PTR: The Dunning Family's Triumphant Return to the World - Page 34 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
We go on to the joy and through the tears
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Moving on with the current of the years.
We go on
Moving forward now as one
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Ever on with each rising sun.
To a new day, we go on.
It's time to move on and move forward.
PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
But eventually, we must move on and move forward. It is the right thing to do.
So we are retiring this newsletter, as we simply cannot keep up with it. Many thanks to Mouse Fan Travel who supported it all these years, to All Ears and MousePlanet who helped us with news, to our many article contributors, and -- most importantly -- to Sara Varney who edited our newsletter so wonderfully for years and years.
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If you miss us, you can still find some of us online. Sara started a new blog at DisneyParkPrincess.com -- I strongly urge you to visit and get on her mailing list. She IS the Disney park princess and knows Disney backward and forward. And I am blogging as well at JenniferMaker.com, which is a little craft blog I started a couple of years ago to make ends meet. You can see and hear me in my craft show at https://www.youtube.com/c/jennifermaker . Many PassPorter readers and fans are on Facebook, in groups they formed like the PassPorter Trip Reports and PassPorter Crafting Challenge (if you join, just let them know you read about it in the newsletter). And some of our most devoted community members started a forum of their own at Pixie Dust Lane and all are invited over.
So we encourage you to stay in touch with us and your fellow community members wherever works best for you!
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Just catching up here, as I've been off of the boards for a bit. for you and David through this. I'm glad you aren't canceling your trip. Sometimes it's necessary. I've had a situation as well that made me realize how much we need this too! As far as your FIL - great that he's coming around. But don't put too much stock in what others think - especially if he doesn't really care and the relationship is "strained". You don't need that kind of stress in addition to everything. You know what's right and that's all that matters. Hugs, Sweetie! <3
BTW - Bri did a great job on the Mousekeeping envelopes!
Sorry to hear about David losing his job and hope he finds one soon! Glad you FIL supports you this time with your vacation!
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October 6, 2017-Enjoying an amazing dinner at Victoria & Albert's with PP's Dot and Drew
My TR from my most recent trip is now underway. Includes: Universal Studios Florida, Disney World and Sea World Orlando Trifecta TR -Updated December 10th! TR is now COMPLETED!
Sorry to hear about David's job! DH is out of work right now and just had knee surgery, so will be out of work for the next 6 weeks. I can relate to your stress right now! I am glad you decided not to cancel your vacation.
I so happy for you all that you are still taking this vacation! for this bad thing quickly become a good thing! Refresh my memory on when you will be at WDW. Luke and I are just 54 days out so we've got to be close to your trip.
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So glad you got the validation you needed from your FIL, and that you're still taking this trip. You deserve to have some fun amid all the stress.
I am happy with our decision!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coop
Just catching up here, as I've been off of the boards for a bit. for you and David through this. I'm glad you aren't canceling your trip. Sometimes it's necessary. I've had a situation as well that made me realize how much we need this too! As far as your FIL - great that he's coming around. But don't put too much stock in what others think - especially if he doesn't really care and the relationship is "strained". You don't need that kind of stress in addition to everything. You know what's right and that's all that matters. Hugs, Sweetie! <3
BTW - Bri did a great job on the Mousekeeping envelopes!
Thank you, Tracy! I told Briana you thought she did a good job, and she said "Who is Tracy?" I told her that when I was pregnant with her, we met you in Disney World and you gave her a present, and showed her a picture of her wearing her onesie. She announced, "I like Tracy. She is nice. AND she thinks I did a good job, so she is smart."
Quote:
Originally Posted by cattailmarsh
I agree - everything happens for a reason so stay strong and take help if offered. Positivity is a strong thing!
Thank you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SuperDave
Sorry to hear about David losing his job and hope he finds one soon! Glad you FIL supports you this time with your vacation!
Thanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by lexiemom
Sorry to hear about David's job! DH is out of work right now and just had knee surgery, so will be out of work for the next 6 weeks. I can relate to your stress right now! I am glad you decided not to cancel your vacation.
that David can quickly find a new and better job!
