Day 1: May 8, 2012 Travel Day and Give Kids The World

We got up bright and early Tuesday morning and headed to the airport. Bailee was really sick Monday night and Tuesday morning, but after a blessing, some medicine, more sleep and a lot of prayer, by the time we got to the airport she was feeling great.

The kids were both fascinated by the airport. It was fun to watch out the windows and see the planes coming and going. When it was our time to board, the kids were super excited.

They were both AMAZING on the flight. They sat in their seats and played quietly, they colored, played with play dough, and put stickers on paper. There was an in-flight movie, but it was the new Sherlock Holmes and neither of them were interested in it. However, they did each enjoy playing on the iPod and iPhone so that helped too.

We got to the airport and were met by a greeter from Give Kids The World, Pat. I let her in on our little surprise, and she was more than willing to play along. We picked up our luggage and "looked for the right place to go". Bailee was super surprised when she finally realized that Grammy and Grampy were standing right beside her. It was a fun way to start our time in Florida.

We hopped in our rental car, experienced toll roads for the first time, and entered the Magical World of Give Kids The World. It was incredible!

A volunteer greeted the kids with gifts, a Mickey Mouse for Maddox and a Shamu for Bailee, went over some basics, and then took us to our home for the week. It was so fun to explore and unpack. There were even more gifts for the kids on the table, left by the Star Fairy of course.

We changed into our bathing suits for the pool party and headed to grab some dinner. They had moved it inside due to the rain, and Bai was a bit disappointed that she didn't get to swim.

After dinner we headed to the Castle of Miracles to explore. Bailee had her nails painted at the La-Ti-Da Spa, and Maddox loved the slide in the Enchanted Forest. There were stars covering the ceiling and walls. Each representing a child who had made a Wish and stayed at Give Kids The World. It was overwhelming.

Luke and I headed to orientation while Grammy and Grampy played with the kids. It was pouring!

After we got our packet of magic passes for the week, we headed back to the Villa to meet the kids. We ordered some pizza and relaxed for awhile before taking Grammy and Grampy to their hotel. They fell asleep on the way back to the Village and settled into bed for the night.

(I have a few pictures of the first day, but I am still waiting for our disk from Give Kids The World to get the rest of them. So I'll add them when they come.)

We're Back!

It was AMAZING! I can't wait to start going through the pictures and typing out our memories. I hope I don't forget anything!

Here's an overview. Hopefully this will help me fill in the blanks.

Tuesday May 8th:
Left for Orlando
Arrive in Orlando and met the greeter from Give Kids the World
Surprise! Grammy and Grampy find us at the airport
Arrive at Give Kids Kids the World
Check in and unpack into our Villa
Rain Storm!
Checked out the Castle of Miracles and the La-ti-da Spa.
Orientation
Took Grammy and Grampy to their hotel (may have got a little lost...)
Star fairy left gifts for the kids! A superheros game, a hipogriff, some snacks and some Mickey Mouse spinning top, Mickey Pitureka!

Wednesday May 9th:
Breakfast at the Gingerbread House
Magic Kingdom!
Our 'super-amazing-fast-pass-of-all-fast-passes' gets us in to see our Disney friends quickly.
We find out Maddox does not love the rides.
Lunch at Casey's
More rides and friends
Maddox gets his wish to eat Noodles with Mickey! Pluto, Chip and Dale
Back to Magic Kingdom for the Electrical Parade and Fireworks
Home to our Villa to more gifts from the Star Fairy! A purse for Bailee and a car for Maddox

Thursday May 10th:
Universal Studios!
The 'super-amazing-fast-pass-of-all-fast-passes' is even more amazing at Universal!
Breakfast at the Gingerbread House
Lunch at Green Eggs and Ham
Private meet n greet with the Lorax, Sam I Am, the Grinch, and the Cat in the Hat
Donkey was  hilarious!
Maddox meets Spiderman and gets a surprise from the Green Goblin. Not his favorite.
Private meet n greet with Spiderman, Captain America, Wolverine, Rouge and Mystic.
Butterbeer in Hogsmead
Christmas at Give Kids the World! Bailee got a Fashion doll and Maddox picked a basketball hoop.

Friday May 11th:
Sea World!
Pictures with Dolly
Shamu show
Dolphin show
Feed the dolphins! Seriously cool!
Sky tower ride
Back to the Village for Pizza!
Pillow Tree
Star Raising
More gifts from the Star Fairy!
Mayor Clayton tucks in the kids!

