Bella’s Very Merry WISH-mas Party ~ 10 Days of Dreams Come True MAW/GKTW Dec 3-10

[StefaniLyn]

After months of planning, hours of DISing, days of packing, and with just minutes to spare before our ride picked us up to head off for the airport, the time had FINALLY come for Princess Bella’s Make A Wish trip to Disneyworld to come true. :wizard:
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs059.snc3/14648_376856050310_791745310_10103801_7245348_n.jp g

STOP. Wait just one minute! I think I need some sort of an introduction first, right? :idea: A little history, a bit of background information maybe? The Who, What, When, Where and Why. . . . isn’t that how every good story begins? :confused3If you’re interested in going way back in time and reading about our planning process, my pre trip report, Fairy GodMAW Grants Princess Bella's WISH! Can be found here. (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2211889)

Before we begin, I feel obliged to caution you of a few quirks that will likely accompany this trip report:
1. Me = First Time TR Writer. Please be gentle! I’m just hoping to get throuh this without violating any DIS laws:rolleyes1, boring you to deathpopcorn::, or burning your eyes out with an intense deluge of pictures. Which brings me to #2 -
2. Warning: This TR will be VERY photo intensive. I take A LOT of pictures and I like to share them. DH estimated I took over 4000:eek:. I think it’s closer to 2000, but either way I am in the process of editing out duplicates, bad shots, and unnecessary photos. However even after editing, there will still certainly be a LOT of pics left. You have been warned. Seriously. Not. Kidding.
3. Slow Moving TR Ahead: Unfortunately, the initial pace of this TR may be sluggish, especially for the next couple of weeks. Basic math will tell you that it has sadly already taken me 2 weeks just to get started. :guilty:Additionally, I am still in the process of ‘catching up’ from being gone. Add Christmas and all of its preparation and festivities into the mix, and I am WAY behind on life in general. Once the kids return to school I hope to have more free time and move things along in a more timely manner. Please bear with me.

Are you ready . . . . get set . . . here we go!

WHO? I’ll begin with a short recap of our cast of characters. As it’s already taken me long enough to get this started, I’m going to cheat and copy/paste directly from the PTR although I have added a handful of updates as it was written over 6 months ago.

Bella (DD5) – Isabella, BellaBoo, TinkerBella, Izzy, Princess. . . is the Wish Child and Star of the show. Bella is an adorable, precocious, 5 and ½ year old self-proclaimed princess. She is truly Miracle and we are so blessed that she completes our family. Bella was born 4 weeks premature and weighed just 4lbs. Her first 3 months of life were spent in a NICU. In total, she has spent over 225 nights in the hospital. This includes 7 major surgeries and over a dozen minor ones. In February of this year, her list of life-threatening diagnoses hit 5 (if you’re interested in the medical these for more info: pure esophageal atresia, multiple congenital heart defects (ASD, VSD, PDA), celiac disease, platelet function disorder, and pancreatic enzyme insufficiency) and her medical team and I decided she was overdue to have a wish granted. She struggles daily with multiple health issues but her strength and spirit are an inspiration to many who know her including myself.
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs190.snc1/6370_247118720310_791745310_8078020_4840990_n.jpg
Kennedy(DD8) Sister of the wish-child and another self-proclaimed princess. Kennedy is 8 years old and in 3rd grade where she enjoys math and science. She plays soccer and loves gymnastics. She is exceptionally outgoing and friendly. Kennedy has a creative mind and a tender heart. Last week she tried to convince me that the only way she would have sweet dreams was if I would allow her to sleep with candy under her pillow! Her nick name is DeedleBug. She aspires to be President one day but back up plan is vet school.
http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs190.snc1/6370_247118725310_791745310_8078021_1681296_n.jpg
AJ (DD10) – Short for Adrianna Jadyn. AJ is our oldest sister of our Wish Kid at 10 years of age. She is incredibly intelligent (has a 12th grade reading level in 4th grade) and a born leader. Adrianna seems to excel at whatever she sets her mind to and never ceases to amaze me. She also enjoys soccer, volleyball, basketball, and gymnastics. You can almost always find her with her nose in a book or playing school with her sisters – she is always the ‘teacher.’ AJ is starting to grow up before my very eyes and I am so glad we are going to take her to Disney at least one more time before she’s too old to believe in the characters and “magic” of Disney.
http://hphotos-snc1.fbcdn.net/hs190.snc1/6370_247118815310_791745310_8078037_3955139_n.jpg
Grandma Chari (prounounced Shar-ee) (DMIL) – I’m so thrilled that my mother-in-law will be joining us on this trip! Not many people are lucky enough to say that about their inlaws, but I am blessed as we get along very well. Chari retired in January from her job as a school psychologist in New Jersey and moved to Indiana where Grandpa Curt was transferred to a new position. Now that she has more free time she is able to come along on our Wish Trip. She has been with us on every Disney Trip we’ve taken with the kids so far. She really enjoys spending time with and doing things for her grandkids. She and Grandpa are very kind, generous, and loving and experts at spoiling their grandchildren. Unfortunately, Grandpa has to work and won’t be able to join us.

Ben, (DH31) – My Prince Charming, husband, and father of the princesses. He treats us all like royalty. We met in high school and started dating soon after he broke up with my best friend. We were high school sweethearts for 2 ½ years and went to college together after graduating. I’m sure nobody was surprised when we married and started a family 3 years later. We’ve now been together for 15 years and married for 10 (celebrated our anniversary in May in Vegas!). Ben is an incredible father and husband. He is a manager at a TV and appliance store. He coaches the soccer teams both Kennedy and Bella’s soccer teams. His commitment and dedication to our family is second to none.

Me – I’m Stephanie, but you’ve probably already guessed that from my screen name. I am a 31 (gasp!) yr old stay at home mom to 3 beautiful princesses. My girls are my world and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I am the PTO President at the school AJ and Kennedy attend. I am also on the local Board of Education. In 2007 I was elected to a 3 year term. In my free time, I pretend to be an amateur photographer because my DH spoiled me with a really fancy camera after Bella was born. I don’t really know what I’m doing but love surprising myself when a picture I took takes my breath away. I also enjoy scrapbooking when I get a chance though I’m about 7 years behind. Now that Bella will be in school full days next year, I intend to return to school and earn a degree in a medical field – possibly surgical tech.

Here is a group shot from my brother in law's wedding this past summer. DH and I are on the far right hand side. DH in the blue shirt and I am in front of him in the pink/black dress. DMIL, Chari, is on the left in the brown and orange dress.
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc1/hs190.snc1/6370_247119065310_791745310_8078083_7069575_n.jpg

WHAT? Isabella’s Wish was to go to Disney World. The Make A Wish Foundation of Wisconsin and Give Kids the World Village gave us the trip of a lifetime which included:
7 days and 6 nights at GKTW
3 Day Disney Park Hopper Tickets
1 Day Sea World Tickets
2 Day Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure Tickets
All of the amazing events at GKTW
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party Ticket
And a generous expense check which, combined with savings and gifts from Grandpa and Grandma also allowed us to do the following:
Candlelight Processional with guest narrator Steven Curtis Chapman
2 Hour Guided Bass Fishing Excursion on 7 Seas Lagoon
Bibbidy Bobbidy Boutique
Cinderella’s Royal Table
Happily Ever After Dinner with Cinderella, Prince Charming, Lady Tremaine, Anastasia, and Druzilla
And much, much more . . . . .

WHEN? December 3-12, 2009. We chose December for our trip as Bella doesn’t do well in heat and I honestly couldn’t think of anything more magical than Disneyworld at Christmastime.

WHERE? We spent our first 6 nights at Give Kids the World Village, about 20 minutes from Disney Property. The last 3 nights of our trip were spent at a hotel just minutes from the parks.

WHY? Last spring, when Carrie, the Wish Granter, asked Bella what her one wish would be, Bella answered without a doubt – to go to Disneyworld and be a Princess. Of course, when we heard that Bella’s wish would be granted, AND that our entire family would get to go too, we were all thrilled!

So there you have it! The first official post of my first official trip report!

I hope that you will follow me in reliving all of the magical moments and special surprises that were in store for our family during ten delightful, incredible, and memorable days.



Act 1: Scene 1 - For Breakfast this morning, we have a wonderful Limousine Surprise! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34766647&postcount=8)
Act 1: Scene 2 - A Sprinkling of Pixie Dust at the Airport (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34766819&postcount=9)
Act 1: Scene 3 - GKTW Greeter Gone Astray, and Avis, We have a Problem! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34787304&postcount=37)
Act 1: Scene 4 - It's No Castle, but it sure does feel like HOME! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34819591&postcount=71)
Act 1: Scene 5 - Lunch Launches A Lengthy Bella History Lesson - (skippable) (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34846122&postcount=88)
Act 1: Scene 6 - Fun Times in a Special Place Called Amberville (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34849910&postcount=96)
Act 1: Scene 7 - Adorable Christmas Pixies Meet Mrs. and Mr. Claus (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34857062&postcount=107)
Act 1: Scene 8 - The Part of Christmas that I Missed (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34863717&postcount=114)

Act 2: Scene 1 - Doo You Know Who We Met Today? (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34911115&postcount=140)
Act 2: Scene 2 - The US/IOA Adventure begins! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34920221&postcount=152)
Act 2: Scene 3 - Donkey Love and Ogre Affection (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34920342&postcount=153)
Act 2: Scene 4 - A Shoe Swappin', Jaws Droppin', Simp-ly Good Time! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34959758&postcount=175)
Act 2: Scene 5 - Bella's Stars In Her Own Disaster! Movie (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34981317&postcount=196)
Act 2: Scene 6 - Magic for Mommy at the Pirates and Princess Party (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35036852&postcount=222)

Act 3: Scene 1 - The Best Laid Plans are Like Cracked Eggs - Broken and Runny (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35190235&postcount=14)
Act 3: Scene 2- Seeing Seas, Club Ceeeeewwwl and Crash Test Dummies meet Vikings! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35216748&postcount=283)
Act 3: Scene 3 - We're Your Basic Average Girls, And We're Here to Save the World (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35326416&postcount=297)
Act 3: Scene 4 - Magical Moments when we Meet Mickey Mouse and Pluto (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35336614&postcount=305)
Act 3: Scene 5 - The Candlelight Processional Exceeds Expectations (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35775069&postcount=335)
Act 3: Scene 6 - A Pictureless Pouty Surprise Party (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35891990&postcount=356)

Act 4: Scene 1 - The Wish Kid Goes Fishing (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36183852&postcount=372)
Act 4: Scene 2 - Will Our Fishing Excursion Be Fruitful? (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=36184491&postcount=374)

[that's nice]

Welcome back!

I just jumped on here to check something and I saw that you posted!!! I'll be back later to read all about Bella's trip!

[maroo]

2nd!

Just had to say that.

[jessica52877]

Jumping on board! I have already seen some wonderful pictures and can't wait to see more. Your girls are just gorgeous!

[thatkid]

:yay:

[christymarie]

I'm in too!

[StefaniLyn]

Welcome back!

I just jumped on here to check something and I saw that you posted!!! I'll be back later to read all about Bella's trip!
I'm working on the first part of day 1 right now and trying to finish it up. I'm a little worried that I have included too many details though because it's really long already and we haven't even gotten off the plane yet! :rotfl2:
2nd!
Just had to say that.
Hello Maroo! I had to jump over when I saw Matty's Trip link in your signature! Awwwwww . . . . . that is so cool! Our trip had some magical moments of it's own. I just wish we had stayed a couple days longer so we could have met up with you!

Jumping on board! I have already seen some wonderful pictures and can't wait to see more. Your girls are just gorgeous!
Uh oh! I hope I didn't spoil the TR by posting the pictures on facebook!
:yay:
I'm excited to get started too! I've missed you guys :hug:
I'm in too!

:woohoo::woohoo::woohoo:

[StefaniLyn]

On the evening of December 2nd, the day before our Wish Trip was to begin, AJ, Kennedy, and Bella worked together to pull our LAST Mickey head off the Wish Trip Countdown! DH and I then tucked them all into bed, wishing them sweet Disney dreams. The eve of our Wish trip had finally arrived and before we knew it, our magical family vacation was about to begin!
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376856040310_791745310_10103799_5280645_n.jp g

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376856045310_791745310_10103800_1030058_n.jp g

Day 1 of our Wish Trip day began early . . . . VERY early! 3:00 in the morning to be exact! We had received word two days prior that our 7:19 flight had been moved up to 7:05 and that meant, of course, less sleep for us. And though I finished packing early, I spent the remainder of the previous evening cleaning the house, doing laundry, and preparing Bella’s room for the special surprise that would await once we returned home! Bedtime for DH and I was around midnight, although sleep eluded me as I was bubbling with excitement. Even after I nodded off, I awoke with a jump every half hour or so, opening my eyes just long enough to check the clock and ensure that we had not overslept.

I was almost grateful when 3:00 rolled around – the restless bit of sleep I was getting wasn’t doing me any good! DH and I quickly showered and dressed ourselves. We unplugged all of the televisions, Christmas trees, and other electronics. Then we woke the sleeping beauties. Initially, the girls just rolled over and attempted to go back to sleep. But once we mentioned DISNEY, they quickly perked up, got dressed, and let me fix their hair. When we were all ready, I told the girls to keep and eye out the front window for a VAN that would be taking us to the airport. Yep, that’s right, the girls were expecting a VAN to pull up any minute now! The first of many surprises during this trip was just minutes away!

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs059.snc3/14648_376856050310_791745310_10103801_7245348_n.jp g

It was about 15 minutes before 4 when the phone rang. My first thought was that something went wrong with the car service and immediately I assumed we would miss our flight. Thankfully, I was wrong, and the driver was just calling to let us know he was going to be 5 minutes late. Sure enough, 5 minutes later he rounded the corner and turned up our street. As the lengthy car came into view under a street light, the girls all looked in unison back at me, mouths agape and eyes wide with astonshment. I, of course, was holding the camera – ready to capture the looks of surprise on their faces.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376856070310_791745310_10103804_5050733_n.jp g

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376856075310_791745310_10103805_4295274_n.jp g

The reaction went something like this:

AJ: Is that a limo? I think it’s a limo!It is a limo! Oh my gosh!
Kennedy: It’s turning this way, I think it's coming to our house. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! (that is what Kennedy’s ear-piercing scream sounded like)
AJ: Wait – it’s stopping . . . IT’S STOPPING! Mom – it’s stopping HERE? Are we riding in a LIMO??????
Bella: A LIMO! A LIMO! A LIMO! (singing and dancing around the living room) We get to ride in a LIMO!
Kennedy: And, it glows in the dark – just wait til I tell all my friends!
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376856095310_791745310_10103807_6366327_n.jp g

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376856100310_791745310_10103808_907906_n.jpg
As it stopped directly in front of our house, I took this photo.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs059.snc3/14648_376856115310_791745310_10103809_4560667_n.jp g

Please take note of the GREEN grass on the ground here in Wisconsin on December 3rd. I also just noticed the baseball helmets left in the yard by the girls the previous evening. I am certain this will be the last time we see bare ground (and those helmets) until next spring as 14 inches of snow fell in our town while we were in Florida! I was not sad to miss that!

I could barely contain the girls from dashing out the door and tackling the poor driver. They quickly and excitedly piled into their awaiting limousine. In fact, I had to make them get OUT of the limo to take this picture!

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376856120310_791745310_10103810_7663488_n.jp g

Very quickly, the luggage was loaded and we were in the limousine, cruising down Hwy 16 on our way to the Milwaukee airport!

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376856130310_791745310_10103812_5707103_n.jp g

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376856155310_791745310_10103815_6980055_n.jp g

The girls fiddled with the lights and buttons in the limo and admired the mirrors, fancy glasses, and mood lighting. They relaxed and stretched out in our stretch limousine. We tried watching the television, but we didn’t have a video with us and none of the stations would come in.

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376856175310_791745310_10103818_1307322_n.jp g http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376856180310_791745310_10103819_4611127_n.jp g

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376856195310_791745310_10103821_3248648_n.jp g

About 20 minutes into our 55 minute ride, the excitement was overshadowed by exhaustion and all 3 of the girls fell fast asleep for the duration of our ride to the airport.

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376856205310_791745310_10103822_6052393_n.jp g

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376856230310_791745310_10103826_7231148_n.jp g

UP NEXT: Act 1: Scene 2 - A Sprinkling of Pixie Dust at the Airport (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34766819&postcount=9)

[StefaniLyn]

Making great time, we arrived at the airport in less than an hour. We woke the girls once more. Our wonderful driver, Jeff, helped us unload our luggage and then offered to take a family picture for us.
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376856235310_791745310_10103827_2447089_n.jp g

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376856020310_791745310_10103797_3221242_n.jp g

After waving goodbye to Jeff, we began hauling our baggage into the airport. We had made the girls an offer the previous evening in an attempt to increase their souvenir money. If they each took one piece of luggage and rolled it through the airport the entire trip (there and back) without whining, they could have the money from our expense check that was allocated for checked baggage - $30 each!

As we entered the airport, I had a moment of panic. We had 1 hour and 45 minutes until our flight, but there was a LONG line for Midwest Airlines that wasn’t moving . . . . AT ALL! Without another option, we joined the back of the line which extended well beyond the stanchions and ropes.

We had waited no more than a minute when we were hit with a dash of pixie dust! A Midwest employee started calling for “passengers traveling with small children (that’s us!)” to go to another line . . . . that currently had NO waiting! As best we could, our herd scurried into the new line! We checked our 2 large suitcases and proceeded to the security line with our 5 carry on bags in tow.

Security generally takes us a bit longer than most people as we must travel with medications, formula, and other items that often require extra scrutinazation by security. Normally we just go through the regular line, but this morning, there was another line to our left with no waiting and a sign in front of it that read “passengers traveling with medical liquids.” Again, that was us! So we breezed through security as well and we were soon at our gate.

We spent the next ½ hour purchasing snacks to eat on the plane and using the restrooms. We also met another Wish family that was going on the same plane as us. They were staying at the Nickelodeon hotel though as it was part of the Wish Kid’s wish.

As soon as DH returned with the snacks, our flight was called to board. We pre-boarded when they called for families with small children. The rows were 6 across, so DH sat in-between DD10 and DD8 on one side and I sat on the other side with Bella by the window. Fortunately, the other seat in our row remained unoccupied.

I let DH handle packing the bags in the overhead and settling the other children while I started feeding Bella her meal. I knew there was a small window of time where we would be stationary and able to have the tray out before we took off. Fortunately, her meal of yogurt and milk went relatively well and though she gagged several times, she didn’t vomit. Afterward, she complained of a headache and started shivering so I wrapped my fleece around her to keep her warm. I also suggested she use Minnie Mouse as a pillow and lay down her head.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376881240310_791745310_10104014_2470083_n.jp g

Bella fell asleep before the plane even took off.

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376881150310_791745310_10104005_3442460_n.jp g

She was still tired from the early morning and, upon checking her blood glucose level, she was at 208, which also makes her very lethargic. As the flight attendants were doing their final checks before take off, one asked me if Bella was a Wish Child. I affirmed that she was, and the flight attendant swiped a credit card in Bella’s tv so Bella had free TV for the entire flight! I resisted the urge to steal her TV while she slept!

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs059.snc3/14648_376881155310_791745310_10104006_6083852_n.jp g

She woke up after about an hour and enjoyed episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Dora the Explorer while simultaneously coloring for the duration of the flight.

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376881205310_791745310_10104010_8028531_n.jp g

AJ and Kennedy both worked on their homework books and reading for about an hour and were then allowed to choose their activity.

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376881190310_791745310_10104008_5568061_n.jp g

They spent time coloring, playing with their I-spy bags, and listening to music.

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376881215310_791745310_10104011_6052606_n.jp g

Let me just tell you that the crayon roll ups and I-Spy bags were a lifesaver during our flight. In all of our years of flying with children (3-4 times per year for the past 10 years), we have never had such a pleasant flight. Thank you so much to the Vanderbilt Family for the I-Spy bags and Lynn (DIS Id: Cajunfan) for the crayon rollups and other activities which kept the girls busy and quiet for the entire flight!

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376881165310_791745310_10104007_8334204_n.jp g http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs079.snc3/14648_376881200310_791745310_10104009_3649407_n.jp g

Before we knew it, the captain turned on the seatbelt sign and we began our descent into Orlando!
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376881225310_791745310_10104012_5007982_n.jp g


The girls did a wonderful job of toting their own luggage all the way through both airports!
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376881055310_791745310_10103995_5324386_n.jp g

UP NEXT: Act 1: Scene 3 - GKTW Greeter Gone Astray, and Avis, We have a Problem! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34787304&postcount=37)

[praisehisname]

I'm really enjoying your report so far and looking forward to more!

[chancesmom]

I am really enjoying your report so far! Your daughters are beautiful. We are headed to DW in 4 weeks but have another trip planned for early December next year so I am eager to see and hear your report from the same time this year.:):)

[nateryan]

Great TR! I can't wait for the next post and to see how your trip went. I love that week(s) in December...best time to go to WDW!

[p00h4me]

A great start to your trip report! I'll be checking in to read all about it. :yay:

[christymarie]

LOL, I sleep the same was as you the day before going to Disney. :surfweb: I have no idea why I even try.:confused3

I love the girls' response to the Limo. Especially that it "glows in the dark", too funny.:thumbsup2

Can't wait for the next installment!!
:yay::yay:

[pinkxray]

love your report so far, can't wait for more pictures

[lillylynnb]

Your girls are so cute cant wait to see more pics!!!

[sweetpeakaris]

Your girls are Adorable! Can't wait to read more.

[StefaniLyn]

I'm really enjoying your report so far and looking forward to more!
I'm so glad you are enjoying it! I hope to post at least one more installment today. I noticed that you are from Baltimore. We spent 2 months there in the summer of 2008 - it's beautiful! I especially enjoy Inner Harbor!
I am really enjoying your report so far! Your daughters are beautiful. We are headed to DW in 4 weeks but have another trip planned for early December next year so I am eager to see and hear your report from the same time this year.:):)
Thanks! I hope you have a wonderful time on your trip. I think early December is a great time of year for Disney. Crowds were not bad and even though the weather wasn't the typical sunny Florida weather some expect in Florida, it was PERFECT for our family because Bella cannot handle heat very well (even 80's make her miserable). And I am certain now that there is nothing more magical than Disney at Christmastime. My only hang up with early December is that the kids had to miss school.
Great TR! I can't wait for the next post and to see how your trip went. I love that week(s) in December...best time to go to WDW!
I totally agree. I hope to write about our arrival at Give Kids the World Village this afternoon.
A great start to your trip report! I'll be checking in to read all about it. :yay:
:cheer2: Thanks for reading along!
LOL, I sleep the same was as you the day before going to Disney. :surfweb: I have no idea why I even try.:confused3

I love the girls' response to the Limo. Especially that it "glows in the dark", too funny.:thumbsup2

Can't wait for the next installment!!
:yay::yay:
I don't know why I tried to sleep either. Fortunately, I was able to doze off on the plane a little while Bella watched TV and that, combined with the series of catnaps the previous evening was enough to get me through the day.

I think Kennedy thought the blue lights on the side of the limo were the 'glow in the dark' part. :rotfl2: She's so goofy :goofy:
love your report so far, can't wait for more pictures
Thanks! Believe me when I say there are plenty more pictures to come!
Your girls are so cute cant wait to see more pics!!!
Thanks so much! I am fortunate that the girls were all quite cooperative when it came to my incessant "smile for a picture" requests on this trip!
Your girls are Adorable! Can't wait to read more.
Thank you! :hug: I look forward to sharing many details of our trip with you!

[pacrosby]

Hi Stefanilyn.....I'm following along too! Lurking more than anything as I'm just popping in and out as I try to pull my own TR together.

This TR thing is like a full-time job isn't it?????

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

[buzz for boys]

Love your report so far !!
We did a wish trip in 2005 and I just love seeing and reading about other wish trips - brings back such wonderful memories of GKTW!!
Cant wait to read more x x x

[MBKELmom]

Loving your TR. can't wait to read more.

[paintnolish]

Great TR so far! Your title sucked me in- I have a Bella as well! We also call her BellaBoo, but she does not go for Izzy (although I like it- it has spunk). All of your dds are precious- can't wait to read more!

[ladybugmom]

Hi Stephanie!! I just found your TR and I'm LOVING it!! You sound a lot like me in terms of taking a TON of pics!! I took around 3,000 on our May trip!! :goodvibes I'm looking forward to reading more!!

[Kaler131]

I am also loving your TR!! Your daughters are such cuties!!:goodvibes

[yinyanggirls]

Great to see you got it started! I'm subbing and ready for more. :surfweb:

(I love the limo shot where Bella fell asleep ON Kennedy. :lmao: )

[amamed1]

A fellow Wisconsinite joining in...:)

[kayrosek]

You've started your Tr :banana: I've been waiting to read how Bella's wish trip went!

[hjohnson6]

Great start! I am looking forward to the rest of your TR.

[that's nice]

Stefani-
All caught up! What a great morning (so far!) The girls look so excited! Glad they got a little sleep on the ride to the airport. Every time we leave, Juliana never falls asleep on the way to the airport or on the plane... I wish she would. :rotfl:

I can't wait to hear more! :goodvibes

[All7OfUs]

Finally made it over to the Trip Reports threads after being AWOL for far too long, and howdy-ho!!! You not only started, you've done 3 (:scared1:) installments!!! You work fast!!!

I can't believe your luck at security!!! WOOT!

I love how happy the girls look the whole morning! Another WOOT!

LIMO??!! Cool beans!! You're going in style.

Uh-oh, AVIS, we have a probem? I don't like the sound of that!!

[StefaniLyn]

Before I post replies, I just need to cry:scared:/vent:mad:/pity:guilty: myself a little bit . . .okay, maybe A LOT;). Truth be told, I am devastated . . . . completely, utterly devastated. Before I worry you all too much, everyone in our family is doing just fine, well maybe except me. Did I mention that I am devastated?

Yesterday, as I was typing up another installment for our trip report:surfweb:, I attempted to upload photos from day 3 of our Wish Trip to my Facebook photo albums. I plugged in the USB jump drive that I have ALL photos from Days 1-7 store on and nothing happened. :confused3I removed it, and tried again. NOTHING! The computer wouldn't even try to read the USB port was located in!

I made several more attempts and finally a red light blinked. For a single moment, there was a twinkle of hope! I double clicked the drive and my handy-dandy computer asked me to format the USB because it was corrupt! :scared1:Um, gee mr. computer, are you really asking me if I want to ERASE the ONLY photos I have from Days 1-7 of my daughter's WISH TRIP? :mad:Yup, you guessed it, because of the enormous number of photos I took on this trip, I had moved all photos from my camera memory cards onto a set of two 8G USB sticks every evening after we returned from the parks. A smart woman would have then created CDs or backed them up somehow, but of course, I did not. :headache:

ALL of my photos were on these two memory sticks and now one of them (days 1-7)was completely not working! I chose not to format, and quickly called my computer programmer uncle. He offered a couple of suggestions and preliminarily diagnosed the problem. He thinks the filing system is likely corrupt on the jump drive and because of that it can't be read on the computer. Unfortunately, none of his suggestions remedied the situation. I also tried to use a photo recovery program for memory cards, but to no avail. Our photos are hopelessly locked inside a 3 inch piece of plastic and metal!

And that, my friends, is the cause of my pity party today. Most of my photos from days 1-7 are gone. :sad1: I do have about 10 photos from each day that I previously printed for the girls to take to school, but that is maybe 5% of what was there. All of the details, the precious moments, the magical looks on the girls faces . . . . all gone.

Instead of posting an update yesterday as I had hoped, I spent most of the afternoon desperately searching memory cards with a photo recovery program for any remnant of any pictures from those 7 missing days. :surfweb:I found a handful of pictures from Sea World, and one or two from a few other days, but so much is still missing. And when I wasn't on my computer looking for the pictures, I was in my room, crying. :sad1:I know . . . . it's pathetic. But I bawled my eyes out like a baby over the loss of those pictures.

I don't know why, but photos have always been so incredibly, inexplicably precious to me. For me, every single photograph captures a precious moment, an emotion, or a memory that I want to keep in my heart forever. When Bella was in the NICU struggling to live after she was born and I had to leave the hospital empty handed each and every night for 84 days, I always had my photos of her nearby to comfort me. When she was diagnosed with epilepsy just after our first trip to the World, I always had photos of the happy times we had at Disney nearby to remind me of better days. During difficult times (and believe me, there are lots) I have always had my many, many photos to provide comfort and remind me that it can, and will, get better. But now. . . . . now a huge chunk of photos from our AMAZING Wish Trip are gone, and I am devastated. :sad2:

I don't know what to do next, but I am almost certain the situation is hopeless. My uncle mentioned taking a look at the USB jump drive sometime this week, but he didn't sound optimistic.

So that, my friends, is my sob story for today. I am so sorry for the depressing post, especially for those of you who were hoping to read another exciting installment of Bella's Wish Trip. I promise, it will be on it's way soon. I just needed to get this off my chest first.

I also apologize because it now appears that this Trip Report won't be nearly as photo-packed as initially promised due to the recent events. However, I do promise to include whatever photos I have recovered and be as detailed as possible. I hope you will continue to enjoy reading along.

[kdzbear]

Great trip report so far! I also took as many pictures as you did. Just be careful with photobucket as you will exceed your bandwidth allowance before you ever reach your maximum allowance of photos. I guess that each time someone looks at a photo it uses some of your bandwidth. I had to make my husband his own photobucket account so I could continue my report. I just thought I would give you a head's up. I can't wait to see all of the photos! Your daughters are adorable! :cutie: :cutie: :cutie:

[StefaniLyn]

Hi Stefanilyn.....I'm following along too! Lurking more than anything as I'm just popping in and out as I try to pull my own TR together.

This TR thing is like a full-time job isn't it?????

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739
You're doing a better job than I am, lol! I quickly read Maroo's TR about Matty's magic moment and have been peeking at yours every once in a while too! Amazing! I just love it! Sorry I'm being a lurker as well!
Love your report so far !!
We did a wish trip in 2005 and I just love seeing and reading about other wish trips - brings back such wonderful memories of GKTW!!
Cant wait to read more x x x
Thanks so much! I hope your Wish Kid is doing well. I know the memories we created on this wish trip will always hold a special place in our hearts!
Loving your TR. can't wait to read more.
Thanks. I've almost finished another installment!
Great TR so far! Your title sucked me in- I have a Bella as well! We also call her BellaBoo, but she does not go for Izzy (although I like it- it has spunk). All of your dds are precious- can't wait to read more!
Awwww. . . . another Bella, YEA! How old is your Bella? I like that Isabella is a more old-fashioned traditional name that is making a bit of a comeback. I love Bella's nicknames too. BellaBoo is the most commonly used for her, and Izzy is one used by her Uncle and Auntie.
Hi Stephanie!! I just found your TR and I'm LOVING it!! You sound a lot like me in terms of taking a TON of pics!! I took around 3,000 on our May trip!! :goodvibes I'm looking forward to reading more!!
Hello fellow photo-enthusiast! I love Love LOVE taking photos just like you do. I get so much grief from my family and friends about always taking photos of everything, but I don't care. In my opinion, the more pictures, the merrier!
I am also loving your TR!! Your daughters are such cuties!!:goodvibes
Thanks so much! I totally agree :rotfl2: but then again, I am a little biased!
Great to see you got it started! I'm subbing and ready for more. :surfweb:

(I love the limo shot where Bella fell asleep ON Kennedy. :lmao: )
That is one of my favorites as well. Especially with Minnie Mouse in the photo too!
A fellow Wisconsinite joining in...:)
Welcome Cheesehead! I hope you're able to stay warm while reading thie TR. It's freeeeeezzzzzzzing here!
You've started your Tr :banana: I've been waiting to read how Bella's wish trip went!
I'm so happy to finally get started! The trip was . . . AMAZING!!!!
Great start! I am looking forward to the rest of your TR.
Thanks! I hope you enjoy the rest as well!
Stefani-
All caught up! What a great morning (so far!) The girls look so excited! Glad they got a little sleep on the ride to the airport. Every time we leave, Juliana never falls asleep on the way to the airport or on the plane... I wish she would. :rotfl:

I can't wait to hear more! :goodvibes
Bella actually napped 4 times our first day! I was so happy they all fell asleep. Had they not, Day 1 could have been disastrous with 3 little cranky pants girls!
Finally made it over to the Trip Reports threads after being AWOL for far too long, and howdy-ho!!! You not only started, you've done 3 (:scared1:) installments!!! You work fast!!!

