If you’re wondering how I paid for Disney World while being unemployed, this is how: I Heart CVS

My sis-in-law Lindsay is a fellow Coupon Cutter… the other day she asked me if someone could be cheap and classy at the same time. 

My reply: no one has to know I paid fitty cent for my class!!!!

Yep, that’s right… we went to Disney World last week suckers!!!!  ha ha!  Let me tell you the WHOLE story:

I’ve been obsessed with, researching, dreaming about, talking about, threatening and bribing Denton, and DYING the last 6 months about going to Disney World.  Well, Denton is an extreme homebody (and homeboy) and said maybe in 5 years.  Yeah right. Well last Monday was his last day of work – Circuit City went belly-up and Denton and the whole company were laid off.  At 2pm that afternoon I was talking w/my in-laws about DW and how we’d never be able to go now that we’re unemployed.  And by 3pm, I had an epiphany, changed my mind, booked DW tickets, booked the hotel and when Denton walked in the door said, “WE’RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!”  Well, needless to say he was very salt-licker about it.

So for the next 5 hours, I gave Denton his space while the kids and I went to Costco for “FHE” and got food for the trip.  I gassed up the car, packed all our suitcases, sent out a million emails, and the next morning we were off by 7am!  Denton finally came around, but really I gave him no choice.  And it was AWESOME!!!  We had such a great time, I’ll never regret that we went.  Although I promised Denton I would never do a surprise trip again, he doesn’t like it.  (we’ll see) 

Day One:  Magic Kingdom 

Leo, Fischer, and I spent 8 hours at Magic Kingdom.  It was the coldest day in Florida in the past 20 years – but we had lived in Ohio so it was nothing to us.  The lines were short so we went on a ton of rides.  Leo’s favorite ride was Goofy’s Barnstormer – she sat in the very front car by herself and had her arms up the whole time!   We went on the Speedway and both the kids got a chance to drive the cars – I thought I was gonna puke cuz they hit every single bump.  Fischer put his head down the whole time we were on the Haunted Mansion but at least he went on the ride, and no nightmares!!!  We went to Mickey and Minnie’s house, Winnie the Pooh ride, Mad Hatter’s Tea Cups, Peter Pan, Small World and Fischer even went on Thunder Mountain!!  My kids are very brave, I was scared on some of the rides. 

Day 2:  Magic Kingdom w/Denton and Rocky 

We went back the next day w/D & R cuz there was still a ton left to do.  (Remember, Denton has the soul of a grandpa so he only wanted to go to DW one day.)  He took the kids on lots of rides and said it was fun remembering when he went as a little kid.  Rocky loved all the rides and didn’t even get scared on Pirates of the Caribbean.  We hit the Aladdin ride, saw a couple shows, had pics with characters (Fisch was scared of Captain Hook), Swiss Fam Robinson, Thunder Mountain with Dad, and a ton more.  Denton, Leo and Fisch even watched the closing parade while I got the car.  Our feet were really tired by the end of Day 2 so we all went in the hot tub when we got back to the hotel — aaaaaahhhh!!  nice.   

Day 3:  Animal Kingdom

You would think that the Safari ride at DW Animal Kingdom would be just like going to the zoo, but it was SO MUCH better then that! Plus, it’s an Animal Reservation that’s larger then the Magic Kingdom, good cause. The animals were so close – they could’ve eaten Fischer! The kids loved it and their eyes were like “deer in headlights” the whole time. We saw the Nemo Stage Show which was really cool – the actors did a great job with the “Nemo” puppets. Then, off to Dinosaur Land, Fischer was hyperventilating from sheer joy!!! So we went on the main Dinosaur Land ride which takes you back in time to when the dinos were alive… OK, I had NO idea how scary it would be! The kids were FREAKING out and Leo kept yelling, “Let’s get out of here!” I was so scared but laughing so hard cuz the kids were screaming! In fact, Fischer told everyone at church, “I was freaking out on the dinosaur ride!” Good memories. We played at the HUGE Dinosaur play place and dug for fossils, rode tube slides, took the train to the animal reservation, and said goodbye to DW after that day was over.