Thank you! He is taking a week or two to breathe and then he said he will start filling out applications.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
I so happy for you all that you are still taking this vacation! for this bad thing quickly become a good thing! Refresh my memory on when you will be at WDW. Luke and I are just 54 days out so we've got to be close to your trip.
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We are arriving September 24th (our anniversary!) and leaving October 2nd.
Quote:
Originally Posted by MikeL
Jessie So happy to read that you folks are still going . If any family needs an extra dose of Pixie Dust yours does.
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It's nice to get that validation from the one person you thought would disagree with you talking your vacation. I probably would have broken down and cried too! After everything you've been through, you deserve to get away and have fun!!
I was hoping we'd have some overlap of days. We arrive late afternoon September 29 and leave early October 9. It would be wonderful if we could meet up for just a bit.
Been off the boards for months and still trying to catch up, but wanted to say I'm glad you still get to go! Will look forward to following along again!
Your dates are very close to ours...22-30 Sept! Perhaps we will cross paths along the way!
That would be fun!
Quote:
Originally Posted by KMB733
It's nice to get that validation from the one person you thought would disagree with you talking your vacation. I probably would have broken down and cried too! After everything you've been through, you deserve to get away and have fun!!
Thank you! We are very much looking forward to this trip...more so than any trip in the past, I think.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Cam22
I was hoping we'd have some overlap of days. We arrive late afternoon September 29 and leave early October 9. It would be wonderful if we could meet up for just a bit.
That would be fabulous!
Quote:
Originally Posted by SharonK0527
So happy to hear you're still going. It sounds like you have so much of the trip already paid for, it would be such a shame not to go.
Continued for David in his job search!
Thank you so much!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Thank you!
Quote:
Originally Posted by LegoMom
Been off the boards for months and still trying to catch up, but wanted to say I'm glad you still get to go! Will look forward to following along again!
Home life is going pretty well, we'll get that stuff out of the way before jumping into Disney. I was a little worried David would spiral after getting laid off, but he's jumped right into applying places, and seems pretty stable at the moment. We made sure to refill all his prescriptions before we lost our insurance, and I've gotten us all covered through the state until he gets another job, so there will be no gap in his prescriptions causing mayhem in our lives, which is nice. And my midwife is covered, too, so prenatal/birth/postnatal care is all taken care of as well, and the kids will get their well-child checks on time. (Look at me, I'm Super Mom, LOL.)
Now...on to Disney!
Where to begin?
I have completed my touring plans and the travel book I always make before trips, complete this time with the urgent care clinics phone numbers as well as two area hospitals with maternity wards, just in case the unthinkable happens and I go into labor early or something. (Wow, run on sentence, anyone?) I figure better to be over-prepared for the worst possible scenario than not prepared and panicked if something does happen.
I've emailed all my clients to let them know I will be unavailable while out of town. It feels so odd to be in charge of my own schedule this go-round instead of having to get permission to go on vacation. Same with David, since he's laid off. And AJ, too. Good grief. Hopefully everyone has a job by then, but if not...I am strangely, technically, the only employed person in our group. Life is weird sometimes.
Anyway, my list of clients is growing steadily longer, and my business is chugging along nicely. Word of mouth is a wondrous thing for growing a small business like mine...free advertising! I'm still not raking in the dough, by any means, but steady clients means steady income, even if it is negligible at the moment, and that feels pretty good. I'm my own boss. Who knew I was capable of running my own business?? I guess I need to stop underestimating my capabilities.
Goodness. This is turning into more of a blog than an update. Sorry. I'll try to focus. It's nearly three in the morning and I couldn't sleep, so I decided to write an update. Silly decision.
Back to Disney again...
I bought the girls a bunch of matching shirts from Target the other day. A lot of them were on sale or on clearance since it is back to school time, so I got some pretty good deals. I actually went in looking for a second swimsuit for Briana, but had no luck there, so I may order one online after David gets his severance check on Friday. I was going to try to post pictures, but they're all on my phone and I'm too tired to resize them at the moment, so I'll try to post pictures tomorrow!