I can't believe your luck at security!!! WOOT!

I love how happy the girls look the whole morning! Another WOOT!

LIMO??!! Cool beans!! You're going in style.

Uh-oh, AVIS, we have a probem? I don't like the sound of that!!

Welcome Liesa! 3 installments, yes. Progress, well . . .not so much. We haven't even left the airport yet! :rotfl2: The limo was a great kick off for our trip - it was a great way to give the girls a taste of the first class royal treatment we would recieve throughout the trip. And Avis did have a problem . . . but you'll have to read about that in the next installment. :goodvibes

[Rozz]

I cry with you! Hoping for a miracle with the jump drive.pixiedust:

[paintnolish]

Hey! My Bella is 8 (going on 16!). I love the name, but I saw it was #1 last year!
Let me know what happens with your photos. Xh (yes, I said "x") is fabulous with computers and could probably help you out. PM me if you are interested. He'd probably do it for free or at the cost of anything he needs given the circumstances.

[maroo]

Oh. My. Gosh.

I guess it *may* be a little extreme to alert the prayer change for a jump drive....

But I, too, am crying with you. Oh no!!!!!

Don't feel bad at ALL about crying over those missing photos. That is a big loss. (Gosh, I am sure that made you feel much better. :rolleyes:) But really...don't be too hard on yourself.

I bet they can fix it, though! Take it to a computer geek...hopefully they can get them off for ya.

And...just in case...VERY SOON...upload the pics to Photobucket and another computer...just in case there is some funky virus?

If you can't get it to work, PM me...we can find someone to work on it, too.

You did PhotoPass, too, right?

[StefaniLyn]

The duration of our flight was pleasant and with the exception of 5 minutes of mild turbulence, smooth. However, for some reason unknown to me, by the time we touched down we were 25 minutes behind schedule. I’m not sure where the delay came from. We had taken off 5 minutes ahead of schedule and, aside from that small bit of turbulence, the flight was uneventful. As we walked up the jet way, we could feel the warmth of Florida welcoming us. We were finally HERE!

With the girls still toting their luggage, we quickly took the monorail

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376881065310_791745310_10103996_6613140_n.jp g

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs059.snc3/14648_376881075310_791745310_10103998_7711475_n.jp g

to the main terminal and headed down towards baggage.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376881235310_791745310_10104013_5603357_n.jp g

I kept my eyes peeled for a GKTW greeter that was supposed to be meeting us. We stopped for a quick photo by the Christmas tree near srcurity. We were in such a rush, it came out blurry! Sorry!

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs059.snc3/14648_376881090310_791745310_10103999_4589735_n.jp g

If you are familiar with Wish trips or have read other Wish Trip Reports, you already know that upon arrival, a GKTW greeter is supposed to be standing with a big sign that says “Welcome” and the Wish Kid’s name. I was truly giddy with excitement and anticipating that tear-jerking moment of ‘Welcome” Welcome to the most amazing family vacation you will ever experience. Welcome to a Dream come True. Welcome. Welcome. Welcome.

Only, there was no greeter.
We made it all the way to baggage claim . . . . still no greeter.
We collected our bags from the carousel. . . . nope, no greeter yet.

Then we found Grandma Chari! Her flight from Indianapolis had arrived just a few minutes before ours. Hugs and kisses all around for Grandma. . . . . but still no greeter. At least the girls were still in a good mood and not complaining about hunger . . . yet!

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376881095310_791745310_10104000_2868331_n.jp g

Like a Boy Scout and prepared for anything thanks to my super-duper must-be-ready-for-anything planning, I pulled out my Wish Trip Manual and remained calm. I asked DH and DMIL to wait with the girls while I attempted to contact someone at the in-house phone number given in our wish packet. Unfortunately, the number did not work and all I got was a busy signal. :confused3

Frustrated and a little disheartened, I went back upstairs to the information desk. I explained our situation and a GKTW greeter was paged. I waited. No greeter. A second page went out over the loudspeaker. It took about 10 more minutes and a greeter finally arrived. He posed for this picture with Bella and her sign.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376881105310_791745310_10104001_6895570_n.jp g

Our greeter’s name was Stephen and he apologized right away for not meeting us upon our arrival. Apparently he wasn’t aware of the delay in landing and had waited for 20 minutes before leaving the baggage area. We must have missed him by just a few minutes.

We gathered the baggage once more and Stephen lead us across the street to the Avis rental car counter.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs079.snc3/14648_376881120310_791745310_10104002_5926944_n.jp g

Stephen and DH waited in a short line and within in minutes, had the keys for our vehicle in hand. We were so excited to finally be on our way to the magical Give Kids the World Village . . . . or so we thought.

There was a little problem. Upon finding our vehicle in the lot, we quickly realized that a mistake had been made somewhere. Our itinerary clearly stated we would have a minivan for our trip as we had 6 guests and this 5 passenger Vue:
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376881140310_791745310_10104004_4042200_n.jp g

Probably wouldn’t even fit all of our luggage! So Ben and Steven returned to the Avis counter to get the situation straightened out. Avis called GKTW who in turn called Make A Wish - Wisconsin who then needed to speak with our Wish Coordinator, then call back to GKTW who had to call Avis for authorization. It took another 30 minutes before we could get on our way.

While waiting for the situation to get sorted out, we chatted with our greeter, Stephen, and found out that he was actually performing in several of the Candlelight Processionals at Epcot! We told him that we would be attending Saturday’s 5:00 performance with guest narrator Steven Curtis Chapman. Unfortunately, Stephen was not going to be in the performance we were scheduled to attend. I asked him about a million questions about CP, GKTW, and Disney. He was very knowledgeable and answered all of them! I also asked him if anyone (Hint HINT, a Wish Kid maybe?) was ever able to meet the guest narrators but he said he wasn’t aware of that happening. Oh well!

After a little more small talk to pass the time, the rental car situation was finally resolved and we were given a very nice green Volkswagen Routan minivan. Ahhhhh . . . much better! Grandma won’t be forced to ride on the roof after all!

Finally, finally, we were on our way! The luggage was loaded, the kids were buckled in, and the GPS, with her Tinkerbell voice and Tink vehicle icon downloaded specifically for this trip, was telling us where to go.

After a 35 minute ride, we finally arrived at the most magical place in the world . . . Give Kids the World Village - a place made just for Wish kids and their families to stay while in Orlando. The magical gates opened and . . .
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376900045310_791745310_10104234_6837923_n.jp g

Act 1: Scene 4 - It's No Castle, but it sure does feel like HOME! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34819591&postcount=71)

[StefaniLyn]

Great trip report so far! I also took as many pictures as you did. Just be careful with photobucket as you will exceed your bandwidth allowance before you ever reach your maximum allowance of photos. I guess that each time someone looks at a photo it uses some of your bandwidth. I had to make my husband his own photobucket account so I could continue my report. I just thought I would give you a head's up. I can't wait to see all of the photos! Your daughters are adorable! :cutie: :cutie: :cutie:
Thanks for the tips. That is great information to know. I was actually hosting my pictures on Facebook. It had been working fine but for the last two days I get an "upload failed: try again" message every time I uplaod. I may need to move over to photobucket if Facebook doesn't cooperate soon. DH and DD10 both have separate email accounts so I may be starting photobucket accounts under their names to spread out the photos.
I cry with you! Hoping for a miracle with the jump drive.pixiedust:
Thanks. :hug: I am praying for a miracle too.
Hey! My Bella is 8 (going on 16!). I love the name, but I saw it was #1 last year!
Let me know what happens with your photos. Xh (yes, I said "x") is fabulous with computers and could probably help you out. PM me if you are interested. He'd probably do it for free or at the cost of anything he needs given the circumstances.
I will definitely let you know if my uncle isn't able to recover the photos. He definitely knows his way around a computer and for him to be pessimistic really worries me. Thank you so much for your offer to help. I will PM you if we are unsuccessful tomorrow.
Oh. My. Gosh.

I guess it *may* be a little extreme to alert the prayer change for a jump drive....

But I, too, am crying with you. Oh no!!!!!

Don't feel bad at ALL about crying over those missing photos. That is a big loss. (Gosh, I am sure that made you feel much better. :rolleyes:) But really...don't be too hard on yourself.

I bet they can fix it, though! Take it to a computer geek...hopefully they can get them off for ya.

And...just in case...VERY SOON...upload the pics to Photobucket and another computer...just in case there is some funky virus?

If you can't get it to work, PM me...we can find someone to work on it, too.

You did PhotoPass, too, right?

I do feel a little selfish praying for a jump drive, but then agian, this isn't just any jump drive. It's a WISH TRIP! In fact, when I attempted to pull files from the drive onto my computer, I actually named the folder 'PleaseLord.' Sadly, the file remains empty.

I am hoping to get it to my uncle tomorrow sometime. If he can't do it, there is another DISer (see above) who has offered assistance. I also did a little googling and found a couple of services who claim 96% success rates for recovering files from damaged jump drives. So I still have some options. But I'm not getting my hopes up.

As per your suggestion, I am going to upload the photos to several sites this evening. I hope it's not a virus, but who knows? :confused3

And yes, thanks to you, I did do photopass! I need to call them though because our pics from the entrance at Epcot are missing from my account. If they are able to find those, then I will be ordering our CD ASAP.

[ladybugmom]

LOVE your update--sorry for all of the bumps in the road but how exciting that you are finally there!!!

And I was so sick reading your update about your photos--I would be flipping out if that happened to me! I'm praying you can access them somehow!! :goodvibes

[kayrosek]

I am so sorry to hear about the possible demise of your poor photos. I hope they can be revived. I haven't read the last update on the trip yet ( I can't wait) but I had to post about the photos first. I totally understand. A few years ago everything from our house was taken in the middle of a move unfortunatley that included all of our pictures. Pictures from my childhood, my husbands, his time in the military, all of our kids baby pictures including the ones from those long hospital stays when my little boy was sick, birthday's even most of our wedding pics. I still mourn those photos! I will definatley be praying you find a way to retrieve your photos. Now I'm off to read your latest TR entry.

[kimmylaj]

love the update. so sad about your pictures. my pics from 2007 trip got lost in my computer. the thing crashed before i backed them up and they are all gone. i understand crying about them, trust me i understand

[jessica52877]

Oh no! I would be crying too! Not silly at all. In fact I have cried over lost pictures!! More then once (I don't learn quick do I?). I found out after the fact that I could have taken my card to a camera store (or some good folks at disney sometimes) and they probably could have recovered most. I didn't know that at the time though.

So, maybe just maybe, they could do something with your jump drive???

[cleostar09]

Oh NOO Stephanie!!!! I'm so sorry about your pictures!! I'm very excited for your TR anyway!! Did you get my other post about our girls meeting up? Sunny and Bella sat at the Ice Cream Shop and chatted for a bit. They got the same toy at Christmas... LOL

[that's nice]

I feel horrible about the pictures. I hope someone is able to help you get them back.


Glad MAW was able to rectify the van situation... You had me LOL about putting grandma on the roof! :lmao:

[StefaniLyn]

LOVE your update--sorry for all of the bumps in the road but how exciting that you are finally there!!!

And I was so sick reading your update about your photos--I would be flipping out if that happened to me! I'm praying you can access them somehow!! :goodvibes
Thanks. We did hit a couple more bumps on our first day, but it was no big deal. I'm working on our GKTWarrival update right now.

The lost photos still make me tear up every time I think about it but I am slightly less pessimistic than yesterday after reading several posts with offers of assistance. Thank you for your prayers.
I am so sorry to hear about the possible demise of your poor photos. I hope they can be revived. I haven't read the last update on the trip yet ( I can't wait) but I had to post about the photos first. I totally understand. A few years ago everything from our house was taken in the middle of a move unfortunatley that included all of our pictures. Pictures from my childhood, my husbands, his time in the military, all of our kids baby pictures including the ones from those long hospital stays when my little boy was sick, birthday's even most of our wedding pics. I still mourn those photos! I will definatley be praying you find a way to retrieve your photos. Now I'm off to read your latest TR entry.
I am so sorry about the loss of your photos. I cannot imagine losing so many of your precious memories. As if moving isn't stressful enough, and you had to deal with that as well? You have every reason to continue to mourn. I would probably require hospitalization if I lost that many photos.

love the update. so sad about your pictures. my pics from 2007 trip got lost in my computer. the thing crashed before i backed them up and they are all gone. i understand crying about them, trust me i understand
I'm sorry abour your lost pictures. I feel your pain, lol! The silly thing for me is that I know better than to put all my eggs (photos) in one basket (jump drive). But with Christmas and the chaos surrounding the last couple of weeks, I just didn't make the time to back them up. My bad. Lesson learned (the hard way).
Oh no! I would be crying too! Not silly at all. In fact I have cried over lost pictures!! More then once (I don't learn quick do I?). I found out after the fact that I could have taken my card to a camera store (or some good folks at disney sometimes) and they probably could have recovered most. I didn't know that at the time though.

So, maybe just maybe, they could do something with your jump drive???

I am looking into a few options right now to recover the photos on the jump drive and I will definitely post here first if there is any success. First my uncle will take a look at it. If he can't do anything with it, a couple people here on the DIS (which I now deem the 2nd happiest place on Earth), might be able to help. And if not, I have found a service that claims a 96% success rate for recovering information on damaged drives. It would cost $50-100, but well worth it in my opinion.

[All7OfUs]

This is so incredibly sad to me!! I"m really praying for a major miracle here- but have every hope you'll get them back!!!

Glad the car thing worked out! Even though 30 minutes doesn't seem long on a regular day, this ISN"T a REGULAR day!!!! You were trying to get somewhere important!!!

[heaven2dc]

Oh no!! I feel so terribly bad for you and completely understand how important photos are especially for such a magical trip as this. I keep hoping somehow you will come on here and say that they magically appeared and all was right with the world but in the meantime here's a :hug:

Your princesses are adorable - loved their princess capes!

[StefaniLyn]

Oh NOO Stephanie!!!! I'm so sorry about your pictures!! I'm very excited for your TR anyway!! Did you get my other post about our girls meeting up? Sunny and Bella sat at the Ice Cream Shop and chatted for a bit. They got the same toy at Christmas... LOL
I did get your other post . . . . .I thought I replied to it? Hmmmm maybe over on my PTR. Let me check. Ah yes, here it is:

Originally Posted by cleostar09
Hey I hope your trip was AMAZING!! Funny story My family and I ran into your girls EVERYWHERE! But every time we did you were not with them. Sunny and Bella talked for awhile after the Christmas Party because they had gotten the same toy from Santa. LOL

I can't believe we kept missing eachother! I wish I had been able to meet you and your family. My MIL told me about meeting your family at GKTW Christmas while I was in orientation. Any chance you got a picture of Bella and Sunny?


Sorry, it took me a while to reply to posts on my PTR. The holidays were twice as crazy after being gone for 10 days!
I feel horrible about the pictures. I hope someone is able to help you get them back.


Glad MAW was able to rectify the van situation... You had me LOL about putting grandma on the roof! :lmao:
Thanks Tim, I hope so too.

I literally dropped my suitcase when I saw the first vehicle. Honestly our luggage would not have even fit in that thing! And you know we wouldn't REALLY put grandma on the roof, right? It would have been DD10 AJ because by that time she was whining like crazy about being sooooooo hungry! :rotfl2:
This is so incredibly sad to me!! I"m really praying for a major miracle here- but have every hope you'll get them back!!!

Glad the car thing worked out! Even though 30 minutes doesn't seem long on a regular day, this ISN"T a REGULAR day!!!! You were trying to get somewhere important!!!
The extra time spent with Avis along with the tardiness of our flight actually messed up our plans a little. I was hoping to go to Wal-Mart after we ate lunch but instead we ended up going after the kids were in bed that evening. It wasn't a huge deal, but we didn't have extra food for Bella so she only had 3 meals that day instead of 4 as planned.

Oh no!! I feel so terribly bad for you and completely understand how important photos are especially for such a magical trip as this. I keep hoping somehow you will come on here and say that they magically appeared and all was right with the world but in the meantime here's a :hug:

Your princesses are adorable - loved their princess capes!

Thanks for the hug. :hug: After posting on here and reading replies, I have more hope than I did previously. And although I would love to keep checking the drive in my computer to see if they have magically appeared, I have been instructed not to put the jump drive back into the computer until my uncle looks at it to prevent further damage. I am headed out to pick AJ up from a DI meeting and when I return I am going to call my uncle.

I love those capes too! I actually purchased them on clearance about 18 months ago from disneyshopping.com with a $25 credit (making them free!) I recieved for signing up for a Disney Visa. Who knew then that they would be PERFECT for our Christmastime Wish Trip to Disneyworld?

[kdzbear]

Oh no! I know exactly how you feel about your photos. I hope that someone with more knowledge will be able to recover them. When Tyler was 6 months old I lost about 3 months of photos. We were having problems with one of our computer drives and when the technician changed it out, he never checked to see if there was a disk in it. I had emptied it and then grandma called and needed a photo so I put a disk in to print it for her and forgot to take it out. The technician had already mailed the drive back and it was never found. However, just two weeks ago I was on FB and someone sent me a code to a website for a free photobook. It was a site that I don't remember going to, but there were many of my missing photos. I had previously checked all of the sites that I regularly upload photos to. They were not all there, but enough of them were. I was so happy! I have also recovered photos from erased memory sticks before so I think you will be able to as well! Good Luck! :wizard:

[Chelley00]

Oh no. I think I cried a little for you. I'm a huge picture freak, and I would have just cried if I lost my pictures from any trip. I hope you get everything recovered!

[buzz for boys]

HI,
Im so gutted for you I believe when you have special children photos take on a whole new meaning and in bad imes I know photos keep me going!!
Now heres a strange suggestion but have you tried phoning gktw and asking if they can help?? They have afab team of tech guys that managed to get a video from a corrupt disc so they may be able to help you !! Worth a shot !!!!
Hope you manage to retrieve them soon
LOuise x

[pipersmom]

Okay..I don't know how in the world I missed that you had started this, but I'm here now!! The girls reaction to the limo was soo classic. I haven't mentioned to Piper yet that someone will be picking us up, but I also don't know if it will be a limo, towncar, etc. I'm with Melissa..the picture of Bella and Kennedy sleeping in the limo was tooo cute. Eeks at not finding the GKTW Greeter, but good thinking on your part to having him paged, I don't know that I would have thought of that!! LOL@ grandma on the roof..when Piper starts acting up in the car, I ask her if she'd rather ride on the roof..lolol.

I have to say, when I read about your drive I literally got nauseous..praying that your Uncle or someone else will be able to recover them for you. I think any of us put into that situation would have been crying our eyes out, I'm almost crying for you right now just thinking about it!

Looking forward to the next installment..and the next..and the one after that! I've loved following along with you guys..I enjoyed reading all the completed wish trip reports, but I think it's even cooler when you can follow the whole thing from pre-trip to post-trip!

[maroo]

Thanks for the tips. That is great information to know. I was actually hosting my pictures on Facebook. It had been working fine but for the last two days I get an "upload failed: try again" message every time I uplaod. I may need to move over to photobucket if Facebook doesn't cooperate soon. DH and DD10 both have separate email accounts so I may be starting photobucket accounts under their names to spread out the photos.

Thanks. :hug: I am praying for a miracle too.

I will definitely let you know if my uncle isn't able to recover the photos. He definitely knows his way around a computer and for him to be pessimistic really worries me. Thank you so much for your offer to help. I will PM you if we are unsuccessful tomorrow.




I do feel a little selfish praying for a jump drive, but then agian, this isn't just any jump drive. It's a WISH TRIP! In fact, when I attempted to pull files from the drive onto my computer, I actually named the folder 'PleaseLord.' Sadly, the file remains empty.

I am hoping to get it to my uncle tomorrow sometime. If he can't do it, there is another DISer (see above) who has offered assistance. I also did a little googling and found a couple of services who claim 96% success rates for recovering files from damaged jump drives. So I still have some options. But I'm not getting my hopes up.

As per your suggestion, I am going to upload the photos to several sites this evening. I hope it's not a virus, but who knows? :confused3

And yes, thanks to you, I did do photopass! I need to call them though because our pics from the entrance at Epcot are missing from my account. If they are able to find those, then I will be ordering our CD ASAP.


Just for the sake of clarification...because I went back and read what I wrote...and want to make sure I was clear...


I was praying...fervently...to have your jump drive fixed to find those pictures!

And I even entertained the notion of alerting our "emergency" prayer chain...but figured they may not quite "get it"...(which is what I meant when I said I would not alert the prayer chain...)

Just wanted to clarify...that I have, indeed, been praying that you get those pics back and that I definitely think it is prayer worthy! :thumbsup2 I hope that made sense.

[pacrosby]

Just add me to the long list of 'friends' here who are feeling your pain. I got a little teary myself as I was reading your red alert.

I also must add that I thought those capes were soooo cute. I had thought perhaps you had made them (or someone had made them for you)

Enjoying your report and looking forward to reading more!!

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR (completed and closed) http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

[StefaniLyn]

Oh no! I know exactly how you feel about your photos. I hope that someone with more knowledge will be able to recover them. When Tyler was 6 months old I lost about 3 months of photos. We were having problems with one of our computer drives and when the technician changed it out, he never checked to see if there was a disk in it. I had emptied it and then grandma called and needed a photo so I put a disk in to print it for her and forgot to take it out. The technician had already mailed the drive back and it was never found. However, just two weeks ago I was on FB and someone sent me a code to a website for a free photobook. It was a site that I don't remember going to, but there were many of my missing photos. I had previously checked all of the sites that I regularly upload photos to. They were not all there, but enough of them were. I was so happy! I have also recovered photos from erased memory sticks before so I think you will be able to as well! Good Luck! :wizard:
I am so glad you were able to recover some of your lost photos. Those baby pics are so precious :lovestruc
Oh no. I think I cried a little for you. I'm a huge picture freak, and I would have just cried if I lost my pictures from any trip. I hope you get everything recovered!
Thanks. I hope some of it can be recovered as well, but I'm not holding my breath. Every time I think about it :sad1:
HI,
Im so gutted for you I believe when you have special children photos take on a whole new meaning and in bad imes I know photos keep me going!!
Now heres a strange suggestion but have you tried phoning gktw and asking if they can help?? They have afab team of tech guys that managed to get a video from a corrupt disc so they may be able to help you !! Worth a shot !!!!
Hope you manage to retrieve them soon
LOuise x
They are so very precious to me. It's so hard to believe they can be wiped out in an instant. Just. Not. Fair. I hadn't thought of calling GKTW. I have a couple other avenues that I will explore first, but I might give them a call if those aren't successful.
Okay..I don't know how in the world I missed that you had started this, but I'm here now!! The girls reaction to the limo was soo classic. I haven't mentioned to Piper yet that someone will be picking us up, but I also don't know if it will be a limo, towncar, etc. I'm with Melissa..the picture of Bella and Kennedy sleeping in the limo was tooo cute. Eeks at not finding the GKTW Greeter, but good thinking on your part to having him paged, I don't know that I would have thought of that!! LOL@ grandma on the roof..when Piper starts acting up in the car, I ask her if she'd rather ride on the roof..lolol.

I have to say, when I read about your drive I literally got nauseous..praying that your Uncle or someone else will be able to recover them for you. I think any of us put into that situation would have been crying our eyes out, I'm almost crying for you right now just thinking about it!

Looking forward to the next installment..and the next..and the one after that! I've loved following along with you guys..I enjoyed reading all the completed wish trip reports, but I think it's even cooler when you can follow the whole thing from pre-trip to post-trip!
Welcome! Glad you made it over here!

The Limo was great and I hope Piper gets one too! I know it is the 'standard practice' for Wish Kids here in WI to get a limo, but I'm not sure about other states.

I was pretty sad about the (lack of a) greeter too to be honest. It was one of those moments that I truly looked forward to.

The photos . . . oh the photos. How I miss those photos so much. I keep praying for a miracle.

I'm going to try and get another installment written today, maybe. It's difficult because everytime I start writing, I think of those pictures and then the waterworks start all over again.
Just for the sake of clarification...because I went back and read what I wrote...and want to make sure I was clear...

I was praying...fervently...to have your jump drive fixed to find those pictures!

And I even entertained the notion of alerting our "emergency" prayer chain...but figured they may not quite "get it"...(which is what I meant when I said I would not alert the prayer chain...)

Just wanted to clarify...that I have, indeed, been praying that you get those pics back and that I definitely think it is prayer worthy! :thumbsup2 I hope that made sense.
Thank you for your prayers Maroo.
Just add me to the long list of 'friends' here who are feeling your pain. I got a little teary myself as I was reading your red alert.

I also must add that I thought those capes were soooo cute. I had thought perhaps you had made them (or someone had made them for you)

Enjoying your report and looking forward to reading more!!

Pamela

Thanks so much Pamela.

The capes were wonderful during our trip. Just enough to keep the girls warm and stylish enough for pictures. :rotfl2:

The next installment of my trip (check in) is going to be a little depressing, especially after reading your installment yesterday. Let's just say I should have been more persistent with our check in person. :( But fortunately, it will get better from there!

[StefaniLyn]

I called my Uncle Kirk yesterday morning to see if he was available to take a look at the flash drive which holds hundreds of very precious pictures from days 1-7 of Bella's Wish Trip. He told me to come over anytime, so I fed the kids lunch early and we headed out. Thankfully, he just lives about 15 minutes away so it was a quick drive.

I spent the next 3 and a half hours at my uncle's house. He tried every recovery program he has and nothing worked. He went over the drive with programs that read each tiny bit of every nook and cranny of the drive and was unable to recover even a single piece of anything. It appears that the drive is not simply corrupt as I suspected, but completely erased! I fear now that the photos are gone forever. :sad1::sad1::sad1:

Kirk said that sometimes flash drives can just be erased in an instant because of static, electrical surge, or magnets. None of those were around my computer at the time that I am aware of, but alas, the drive appears to be empty. Everything is completely gone. As my uncle explained it to me in computer lingo, it's like someone took the series of 1's and 0's that makes up the digital images and reset them all to 0's. And once it is that far gone, I'm not sure they can be recovered. Digital photographers take note of this very important lesson. DO NOT save anything onto a flash drive that you don't have copies of in another location. I learned this this hard way.

The little twinkle of hope I had is fading fast. I can't even look at the drive without breaking down into tears. And although I'm trying to avoid losing it in front of the kids, it just sometimes happens. The poor kids must think mom has gone crazy. When I'm not crying, my eyes are red from wiping away tears. To be completely childish about it . . . . It's just not FAIR! Talk about a case of post Disney Wish Trip Depression. I don't think it could get much worse than this.

A dear friend of mine has offered to have some of her techies at work take a look at it so I will be sending it off to her in the next day or so. I don't know if anything can be done, but I must exhaust all possibilities to maintain my own sanity at this point.

I can't quite explain why this affects me so profoundly or how much these pictures mean to me. Like a mom buckling her kid into a car seat, a smart woman would have backed these pictures up - multiple times. I have no good excuse for not having copies of these pictures, and thus have only myself to blame for the loss. There were so many precious moments captured in those pictures that are now gone forever:

~Bella and her GKTW greeter (on facebook, but not printed)
~Bella's Star on the ceiling at the GKTW Castle of Miracles and her making her special pillow there. Also almost all pictures of the carousel at GKTW (we rode every day and I took photos almost every time). Many more casual GKTW pictures. Losing these photos hurts the most.
~MVMCP - the parade, fireworks, and ride pictures. I do have some photopass pics.
~AK safari pictures - I only have 3 out of 100+
~Everyone's first taste of Beverly at Epcot (I do have AJ's reaction)
~Kim Possible Mission moments - I documented every clue.
~Bass Fishing on 7 Seas Lagoon. I had photos of every fish but only printed a few of them.
~Bella eating a magically pleasant meal and playing checkers with me in the Wish Room at MK. We will never even see the inside of the Wish room again.
~so many more. I could go on and on. As best I can, I will try to explain these in detail so you can mentally picture it while I'm writing my trip report. I am sorry I won't have the photos to share with you.

What really, really sucks is that I can literally picture almost every single photo in my mind. If only my level of artistry rose above stick figures I would spend my time recreating them all. But alas, until my memory fails me, it seems that these mental photographs will be all I am able to recover from the flash drive fiasco.

In trying to look at the bright side of things, I hope my experience has encouraged all of you to back up your precious memories and save every photograph in multiple locations. CDs are so inexpensive and easy to burn. Maroo posted some great tips on her PTR as well - stuff like having copies somewhere outside your home, etc. I find some comfort in knowing that even one other' person's photos might be saved because they read about my mistake and backed them up.

[thatkid]

I'm so sorry you lost your pictures. I'm in the process of backing mine up right now- to 5 different places. I really hope someone can help find them.

[praisehisname]

So glad that you arrived safely and got the rental car worked out!

I'm so so sorry about your pictures! :hug: I can only imagine how devastated you must be. You have absolutely inspired me to have multiple backups of my photos.

[kdzbear]

I am so sorry about the loss of your pictures. I know I can't replace the pictures of your girls. However, if you would like I will put all of my generic (without my family members) pictures on a disk including the ones I took of the Christmas Party and mail them to you, I will. Then at least you will have a little piece of the magic back. Send me an IM if you would like this and I will put one in the mail tomorrow.

:grouphug: - Kristin

[StefaniLyn]

I'm so sorry you lost your pictures. I'm in the process of backing mine up right now- to 5 different places. I really hope someone can help find them.
I am so glad you are backing yours up! The ones I have left have been backed up on 3 different websites as well as on CDs (one in our firesafe and another in my backpack) and on the original #2 flashdrive. Gee, do you think I learned my lesson? I hope so to. Too bad I don't know any CSI stars. They make data recovery look so easy!
So glad that you arrived safely and got the rental car worked out!

I'm so so sorry about your pictures! :hug: I can only imagine how devastated you must be. You have absolutely inspired me to have multiple backups of my photos.
I'm glad the rental worked out too. If it was just a matter of room, I wouldn't have complained (out loud! LOL). But since we literally could not fit everyone in the vehicle something had to be said. Unfortunately, between that, the flight delay, and the absent greeter, we probably lost a couple hours of time. And we were HUNGRY!

I'm glad I inspired you to back up your pictures!
I am so sorry about the loss of your pictures. I know I can't replace the pictures of your girls. However, if you would like I will put all of my generic (without my family members) pictures on a disk including the ones I took of the Christmas Party and mail them to you, I will. Then at least you will have a little piece of the magic back. Send me an IM if you would like this and I will put one in the mail tomorrow.

:grouphug: - Kristin

Thank you Kristin. I think I will take you up on that offer. I miss my Christmas parade pictures already! I will send you a PM.

[Chelley00]

[COLOR="darkorchid"]
Thank you Kristin. I think I will take you up on that offer. I miss my Christmas parade pictures already! I will send you a PM.


and if there is anything she's missing, let me know. I have lots of MVMCP pics, plus holiday decorations, Osbourn lights, trees at the other parks, AK safari, Kim Possible mission clues for Japan, China and Germany etc.

