CT Passporter Meet! A group effort!-Trip Report!
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loobyoxlip · 06-13-2005, 08:19 AM

Guess what? I'm FINALLY home. It was a ridiculous trip home - so bad that I actually had to laugh instead of cry

Oh, well. We've been home 8 hours now

But I'm glad I came; I had a fabulous time. It was wonderful to meet those I hadn't met and see those that I have already met again. And I definitely want to reiterate that all the kids were fabulous. I was so impressed with the wonderful kids there. We had a nice afternoon after the meet, too. Sarah, Kylor and Jalen spent a good hour and a half in the hotel pool, then we went back to the mall for some dinner and then chatted WAY too long in the hotel room.

disneymom9092 · 06-13-2005, 08:26 AM

So sorry about your trip home Tina! Glad you made it safely! It was such a pleasure meeting you and the boys! What special young men they both are!

GoofyMom · 06-13-2005, 08:27 AM

I am loving everybody's pictures!!!

Belle* · 06-13-2005, 09:08 AM

Wow - I'm so sorry everyone had such rough trips home!

But I'm so glad everyone made the trip. It was such a blast seeing everyone. And ditto what everyone else has said - these kids were all incredible!

**Colexis Mom** · 06-13-2005, 12:26 PM

Oh no Tina

I was wondering how you made out! Still glad that you could make it! It was great to see you and the boys!

OffKilter_Lynn · 06-13-2005, 01:52 PM

Waaaaaa!

I was really trying to make it - I even emailed Sue to see about hitching a ride! But like the best-laid plans, it just wasn't in the cards

Glad everyone had a great time and Happy Birthday, Sara!

Sue: now I'm double-bummed... trivia and a convertible! (well, one-way anyway!)

DawnDenise · 06-13-2005, 01:57 PM

Great pictures everyone!!! Sounds like you had an absolute wonderful time!!!!

RobDVC · 06-13-2005, 02:34 PM

It looks like everyone had a swell time!

BostonTeaParty · 06-13-2005, 03:05 PM

Checking in to say Hi Gang!

Janine and I made it home with absolutely no traffic or weather problems, fortunately. Hopefully Marie will be chiming in soon to let us know how her trip home went. I know she mentioned something about "Bike Week" up in Loudon, NH. Something like a million bikers head up there every year and make a lot of noise.

Anyway, thanks to all who put this meet together. You did a wonderful job and we had a blast. I'll add my two cents about how great the kiddies did. They were having way too much fun to make a fuss.

It was great to reconnect with old friends and to meet up with new ones. I enjoyed meeting each and every one of you. You are all the best!

Looking forward to our next meet. Sue, Marie and I talked about bringing our husbands along. Seems they share a twisted sense of humor and would get along just fine.

For anyone doing the Passporter challenge, Marie did fantastic this weekend! What willpower! Especially considering we dined at Ruby Tuesday's Saturday evening and it may as well have been McDonalds. The menu listed the calories and fat content of everything, and the only thing that wasn't ridiculously fattening or loaded with calories or salt was a glass of water. Hmmm, come to think of it, I think even their water was fattening.

**chezp** · 06-13-2005, 04:17 PM

Thanks for posting your view of the meet Jeff - and awesome photos Dianne!

Sorry to hear about your journey home Tina.

**CRCrazy** · 06-13-2005, 05:59 PM

[ QUOTE ]
Hmmm, come to think of it, I think even their water was fattening.

[/ QUOTE ]

Love it Nancy!!!

Well - I'm finally back home, and home for a few minutes! My ride home went very well - no troubles at all. I stayed away from NH - I went up 91 ALL the way through Vermont - and didn't see a trooper, or a biker in the whole state (although there were a couple in MA). Got home just in time to take Jennie to her piano recital, then we went out for Chinese food for dinner, where I blew my being good in CT, and then off to the movies with Sarah to see Madagascar - maybe I was just too tired - but ick!

Anyway - here's my take on the meet - It was a BLAST!!! It was so great to meet all these Passporters that I've known online for so long - Dianne - you did an awesome job setting all this up with Sara, Deb and Marnie! I've never been to a meet that wasn't the best!

