Disney.

Ross raised enough money to go with his choir class to Disneyland (he's been giddy-excited about the whole things for weeks now). 

They headed out on four buses Wednesday night and were going to drive all night to Anaheim.

He called me from his friends cell phone at 7am yesterday to tell me that the buses got in an accident.  One girl and a bus driver had to go to the hospital (Josh read online last night that they are ok though).

He didn't know what they were going to do next or if the buses were ok to drive, so I made him promise to call me back to let me know what was going on.

No call.

How can a kid just forget to call his mom like that?

I tried to call back the cell number he called from, but no one picked up. 

Maybe I need to finally cave in and buy him a cell phone (I've always been very much opposed to the idea though).

Just glad he's ok and hoping that he's have a blast right now in Disneyland (even if he doesn't care enough to call and ease my mind).

I'm heading out of town this afternoon.

The whole family was supposed to come with me, but Annie ended up with the stomach flu yesterday which has kind of put a damper on our whole plan.

I'm teaching my Interactive Scrapbooking class tonight (April 18th) at Scrapbook Fever in Salem, OR (503 763 3501).  I think they are just taking a waiting list now though.

If you couldn't get in the class in Salem though, Portland is only and hour drive - I'll be at Scrapbook Attack in Portland, OR all day on Saturday (April 19th), teaching both my Interactive Scrapbooking class and the Photographer's Workshop (which is a 7 hour workshop now).  And there's still a couple of spots available (503 641 3554).

Just praying that I have escaped the stomach flu.

I updated my (very small) teaching schedule in the left hand column of my blog.  I'm still not booking too many teaching gigs right now (sorry) but, will keep you posted of any changes.

Have a great weekend.

Comments

[Terrie]

Got the latest Scrapbooks etc. in yesterday's mail. LOVED the layout of Courtney!! It was so fun to turn the page and think "Hey--I know that little cutie!" See you tonight!

[Jamie]

Hi Karen! I'm glad that Ross is okay! Maybe a pay as you go phone would work out well for him? I know what you mean about being opposed to the idea. I saw a 5 year old the other day with a cell phone. I mean come on! That's too much for me! I hope Annie feels better.

[DM]

Karen,
I always felt that by the time my kids could drive, I wanted to be able to reach them by cell phone. Glad he's okay!

[kim in Camas - ScrapToMyLu]

wish I could make a class this weekend.......baseball is my new life right now. :(

Yes, get him a cell phone. Get the pre-paid kind. That's what I have and it works great for limited calling and he can earn and save for more minutes.

[JoAnn]

do you want to go hunt him down at Disney? It's only about 15min from Irvine, fly down and we'll go make sure he's okay- and talk about calling your mom. That's what BFFO's are for! Remember doing that with boyfriends in high school? c'mon, I wasn't the only one - was I?

[Kelli]

He's probably having so much fun that calling you just slipped his mind! Get him a cell phone, you won't regret it.

[Erica Hettwer]

Well, just make sure to stand near a garbage can on Saturday...just in case! ;)

[Diane H]

HI Karen

It's Diane from Texas! What are the odds - my daughter who is 17 is at Disneyland today also! She went with the yearbook staff at her school! I am sure Ross is ok and hope he calls soon. FYI Bailey did not call us - we called her!
love
diane

[Michelle]

Sorry Karen -- in today's world your son needs a phone to get in touch with someone. I too held off UNTIL my son entered the 9th grade. There is no way he should not have a way to contact us in the event of an emergency. And yes, he has needed it. We live in a small town in Kansas too. He needs a phone. Do a tracphone, whatever but get the boy a phone. Please.

[Stephanie Ainsburg]

yay, I was SOOOO the first one to sign up for the photog class at RAH in June. (well, figuratively the first, anyway.)hope all the kiddos are ok and crossing my fingers for your clean getaway from the stomach thing.

[brenda]

Glad that Ross and his classmates are okay. Hold fast on that decision not to get him a cell phone. Consider lending him a phone when he goes on a trip like this or get him a pre-paid phone (if you can dial into it also...not sure about this).

Hope that "Yannie" is feeling better. She's so cute that I just want to snatch her up off my laptop screen and hug her!

[Tammy Rasmussen]

Holy Cow Karen. I just read the article in the News Review (our local paper). I remember saving for my trip to Disney with the band in 1985. I am so glad that he is okay and that they could continue on their trip.

