Living in America 2012--Because It Is No Longer 2011

[MmeBucket]

This is what happens when I start threads--they get stupid titles. Someone else needs to start the next one. Hopefully we can get this one filled by 2013.

Link to old thread for reference

Not much happening here. The kids have been off school for 25 days. I am soooo looking forward to them starting school tomorrow. Except it is my day to help, so instead of getting a break from my two, I'll have 22 of them to deal with.

[MrsOlf]

Enjoy WDW. We're hoping to take the girls later in the year and they're excited already! And so am I (secretly!)

[MmeBucket]

Bummer about the gas, kickass. I wouldn't have known how to siphon.

Have fun at Disney. We were thinking of going this year, but the house needs painting and new carpet, so it will be put off (again).

[kickassangel]

It is very Disney. I am done with rife consumerism after1 day. The parks are fun but the downtown area last night was my idea of hell. Massively crowded and expensive. We did get some good fish and chips though at an Irish chippie.

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

Great to know you've found decent fish and chips even ins the midst of consumerist hell kickass!

We moved out of our flat yesterday, all our suitcases down to my folks while the relocates move in and pack ups everything for shipping. We fly on Thursday. And it's all kicking in now, feeling excited stil but really tears, especially saying goodbye to my mums, how will I cope being a mother of a newborn and toddler without the women who have seen me through the most difficult three years of my life so far? Can't quite believe I won't be able to call one of them and just pop over whenever I want, to met up with them several times a week to just get through the day! Boo sniff sniff

[kickassangel]

oh gosh that is hard. we never lived near family so it isn't that different for us, really.

[VintageNancy]

Girl I can sympathise. I'm wondering how I'm going to cope with a newborn with no family nearby to help. I think for me it will hit about 6 weeks after the baby is born when all our visitors have gone back to the UK (we have my mum for 2 weeks around my due date, then in-laws for 2 weeks, then BIL and SIL for 10 days!).

I highly recommend meetup.com for finding like-minded people. I've been to a couple of meetups now with mums and their babies, had coffee with another mum-to-be and have a dinner tomorrow night with some more mums-to-be due in the next few weeks. Some days it feels a bit daunting to go out and meet strangers but then I remember we're all in the same boat and doing it for the same reasons.

[tadjennyp]

I didn't reply girl as I was felling really sad that ds2 has only met one set of grandparents so far and he had his first birthday 2 weeks ago. You will manage and you too Nancy, because you have to, but definitely best to stay away from threads on here where people are complaining about the gps not doing enough childcare etc.

Best of luck with both moves and the birth.

[MrsOlf]

Girl and Nancy - I'm off to my first meetup today. It seems a good place to find mums with babies, toddlers and pre schoolers and the couple of groups I've contacted have been very friendly.
I know what you mean about leaving your mum friends. I'm missing them as much as my family but Skype has been great and my girls even had a virtual playdate with their best friends back home yesterday afternoon!

[wentshopping]

Hi MrsOlf I hope you're settling in, and have found some similar age friends for your dds. I was just thinking about you, and wanted to let you know about the Rodeo, starting this weekend. (Whispers) we went for the first time last year...but that is because my youngest dd is in a wheelchair and can't really cope with lots of noise. Anyway, there is something called Trail Rides which is people recreating the old cattle trail rides into Houston, and apparently you can see them arrive over the next couple of days - I believe you can just stop and watch them on the feeder road of I10, for example. On Friday it is Go Western day at school, and so dd3 will be getting out her checked shirt and boots, and there'll be square dancing to go and watch!
Girl and Nancy I totally sympathise with you; my dds were born in the UK, but a day's drive from all gps. My kids don't know that some gps pop in for the afternoon, babysit for a few hours etc because they only know a long-distance relationship - the older two are teenagers now and love going to stay with them, even though it is only once a year.
Any tips on disney kick? DD3 is getting very excited as our holiday approaches.

[MrsOlf]

Thanks for the info wentshopping. We're planning to go to the parade on Saturday - is there a best place to stand in the city centre? Will try to see the trail rides too as DDs, particularly DD2, love horses. We'll be off to buy cowboy boots and hats - DH has to go dressed for Texan day at work on Friday (seems a bit much...)
Still struggling to find playmates for DD1 (5). We've met a couple of girls through DH's work colleagues but that's it. The meetup group was lovely but all with toddlers and babies but we'll keep looking. The girls have started gymnastics classes, which they love, so that might be another route.

