Cheaper by the Dozen – Lukas’ 1st Birthday Extravaganza! - Page 89 - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
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what a wonderful trip report. I know you felt at times it was not magical, but clearly the Magic was there all the time. Love that you had some time that last day with just your boys. You mentioned that your FIL got teary and i it made me teary. I think that tells you that they had a great time and it was hard to let you all go. Sounds like Dylan feels the same. You did great by picking that photographer, the photos she took to capture your familys magic were wonderful.
Thank you for sharing your trip with us all. I loved every part of it.
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Awesome wrap up, Kelly! I always love reading your TRs and this one was special at it was the very first for Lukas! And if you're at double digits that means the Matthews aren't too far behind.
Great wrap-up, and TR, Kelly! Some good advice about traveling in a group! I've never been brave enough to do that, despite my mom wanting to come along with us. Just not sure the trip would be the relaxing, rejuvenating experience it is when it's just the four of us!
What fun news about a new baby in the family!
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Great last day Kelly and wrap up - sorry to see this coming to an end. No trip is ever perfect but sounds like overall you all had a wonderful trip and I'm sure everyone appreciated all the planning you did.
You know I understand how you feel. I mean, you're reading my TR right? Unfortunately it can't always be perfect, and it's hard to get that through our crazy Disney brains. It's not always going to be like it is in those commercials, but when you do have that magical moment, where everything just falls into place, and pure happiness is found at that very second, that's what makes it all worth while, and that's what keeps us going back for more.
Great final thoughts Kelly! I will be holding on to your advice if we ever do a big family trip. Both my sister and her family and Justin's parents want to go to Disney with us. While it sounds like a lot of fun to share Disney with family, I can see how it would be stressful at the same time. I am glad your fonder memories are the ones that are sticking with you and the not so fond ones are fading to the background.
Congrats to your brother and his wife! A new baby in the family is always so much fun.
I will be on the look out for your PTR!
If you do go with extended family I'd probably do it in smaller doses - don't have all those extras at once.
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Originally Posted by stardust190
Great wrap up! Sorry Dylan was so upset about leaving, but I'll admit if I wasn't an adult I might throw a little tantrum/have a cry fest when leaving too so I know where he's coming from. Congrats on the new addition to your extended family. Nieces/nephews are so much fun.
Good luck with your next trip. Maybe with less people you'll be able to relax a little more and have a better time. Not that I actually think you had an awful time on this trip, but I know how stressed out you must have been and there were those little moments that were less than perfect.
I'm hoping the next trip is much more relaxing and besides meals I'm not planning much.
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Originally Posted by OneLittleSpark
Great wrap up Kelly! Thanks for sharing your adventures with us all. I have very much enjoyed all the wonderful photos, from the shoot (which were nothing short of spectacular!) to all the candid pics of your adorable boys.
We all have some downs on our trips and I think when you get home and have time away and to reflect, most of the bad spots are very much numbed...till they are almost forgotten. It's the happy memories that will shine through and you did have plenty of those too!
How cute that both your FIL and Dylan were upset about leaving. At least Dylan doesn't have long to wait!
Can't wait to hear all about your new plans! I'll keep an eye out!
Dylan is clearly spoiled! Thank you so much for reading!
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Originally Posted by JKnott17
Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed every bit of this TR! Looking forward to the next adventure
Thanks for reading!
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Originally Posted by lauriep
Great wrap-up, Kelly! I'm glad your family seems to really appreciate all the work you did to make this happen. Some built-in alone-time would probably help, but when you feel the burden of making so many other people's vacations happy I'm not sure you can completely escape and have a care-free vacation yourself. You are lucky to have two sets of grandparents who get along so well and put your boys first. Congratulations to Becky and Kevin! What fun it will be to have a triple-birthday trip some day!
So true Laurie. I think I was so worried about how everyone else was feeling that I didn't let myself have fun. We are very lucky to have our parents in our lives and be such a part of the boys' lives too.
I sure hope I can get them to come back! It's really my brother I'll have to work on.
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Originally Posted by Colexis Mom
Great finish Kelly! Thanks for taking us along for the ride! Happy planning for the next one!
Thanks Marnie!
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Originally Posted by sc507
Great wrap up! Thank you for sharing your trip with us - looking forward to the next one (I'll try and join in sooner next time! LOL!).
As for the strollers - we didn't mind 2 umbrellas when our kids were smaller. We'd park them in the general vicinity of several rides, do them, then move on to another area. One of us was never alone having to push the kids, which would have been interesting
I'm thinking the strollers will be ok too. Thanks for sharing your experience.
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Originally Posted by abubbles77
Glad you had a great trip. I think we all have the "bad" moments that afterwards we forget about. Can't wait to read about your new trip.
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Originally Posted by B.M.
Sounds like a great trip start to finish; despite a few hiccups along the way..... Looking forward to hearing about your next trip....
Thanks for reading!
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Originally Posted by coffeechef
what a wonderful trip report. I know you felt at times it was not magical, but clearly the Magic was there all the time. Love that you had some time that last day with just your boys. You mentioned that your FIL got teary and i it made me teary. I think that tells you that they had a great time and it was hard to let you all go. Sounds like Dylan feels the same. You did great by picking that photographer, the photos she took to capture your familys magic were wonderful.