My aunt bought the girls new shoes, and I bought them sandals (on clearance at Target for $1.58!!!), so they're all set on footwear. I need to buy David new shoes and some sandals on Friday, and then everyone will be all set for shoes.
We also need to get David a couple pairs of shorts, because he only has one pair right now, and that just won't work down in Florida.
I'm going to get my hair cut next week sometime too...It is currently down to my waist, and while I love it and think it's beautiful (don't mind me, sounding vain and tooting my own horn, lol), I do not want to go down to Florida with all of this heavy hair weighing me down. Plus, I haven't actually gotten a hair cut since...before I got pregnant with Chelsea. So I think it's time. Geez...how long has it been...two years? maybe more. I can't remember. David says he'll wait until a week or so before we leave to get his cut. His head currently resembles a birds nest. Lots of brown curls. I LOVE it a little longer like that, but he is very much a short hair kind of guy.
Let's see, what else do I have to share that is Disney related?
I am going to set up the girl's new Kindle's and load them up with some games and movies in the next few days so that I am not rushing to figure it all out the week before we leave. David's dad gave him a new tablet as well, so he wants to get that all loaded up with some books before we go. I've got my new(ish) Kindle that I got back in February, and I'm quite sure I won't be able to look at it at all on the plane. Maybe at night after the girls are (hopefully) sleeping, I'll be able to read in bed for a bit before dozing off.
We have put together our Garden Grocer order, and AJ is giving us his portion of the cash for that on Wednesday so that we can put the order through on Friday.
AJ asked for a packing list. I laughed. He asked what was funny. I showed him my six page long typed packing list for David and I and the girls, separated into carry on bags and checked luggage, based on what we would need on the plane and when we arrived, including an inventory for the diaper bag.
He looked at in with wide eyes...and then said "Can mine be a bit simpler than that?"
So I scribbled out a short list for him on a piece of notebook paper, basically giving him a general idea of what to pack and trusting him to remember soap and deodorant. I did remind him to bring sunscreen, because I am a mom, and I can't help myself. He looked at his list, folded it, put it in his pocket, and said "Thanks...I knew you must be just a little bit crazy, but that packing list takes the cake." I asked if he wanted to see my touring plans. He politely declined. Type A Planner FOR THE WIN! (He did say he's glad I've got everything all planned out. He said "I'm all for traveling with people like you...then all I have to do is SHOW UP.")
Briana is SO excited for this trip. She points out every airplane in the sky and asks if it's our plane. And she is constantly asking to look at pictures and videos of Disney World and the hotel. She will be in the middle of doing something and suddenly stop, look at me, and ask "Can we bring my blankie to Disney World? What about my books? Are we bringing my bed? Where will I sleep? Do we really get to go INSIDE the castle?" She asks almost every night if it's almost Disney Time. This kid is definitely my daughter.
Chelsea of course, being one, is indifferent.
I've been having these crazy dreams about leaving for Disney World where we forget all our bags or get hung up at security or miss our flights. I am SO anxious about flying with both the kids, but my sister-in-law, Amy, reminded me that I won't be by myself, and we will in fact, have an extra pair of hands. And, to make me smile, she said "Everybody hates going through security. But at least they have a family line so no one will hate you." Thanks, Amy. Very helpful.
Anyway, this update is getting very long and I feel like I'm jabbering at all of you. Knowing me, I'll wake up in the morning and look over what I've written at 3AM and be like "OH NO! Why did I subject them to all of that pointless nonsense?!" But at least I can blame pregnancy insomnia this time, yes? I am excused because I am sleep deprived, and I get infinitely weird when I am sleep deprived.
Talk to all of you soon...hopefully when I am more awake!
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Glad you FIL supports you this time with your vacation! 
I am happy with our decision! 
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Life is weird sometimes. 
Lots of brown curls. I LOVE it a little longer like that, but he is very much a short hair kind of guy. 
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