[buzz for boys]

Hi,
I have pics of Gktw that if you havent already got you are more than welcome to have a copy !!
Louise x

[pacrosby]

I'm just so sorry to hear that...........literally, I am teary for you. What can I say? Nothing but reiterate all that everyone else is offering and a group hug from me and my family:grouphug:

Don't be embarrassed or apologetic about crying over this. Anyone with a heart understands and would be doing/feeling the exact same way.

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

[ladybugmom]

Ugggh!! I'm so sorry to hear that! And don't feel sorry for being upset--I'd be reacting the SAME way!!! (((HUGS))) :hug:

[pipersmom]

You know I hadn't thought about it, but if you need pics of the wish lounges or anything at GKTW you don't receive, let me know. We could also prob get a piccie of Bella's star while we're there. Just let me know once you get Kristin's cd and anything else already sent! :hug:

[yinyanggirls]

Amanda beat me to it. I was just thinking, at least you have friends who are about to go and could snap a shot of anything you want to remember. Let us know if we can help.

[StefaniLyn]

and if there is anything she's missing, let me know. I have lots of MVMCP pics, plus holiday decorations, Osbourn lights, trees at the other parks, AK safari, Kim Possible mission clues for Japan, China and Germany etc.
Which KP mission did you do in China? I was just looking through what is left of my pictures and realized that I have several of the girls with the Kimmunicator, but only one of the objects we found. We did the Jade Statue Mission. Any chance you have photos of the clues for that one? (painted soldier, Lion Statue's paw, Cricket in a cage)? I would LOVE to have photos of those! And also the Osbourn lights. I think I have 4 photos out of probably 50. And, and . . . Oh wow, I'd better just send you a PM. Thank you SO MUCH!
Hi,
I have pics of Gktw that if you havent already got you are more than welcome to have a copy !!
Louise x
Thank you Louise. I do have the stock photos that are on the GKTW cd, but if there are any more, I will send you a PM. Thanks! I'm just so sorry to hear that...........literally, I am teary for you. What can I say? Nothing but reiterate all that everyone else is offering and a group hug from me and my family:grouphug:

Don't be embarrassed or apologetic about crying over this. Anyone with a heart understands and would be doing/feeling the exact same way.

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739
I appreciate the hug Pamela! I'm not over it yet (it will probably take years for that) but I am trying to move past it because there just doesn't seem like anything else can be done.
Ugggh!! I'm so sorry to hear that! And don't feel sorry for being upset--I'd be reacting the SAME way!!! (((HUGS))) :hug:
Thanks for the hugs. I just hate being such a Debbie Downer after the wonderful, magical trip we just experienced.
You know I hadn't thought about it, but if you need pics of the wish lounges or anything at GKTW you don't receive, let me know. We could also prob get a piccie of Bella's star while we're there. Just let me know once you get Kristin's cd and anything else already sent! :hug:
Oh great ideas! I will take you up on that offer! and Thank You! I would love to have a picture of Bella's Star on the cieling. I will give you the coordinates before you go if that's still okay with you! And I would love a shot of the Wish Room in MK. Bella pretended to ride on Aladdin's Magic Carpet while we were in there. It ws so cute!
Amanda beat me to it. I was just thinking, at least you have friends who are about to go and could snap a shot of anything you want to remember. Let us know if we can help.

That Amanda, she's quick isnt' she? :rotfl2: I am so grateful to have wonderful friends and fellow Wish Trippers who can help me fill in some of the gaps of lost photos.

[kdzbear]

I have many of the KP clues for China that you are looking for. I also have tons of the Osbourne Lights. Did I mention that I took close to 1,500 photos? I have a few pictures of the England KP mission, but Aaron did most of that with Bre without me and the kids. Are there any characters that you need pictures of? I can see if my kids can be cropped out of some of mine so at least you have a picture of the character you met. You are welcome to use any pictures in your trip report. I will try to get to the post office today.

You are holding together so much better than I would be. Hang in there! You have lots of support her on Dis! :grouphug:

[All7OfUs]

This is like reading some sort of gothic novel, full of dark suspense. I wish I had just read about a happy ending, but not yet. I still have hope!

Can you get other Wish Trippers to send you some photos of the places that you visited that you could have, even if YOUR family isn't in them??

[thatkid]

There's a thread here: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1537784
thats a bunch of generic photos of disney world. I've been using it for the ones i forgot to take, it might help some!

[StefaniLyn]

Let's see, where was I? Oh yes, we had just arrived at Give Kids the World Village:
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs127.snc3/17441_398008840310_791745310_10288125_2676086_n.jp g
We pulled up to the House of Hearts
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376900050310_791745310_10104235_377916_n.jpg

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376900060310_791745310_10104236_2850160_n.jp g

and practically tripped over eachother as we eagerly piled out of the Routan. Upon entering, GKTW staff immediately knew who we were! I felt like a celebrity as they scurried out from behind the desk and greeted us with “You must be the Griggs Family! Is this Isabella?” pointing to Bella. And with a nod of confirmation, then handed her a plush Mickey Mouse!
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376900070310_791745310_10104237_2338667_n.jp g
“And we have these for your sisters. . . “ the spoiling continued as AJ and Kennedy were each given a plush Shamu.
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376900075310_791745310_10104238_7970075_n.jp g

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376900080310_791745310_10104239_6130734_n.jp g
As the girls were quickly occupied with their new plush friends, non-coin operated rides, and exploring the House of Hearts, DH and I sat down at a table with a GKTW Angel (volunteers at GKTW are called Angels) and an Angel in training to began the check in process. It was difficult to focus on the paperwork without being distracted by the magic that surrounded us. I had to take this picture of Shrek hanging out in the Castle of Miracles
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376900085310_791745310_10104240_2414298_n.jp g

As soon as the girls were out of earshot, I quickly, quietly asked about a Castle Villa. For those who are unfamiliar with GKTW or have not read my PTR, Bella’s Wish was to go to Disneyworld and be a Princess. GKTW has several new villas that resemble a castle on the outside. They look like this, but finished:
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1965/65/49/35697977990/n35697977990_1158696_6863.jpg
Upon discovering these on the GKTW Facebook page, I knew that I had to at least ask if we could stay in one because Princess Bella princess:needed a castle, especially since I had failed to secure reservations for a meal in the castle at Cinderella’s Royal Table. I had made phone calls on two separate occasions to GKTW inquiring as to the availability of a castle villa and both times, I was told to simply ask for one upon check in. So that is what I did.

Initially, the older lady started telling me that anybody can ask to walk inside the castle at Magic Kingdom but they don’t allow people to stay there, ever, as it does not have rooms in it, it's just a restaurant.

What? No, no, no. I am not asking to stay in Cinderella’s Castle, I explain. I didn’t even try to enlighten her to the Year of A Million Dreams promotion that allowed people to stay, overnight, in the castle last year. Really, why bother?:confused3

So I restate my first request. “Oh,” she exclaims “Yes here at GKTW there is a Castle of Miracles, but it doesn’t have rooms in it either.” DOH! Seriously?:headache:

One more time, I explain that I saw a picture on the internet of a castle VILLA here at GKTW, and could we possibly stay in one of those? Still not comprehending what I am asking for, the lady (who, by now, almost seemed irritated and I was feeling kinda bad about asking for a special favor), starts telling me how all of the villas are the same. None of them are any bigger than others and blah, blah, blah. I was getting nowhere with this lady!

It was then that the volunteer in training (who seemed to know more about GKTW than the experienced volunteer) spoke up and said “I think she is referring to the new villas in the Fairy Tale Forest expansion.” A light bulb lit up in the elder Angel’s head :idea:as she finally got it, I thought. She instructed the newbie Angel to check and see what villa we were in.

As the newbie checked on our villa, the elder Angel discussed orientation with us and gave me my only option – right smack dab in the middle of GKTW Christmas party. Quickly, the newbie returned and informed us that we were in villa #118 – not in the the Fairy Tale Forest. My heart sank a little. But I had to give it one last shot, so I asked “is there any way we can just switch to a castle?”

Now the elder Angel really seemed irritated, and I really felt bad. I didn’t think I was asking too much, especially given Bella’s Wish to be a princess.princess: The elder Angel got up from the table and went over to the desk to check for us anyway. She returned and informed us matter of factly that because we already had medical equipment delivered to the villa, we could not change.

What medical equipment?!? We didn’t request any medical equipment! It was then that I remembered we were expecting several packages to be delivered before our arrival. I had placed an order at Disneyshopping.com and we had been informed that a couple of BigGive packages should be awaiting our arrival as well. I guessed, correctly, that those were the deliveries already awaiting us in villa #118.

I gave up. At this point, blood sugars were low due to lack of nutrition and the girls were beginning to argue over the ride-ons. It was nearly 2 in the afternoon now, and we were hungry, and Bella desperately needed to eat another meal. So I accepted defeat and was given our key cards.

In retrospect, I wish I had tried harder. I wish I had just asked if we could pick up our packages and move them to a castle villa. Maybe it would have happened under different circumstances – such as a different, more knowledgeable (and flexible) greeter! But alas, we had already wasted enough time today and I wanted to officially get this vacation started.

The GKTW Angels invited the girls to join them on a golf cart ride to our villa as we followed behind in the minivan.
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376900090310_791745310_10104241_7486948_n.jp g

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376900095310_791745310_10104242_5388890_n.jp g

It was in the older section of the village and the villa itself was, on the exterior, plain, ordinary, and commonplace - it certainly wasn't the castle I'd hoped for. As we pulled up to #118, I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed. I know, it sounds terrible and unappreciative, and I’m ashamed to admit it, but I had set my heart on a castle for Princess Bella.

Upon request of the GKTW elder Angel, we posed for a picture in front of the sign for our villa. We then thanked them, waved good bye, and headed inside.
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376900105310_791745310_10104243_5201734_n.jp g
Once we entered our villa, I truly could have cared care less what it looked like on the outside. When we walked in the door of little villa #118, it just felt like home.
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376900035310_791745310_10104233_5668082_n.jp g

The interior was beautifully decorated from floor to ceiling with Christmas lights and décor. We even had our own brilliantly decorated and lit Christmas tree AND stockings!

We set our bags down and stared in amazement at the gifts and packages that were screaming to be opened! There was an enormous bag of gifts and snacks from GKTW on our kitchen table. The girls dug in right away as DH, Grandma, and I dragged our suitcases inside the villa. There were games, toys, stuffed animals, and so much more! It was like Christmas had come early in our new home away from home!

With our tummies rumbling louder than ever, we didn’t even consider unpacking. We grabbed Bella’s food and medication and one of the new games for her to play while eating and headed straight for Katie’s Kitchen to feed the rest of our hungry mouths!
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376900110310_791745310_10104244_5431551_n.jp g

Act 1: Scene 5 - Lunch Launches A Lengthy Bella History Lesson - (skippable) (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34846122&postcount=88)

[ladybugmom]

GREAT update!! Sorry you weren't able to get a Castle Villa but it sounds like your villa was very homey!! :goodvibes

[pacrosby]

Great great start!!! I'm hooked:)

I did have to laugh at your description of what happened when you requested the villa at the front desk. That was pretty much the reaction (and attitude) I got when I asked the same thing at check in........a wee bit disappointing I might add and perhaps worth a nice note to whoever the big cheese is over there. Oh, it was also from an 'elder' angel (there, unfortunately, were a few other instances when I witnessed some cranky "elder" angel attitude). When I called back later I talked to a young guy who was actually very apologetic and 'helped' me find the person who could make it happen (who apologized profusely as well).

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthead.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

[pacrosby]

Oh yeah..........and just why IS the orientation scheduled SMACK DAB in the middle of the Christmas Party!!!!!!????????? Another very nice note perhaps????????;)

oh, and don't get me wrong...........I loooooooved the place and am planning to go back to play and even volunteer myself. There are soooooo many volunteers coming and going that you are bound to meet up with a speed bump now and again. I'm sure they would welcome the feedback though.

Pamela :santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

[pipersmom]

Woohoo for an update. I'm sorry you couldn't get one of the new villas, but glad your villa felt like "home" once you got in! So cool that it was all decorated for Christmas down to the stockings!

I don't know how "quick" I am since it took a while for the lightbulb moment, but I will be more than happy to take the pics you need! Maybe I could abduct a brunette about Bella's size with pincurls to sit on the Aladdin's carpet..I'll just take the pics from the back! :rotfl2: Okay, so that prob wouldn't work..would be funny though! We have a couple months before we go though, so if you want to check with someone going sooner I totally understand. Just let me know, hon :)

[yinyanggirls]

Love the pics! I have to admit, when I read you guys' PTRs I was totally lost on the attraction to the new villas. I see the storybook charm, but I can also see getting a migraine from those obnoxious colors. LOL (Watch - we'll end up in not only one of the new villas, but the bright orange one to boot!):rotfl2:


(there, unfortunately, were a few other instances when I witnessed some cranky "elder" angel attitude).

This actually made me chuckle, as we live in "elder" land! Seriously, being a relatively warm winter climate, we get "snowbirds" from WI, MI, IL, WY, WA, ID, etc, etc and all the "young" people I know grumble about the snowbird season. I guess when I'm 70 I'll be cranky too. ;)

Maybe I could abduct a brunette about Bella's size with pincurls to sit on the Aladdin's carpet..I'll just take the pics from the back! :rotfl2: Okay, so that prob wouldn't work..would be funny though!

Tessa has brown curls, but more like corkscrews, and not nearly long enough!:rotfl:

[StefaniLyn]

I have many of the KP clues for China that you are looking for. I also have tons of the Osbourne Lights. Did I mention that I took close to 1,500 photos? I have a few pictures of the England KP mission, but Aaron did most of that with Bre without me and the kids. Are there any characters that you need pictures of? I can see if my kids can be cropped out of some of mine so at least you have a picture of the character you met. You are welcome to use any pictures in your trip report. I will try to get to the post office today.

You are holding together so much better than I would be. Hang in there! You have lots of support her on Dis! :grouphug:
Oh YEA! I'm so happy we will be able to recount every moment of our KP Mission. That was one of the girls favorite parts of Epcot and it was wonderful to see them working so well together to solve the clues.

I knew you took a lot of photos but 1500? I am impressed (and thankful! ;) (ok, and a little envious too! :rotfl2:)

I have most of the character photos either on photopass or in the handful that I pulled as favorites and printed but I will let you know if any are missing.

And thank you for letting me use them in my TR. I hope the readers we have in common don't mind too much!
This is like reading some sort of gothic novel, full of dark suspense. I wish I had just read about a happy ending, but not yet. I still have hope!

Can you get other Wish Trippers to send you some photos of the places that you visited that you could have, even if YOUR family isn't in them??

Jeepers, I can't even stand to read horror stories and here I am writing one!?!? :confused3 I hate that my TR about the most magical, wonderful, amazing trip we have ever taken has turned so dark and dismal. Fortunately Liesa, with or without photos, Bella does get her happy ending. And don't forget, the happy ending photos were NOT amongst those lost in the flash drive fiasco.

I have already had several offers from other Wish Trippers to share their photos with me and I appreciate it more than I could ever express in words.
There's a thread here: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1537784
thats a bunch of generic photos of disney world. I've been using it for the ones i forgot to take, it might help some!
Thank you for the link to that thread. Once I figure out what is missing, I'll be willing to bet the DISers over there could help me out with the remaining gaps!
GREAT update!! Sorry you weren't able to get a Castle Villa but it sounds like your villa was very homey!! :goodvibes
It definitely felt like home. And to be honest, we spent so little time in the villa it didn't really matter. Bella even saw the castle villas later on that day and didn't so much as ask to stay in one. Maybe Mommy was the one who really wanted the castle villa after all :rotfl2: ;)
Great great start!!! I'm hooked:)

I did have to laugh at your description of what happened when you requested the villa at the front desk. That was pretty much the reaction (and attitude) I got when I asked the same thing at check in........a wee bit disappointing I might add and perhaps worth a nice note to whoever the big cheese is over there. Oh, it was also from an 'elder' angel (there, unfortunately, were a few other instances when I witnessed some cranky "elder" angel attitude). When I called back later I talked to a young guy who was actually very apologetic and 'helped' me find the person who could make it happen (who apologized profusely as well).

Pamela:santa:


I'll bet it was the same person! Did you see her in my pictures of the girls on the golf cart? Is it her? I mean we both checked in on Thursday so there is a good chance she is a 'regular' Angel on Thursdays!

We too met a handful of cranky angels (such as the one who asked my MIL if she was really going to eat all 4 plates of waffles she requested? Hello - the others are for the rest of our party already sitting down!) but they were by far overshadowed by the dozens, maybe even hundreds, of kind, generous, and amazing angels we met throughout the week.

I'll bet I know the young guy too - did he have dark hair and glasses? He was so helpful to us on numerous occasions. He even let me behind the desk to use the internet and hooked us up with a parking pass and stroller voucher for US/IOA on the day after we checked out. Nice guy!
Oh yeah..........and just why IS the orientation scheduled SMACK DAB in the middle of the Christmas Party!!!!!!????????? Another very nice note perhaps????????;)

oh, and don't get me wrong...........I loooooooved the place and am planning to go back to play and even volunteer myself. There are soooooo many volunteers coming and going that you are bound to meet up with a speed bump now and again. I'm sure they would welcome the feedback though.

Pamela :santa:

I KNOW! RIGHT SMACK DAB in the middle of Christmas! Ugh! Thankfully we had Grandma with us so she was able to help DH with the girls while I went to orientation, but I missed the parade and horse drawn carriage ride. No biggie!

I know what you mean though, love the place, but didn't need that easy-to remedy headache to deal with. I will include it in my satisfaction survey (which I still need to fill out - oops!).

[StefaniLyn]

Woohoo for an update. I'm sorry you couldn't get one of the new villas, but glad your villa felt like "home" once you got in! So cool that it was all decorated for Christmas down to the stockings!

I don't know how "quick" I am since it took a while for the lightbulb moment, but I will be more than happy to take the pics you need! Maybe I could abduct a brunette about Bella's size with pincurls to sit on the Aladdin's carpet..I'll just take the pics from the back! :rotfl2: Okay, so that prob wouldn't work..would be funny though! We have a couple months before we go though, so if you want to check with someone going sooner I totally understand. Just let me know, hon :)
Oh yes, and upon seeing those stockings, AJ kindly reminded me that St. Nick's Day was just around the corner so it was a good thing we had stockings here at GKTW!! Doh! Um DH, did youuuuuuu remember that St. Nick's Day was Dec 5th? ;) Cuz I sure didn't! :headache: At that point, our list of things to buy at WalMart grew exponentially!

K, cuz I know some of you may be asking why I am worried about stockings being filled when it was only December 3rd. So for those of you confused: confused by AJ's statement, I will explain. I think this is a midwest thing, or maybe a german thing . . . I dunno. All I do know is that "all the other kids' parents are doing it" so we participate too.

So here goes: On December 5th, St. Nick's Eve, the children set out their stockings and overnight, St. Nick (apparently this guy is different than Santa Claus, I think) comes to our house and fills the children's stockings with gifts and candy. Traditionally, I believe that actual footwear (i.e. shoes) was filled but the thought of the girls eating candy out of their own shoes makes me want to vomit. So stockings are used instead. I'm sure some bright German kid just made it all up years ago to get more presents from ma and pa!

Oh yes, definitely kidnap some kid with curly brown locks, drag her into the Wish Room, and snap a couple quick pictures of her. That will go over real well with the Disney folks! But I am tellin' you now I won't spring for your bail :rotfl2:

Or better yet, I could send you all the gorgeous ringlets I found on the kitchen floor after Bella's self inflicted haircut this past summer and you could just hold them in front of the camera and pretend it's the back of her head! Yes, she cut off THAT MUCH hair. Gee, I don't have a hard time getting over things do I?

I would actually really appreciate a couple of pictures of the inside of the Wish Room if you happen to go in there. I would like to include them in my scrapbook which will probably take at least a year or 5 to finish, so no hurry!



Love the pics! I have to admit, when I read you guys' PTRs I was totally lost on the attraction to the new villas. I see the storybook charm, but I can also see getting a migraine from those obnoxious colors. LOL (Watch - we'll end up in not only one of the new villas, but the bright orange one to boot!):rotfl2:

This actually made me chuckle, as we live in "elder" land! Seriously, being a relatively warm winter climate, we get "snowbirds" from WI, MI, IL, WY, WA, ID, etc, etc and all the "young" people I know grumble about the snowbird season. I guess when I'm 70 I'll be cranky too. ;)

Tessa has brown curls, but more like corkscrews, and not nearly long enough!:rotfl:

Yes, the bright orange one could be a bit much, I can see your point. But a castle, oooooh, a CASTLE. Eh, who really cares? Bella clearly didn't! And I am so over it now! But you know you've totally jinxed yourself and now you'll probably end up living in one for a week! :lmao:

Oh Snowbirds. How fun! We are the opposite of you and get them when they migrate back north for the summer.

I hope I'm not cranky at 70. Especially not to Wish kids and their families. It just wasn't the first impression I expcted at GKTW.

[thatkid]

I only ran into one cranky angel! and it was a young one.. at the xmas party.
YOU want to see santa? uh, yeah! :rotfl:

The guy with glasses was super nice! (at the front desk, right?) He helped us with tons of stuff, and let my mom use his internet, too.

I love your report so far! You're a really good writer :thumbsup2

[pacrosby]

Oh.......I LOVE that Fairy Tale Forest section!!!!!!! It's so.................I don't know........storybook charm is a perfect description. Now I may not paint my HOUSE that color :laughing: but for a little kid's magical vacation villa ................PERFECT. The other villas, why certainly 'nice', looked more like houses in a neighborhood.

I'm with you StefaniLyn......Melissa better get her sunglasses ready because she's headed straight for the Forest!!!!!!

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

[StefaniLyn]

I only ran into one cranky angel! and it was a young one.. at the xmas party.
YOU want to see santa? uh, yeah! :rotfl:

The guy with glasses was super nice! (at the front desk, right?) He helped us with tons of stuff, and let my mom use his internet, too.

I love your report so far! You're a really good writer :thumbsup2
What date were you at the Christmas Party? Was it 12/3? I thought I saw you there, but I was too embarassed to ask you if it was you! I didn't want to freak out someone else if it wasn't you! Does that make any sense? :rotfl2:

Yep, that's the guy. Do any Wish Trippers out there remember that guy's name? He really was awesome! Every time I had a question, he was willing and able to help me out! I want to give him some credit when I finally get around to sending in my satisfaction survey.

Oh.......I LOVE that Fairy Tale Forest section!!!!!!! It's so.................I don't know........storybook charm is a perfect description. Now I may not paint my HOUSE that color :laughing: but for a little kid's magical vacation villa ................PERFECT. The other villas, why certainly 'nice', looked more like houses in a neighborhood.

I'm with you StefaniLyn......Melissa better get her sunglasses ready because she's headed straight for the Forest!!!!!!

Pamela:santa:


:rotfl2: Oh Melissa - Your future's so bright, :rolleyes1 you gotta wear shades . . . you gotta wear shades! :rotfl2:

Pamela since you saw both, I'm curious whether both villas were identical on the inside (the layout, size of rooms, etc)?

[Chelley00]

Okay, so you now have links to about a thousand pictures, so hopefully you'll find a few that will work. I know it won't replace what you lost, but hopefully it will help the girls remember their trip.

[pacrosby]

Stephanie,

Yup, the interiors were identical in layout..................and not that much different in terms of interior decor either, just newer.

I can't remember the face of the 'elder' angel who was working at the desk that morning. I do remember the one who quite literally 'yelled' at a little boy for touching the top of the glass in Amberville. That bothered me alittle bit and I felt like going over and 'gently' reminding her where she was. Of course I didn't as it wasn't my place but I do feel like that kind of stuff should not go ignored. The young guy, he did wear glasses. Hmmmmm I wonder if it was the same guy????

Pamela :santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

[praisehisname]

How frustrating that you couldn't get the Angel to understand what you meant. :headache: At least it was all good when you got to your villa! :thumbsup2

[StefaniLyn]

Just had to drop by and say
party:HAPPY NEW YEARparty:
to all my DISfriends! You guys and gals are the GREATEST!:grouphug: I wish you all a happy, healthy, and safe 2010 (boy it feels weird to type that!!!)

[All7OfUs]

I'm frustrated for you that you couldn't make this person understand diddly squat. You'd think they'd know more about their own property. :confused3

Looks like you're getting quite a few nice offers on your photo gaps! Liking that, for sure! :thumbsup2

[StefaniLyn]

Okay, so you now have links to about a thousand pictures, so hopefully you'll find a few that will work. I know it won't replace what you lost, but hopefully it will help the girls remember their trip.
THANK YOU :thanks: for the links to your photos! They will fill in many of the gaps! I spent yesterday pouring over them and adding a whole bunch to my shutterfly cart.
Stephanie,

Yup, the interiors were identical in layout..................and not that much different in terms of interior decor either, just newer.

I can't remember the face of the 'elder' angel who was working at the desk that morning. I do remember the one who quite literally 'yelled' at a little boy for touching the top of the glass in Amberville. That bothered me alittle bit and I felt like going over and 'gently' reminding her where she was. Of course I didn't as it wasn't my place but I do feel like that kind of stuff should not go ignored. The young guy, he did wear glasses. Hmmmmm I wonder if it was the same guy????

Pamela :santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739
touching the top of the glass? really? that's too bad! I hope it wasn't one of your boys!

I'll bet it was the same guy! I really wish I knew his name. :headache:
How frustrating that you couldn't get the Angel to understand what you meant. :headache: At least it was all good when you got to your villa! :thumbsup2
Yes, definitely frustrating, especially since we had already lost time at the airport and were all hungry. But once we were all fed, things were fine. :rotfl2:
I'm frustrated for you that you couldn't make this person understand diddly squat. You'd think they'd know more about their own property. :confused3

Looks like you're getting quite a few nice offers on your photo gaps! Liking that, for sure! :thumbsup2

What was comical for me was that the elder Angel was 'training' the younger one yet the younger one was clearly more knowledgeable, at least about the villas! I mean did she really think someone would show up at GKTW and request to stay in the castle suite at MK? :rotfl2:

[StefaniLyn]

We have arrived, we have our rental car, we have made it over to GKTW, we have our villa, albeit not a castle, and we are HERE! It’s about time we started having fun, right?

Nope, we need to eat first. I myself was starting to wonder when the fun would begin! But we are STARVING! So we grab Bella’s lunch box with her food in it, a new toy from the bag full of goodies we’d received, and headed straight for Katie’s Kitchen. It was a quick 10 minute walk, but I swear you could hear our tummy rumbles echoing with each step.

Katie’s Kitchen is essentially GKTW code for Boston Market and to those of you who have never experienced the deliciousness of Boston Market, I pity you! Because KK/Boston Market is DELICOUS, and there couldn’t possibly be a better choice of fast food to have available on a daily basis for Wish Families. Mmmmmmmm . . . I could really go for some mashed potatoes and cornbread right now!

It’s always awkward doing something for the first time and ordering at KK was no exception. When we reached KK, it at first appeared closed but before I could break in and rob the place of all its food, DH peeped into the window and caught the attention of an employee. We ordered our food and sat down at an outdoor shaded table to wait. Kennedy wanted chocolate milk but KK didn't have it so she went next door to the ice cream palace. She returned and informed me that they made her chocolate milk with a WHOLE SCOOP of chocolate syrup!

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs059.snc3/14648_376900120310_791745310_10104245_7134448_n.jp g

While waiting for our food to arrive, began to feed Bella her meal. Unfortunately, I don’t get a vacation from that.

Prior to continuing, I need to recapitulate a little bit of background information. Ok, let’s be honest, I have yet to give you a ‘little bit’ of anything. I’ve probably written about this before, so feel free to skip the green writing if you’re familiar with Bella’s history.

Born with esophageal atresia (esophagus not connected to her stomach) and a myriad of other health conditions, Bella was fed through a g-tube for the first 4 years of her life. After surgery to correct her esophageal atresia at the age of 3 months, we quickly discovered that not only did she not want to eat, she did not know how – her esophagus couldn’t swallow properly. Bella would aspirate on liquids, and purees caused her to gag and vomit.

When she was 2, Bella went through an intensive inpatient feeding program at Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin. A team of doctors and psychologists attempted to teach Isabella how to eat. They failed – she was too stubborn. They tried again when she was 3. They failed again. Bella is the ONLY child in the history of this program to fail twice. It is not an accomplishment I ever wanted her to achieve.

After two failures, doctors at CHW recommended a 3 month inpatient program in Baltimore, Maryland. At the age of 4, Bella and I spent and entire summer in Kennedy Krieger Institute (next door to Johns Hopkins Hospital) where she successfully learned to swallow pureed food and drink liquids. Unfortunately, it is still very difficult and scary for Bella and she would rather starve than eat a single bite of food. However, as she no longer has a g-tube, so we must make Bella eat enough calories each day to sustain her.

Making Bella eat is difficult. Even at 5 years old, we must still scoop bites of food (only thin pureed foods – any texture, like applesauce, will make her vomit) onto a spoon and feed them to her like an infant because she won’t do it herself. She will fight off anyone who tries to feed her if she has decided she doesn’t want to eat. And despite her small size, she is strong. Although she refuses, fights, and sometimes throws up, we reward her for every single bite of food she does take. Rewards include stickers, watching tv, playing with toys, and whatever other motivation we can find.

Feeding Bella doesn’t look pretty. We feed her according to a specific protocol designed by a team of doctors. We use a method called escape extinction which essentially means the bite of food stays at her lips until she takes it. She can hit me, hit the spoon, turn her head, and even bite me, and my job is to keep that spoon by her lips. At times it can resemble force feeding. Needless to say, meals can get long and ugly. A good meal takes 15-30 minutes, but a bad one can take over an hour to eat a mere 3 ounces of pureed food and drink 9 ounces of milk. During difficult meals, Bella will frequently scream, cry, plead for help (which gets us some interesting looks from strangers!), throw food, and occasionally vomit.

And as if the difficulty swallowing and fear of food wasn’t enough, Bella’s body seems to reject food. Eating any amount of food will cause Bella’s blood glucose to spike to well over 200 within 15 minutes of eating. This spike causes her to feel very hot, lethargic, and nauseous. She will also complain of a headache (especially when it is hot outside), belly ache, and heart palpitations. Essentially, food makes her feel miserable and it takes about an hour before her blood sugar returns to normal. She does not have diabetes. The cause of these spikes is unknown, other than it is induced by food. She is currently on several medications to reduce the height of the spike, but her team of doctors continues to be baffled by the cause or cure.

I just wanted to add this section because throughout this trip report, you will often read about how good or bad Bella’s meal went. To be truthful, Bella’s meals run our lives, decided where we go and when, and can determine the general mood of the day. Bad meal = bad mood = bad day. And vice versa. It is a lot of work, and can be stressful. We make and puree most of her food to ensure that it is pureed thoroughly, calorie packed, and free from gluten contamination (oh yea, did I forget to mention she has celiac disease?). Yogurt and pudding packs are a staple for her. I pray before each meal that Bella will simply accept her food and cooperate, but that prayer more often than not falls into the same category my flash drive sits in now – unanswered. But alas, I know Bella’s life depends on her eating and consider feeding her a labor of love.

While waiting for our food, I attempted to feed Bella. Unfortunately, being on a Wish Trip doesn’t change the fact that Bella hates to eat. It had been 6 full hours since her breakfast, and Bella wasn’t a bit hungry. I kid you not, Bella has gone for nearly a full week on just IV fluids without a single bite of food and never complained of hunger. The fact is, Bella's fear of eating food by far overshadows any pleasure she might obtain from its taste. Even the new toy wasn’t motivation enough for Bella to eat her pudding for lunch.