My drive down to CT did not go quite as smoothly - I started with less than a full tank, and my car only has a 10 gal tank, so it didn't last long. I almost stopped for fuel in W. Lebanon, NH - but Sarah wanted to wait a bit, and then - THERE WERE NO MORE EXITS! Vermont has some funky "No Billboards, No Signs" laws to beautify their highways, so when the highway info sign said Gas at the next exit - I took it. Turns out the gas was five miles down the road, so I turned around to go the way it was only a mile away - but there was a detour! Thankfully - we did manage to get some fuel, and we were on our way. We arrived at the Fairfield Inn around 10:45, and checked in, since I knew they were booked up. The guy said I could have a room now, on the 3rd floor, but I told him to check for 2 rooms together - I'd rather wait - so that we could be next to Tina and her boys! It worked - it was so much easier than Disney though - no calling and checking - he just issued keys with room numbers - and we were on our way. We took a quick buzz around the mall in my car to find the Macaroni Grill, and I bought another memory stick just in case (I had some recital pictures that I hadn't downloaded on this one, and forgot a spare) Got back to the hotel around 11:10, and who should be pulling in, but Nancy and Janine!!! Yay! We took a quick rest stop, then were on our way to the meet!

We decided to all pile into my little Vibe. Sarah was so excited to see Nancy and Janine again - we've done a few Boston Passporter meets, and they feel like family (as do you and the boys, Tina!) She piled right into the back seat (she usually kills for the front) right in the middle.

We're on our way!

We arrived at the Macaroni Grill to be greeted with a hug by this lovely thin blonde lady with a Passporter Badge - thanks Dianne! We felt so welcomed! Amy (Iamgrumpy) was also there with her badge, and we were fast friends almost immediately. She brought a bunch of pictures from her Flower & Garden trip - and we all had a great time looking through as everyone began arriving!

As you've heard - the Macaroni Grill people were awesome - they set us 2 big tables in the center of the room, and we filled them right up! I didn't take a ton of pictures, and the ones I took aren't great - but I'll share em!

I was sitting next to Bonnie, Sandy's college roomie. We discovered that it was quite the small world - she's very good friends with Sarah's kindergarten teacher, and she's been through Whitefield several times. Also - Sara (Belle) was supposed to be in the Whitefield area at the Mt. Washington Hotel, at a very exclusive wedding this weekend - she had begged off, as family and friends

were coming from all over the country to meet Ryan! Thanks Sara! Speaking of Ryan

He was just beautiful! What a sweet little boy! I did take a few pictures of the Passporter kids - here's Kylor, eating his favorite appetizer - Calamari - tentacles and all! He even got Sarah hooked!

I didn't take any other food pictures, although I'm kicking myself - I should have taken the Skinny Chicken's picture for all of the Challengers - this stuff was pretty good! Dianne and I were checking out all the possibilities - and this won out for both of us! Jeff's girls seemed to enjoy their food - what a nice family!

**CRCrazy** · 06-13-2005, 06:10 PM

Magic Mickey's daughter was a little shy - she and her son joined us for ice cream later, but her daughter was too cool to be seen - we've all been there at that age! She's just beautiful though!

Alexa and Colin were happily playing together at the other table - I wish I had more time to spend over there - I didn't get a chance to talk with the Passporters over there -

I'm still in shock at how well all these little ones did - Deb's little guy, Nick, had driven all the way down from Manchester, NH, and he charmed all of the ladies!

At this point - everyone's eaten there meal, and Sara decided it was time to play trivia - after all - with so many people meeting (18 Passporters plus family, I think!) - she had talked Jennifer into sending down some goodies to use as prizes! Thanks Jennifer! That was so nice of you.

Sue had also brought one of her Disney scrapbooks - it was so much fun to see everyone's special trip photos!

Sara tried to get everyone's attention to start the trivia game, but it was tough - we all do love to talk! Sarah started things off with the first answer - of course - it was totally wrong - but that didn't bother her!!

Because there were so many prizes, luggage tags, pins, pens, etc, they were given out not just for correct answers but for effort! I think everyone got a little something! Sarah chose a Passporter pen as her prize, and with the crayons on the table - we had EVERYONE sign the tablecloth - although I forgot to take a picture - anyone else???
She and Kylor and Jalen had a great time playing cards (52 pickup, it looked like!) and decorating the table. While Sara was trying to moderate the game, the waiters entered bearing a giant cake with candles alight. Much to Sara's surprise - it was hers!!

Of course, Ryan disagreed - he felt it most definitely should be his! Shawn tried to distract him - but he was a man who knew what he wanted! He is just too sweet!

Sara nicely shared, not just with Ryan, but with the whole gang! Nicely done Dianne and Sandy and everyone involved!

**CRCrazy** · 06-13-2005, 06:21 PM

Finally, the cake was gone, the coffee was finished, and sadly, it was time to settle the bill and move along. Everyone just paid what they owed, as well as putting some money in towards the tip - it went very smoothly - I have never seen a group check split this easily!

