What cruise line are you on? How you pack depends on a lot of things - whether the "formal" dinners are really formal (many cruise lines have relaxed their formal dinners), what is the alcohol policy (I know a pp posted that as a joke, but I carry all my own wine on when we take Disney cruises and leave with NO bar bill), weather, whether there is laundry on board, etc. If there's laundry on board, you can get away with a LOT less. My advice? Get out what you think you'll need. Then, put half of it away. I'm not kidding.

I've finally figured laundry out! I wanted to have the kids do their own, but they didn't have enough clothes to fill a load! It was MUCH more efficient to keep everyone together. Laundry basket in the second floor hall. I take the laundry to the basement every day. There, I have a HUGE table with baskets underneath - one for whites, one for darks, and one for delicates. I separate daily. If there's a load, I throw it in. If not? I don't. Easy peasy. Some days I end up with a load or two. Some days, I get lucky and there's not a full load. Laundry is folded and put on the table. As a pile gets big, the kids get theirs and put them away. Done.

This is what I do. Dd is 8, but she's been riding her bike with me for a couple miles since she was 5 or so.

We have our schedule and have had it for a few weeks. There will be one added in March. I'm thankful to know so early!

My daughter could not WAIT to be nominated. She finally was yesterday. What it has done for her is made her VERY aware of ALS and what a horrible disease it is. She donated her own money. I think this is a very good thing and I'm proud of her. So, I like it. I think it is a fun, catchy way to raise awareness.

We have tickets for the 9th!! Can't wait.

I get it. And, it sucks.

My geographic tongue hurts occasionally. My dentist gave me a rinse years ago that helps soothe it when it hurts. I haven't replaced it, so I can't remember the name. But, ask your dentist!

You are definitely not alone! I do this too. I try to make it through my to-do list so I come home to a clean slate. One more thing to add - FLUSH all toilets!!! My boys forgot and left a gift in their bathroom before one trip. The stench we returned home to was unbelievable!!!! I'm insane and I also try to freeze few meals before we leave. So, when we come home I'll have a couple days before I have to grocery shop. But yes. I clean my house (vacuum, mop, pick up, clean bathrooms, etc), turn down heat (seasonal), turn down hot water heater, turn off the water, take out trash, finish out my to-do list, make room for more pictures on my phone, haircuts, car cleaning, mow lawn, make a couple freezer meals, shop for simple breakfast/lunch stuff (again so I don't have to shop when I come home), etc, etc, etc.

Dd, 8, is a level 4. She's at the gym 16 hours a week. This is USAG. We visited a couple other gyms last spring/summer and this is typical at this level in our area. (And, the PP who said that USAG gyms have a lot of travel is right! We just got our schedule for competitions. New York, Las Vegas, a couple in OH and then a few local ones here in MI. ACK!)

My 16 yo works out about 25 hours a week. He can easily sleep 12 hours a day. It's broken sleep because he has early morning practice and afternoon practice. He comes home from practice and sleeps another couple hours. Then he starts schoolwork. He catches up with schoolwork on the weekends when he doesn't have as much time practicing.

Our cycle is: get sick (Not doctor worthy - a simple cold will do it), a week later start in with the OCD and anxiety issues. It takes about 6 - 8 weeks to come out of it. My understanding from dd's neurologist, is that the basil ganglia part of the brain swells with the first infection. If the infection is treated, the swelling recedes and the symptoms cease (or decrease). For us, every time dd gets sick, that part of her brain swells and it takes time to recede. For us, Advil therapy works wonders. Dd's neurologist says it can help to reduce the swelling on the brain and it reduces her symptoms. For now, we've adapted some coping mechanisms for the few weeks after she's sick. So, in my experience, it cycles with each infection. And, the infection doesn't have to be strep.

My daughter was diagnosed a couple years ago. Every time she gets sick (not just strep - any illness), it throws her back into a downward spiral. She can recognize it now and we've got ways to work with her. And it's nowhere nearly as bad as it was the first time. I think this is something she will always fight.

We always end up at a tailor. None of my tall skinny boys can stand the adjustable waists.

Also remember that he is probably going to be getting up early and/or staying up late to let the animals out. It's a lot of responsibility! My son would get paid between $150 and $200 for that. But he would insist in walking the dog too.

Exactly! I don't think I do 20 hours of housework for a family of six. It would be crazy of me to require a child of mine to do that. To the OP - It really depends on your child's limitations after surgery. My son is on a coop program. He's in school for three months living at the school and then home for three months working full time. When he is home, he is expected to let me know where he is at all times and when he will be home. If he's going to be late, he'd better tell me. I expect the same of my husband. When he is here, he will help out as asked. Other than that? Nothing. He's paying for college BY HIMSELF. I pay for everything else. And, I'm good with that.