I miss seeing you and wish I could find a way for us to scrap again. Only an hour away but it seems so far.

Take Care
Tammy

[Gloria]

Glad to hear Ross is ok. I'm sure he's just having a ton of fun in Disneyland. Funny how they forget to call mom (I remember doing that to my Mom growing up). But now that my girls are 5 and 7 - egads, they better remember me! As for the whole cell phone thing - I have no advice, sorry. My girls are still young and I haven't crossed that bridge yet. I'm sure you'll do what's right for your family! :)

[Terri Paulson-Sasaki]

Ross is probably having the time of his life. The weather here has been wonderfuly warm. Enjoy. I have 4 boys and I bought them all cell phones. The oldest 3 had prepaid phones for emergencies. The youngest one (aka golden child) has a regular phone plan attached to our family plan with unlimited text messaging (learned this the hard way). The kids text instead of actually calling each other which saves on actual air time. It was much cheaper to add the text messaging than to pay for air time. He plays sports 5 days a week and works on the weekend. I can always get a hold of him. He got his phone when he started high school, now he is a senior. I can always reach him and he can reach me. I love the "I love you mom" texts he sends me during the day from school.

[Deneen]

oh Karen how scary to get a call like that! I bet he is now having so much fun!
I am with you on the cell phones. My older two girls got them when they turned 16. I figured if they start driving they need a phone in case something happens but my twins who are only 14 keep pleading their case and I am staying firm. I keep hearing how it is so not fair but I told them it's all because I love them LOL. Have fun at your classes.

[Laura Plunk]

OH I read about that in the Medford paper... I hope they all have a safe trip home. Try not to worry and you drive safely too !
Laura

[meg duerksen]

oh i was relieved to hear that Ross does not have a cell phone. we haven't gotten one for our 13 year old and we have been made to feel like the meanest parents in the world.
and she seriously is the only one who doesn't have one.
i don't understand the need for kids to have them.
or the parents who want to buy them for their kids.
i am fine with them buying their own and paying their bill but my daughter is ready for that.
even if you do get him one now....i am still so happy to hear SOMEONE agrees with me. :)

glad he's ok too.

[Debbie]

Hey Karen,
I loved, loved, loved, the class you taught at Scrapbook Fever in Salem!!! And then to be fortunate enough to take your photography class held in Portland the next day....WoW!!!!! I was exhausted....but this weekend definitely changed my life!!! Thanks for squeezing me in & I really appreciate everything you taught me!!! You totally ROCK girly!!!!

Debbie :-)

[betsy]

Get him the *$#&@ phone!!! It will put you at ease. My husband has anxiety and it helps him to be able to reach any of us 24/7. Both my girls got them in 7th grade, they never give out their phone numbers to anyone and never call their friends on it. That is their rule not ours. They have never abused them or lost them. My husband and I on the other hand...dropped one in a lake...went snorkeling with one...are constantly talking to each other in the same house on our phones-can you tell who are the parents?

I am sure Disneyland is a blast and he is just enjoying himself. Didn't the chaperones give you their cell numbers?

[betsy]

Sorry I didn't know my name wouldn't post on the above comment.

Betsy

[kat-in-texas]

I heard about your blog through Ali's blog and I love it! I would so love to take the photography class you've put together. (One day). I'm the kind of person who has fun stuff, but doesn't know how to use it as well as I could. Got the Rebel xti at Christmas and still only use it as a point and shoot. So Sad! Just haven't taken the time to find out. Need your class in a bad way!!! I'm cracking up at your hygiene stories as I'm one too. Except I call it Scum-Scraper. I never thought I'd be doing it for 12 years, but the money is so good and the hours are decent. Most importantly are the relationships you form with patients. So hard to entertain going anywhere else especially if you're close to work. Makes it nice. I admire your courage to start fresh. Anyway, I'll be checking out your blog regularly. My husband just shakes his head, "You don't even know these people!" But we feel like we do! Ha.Ha.

[jennifer]

Please don't cave in on the cellphone thing. My little cousin has one and I give my aunt a hard time about it because she doesn't need it for emergencies. She only uses it to call and text her friends constantly during family events which irritates the heck out of me. So...enough of that rant but kids don't need cellphones. They don't. How many generations survived without it. Stay strong girl!
Jen