I finally saw the lights! Our super special anniversary trip! NEW 2/2 pg.18

[DisMomAmy]

I actually have some pictures too... I was so distracted trying to figure out how to post a video, I forgot about these...

 

[MEK]

I'm here. Sorry I'm over 24 hours late! Can't wait to get home so I can watch your movies and see your pictures. What absolutely adorable clues! Nice work. I bet the kids were over the moon with happiness!

 

[solana131]

How exciting! I wish I could have kept it a secret, but no way! I am too excited for that Neither DH or DS have ever been, so I have to keep talking it up for them. Of course its been 20 years for me too, and I've never stay onsite, so I consider this my first trip too. Maybe next trip I will try a cute little scavenger hunt like yours. How fun

 

[JPFamilyMom]

What a fun and great surprise. Jack would've reacted the same way. They are both so cute. Can't wait to read more

 

[WDWCP96]

I love it! I showed my 5 year old the video and he said you better not do that to me! I think that is all the more reason to do it.

I love their reactions! Thank you for sharing!

 

[KatMark]

Amy, I love all the clues and the work you put into them, and the boys reaction. Awesome.

 

[adoerr72]

The boys' reaction made me laugh, because it reminds me so much of my two girls. It takes them a minute to process the change of plans and to let their enthusiasm build. It might look to an outsider like they aren't as excited, but that isn't the case at all. It is that they had one thing in mind and the change (even a great one) gives them pause for a second

 

[mrsksomeday]

Oh my goodness "we aren't going to North Carolina?" , that sounds so much like Christian when we surprised them, he said "Does this mean we aren't going to the mountains?".

I love how great your kids are about saying thank you for the trip . Such a treat to get to see it all unfold!! I can't wait to read more about your trip.

 

[budafam]

I surprised my 5 year old son on October 30th and his reaction was about the same! I was hoping for the screaming and tears but no... it took him awhile but once he got it, wow! lol... I think it's just such a shock to them. I love your clues though... can't wait till my kids are older and I can do that

 

[debrapagliasotti]

How fun! I love suprises for the kiddos! We are planning on suprising our kids for a trip in Oct for MNSSHP. We are going next Dec too, so they would never expect to go twice in one year.

Cant wait to hear more about your trip and Happy Anniversary! Congratulations!

 

[Hasil72]

That's awesome! Looking forward to the TR. We're in a similar situation; we leave in about 2 weeks to celebrate our 15th anniversary and the kids have no idea!

 

[Charleston Princess]

Here! The videos are great!!! Can't wait for all the fun on the trip! Hope you are feeling better.

 

[MEK]

OMG!!!!!!! those pictures and video are too cute!!!! Poor kids - you had them so confused. "But I told my friends I was going to North Carolina. I don't want them to think I lied". Awwwww - how sweet!

Great surprise Amy!

 

[DisMomAmy]

I'm here. Sorry I'm over 24 hours late! Can't wait to get home so I can watch your movies and see your pictures. What absolutely adorable clues! Nice work. I bet the kids were over the moon with happiness!

Glad you made it!

How exciting! I wish I could have kept it a secret, but no way! I am too excited for that Neither DH or DS have ever been, so I have to keep talking it up for them. Of course its been 20 years for me too, and I've never stay onsite, so I consider this my first trip too. Maybe next trip I will try a cute little scavenger hunt like yours. How fun

We've tried to pull off a surprise before & failed. I'm so glad we made it all the way to the end this time.

What a fun and great surprise. Jack would've reacted the same way. They are both so cute. Can't wait to read more

I was glad we had at least told them we were going away.

I love it! I showed my 5 year old the video and he said you better not do that to me! I think that is all the more reason to do it.

I love their reactions! Thank you for sharing!

Zachary had been asking for us to surprise him when he saw the commercials on tv!

Amy, I love all the clues and the work you put into them, and the boys reaction. Awesome.

Thanks! I loved planning it!

The boys' reaction made me laugh, because it reminds me so much of my two girls. It takes them a minute to process the change of plans and to let their enthusiasm build. It might look to an outsider like they aren't as excited, but that isn't the case at all. It is that they had one thing in mind and the change (even a great one) gives them pause for a second

That's exactly why we told them we were going to North Carolina. I knew it would be too much for them to take in all at once.

Oh my goodness "we aren't going to North Carolina?" , that sounds so much like Christian when we surprised them, he said "Does this mean we aren't going to the mountains?".

I love how great your kids are about saying thank you for the trip . Such a treat to get to see it all unfold!! I can't wait to read more about your trip.

Their reactions were priceless! Zach was so cute when he figured it out! And Alex was so funny the way he was worrying abut his friends!

I surprised my 5 year old son on October 30th and his reaction was about the same! I was hoping for the screaming and tears but no... it took him awhile but once he got it, wow! lol... I think it's just such a shock to them. I love your clues though... can't wait till my kids are older and I can do that

Thanks budafam! We had a lot of fun with the surprise. And the boys love watching the video now too!

How fun! I love suprises for the kiddos! We are planning on suprising our kids for a trip in Oct for MNSSHP. We are going next Dec too, so they would never expect to go twice in one year.

Cant wait to hear more about your trip and Happy Anniversary! Congratulations!

