Family Florida Trip

[Oma]

Oooo exciting something to look forward too but you need to start saving hard

[Daisy]

Planning ahead gives you some time to save up the pennies, Gem. What a lovely holiday to look forward to.

[Gemini]

The flights are booked
We were all shocked by the prices. I have been over Easter before and it was nowhere near this price
We are stuck with the school holidays though, so we have no choice.
I contacted the villa owner and luckily we were able to move it forwards by a day . We now arrive and leave on a Sunday. This is saving about £400 each!

DD3 and OH are now not coming so it is just the 3 groups. OH and me, DD1 and GS1, and DD2, OH and 2 children.
Cost is the reason. I think it is a combination of them having underestimated how much it would cost (and flights being more than any of us could have predicted) having spent too much in Canada and Mexico, and other things they plan which need money.
We are all disappointed I have to say. It was meant to be all the family. They committed to go so should have made adjustments.
Anyway we will all have lovely time and the bonus for me is that DD3 will be here for my mum.
My good friends C and P were going to be the only ones here for her really, so to have DD3 as well is a help.


Gs1 is terribly excited about going to..... Walmart!! He was very happy when I told him there was one not far from the villa. He has always wanted to go there apparently

[Oma]

So sad they cant make it Gem but I suppose all the money they spent on Canada its understandable , maybe next time ,

E makes me laugh , Walmart of all places hahahaha

[Gemini]

He's a hilarious child Oma

[Clover]

Never mind Disney,Walmart is the place to be.

[Qwerty]

Not to worry Gem we have always gone away with one half of the family doesn’t stop us enjoying ourselves

[Daisy]

Gem - it's disappointing for you when you were looking forward to having all your family with you, but, as you say, it will ease the worry of leaving your mum.

I hope GS1 does his shopping list for Walmart. I remember how shocked my DS2 was when he went to the States as a teenager and found you can walk into a supermarket like Walmart, pick up your groceries and a gun plus ammunition. You can also buy insulin over the counter there! (I know some really useless things, don't I!)

[Gemini]

Update

Having lost our flights in the Thomas Cook collapse, we were after some panic able to re book the same route and dates with KLM/Virgin. All had our fares refunded by our credit cards.
Much relief all round!
We are starting to get excited now we are in 2020.

I have just ordered suitcase ribbon for each child in their favourite colour with 'Xxxx's Suitcase' written on. OH and I got some last time with Xxx Xxx (our surnames) Holiday on. They all have Mickeys head between the words.
I am going to print off 30 day countdown calendars and give each a calendar and suitcase ribbon the week before the countdown month begins.

I will restrain from making myself a countdown calendar (probably )

[Plantaholic]

Very exciting Gemini

[Daisy]

Gem - how exciting. All your GCs will be counting the days whether you do a chart or not.

This wasn't on anything like the grand scale of a Florida holiday but last summer when DS2, DIL and the GDs were going away for just 2 nights, one of them in the Legoland Hotel with a themed room, my DIL did a large scroll for each child setting out the plans, with photos of where they would go and a chart to mark off the days. GD2 has still got hers pinned up in her bedroom.

[Gemini]

That sounds lovely Daisy.
I think anticipation is all part of the pleasure, as in Advent calendars leading up to Christmas.

[Oma]

Oh you need a countdown calendar too
You have to get excited crossing the days off , it will feel like the start of your holiday xx

[Enfys]

Definitely a countdown calendar Gem 🙂.

A little idea for your GC...when we went with our family (DGD was 10 the first time) she made a scrap book...bought from Walmart of course...and saved sweet wrappers, menus, tickets and any random thing went in there. She still has it and we often look through it remembering where we were and what we did. There’s even leaves and I seem to remember a dried noodle!! She loved doing it, it was a little routine every evening.

Looking forward to a holiday is all part of it, I think 🌞🙂

[Daisy]

Enfys - what a lovely idea, and a nice quiet activity after a busy day at a theme park.