Then people started heading out - so we decided to go outside and take some group photos - before no one was left! We recruited Bonnie to take the shots - she did a great job - what a good sport! We found Sarah, Kylor and Jalen goofing on some benches, so that became our picture shot. Of course, as quickly as she would finish with one camera, someone else would find us, and hop in the pictures! I wish we had gotten a full group - but we did our best!

Marnie's van came around the corner, and she saw that we were taking pictures, and out she came! She was just in time for the moderator's shot! We had 6 of our moderators at this one meet!!! Way to go, ladies!

Now it really was time to split up - most people had long drives, and they needed to get on the road. Sara had sent Stitch home with Ryan, and she decided to head over to the Disney store in the mall with the crazy Boston Passporters (Janine, Nancy, Tina, Kylor, Jalen, Sarah & myself) before heading home. We were also lucky enough to run into Lisa and her family, who had also stopped there before heading home!

I'll tell you about our mall adventures in the next post! Then you will know why Sara thinks my Sarah is a hoot!

**CRCrazy** · 06-13-2005, 07:07 PM

So - we followed Sara over to the mall - and off we went to the Disney store - Yay!! You must understand - I live up in the mountains of Northern NH - I have to travel 2 hours or more each way to the closest mall - and that is nothing compared to this monolith. I was talking to Sandy about the MOA meet - I'd get lost just thinking about it! Anyway - this Disney store actually had a few clothes, even for adults! They also had some great clearance deals. We did a little looking, and a LOT of chatting - about everything under the sun! I found a cute pink hooded sweatshirt (Jennie's favorite color) with Eeyore on it (Jennie's favorite character) - this was a must do! Her birthday is coming up in a couple of weeks! Yes, Cheryl, we all thought of you! Sarah also talked me into buying some cute little handheld Mickey fans - that also light up while they cool you off - perfect for very patient kids at a Disney meet - so the three kids were very happy! They also had a sale on cute little Lumpy beanies - but you had to buy two. This was on Jennie's wish list - so of course - Sarah got one too. I had checked out their antenna toppers, as mine was dying a rapid death - but I refuse to use any of my magical WDW ones! They didn't have anything good - but after I had already checked out - Tina was standing next to a whole rack of 4th of July stuff - including Mickey toppers! I've gone through 3 of these through the years - so I had to hop back in line to buy a couple more!

Then we were off to walk through the mall - and landed at the food court (sounds familiar - doesn't it Boston girls?) Sara introduced us to the wonders of Maggie Moo's - not only do they serve great ice cream - you can choose your own mix ins! Well - here, I almost caved, but although they had a yummy looking nonfat raspberry and mango sorbet - it was NOT sugarfree! It was fine though - I was having so much fun, I didn't even miss the ice cream! Kylor and Sarah have a lot in common - it must be a 3rd grade thing. They both got cotton candy in a cone, and I have never seen such BLUE ice cream!

Of course, Kylor and Jalen used their manners while eating - Sarah - not so much!

When the boys were done, other than Kylor's blue tongue - you'd never know they'd had a treat - while Sarah!!! She not only had a blue tongue, blue lips, and a blue chin - she had blue stripes all over her face!!!

We'd run into Lisa (Magic Mickey) again - and as the grown ups chatted - the kids amused themselves yet again. They managed to find some carts, and pretended they were at Disney!

By now, Lisa' s daughter (who ate on the other side of the food court) was more than ready to shop, so we bid a sad farewell to Lisa - can't wait till next time! Sarah was begging for a ride on the Carousel - she's 8 1/2, and my baby. I have seen how fast my older girls have grown, so I do tend to spoil her - she's not going to want to ride a carousel much longer! I took her and the boys over to get tokens - but I only had a five, so I grabbed a Diet Snapple at the little Chinese place - the kids were dying of impatience - the token machine was incredibly slow! It pulled the dollar in and out at least four times, before finally spitting out the token. Luckily - the guy running the carousel waited for them - although he certainly lacked the Disney magic. They had a wonderful time - Sarah got to ride on the white tiger (she loves all tigers - after all, Jasmine - her favorite - has a pet tiger! And yes - she does have a stuffed Rajah!) My pictures didn't come out well - but you get the idea!

Well - now we have truly had enough mall fun - and the kids are dying to go swim in the hotel's little pool! We said our goodbye's to Sara - I can't wait to meet up with you again - you're a sweetheart! Then made our way directly across the parking lot to the hotel.

More fun to report soon - but I've gotta take a quick break!