Bella at first refused to eat anything. She cried when I gave her medication, and threw herself to the ground when I opened her food bag. This is very typical. After she screamed her way through a few bites (thankfully, nobody was around), she realized it was futile and began to cooperate. By the end of the meal, we were racing to see who could finish our drinks first. It was a pretty average meal for her.

Our food arrived quickly and we gobbled it up. I ordered the pot pie. It was delicious. Wait, delicious is an understatement. DH had a bbq pork sandwich, DMIL ordered tuna salad. They ended up going halfsies and split both. DD10 had the meatloaf sandwich, and DD8 had a chicken ceasar salad. We shared sides of cornbread, mashed potatoes, chicken noodle soup, and mac and cheese.

A half hour later, we were stuffed, and finally ready to have some fun exploring GKTW! First up on our list was Amberville!

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376900125310_791745310_10104246_6433535_n.jp g

Act 1: Scene 6 - Fun Times in a Special Place Called Amberville (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34849910&postcount=96)

[kimmylaj]

can you believe i have never eaten boston market? and its only about 5 minutes from my house. guess i'll give it a try.
and wow i read bellas pre trip about the feeding and believe it or not i had seen her youtube video before i ever read about you guys on the dis. but i did not realize what a struggle it still is to get her to eat. i promise to never complain about my picky eater son again. ( and having a newly diagnosed nut allergy is not a fun thing to add to the mix lol)

[thatkid]

We ate at katie's kitchen once, my family really loved it. They always got the chicken & potatoes, not very creative LOL.
I was at the xmas party on the 3rd. We didn't stay for long, we didn't even see the parade.

[StefaniLyn]

can you believe i have never eaten boston market? and its only about 5 minutes from my house. guess i'll give it a try.
and wow i read bellas pre trip about the feeding and believe it or not i had seen her youtube video before i ever read about you guys on the dis. but i did not realize what a struggle it still is to get her to eat. i promise to never complain about my picky eater son again. ( and having a newly diagnosed nut allergy is not a fun thing to add to the mix lol)

Oh you MUST try Boston Market! Their cornbread is to die for! And I am a huge fan of their pot pies - big enough for two adults to split!

That video has become somewhat famous (or rather, infamous :rotfl:) in the intensive feeding program world. I was advised to remove it, but decided to leave it up as a resource for other parents. I continue to be contacted on a regular basis by other families who are struggling to get insurance approval for their child's feeding program. It was a drastic measure, but it worked and that is all that matters in the end, right?

Bella was very successful at KKI and her g-tube was removed shortly after we returned home. However, about 3 months after she was discharged, we started dealing with pancreatic insiffuciency and blood glucose issues both of which made Bella very sick when she ate and her refusals got worse and worse. We could probably benefit from another stint at KKI, but I just don't have another 3 months to spend halfway across the country nor do I have the OOP funds it cost us. Additionally, until they figure out the cause of her discomfort, it wouldn't do any good anyway.

And nut allergies are very scary. I was so thankful the day we were able to get rid of Bella's epi-pen! I pray you never need to use yours!

[StefaniLyn]

We ate at katie's kitchen once, my family really loved it. They always got the chicken & potatoes, not very creative LOL.
I was at the xmas party on the 3rd. We didn't stay for long, we didn't even see the parade.

I'm sorry we missed you at the Christmas party! I think I saw you a handful of other times at GKTW as well. I truly enjoyed reading your trip report - you finished it so quickly!!! and here I am, still on day one of mine :sad2:

[kimmylaj]

i'm not sure why you would be advised to remove the video, it makes a really strong statement and it helped do what you needed it to do. i'd be very proud. i was watching a video about a caringbridge kid and bellas was on the little side pop up and i have to say she was so cute. when i saw you post her on here i went omg it is that adorable little girl again.
nut allergies are really scary and since he was eating nuts with no problem until he was 6 it is kinda a big adjustment. he is at the i hate birthday party stage right now which is sad but i just send him with his own cupcake. i pray daily i will never need to use the epipen, but at a family party with an assortment of nuts last month, he had 2 issues his eye got all swollen after a cousin touched him and he had a major coughing fit after kissing his grandpa goodbye. benadryl worked thank goodness but i am very scared.:eek: and to boston market i go. i do love me some cornbread:love:

[StefaniLyn]

i'm not sure why you would be advised to remove the video, it makes a really strong statement and it helped do what you needed it to do. i'd be very proud. i was watching a video about a caringbridge kid and bellas was on the little side pop up and i have to say she was so cute. when i saw you post her on here i went omg it is that adorable little girl again.
nut allergies are really scary and since he was eating nuts with no problem until he was 6 it is kinda a big adjustment. he is at the i hate birthday party stage right now which is sad but i just send him with his own cupcake. i pray daily i will never need to use the epipen, but at a family party with an assortment of nuts last month, he had 2 issues his eye got all swollen after a cousin touched him and he had a major coughing fit after kissing his grandpa goodbye. benadryl worked thank goodness but i am very scared.:eek: and to boston market i go. i do love me some cornbread:love:

I am proud of the video, and it will stay unless I am ordered to remove it. Several people, including the KKI attorney, thought that UHC might be able to come after me if I didn't remove it since they did eventually provide coverage. Coverage or not, it doesn't erase the 6 months of h*** we went through while they made their decision. But seriously, what are they going to come after? :rotfl2:

Birthday party time is a nightmare for us, and Bella doesn't even eat anything! But she is constantly offered items that would make her very sick if she even tasted them. I can't imagine how you deal with it. Bella has learned to ask if foods have any gluten in them, but most people don't know what gluten even is. I just end up staying with her for all parties she is invited to.

I can't even imagine how you deal with parties, school treats, or even airlines for that matter! It's great that you are so on top of things though! How scary that a kiss from grandpa can cause a life threatening reaction! Does your DS carry his own epipen on him? I've seen them hooked to belt loops with a caribbeaner before but not sure if that is age appropriate for him.

Are you really going to Boston Market tonight? :woohoo: That's AWESOME! Mmmmmmmmmmm........

[pipersmom]

We looove Boston Market, but we don't have one around here, so we're really looking forward to Katie's Kitchen. I can't even imagine what Bella's feeding regimen must have done to you at first, there are still times after Piper has to go through something stressful at club med that I get through it fine, then have to leave the room so I can cry without her seeing me. Sometimes doing what our kids need the most is the hardest thing for us to do. :hug: Can't wait to read more about your first day!!

[StefaniLyn]

My original plans called for Grandma to explore GKTW with the girls while DH ran to Wally World and I unpacked. However, because of the delay and frustration during check in, it was decided that we ALL deserved a little fun so off to Amberville we went!

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376900125310_791745310_10104246_6433535_n.jp g

Quick, super special story to share here. After posting photos of Amberville on my facebook page, I learned this interesting bit of information from one of Bella’s former speech therapists who commented on the photo above. We live in Jefferson County and until Bella turned 3, her speech services were provided by Jefferson County Birth to 3 program. Lynette Holman was Bella’s service coordinator for B-3. Lynette and her daughter, Amber were at GKTW in 1993, and Amber be came so ill she required an intensive care visit. Henri Landwirth, the creator of GKTW, offered the family use of a private jet and arranged for Mickey Mouse to visit Amber in the hospital. Sadly, Amber :littleangel: eventually passed away from Batten’s Disease but in her memory, Henri Landwirth named this special place after her - Amberville.

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs147.snc3/17441_405919845310_791745310_10375017_4753731_n.jp g

Think of Amberville as somewhat of a clubhouse for GKTWVillage – it has lots of fun activities to entertain guests of all ages. The girls found so many fun things to do there that we honestly could have stayed all day!

As we entered the building, the girls saw r/c boats and steered themselves in that direction first.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376900030310_791745310_10104232_2276407_n.jp g
The girls had a blast racing the remote control boats. A wonderful GKTW Angel clued us in to which ones were the fastest and we enjoyed racing as well as a little bumper boat action!
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376900130310_791745310_10104247_113158_n.jpg

I had an entire series of photos from Amberville, but they are among those lost in the FDF09 (Flash Drive Fiasco of ’09) so I’ll do my best to recreate the moments for you with the help of some GKTW stock photos.

After boat racing and bumping, AJ and I played a game of pool. I won, I won, na na na na boo boo! Hey, the kid's 10 years old now, I am so done letting her win. Especially since she beats me half the time anyway without my help!

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs147.snc3/17441_405919860310_791745310_10375020_1567762_n.jp g

while Kennedy enjoyed the trains

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs127.snc3/17441_405919850310_791745310_10375018_513609_n.jpg

and Bella had fun in the video arcade.

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs147.snc3/17441_405919875310_791745310_10375021_1757452_n.jp g

This is where 3 adults really came in handy!

The train set up they have there is amazing. I was enthralled with it and I must think any train enthusiast (i.e. Lucas) could spend their entire vacation in this one single room. Why is it still so much fun, even as an adult, to push buttons and make things go? :confused3
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs127.snc3/17441_405919855310_791745310_10375019_4583107_n.jp g

We contemplated a round of mini-golf on Mark’s Dino Putt,

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs147.snc3/17441_405919835310_791745310_10375016_8030031_n.jp g

but were informed that several of the holes were under water due to the recent rain and the course was closed.

After and hour in Amberville, we returned to the villa. We quickly unpacked (my meticulous packing made unpacking a breeze) and setteled ourselves into our villa. I was finally starting to get over the castle debacle.

We debated our plans for the rest of the evening. By now it was 4:30 and GKTW Christmas was set to begin in 2 hours. It was agreed upon that DH and I would go to WalMart together and Grandma would take the girls to explore more of GKTW until we returned. So we headed off in opposite directions with cell phones to keep in contact. On our way out, DH drove us through the Fairytale Forest and I saw not just 1, but 3 unoccupied castle villas. Ok, maybe I wasn't quite as over it as I claimed to be!

We shopped quickly at WalMart thanks to a prewritten list I had brought along. Food, toiletries, beverages for the fridge, a cheap blender for Bella’s food, and some snacks. We returned to the villa, put away the groceries, and called Grandma.

Grandma and the girls had made their way over to the Fairytale Forest section of GKTW. Remember, the one with all of the CASTLE villas? :eek:I was worried that Bella would see one and FREAK OUT about staying in a castle. I asked Grandma if Bella had noticed the castle-themed villas. Bella had mention them once, but paid no attention to them after that and never even mentioned staying in one. Whew – I guess it wasn’t such a big deal after all.

Grandma and the girls were having a blast on the Candyland playground. This AMAZING, playground:
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs147.snc3/17441_406273265310_791745310_10380708_76005_n.jpg

We picked them up in the minivan (our villa was all the way across GKTW from the Fairytale Forest and we didn’t want to make them walk back) and brought everyone back to the villa.

It was nearing 6:00 by now and despite eating a late lunch, it was nearing time for dinner. We quickly dressed for the Christmas party.

Act 1: Scene 7 - Adorable Christmas Pixies Meet Mrs. and Mr. Claus (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34857062&postcount=107)

[StefaniLyn]

We looove Boston Market, but we don't have one around here, so we're really looking forward to Katie's Kitchen. I can't even imagine what Bella's feeding regimen must have done to you at first, there are still times after Piper has to go through something stressful at club med that I get through it fine, then have to leave the room so I can cry without her seeing me. Sometimes doing what our kids need the most is the hardest thing for us to do. :hug: Can't wait to read more about your first day!!

Our nearest Boston Market is an hour away and I'm going through withdrawls now! You will love it when you get to GKTW. They even deliver direct to your villa door!

I used to cry after every single meal when feeding Bella. Literally. Every. meal. But like you, I have learned the 'suck it up now, cry later' method to deal with difficult medical procedures and other painful things Bella must endure.

Why are we as parents forced to do things to our children that causes them pain or discomfort just to keep them alive? I hate it . . . I hate poking her fingers 6 times a day until they are raw from taking her blood sugar levels. I hate watching her repeatedly hit her own head against the back of a chair in frustration because she doesn't want to take a single bite of food that I am holding to her lips. I hate that I have taught myself to hold in the tears and pretend that everything is fine when all I want to do is scoop her up and run away to a safe place. Ugh. It sucks, and I know you get it too.

LOL, you didn't have to wait long! The next update is here already!

[pacrosby]

I could look at those pictures all day!!!!!

I feel for you re: the eating situation. Matty didn't eat anything solid until well past three years of age and projectile vomiting of formula/pediasure was an everyday occurance (my carpets were a daily reminder). It was like clockwork.....................45 minutes after he ate.................there it'd go:rotfl: (well, I'm laughin' now). Then when he finally would take solids (if that's what you'd call thinly thinned puree) it would take forevvvvvvvvvvver and like you, I'd cry my way through it. I can remember the looks I'd get if I had to feed him in public..................I often feared someone was going to call the authorities and say I was abusing my baby (in the way of force-feeding). Now Matty eats like a pig but still doesn't gain any weight. He's BELOW the first percentile!!!!:eek:


Anyway, glad to take part in your trip here. I'm on a bit of a hiatus from writing mine while I deal with my photopass pictures (what a nightmare!!!!)

Pamela :santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

[that's nice]

I've been away from the DIS again.:sad2: I know... bad DISer!:badpc: LOL

I'm sorry you didn't get a castle villa, but as you said in your last post, Bella didn't seem to mind!

I find it funny that your 'Angel' didn't know what you were talking about. Maybe they need to take refresher courses. :rotfl: ;)

We love Boston Market! We don't have one near us anymore though.. the food is really good!

Well, I'm all caught up now! Happy New Year!:hippie:

[jessica52877]

I finally caught up with the TR! I have been reading here and there and had to stop looking on facebook! I get too excited and always want to look ahead but then I was slacking on reading over here!

Of course, I looked again this morning!!

Your girls are just adorable!! What a sweet but sad story about Amberville. Such a nice memory though and wonderful that you actually know the lady. It breaks my heart she lost her Amber though!

Thank you for sharing your ordeals with feeding Bella. I had no idea. It makes me appreciate life even more hearing all these stories. I will also think twice if I ever see someone feeding a screaming child. I am sure it must be so painful for you to do and so great for her to endure. But I know it it is best for her!!!

Can't wait for the next installment!

[kimmylaj]

that story about amberville gave me chills. i knew he was an amazing man, but talk about going above and beyond. heartbreaking though. you guys seem to be having such a great time at the resort.
and nope ryan does not carry his own epi pen. he would never give himself a shot, so the school nurse has one and we have one.

[praisehisname]

Katie’s Kitchen is essentially GKTW code for Boston Market and to those of you who have never experienced the deliciousness of Boston Market, I pity you!

I love Boston Market! That is so cool that they had one at GKTW for you!!!


While waiting for our food to arrive, began to feed Bella her meal. Unfortunately, I don’t get a vacation from that.

Wow, I had no idea how involved Bella's feedings are. :hug: I'm glad you were able to achieve some level of success from KKI.


Think of Amberville as somewhat of a clubhouse for GKTWVillage – it has lots of fun activities to entertain guests of all ages. The girls found so many fun things to do there that we honestly could have stayed all day!

Sounds and looks like a really fun place to hang out!

Looking forward to hearing about the Christmas party!

[kayrosek]

Wow looks like you had alot of fun. I've had to do things for my son that were best for him medically but made me cry but I can't even imagine what you go through with Bella's feedings. I so sorry you have to go through that:hug: You've made me crave Boston Market! I may just have to make the forty five minute drive to the nearest one as soon as it stops snowing and the roads clear up soime.

[StefaniLyn]

I could look at those pictures all day!!!!!

I feel for you re: the eating situation. Matty didn't eat anything solid until well past three years of age and projectile vomiting of formula/pediasure was an everyday occurance (my carpets were a daily reminder). It was like clockwork.....................45 minutes after he ate.................there it'd go:rotfl: (well, I'm laughin' now). Then when he finally would take solids (if that's what you'd call thinly thinned puree) it would take forevvvvvvvvvvver and like you, I'd cry my way through it. I can remember the looks I'd get if I had to feed him in public..................I often feared someone was going to call the authorities and say I was abusing my baby (in the way of force-feeding). Now Matty eats like a pig but still doesn't gain any weight. He's BELOW the first percentile!!!!:eek:

Anyway, glad to take part in your trip here. I'm on a bit of a hiatus from writing mine while I deal with my photopass pictures (what a nightmare!!!!)

Pamela :santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739
Ahhhh . . . I remember those days. Bella's bedroom lacks carpet for that very reason! And thanks to pediasure, the smell of vanilla will never appeal to me again. Did Matty go through a feeding program or eventually just learn on his own?

I actually carry business cards with me that briefly explain that what we are doing is a protocol recommended by a team of physicians at KKI and have the phone number for Bella's feeding psychologist on them. I hand them out to anyone who looks like they might consider calling social services on us!

What happened with your photopass pictures? Oh no! :eek:

I've been away from the DIS again.:sad2: I know... bad DISer!:badpc: LOL

I'm sorry you didn't get a castle villa, but as you said in your last post, Bella didn't seem to mind!

I find it funny that your 'Angel' didn't know what you were talking about. Maybe they need to take refresher courses. :rotfl: ;)

We love Boston Market! We don't have one near us anymore though.. the food is really good!

Well, I'm all caught up now! Happy New Year!:hippie:
Welcome back Tim! Most of the GKTW Angels are incredibly knowledgeable and helpful. We just happened to get the one who thought I was asking to stay in Cinderella's castle! Sheesh.

Mmmmm . . . . next time I'm in Milwaukee I think I will need to stop by Boston Market and pick up dinner. GKTW has renewed my old addiction for it!

And Happy New Year to you too!!!
I finally caught up with the TR! I have been reading here and there and had to stop looking on facebook! I get too excited and always want to look ahead but then I was slacking on reading over here!

Of course, I looked again this morning!!

Your girls are just adorable!! What a sweet but sad story about Amberville. Such a nice memory though and wonderful that you actually know the lady. It breaks my heart she lost her Amber though!

Thank you for sharing your ordeals with feeding Bella. I had no idea. It makes me appreciate life even more hearing all these stories. I will also think twice if I ever see someone feeding a screaming child. I am sure it must be so painful for you to do and so great for her to endure. But I know it it is best for her!!!

Can't wait for the next installment!
It is hard to stay caught up on both Facebook and DIS, isn't it? While the DIS was down and unavailable last night :mad: I took the time to upload more pics to FB.

Lynette actually lost 2 children to the same genetic disease. I cannot even imagine. So sad.

I enjoy sharing Bella's story. I know there are other families out there dealing with the same stuff and sharing her story helps me connect with them and not feel so alone. And while it is difficult to feed Bella, we do what we must because it is what she needs.

It always catches my attention when I am tagged in someone's photos that I have never met in person too!

[StefaniLyn]

I love Boston Market! That is so cool that they had one at GKTW for you!!!

Wow, I had no idea how involved Bella's feedings are. :hug: I'm glad you were able to achieve some level of success from KKI.

Sounds and looks like a really fun place to hang out!

Looking forward to hearing about the Christmas party!
Bella was so successful at KKI and it breaks my heart that all of her hard work has gone down the drain mostly because of new and undiagnosed health issues. Had she continued to progress, she might be eating some solids now. Maybe someday . . . .

I'm writing the Christmas party update right now!

Wow looks like you had alot of fun. I've had to do things for my son that were best for him medically but made me cry but I can't even imagine what you go through with Bella's feedings. I so sorry you have to go through that:hug: You've made me crave Boston Market! I may just have to make the forty five minute drive to the nearest one as soon as it stops snowing and the roads clear up soime.
Thanks for the hugs. :) I'm sorry you have had to do difficult things for yoru son as well.

Where are you that it's snowing?
that story about amberville gave me chills. i knew he was an amazing man, but talk about going above and beyond. heartbreaking though. you guys seem to be having such a great time at the resort.
and nope ryan does not carry his own epi pen. he would never give himself a shot, so the school nurse has one and we have one.

I would love to meet Henri Landwirth one day. He's seriously my hero. What an amazing man! I aspire to be as generous as him one day.

I hope the school nurse never has to use Ryan's epi-pen.

[jessica52877]

It always catches my attention when I am tagged in someone's photos that I have never met in person too!



I would guess that about 50% of my facebook friends I have never met in person but I know they are so wonderful and I am blessed to have them as friends! The % would probably be higher but I have been so lucky to meet several from these boards and some more then once!! Such great friends here!

[StefaniLyn]

It was nearing 6:00 by now and despite eating a late lunch, almost time for dinner. I quickly pureed a hot dog with ketchup for Bella and DH fed her at the kitchen table in our villa. The rest of us got dressed, and I brushed the frizzly ponytails out of Kennedy and AJ’s hair.

After a relatively good meal, Bella and Ben also quickly dressed and I fixed Bella’s hair as well. In record time we were all ready to go!

Warning: Mom Brag Moment –
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925250310_791745310_10104415_1998199_n.jp g
Are these not the 3 cutest little Christmas pixies you have EVER seen?:lovestruc They looked so amazingly adorable all dressed up for the GKTW Christmas Party that I could just eat them up! I can’t take all the credit though. While I did make the girls themselves, the delightful duds were a group effort and only possible because of the BIG GIVE!

The Christmas Mickey Twirl Skirts were the creation of Jeanne from Utah. DISid JHam. Jeanne – these are so so so cute! AJ wore the headband made for her by Crystal. Crystal's DISid is A Crystal Garden. And the J-O-Y shirts were in one of the 3 packages that were awaiting our arrival that afternoon! Talk about perfect timing!

Also, that is about the only picture I have left of the inside of our villa. See the incredible Christmas tree? I love it! And to the far right, on the entertainment center, there is a little Christmas Village. So cute! Moving on . . .

Our first dining experience in the Gingerbread House was wonderful. I make no excuses here, I didn't take photos of the Gingerbread house on our first trip so I am inserting a couple of stock photos here.
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs127.snc3/17441_407536705310_791745310_10397846_4367866_n.jp g

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs127.snc3/17441_407536715310_791745310_10397847_551972_n.jpg

We were welcomed by two young gentlemen who held the doors wide open for our grand entrance. Again we went through the initial awkwardness of using our meal card here for the first time - where do we go, what do we do? However, upon entering, we saw Mrs. Santa Claus at a podium directly in front of a line of people with trays. Instinct told me to head that a way.

Mrs Claus greeted us and gave each of the children a card with her picture on it. She took our meal card, swiped it, and directed us to a line. We made our food selections and as we reached the end of the line, an army of volunteers in waiting insisted on carrying our trays to a nearby open table.

In traditional Christmas dinner style, the food selection this evening included turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, and bread. It was wonderful.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925255310_791745310_10104416_3167346_n.jp g

As we ate, Bella dozed off on DH’s lap. I think this was her 3rd or 4th nap of the day! Check out the cute table - filled with peppermint candies!

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925265310_791745310_10104417_4916893_n.jp g

We finished eating, and had just begun to gather our dishes back onto trays when I was starteled by someone telling me to “stop” I turned around to see a GKTW Angel. Another crabby elder angel? Nope, this Angel was insisting we leave our dishes where they were so HE could clean them up. “Your job is to enjoy yourself while you are here.” He went on “MY job is to make sure you do.” Awwwwww . . . . (teary eyes)

Kennedy was super excited when she realized she wasn't required to clear her plate from the table all week!

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs059.snc3/14648_376925270310_791745310_10104418_486790_n.jpg

So although I felt a little guilty letting someone else clean up, I did as I was told. As we left the Gingerbread House, the girls immediately spotted the Carousel and wanted to ride. So we took the first of MANY rides on the Enchanted Carousel.

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925280310_791745310_10104419_7154151_n.jp g

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925290310_791745310_10104421_2867233_n.jp g

Grandma even rode on the carousel. She'll kill me if she found out I posted this one!
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925295310_791745310_10104422_1397515_n.jp g

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925310310_791745310_10104424_4150014_n.jp g

By this time, it was 6:45 and I knew the line for Santa was already growing. So we hearded the children down the Avenue of Angels and to Julie’s Safari Theater so we could see Jolly Old St. Nick before I needed to go to orientation. Yes, the mandatory orientation that falls right smack, dab in the middle of GKTW CHRISTMAS!

We waited in line for nearly 30 minutes to see Santa. Fortunately, there were plenty of Santa’s elves to entertain the girls while we waited. http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925325310_791745310_10104426_2744479_n.jp g

The girls were so excited they could hardly contain themselves.

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925330310_791745310_10104427_3122039_n.jp g

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925335310_791745310_10104428_4787818_n.jp g

But finally, it was our turn to meet the Big Guy!

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925395310_791745310_10104435_3995781_n.jp g

Santa was awesome! He asked the girls if they were having a good time and discussed all the fun activities they would be able to enjoy this evening at GKTW Christmas. Santa asked the girls what they wanted for Christmas. After they rattled off their lengthy lists, he asked them if they were good (of course, they all said YES before I could put my two cents in) and then told them they could each choose their own Christmas present this evening! Eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! Excited shrieks of joy exploded from the girls! The girls thanked Santa, gave him hugs, and promised to be good until Christmas. Wait - what about after Christmas?!?!

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925360310_791745310_10104430_6016360_n.jp g

We posed for a couple of pictures before the girls went to choose their gifts!

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs127.snc3/17441_401160440310_791745310_10316287_333964_n.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs127.snc3/17441_401160455310_791745310_10316290_2268065_n.jp g

With just 10 minutes before my orientation, I was eager to see what the girls would pick. They eagerly waited for their turn in the gift area.

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925400310_791745310_10104436_3726523_n.jp g

I was secretly hoping for something small (limited luggage space) and quiet (I do appreciate what little sanity I have left), but for once, I offered the girls no advice on their choices. Kennedy chose immediately. She’s a big fan of My Little Ponies and this one with the sparkly blue cape was calling her name:
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925410310_791745310_10104438_5905241_n.jp g
AJ knew immediately that she would choose a Fur Real friend pet, but it was a matter of which one. Would it be the puppy, the monkey, maybe the bunny? Hmmmmmm . . . decisions, decisions! She eventually decided on the kitten. Upon making her selection, a GKTW Angel handed DH a set of batteries so the MEOWing would last the duration of our trip. Oh Joy!

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925420310_791745310_10104439_221317_n.jpg

Bella had a difficult time deciding. She really wanted a mini My Little Pony set but the Travel Light Bright, with it’s millions of little pieces, was also calling her name. I checked my cell phone. . . 5 minutes until orientation . . . .which is it going to be. She did “eeny meeny miney mo,” and the Pony won out.
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925405310_791745310_10104437_5321253_n.jp g
I snapped a quick photo of Bella and her choice, handed the camera over to Grandma with instructions to take LOTS of pictures, and jetted off to my orientation.

UP NEXT: Act 1: Scene 8 - The Part of Christmas that I Missed (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34863717&postcount=114)

[buzz for boys]

I love the girls pixie outfits - oh to be that talented!!
Love the update and good choices for pressies there pixies x xx

[MickeyisBeast]

Love your report (:
Subbing

[pipersmom]

The outfits were so cute, StefaniLyn! The girls looked like they had so much fun at the Christmas party so far, I can't wait to see what happens next..you're doing a really great job describing everything, I almost feel like we're there with you. :hug:

I almost forgot..my mom (Gram) is going to flip out when she sees the rooster on the carousel...she loooooves roosters!

[praisehisname]

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925250310_791745310_10104415_1998199_n.jp g

The girls look adorable! It sounds like the party has been really fun so far! :thumbsup2

[StefaniLyn]

I would guess that about 50% of my facebook friends I have never met in person but I know they are so wonderful and I am blessed to have them as friends! The % would probably be higher but I have been so lucky to meet several from these boards and some more then once!! Such great friends here!
I know exactly what you mean. I've never met some of my best friends! :rotfl2:
I love the girls pixie outfits - oh to be that talented!!
Love the update and good choices for pressies there pixies x xx
I feel terrible that my daughters's being so well dressed is also going to be a once in a lifetime opportunity! My poor kids, mommy makes them wear off the rack because she doesn't have the talent to make customs!
Love your report (:
Subbing
:welcome: and thanks for joining in!
The outfits were so cute, StefaniLyn! The girls looked like they had so much fun at the Christmas party so far, I can't wait to see what happens next..you're doing a really great job describing everything, I almost feel like we're there with you. :hug:

I almost forgot..my mom (Gram) is going to flip out when she sees the rooster on the carousel...she loooooves roosters!
They did have a blast at the party. I wish I could have enjoyed more of it too! That was the first time I have ever seen a rooster, and a double seater rooster at that, on a carousel. AJ and Bella picked that one because it was a double. They were also big fans of the unicorn (Kennedy is on that one) and the mermaid.
The girls look adorable! It sounds like the party has been really fun so far! :thumbsup2

Thank you! It was the perfect way to spend the first evening of our Wish Trip!

[maroo]

Aside from my disappointment that you had to do orientation during the Christmas party - I am thrilled with the wonderful evening you guys have had already!! :)

[StefaniLyn]

While I headed off to enjoy orientation, (honestly, I did enjoy it, but I would have enjoyed it much MORE if it wasn’t in the middle of Christmas.) DH, Grandma, and my Christmas Pixies enjoyed Christmas at GKTW. They made Christmas cookies first.
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925460310_791745310_10104446_533451_n.jpg


Bella can’t eat cookies because of her Celiac Disease, so she made this cookie for Daddy.

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925475310_791745310_10104448_2464246_n.jp g

I wonder if there is actually a cookie somewhere under all the frosting, sprinkles, and jimmies?

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925485310_791745310_10104449_6088567_n.jp g

Then the girls wanted a Sno-Cones.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925450310_791745310_10104444_887209_n.jpg

After selecting Sno-Cone flavors, we ran into Matty’s Gingerbread Man. I seriously think they should either rename the one they have after Matty or make another G-Man and name it in honor of Matty. Who’s with me? Is it just me, or does this G-Man seem to have an angry brow? The girls loved him either way!
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925425310_791745310_10104440_8033073_n.jp g

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925470310_791745310_10104447_3646842_n.jp g

They found this adorable penguin to play with! Anyone know his name?

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925435310_791745310_10104441_7097616_n.jp g

Behind the Gingerbread house (where I was just starting my orientation) we met these festive folks, but they didn’t have much to say!

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925440310_791745310_10104442_2145251_n.jp g

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925445310_791745310_10104443_4195858_n.jp g

It was time for the parade to begin!

The Ice Cream Truck:
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925495310_791745310_10104450_6216299_n.jp g

I think these were the courteous gentlemen who greeted us at the Gingerbread house earlier that day.
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925525310_791745310_10104454_3476840_n.jp g

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925530310_791745310_10104455_826242_n.jpg

Miss Merry (Mayor Clayton’s girlfriend? Wife? Not sure which)
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925535310_791745310_10104456_2877993_n.jp g

And Mayor Clayton, the mayor of Give Kids the World Village

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925540310_791745310_10104457_4934199_n.jp g

My Pony Loving little girls were giddy at the sight of Twinkle Hope, a real life My Little Pony!
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925550310_791745310_10104458_1499829_n.jp g

After the parade the girls sought out Twinkle Hope so they could meet her in person! I’m so jealous!
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925565310_791745310_10104460_4625277_n.jp g

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925570310_791745310_10104461_8234345_n.jp g

And to cap off the evening, a special horse drawn carriage ride.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925520310_791745310_10104453_5246782_n.jp g

At some point during the evening, my family made their way into the Ice Cream Palace where they were lucky enough to meet up with Sunny and her family. It would be the first of many times on this trip when my DH would meet fellow DISers . . . . without me!!! Apparently Sunny and Bella had selected the same toy from Santa and chatted about it for a while.

Christmas at GKTW was magical. I just wish I’d been able to enjoy more of it. By the time my orientation was finished, Christmas was also. DH, Grandma, and the girls met me at the House of Hearts and we walked back to the villa.

