Aidan's wish trip to Tink's home 3/1-3/7

[revrob]

More Big Give packages!!! UPS delivered a package last night from Jennifer in MD! Then today, the mail lady brought a package from Shannon in TX! Thank you so much ladies! Only a week left and we'll be able to open them all and post pictures for you to see. I'm sure the boys are going to be so excited! And so will Addie.

I should tell all of you non-Big Givers out there what the Big Give has done for us. Back when they asked Aidan to be a part of the Big Give, I completed the required form and got it back to Heather Sue. The next day, I got an email saying that the Big Givers wanted to include Addie in the Big Give, too. Now, so you don't have to go back in the PTR to figure out who Addie is, she is Aidan's baby doll. So, I sent Addie's information and measurements back, and they have included her in the Big Give. Now, I do not know what is in all of our packages so far, but I do know that one package was marked on the outside as "A little something for Addie". Aidan is going to be so excited that everybody included Addie in the Big Give. As if he wasn't already going to be excited enough!

So, the count as of today is 8 Big Givers and 9 Packages!!!! 9 Packages that we get to open in 8 more days! I'm sure our Super Huge Big Give is going to be awesome! The boys probably won't sleep at all that night! Either that or they'll be so exhausted from all the excitement that they'll sleep like babies. Let's hope it's the latter of the two! Thank you all for adding a little bit of extra magic to Aidan's trip!

8 days and counting until the Super Huge Big Give! (I read somewhere that the DisBoutiquers have a 3 banana minimum.)

OOH! OOH! I can't wait! 8 more days, huh? I'll be watching!

 

[Thumper321]

I just got an email from our wish coordinator. Our reveal party is officially set for next Friday at 3:00 p.m. Since we have to drive an hour to get there, they even offered to fill our gas tank up. I guess they really do cover every detail.

They are also sending letters to the kids' school to see if the school might excuse the absences. I think that they might. Or at least I'm hoping they will. I'm supposed to pick up the boys' assignments on Wednesday, so I guess that's a good sign. If it's unexcused, I don't think they let them make up the work. Not sure on that though.

I also got an email from GKTW this morning. It started with:

"Dear Aidan and Family,

Just over one week before we welcome all of you to Give Kids The World Village - we are really excited and hope you are too! Your wish granting organization has partnered with Give Kids The World Vacation Planning Services team to make sure this is a most magical, memorable, and stress-free vacation of a lifetime. To ensure we are ready for your stay, we would like to confirm the following information. . . "

Just over one week! Nothing is packed. We have no plans for the parks. We don't have the kids' luggage. I'm starting to panic a bit.

Anyway, they confirmed all of our plans -- flight, rental car, etc. It's actually starting to feel real now. Just over one week!

Aidan's medical supplies and formula are set to arrive at GKTW on Wednesday. Peyton's formula is set to arrive on Friday. The stroller is supposed to be here today or Monday. I think that I have gotten everything in order that I possibly can. However, I feel like there is so much left to do, and I am just a sitting duck. If it weren't for being able to get on here and update what little progress I am making, I think I'd be losing my mind about now.

We plan to make next weekend a Disney Weekend. We are going to be limited in what we can do because of all the packing that I'll be doing, but I think we can still cram in some last minute fun. Friday is the reveal party at 3:00. We hope to be home by 6:00. Then we'll open our Big Give packages and take lots of pictures. I intend to let the boys camp out in the living room that night, but I can't think of a Disney movie that we can tie this to. Any ideas? They'll watch their movie while I upload pictures and post an update. Then, Saturday will be lots of packing. I'm going to let the boys pack their backpacks for the flight, with a little guidance along the way. I want them to be a part of the packing and getting ready. At some point on Saturday, we will watch our Disney planning DVD and try to get an idea of who must ride what. The night will end with popcorn and a Disney movie. Sunday will be any last minute packing, confirming details with our house/pet sitter, calling the airline to confirm Aidan's special needs, and hopefully posting a crazy day-before update! I have no idea how we are going to get the kids to sleep Sunday night, and especially not early. I was going to lie to them about the date by a day so that they would sleep, but I can't do that because of the reveal party. Our flight leaves at 8:45 in the morning on Monday, so we will have to get to Memphis at about 6:15, meaning we will have to leave our house by about 5:00.

Aidan will not be getting to ride in a limo, as we had hoped. I'm kinda sad about this because I thought it would be such a special and exciting way to start the day. I wanted that 'moment' with him, with the family, in the back of the limo. But I guess it just wasn't in our cards. I'm sure that the trip will be magnificent without the limo ride. I don't know why I had my hopes up about it. We knew it wasn't guaranteed. Silly mom. Guess it was just that once in a lifetime part of it. Not to mention that it would've been nice to save the $85.00 for long-term parking for the week.

That's our *little* update for this morning. I'm getting so excited! Now is when it's getting hard to keep it from the kids. I will post if anything new comes up!

 

[yinyanggirls]

Wow, you really do have a crazy week! I'm trying NOT to imagine it.

 

[Momofwishkid]

just over a week left!! I have to admit you just sent a shock to me, I knew it was coming up fast but was for some reason thinking we still had lots of time before ours.
I was the same way with the limo. Was really hoping for that experience for the kids but it's not in our cards either. They should pay for you to park for the week though. We had the option of them paying for parking or getting us a shuttle.

 

[Thumper321]

just over a week left!! I have to admit you just sent a shock to me, I knew it was coming up fast but was for some reason thinking we still had lots of time before ours.
I was the same way with the limo. Was really hoping for that experience for the kids but it's not in our cards either. They should pay for you to park for the week though. We had the option of them paying for parking or getting us a shuttle.