Saturday May 12th:
Disney's Hollywood Studios!
Ariel show
Disney Junior Show
Meet Handy Manny and Jake!
Amazing seats for the Pixar Parade
Met tons of friends and didn't wait in lines.
Lunch with Manny, Jake, June and Oso!
Trip to Epcot
Nemo and Crush, Spaceship Earth, Soarin',
More Disney Friends!
Fireworks at Epcot
Maddox and Traci take a walk around the world...
Gifts from the Star Fairy: Superhero puzzle, silly bands, Mayor Clayton plush's for the kids.

Sunday May 13th:
Sleep in! Happy Mothers Day!
Breakfast at the Gingerbread House
Ashley's art corner
Drove to the Orlando Temple
Lunch and Ice Cream at the villiage
Mini-Golf, fishing, naps
Swimming, Candyland, Dinner
More gifts from the Star Fairy! Give Kids The World Candyland, Spongebob Yahtzee

Monday May 14th:
Goodbye to Magic Kingdom!
One last hug from our favorite characters
One last spin on the Carousel for Maddox and the Barnstormer for Bailee
Small world, splash mountain, Pirates
DoleWhip float
Souvineer shopping
Lunch/Dinner at the airport
Good Bye Orlando, Hello Salt Lake!

Tuesday May 15th....
"What park are we going to today?"
"The back to real life park."

Seriously Amazing and so grateful.

It's a party!

I talked to K this weekend and scheduled our Send Off party! What's a send off party? We get to go up to the Wishing place and Maddox will get to take his key to the Wishing tower and make his wish. There will be cake and ice cream, activities, and a presentation. We would love our family and friends to join us for this special party! It will be held Saturday, May 5th at 4 pm. That's just 3 days before we leave! I am hoping that we can keep it a secret until then! Bailee keeps asking if Make-a-Wish has called yet and when I tell her not yet she says "I guess they are just really busy." Maddox asks about seeing Mickey a lot and says things like "I see Mickey after breakfast?" Nope, not today buddy. Hopefully soon. He has no concept of time, so I'm sure it feels like forever to him.

Great News!

I just talked to J from Make A Wish and she was so excited to let us know that Give Kids The World is able to accommodate us! It is such great news, and I'm so happy it worked out for the dates we could go. We still haven't told the kids that the wish has been granted. It seems a little backwards, since it's Maddox's wish, that we know and he doesn't. We are hoping to hear back from K and K soon to schedule his big party. Then he will get to go to the Wishing Room and we can tell them then. I hope it's soon, it's hard to keep it a secret. There is only 36 days left until we leave. Now that I know the when, the where, the who and an idea of the budget I can make some good plans. Yipeeee!

We've got dates...

We will be headed to Walt Disney World May 8th through May 14th. Hopefully we'll have more details soon! And we've got to figure out how and when to tell the kids.

Wish Approved!

Got a call last night from K letting us know that Maddox's wish has been approved! Super exciting! He also had dates for us, but unfortunately we can't go those dates. It falls on Bailee's dance recital and Maddox's pre-surgery heart cath. So, I have a call into the travel coordinator and hopefully will hear back today. We probably won't get to stay at Give Kids The World, but we will still get to participate in all the activities there. So hopefully we'll have  more news later today.

Maddox meets K and K

Maddox's wish granters K and K came over tonight. It was fun to meet them and talk with them about what Maddox is wishing for. They brought Maddox a stuffed Pluto, they heard through the grapevine that he calls himself Pluto, and Bailee got some way cute Minnie Mouse sunglasses.

I was worried that the kids would be a little shy, but they were great. Maddox officially gave his Wish. He said "I see Mickey?" I had told them earlier he had asked if he could eat noodles with Mickey, so they suggested writing down eating with Mickey as well. He also needs a 2nd wish in case the 1st one doesn't get approved. (Because we've already talked about this with Dr. P, there should not be a problem with it getting approved.) After talking we decided on a Mickey Clubhouse. We asked Maddox if he would like a Mickey Clubhouse he said "No, I see Mickey?" We told him yes he can see Mickey but would you like a Mickey Clubhouse? Of course he said yes.

 So we filled out the paperwork and they will submit it and then will schedule a time for Maddox to go to the Wishing Tower to make a wish and have it granted. He really has no concept of time, so the waiting will be hard. But, once we have dates we'll make a countdown chain or something. We are hoping for the 1st or 2nd week of May. Exciting!