It was then that Bella showed me another little surprise. After I snapped the photo of her with her chosen toy from Santa, and then left for orientation, an Angel spoke with Bella about the difficulty of her decision and praised the logical way (eenie meenie miney mo) Bella had gone about choosing between the two. Then the Angel told Bella she could have BOTH toys! Now Bella had a Travel Lite Bright, new My Little Ponies, and a huge smile on her face to go with them!

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925600310_791745310_10104464_5225936_n.jp g

We all put on our pajamas and within a matter of minutes, we were all sleeping like babies.

Act 2: Scene 1 - Doo You Know Who We Met Today? (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34911115&postcount=140)

[ladybugmom]

YAY!! What great updates!! We used to have a Boston Market here but it closed several years ago. It was sooooo good! :lovestruc Oh my goodness--the girls outfits are ADORABLE!!!! I just love customs and these are TDF!!! The bows, earrings, shirts, skirts--soooo cute! :goodvibes It looks like the girls really enjoyed the Christmas party--their faces say it all--they are just beaming!!

[thatkid]

i definetly saw your husband around GKTW once or twice!
I don't think you posted pics of you on the pre trip so i didn't know who to look for lol.
Their outfits are soo cute, and I'm jealous of their curls :laughing:

Looks like they had lots of fun at the xmas party :santa:

[yinyanggirls]

What a bummer that you had to miss parts of the CMas party. The girls sure had fun regardless.

[pipersmom]

The girls were soooo cute at the parade and making cookies! Loved the My Little Pony pics too! :cutie: Piper will be very excited to meet the penguin..she loves them! I'm sorry you had to miss out on so much of the fun. Here's my guilty confession..when I spoke with our coordinator about dates..I told her I did not want to arrive or leave on a Thursday! LOL. I just got our flight schedule and we'll get there prob around 5 or so, so I'll be doing evening orientation as well from the looks of it. It's a Tues night though, which is Family Fun Night..that's okay with me, Gram can get the pie in the face! Can't wait for the next update!

[kayrosek]

Christmas sounds wonderful and the my little pony was so cool! How neat that they got a picture with her!

[heaven2dc]

Wonderful updates! The girls are adorable in their Christmas dresses and what a truly magical experience at GKTW :love:

[All7OfUs]

Hi Stephanie!

Just wanted you to make sure I was still here! I just read all the updates up to now, and just have to say that those outfits were indeed scrumptious enough to eat! GKTW looks like a truly amazing place !

WOW! That Christmas party was super-duper fun for the girls! I do love ALL the pix that you DO have!! I guess I don't have to tell you to treasure them well!!

[praisehisname]

I wonder if there is actually a cookie somewhere under all the frosting, sprinkles, and jimmies?

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925485310_791745310_10104449_6088567_n.jp g

:rotfl2:


Is it just me, or does this G-Man seem to have an angry brow? The girls loved him either way!
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925425310_791745310_10104440_8033073_n.jp g

Looks angry to me, too! :confused3


It was then that Bella showed me another little surprise. After I snapped the photo of her with her chosen toy from Santa, and then left for orientation, an Angel spoke with Bella about the difficulty of her decision and praised the logical way (eenie meenie miney mo) Bella had gone about choosing between the two. Then the Angel told Bella she could have BOTH toys! Now Bella had a Travel Lite Bright, new My Little Ponies, and a huge smile on her face to go with them!

Awesome! :banana:

[StefaniLyn]

YAY!! What great updates!! We used to have a Boston Market here but it closed several years ago. It was sooooo good! :lovestruc Oh my goodness--the girls outfits are ADORABLE!!!! I just love customs and these are TDF!!! The bows, earrings, shirts, skirts--soooo cute! :goodvibes It looks like the girls really enjoyed the Christmas party--their faces say it all--they are just beaming!!
Love me some Boston Market! I can't wait for an excuse to go next time Bella has an appointment in Milwaukee.

They had a blast at Christmas. It was a perfect way to kick off our trip!

And those clothes . . . is it wrong to hope they don't grow an inch before our next Disney trip (TBA but probably YEARS from now) just so they can wear the outfits there again? :lmao:

i definetly saw your husband around GKTW once or twice!
I don't think you posted pics of you on the pre trip so i didn't know who to look for lol.
Their outfits are soo cute, and I'm jealous of their curls :laughing:

Looks like they had lots of fun at the xmas party :santa:
Where in the world was I all those times you saw my DH??? :confused3

I love their curls too, but the older two don't like them :eek: AJ has actually asked if she cuold have her hair straightened? :scared1: In their defense, mornings can be a tug of war with their head and a hairbrush.
What a bummer that you had to miss parts of the CMas party. The girls sure had fun regardless.
At least Grandma took pictures for me! She typically rolls her eyes when I get out the camera (just like the girls) but she new how much photos would mean to me since I had to go to orientation. Bless her!
The girls were soooo cute at the parade and making cookies! Loved the My Little Pony pics too! :cutie: Piper will be very excited to meet the penguin..she loves them! I'm sorry you had to miss out on so much of the fun. Here's my guilty confession..when I spoke with our coordinator about dates..I told her I did not want to arrive or leave on a Thursday! LOL. I just got our flight schedule and we'll get there prob around 5 or so, so I'll be doing evening orientation as well from the looks of it. It's a Tues night though, which is Family Fun Night..that's okay with me, Gram can get the pie in the face! Can't wait for the next update!
I purposely scheduled our arrival for a Thursday because I wanted Christmas to be our first GKTW activity. When I did that, I was HOPING for an afternoon orientation, but it was cancelled the day we arrived.
Aside from my disappointment that you had to do orientation during the Christmas party - I am thrilled with the wonderful evening you guys have had already!! :)
It was wondeful, and knowing that my girls had a great time at Christmas was good enough to make me happy! At least I was able to see the pictures thanks to Grandma.
Christmas sounds wonderful and the my little pony was so cool! How neat that they got a picture with her!
Kennedy was absolutely IN LOVE with Twinkle Hope. We were so hoping to see her later on in the week but no luck. I really want to buy them each a Twinkle Hope Pony, but they are never in stock at Amazon and I can't find one on eBay. I am starting to think they are a rare collectible. Anyone know?
Wonderful updates! The girls are adorable in their Christmas dresses and what a truly magical experience at GKTW :love:

Hi Stephanie!

Just wanted you to make sure I was still here! I just read all the updates up to now, and just have to say that those outfits were indeed scrumptious enough to eat! GKTW looks like a truly amazing place !

WOW! That Christmas party was super-duper fun for the girls! I do love ALL the pix that you DO have!! I guess I don't have to tell you to treasure them well!!
Howdy! How's it going over there with all of your guests?

I had uploaded most photos from day 1 and 2 to Facebook before the FDF09. Unfortunately, aside from a handful (20 or so) that I printed before the crash, they are only usable for TReporting as I can't print them from facebook.

Looks angry to me, too! :confused3

I'm glad I am not the only one that thinks so! It's like he has a V shaped brow, right? It makes him look mad.

[ladybugmom]

And those clothes . . . is it wrong to hope they don't grow an inch before our next Disney trip (TBA but probably YEARS from now) just so they can wear the outfits there again? :lmao:

Not at all!! I felt the same way about the customs I had made for my girls for our May trip last year. Thankfully several of them were pillowcase dresses so when they get too short, they can wear them as swing tops!!! :thumbsup2

[StefaniLyn]

I was helping DD10 clean her messy, messy room this evening in an attempt to find a library book that has been missing since our Wish Trip. Did I mention her room is MESSY? She likes to 'collect' lots of different things and her collections often spill out into the middle of her floor. Along with her clothes. And her books. And everything else that we just spent hours putting away. Where does it all come from? I am considering calling that new TV show, 'Hoarders.' :lmao:

As we cleaned, we discussed the last time she remembered having the book and realized that it was on our way to Animal Kingdom. I don't believe we left it behind, it's just a matter of finding where I put it while packing for our return home. I need to check the luggage again.

We started talking about Animal Kingdom, and the safari, and then the conversation progressed to DHS and the Osbourne Lights. AJ asked me if we lost all of the safari and osbourne lights pictures on the flash drive. I told I still had a handful of each left, but most were gone.

AJ told me that she wished she could have a just Wish like Bella did. I understood - don't we all secretly wish for a wish come true?

Then AJ said to me "Mom, I don't think I should get a Wish because I'm sick like Bella, I just want a wish so I can wish for you to get all of your pictures back." :lovestruc:lovestruc:lovestruc:lovestruc

[ladybugmom]

Oh, how precious--and what a selfless wish!! You have such a sweet DD!! :lovestruc

[pipersmom]

Oh Stefani...I would have lost it and started crying..it was soooo sweet that she said that! I love your girls :love:

[yinyanggirls]

My girls love MLPs but I had never heard of Twinkle Hope until your TR. Kind of like the MAW Barbie that Amanda is withholding from Piper. :lmao: If I see it anywhere I'll be sure to share!

Love the comment from A.J. That's so sweet.

[that's nice]

Just got done with your last 2 updates.

The girls look like they were having a blast! The Christmas Party looks awesome! I know you HAVE to goto orientation, but what is soooo important that you have to miss this party? Could there be a better way?

I'm loving your report and can't wait to read more!!!!! :surfweb: :upsidedow

[kayrosek]

That comment was absolutley pricless! Just so sweet, I'm sure you will remember it forever. I did some online searching for Twinkle Hope and it was a Limited Edition pony. So I'm geussing it's probably a collectible. Now this is a long shot but DH has a freind who is amazing at finding rare toys. I'll give him a call and have him look into it. No promises but maybe he can help. I will keep my eye out too and if eigther of us find some I'll be sure to let you know.

[StefaniLyn]

Oh, how precious--and what a selfless wish!! You have such a sweet DD!! :lovestruc
I love that kid sometimes ;) Lately she's been all pre-teen attitude so it was really nice to see her sweeter side come out :lovestruc
Oh Stefani...I would have lost it and started crying..it was soooo sweet that she said that! I love your girls :love:
I thanked her for being so thoughtful, gave her a hug, and took her dirty clothes for the laundry room . . . . . where I lost it :sad1:
My girls love MLPs but I had never heard of Twinkle Hope until your TR. Kind of like the MAW Barbie that Amanda is withholding from Piper. :lmao: If I see it anywhere I'll be sure to share!

Love the comment from A.J. That's so sweet.
You are probably right. It was probably a limited edition snatched up by collectors.I'll just keep checking ebay every once in a while and hope I get lucky.
Just got done with your last 2 updates.

The girls look like they were having a blast! The Christmas Party looks awesome! I know you HAVE to goto orientation, but what is soooo important that you have to miss this party? Could there be a better way?

I'm loving your report and can't wait to read more!!!!! :surfweb: :upsidedow
During my planning process, I had read about an afternoon orientation and figured I would just go to that one. It was very disappointing to hear that the afternoon session was cancelled.

I'm going to try and get another installment written this afternoon between loads of laundry and dishes.
That comment was absolutley pricless! Just so sweet, I'm sure you will remember it forever. I did some online searching for Twinkle Hope and it was a Limited Edition pony. So I'm geussing it's probably a collectible. Now this is a long shot but DH has a freind who is amazing at finding rare toys. I'll give him a call and have him look into it. No promises but maybe he can help. I will keep my eye out too and if eigther of us find some I'll be sure to let you know.
Thank you so much for researching Twinkle Hope. I appreciate you having DH's friend look into finding one for the as well. I am going to keep my eyes out for one on the internet as well, and just hope that they weren't so limited in their release that the price is rediculous.

[kdzbear]

I am caught up! I do love the photos you have. The shared ones are in the mail. I hope that they get there soon. I had a minor problem trying to copy some of them, but they are all on disks and on the way! I hope they fill in some of the gaps! :grouphug:

[pacrosby]

Those outfits the girls wore on the night of the Xmas party were just adorable!!! Just love it when little girls look like.......well, little girls! They are beautiful:)

Twinkle Hope didn't make an appearance the night of our Xmas party unfortunately. Liv would've liked her. I did notice a number of things that were different about the parade/party (by looking at your pictures). Maybe it depends on the volunteers that are on hand.

So you think Murphy's name should be changed to Matty???:laughing: How 'bout they just give him a son! Entertainment Mary told me they actually will be introducing a girlfriend for Murphy soon soooooooooo........could just be a matter of time:rolleyes1


Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

[Momofwishkid]

While I headed off to enjoy orientation, (honestly, I did enjoy it, but I would have enjoyed it much MORE if it wasn’t in the middle of Christmas.) DH, Grandma, and my Christmas Pixies enjoyed Christmas at GKTW. They made Christmas cookies first.
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925460310_791745310_10104446_533451_n.jpg


Bella can’t eat cookies because of her Celiac Disease, so she made this cookie for Daddy.

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925475310_791745310_10104448_2464246_n.jp g

I wonder if there is actually a cookie somewhere under all the frosting, sprinkles, and jimmies?

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925485310_791745310_10104449_6088567_n.jp g

Then the girls wanted a Sno-Cones.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925450310_791745310_10104444_887209_n.jpg

After selecting Sno-Cone flavors, we ran into Matty’s Gingerbread Man. I seriously think they should either rename the one they have after Matty or make another G-Man and name it in honor of Matty. Who’s with me? Is it just me, or does this G-Man seem to have an angry brow? The girls loved him either way!
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925425310_791745310_10104440_8033073_n.jp g

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925470310_791745310_10104447_3646842_n.jp g

They found this adorable penguin to play with! Anyone know his name?

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925435310_791745310_10104441_7097616_n.jp g

Behind the Gingerbread house (where I was just starting my orientation) we met these festive folks, but they didn’t have much to say!

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925440310_791745310_10104442_2145251_n.jp g

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925445310_791745310_10104443_4195858_n.jp g

It was time for the parade to begin!

The Ice Cream Truck:
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925495310_791745310_10104450_6216299_n.jp g

I think these were the courteous gentlemen who greeted us at the Gingerbread house earlier that day.
http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925525310_791745310_10104454_3476840_n.jp g

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925530310_791745310_10104455_826242_n.jpg

Miss Merry (Mayor Clayton’s girlfriend? Wife? Not sure which)
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925535310_791745310_10104456_2877993_n.jp g

And Mayor Clayton, the mayor of Give Kids the World Village

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925540310_791745310_10104457_4934199_n.jp g

My Pony Loving little girls were giddy at the sight of Twinkle Hope, a real life My Little Pony!
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925550310_791745310_10104458_1499829_n.jp g

After the parade the girls sought out Twinkle Hope so they could meet her in person! I’m so jealous!
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925565310_791745310_10104460_4625277_n.jp g

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs079.snc3/14648_376925570310_791745310_10104461_8234345_n.jp g

And to cap off the evening, a special horse drawn carriage ride.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925520310_791745310_10104453_5246782_n.jp g

At some point during the evening, my family made their way into the Ice Cream Palace where they were lucky enough to meet up with Sunny and her family. It would be the first of many times on this trip when my DH would meet fellow DISers . . . . without me!!! Apparently Sunny and Bella had selected the same toy from Santa and chatted about it for a while.

Christmas at GKTW was magical. I just wish I’d been able to enjoy more of it. By the time my orientation was finished, Christmas was also. DH, Grandma, and the girls met me at the House of Hearts and we walked back to the villa.

It was then that Bella showed me another little surprise. After I snapped the photo of her with her chosen toy from Santa, and then left for orientation, an Angel spoke with Bella about the difficulty of her decision and praised the logical way (eenie meenie miney mo) Bella had gone about choosing between the two. Then the Angel told Bella she could have BOTH toys! Now Bella had a Travel Lite Bright, new My Little Ponies, and a huge smile on her face to go with them!

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs059.snc3/14648_376925600310_791745310_10104464_5225936_n.jp g

We all put on our pajamas and within a matter of minutes, we were all sleeping like babies.

Up Next: Act 2

I dont know how I keep getting so far behind on your TR. I just love it. Im sorry you werent able to get a castle villa though, and you had to miss half of Christmas. :( That was so sweet Bella was able to get both the toys she wanted. An amazing first day. Cant wait for day 2!

[paintnolish]

Their outfits are seriously so cute and festive. Also, the gingerbread man totally looks sinister!

[that's nice]

We ended up with $30 in Kohls cash and were going to let Juliana spend it. We were looking for a list of Pony's to see what one's Juliana didn't have and saw Twinkle Hope on the Hasbro website. It even has a Give Kids the World logo on it. I never knew about this Pony... although I am a guy and what should I know about My Little Ponies? LOL

[buzz for boys]

Im all caught up now and just wanted to say I have loved your updates.
My little princess has coeliac disease also so I can relate to Bella having to make cookies for daddy - lucky man !!!

[yinyanggirls]

We ended up with $30 in Kohls cash and were going to let Juliana spend it. We were looking for a list of Pony's to see what one's Juliana didn't have and saw Twinkle Hope on the Hasbro website. It even has a Give Kids the World logo on it. I never knew about this Pony... although I am a guy and what should I know about My Little Ponies? LOL

Here is a link to the actual pony for sale, but it doesn't have a link to be able to buy it from them. Weird.
http://www.hasbro.com/mylittlepony/en_US/shop/details.cfm?guid=9428F054-6D40-1014-8BF0-9EFBF894F9D4&product_id=22857&src=endeca

and for the press release about GKTW
http://www.hasbro.com/corporate/media/press-releases/MY-LITTLE-PONY-CELEBRATES-THE-GRAND-OPENING-OF-TWINKLE-HOPE-SPA-at-GIVE-KIDS-THE-WORLD-VILLAGE.cfm

and one more from GKTW
http://www.gktw.org/corporateHeroes.asp?a=4&page=hasbro

[StefaniLyn]

I am caught up! I do love the photos you have. The shared ones are in the mail. I hope that they get there soon. I had a minor problem trying to copy some of them, but they are all on disks and on the way! I hope they fill in some of the gaps! :grouphug:
Thank you so much for the CD. I will keep an eye out for it in the mail. Glad you are all caught up now. I got sidetracked the other day and never made it around to posting an update but I told DH I won't be helping him take down the Christmas tree until I post one today. :rotfl2:
Those outfits the girls wore on the night of the Xmas party were just adorable!!! Just love it when little girls look like.......well, little girls! They are beautiful:)

Twinkle Hope didn't make an appearance the night of our Xmas party unfortunately. Liv would've liked her. I did notice a number of things that were different about the parade/party (by looking at your pictures). Maybe it depends on the volunteers that are on hand.

So you think Murphy's name should be changed to Matty???:laughing: How 'bout they just give him a son! Entertainment Mary told me they actually will be introducing a girlfriend for Murphy soon soooooooooo........could just be a matter of time:rolleyes1


Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607

Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739
One of my favorite songs is "Let them be little." because kids truly grow up too fast. It seems so many clothing manufacturers try and make little kids, especially girls, look like mini adults. I was thrilled to see the outfits we recieved in the big give were not only amazing and adorable, but also conservative and CUTE.

I'm sorry Liv missed Twinkle Hope. I think she was the hilight of the parade for us. But of course, your parade had an entirely different hilight for obvious reasons!
I dont know how I keep getting so far behind on your TR. I just love it. Im sorry you werent able to get a castle villa though, and you had to miss half of Christmas. :( That was so sweet Bella was able to get both the toys she wanted. An amazing first day. Cant wait for day 2!
The light bright came in very handy throughout the week and I am soooooo glad they allowed her to have both toys. We used the light bright for Bella's meals. One bite for one peg!
Their outfits are seriously so cute and festive. Also, the gingerbread man totally looks sinister!
I'm just happy that Murphy (G-man) was able to adjust his attitude before Matty met him the following week. :rotfl2: They must have more than one costume because the pictures from the following week do not have the angry brow. My girls didn't even notice and to be honest, neither did I until someone saw my facebook photos and said he looked angry.
We ended up with $30 in Kohls cash and were going to let Juliana spend it. We were looking for a list of Pony's to see what one's Juliana didn't have and saw Twinkle Hope on the Hasbro website. It even has a Give Kids the World logo on it. I never knew about this Pony... although I am a guy and what should I know about My Little Ponies? LOL
Tim, you have a daughter. In the next 18 years you will learn more about American Girl Dolls, My Little Ponies, Barbies, and Polly Pockets than you ever thought possible. I saw the Hasbro site. I wish they would just sell them on there!
Im all caught up now and just wanted to say I have loved your updates.
My little princess has coeliac disease also so I can relate to Bella having to make cookies for daddy - lucky man !!!
I hope your princess is doing well with her celiac disease. Bella doesn't eat much and we prep all of her food, so I can't imagine how difficult it is when a child is able to eat everything. It breaks my heart when Bella asks if she can taste something and I have to tell her no because it either has gluten in it or I don't know it's ingredients.
Here is a link to the actual pony for sale, but it doesn't have a link to be able to buy it from them. Weird.
http://www.hasbro.com/mylittlepony/en_US/shop/details.cfm?guid=9428F054-6D40-1014-8BF0-9EFBF894F9D4&product_id=22857&src=endeca

and for the press release about GKTW
http://www.hasbro.com/corporate/media/press-releases/MY-LITTLE-PONY-CELEBRATES-THE-GRAND-OPENING-OF-TWINKLE-HOPE-SPA-at-GIVE-KIDS-THE-WORLD-VILLAGE.cfm

and one more from GKTW
http://www.gktw.org/corporateHeroes.asp?a=4&page=hasbro

Thanks for the articles and info Tim. From reading, it appears that they were only available for sale at Wal-Mart during Christmas 2008. They also gave them to Wish Kids last year. I will keep my eyes peeled on ebay and hope one appears within my price range!

[StefaniLyn]

Why is it that no matter what time we get up in the morning, we are always rushing to get out the door to make it somewhere one time? This morning was no different. We were all excited for our first day at a theme park, but before we could leave, we needed to get showered and dressed, eat breakfast, and meet some special friends at the GKTW Castle of Miracles.

Looking out our villa window, we saw ominous Rain clouds as far as the eye could see. It was already sprinkling and showed no signs of improving anytime soon. A quick switch to The Weather Channel confirmed our assumptions. Rain all day today. Scattered thunderstorms. Highs in the 60s. Did nobody inform the man upstairs that this was Bella’s Wish Trip?

Prior to reading the forecast for today, I worried that the outfits I had chosen for the girls today would be too warm. This clearly would not be a problem. The sweatshirts I bought on black Friday for $3 each, combined with skorts from TCP Outlet at 2.75 each and the FREE GKTW/Panama Jack t-shirts would be perfect. And I was pretty proud of dressing all 3 girls for less than $20!

We double checked the backpack for ponchos, ditched the sunscreen, and made it out the door by 8:30am, just a half hour later than I was hoping for. I snapped a quick picture of the girls in their official Universal Studios outfits.
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385436595310_791745310_10166555_5326116_n.jp g
Ok, maybe I took 2.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385436600310_791745310_10166556_5512128_n.jp g

I can't decide which one to use in my scrapbook - in the first, everyone is looking at the camera, but Bella and Kennedy have
'real' smiles in the 2nd one.

We jumped in the van and drove over to the Castle of Miracles. This photo was NOT taken by me on this day. Thanks GKTW for the stock photo!
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs127.snc3/17441_414918240310_791745310_10481528_4156337_n.jp g
GKTW’s schedule of events advertised Universal Characters at the Castle of Miracles this morning until 9:15 but didn’t specify who it was. We quickly scurried from the van to the Castle, pausing only to wait for the castle door to magically open on command (and after daddy pressed the handicap button on the sly). Doo you know who would be waiting for us behind the magic door?
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs127.snc3/17441_414918255310_791745310_10481529_2336559_n.jp g

We rounded the corner and our eyes bugged out as we saw some all-time favorites – Scooby Doo and Shaggy! DH is a dedicated Scooby fan since childhood and always enjoys an excuse to educate the girls in his ways with his collection of Scooby Doo videos.

We waited just a few moments for one other family to finish their photos before the girls were able to meet Scooby and Shaggy. This was their first character meet for this trip so they were a bit reserved. AJ offered Shaggy a HANDSHAKE? :confused3 um, ok?

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs127.snc3/17441_414874195310_791745310_10481267_6251230_n.jp g

Within seconds, their apprehension melted away and the girls warmed up to Scooby and Shaggy.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs147.snc3/17441_414874205310_791745310_10481268_1384308_n.jp g

Shaggy, in his totally 70’s hippie voice, was awesome, Dude! He was, like, totally loving the girls Spongebob sweatshirts. He even asked Grandma to make him one for Christmas.

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385438235310_791745310_10166570_491253_n.jpg

Bella loved Scooby Doo. Why are kids so drawn to the noses of these life-sized characters? I swear every time we meet a dog, she has to touch his nose!
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385438275310_791745310_10166574_6794554_n.jp g

The GKTW photographer and I were both snapping away with our cameras. For future wish trippers, please take note that during character meets and other events, a GKTW photographer will take photos and they will be included on the CD you receive at the end of your trip.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385438245310_791745310_10166571_4960090_n.jp g

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385438250310_791745310_10166572_7573853_n.jp g

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385438280310_791745310_10166575_5796245_n.jp g

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs147.snc3/17441_414874210310_791745310_10481269_6780748_n.jp g
AJ wanted Grandma to join in the photo . . . . . no such luck!
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs127.snc3/17441_414874220310_791745310_10481270_6918026_n.jp g

Of course, we had to get a picture of DH and his idol, Scooby Doo. I think meeting Scooby was one of the hilights of the trip for Ben. But I swear, if I find a slobbery copy of this under his pillow he’ll be in the doghouse.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs127.snc3/17441_414874240310_791745310_10481272_32245_n.jpg

The girls were each given a balloon as we said our good-byes to Scooby and Shaggy. We decided to try a quick service breakfast this morning and headed over to the Ice Cream Palace.

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385437400310_791745310_10166562_6858093_n.jp g

I’m not sure if the pony and piano are intended to be played with, but the girls busied themselves with those while the Angels prepared our quick serve breakfast.
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385437405310_791745310_10166563_4044935_n.jp g

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385437430310_791745310_10166566_7739605_n.jp g


We ordered eggs, bagels, coffee and hot cocoa!
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385437420310_791745310_10166564_5766029_n.jp g

I enjoyed my bagel and the hot cocoa was …….mmmmmmmmmmmmmm scrumptious! It *almost* rivals MVMCP cocoa. Almost.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385437425310_791745310_10166565_7419500_n.jp g
I grabbed my food to go and headed over to the House of Hearts.

As everyone else ate breakfast, I was busy checking out a video camera. We don’t own one, and I was thrilled when I heard GKTW offers them for families to use during their trips. The wonderful Angel in the media center gave me a quick lesson in camera use and care. He also included 4 mini discs and an extra battery.

By the time I finished, DH was waiting with the van outside the House of Hearts. I jumped in, buckled up, and programmed our GPS to take us to Universal Studios!

Act 2: Scene 2 - The US/IOA Adventure begins! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34920221&postcount=152)

[heaven2dc]

Aww....Scooby!!! and Shaggy too! What fun - you can see pure joy on your hubby's face that he was having a blast (and the girls too ;)) The Spongebob outfits are out of this world cute! :thumbsup2

[pipersmom]

Very cute Spongebob outfits! The pics with Scooby and Shaggy are awesome, the one with your dh is so funny, cause he looks like he's trying to play it cool, but his grin totally tells the story! You'll get a kick out of this, Piper is doing her vest about 3 ft away from me right now, I'm scrolling down to see the pics, and she says.."What's that drink?" I was all.."what drink, honey?" Scroll up, scroll up she says..."Is that hot chocolate..with whipped cream???" Her fave drink in the world. I was cracking up that she caught that!!

[that's nice]

I love Scooby!!! The pics of the gals with Shaggy & Scooby are great!!!!

Your DH looded like he was in doggy heaven standing next to Scooby!!!! :hippie:

I can't wait to see how you like universal studios. popcorn::

[VroomVroomLightning]

I have been following along and wanted to chime in! I love these pictures! In my opinion I would go with the 2nd one from the Villa, it is too cute! And the one with Bella and Scooby made me want to cry! It is so cute! Can't wait to read more!

[yinyanggirls]

Great deals mom! I like the second shot the best, because the smiles are adorable and you can still see Bella's face, even though she's looking up (at Kennedy?). Very cute.

[StefaniLyn]

Aww....Scooby!!! and Shaggy too! What fun - you can see pure joy on your hubby's face that he was having a blast (and the girls too ;)) The Spongebob outfits are out of this world cute! :thumbsup2
DH was like a kid on Christmas! He confessed later that he was glad it wasn't Dora! :rotfl2:

Very cute Spongebob outfits! The pics with Scooby and Shaggy are awesome, the one with your dh is so funny, cause he looks like he's trying to play it cool, but his grin totally tells the story! You'll get a kick out of this, Piper is doing her vest about 3 ft away from me right now, I'm scrolling down to see the pics, and she says.."What's that drink?" I was all.."what drink, honey?" Scroll up, scroll up she says..."Is that hot chocolate..with whipped cream???" Her fave drink in the world. I was cracking up that she caught that!!
Seriously, it is AWESOME hot cocoa. I don't drink coffee, so whenever I need a warm drink, it's cocoa and I have tried cocoa from MANY places, but GKTW Ice Cream Palace cocoa ranks near the top of my list. It is second only to MVMCP cocoa. Tell Piper that when she is at GKTW, she should get all of her cocoa from the Ice Cream Palace - morning, noon, or night. They have cocoa at stands during Christmas and Mayor Clayton's B-Day too, but it's not very good. Get it from the ICP instead.
I love Scooby!!! The pics of the gals with Shaggy & Scooby are great!!!!

Your DH looded like he was in doggy heaven standing next to Scooby!!!! :hippie:

I can't wait to see how you like universal studios. popcorn::

DH really was in doggy heaven. Did I ever mention that our dog is named Scooby? Gee, who do you think named him?

I wasn't sure what to expect from US as I haven't been there since the early 90's. Let's just say I was surprised. I'm working on that update right now. Have you ever been to US Tim?

[that's nice]

DH really was in doggy heaven. Did I ever mention that our dog is named Scooby? Gee, who do you think named him?

I wasn't sure what to expect from US as I haven't been there since the early 90's. Let's just say I was surprised. I'm working on that update right now. Have you ever been to US Tim?

I guess your hubby named the dog? LOL

We (DW & I ) have been to US in California on our honeymoon. We haven't been to the Florida one though. We liked it but didn't love it. But I was cast and appeared on an episode of 'Street Smarts'. I don't know if you remember this show but I was one of the idiots they ask questions to.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_Smarts_(game_show)

[StefaniLyn]

I have been following along and wanted to chime in! I love these pictures! In my opinion I would go with the 2nd one from the Villa, it is too cute! And the one with Bella and Scooby made me want to cry! It is so cute! Can't wait to read more!
Thanks for your opinion! I have such a hard time deciding.

The Scooby & Bella picture is one of my favorites too. Bella just looks so genuinely happy and carefree.
Great deals mom! I like the second shot the best, because the smiles are adorable and you can still see Bella's face, even though she's looking up (at Kennedy?). Very cute.
Thanks for the help. I think it will definitely be the 2nd photo I use in my scrapbook. I have no idea what she was looking at!

[kimmylaj]

i love let them be little, i had to play it again as i was reading, now if only i could convince dh that it is a necessary addition to his iphone. lol. awesome job on spongebob coordination and at a good price too. very well played my friend;)

[StefaniLyn]

I guess your hubby named the dog? LOL

We (DW & I ) have been to US in California on our honeymoon. We haven't been to the Florida one though. We liked it but didn't love it. But I was cast and appeared on an episode of 'Street Smarts'. I don't know if you remember this show but I was one of the idiots they ask questions to.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street_Smarts_(game_show)

Nope. Wrong! Sort of. Well, you're actually more right than wrong. Actually we told the girls it was completely up to them when naming the dog. So DH convinced, bribed, brainwashed, whatever you want to call it, but he got both of the girls (just AJ and Kennedy at the time) to vote for Scooby. It was a consipiracy and DH was the ringleader! I wanted to name him Chayse.

