Kmart to see if they would hold the order for us until April 23rd if we do the ship-to-store option (versus shipping it to our park and fly hotel), but they said they would only keep it 7 days before sending the items back to the warehouse. So, shipping to the Days Hotel it will be, and I will just have to show them my appreciation for their patience in keeping it for us for such a long stretch once we arrived. Perhaps I will bring them some coffee and donuts to enjoy, unless I can come up with a better thank-you plan between now and then. Each shirt will only be $9.99 each, so if Jake decides he wants to relegate his to a pyjama top after the trip, there's no big loss.
Sunshine and I need a couple of new pairs of sunglasses for the trip, and thanks to
@pepperandchips , we discovered some really fun ones (for such a crazy low price....and on sale this week to boot!) at gojane.com . Placing that order is on my to-do list for the weekend as well. Its been so dreary and grey here all winter, good sunglasses for that Florida sunshine are essential
. Jake has his Oakleys and Steve just bought a new pair a month or so ago, so both the guys are well prepared in that area already.
My clothes dryer (which you may remember gave me grief a couple of weeks ago and required a repair) continues to give me some grief. A rather annoying squeak has returned that can't seem to be remedied despite Steve's best efforts. I am trying to determine now if I should fix it a second time or consider just buying a new one. I hate to have to purchase a whole new unit right before our trip yet I am struggling with the good sense in dumping more money into the old girl if she just isn't fixable. I am trying not to sweat the small stuff, though.....its just a dryer.
Especially after this week's snow and ice storm, I must admit I can't WAIT for the warm breezes, bright sun, and lush greenery of Orlando. While the next 29 days are sure to pass by pretty quickly, they cannot pass by soon enough for me!!
I hope you are all set to enjoy a blessed Easter weekend with family and loved ones. Its a quiet one here (Jake works day shift at the residential facility ttoday, Saturday and Sunday, while Steve works his last three night shifts all three days) but we will mark the holiday on Monday with a grand feast at my Mom's. My brother and his crew will be there too, so it should be a loud but fun time for all.
So far, I have managed to keep all chocolate and treats completely out of the house, though the temptation to indulge in some Easter goodies has been a real killer for our sweet tooths! I just picture what our Aquatica pictures will look like and that's all the motivation I need to skip the sugar and head to aqua fit. Nothing like envisioning swimsuit photos to keep the willpower firmly in place!
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. We all need to pay attention to those valuable lessons from the elders that we're still lucky enough to have in our lives.
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. I will be sure to take a ton of pictures and make note of all the little details so other people can know exactly what to expect 
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. After squeaking through two loads yesterday and firmly convincing me that something needed to be done (whether that "something" was a repair or a replacement being the big question)....today, it was fine. I have no explanation. 
) I hope that you are able to find a nice new washer to replace your oldie.....I hear ya on the hand wringing, that would be my line in the sand too. 
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), new socks, etc. I don't know why, but nothing says vacation like all new undergarments 
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. Which reminds me, I'd better see if Sunshine needs a few new underthings too....I wouldn't want her to feel left out of our bizarre traditions 