MK: Rides - Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Dumbo (only because you HAVE to ride Dumbo at Disney), Small World (again, only because you HAVE to) - don't get FP for either - go early in the day and ride these rides with they don't have lines - same with teacups and Peter Pan and racecars (go EARLY and run to that section) Shows: Storytime with Belle (this is new and is AMAZING!!! See it!), Monsters Inc Laugh Floor, parades are fun - especially the Electric Light parade if they still do that one, and don't miss the fireworks!!! Snacks: Dole Whips in Frontier Land!! Yum. Meals: We don't do sit down at MK. Our MK night, we take a monorail over and eat at O'Hanas or at California Grill (you can watch the fireworks from this place if you time it right) Epcot - Rides - Soarin (DON"T MISS THIS!), Test Track, Mission Space (I can't ride this but my kids love it!), Living on the Land (don't get a FP, but I LOVE this ride in the middle of the day because you get to sit for a little while and the garden area is really amazing) Shows - Chinese acrobats, China movie, Turtle Talk with Crush Meals - Tappan Edo, Le Cellier, English beer (time it right and drink one of these right before Soarin!!! Best ride ever), Electric Umbrella (we ordered bacon mac and cheese burgers that were REALLY good!) Animal Kingdom - Rides - Expedition Everest (get there first thing and run to this ride - NO line. My kids can usually ride it three or four times before the lines start!), Kali river Rapids (you will get wet), Safari (definitely don't miss this), Shows - Lion King (simply amazing - don't miss), bird show (again, don't miss) Food - Flame Tree Barbecue has HUGE portions. Our family includes three teen boys and we were able to eat WELL with four meals there. Studios: Rides - Rockin Roller Coaster, Tower of Terror, Toy Story (DEFINITELY get a FP for this one - they run out) Shows - Beauty and the Beast, American Idol is fun and cool if you need 30 minutes to cool down and relax, Lights Motors Action, Indiana Jones, Muppets Food - 50's Prime time was fun but the food was just ok. Starring Rolls has GREAT sandwiches that can be split easily. Food outside the parks: Boma, Bongo's, Whispering Canyon, Wolfgang Puck Express I know there's more. But I need to leave and get my daughter to gymnastics!!!

My son was born the morning of the 6th! On his due date. He was good that way. So, my vote is the sixth.

I was interested too. Here's a list from their website that should help you! We've always gotten two connecting rooms, but now I want to consider a villa! Deluxe Villa Resort Hotels – Sleeps Up to 8 or 9 Guests Relish the roominess of Disney Deluxe Villa Resort hotels, which include one and two-bedroom villas. Each two-bedroom villa sleeps up to 8 Guests—and up to 9 at select locations—and includes home-like amenities such as a full kitchen, a whirlpool tub, DVD player, washer and dryer. Choose from locations in 8 delightful Deluxe Villa Resort Hotels: Disney's Yacht Club Resort Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort Disney's Beach Club Villas Disney's BoardWalk Villas (sleeps up to 9) Disney's Old Key West Resort Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House (sleeps up to 9) Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge (sleeps up to 9) Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa – Sleeps Up to 9 The Treehouse Villas at Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort are stand-alone Disney Deluxe Villas nestled in natural forest glens just around the river bend from the bustling Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. The 60 three-bedroom vacation homes—elevated 10 feet off the ground on pedestals and beams designed to blend into the lush wilderness environment—sleep 9 Guests and feature modern luxuries such as cathedral ceilings, granite countertops and flat-panel TVs.

I think if you go in knowing that it will be that kind of vacation, then you'll be fine. You may not get to see everything (or much depending on the time of year - even off-season, there are days and weekends that are VERY busy). You may need to wait in long lines. Try to eat at non-busy times. Lines get really long around the traditional meal times. Fast pass is a way you get around lines. EAch ride has a fastpass line and a regular line. The FP line is shorter because you are given a particular time to come to that ride. Typically, you wait for about 5 minutes in that line. Regular lines for rides can be 5 minutes, but the more popular rides can be hours long. They've just changed the system (I was a tester!) though. So, you can get your Fastpasses before you get to the park. It's quite easy - you log in to your account and pick the three (is it still three?) rides you want the FPs for. It's all programmed into a bracelet you wear. The bracelet is also your key to your room and your park entry passes. If you choose not to do it in advance, you can also do it the day of in the parks or on the App. Would your kids help you with some research? Have them go through books or webistes and pick their four favorite things at each park. Ask here or do your own research to find out which ones need FPs to do. Then, spend an hour or so planning. Then, you're done!

Hey! Really?? Isn't it a nice place? Gary is so easy to work with. He's a man of few words in his emails, but he did share with me last year that his oldest is a very high level gymnast (I mentioned that my dd was at her state meet) and he sent me videos. So, now I have a real personal connection with him. We've stayed there every year once or twice for about five years.

I would check out the prices of a paint job in your area. sounds like the perfect car for you! We bought a car last year just coming off a lease. I was SO afraid I'd hate the color. It was so new to the dealership that they didn't have it listed. Dh brought it home and I was sold by the color alone. It's a nice light blue. And, it's dark on the inside. Perfect!!!! So, I get it!!!!

Or the balcony. Heehee

Huh. Mine isn't plastic-feeling. It looks like marble. Are you thinking of corian? My in laws have that and I think it looks plasticky.

We stay here: www.bestcondostay.com The owner is Gary and he is VERY easy to work with. It's a 3 br/3ba condo and it's an easy walk (think 1 - 2 minutes) from the pool.