So you were on a game show, eh? Did you win anything? I had to check it out on Wikipedia but once I saw the logo I remembered seeing it several times in the past. You should change your screen id to StreetSavant :rotfl2: Do you remember any of the questions they asked?

I have no idea if US/IOA is similar to the one in Hollywood. I just finished writing the first part of my TR for US and I am about to post it so I can tell you now that we LOVED it. It was much better than I anticipated!

Ok, now I'm going to post the next TR installment. Just need to think of a catchy title

[StefaniLyn]

i love let them be little, i had to play it again as i was reading, now if only i could convince dh that it is a necessary addition to his iphone. lol. awesome job on spongebob coordination and at a good price too. very well played my friend;)

The song makes me :sad1: At Bella's preschool graduation last year they played it along with a photo montage of Bella and her classmates. Thank goodness the lights were out and I brought my kleenex. For those non-country fans, even the lyrics are enough to make you teary eyed:

I can remember when you fit in the palm of my hand.
You felt so good in it; no bigger than a minute.
How it amazes me you're changin' with every blink.
Faster than a flower blooms, they grow up all too soon.

So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give 'em hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.

I never felt so much in one little tender touch.
I live for those kisses, your prayers an' your wishes.
An' now you're teachin' me how only a child can see.
Tonight, while we're on our knees, all I ask is:

Please, let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give them praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let 'em sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.

The so innocent, precious soul:
You turn around, an' it's time to let them go.

So let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while.
Give them hope, give 'em praise,
Give them love every day.
Let 'em cry, let 'em giggle,
Let them sleep in the middle,
Oh, but let them be little.

Let them be little.

[StefaniLyn]

With our trusty GPS leading the way, DH drove us :drive: to Universal Studios. In the interest of saving time, we thought it would be a good idea to feed Bella in the van on the way to the parks each morning. Big mistake. Huge. Gigantic, colossal, enormous! Bella was in no mood to eat, and she wanted nothing to do with the yogurt she needed to eat. While battling her swinging arms, I fed her bites of yogurt as she screamed the entire way to Universal Studios. Whenever we hit a stoplight, I would quickly help her take a drink. Her swallowing coordination is very poor and when the van takes off, a larger than usual amount of liquid is ususally swallowed. If Bella isn’t prepared for it, it will cause her to gag and vomit. Bella came pretty close to ruining her new Spongebob outfit before we even arrived at the park! :eek:

As we neared the park, the GPS went a little wacky and decided to take us to the employee entrance! Knowing this wasn’t correct, we turned around and found the regular parking ramp, despite our GPS telling us in a sassy Tinkerbell voice: “Oooooh noooooo, now you’ve reeeeeeally done it. Hang a U’ie.” LMAO I love my GPS. :lovestruc

I haven’t been to US since the early 90’s when it was fairly new but experiencing many technical difficulties. I still recall the Jaws ride, but Nickelodeon Studios was by far my favorite part of the park. I remember tasting ‘slime’, viewing the set of Allegra’s Window, and having my 15 minutes of fame as I auditioned for a game show. Alas, Nickelodeon Studios is now gone, and while Jaws still remains, the Universal Studios I remember is essentially nonexistent. I know nothing about the ‘new’ Universal with the exception of what I have read here on the boards. I truly didn’t know what to expect, but I didn’t give the park or it’s staff a whole lot of credit. :snooty: Boy was I wrong!

After disobeying our Tinkerbell GPS, we pulled up to the booth attendant and showed her our GKTW pin /MAW pin /Guest Access Pass. I had combined them all into one lanyard, not knowing which would come in handy at any given time. She gave us a green tag to put in our front window and instructed us to follow the blue line! Yea – preferred parking, here we come!

I had been warned about the loooooong walk to get to the actual park from the parking structure. Thanks to the assistance of moving walkways (does anyone else find these fun?), the first part of our trek wasn’t too bad.

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442540310_791745310_10166614_8125593_n.jp g

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442545310_791745310_10166615_7864857_n.jp g

We met my DBIL, TJ by the multiplex theater and continued walking. TJ lives and works in Orlando (as an animator for EA games) and we were thrilled that he took the day off to join us at US.

We continued on and saw restaurants, stores, face painting, and other attractions. Universal Studios? Nope, just kidding. We had only made it to Universal’s CityWalk.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385442535310_791745310_10166613_7817719_n.jp g

It was raining a little harder now so Kennedy put on her poncho. Then she asked me to take a picture of her surfing. The other two joined in.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385442550310_791745310_10166616_6015855_n.jp g

Another 10 minutes of walking (now unassisted by the moving walkways so we had to use our own two feet – how dare they!) and we finally, finally made it to Universal Studios!

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442565310_791745310_10166617_3106961_n.jp g

Before going through the turnstiles, we stopped to check which rides Kennedy and Bella would be tall enough for.

Kennedy is about 47 inches. So let’s see – ET? Check! Simpsons? You betcha! Mummy? Hmmmmm . . . not quite. Bummer

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385442570310_791745310_10166618_175202_n.jpg

And Bella’s height test? ET? Easily! Woody Woodpecker? Without a doubt! Jimmy Neutron? Ummmmm . . . . ahhhhhhh . . . . questionable!

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385442575310_791745310_10166619_2510137_n.jp g

We proceeded through the turnstiles and head to the left to pick up our stroller. I have my ‘complimentary’ stroller ticket that I picked up from GKTW this morning. I show them the ticket and ask if it’s possible I could pay the difference for a double. No worries, I am told I can just have a double stroller! Yea!

I had no touring plan for Universal so we just begin meandering down the street when Bella spies a familiar face on a sign. It’s Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoons Blast. Oh, but we know Bella is just a hair under the height requirement. However, there are stationary seats for little riders so we give it a shot.

It’s our first time using the GAC/GKTW/MAW badge and we weren’t quite sure what to do with it. So like any brave parent leading her family . . . . I handed it to Bella and told her to show the lady at the front of the line!

Of course I went with her! What kind of coward . . .er, um, I mean mother do you think I am? The lady closed off the end of the line and lead us around to the far side of the entrance. We got some interesting looks from others who had clearly been waiting for a few minutes when they realized that we would be admitted before them, but nobody said anything. After I whispered into Bella’s ear to “stand very, very tall” in her 2 inch chunky heeled tennis shoes, she was measured and SHE MADE IT! Just barely, and maybe it was the large hairbows, but Bella was exactly 40 inches and able to ride Jimmy Neutron! She was soooooo excited!

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385442605310_791745310_10166622_6848206_n.jp g

It continued to rain outside and while most of us were under a canopy, there wasn’t quite room for all of us. As I had only brought enough ponchos for my family, TJ decided to use Kennedy to keep dry!

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442585310_791745310_10166620_3319713_n.jp g
After just a few moments, we were lead into Jimmy’s Lab. We watched a short video and discovered that evil Ooblar was trying to steal Jimmy’s Rocket creation, the Mark 4! We had to help him!

After the video, the doors opened and we hopped into our rockets! (4 people per rocket).

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385442610310_791745310_10166623_6119669_n.jp g

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385442615310_791745310_10166624_8259076_n.jp g

After brief instructions, we were soon chasing Ooblar through many of the greatest Nickelodeon cartoons. We saw the Fairly Odd Parents and Spongebob (and experienced a splashdown into his pineapple under the sea). We flew through a backyard party with the Rugrats and accidentally dragged Angelica up the stairs by her ponytails! But the best part of all was doing the Chicken Dance with a giagantic alien chicken! We were all laughing out loud and having a great time!

As we exited the ride into a store filled with every Nickelodeon character, game, toy, and souvenier you can imagine, we noticed a Spongebob backdrop to our left, but no Spongebob. We looked around, and saw a line of people waiting to see him. I asked an employee when he would be coming out and she said ‘wait here just one minute.” And went behind a door only to emerge with Spongebob several seconds later! We started towards the back of the line when that same employee shouted “Stop!” So I did. Uh Oh! What did I do wrong? The employee gestured to Bella and motioned for her to come through the exit so she could be the first to meet Spongebob! AJ and Kennedy quickly followed.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385442620310_791745310_10166625_516389_n.jpg

The girls ran to Spongebob and gave him big hugs.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385442650310_791745310_10166627_6873080_n.jp g

He indicated that he liked their sweatshirts and, expressed disappointment that DH and I were not wearing them as well. Spongebob and my 3 Spongebabies posed for a picture that turned out so awesome I ended up using my complimentary photo voucher to purchase it!

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385442640310_791745310_10166626_932327_n.jpg

After browsing the Nickelodeon Store for a few minutes, we exited and heard a SHRIEK!

Act 2: Scene 3 - Donkey Love and Ogre Affection (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34920342&postcount=153)

[StefaniLyn]

Sorry to leave you hanging. It's just that darn 25 photo limit. Anyway, where were we?

Shriek? Did I say shriek? I meant SHREK! Bella was bouncing up and down yelling Shrek! Shrek! Shrek! at the sight of the Shrek 4-D show just across the street from us. We grabbed the girls by a hand and ran across, hoping to escape the rain. At the end of the line, we once again found an employee and Bella showed her the GAC/GKTW/MAW pass.

Instead of being lead to the wheelchair accessible line, the employee asked if we would prefer to wait somewhere warm and out of the rain. Um, YES! :woohoo: So we were lead around to the side of the building into a small room by a stairwell. It was dry, and most importantly, WARM. And it was awesome! We were able to sit and relax while waiting for the next show to start.
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442660310_791745310_10166629_8125601_n.jp g

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385442670310_791745310_10166630_4256475_n.jp g
After about 5 minutes, a Dungeon Keeper came to get us, just like the sign said.
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442655310_791745310_10166628_6001366_n.jp g
We were lead to the front of a waiting area and given 3D glasses before the rest of the line was let in from another entrance. The inside waiting area itself is amusing and filled with all sorts of torture devices.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385442685310_791745310_10166632_742359_n.jpg

Once the waiting area was filled, we saw short show featuring the Magic Mirror, 3 Little Pigs, and some other Shrek Characters. It was amusing, but lead the girls to believe we were going to be tortured in the next room. We assured them they would be fine! We couldn't wait for the movie to start.

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385442680310_791745310_10166631_574045_n.jpg

After the show, theater doors opened and we found our seats inside. The show itself was great. It included many of the characters from the movie as well as the voices of he original cast (I think!). Lord Farquad (now a ghost) kidnaps Fiona and we tag along with Shrek and Donkey as they try to save her. In typical 4D fashion, we experienced water sprays, wind, and seat movement. There was also a fire breathing dragon that warmed us all up. It was great! Bella became scared a couple of times, but was fine once she removed her 3D glasses. Of course, in the end they all lived Happily Ever After!

We exited through a store filled with Shrek-everything. As we approached the exit of the store, we noticed that it was no longer raining – IT WAS POURING! We crowded into a small vestibule and, like a hundred other people with the same idea, attempted to put on our ponchos. That’s when we spotted Shrek and Donkey across the street. DH went to go get the stroller (still parked over by Jimmy Neutron) while we headed over to see Shrek and Donkey.

We joined the line behind two other families. When we made it to the front of the line, the employee nicely reprimanded me for joining the regular line. He said that we should always go through the exit when meeting characters and show them Bella’s lanyard.

Shrek and Donkey were amazing and I wish DH didn’t take the video camera with when he went to get the camera. They were HILARIOUS! First, Shrek introduced himself and his friend, Donkey.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385442695310_791745310_10166633_1618888_n.jp g

Their voices were both identical to Mike Meyers and Eddie Murphy. I was impressed. Then Shrek asked AJ what their names were. AJ introduced herself, Kennedy, and then Bella.

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442705310_791745310_10166634_6993412_n.jp g

All of a sudden, Shrek started singing (to the tune of Rhianna’s Umbrella) Under my Um-Bella Bella Bella Bella, hey, hey, hey! and had them all dancing around. It was adorable.

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442710310_791745310_10166635_5971039_n.jp g
Then Donkey insisted everybody “put your hands in the air, and wave them like you just don’t care . . . “ I was nearly falling over from laughing so hard. Kennedy was having a giggle fit, and even the people in line behind us were laughing hysterically!

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442720310_791745310_10166636_8256562_n.jp g

Shrek and Donkey posed for a few pictures with the girls (I wish I had taken their ponchos off!)

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442725310_791745310_10166637_3461238_n.jp g

and they gave good bye high fives.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385442745310_791745310_10166639_160125_n.jpg

But wait, it wasn't over yet. Shrek and Donkey spent even more time with the girls.

http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442755310_791745310_10166640_2618351_n.jp g

I must admit that at this point, even though I was practically rolling on the floor laughing, I felt kinda bad for the other people waiting in line because Shrek and Donkey were spending so much time with our girls. Fortunately, it didn't take us long to get used to this special treatment as we experienced it all week long!

After two rides and two character meets, my impression of Universal Studios was positively positive. And we couldn't wait to see more, more, more!!!

Act 2: Scene 4 - A Shoe Swappin', Jaws Droppin', Simp-ly Good Time! (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34959758&postcount=175)

[yinyanggirls]

Too cute! I love Shrek. I think my list of movie nights is growing. :lmao:

What did the Universal strollers look like? I'm trying to decide between borrowing an umbrella for Tessa or using the rentals at the parks.

[StefaniLyn]

Too cute! I love Shrek. I think my list of movie nights is growing. :lmao:

What did the Universal strollers look like? I'm trying to decide between borrowing an umbrella for Tessa or using the rentals at the parks.

The strollers at Universal are very similar to Disney. They are hard plastic. The doubles were roomy enough for my AJ and Kennedy to sit on the seat and Bella to sit in front of them. I'm trying to find a picture, but I think the only one I had was lost on the flashdrive. Sorry.

[yinyanggirls]

The strollers at Universal are very similar to Disney. They are hard plastic. The doubles were roomy enough for my AJ and Kennedy to sit on the seat and Bella to sit in front of them. I'm trying to find a picture, but I think the only one I had was lost on the flashdrive. Sorry.

That's okay. Your description is great. It sounds like the double would almost be too much for one kid. I was thinking a double would give her room to sleep if she wanted but I don't know for sure if she will. Maybe a single or umbrella will be fine for her.

[All7OfUs]

I was happy to fnd, after being gone far too long, that I had missed only 2 updates!! Scooby and Shrek. They were both great updates!! Honestly, I expected far fewer pix., but looky loo, you have some great memories, at least from the days you've shown so far.

Shrek, especially, sounded hilarious!! I wish I could have been there.

I'm happy to hear that you got to have "special" stuff all week long. I know some people don't get it, but then again, some people don't get it about how you have to feed her 4 times a day either. :sad2: Bummer about the rain! I do hope those ponchos kept you high and dry!

[pipersmom]

It looks like you guys had a great time in spite of the rain, hooray! That pic with the girls and spongebob is an awesome pic! All three of them smiling and looking at the cam! I have trouble just getting one to do that, nevermind three! :lmao: Very cool the girls getting so much time with the characters. I'm really looking forward to Shrek and Donkey as well..everyone who has mentioned them has had a wonderful experience with them. Piper loves the Shrek movies, but has seen them lots. I'm thinking we may need to rent ET for one of our nights. Can't wait to read more!

[StefaniLyn]

That's okay. Your description is great. It sounds like the double would almost be too much for one kid. I was thinking a double would give her room to sleep if she wanted but I don't know for sure if she will. Maybe a single or umbrella will be fine for her.

I would actually suggest the double. It's not huge (just wide enough for 2 girls to sit side by side), and the paths at the parks are plenty wide so we had no trouble navigating with it. Especially if you think she might sleep, the double will be more comfortable.
I was happy to fnd, after being gone far too long, that I had missed only 2 updates!! Scooby and Shrek. They were both great updates!! Honestly, I expected far fewer pix., but looky loo, you have some great memories, at least from the days you've shown so far.

Shrek, especially, sounded hilarious!! I wish I could have been there.

I'm happy to hear that you got to have "special" stuff all week long. I know some people don't get it, but then again, some people don't get it about how you have to feed her 4 times a day either. :sad2: Bummer about the rain! I do hope those ponchos kept you high and dry!
I had already uploaded nearly all of my photos from Day 1 and 2 to facebook before my flash drive crashed thankfully. So while most of these pictures won't be printable, I can still link them to my trip report. Day 3, 4, 5, and 6 are going to require you to use a lot of imagination because I only have a handful of pictures for each of those days.

I was pleasantly surprised at the special treatment we recieved at Universal. I'm not sure why, but I just didn't expect it.

The rain wasn't too bad, yet!

It looks like you guys had a great time in spite of the rain, hooray! That pic with the girls and spongebob is an awesome pic! All three of them smiling and looking at the cam! I have trouble just getting one to do that, nevermind three! :lmao: Very cool the girls getting so much time with the characters. I'm really looking forward to Shrek and Donkey as well..everyone who has mentioned them has had a wonderful experience with them. Piper loves the Shrek movies, but has seen them lots. I'm thinking we may need to rent ET for one of our nights. Can't wait to read more!

I was shocked myself, and a little worried that it my luck had come too soon and it would be the only great picture I had all week so I bought it right away!

Sometimes it's Shrek and Donkey, but at other times it's Fiona with Donkey. I'm not sure if there is a schedule of who will be there at what time. We just got lucky and it was Shrek (my girls LOVE him, especially because he is so funny)

My kids had previously seen Shrek, but I think a Shrek Family Night would have been awesome. Roasted Pig, gingerbread men, swamp slime . . . . the food especialy would have been fun to come up with!

[heaven2dc]

Loved Shrek & Donkey!! I am so glad to hear you all had a great time at US - we've never visited and hope to on our next trip. Too bad it was raining so hard but hopefully it lets up so you can enjoy the rest of your day. BTW do you think (now that you've visited US) that a one day pass would be enough? I'm not sure whether to visit Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios - I really want to see the Harry Potter attraction but can't remember which park it's supposed to be at.

[rosedolph]

Great trip report!

[kdzbear]

I love the Sponge Bob photos. It was nice of the cast member to find you a dry and somewhat warm place to wait. It looks like the girls were enjoying themselves! :wizard:

[StefaniLyn]

Loved Shrek & Donkey!! I am so glad to hear you all had a great time at US - we've never visited and hope to on our next trip. Too bad it was raining so hard but hopefully it lets up so you can enjoy the rest of your day. BTW do you think (now that you've visited US) that a one day pass would be enough? I'm not sure whether to visit Islands of Adventure or Universal Studios - I really want to see the Harry Potter attraction but can't remember which park it's supposed to be at.
Harry Potter will have it's own Island at Islands of Adventure when it opens next year. It will be after The Lost Continent and before Jurassic Park. We saw glimpses of it (I will have some pics in my trip report, but you will have to wait until day 9) and it looks incredible.

A one vs. two day pass depends on how many little kids you will have with. If the trip is all about little ones, then Seuss Landing and Jurassic Park are about the only things in IOA for them. US has a few more, but not a full days's worth.

If you are going with adults and older kids, there are many rides and attractions at both parks and would more likely require two days. IOA has two coasters (Hulk and Dueling Dragons) as well as a couple of water rides. And US has quite a few rides for older kids and adults as well.

I know that doesn't exactly answer your question, but I hope it gives you an idea of how long each park can take depending on who you are going with.

Great trip report!
Thank you, and thanks for chiming in!
I love the Sponge Bob photos. It was nice of the cast member to find you a dry and somewhat warm place to wait. It looks like the girls were enjoying themselves! :wizard:
I need to scan the purchased photo and post it as well. It's very cute with the border around it.

It really so nice to have somewhere warm and dry. The girls were wearing sweatshirts, but their legs were bare in skirts and getting rather chilly.

And they were definitely having a great time!

[ladybugmom]

GREAT Universal update!! I haven't been there since '94 and it looks totally different than it did back then!

[that's nice]

Great updates!!! Once again it looks like everyone was having a blast!!!! It was so nice for the characters to spend extra time with the girls. I'm glad you still had these pics. If you are on facebook you can save a picture to your desktop by right licking it. The print quality won't be as good as the original but at least you will have some pics printed.

I wonder if/when we go to US what rides Juliana would be able to do. She is about 40 inches now. I''m not sure she would even know who Shrek is. :confused3 She knows Sponge Bob though. :)

[kayrosek]

Wonderful updates. US/IOA looks like such fun! I'm excited to read more.

[StefaniLyn]

GREAT Universal update!! I haven't been there since '94 and it looks totally different than it did back then!
I hadn't been since the early 90's either and I didn't recognize a single thing! Some day I need to dig up those old photos and reminisce!
Great updates!!! Once again it looks like everyone was having a blast!!!! It was so nice for the characters to spend extra time with the girls. I'm glad you still had these pics. If you are on facebook you can save a picture to your desktop by right licking it. The print quality won't be as good as the original but at least you will have some pics printed.

I wonder if/when we go to US what rides Juliana would be able to do. She is about 40 inches now. I''m not sure she would even know who Shrek is. :confused3 She knows Sponge Bob though. :)
Tim you are a genius! I saved the photos to my pictures folder last night after reading this. I need to find a place where I can print 3X5 or wallets because of the size (they are 604X402 and I think normal 4X6 is 480X640 minimum) but this is a wonderful way to retrieve most of my photos from day 1 and 2!! Thank you!!!

Bella was 40 inches (with chunky shoes) when we went. She was able to go on Jimmy Neutron, Shrek, and the Simpsons Ride. She could also ride ET and go on Woody Woodpecker's Nuthouse Coaster and play in the Curious George Play area. There is also a Barney show - who doesn't love that big purple dinosaur?

Wonderful updates. US/IOA looks like such fun! I'm excited to read more.

Thanks! I will be working on another one this afternoon! (hopefully)

[StefaniLyn]

No update today, sorry. Ufortunately, I forgot that the kids had soccer clinics all afternoon. Oops! Thankfully we made it there on time, but I had to run back to the house for shinguards and waterbottles.

But I did want to let you all know that today, my dear sweet mailman brought me my:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_CiLjodE6S70/SLQAmb-yc6I/AAAAAAAAENg/URol7dQHptM/s320/img055.jpg

PHOTOPASS CD!!!!

I will be uploading them to facebook over the next couple of days so if we are facebook friends and you don't want to spoil the surprise before you read about it here in my trip report, stay away from the new photos! No peeking! :rolleyes1

You have all been so patient in waiting as I slowly write and post these TR updates. I appreciate you faithfully reading along and posting thoughtful replies when I finally do post something, so I'm going to give you just a little taste of some of our PP photos to keep you interested and coming back for more (hopefully)! I am purposely not picking my favorites, I want to save those for later. So just know they will get better from here! One from each park - Enjoy!

@Epcot
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs127.snc3/17441_419375650310_791745310_10518722_6469228_n.jp g

@Animal Kingdom
http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs127.snc3/17441_419377545310_791745310_10518891_3697913_n.jp g

@Magic Kingdom
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs127.snc3/17441_419376885310_791745310_10518827_1766816_n.jp g

@Disney Hollywood Studios
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs147.snc3/17441_420131175310_791745310_10527379_5712307_n.jp g

k, I'll have to edit and post one from this park later. . . it's still uploading to Facebook and I need to get some sleep.

[VroomVroomLightning]

I love all those pictures! Such a wonderful family! My favorite is the Animal Kingdom one though, your daughters are beautiful and you can just see the love they have for each other in those smiles of theirs!

[buzz for boys]

beautiful Pictures - Cant wait to see more if they are not your favourite ones x

[pipersmom]

Woohoo for photopass! I love the one at MK!! The girls look soooo cute in their matching outfits! I can't wait to see more hon!!

[yinyanggirls]

Great teaser!

[christymarie]

Wow, I've been busy with post Holiday stuff and missed a few posts.

We've never been to US but based on your experience we may just give it a try!

I LOVE the outfits for the girls. Who doesn't like to dress up at that age and all of them looked sooo cute!

[StefaniLyn]

I love all those pictures! Such a wonderful family! My favorite is the Animal Kingdom one though, your daughters are beautiful and you can just see the love they have for each other in those smiles of theirs!
Thanks! The best ones are yet to come! Despite their occasional bickering, they really are good friends as well as sisters.
beautiful Pictures - Cant wait to see more if they are not your favourite ones x
Day 3 of our trip is Epcot so I will be able to share some favorites then. I'm finishing up day 2 at Universal this evening and then just need to post the Pirates and Princesses party at GKTW that evening.
Woohoo for photopass! I love the one at MK!! The girls look soooo cute in their matching outfits! I can't wait to see more hon!!
Photopass turned out to be more of a blessing than I imagined given the loss of my flash drive. There are so many great ones from MVMCP and I have very few left after the flash drive crashed.
Great teaser!
Thanks . . . . did I leave you begging for more?
Wow, I've been busy with post Holiday stuff and missed a few posts.

We've never been to US but based on your experience we may just give it a try!

I LOVE the outfits for the girls. Who doesn't like to dress up at that age and all of them looked sooo cute!
We had such a great time at US! I highly recommend it. The staff, clenliness, and theming rival Disney. I'm a true-blue Disney fan, but our experience at US will have me heading over there on future vacations as well.

[StefaniLyn]

As we concluded our hilarious interaction with Shrek and Donkey, we noticed the rain was letting up a smidgen. Hopeful that sunny days were just around the corner, we continued in our original direction and saw, off to our left, the Rip Rock It Roller Coaster. After crossing a small courtyard, we found ourselves face to face with a Universal ride attendant who informed us that the ride was closed due to the rain. Boo hoo! :sad1:

Only slightly disappointed, we vowed to check back later and continued on our way. We entered the New York section of Universal Studios and spied Twister – Ride it Out ahead. Bella scrambled to show the attendant her GAC. With a smile and gesture, we were again led to a warm, dry waiting area as we passed the time until the next show. In the waiting area, we viewed a short documentary featuring Bill Paxton and Helen Hunt, stars of the 1996 movie. It kept my attention as I had seen and enjoyed the movie, but DD8 and DD10 quickly lost interest. See - don't they look thrilled?

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442760310_791745310_10166641_2004560_n.jp g

The doors opened and we entered a queue which was designed to look like a town torn apart by a tornado. The girls were fascinated by all of the damage.

From there, we were directed into an area where several tiers of people faced a town setting. The warning sirens went off and that’s when it got scary . . . . .really scary:scared1:! Imagine being in the center of an F5 tornado – howling winds, lightning, and spraying water quickly turn into flying cows, fireballs, torrential rain, and an overturned vehicle. The girls were frightened. And I’ll admit I was too. Overall, we enjoyed it :thumbsup2 and I looked at it as somewhat of a realistic learning experience in a controlled environment. Thankfully we have never gone through a tornado, but I think my girls now comprehend the seriousness of tornados.

Moving on, but still in the New York area, we saw Revenge of the Mummy looming ahead. Remember Kennedy’s height check at the entrance to Universal? Too short by just about ½ inch. Drat!
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385442570310_791745310_10166618_175202_n.jpg
But wait just one minute! DH had an idea. :idea:We had purposely brought tennis shoes for Bella (size 10) that had nearly a 2 inch chunky heel to ensure she would be able to ride the 40 inch rides. What if, just what if we could fit Kennedy (size 12) into those shoes. Kennedy decided it was worth a shot so we quickly squeezed her feet in and approached the attendant.

Would she make it? The attendant measured her annnnnndddddd . . . . . she made it! By just ¼ inch, she passed! So DH, DBIL, DD10, and (now tall enough) DD8 and I went on Mummy. DD8’s feet hurt so badly that DH had to carry her through the queue.

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442770310_791745310_10166642_4981056_n.jp g

Grandma and Bella went to get a popcorn treat and find a place to stay out of the rain. One of those survey people convinced Gma to take a survey that he promised would only take 15 minutes. She started taking it, but she walked out after 20 minutes because there was still clearly a lot more to go.:mad: Warning - those surveys take WAY more than 15 minutes. Don't waste your time!

Revenge of the Mummy was truly frightening!!! It was very dark, with lots of realistic creepy animation (including a swarm of rats), sudden rapid accelerations, and unexpected bursts of flame. At times the speed, twists, and turns were similar to a roller coaster. I enjoyed it, with the exception of the rats. DD10 loved it, and DD8 said it was ‘okay’ but she didn’t want to go again.

Upon exiting Mummy, we searched for GMa and Bella without emerging from the awning because it was pouring by now. We found them and quickly decided it was time for lunch. Looking around, we spotted Finnegan’s Bar and Grill. Finnegan’s is a casual sit down restaurant that serves Irish American food. I remembered it from my list of recommended restaurants so we parked the stroller and headed inside. Unlike nearly every restaurant in Disney, we didn’t have or need a reservation. Even at 1pm, we were quickly seated and our orders taken.

I ordered hot cocoa. It definitely hit the spot as our clothes were now not only wet, but wet and cold! We had been seated by a door which was propped open, but the hostess quickly closed it upon request. We started with a bread plate.
http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442775310_791745310_10166643_2915191_n.jp g
I didn’t like this very much. It was hard. Everyone else seemed to like it enough though so while they ate it, I started feeding Bella her lunch. She cried as soon as I pulled her medication from the lunch bag. Fortunately, I was able to entice her into playing “magic” with her food this afternoon. This is where I scoop the food, close my eyes, and Bella ‘magically’ makes it disappear before I open them. It wasn’t a perfect meal, but we managed to avoid drawing the attention of the entire restaurant.

By the time Bella was done eating, the food had arrived. I ordered a shepherd’s pie.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385442780310_791745310_10166644_8273805_n.jp g
It was very, very good. The veggies on the side were a little bland so I offered them to DH. Bella took a nap while the rest of us finish our lunch.

Overall, we enjoyed Finnegan’s and I would recommend it. The waitstaff was quick and polite, and the food was good. The bill was just over $120 including gratuity for 4 adults and 2 children.

With our bellies full, we were ready to take on more rides. But first, we all donned our ponchos. The weather outside had gone from pouring to downright torrential rainshowers. There was standing water in most parts of the street and the puddles were unavoidable.

By the time we reached Disaster Studios
http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385442785310_791745310_10166645_2330233_n.jp g

located in the San Fransisco area, we were all soaked.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385442790310_791745310_10166646_4200651_n.jp g

We started in a large holding area where an assistant director explained that she was casting for a new movie – Mutha Nature:rotfl2:. DD10 was picked out of the audience to play the "young girl" role and DGma got to go along with AJ as her “talent agent” too!
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385442800310_791745310_10166648_3578575_n.jp g

And then, with some assistance from DBIL, DH raised his hand to play the "scared guy" and he was picked too. That's the back of his head wearing the black windbreaker and you can see DD10 and DGma on the TV screen above.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385442805310_791745310_10166649_420381_n.jpg

The second part of the show was pretty boring as we listened to Christopher Walken talk about being a director. The 3rd area was a stage and we saw the filming take place. DD10 had to stand against a wall (painted like a road) and look scared. Then she had to jump onto a mattress and land safely. Soon it was DH’s turn. They brought him out in a giant tub of balls (like the kind you find in a ball pit.) and we could not stop laughing. He was supposed to look really scared and flail his arms about, but he couldn’t stop laughing so his ‘terrified’ look included a huge smile on his face.

Following the filming, we were lead into subway cars and suddenly the ground was shaking, and the subway tunnel around us began to erode. A semi fell from the street above and nearly exploded on our subway car. After the near disaster, we viewed the trailer for Mutha Nature during our subway ride to the exit. We saw AJ and Ben in their starring roles. The whole thing was hilarious, especially DH’s scared face! We all enjoyed Disaster! and my only disappointment was that we were not allowed to take video or pictures of any kind. They didn’t even sell the video afterwards!

