Ok, here is the plan....

November 4th.....

Cedar Falls Iowa (Waterloo/Cedar Falls are pretty much one city)

Holiday Inn on University Avenue

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/aloia?rpb=hotel&crUrl=/h/d/hi/1/en/hotelsearchresults


Here is the link to the hotel... They have a pool there and it is pretty easy to find and right across the road from Chuck E Cheese.

We will eat at Chuck E Cheese at 1:00 on the 4th. That way for people that are just coming for the day can have an early day to drive home. The rest of us that are staying can get rooms at the hotel and have a relaxing night at the hotel that night. There are several restaurants around there and either we can do supper or order out from the hotel.

http://www.chuckecheese.com/cgi-bin/mqinterconnect

Maybe everyone could bring snacks for that evening and I could make maidrites for supper and everyone else could bring something for supper.

I am still waiting to see if we have a room to use for supper, but if not, we can use our hotel room. We live in Waterloo, however I think we are going to stay at the hotel for something fun to do.

So you can make your reservations... and then please let me know how many people will be with you for lunch at Chuck E Cheese so I can call and reserve a table.

I think the weather will be fine then. I can't remember having snow on the ground at that time... at least not that has stayed on the ground. We might have a flurry or two, but noting major.

YAY Brigitte! You ARE THE WOMAN!! Thank you for ALL the time you spent making the calls, etc. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
(And a big sloppy kiss from Emeline!)
We will see you there!! (And maybe/probably before then, too!)

ok so did we vote on waterloo then???????

So sad I won't be there. Secretly hoping the Down Syndrome Association of Minnesota has to reschedule our facilitator training to another day. Not likely, but hoping, hoping, hoping!

Have fun everyone!

Angela and I will be there

I guess on the other thread, everyone said it didn't really matter on the place so I just made the decision. We can do another one in the spring further West... maybe Des Moines if that works for everyone.

Um, I am ont coming obviously, but I am nosey so I read the thread, and I HAVE to know what the heck a Maidrite is?!?!?! NEVER EVER heard of it and I can't evenhalfway figure out what they would be?!?!-COurtney

hehehe....It's an Iowa thing, Courtney. (I don't know...it might be other places, too.) Anyway, a Maidrite is basically Sloppy Joes without the Sloppy Joe sauce. Loose hamburger meat (NOT formed like a hamburger) with onions and seasoning, on a bun. Maidrite is the name of the restaurant that "invented" the sandwich, I believe.

Brigette - thanks for taking the lead on this. We will get our room booked plan on 3 of us.

DON"T MAKE YOUR RESERVATIONS YET!!!! I just got an email from the GM of the hotel and he is working on a rate for us. I will let you all know tomorrow what you need to mention when you call.

If you have already made the reservation, I am sure you can call back with the updated information and they will give the discount.

I will update as soon as I get the information.

Well, I talked to hubby and we're in. We'll come Friday eve and leave Sunday. I'm so excited!!!!!! Let me know about the room rates, I want to get ours booked ASAP so there's no turning back. I am a road trip defect. I hate traveling. But for this, I may just have to be sedated and just go anyway!

Macy and I are coming too!

woohoo i am so excited to meet all of you!!!!

So far we are up to 27 total... This is soo exciting. Still waiting for the email about the rooms. Hopefully I will have yet tonight or first thing tomorrow.

Doing the Happy Dance!!! How EXCITING!!!!!

Count the 4 of us in, even if Dave doesn't know about it yet.

Andrea,

I counted you in the 27 because I knew you were coming, even if had to drag you there.

Calling the hotel as soon as I am done working at 4:00 to get the rates and info so I should have later this evening.

OK.. I got the information from the hotel...

http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/aloia?rpb=hotel&crUrl=/h/d/hi/1/en/hotelsearchresults

Here is the web site for the hotel. We have a special rate of $69.00 per night for our group. When you call mention that you are with the downsyn group and you will get the discount for either Friday and Saturday or just Saturday night depending on when you are planning to come.

We could have also stayed at the Days Inn which is right across the parking lot, as the Holiday Inn owns it, but they don't have a pool and while we could use the Holiday Inn pool, it might get a bit chilly going across the parking lot in our swim suits.

I am getting a 3 room suite and we are staying in one room and Andrea (Annie Ree) is staying in the other room and the one in the middle will be our meeting room thing. It was a bit extra, but it will be worth it in the long run. We are only staying on Saturday night, but are available to do something on Friday for those that might be coming that day.