Thank you for sharing your trip with us all. I loved every part of it.
My FiL is quite the emotional one, but I never thought he'd get all weepy that day. I'm sure Dylan having to leave the family didn't help much either.
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Originally Posted by Cam22
Awesome wrap up, Kelly! I always love reading your TRs and this one was special at it was the very first for Lukas! And if you're at double digits that means the Matthews aren't too far behind.
Thanks Cam! I love that you love reading my TRs because yours are always fantastic too! And closer to us seeing you again too!!!
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Originally Posted by cindybelle
And don't we all know how Dylan feels
Great TR, Kelly. And you should believe all those thank-you notes from your family. Great TRIP.
Thanks Cindy! And yes, we all do feel like Dylan and at times show it just how he did.
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Originally Posted by goofysdtr
I love that Dylan is clearly hooked! You can bet I'll be tuning in to the next one!
I can only imagine what things will be like after this next trip.
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Originally Posted by cubfancolleen
Great wrap-up, and TR, Kelly! Some good advice about traveling in a group! I've never been brave enough to do that, despite my mom wanting to come along with us. Just not sure the trip would be the relaxing, rejuvenating experience it is when it's just the four of us!
What fun news about a new baby in the family!
I hope you try a trip with your Mom once. It is fun but I think if you go in with an open mind it can be ok.
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Originally Posted by chezp
Great final thoughts! Thank you so much for sharing this report with us, I've loved reading it.
Thanks Cheryl! And I hope you try the tour out sometime and hear your thoughts on it.
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Originally Posted by mommapants
Great last day Kelly and wrap up - sorry to see this coming to an end. No trip is ever perfect but sounds like overall you all had a wonderful trip and I'm sure everyone appreciated all the planning you did.
Looking forward to the up and coming TR
Thanks Holly! You know how much work it is to plan for a large party and I guess we just want them all to feel the same way we do and I need to realize that my family (some at least) just doesn't 'get it' like the rest of us.
Those big family trips are never without some type of drama, but you guys handled it well. I think you've remembered the important part - - they would do anything for your boys - - just keep saying that to yourself over and over during the more stressful times!
And how exciting about the new addition for your brother and his wife!!!
YEAH Auntie Kelly, how sweet, congrats to Kevin and Becki!!
As always, loved your TR. Even the little bumps along the way, and to be quite honest, they weren't even too bad. Life isn't lollipops and roses everyday, even if you are on a vacation. Sure we want them to be, but you handled everything like a champ and put together a great trip for your WHOLE family. Be lucky they even go with you guys and give a helping hand too. Our first visit with Josie was with my whole family and not once did anyone ask if they could take her to do something while maybe Arnaud and I rode a ride or went to a dinner or whatever. They left us waiting for the check in Tony's one night while they all went to watch Wishes, and another night left us saving a spot for Wishes while they all ran off to go on different rides and such. It's nice to go with family for sure, really for the kids to be with their grandparents, but we are solo family travlers and we are getting by just fine
I think another reason why we ALWAYS take an afternoon break is for us to chill out too, not just the kids.
You and Mike will be fine with the boys, and at least you know you could always go with your family again and make a few changes.
Dying to hear about 2 strollers I am always stoller obssesed, it's crazy.
Great wrap up! Every family trip has its bumps and you handled them well!! Can't wait for your PTR, I am another that will be interested in the strollers!! Luckily with Sam getting older I am carrying less for him and I am hoping that baby girl is not a spitter like he was so that I don't have to carry alot for her!!! I think I had to lug around a suitcase for my boy and change his outfit about 10 times a day! lol! As for the family, luckily we travel with my parents all the time and we will only be sharing our 2 bedroom villa with them like always. My sister, bil and nephew (if they go) will be booking their own room in the resort and definately don't do disney the way we do, so we plan to just let them know our plans and if they want to join or meet up later, that is fine. The other 2 are family friends that haven't been to disney in years and are counting on me to plan everything and just want to have a great time with us. So I am crossing fingers that everything goes smoothly!!! Your pixies are appreciated!
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Teresa
Sammy 5 years and Peyton 15 months - September 2013
Great wrap up, Kelly! I enjoyed reading about your trip!
I had my share of family frustration on my last trip. Travelling with your kids is stressful enough and then add extended family to that, you got yourself some major bumps. After many joint family vacations, I'm finally taking one this summer just the 5 of us. And I can't be more excited.
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I always love reading your TRs and this one was special at it was the very first for Lukas! And if you're at double digits that means the Matthews aren't too far behind. 
PassPorter Guide Author
Holly: 
Unfortunately it can't always be perfect, and it's hard to get that through our crazy Disney brains. It's not always going to be like it is in those commercials, but when you do have that magical moment, where everything just falls into place, and pure happiness is found at that very second, that's what makes it all worth while, and that's what keeps us going back for more.
At least Dylan doesn't have long to wait! 
Thank you so much for reading!
Thanks for taking us along for the ride! 
Disney Magic - Oct 2015
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Teresa
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