Here are the agent, the scared guy, and the actress from Disaster! movie .
http://photos-c.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385442845310_791745310_10166654_5826156_n.jp g
And her is DH recreating his ‘scared’ face. I’m completely serious – this is what he looked like!
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385442855310_791745310_10166655_5726096_n.jp g

We emerged from Disaster! and discovered that the rain had stopped! Our next stop was Jaws!

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385442830310_791745310_10166653_2406807_n.jp g

Despite a 42 inch height restriction, our little 40” Bella was allowed on the ride. When Bella showed the attendant her GAC, he didn’t even bother to measure her, just took us around to the back entrance and we immediately boarded our boat!

I hated this ride in a good way! The entire time, I was on edge – knowing that that darn shark would be jumping out of the water any second now. I most of the ride with my fingers in my ears and my eyes half closed! Bella agreed with me – she did not like Jaws either so we huddled together. The rest of our group loved it. Kennedy enjoyed screaming back at Jaws when he lunged at us!

After the ride, we had to take the traditional tourist photos:
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385442815310_791745310_10166651_6585099_n.jp g
And then Jaws ATE Kennedy! So Uncle TJ had to rescue her!
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385442825310_791745310_10166652_5827320_n.jp g

We decided to skip the Fear Factor Show (although I read somewhere they don’t run it in Winter months anyway?) and headed straight over to The Simpsons. Now, let me just say that I don’t allow my kids to watch this vulgar show:sad2:, but it is on after the news and they have caught glimpses of it so they know the characters. I am ashamed to admit that I was a big fan of that dysfunctional family when I was a child. It’s hard to believe they’ve been around for 20 years!

Bella showed the attendant her GAC and he directed us to the handicap entrance. It was like going through a cornmaze! Back and forth, up and down, in and out. We were thoroughly discombobulated by the time we finally reached the waiting area.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385442860310_791745310_10166656_3248947_n.jp g
When we finally got to the top, the attendant there said we shouldn’t have been sent up that way! We waited in a queue area and then were assigned to a room. Each room had just one car in it and thankfully, we all fit in one.

Our entire family LOVED the Simpsons ride and I would have to say it is my personal favorite at Universal Studios! Once we were in the car, it was raised up and we were facing a huge screen. The ride began and we joined the Simpsons and many other characters from the TV show on an adventure through Krustyland. The motions were very realistic and coaster like. My only complaint is that they let the next riders in immediately after our ride was over and they nearly plowed over my kids!

Still laughing our heads off, we exited the ride and discovered the attendant from the top of the queue scolding the attendant at the bottom that directed us to the wrong entrance. Oops!

Because Bella was too little for the next ride, Grandma took her over to the Curious George Play area while the other kids and us ‘big kids’ went on Men in Black - Alien Attack. With AJ wearing the GAC, we didn’t have any wait to get on the ride. However, my backpack wouldn’t fit into their free lockers so we had to do a child swap of sorts with the backpack. DH, DD10, DD8, and DBIL went on first. Only DD8 wanted to ride again so I rode with her for round #2. MIB is similar to Toy Story Mania or Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin, but the theme was obviously different. Although I love TSM and Buzz, I wasn’t too impressed by MIB and deem it a “won’t wait more than 10 minutes” ride. I realized why nobody else wanted to ride again.

We exited MIB and headed towards our meet up with GMa and Bella. This is when Bella decided she wanted to star in the Disaster! Movie too:scared1:!!!

Act 2: Scene 5 - Bella's Stars In Her Own Disaster! Movie (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34981317&postcount=196)

[pipersmom]

Very cool update, Stefani! Your dh looked so funny trying to look scared! The girls looked like they were having a good time in spite of the rain. LOL @ The Simpsons, I don't let Piper watch it either, but we may have to do the ride since you said it was one of the family's faves! Eeks@ Bella deciding she wants to star in the movie too, I'll be anxious to see how that comes out! You're such a tease ;)

[that's nice]

WOW! :thumbsup2:thumbsup2

You guys hit quite a bit so far at US. By the sound of it the Florida one sounds 10X better than the California one. I must admit that I know 0 (ZERO) about US but it sounds like you guys had a lot of fun here. I must also admit that I am a Simpson's fan- I don't watch it every week but if it is on and I have nothing to watch I'll check it out. It is a cartoon geared towards adults and I think over the years it has gotten 'racier'.:confused3

How warm was it while you were there? How busy was US?

[StefaniLyn]

Very cool update, Stefani! Your dh looked so funny trying to look scared! The girls looked like they were having a good time in spite of the rain. LOL @ The Simpsons, I don't let Piper watch it either, but we may have to do the ride since you said it was one of the family's faves! Eeks@ Bella deciding she wants to star in the movie too, I'll be anxious to see how that comes out! You're such a tease ;)

Me? A tease? Ha! That's what DH says! :rotfl2: sorry, TMI! I have to keep you coming back for more somehow!

Simpsons is a great ride, but it's only MY favorite, I can't speak for the rest of them. I think I read somewhere that it used to be Back to the Future themed.

DH is such a goofball. He always makes me laugh! :love:

I think Piper would LOVE being cast as the young girl! Tell her to wave her hands frantically in the air and stand where the assistant director can see her (and her MAW pin too!)

Here's another teaser. Bella's Disaster! movie has nothing to do with the ride!

WOW! :thumbsup2:thumbsup2

You guys hit quite a bit so far at US. By the sound of it the Florida one sounds 10X better than the California one. I must admit that I know 0 (ZERO) about US but it sounds like you guys had a lot of fun here. I must also admit that I am a Simpson's fan- I don't watch it every week but if it is on and I have nothing to watch I'll check it out. It is a cartoon geared towards adults and I think over the years it has gotten 'racier'.:confused3

How warm was it while you were there? How busy was US?

The Simpsons show has definitely become a bit racier over the years. I don't recall anything inappropriate on the ride though. It's pretty G rated.

We didn't miss a whole lot at US on our first day. Despite the rain, we used our time there to the fullest.

It was between high 50's and low 80's for the duration of our trip. On this day it was in the 60's. And the crowds were nonexistent. The longest ride wait we saw was 30 minutes I think for Disaster Movie. We walked in at 1pm and got a table for lunch in a sit down restaurant. I'm sure the rain drove some people away, but I doubt the park would have been much more crowded even with better weather.

[yinyanggirls]

I'm cracking up at the pics, because as the day goes on the girls' hair is getting shorter. :rotfl:

[StefaniLyn]

I'm cracking up at the pics, because as the day goes on the girls' hair is getting shorter. :rotfl:

That's funny! I never noticed it before but you're right! They start out with heavy wet hair in the morning (believe it or not Bella's hair goes all the way down to her bottom when it is wet and brushed out!) and as it dries and the humidity getss to it their hair gets shorter and shorter . . . . gotta love those crazy curls!

[kayrosek]

Great update as usual, I must admit though, you've got me on the edge of my seat waiting to hear about Bellas "disaster"

[yinyanggirls]

That's funny! I never noticed it before but you're right! They start out with heavy wet hair in the morning (believe it or not Bella's hair goes all the way down to her bottom when it is wet and brushed out!) and as it dries and the humidity getss to it their hair gets shorter and shorter . . . . gotta love those crazy curls!

I had really curly hair when I was younger (mostly just wavy now which is why I straighten!) so I recognize the pattern. ;) Tessa's curls are so tight that they get longer when wet. Hers is almost to her shoulder blades when wet and yet dry, it's just short, short, short! Who do the girls get their curls from? I love that all three have 'em.

[All7OfUs]

Believe it or not, I definitely noticed the hair-raising as well. How appropriate for the "hair-raising" attractions at US! :lmao:

OK, that was a stupid pun, nevertheless, I'm cracking myself up! :lmao:

We have a bunch of older Simpsons stuff on VHS that someone gave us a long time ago over here, and I'll have to say, they are hiliarious!! Then going to Japan, the spoof of the Shining, etc... Too funny!

[StefaniLyn]

Great update as usual, I must admit though, you've got me on the edge of my seat waiting to hear about Bellas "disaster"
Thanks! I'm hoping to find some time today to get to it, but I also have a PTO agenda to write as well as as gymnastics this evening.
I had really curly hair when I was younger (mostly just wavy now which is why I straighten!) so I recognize the pattern. ;) Tessa's curls are so tight that they get longer when wet. Hers is almost to her shoulder blades when wet and yet dry, it's just short, short, short! Who do the girls get their curls from? I love that all three have 'em.
Their curls come from DH. He chops his hair off now at the first sign of curling. Over the past few years mine has developed a bit of a wave, but nothing near what the girls have. It took Bella's hair 4 years of growing without a single haircut before it finally fell below her shoulders when dry! Her first haircut was on our last Disney trip in 2008 at the Main St. Barbershop.
Believe it or not, I definitely noticed the hair-raising as well. How appropriate for the "hair-raising" attractions at US! :lmao:

OK, that was a stupid pun, nevertheless, I'm cracking myself up! :lmao:

We have a bunch of older Simpsons stuff on VHS that someone gave us a long time ago over here, and I'll have to say, they are hiliarious!! Then going to Japan, the spoof of the Shining, etc... Too funny!

Ha! I can't believe I never noticed that before and everyone else did! Love the pun! I may need to do a scrapbook page with "Hair Raising Rides" as a title and pictures throughout the day!

The Simpsons are right up there with Family Guy and just a step below South Park for me. The shows are funny, but being cartoons they are obviously attractive to childre who have no business watching them. In fact, I put a "?" mark by The Simpsons Ride in my planner because I wasn't sure if we would experience vulgar language or innuendo (that my 10 yr old is starting to understand). DGma has ridden before and assured me that it was G rated. I'm so glad we went on!

[yinyanggirls]

Wow, it took that long? You've just given me hope. :goodvibes Tessa just turned four and other than a couple of *tiny* trims, just to even out, she's not had a cut yet.

[StefaniLyn]

Wow, it took that long? You've just given me hope. :goodvibes Tessa just turned four and other than a couple of *tiny* trims, just to even out, she's not had a cut yet.

Yep, it took forever for her hair to get long because of the curls. Aside from having part of her head shaved for an IV when she was an infant, we never touched her hair until that first haircut at Disneyworld at 4 years, 5 months old. Then when she was 5 she gave herself a haircut and cut off over 6 inches in some places:eek:! Thankfully, the curls hid it pretty well!

[yinyanggirls]

Then when she was 5 she gave herself a haircut and cut off over 6 inches in some places:eek:! Thankfully, the curls hid it pretty well!

Ouch! 6 inches of hard earned hair!?! Tessa just did the same but thankfully it was only a tiny snip, the equivalent of one of her curls, and it looks like she has little one curl bang, if I look for it. Thank goodness curls hide it so well!:rotfl:

[kimmylaj]

hmmmm you are making me want to give universal a try, havent been there since 1995
:goodvibes:lmao::cool1::thumbsup2:rotfl2::);):happ ytv::rotfl::lovestruc:worship::hippie::banana::ban ana::banana::cutie::popcorn:::rolleyes1:yay::dance 3::bride::cool2::teacher::laundy::grouphug::cheer2 ::upsidedow:flower3:princess:
mia 3 wanted me to send you all of those because she likes your spongebob shirts

[StefaniLyn]

Ouch! 6 inches of hard earned hair!?! Tessa just did the same but thankfully it was only a tiny snip, the equivalent of one of her curls, and it looks like she has little one curl bang, if I look for it. Thank goodness curls hide it so well!
Ha! Bella had a one curl bang too! DGma (who happened to be the one watching her when she got a hold of the scissors) would always say the old nursery rhyme: "there was a little girl with a little curl RIGHT in the middle of her forehead. And when she was good, she was very very good. But when she was bad she was horrid!"

Bella cut a 1 square inch chunk right at the front of her forehead down to about 3/4 inch and another 1 sq. inch chunk on the top of her head down to about 1/2 inch. I was too upset to take photos of it.
hmmmm you are making me want to give universal a try, havent been there since 1995
:thumbsup2:rotfl2::);):happytv::rotfl::lovestruc:w orship::hippie::banana::banana::banana::cutie::pop corn:::rolleyes1:yay::dance3::bride::cool2::teache r::laundy::grouphug::cheer2::upsidedow:flower3:pri ncess:
mia 3 wanted me to send you all of those because she likes your spongebob shirts

Kim please tell Mia :thanks: for all the smilies. They made me giggle! :rotfl:

Before our Wish Trip, I hadn't been to US in a very long time either and never really gave it much consideration, but I am sooooo glad we went this time! It is comprable to the Disney parks for staff friendliness, cleanliness, and theming. There were fewer rides (especially for little ones) but still plenty to keep us occupied for 2 full days! I highly recommend it!

[ladybugmom]

How fun that 3 of your family members were able to take part in the show!!! :goodvibes And I'm not sure I could have gone on that Twister ride--I am terrified of tornadoes! We have lots of tornadoes here and I've been in the middle of several--it's something I never want to ever experience again! Your meal looks soooo yummy that my mouth is watering!!! :goodvibes

[Momofwishkid]

Great Great Great updates! :goodvibes I love your spongebob outfits and what good deals you got. The pic with spongebob was a perfect scrapbook photo. Cant wait to read more. I finally got your site to load correctly so hopefully I'll get updates now. :cool1:

[StefaniLyn]

How fun that 3 of your family members were able to take part in the show!!! :goodvibes And I'm not sure I could have gone on that Twister ride--I am terrified of tornadoes! We have lots of tornadoes here and I've been in the middle of several--it's something I never want to ever experience again! Your meal looks soooo yummy that my mouth is watering!!! :goodvibes
I think twister was very realistic, although I've never been through one personally. Had I experienced one in the past, I'm sure the Twister ride wouldn't be appealing to me either. I don't blame you for not wanting to experience one on vacation! I'm glad you have made it through several safely.

The food at Finnegans was good. DH had bnagers and mash and DD10 had the fish and chips - both were great. I can't recall what the rest of us had, but do know that nobody was disappointed with their meals!
Great Great Great updates! :goodvibes I love your spongebob outfits and what good deals you got. The pic with spongebob was a perfect scrapbook photo. Cant wait to read more. I finally got your site to load correctly so hopefully I'll get updates now. :cool1:

Thanks! The Spongebob outfits were a hit and it was just by chance that we ran into him that morning in the park. I guess fate brought my girls together with the big squishy guy!

Which site were you having trouble getting to upload? Is it the pictures in this one? I host them on Facebook and wasn't aware of a problem but I can switch to photobucket if people are having trouble seeing them.

[kdzbear]

Another great update! I have not been to Universal in over 10 years. It sounds as if Twister and Disaster are part of the old King Kong ride unless it is still there too! The Simpson's ride sounds like fun! I love all of the smiling pictures of the girls! :yay:

[Momofwishkid]

I think twister was very realistic, although I've never been through one personally. Had I experienced one in the past, I'm sure the Twister ride wouldn't be appealing to me either. I don't blame you for not wanting to experience one on vacation! I'm glad you have made it through several safely.

The food at Finnegans was good. DH had bnagers and mash and DD10 had the fish and chips - both were great. I can't recall what the rest of us had, but do know that nobody was disappointed with their meals!


Thanks! The Spongebob outfits were a hit and it was just by chance that we ran into him that morning in the park. I guess fate brought my girls together with the big squishy guy!

Which site were you having trouble getting to upload? Is it the pictures in this one? I host them on Facebook and wasn't aware of a problem but I can switch to photobucket if people are having trouble seeing them.

No it wasnt the pics. For some reason everytime I tried your TR it came up with no way to reply and I wasnt getting any updates even though I was subscribed. Dont know what the problem was but it's working now. :goodvibes

[StefaniLyn]

Another great update! I have not been to Universal in over 10 years. It sounds as if Twister and Disaster are part of the old King Kong ride unless it is still there too! The Simpson's ride sounds like fun! I love all of the smiling pictures of the girls! :yay:
I think that Disaster used to be the Earthquake ride. Revenge of the Mummy is actually in the building where King Kong used to be. And did I mention before that Back to the Future used to be where the Simpsons is now? Universal seems to have a knack for repurposing old rides. Talk about recycling! :rotfl2:
No it wasnt the pics. For some reason everytime I tried your TR it came up with no way to reply and I wasnt getting any updates even though I was subscribed. Dont know what the problem was but it's working now. :goodvibes

Hmmm . . . I wonder what was going on. Glad to hear that it is all worked out now!

[StefaniLyn]

We had just finished MIB and were headed to meet Bella and DGma near ET when my cell phone rang. It was DGma, and she was telling me to come quickly. :scared1: Bella was sick :sick: and she needed help. While headed towards Woody’s Nuthouse Coaster, Bella warned Gma that she was not feeling well and needed a bathroom, quick! Gma hastily rushed Bella to the bathroom, but didn’t get there fast enough:headache:, and now Bella’s skirt, shoes, and socks were soiled. We hurried over to the restroom to discover DGMa in a bathroom stall with a half dressed, teary-eyed Bella. :sad1:

I took over cleaning Bella up as best I could with toilet tissue and paper towels. DH ran into the nearest store and tried to buy overpriced socks, but the cashier was moving incredibly slow. So DH stole the socks :rolleyes1 and left Uncle TJ to wait in line with another pair to pay for them. Thirty minutes later, we emerged with Bella, now wearing the leggings I had brought in case her legs were cold during the day and new Thing 1 socks. It was quite the outfit!

Unfortunately we have grown accustomed to Bella’s random acts of illness over the years. Bella suffers from Celiac disease, which is an intolerance to gluten (wheat, rye, barley, and oats contain gluten) and contamination from foods containing gluten is often inescapable. It can occur from something as innocent as putting her spoon onto the table that had bread crumbs (even if they are miniscule) before Bella uses that spoon to eat. Because of her Celiac disease, that microscopic amount of gluten can cause sudden onset of illness a short time later.

After cleaning her up, I put in a call to Bella’s GI nurse as this episode was relatively severe. We were told to just keep an eye out for dehydration and abnormal lethargy. I asked Bella if she wanted to head back to GKTW, but she didn’t. She had just spied the ET Adventure ride a few yards away and asked if we could ride. Reluctantly, I agreed – it was her Wish Trip and I wasn’t about to stop her. So we headed off to see ET. I just realized this is the ONLY photo I will have for this update.:guilty: Bella didn’t want to have her photo taken in her mismatched outfit so I put the camera away after this one. So sorry!

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385442530310_791745310_10166612_6563766_n.jp g

My girls have seen and love ET the movie so they were excited for this ride. The attendant led us through a back entrance where we stopped momentarily to give another attendant our names. Those were typed into a computer, a card swiped, and given to each of us. We went straight to the front of the line and gave those cards to another attendant, not yet knowing what they were for. We boarded flying bicycles and enjoyed a slow-paced, ride through space as we helped ET save his home planet. At the end of the ride, ET wished us all farewell and personally thanked us each *by name* for helping him! It was a touching surprise ending!

The rain had picked up again so we quickly ran to the next attraction on our route – Terminator 2:3-D. Now I know I have raved about Universal Studios for the past few days, but here is proof I am not on their payroll, as I have my one and only complaint about this park. Terminator 2:3-D has GOT to go! It’s a combination of 3D movie and live stunts, but it is very dated and . . . . to be frank – LAME. 4 out of 7 of us actually fell asleep during this show. It may have been due to the mental stress of Bella’s Disaster! or the lack of sleep in recent days, however I’m guessing it can be attributed to sheer boredom. If you’re a die hard Arnold fan, you may enjoy this show. Otherwise, it’s comparable to Ellen’s Universe of Energy in Epcot – a great place to catch some zzzzzzzzzz’s!

Well rested, we checked the map and realized we had come full circle to the entrance/exit to Universal. AJ begged to see if Rip Rockit Roller Coaster was running so we continued on and discovered it was still closed. Although the reviews aren’t very good for this coaster, I truly would have liked to ride it and was disappointed to find it shut down.

We decided to head back to GKTW and get some dinner at this point. On our way out, we stopped for one more adventure with Jimmy Neutron at Bella’s request. It was just as much fun the second time around!:thumbsup2

Alright, I was starting to feel really bad about the lack of visual stimulation in this TR segment so after interviewing all immediate family members in our household, I created this handy dandy little chart:

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs127.snc3/17441_425203085310_791745310_10571334_5742291_n.jp g
A '+' means s/he loved the ride. If not, there are comments in the box as to why s/he didn't love it. The bottom row is the favorites for each person.

Look at all of those +’s! Universal Studios definitely gets at :thumbsup2 in our family’s book!

I’ll try to include DGma in future updates but I made this last night and didn’t think she would appreciate a phone call at 11pm inquiring as to whether she enjoyed The Simpsons or not!

I’m also including the Spongebob picture that I promised you!
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs147.snc3/17441_425203070310_791745310_10571333_7762542_n.jp g

ugh - I just realized how poor the quality is on those scanned pictures. I'll replace them later, but I've already shut down DD's computer and I don't have a scanner for my laptop.

So now you have 3 photos. :dance3: I know, I know . . . . it’s not a lot. But let’s just consider it preparation for the next few days when I have hardly any photos at all due to the FDF09. :sad2:

After returning our stroller, we made the long trek back to our minivan. We drove back to GKTW as the rain continued to pour. Bella ate her her dinner at the villa and we changed 2 of 3 girls for the party tonight. We then walked to the Gingerbread House for dinner. I’m not a big fan of pork myself, but the rest of the family enjoyed the home cooked pork loin with veggies and potatoes.

During dinner, Bella napped again with her head on DH’s lap. When she woke just 10 minutes later, she asked if she had missed the party.

“What party?” you ask. :confused3

Why, it’s the GKTW Pirates pirate: and Princesses princess: Party of course!

Act 2: Scene 6 - Magic for Mommy at the Pirates and Princess Party (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=35036852&postcount=222)

[yinyanggirls]

Great report Steph! You are very thoughtful, and kinda funny, putting together a ratings chart for the rides. Too cute! Poor Bella, with her accident. Good thinking on having the leggings just in case. I'm planning for multiple wardrobe changes for both girls for every reason you can imagine. If it's possible, it will get dirty/wet/ripped...:lmao:

[Momofwishkid]

Great update even without alot of pics :goodvibes That was so sweet to put together the rating chart! :thumbsup2 We cant wait for US. Im so sorry Bella got sick and :lmao: at DH staealing the socks. You gotta do what has to be done. At least BIL stayed to pay.

[kdzbear]

Great update! You tell the story so well! I love the photo of the girls with Sponge Bob! You chose great! :banana:

[kimmylaj]

ds ryan 6 wants me to tell you he liked your report about the rides, and he thought your chart was pretty cool:)
poor bella feeling so sick and least she seemed to recouperate (sp?) quickly. tell her i think her socks and leggings made a very nice fashion statement. i have to tell you as much as i love pictures you tell the story so well i can just picture everything that happened.

[StefaniLyn]

Great report Steph! You are very thoughtful, and kinda funny, putting together a ratings chart for the rides. Too cute! Poor Bella, with her accident. Good thinking on having the leggings just in case. I'm planning for multiple wardrobe changes for both girls for every reason you can imagine. If it's possible, it will get dirty/wet/ripped...:lmao:

The ratings chart interview process was a lot of fun. The girls recalled little bits and pieces of each ride as I went down the list. Kinda like a walk down memory lane . . . .

After Bella was potty trained, I stopped carrying extra clothes everywhere. It was only because of the cold weather that I had those extra leggings. I had actually been asking Bella all day long if she wanted to wear them to warm her legs up. Thankfully she said no each time or we would have been buying an entire outfit!

[pipersmom]

I'm so glad Bella felt well enough to continue doing the park! Random vomitting just bites, when Piper is getting sick, it's one of the first symptoms, because of all the mucus she swallows. (Sorry to be so graphic, I've gotten over it over the years!) Thank goodness for those leggings! And woohoo for dh doing what he had to do! I love the girls laughing in the pic with spongebob, they all looked totally happy. :cutie: And very cool chart, I'll have to show Piper tomorrow, she'll love that!

[StefaniLyn]

Great update even without alot of pics :goodvibes That was so sweet to put together the rating chart! :thumbsup2 We cant wait for US. Im so sorry Bella got sick and :lmao: at DH staealing the socks. You gotta do what has to be done. At least BIL stayed to pay.
Thanks :lovestruc The girls wanted to do the ratings chart for every day last night, but I told them they had to wait til I got to that point in my TR writing.
I felt so bad for Bella - I'm sure she was hoping to leave all that medical garbage at home!
Uncle TJ had just finished purchasing the socks when we exited the restroom - no kidding! Apparently there was a mistake with something for the customer before him and the super duper slow cashier just couldn't figure it out! She had to call a manager to help.
Great update! You tell the story so well! I love the photo of the girls with Sponge Bob! You chose great! :banana:
Thank U! I kinda wish I had gotten in the Spongebob picture too -just because now I'm curious to see what Spongebob felt like! :rotfl2: Is he fabric? Or maybe plush? possibly spongy like those stress balls? is it creepy that I want to know? :rotfl:
ds ryan 6 wants me to tell you he liked your report about the rides, and he thought your chart was pretty cool:)
poor bella feeling so sick and least she seemed to recouperate (sp?) quickly. tell her i think her socks and leggings made a very nice fashion statement. i have to tell you as much as i love pictures you tell the story so well i can just picture everything that happened.
awwww . . . . :love: Thank you Ryan! U r too sweet!

Bella was a little lethargic for the remainder of the afternoon, but she has become accustomed to living life to it's fullest even when she feels sick. Her blood glucose spikes after nearly every meal and it leaves her feeling ill for about an hour but she does her best to work through the discomfort.

[praisehisname]

I really enjoyed reading about your day at Universal! I never really researched it very much, and your posts made it seem like a lot of fun!

[pacrosby]

Great update Stephanie!!!! Px or no px. Honestly, I think sometimes px can distract people from the prose and you write so well that I enjoy focusing my attention solely on your words.

Your chart cracked me up - great idea to add alittle spice (informative too!)

I am sooooooo sad we didn't catch that ridiculous SpongeBob. That picture of him with the girls is terrific.



Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607
Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

[StefaniLyn]

I'm so glad Bella felt well enough to continue doing the park! Random vomitting just bites, when Piper is getting sick, it's one of the first symptoms, because of all the mucus she swallows. (Sorry to be so graphic, I've gotten over it over the years!) Thank goodness for those leggings! And woohoo for dh doing what he had to do! I love the girls laughing in the pic with spongebob, they all looked totally happy. :cutie: And very cool chart, I'll have to show Piper tomorrow, she'll love that!

Don't apologize! Talk of bodily fluids doesn't even phase me anymore. You should hear some of the conversations I've had with other special needs moms! Serious potty talk going on there! :rotfl2:

DH isn't one to make his princess wait while some amateur cashier gets her quarters in a row. It was, in my opinion, an emergency. My poor baby girl was embarassed enough about the situation and we weren't about to waste any more of Bella's Wish Trip time.

Piper should keep her own chart for the parks. We'd love to compare results!


I really enjoyed reading about your day at Universal! I never really researched it very much, and your posts made it seem like a lot of fun!
Definitely fun! DD10 wants to return next year when Harry Potter opens up! I said probably not, but maybe the year after!
Great update Stephanie!!!! Px or no px. Honestly, I think sometimes px can distract people from the prose and you write so well that I enjoy focusing my attention solely on your words.

Your chart cracked me up - great idea to add alittle spice (informative too!)

I am sooooooo sad we didn't catch that ridiculous SpongeBob. That picture of him with the girls is terrific.

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607
Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2356739

Thanks Pamela - you're so sweet!

I enjoy reading the text most in TR's but a computer screen full of text can be hard to focus on so a picture or two to break it up is helpful for me.

I'm planning on charts for each park. Between those and our photopass pictures, I hope to add enough visual interest to keep my dear friends, (aka readers) attention!

I'm sorry you guys missed Spongebob! When you return next December do you plan to visit US/IOA again?

[kayrosek]

Ahh, poor Bella. I'm glad she got to enjoy the rest of her day anyway and as for the socks my DH would have done the same thing. Can't wait to hear about the pirate and princess party.

[All7OfUs]

Sheesh, I didn't think I was gone that long, but look, I missed an update. Pooper-dooper!

I love, LOVE your chart!! Am totally sad too, that Bella wasn't feeling so hot. No fun barfing!

[ladybugmom]

Awww! So sorry Bella got sick--that's no fun!! Hey--I did recoginze that ET ride!! I rode that back in '94!! And i LOVE your chart--great idea!!! :thumbsup2

[StefaniLyn]

Ahh, poor Bella. I'm glad she got to enjoy the rest of her day anyway and as for the socks my DH would have done the same thing. Can't wait to hear about the pirate and princess party.

I'll be AWOL the rest of today - 3 meetings this evening and I still need to prep for all of them! But hopefully I can get to the Pirates and Princesses party tomorrow sometime!
Sheesh, I didn't think I was gone that long, but look, I missed an update. Pooper-dooper!

I love, LOVE your chart!! Am totally sad too, that Bella wasn't feeling so hot. No fun barfing!
I'm glad you enjoyed the chart! The girls are looking forward to their future interviews! I think I'll print and scrapbook those too!
Awww! So sorry Bella got sick--that's no fun!! Hey--I did recoginze that ET ride!! I rode that back in '94!! And i LOVE your chart--great idea!!! :thumbsup2
Such a classic movie! I don't remember that one from when I was a kid unfortunately! Either it wasn't open and we didn't ride it or it just wasn't that memorable back then when I was a *cool* teenager! :rotfl2:

[p00h4me]

Loved reading all your reports at Universal Studios! I've never been to the one in Florida but have gone to the one in California several times. My husband had the same reaction with the Mummy ride as Kennedy! Once was enough! :laughing: I think it was going backwards in the dark that got to him.:lmao: Too bad that Bella had to star in her own disaster movie. It's great that she felt good enough afterward to go on the ET ride. Isn't that a nice touch at the end of the ride? Your chart is great too!

[StefaniLyn]

Loved reading all your reports at Universal Studios! I've never been to the one in Florida but have gone to the one in California several times. My husband had the same reaction with the Mummy ride as Kennedy! Once was enough! :laughing: I think it was going backwards in the dark that got to him.:lmao: Too bad that Bella had to star in her own disaster movie. It's great that she felt good enough afterward to go on the ET ride. Isn't that a nice touch at the end of the ride? Your chart is great too!

I'm so glad you have enjoyed reading my US reports. Did you enjoy the US in California?

Once on Mummy was enough for me too. The rats totally creeped me out!

The surprise at the end of ET earned it a + rating from me - otherwise it was just so-so.

I'm glad you enjoyed the chart!

[StefaniLyn]

As I'm sitting here with Bella snuggled in my lap watching Dora, I wanted to take a few minutes to give you all a quick update. I apologize for the lack of updates lately. I've had a slew of meetings that are keeping me busy including one very important one this morning. We are waiting for a meeting with a rep from Bella's secondary insurance. Each year, Bella is reevaluated to see if she qualifies and today is 'the big day.' In the past, she has easily qualified because of her g-tube but since it's removal, it's not so easy. Bella's medical situation is complicated and rare. I just hope I can convey it appropraitely to the representative so she can keep her secondary insurance. Without it, we would incur nearly $12,000 in additional out of pocket medical expenses each year - something we just cannot afford at this time.

I've also been spending a lot of time at school and on the phone with Bella's doctors discussing her recent blood glucose levels and decline in mealtime behavior. Despite being on two medications to control her glucose, Bella continues to spike high levels (over 200) after meals. We tried doubling a dose of one medication and it made it worse! Because of the spikes, her meals at home and at school have been exceptionally difficult. She screams, cries, and is starting to regularly vomit again. She has lost weight I am certain, and her aides as well as DH and I are completely stressed out. I'm sure Bella is too.