I just can't wait... So now you can make your reservations and we are on our way!!!

Charge up your batteries in your cameras and camcorders cause we are going to have fun fun times!!!

ALSO... These reservations need to be made by October 15th to get the deal. Just needed to let you all know that.

Brigitte,

Thanks so much for your efforts in making these arrangements!! I can hardly wait!! I agree with you, it's important to get our cameras and camcorders charged up for the weekend, but I think it is equally important that we make a solemn pact not to take any pictures of each other in our swim suits!!!!

It's going to be great!!!

Ibby

oh ibby... iam soooo with you on that one! HA!!

Hi Brigitte,
I'm just curious as to who's signed up so far. You said 27? Can I be a pain, and ask you to just post who you've got so far? You ARE counting us, right?!? (Don't know about Bill, but definitely Em and me!!)
THANKS!!!

Here you go "miss pain in the butt" You know I am ONLY kidding right?? I love ya!!!

Here is who I have so far.....

Joe, Brigitte, Josie and Katie
Barbie, Bill, Emeline
Andrea, Dave, Ayden and Andruw
Leah and Angela
Jen, Jay and Brock
Gina, Craig, Tegin and Koda
Alyssa and Macy
Amy, Stacy, Jayden, Rylee and Mayson
Laurie, Wayne, Kate and Micah
Ibby -- Not sure how many she is bringing, but that could be at least 1/2 of the group ... LOL Sorry Ibby
Lonnie and Caitlyn (they are not on downsyn, however she is in our support group and wants to come and meet everyone.

That is who I have so far. If I missed anyone, please let me know, and if you said you still were not sure, I didn't count you yet.

Debra said she might be coming with maybe 7-9 of the family.
Annie -- hoping that your training gets cancelled and you can come down.
At one time, Amy (Larkinsmom) said she might be coming

I will get name tags so that everyone can remember everyone... I suck when it comes to names sometimes.

(It has taken me a year and a half to remember all of Annieo's kids), but I finally got it down.... Sally, Mark, Jane, John, Paul -- LOL

THANK YOU, Brigitte!!
From your friendly neighborhood pain

awesome. i cant wait........ also, maybe if everyone brought a snack to share we could all meet at the pool that night with the kids and mingle? just an idea!!! i know my kids will be living in the pool while we are there!

We can use our common room in our suite for getting together that night. I like the idea of everyone bringing something because otherwise the only thing to order in is pizza and we are having pizza for lunch that day at Chuck E Cheese.

I can do the sandwiches -- sloppy joes and hotdogs or something.

Just wanted to bump this up so people don't forget about it!!

Anyone new to the forum within driving distance of Waterloo, Iowa, YOU are certainly welcome to join our party!! (See previous posts for more info.)

I am SOOO looking forward to meeting lots of Midwest Downsyn family in just FOUR more weeks!! YAY!!!

REMINDING EVERYONE THAT RESERVATIONS NEED TO BE MADE AT THE HOTEL BEFORE OCTOBER 15TH TO GET THE REDUCED RATE!!!! WHO HAS MADE THEIR RESERVATIONS???

I just made my reservation for November 4th. We'll be staying one night (sat). In order to get the group rate you need to call the hotel directly at 319-277-2230 and mention our group downsyn. I first called the 800 number and the re-directed me.

Thanks again for all of your work Brigette!

I reserved our room for me, Leah, Angela and Macy. Can't wait!

I am planning on coming barring any last minute sickness. Reuben has a nasty cold going on right now. The first one in about 5 months. I definitely will not spread any of that around! Wayne will be working and I had originally planned to come for the day, however, Jen's husband may not be coming now, so we may share a room. I need to check with hubby about staying over. But it should be me, Micah and Reuben, at least for the day . Really looking forward to meeting everyone!

Okay my friends,

I'm wondering how many hubbies we will have there...I know my hubby is excited (well, at least he is willing to come!) but I'm sure he is thinking there will be other Dad's there to hang with. If not, I think I need to give him the option of staying home with some of the troops. I'm still coming either way, though!

Can I get a hubby head count???

Ibby

My Hubby will be there. I am pretty sure that Andrea's hubby will also be there.

my hubby and Leah's hubby will not be there

got our reservations.....my hubby is coming too~!!!!