[kickassangel]

went shopping - disney is quite surreal. very busy, crowded, materialistic etc. dd loved it. i don't like rides, don't really 'get' the Disney hype & just felt very tired from all the walking. Well done & slick though it is, it's just a theme park & posh motel imo! Still, if your kids love Disney they will really enjoy it. Not sure how long you're there for, or if you're staying in the park? Animal Kingdom & Magic Kingdom are the best. The light spectacle things are on late at night - which means you end up spending more time (and money) there as you wait for the 9 pm fireworks etc.

If you are staying in the park, you can get 'fastpasses' to the big rides, which was useful.

[wentshopping]

MrsOlf - info from dd's school bus driver: trail riders don't come along Old Katy Rd any more, but come in from the west on Clay Rd - best place to see them is the McDonalds at Clay Rd and beltway 8 (it's on right side of feeder if you were going north on west beltway) at 10:30 am tomorrow. I'm a bit out of touch with your age group of kids because my youngest is 10, but I would have thought gymnastics should generate some play dates. Feel free to pm if you want.
kick I'm getting mentally prepared for the commercial onslaught - dd loves Disney, and Mickey in particular; like you I don't like big rides, but we are limited to wheelchair accessible rides, or ones where she can sit on my knee (she can't sit unaided), so I'm counting on the wheelchair lines being not too bad, and getting fast passes for the things she enjoys the most. At least it's only me doing the walking! We are staying in the park, so I'm planning on taking a break each day at the hotel, then going back for fireworks before bedtime.

[MrsOlf]

wentshopping thank you! We'll make our way up there shortly. I think the girls will be very excited.

[kickassangel]

shopping - I know that there's wheelchair access to a lot of things, but not sure how it works. A LOT of people seem to rent those scooter chair things, but they don't get any quicker access - they just sit in the line in scooters then get out. The rides say at the entrance if you need to be able to get out of a wheelchair to access them, but almost all of them, if you can get dd into the seat, then she'll be ok.

i think that if you want to leave the park & return later you may need to buy the 'park hopper' option, although that may not apply to you if you have a wheelchair. the buses that run also cope v well with chairs & they will make sure you're settled before anyone else is allowed on. One of my friends said that it's best to go early in the morning, avoid 12 - 2, so go back to the room for a nap, then head back in around 3 & take in the shows. the big shows at night are v impressive.

I would contact them beforehand to check any details.

if she loves mickey, the magic kingdom is the place to go - even the shelving brackets have mickey ears on them to fit shelves into. They are VERY dedicated to their branding. there's also parades during the day when she will be able to dance with characters & be showered in mickey-shaped confetti in front of the cinderella castle.

and you can buy mickey ears in just abour any colour/pattern you can imagine. even grown men wear them around the park ...

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

we're here!!! eeeeek...arrived 2 days ago, DS was sick this morning so we holed up really, got mobiles and been to the beach. Feels very much in limbo at the moment - not on holiday but not a permanent move either...

[MrsOlf]

Welcome •girl*! Hope your little one is better soon - the first few days feels a bit strange but once your stuff arrives and you get an idea of where everything is, you settle down into a routine pretty quickly. Shout if you have any questions

[kickassangel]

I suddenly feel like one of the old timers on this thread, but we've only been here 3 years. In rl I still find things where I haven't a clue what I'm doing.

[tadjennyp]

Welcome girl . Hope ds is better soon.

Know exactly what you mean kickass. Nearly four years for us already!

[kickassangel]

I know - I hope people feel welcome here. It's one of the 'safest' threads I've been on in mn. It used to be about my only communication with people when we first moved here, so I always like when people come on & start asking questions - I feel like I'm passing on the good karma from when I was so afraid bewildered.

[MrsOlf]

You've made me feel very welcome - I was very much a lurker before we found out we were moving but I've always felt I can ask any question over here without fear of being laughed or sneered at

[tadjennyp]

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

I'm not having a great day, DD was up and down all night, DS up for the day pre-6am, had dreams all night about my friends at home, just feeling a bit stranded and isolated but I know we just need to get out and do stuff and get to know it all....

[VintageNancy]

Welcome to California Girl.

You will have days when everything feels completely shit and so hard so don't worry. If you can get out for a walk that might help a bit - enjoy the sunshine! Things do get better and you'll find your stride. I wanted to get on a plane & go home several times at the beginning (especially with the healthcare stresses). Nearly 3 months on and I feel like I've been here for much longer - it's becoming home!

[tadjennyp]

It's always a good idea to get out and explore the neighbourhood if you can girl , even if you are the only one out walking. Find the local playparks and let the little ones run around till they need a nap. And then take one yourself. Sleep deprivation and homesickness are not a good combination.

[MrsOlf]

I've had several days like that but it does get easier very quickly - promise.