Have fun with your surprise! Halloween & Christmas in one year! How fun!!

That's awesome! Looking forward to the TR. We're in a similar situation; we leave in about 2 weeks to celebrate our 15th anniversary and the kids have no idea!

Happy Anniversary! I hope you have as much as we did!

Here! The videos are great!!! Can't wait for all the fun on the trip! Hope you are feeling better.

Thanks Jackie!! We're definitely over the hump with the colds & so far the kids haven't come down with anything.

OMG!!!!!!! those pictures and video are too cute!!!! Poor kids - you had them so confused. "But I told my friends I was going to North Carolina. I don't want them to think I lied". Awwwww - how sweet!

Great surprise Amy!

It was so much fun surprising the boys!! And I'm so glad we have it on video!

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

Subscribing!!

 

[MeMom]

I'm a little worried about your day today, if my dream is any indication of how it might turn out.

You see, I came to your house for some reason, and things were in a bit of an upheaval for you. First of all, the toilet was to the very top, about to overflow. Don't worry - the water was all blue. The boys were babies, but you had Zach in one of Alex's diapers, and it was covering his whole body. Alex was running from room to room jumping all over the furniture. I was trying to find a diaper that fit the newborn. Your husband was at home, because I could hear his voice, but I never saw him. You were in a hurry to catch a movie, so you were running around like crazy trying to get ready. I think many that was why I was there - to babysit.

Anyway, I have no idea what made me dream all that, but just in case you have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, it's not my fault. I was never there.

 

[DisMomAmy]

Subscribing!!

Glad to see you here!!

I'm a little worried about your day today, if my dream is any indication of how it might turn out.

You see, I came to your house for some reason, and things were in a bit of an upheaval for you. First of all, the toilet was to the very top, about to overflow. Don't worry - the water was all blue. The boys were babies, but you had Zach in one of Alex's diapers, and it was covering his whole body. Alex was running from room to room jumping all over the furniture. I was trying to find a diaper that fit the newborn. Your husband was at home, because I could hear his voice, but I never saw him. You were in a hurry to catch a movie, so you were running around like crazy trying to get ready. I think many that was why I was there - to babysit.

Anyway, I have no idea what made me dream all that, but just in case you have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, it's not my fault. I was never there.

Oh that's so funny MeMom!!! Decent day today... The washing machine repair man did come though & it wasn't good news. We'll likely need a $900 repair job within 6 months. So needless to say, I declined & ordered a new washer. But the great news is that we FINALLY got the date scheduled to turn in our lemon van!!! Next Monday is the day!! Hopefully the check will clear the bank quickly & I'll have my new Honda Odyssey shortly after that!

 

[DisMomAmy]

After the big surprise reveal, we headed off to the airport & had an uneventful flight down to Tampa. We grabbed a rental car & headed to DBIL (Jeff) & his girlfriend’s (Karen) house. We spent a long weekend visiting with them and Jeff’s kids, our niece “K” & nephew “J”. We arrived mid-day Saturday and left first thing Tuesday morning. Jeff & Karen actually left before us as Jeff had to catch a flight to Las Vegas for work & Karen was dropping him at the airport before heading to school. She is a cardiac nurse but isn’t currently working because she’s going to school to become a Nurse Practitioner. It’s a very intense program so we actually didn’t see very much of Karen. We arrived Saturday & had some time to visit but on Sunday, the kids & I were pretty much on our own. Tim, Jeff & J went golfing. Karen spent most of the day in her office writing a paper & preparing a presentation. I took the boys to the pool in their condo development a couple times & we took a trip to Target for some groceries but it was a pretty boring day. K came home in the late afternoon, after spending the night at a friend’s house & going to the beach. But then she disappeared for quite a while to shower & get dressed. Monday, Jeff had to work & Karen spent more time in her office so Tim & I spent some time with J. We picked him up at his mom’s house, took him to lunch, and then the boys played some basketball.

The boys enjoyed the visit & said they had fun, but Tim & I were disappointed with the amount of time we actually got to spend with everyone. Karen finishes her program in June so she will be even busier with her school work in April (she has to do twice as many clinical hours per week between Jan-June as she is doing now). So because of this, we are thinking of skipping our usual long weekend visit to Jeff & Karen’s in April. But we’ll see… Tim needs to talk with Jeff.

Here are some picture highlights from our visit:

The boys with Jake:

At the pool:

That’s it! Notice the lack of pictures of Jeff, Karen or K…

Up next: Arriving at Disney!!

 

[eandesmom]

the reveal videos are absolutely adorable!

I am so sorry that didn't work out the way you'd hoped with Jeff and Karen. Very frustrating when you have limited vacation time and are trying to spend it with others that may not have the same kind of time to give. I've been on both sides of it and it's hard all around. I imagine Karen felt terrible about it. As you know, we have many of the same issues when relatives visit us, it is hard in a blended family and I know Jeff's folks never feel like they get enough time with K&T. Couple that with tweens or teens that may not want to hang out with anyone but their friends or hide in their room and text and...it's tough.

 

[KatMark]

Sorry you didn't get to spend as much time with everyone as you wanted, but the boys look like they had fun playing basketball and swimming.