Jennifer, you'll want to read my next post.

 

[Thumper321]

So, I got to thinking today about the whole limo thing. And since I have absolutely nothing else to do in regards to the trip, I decided to see if I could do anything about it. We are allowed a certain amount for a week of long-term parking. My thought process was that if a limo isn't too much more, we might be able to go that route. So, I do a search for limo service in Memphis and get about 10 listings. I email each of them to let them know where we are located, our expected travel dates, etc. and request a quote on limo service to get to the airport. I figure we can have a friend or family member pick us up when we return from Orlando.

Well, I get an email back a couple of hours ago that says, "We would be honored to offer limo service for your son on the requested dates. We would also like to donate our services for this occasion. I would need to know how many passengers there will be, the pickup address and times, etc."

Mr. Donell Todd with T Star Limousine Service called MAW to see if my email was fraudulent. When he found out that it wasn't, he offered one of his limos and services free of charge for our trip to the airport and our trip home when we return. Can I just say that the kindness of people is just completely blowing me away right now?!?! Now, I will say that I got several responses from other limo companies that simply stated a price per hour, and none of them were cheap! I do not usually have a need for a limo, but you can bet that I'll be recommending T Star from now on!

So, with a few emails and the kindness of strangers, we will get our moment in the back of a limo. This trip is going to be truly amazing, and there is no way that I could've ever done all of this on my own. So, a quick thank you to MAW and T Star Limousine. Although they will probably never read this, I still feel the need to put their name out there.

 

[yinyanggirls]

That's so cool! What a great company! You could always ask the paper if they need a feel-good story and mention all the names there.

 

[Momofwishkid]

I am soo excited for you guys! Way to go T Star Limos. I think that ride alone is going to make your trip so special. I thought about the idea of e-mailing some companies like you did but DH says No. He is weird sometimes and dosent like the idea of asking for things. Not that I would actually ask but just do like you did, isnt it worth trying

 

[Thumper321]

That's so cool! What a great company! You could always ask the paper if they need a feel-good story and mention all the names there.

Well, we really wanted to avoid the media for the most part. However, we did sign a media release with MAW. If they wind up having somebody at the reveal or something, I will definitely mention it.

I am soo excited for you guys! Way to go T Star Limos. I think that ride alone is going to make your trip so special. I thought about the idea of e-mailing some companies like you did but DH says No. He is weird sometimes and dosent like the idea of asking for things. Not that I would actually ask but just do like you did, isnt it worth trying

My husband is the same way. In fact, I haven't told him yet. But, I didn't email them asking for anything other than a price quote. And I really didn't know if we were going to be able to swing it, but I was planning on trying to pay for it with our parking allowance and out of our pocket. I never expected any of them to completely donate round-trip transportation. I was expecting to pay for the ride to the airport. But, I didn't know that it costs about $390 for 3 hours and that is the minimum amount of time.

Anyway, Mr. Todd is awesome, and I cannot believe that we are going to be riding in a limo. I'm not going to tell the boys. I'm just going to let them be surprised when it gets here (at 5:00 in the morning!). Yet another secret that I have to keep.

 

[pipersmom]

Woohoo for a limo ride! That's going to be so awesome for you guys! I have no idea yet how we get back and forth, LOL. Chrissi and her family are in the same chapter though, and I know they had a shuttle, if not a limo, so I'm not stressing. It helps the airport is less than 45 minutes away though.

 

[cajunfan]

Woo-hoo for T STAR LIMOS!!!!!

What a wonderful response. I am sort of a neighbor (ok at least in the same state) and will make sure that anyone I know will hear about the kindness of this company!

Yeah again!!!!

Lynn

 

[jharrowell]

Wow! T Star Limos are awsome!

I don't believe it's so close now, it's gonna be great!

 

[pnutallergymom]

Wooooo Hoooooo!!! T-Star Limo ROCKS!!!

You guys are gonna LOVE It!!!!

I was thinking about a movie and a theme. What about The Parent Trap?? I know its girls, but my kids have watched that one twice this week and really like it!! It has the "summer camp" theme...and you are camping out in the living room. You could always do smores for a snack...so easy to do in the microwave and could have a picnic with blanket on the floor??

I don't know..I'm not that good at that stuff!!

 

[Thumper321]

As you all know, we have been keeping the whole Disney trip a secret from Aidan. And I've been wondering how it was all going to play out as far as the reveal party and letting him in on the secret. I mean, what do you say when the typical 6 year old gets in the car that day and says "Where are we going?", "Why?", etc.

Well, MAW answered those questions today. We received this in the mail. In case you can't read it, it says:

Aidan
My special wand has lost its magic
Having no fairydust is very tragic
Follow the clues, I'm sure you won't mind
All the fun you are likely to find
Come play with me this coming week
Once you find my dust, I'll grant you what you seek.
(Date, Time, Address, etc.)

Now he's wondering what in the world is going on. Tink has lost her magic?!?! Oh, no! We have to help her.

 

[jharrowell]

That is so cool!!

Aidan's gonna love it.

 

[yinyanggirls]

That is so cute!

 

[Momofwishkid]

That is so cute!! I cant wait tell the party he's going to love it.

 

[cajunfan]

The invite is too cute!! They are going to be soooo excited.

Lynn

 

[pipersmom]

Very cute invite, almost makes it worth it keeping the secret I'm so excited for you guys!!

 

[kellyw8863]

Oh my gosh! That's awesome about the limo, and I LOVE the invitation! I can't wait for Friday!