Because we can't afford not to!

So I finally did it...I finally booked us a family trip to the Happiest Place on Earth!

That's right folks...The Gust Gab will be hitting the road for a trip to Orlando Florida this winter! It's something I've wanted to do forever...it's been ::GASP:: twenty years since I've been to Disney World! And when I find my pictures from that trip in 1989 around here somewhere - I'll be sure to share them with you!! You won't be disappointed I promise! HA!

And now that I have my own kids...it's about time right?

When Rob and I made the decision that we were done building our family at two kids...I vowed that we would begin traveling with the two happy, healthy kids that we have...
Well, we went all the way to Duluth last month! Whoopeee!

(North Dakota doesn't count either..well, at least not the Red River Valley when we go home to see our families~maybe one day if we venture further West than Fargo!)

So...here we go!! A real live vacation! Getting on an airplane and everything!! We had some frequent flier miles to use -though with the changes with NWA and Delta I didn't get as much out of them as I had hoped...
::Shrugs::

Can we afford it? Nope! But we can't afford not to in my opinion. Life is too damn short and you just don't know what lies around the corner...I refuse to wait for the perfect time because really, what is the perfect time?

So this winter...when my SAD is in full effect, when the weather outside is frightful, this party of four will be hopping on a plane bound for Sunny Florida...
Taking in seven days of what has to be better than what Minnesota has to offer us during that time right?

I tell you, I've been very overwhelmed thus far in my planning process...it started with the airline thing...trying to book reward travel on the hubs account and then my account...and then trying to book a paid ticket on the same flight as those...which apparently was unattainable via the web...but thanks to a friendly ticket agent and a ridiculous fee - she was able to book us all on the same flight! Sheesh!
Then there were the lodging options...um, WOW!
Seeing as how we won't be spending a ton of time at our hotel - I wasn't too concerned about getting a big fancy resort...(the hubs and I prefer to pack our car with camping gear and just *go* on our vacations...this one requires a little more planning!)

And while online one night researching booking options...
Disney dangled a moderate resort for the price of a value resort...so I went for it...after spending several hours reading different threads on the resort we booked - I am confident I made the right choice...now if I could just stop reading my other travel emails and stop comparing other options...
it's done...stop second guessing yourself!

The other stressor...our first born...He's saved us a lot of money over the last seven years in terms of vacations...we haven't done a lot of out of towning that we could have done because we've had to figure out plans for him...
Thankfully, our neighbor friend Betsy has agreed to watch Bosco - It really works out wonderfully, he gets to stay home where he is free to lounge around on the beds, the sofas, the cool kitchen floor...while hopefully not being too big of a pain in the ass for her...
This will be the longest time I've ever been away from him in the seven years he's been our first born! Sad, I know - he's a pain in my ass a lot of the time but I do love him! I know he'll miss his siblings terribly while we're gone! No pop tarts, pancakes or chicken fries to eat?
Maybe Betsy will humor him and give him a special 'kid' treat once in awhile?

Anyway - I'm super excited...The airline is booked, the hotel is booked...tickets to the Disney Parks are ours for the taking...
It's going to be amazing...I just know it...

One of my girlfriends asked me if I had any pointers for her as she was thinking about suggesting Disney to her hubs...I had all sorts of great advice for her - you can't afford not to, life is too short, your kids are great ages, they are only little once, etc etc...but when I brought that up to the hubs...his answer was short and sweet...he said something like...tell her just to book it - like you did -then he doesn't have a choice!
um, oops?
I know the hubs is going to have a great time too - Maybe not as fun as joining his buddies at the Phoenix Open but whatever right?

Now...off to put a dozen memory cards on my Christmas list because you just KNOW I'm going to be a nutburger there with my camera!!