I’m SO glad our family could take this trip. No matter what happens in the future with Denton’s career, I’ll never regret it. I highly recommend you going, even if your husbands don’t want to. :)

Leo passed off the 13th Article of Faith on Sunday.  She’s been working hard all year–actually, more like since July, and really, it’s not very hard for her. She just has a knack for memorizing.  She and I usually work on them at night when she’s going to bed, and it only takes a few nights for each.  The best part is that she gets up in primary on her own and recites them loud and clear (and sometimes fast).

She got $13 to celebrate her accomplishment–she gets to pick anywhere she wants to go to celebrate (and I’m rooting for Chipotle).  Tonight she told me she wished we could go to Antarctica, but she’s afraid of polar bears.

Our family took the day off from normal life today.  We all ditched our responsibilities and spent the day together, we really needed it.  Especially today. Everyone slept in a little bit then we got up and had breakfast at Cracker Barrel.  After that Leo and I spent three hours doing Christmas shopping.  If I had done it w/the two boys in tow, it would have taken me three days.  Both Fischer and Leo earned money to get each other and Rocky Christmas presents, so Leo picked out one for Fischer today and will get Rocky’s later.  Fischer bought his presents the other day and even paid for them himself to the cashier, it was really cute.  They can’t wait to wrap them.

Later on I spent time at home w/the kids while Denton did some Christmas shopping.  It was a nice, calm day, exactly what we needed.  I think it’s worth getting away from it all for one day just to be together.  It’s my all-time favorite thing to do. 

A couple weeks ago, Leo and I had a girl’s night and saw Disney on Ice!  Due to Thanksgiving and my camera being on the fritz, I’m just now getting these pics up.  Anyways, I bought the tickets back in July and I think I’ve been WAY more excited for this then Leo. 

My favorite part of the night was just watching Leo, she’s hilarious.  We went to dinner before hand, and when her platter of Grande Nachos came out, her eyes were as big as the platter.  I laughed while she downed the whole plate and talked about Kindergarten drama.  Then at the show when the characters came out, leo’s eyes about popped out of her head!  That look was worth it all!  I actually got a little emotional watching her excitement (I’m old and turning into my mom) cuz I’ve been waiting 5 1/2 years to be able to do something like this with my daughter.  So while I give Disney on Ice about a B+ having that experience w/Leo was awesome.  Now if I can just convince Denton to let us see Disney WORLD! 

Thanksgiving morning I fly out to Portland BY MYSELF for a couple days for my brother’s wedding.  I’ll miss Denton and the kids, but really I’m SO excited to be w/my extended family, I rarely get to see them!  Also, it’ll be great being in the temple with them all, and to have Thanksgiving dinner at Hometown Buffet. :)

Here’s what I’m thankful for:
1.  The gospel
2.  My family
3.  My friends 

And now for the not-so important stuff, but still important:
-tampons
-refrigeration
-email
-Spanks/Assets
-hair dye
-acne face wash
-Costco
-coupons
-books
-cheeseburgers
-dishwasher
-presents
-mascara
-Tylenol
-herbs
-toothpaste
-deodorant
-disposable diapers
-kleenex
-bleach
-the four seasons
-chocolate
-pictures
-TV
-shampoo, conditioner, hair gel
-laughing
-donuts
-snail mail
-blankets
-hot tubs
-calculators
-the garbage man
-vitamins
-music and dancing
and a million more things.  happy thanksgiving.  

Ok, so I went to the premier of Twilight last night… let me just say that I didn’t breathe through the whole movie!!  I didn’t even eat the chocolate bar I had stashed in my purse – that just shows how enthralled I was.  I wasn’t sure about Edward when I saw the trailers but seriously…. I’m hyperventilating right now just thinking about it.  I would say more, but my mom reads my blog.  And just know that I think Denton is the hottest thing, but Edward….  oh   my    gosh.    My friends had to help me walk out of the theater, I’m not joking.  Go see it, you’ll hyperventilate too.

So Leo woke up last Saturday morning puking! Arrgh!!! I banished her to her room so no one else would get sick. Sadly, since then both Rocky and I have said our prayers to the porcelain Gods, and Denton is on the verge. Nonetheless, we hooked Leo up w/the portable DVD player to watch in her room. So what does she do???? Gets my Pilates DVD (haven’t used it in years!), puts on her leotard, and does pilates in her room. Here are some before and after shots: (Pilates really works!)