** Funny note ***

Missy and I were discussing this trip. And calling it 'DW' so the boys wouldn't know what we were talking about.

We were sitting in the parking lot waiting for everyone to get buckled in ...

Ethan (the 5 yr old) came to me and said, "Nana, I don't know what your talking about...but I think we should just GO. It sounds like it would be fun!"
ROTFL!!! We never mentioned Mickey or any characters and anything about rides. Just the possibility of going to 'DW' and that we would have to decide if they were going to drive for 2 days (3 for me) to get there or fly. The things little ones say ... 

Only 103 days till the Grandson's Disney Trip ... (that's what I'm calling it) 
  1.) Vacation time was granted to my son-n-law...
  2.) We have decided that driving would be too stressful for them.            So I am looking at flying them into Orlando. 
  3.) learned that if a child is under 2 yrs. they can fly free            (Johnathan is already 2, so not free ticket for him)
  4.)  learned that if a child is under 3 yrs. they get into Disney World free ... and eat at the sit down diners free (so no sharing food with brother this time) express meals you will have to pay. 

I have added up the cost of eating at Disney vs. buying the meal plan, or eating some meals there and others from our own pantry of food items. 

So I've been surfing the web for ideas. I noticed that you can have groceries delivered to your hotel with GardenGrocer.com . I am making a list of "favorites" that the boys will like eating for snacks and some drink items. This will save me in the long run and be healthier for them. I have saved fruits, yogurts, and organic bars, bottled water and a couple juice boxes, milk and cereal. Most snacks at Disney are listed between $4-$6 each, and drinks are about the same. Breakfast can set you back from $15-$30 for children and $30-$45 for adults...With 5 people that can really add up. 

I still want this to be a trip these two little guys will never forget. 


My first DIY project for the trip = 
I am making lanyards for the boys: 

These letters were only $.53 (that's cents) each ... 

And as you can see the Marvel Comics (also a Disney Company) lanyard were only $1.00 each 

The Glow in the dark paint was just over $2.00 for this bottle. 

I got all of it at Walmart.  

My thought ... Paint the letters with the glow paint, making it fun for the boys to see if it really glows at night. Then painting the back a solid color (like green or brown) and printing mommy and daddy's cell phone numbers on it, just in case! 

The boys can also use them to put their trader pins on during their vacation ... 

ALMOST FINISHED ... 

Added Mommy and Daddy's cell phone numbers

They turned out kind of neat

I cleaned up the yellow paint on E's where it ran over the edge. Ant they are complete ... 

I am making plans without the Okay from Missy's husband. I figure, if he can't get the time off - I'm taking the boys anyway. After all, I raised 4 kiddo's, how hard can it be to keep up with 2 little boys?


I was able to buy 2 Buzz Lightyear's that light up on Ebay. One was  $10.85 and the second was $4.99 ... this is a great deal to me!  

Next I found a Disney Autograph Book, not that I couldn't have made one. And I probably would have made it differently than this one, but I couldn't resist.

 and it was only $6.35, I still might make one or a keepsake booklet for Ethan. I can add these autographs and place a picture of him with that character on each page.  

This last item usually gets a lot of praise and a lot of put-downs. But you don't know my grandson Johnathan. He has escaped when there were 4 adults watching him. POOF !!! He was gone. 

NOT kidding! This little tiger is quick and I'd much rather be safe than sorry any day!

So I got him this...

And believe me ... his life, safety and my sanity is worth every penny of that $12.00 (and then some!) I just hope he will wear it. 

Making the Disney Plans ... I can't sleep ... I'm already tooooo excited!

Candy looks like she's thinking ... Oh, no! I'm tired just thinking about it!

1.) Got a date {first part of March 2017} subject to change ...

2.) Look for airline tickets. I made a excel spread sheet to compare prices and layovers. I don't want Missy to be stuck in an airport with 2 little one's that are bored out of their minds. And I don't want the layover to be at Dallas...nuf said!

3.) Compare day's of the week for the lowest airfare ... Tuesday's and Wednesdays seem best and that works with days I've chosen.

4.) Coordinate my flight with theirs, maybe I can fly with them the last part of the way. It will allow me to see their little faces when we get there, too!

5.) Disney Resort reservations ... turned out to be the easiest part so far! I know the tickets can be purchased by other groups, but I want to make sure I don't have any hassles when I get there. And Disney allows you to pay $200 up front, and make payments on the balance (as long as its paid in full 30 days before your arrival date).

6.) choose the number of day passes into Disney Parks...let's see...I wont be going into the parks on the Sabbath, we don't want to go on the day we arrive or the day we are going to be leaving (couldn't get the flights out late enough). So 5 day passes should do for us. And we shouldn't need the Hopper passes.

7.) I had already decided against buying the dinner packages, but I do want the memories maker. I got this last time I went in 2010. This time it will be more special with my grandson's pictures.

8.) add the transportation from the airport to Disney ... 

DONE!

Missy agreed to let me take her family to Disney World ...

What to do first...My list of things to do started with coordinating a date that will work for me and Missy's family. Her husband has to turn in a vacation request and then we will wait to see if he get's it.

We're looking at March 1-8, 2017 Fingers crossed!

That's only a little over 3 months .... 

I decided to ask Missy about a Disney trip again. I really want to go ... more than that I want to take my grandson's. I only wish I had been able to take my kids when they were little. But most of our trips were to Branson's Silver Dollar City. 
Disney World is still my favorite trip so far. And I hope to share it with these two boys. 

So, I asked her if she had given the trip idea any more thought? She said she still didn't want to go without her husband. She didn't want him to miss out on the expressions and excitement the boys would experience. (He missed out on a lot of his daughters life when she was little) ... So I understand that. And I Gave IN... yes Nana is a old softy!

It's my grandson's birthday. He's 5 now and is in Pre-K

.

Ethan's first day of Pre-K

Forcing that smile ... LOL

 and he is so silly.









My daughter decided to keep track of the pictures she takes with the chalk board sign. Thought that was a really good idea! 



My other grandson is still 2 ... he is a complete opposite of Ethan.

 Johnathan likes chocolate pudding,


Ethan likes yogurt cups.

Missy said Ethan just had to show Nana how he could hold his yogurt cup without touching it... 

I had an idea ... something I've wanted to do for a long time. I want to take my grand kids to Disney.

I went about 6 years ago and it was the best vacation I've ever been on. It was all adults, which at first I thought would be kind of strange. But it wasn't. It was more fun than you can even imagine ... 

I know that I can't handle both the boys by myself. I think my daughter should come along. We can each take one of the boys in hand and make the trip a lot easier. (Nana isn't getting any younger you know)

I mention it to her ... at first she was kind of stand offish ... then she decided YEA! We started co-coordinating our dates and came up with a plan. We'd be going June 7-14, 2016. 

But the very next day she called and declined. She's turning down an all expense paid trip to Disney for both the boys (oh, and she gets to go too) Are you kidding? Who does that? 

She said she wouldn't go if her husband couldn't go. And he didn't have time to ask for that week off from work. (too short of notice) 

OKay ... was all I could say. I was offering to pay for her and the boys and myself. But if she doesn't want to go I cant force her.