Yesterday Bella's endocrinologist prescribed yet another medication, Jenuvia, to try and control the blood glucose. I am praying that this one works. She will now be on a total of 3 medications that are generally used for diabetes even though she doesn't have diabetes. If we can't get her blood glucose levels under control, we will once again be forced to consider a g-tube to supplement for the extra calories. It would be a devastating blow to Bella as she has worked so hard for the past 2 years to get rid of that thing. It is truly one of her proudest accomplishments and to even consider putting it back in is breaking my heart.

I probably won't be back on to post until Saturday evening unless I magically find some time this afternoon. We have a Girl Scout lock in tonight and soccer camps tomorrow. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

[pipersmom]

I'm sorry to hear about Bella's recent problems and will keep you guys in my thoughts and prayers. Hoping the appt goes well and relatively stress-free for you today! Enjoy your lock-in and I hope you get at least some time to relax over the weekend. :hug:

[All7OfUs]

That's just very distressing news! I"m really sorry to hear that she might have the g-tube in again. I know that would be so very disappointing!

I'll really be praying as you have those meetings today!! That's really important to keep! My sons were on growth hormone for a very long time, and every year, it was the same thing. Do they qualify? Will we have benefits??

[Momofwishkid]

Stephanie, I am sorry to hear about Bella's increased difficulties and will be keeping her in my thughts for no G-tube and also that your meeting goes well today. We all no how important that insurance is. I hope you have a little time to relax this weekend and you enjoy your time with the kids. :hug:

[thatkid]

thats awesome that she doesn't have a feed tube anymore! I hope the insurance stuff goes well. My dad is in the process of getting me extra medical insurance, too.

[that's nice]

Stefani-

Loved all your US updates. Sorry Bella got sick. How funny that Bella didn't want her picture taken because she had a mis-matched outfit on. Too funny. Loved the chart of everyone's likes too.

She didn't miss a beat when she woke up from dinner and asked about the party. Smart as a whip huh? :goodvibes

I hope everything goes well with your insurance meeting. :wizard:

[ladybugmom]

Praying for Bella right now!! :goodvibes

[kayrosek]

sending prayers your way for Bella and that the insurance rep understands how much you need the secondary insurance and Bella qualifies.

[StefaniLyn]

I'm sorry to hear about Bella's recent problems and will keep you guys in my thoughts and prayers. Hoping the appt goes well and relatively stress-free for you today! Enjoy your lock-in and I hope you get at least some time to relax over the weekend. :hug:
The lock in was fun! We danced all night and enjoyed acting goofy. 150 Girl Scouts and 50 troop leaders = great time!
That's just very distressing news! I"m really sorry to hear that she might have the g-tube in again. I know that would be so very disappointing!

I'll really be praying as you have those meetings today!! That's really important to keep! My sons were on growth hormone for a very long time, and every year, it was the same thing. Do they qualify? Will we have benefits??
I hope the HGH helped your sons. I know that is an expensive and painful process for little ones to go through.
Stephanie, I am sorry to hear about Bella's increased difficulties and will be keeping her in my thughts for no G-tube and also that your meeting goes well today. We all no how important that insurance is. I hope you have a little time to relax this weekend and you enjoy your time with the kids. :hug:
I'm relaxing right now! Took a hot bath and did a little reading. And I had so much fun with the girls last night while poor DH was stuck home doing laundry - No Boys Allowed! LOL
thats awesome that she doesn't have a feed tube anymore! I hope the insurance stuff goes well. My dad is in the process of getting me extra medical insurance, too.
I hope your dad is able to get a secondary insurance policy for you. Medical stuff can be really expensive!
Stefani-

Loved all your US updates. Sorry Bella got sick. How funny that Bella didn't want her picture taken because she had a mis-matched outfit on. Too funny. Loved the chart of everyone's likes too.

She didn't miss a beat when she woke up from dinner and asked about the party. Smart as a whip huh? :goodvibes

I hope everything goes well with your insurance meeting. :wizard:
Bella is very picky about how she looks in pictures. She went through a phase last year where she would only take a good picture for me if she had a bow in her hair. I figured it was her wish trip and I wasn't going to force her to take pictures if she was embarassed about her outfit.

Praying for Bella right now!! :goodvibes
:love:
sending prayers your way for Bella and that the insurance rep understands how much you need the secondary insurance and Bella qualifies.

Thanks!

Thank you everyone for your prayers and positive thoughts. Our meeting yesterday went as well as could be expected. The rep told me that while she was reviewing Bella's case (before she arrived) based on last year's information, she was almost certain Bella wouldn't qualify. However, Bella has had 4 new diagnoses this year as well as 1 more hospitalization and now the possibility of a g-tube in the future. As a 5 year old, Bella would be borderline for qualifying. But since she is so close to 6, the representative said she was going to recommend the committee review her as a 6 year old. That is good news for us, but nothing will be decided for several more weeks. Now we just sit and wait for a letter in the mail approving or denying coverage.

As for Bella herself, we have now started her on the third medication. She has had just one dose, but the numbers are consistent with what they've been with the other meds. We need to give it a couple more days to see if there is any effect. Meals continue to be a struggle. We have appointments with doctors on the 1st and 8th of February to discuss options with GI and Endocrinology.

Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers! I'm off to work on the Pirates and Princess Party installment of my TR!

[StefaniLyn]

Princess Bella had just finished catching her 40 winks as we dined in the Gingerbread House at GKTW. She awoke asking if we had missed the Pirates and Princesses Party. All day long she had eagerly awaited her opportunity to slip on her beautiful Cinderella dress and dance the night away so she was understandably worried that she may have slept through it. Fortunately, she had not as it was just about to begin!

Princess Bella with Prince Daddy at her side, Princess Kennedy and Yet Undecided AJ skipped down the Avenue of Angels and headed straight for Julie’s Safari Theater.

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385454425310_791745310_10166753_1125425_n.jp g

Upon entering, Princesses were directed to the left and Pirates to the right. AJ was unsure that she wanted to be a girly girl princess but also had little desire to wear an eye patch and sing “Yo-Ho, Yo-Ho.” She started by drawing a pirate map.

http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385454485310_791745310_10166761_5816020_n.jp g

Bella and Kennedy headed straight for the make up station where two wonderful GKTW Angels applied moderate amounts of make up to please the princesses.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385454430310_791745310_10166754_7628947_n.jp g http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385454475310_791745310_10166760_7209723_n.jp g

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385454445310_791745310_10166757_1783050_n.jp g
http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385454490310_791745310_10166762_4182134_n.jp g

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385454450310_791745310_10166758_1652930_n.jp g
My little girls are so easily delighted with a little bit of blush and eye shadow!

After makeovers, the Princesses selected a purse, jewelry, and other treasures.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385454470310_791745310_10166759_877762_n.jpg

As we entered the main portion of the theater, we were stopped by a GKTW Angel who asked the girls to declare themselves either a Pirate or Princess. Bella was first, and confidently affirmed our belief that she is truly a Princess as she received this certificate.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385454515310_791745310_10166765_7219983_n.jp g

Kennedy followed, stating matter-of-factly her royal status and also received a certificate.
http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385454535310_791745310_10166767_2958280_n.jp g

AJ was last, and tried to slip by unnoticed. However, the Angel playfully refused admittance without a declaration and AJ finally relented – bringing my total princess count to 3.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385454525310_791745310_10166766_1374646_n.jp g

Julie’s Safari Theater has a open floor area which had served as toyland during the previous evening’s Christmas festivities. This evening, it was a dance floor full of Characters from Sea World and Give Kids the World all dressed up as Pirates or Princesses!

Kennedy, Bella, and I danced with Dolly Dolphin
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385454555310_791745310_10166768_5854545_n.jp g

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs127.snc3/17441_433518760310_791745310_10628612_6719941_n.jp g

And were tickled to see Miss Merry dressed as a Princess
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385454565310_791745310_10166769_2606012_n.jp g

Mayor Clayton was a Pirate (a friendly one of course)

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385454585310_791745310_10166771_1563749_n.jp g

We spent a little time dancing and mingling with the characters. Before we knew it, we had to say Good bye to Shamu and his friends because it was time for the coronation ceremony.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385454595310_791745310_10166773_3405524_n.jp g

All princesses were asked to line up on the left and pirates to the right. Kennedy and Bella, of course, headed straight to the front of the line on the left.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385454590310_791745310_10166772_4428076_n.jp g

AJ lingered . . . and then proclaimed the entire process ‘too babyish’ for a big pre-teen girl like her! Sheesh . . . they really grow up too fast.

So AJ, DH, DGma, and I watched as Kennedy received her tiara and was deemed Princess Kennedy.
http://photos-b.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385454610310_791745310_10166775_6404297_n.jp g

Isabella then proudly removed her Cinderella crown so it could be replaced with a newer, pinker, fuzzier tiara as she was crowned “Princess Bella.”
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385454620310_791745310_10166777_213409_n.jpg

The two sisters joined other princesses on stage while the crowd celebrated their coronation.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385454625310_791745310_10166778_1030230_n.jp g

Many other Princesses were crowned and Pirates received their eyepatch and sword. At one point, I noticed that AJ had joined the Pirates line. Hmmm . . . I think she wanted one of the inflatable Pirate swords. Several moments later, she was standing next to me again, having apparently changed her mind when she saw that new pirates were being asked to say “Arrrrrrgggh!” before receiving their loot.

We continued to watch the coronation ceremony. As the lines were starting to whittle down to the last few Pirates and Princesses, I experienced a little magic of my own. AJ decided she wanted to be a Princess after all. My heart nearly burst with joy as she joined the end of the line.
http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs182.snc3/18941_385454645310_791745310_10166780_4412662_n.jp g

The same daughter who, at the tender age of 5, lost a bit of her childhood innocence as she witnessed the life and death struggle of her own baby sister. The same daughter who wouldn’t be caught dead as a princess in front of her friends. The same daughter who for the past 5 years has learned how to be a mother, nurse, and teacher as she helped me tend to the special needs of her sister. AJ has grown up too quickly and we rarely see the ‘kid’ in her anymore. I was teary-eyed as I watched AJ rediscover the little princess insider her as she proudly accepted her tiara and “Princess AJ” title.

http://photos-h.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs182.snc3/18941_385454655310_791745310_10166781_6883936_n.jp g

The entire crowd erupted in applause as the new Pirates and Princesses were presented.

http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385454685310_791745310_10166785_8021384_n.jp g

http://photos-e.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs162.snc3/18941_385454695310_791745310_10166786_5739443_n.jp g

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs162.snc3/18941_385454705310_791745310_10166787_3372039_n.jp g

The wonderful, magical, GKTW Pirates and Princesses Party was over and we headed back to our villa to tuck the Princesses into bed. All 3 of them.

Having not eaten much at dinner, I was still quite hungry so we ordered pizzas. They were quickly delivered, piping hot, directly to our villa. I’m a plain jane kinda girl, so I went with sausage only. DH and DGMa tried the supreme. We all thought it was pretty good, but a little dry. Note to self: next time ask for extra sauce.

Hoping to get an early start tomorrow morning, we headed to bed after some light cleaning, laundry, and a quick once-over of tomorrow’s touring plans!

[yinyanggirls]

You made ME teary-eyed reading about AJs indecision. Isn't it funny how the little things mean so much? It looked like a fun night! I wonder which one Tessa would choose? She's loved pirates for a long time. ARGHHHH! :lmao:

[maroo]

Ok.

You made me cry.

Bless AJ! Precious child.

Your daughters are beautiful and I love that you guys enjoyed the party so much!! :)

That is the second GREAT review I have seen of the party - looks like you guys had a blast!

[Mommy2BnB]

Just found your trip report and I love reading about your family's trip. Subbing!

[ladybugmom]

You had me all teary-eyed as well reading about AJ deciding to be a princess along with her sisters! So sweet! It looks like they all had a marvelous time at the Princess/Pirate Party!! :goodvibes

[pacrosby]

Hey that looked like fun! For some reason they had the party outside when we went the next week.................and it was way too chilly for us:( I never saw the characters................wonder where they were??

Yay for AJ:yay: I am having similar feelings/experiences with my Olivia. She is so torn between being a little girl and being all grown up. When we went to see the princesses/fairies (which she, thankfully, requested) I could see the 'little girl' in her eyes as she spoke with/hugged/had px taken with them. Brought tears to my eyes too:)



Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607
Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread/php?t=3256739

[jessica52877]

I am so glad AJ decided to join in the princess ceremony! She seems like a great big sister and you had me teary eyed too! I am so glad that Bella woke up in time for the party although I am sure you would have woken her but so much better when they wake up on their own!

[StefaniLyn]

You made ME teary-eyed reading about AJs indecision. Isn't it funny how the little things mean so much? It looked like a fun night! I wonder which one Tessa would choose? She's loved pirates for a long time. ARGHHHH! :lmao:
It was such a special moment for me, as her mom, to see her acting like a little girl again. We experienced it several times while on this trip and it will forever be one of my fondest memories.

It was a lot of fun and I think Tessa and Phoebe would enjoy it.
Ok.

You made me cry.

Bless AJ! Precious child.

Your daughters are beautiful and I love that you guys enjoyed the party so much!! :)

That is the second GREAT review I have seen of the party - looks like you guys had a blast!
Maroo! You're here! I sure missed you lately! Welcome back!

I cried too when she was being crowned. And then again while I was writing this portion of the TR. And then again while I was proofreading it. :rotfl2:

The party was a LOT of fun. I think they may have had some outside stuff going on too but I am thinking we skipped it because it was too cold outside as I have no photos anything other than the party indoors.
Just found your trip report and I love reading about your family's trip. Subbing!
:welcome: I am so glad you found me and thrilled that you are enjoying my trip report. Feel free to chime in anytime!
You had me all teary-eyed as well reading about AJ deciding to be a princess along with her sisters! So sweet! It looks like they all had a marvelous time at the Princess/Pirate Party!! :goodvibes
I was teary-eyed a lot during this trip and I hope you won't be mad at me if my recollections of teary-eyed moments make you teary-eyed as well. Kennedy calls them my happy tears and I had plenty to go around on this Wish Trip!
Hey that looked like fun! For some reason they had the party outside when we went the next week.................and it was way too chilly for us:( I never saw the characters................wonder where they were??

Yay for AJ:yay: I am having similar feelings/experiences with my Olivia. She is so torn between being a little girl and being all grown up. When we went to see the princesses/fairies (which she, thankfully, requested) I could see the 'little girl' in her eyes as she spoke with/hugged/had px taken with them. Brought tears to my eyes too:)

Pamela:santa:

Matty's Wish Trip PTR http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2325607
Matty's Wish Trip TR "Mom, Dad, 3 Kids, and a Gingerbread Boy" http://www.disboards.com/showthread/php?t=3256739
Awwww . . . I'm sorry you guys missed it. We truly enjoyed it and were so happy it was inside because it was chilly that evening for us as well. I think they may have had some stuff outside still, but we must have skipped it entirely (likely because of the cold) because I have no photos of it. I think all of the characters were inside Julie's Safari Theater.

How old is Olivia? AJ has always seemed mature for her years but the last two years particularly, she seems like she is in a hurry to grow up. Her 9th birthday was especially difficult for me. I looked at DH and cried because I realized we were officially "halfway done" with AJ. :rotfl2:
I am so glad AJ decided to join in the princess ceremony! She seems like a great big sister and you had me teary eyed too! I am so glad that Bella woke up in time for the party although I am sure you would have woken her but so much better when they wake up on their own!

Me too! She is an amazing big sister. From day 1 she wanted to take care of her sisters any way she could. I have photos of AJ, at 5 years old, tube feeding baby Isabella.

Bella would have likely woken up on her own, but she may have missed the best part of the party. After eating, she likes to sleep off her blood sugar spike as it makes her miserable. It ususally takes about an hour or so.

[pacrosby]

Halfway done:eek: Olivia will be 10 in March. Excuse me now while I shed a few tears :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: (ok ok.....so more than a few)


Pamela:santa:

[StefaniLyn]

Halfway done:eek: Olivia will be 10 in March. Excuse me now while I shed a few tears :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: :sad1: (ok ok.....so more than a few)


Pamela:santa:

Of course, we'll never *really* be done parenting, will we? AJ turns 11 :eek: in March (on the 2nd). 9 was difficult for me because we were 'halfway done'. 10 was hard because it was double digits. 11, well that's over half way to over the legal age. :lmao: Twelve is her last official pre-teen bday, and thirteen . . . . well, I'm sure I will have run out of tears by then, right? :confused3 I don't know how I'll survive the next few years . . . . :sad1::sad1::sad1::sad1: Tears for me too! :rotfl2: I think I'll go peek at some really old (like 10 years old) photos before I go to bed.

[thatkid]

The pirate and princess party looked fun! (and im 18? your oldest daughter is more mature than me LOL) I totally read your last update wrong and thought bella got rid of her tube, not considering her getting a new one! I hope she doesn't need one, especially after working so hard at eating.

[pipersmom]

I'm still praying that the new med works for Bella and gets things under control. Also keeping you in my thoughts on the insurance front! I can't imagine having to deal with that, simply because I haven't had to..one of the only upsides of being broke!

I think you made everyone (including me) teary eyed with that update! I'm so glad you were able to see some of the little girl left in her on your trip. I had never even thought of 9 being halfway to 18 until you said that! You know what's going to be running through my head on her birthday now, don't you?? Evil..you're just evil! :lmao: On a more serious note..*ahem* I don't think it's possible to run out of tears, because heaven knows I (and prob most everyone else in our situation) would have run out a long time ago! And I think you just sold us on making the Pirates & Princess party while we're there. It's funny..a few months ago I would have told you Piper would NEVER be caught dead dressing as a Princess, and in our planning and the excitement of WDW and GKTW, it's like her internal clock has totally rewound..so I understand completely what you mean about AJ! Sometimes our kids just grow up too fast with everything going on around them medically-speaking. I know some of the memories I will cherish the most from our trip will be those turn back moments for Piper. Oh geez..see..you made me teary again..and I had stopped! :hug:

[kimmylaj]

so cute to see another event that give kids the world does, each time they continue to amaze me, i really want to volunteer there next trip. and AJ being a princess was wonderful

[StefaniLyn]

The pirate and princess party looked fun! (and im 18? your oldest daughter is more mature than me LOL) I totally read your last update wrong and thought bella got rid of her tube, not considering her getting a new one! I hope she doesn't need one, especially after working so hard at eating.
Did you go to the Pirates and Princess Party?

Bella was tube fed for the first 4 years of her life. The tube was removed in October of 2008 after Bella spent an entire summer in a hospital learning how to eat. She was so proud that day. Unfortunately, these new medical issues occurred after the tube was already removed. We are praying one of these medications can control her blood glucose so she can feel better and not need the tube to supplement her caloric intake.
I'm still praying that the new med works for Bella and gets things under control. Also keeping you in my thoughts on the insurance front! I can't imagine having to deal with that, simply because I haven't had to..one of the only upsides of being broke!

I think you made everyone (including me) teary eyed with that update! I'm so glad you were able to see some of the little girl left in her on your trip. I had never even thought of 9 being halfway to 18 until you said that! You know what's going to be running through my head on her birthday now, don't you?? Evil..you're just evil! :lmao: On a more serious note..*ahem* I don't think it's possible to run out of tears, because heaven knows I (and prob most everyone else in our situation) would have run out a long time ago! And I think you just sold us on making the Pirates & Princess party while we're there. It's funny..a few months ago I would have told you Piper would NEVER be caught dead dressing as a Princess, and in our planning and the excitement of WDW and GKTW, it's like her internal clock has totally rewound..so I understand completely what you mean about AJ! Sometimes our kids just grow up too fast with everything going on around them medically-speaking. I know some of the memories I will cherish the most from our trip will be those turn back moments for Piper. Oh geez..see..you made me teary again..and I had stopped! :hug:
Thank you for your prayers. What's really sad about this situation is that if the medication works and Bella is significantly better next year, there is no way she will qualify and those same medications would be virtually impossible for us to pay for out of pocket. Ugh - its a vicious cycle.

Sooooooo sorry about the tear jerking installment. But you know what they say - misery loves company. :rotfl2: Hello company! On AJ's 9th birthday, that was kind of a :idea: lightbult moment for me. At first, it was a little funny like 'woo hoo - we made it halfway with this kid and haven't killed eachother (or her) yet!" and then I burst out crying after I realized just how quickly the past 9 years had goen. :sad1: I'm glad your Wish Trip planning is already starting to rewind Piper's internal clock.

I don't think I'll ever run out of tears either, but I'd much rather shed the happy ones than the sad.
so cute to see another event that give kids the world does, each time they continue to amaze me, i really want to volunteer there next trip. and AJ being a princess was wonderful

It would be a wonderful place to volunteer. GKTW relies heavily on volunteer "Angels" and I am certain they would appreciate your assistance.

[ladybugmom]

I was teary-eyed a lot during this trip and I hope you won't be mad at me if my recollections of teary-eyed moments make you teary-eyed as well. Kennedy calls them my happy tears and I had plenty to go around on this Wish Trip!

I'm not mad at you at all!! I love the sentimental moments!! :goodvibes That's what making memories are all about! I'm a very sensitive/emotional person so I tend to cry A LOT!! Happy or sad!!

[monica23535]

Am enjoying your trip report StefaniLyn, it's very well written.

Your girls are so beautiful and you sound like such a fantastic Mom :goodvibes

[cleostar09]

I really appreciate your wonderful family. Really you guys are amazing. Each one of your girls is special beyond words. I really enjoyed hearing about Aj becoming a child again. I know how hard it is to watch your baby sister go through something so heart breaking. I was in my teenage years when it happened to my family. It breaks my heart to hear about a girl so young not experiencing childhood to it's fullest... But VERY heart-warming to see her inner child emerge again!!:cutie::cutie::cutie::cutie: Your daughters are beautiful! Keep up the good work!

[All7OfUs]

Now I understand the the "teary-eyed" posts were all about. You got me. I don't leak very often (not THAT kind, the crying kind; the other kind happens too often anymore), but I really got a bit emotional reading about AJ and her caving to her inner-child. I'll bet she was thinking she was being baby-ish, but doing something like can actually HELP us grow up. That may sound weird or backwards, but really learning to let loose the child takes courage and freedom. Good for her.

:yay:

Glad you got to bed early (after pizza!!! :woohoo:) for an early start in the morning!

[StefaniLyn]

I'm not mad at you at all!! I love the sentimental moments!! :goodvibes That's what making memories are all about! I'm a very sensitive/emotional person so I tend to cry A LOT!! Happy or sad!!
I am also a very emotional person and it drives me nuts that I can't control my tears. DH thinks it's funny that movies, commercials, and even Trip Reports can easily make me cry. In fact, I had to give DH a good kick in the shins the other day when he made me watch Ladder 49 with him.
Am enjoying your trip report StefaniLyn, it's very well written.

Your girls are so beautiful and you sound like such a fantastic Mom :goodvibes
Thank you. It's wonderful to hear that you are enjoying my trip report.

I'm glad I make myself sound like a good mom. :rotfl2: I would only hope that my daughter's version would do the same!

I really appreciate your wonderful family. Really you guys are amazing. Each one of your girls is special beyond words. I really enjoyed hearing about Aj becoming a child again. I know how hard it is to watch your baby sister go through something so heart breaking. I was in my teenage years when it happened to my family. It breaks my heart to hear about a girl so young not experiencing childhood to it's fullest... But VERY heart-warming to see her inner child emerge again!!:cutie::cutie::cutie::cutie: Your daughters are beautiful! Keep up the good work!
ok, see now you made ME teary-eyed! Thank you so much for your kind words.

You are an incredibly strong and intelligent young lady and I continue to be amazed by your dedication to your family and siblings. You seem wise beyong your own years, and I sincerely hope that you also discover your inner child every once in a while too!
Now I understand the the "teary-eyed" posts were all about. You got me. I don't leak very often (not THAT kind, the crying kind; the other kind happens too often anymore), but I really got a bit emotional reading about AJ and her caving to her inner-child. I'll bet she was thinking she was being baby-ish, but doing something like can actually HELP us grow up. That may sound weird or backwards, but really learning to let loose the child takes courage and freedom. Good for her.

:yay:

Glad you got to bed early (after pizza!!! :woohoo:) for an early start in the morning!
What you said actually does make sense. This school year has been a struggle for AJ socially as she tries to follow in the footsteps of the 'popular' kids while trying to maintain her own personality. Her decision to do something that may not have been viewed by her peers as "cool" shows me that she is mature enough to make decisions based on what she wants and not what she thinks her friends will want her to do. In other words, if all of her friends jumped off a bridge, I feel confident that AJ wouldn't!

[that's nice]

I must admit, I did feel your happiness (:sad1:) when AJ decided to go up and be a 'princess'! I mean I'm a guy- aren't my emotions supposed to be in check all the time? I think with age guys might get more emotional. I watched Lion King with Juliana last week and got teary eyed a few times. UGH.:scared1:

Sorry for the mini rant... LOL I didn't know where I was going with that. :lmao:

Love the pictures of the girls at the party. All the kids looked like they were having fun! What day of the week is the P&P party on? (I might of missed that)

[yinyanggirls]

And all the moms in the group just went "awwwwwww!". Nothing compares to a daddy's love for his little girl. :lovestruc

[All7OfUs]

What you said actually does make sense. This school year has been a struggle for AJ socially as she tries to follow in the footsteps of the 'popular' kids while trying to maintain her own personality. Her decision to do something that may not have been viewed by her peers as "cool" shows me that she is mature enough to make decisions based on what she wants and not what she thinks her friends will want her to do. In other words, if all of her friends jumped off a bridge, I feel confident that AJ wouldn't!


See, I knew you'd get it!! We think so much alike!! That's why I make friends with people who end up as school board members. :lmao:

I must admit, I did feel your happiness (:sad1:) when AJ decided to go up and be a 'princess'! I mean I'm a guy- aren't my emotions supposed to be in check all the time? I think with age guys might get more emotional. I watched Lion King with Juliana last week and got teary eyed a few times. UGH.:scared1:

Sorry for the mini rant... LOL I didn't know where I was going with that. :lmao:


Why should you be sorry for THAT?! No way, Tim, you are human too. Emotions don't have a gender bias!! When my DH had to tell our teammate we were leaving the other day, and started to tear up, it made me love him more. It showed his compassion and human-ness- a rare display but very touching. I'm not saying to go out and be a blubbering sap, but when your heart is touched you shouldn't be ashamed of the responses our Creator gave you! :thumbsup2

There, you get a mini-rant back.

And all the moms in the group just went "awwwwwww!". Nothing compares to a daddy's love for his little girl. :lovestruc

Exactly! ;)

[StefaniLyn]

I must admit, I did feel your happiness (:sad1:) when AJ decided to go up and be a 'princess'! I mean I'm a guy- aren't my emotions supposed to be in check all the time? I think with age guys might get more emotional. I watched Lion King with Juliana last week and got teary eyed a few times. UGH.:scared1:

Sorry for the mini rant... LOL I didn't know where I was going with that. :lmao:

Love the pictures of the girls at the party. All the kids looked like they were having fun! What day of the week is the P&P party on? (I might of missed that)
No apologies necessary Tim. My own DH has a soft spot for his DDs too! Not nearly as soft as mine, but it's there, and that's why I love him. Don't tell him I said this (ya, cuz I know you guys talk on the phone like ALL the time :rotfl2:) but he gets teary eyed when he hears Steven Curtis Chapman's "Cinderella." If you haven't heard the song, look it up on YouTube. And grab a box of kleenex or two.

The P&P party was on Friday night. Mayor Clayton's b-day is Saturday. Seems like GKTW likes to party it up on the weekends!
And all the moms in the group just went "awwwwwww!". Nothing compares to a daddy's love for his little girl. :lovestruc
See this is why Mel should totally be reading these boards. Tim would have just earned himself some major brownie points with her!
See, I knew you'd get it!! We think so much alike!! That's why I make friends with people who end up as school board members. :lmao:

Why should you be sorry for THAT?! No way, Tim, you are human too. Emotions don't have a gender bias!! When my DH had to tell our teammate we were leaving the other day, and started to tear up, it made me love him more. It showed his compassion and human-ness- a rare display but very touching. I'm not saying to go out and be a blubbering sap, but when your heart is touched you shouldn't be ashamed of the responses our Creator gave you! :thumbsup2

There, you get a mini-rant back.



Exactly! ;)

Not sure how much longer I'll be a school board member. :confused3 I am up for reelection in April and there are 6 :scared1: people running for 3 positions. I just found out the other day that I am 4th on the ballot.

Woo Hoo - it's a Tim and Lisa RANT OFF!

Emotions don't have a gender bias!! Where's the tag fairy when you need her?

[StefaniLyn]

I know some of you have been following this Trip Report from it's infancy . . . like when it was a pre-trip report. Way back in early November, you may recall that I asked for some prayers for a classmate of DD10, AJ. The boy's name is Calvin, and he was awaiting a heart transplant in the hospital when he suffered a stroke. The original post, if you'd like to read it, was at the end of this pre trip installment. (http://www.disboards.com/showpost.php?p=34200276&postcount=262) I promised to update, which I haven't done lately because honestly, there wasn't much to say. His condition was stable, and he wasn't making any improvement nor was his health declining.

Unfortunately, such is not the case anymore. The stroke has caused so much damage that Calvin appears to have no voluntary muscle movement or repsonse to people. Calvin's doctors recently determined Calvin is in a persistive vegetative state. This means he is no longer eligible to receive a heart transplant. He has been removed from the transplant list. I do not know if that also means he will be taken off of the Berlin (artificial) heart or not. However, it is essentially a waiting game now for Calvin. He will not get better and it is only a matter of time before his weakened heart gives out.

Remember how AJ is growing up to quickly? Here's another example. She's 10 years old, and now she is forced to realize that a child she has gone to school with since kindergarten, a child the same age as her, is going to die in the very near future. Our hearts are broken and we held eachother, sobbing for over an hour afterschool today. She has so many questions - why can't they fix it? what if he can hear us but just not move? when is he going to die? what will it feel like for him?

How do I even begin to answer these questions? I just don't know.

We continue to pray for Calvin and his family, but our prayers no longer ask for God to heal Calvin's body. We now just ask God to spare him any further pain and suffering, and that His will be done. I simply cannot comprehend the death of a 10 year old child. It seems unfair and yet, I know that God has bigger plans for Calvin. Calvin is the lucky one - he will soon be healed, and perfect, and in Heaven. Unfortunately, it really, really hurts to know we will never see his smile, hear his laugh, or enjoy his company ever again.

I'm sorry to babble and realize that I probably am not making a whole lot of sense right now. I am just having a hard time thinking straight right now.

I'll likely be absent from the boards for most of the next couple of days. I will be attending the state education convention on Wed, Thurs, and Friday and we have after school activities each evening as well. At least those will keep me busy.

Please continue to keep Calvin and his family in your prayers. I cannot imagine the pain they are enduring at this difficult time. Thank you.

[yinyanggirls]

That is so sad! I feel for his family, and for AJ too. I've only lost a few people in my life, but one was a college roommate in a car accident and I bawled when I found out, bawled at the funeral, bawled every time I thought about her and her family. I'm so sorry that AJ has to experience this so young. :hug:

[rosedolph]

I have no words, just joining you in that prayer and giving you guys a virtual hug.

[maroo]

Oh no.

:sad2:

Sitting here crying for you guys, too.

Many hugs! Big ones. :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[p00h4me]

It's never easy to let go of those we know and love here on earth, no matter what their ages are. It's hard to see someone as young as Calvin have to go through this too soon. Tell AJ that when its Calvin time to go to heaven, he'll be there waiting to meet her, his friends and family that will join him there one day. We'll be praying for Calvin and his family through this difficult time.

[ladybugmom]

Oh how my heart is breaking reading your post! I will be praying along with you and for AJ as well. You are exactly right--God is in control and Calvin will no longer be suffering if/when God chooses to take him home. :hug: