Hank's Wish Trip ~ Dreams Come True!!! *update 11/28 post 46*

[mom2lilnick]

Awwww... man, I was so excited. Can't wait for more! I have been looking at Hank for longest time thinking he reminds me of someone.. I just realized it. He looks just like the little boy three houses up from us! LOL!

 

[Lambflock]

I made sure the van was packed the night before because we were getting up before the sun and leaving at 5:30 am!! I was a woman on a misson!! I wanted to get to Give Kids The World before 9:00 am so that I could do orientation and get it done and over with! I wanted to see my kids enjoy Christmas at the Village!!

I got up in time!! Score one for me!! I made sure that the kids were wearing pj's that they could sleep in and go into somewhere to change into clothes! Score two for me! And I managed to get the husband up and dressed! Score three for me! Man I am on a roll! I guess no one told the dog that we were on a misson and that he needed to work with us! He didn't want to get up and go potty so we could leave in time! That's ok! We ended up only leaving about 15 minutes behind schedule!

Here we all are ready for our Adventure!!!

You can just see the excitement that we all had!

Now we just have to get through Orlando rush hour traffic and make it to the Village in time for me to go to orientation!!! Please remember that we live about 2 1/2 - 3 hours away!

Are we going to make it or will I have to go to the 7:30 pm orientation?!?!?!?

 

[jessica52877]

Ack, another cliffhanger! I totally forgot you are so close! The kids look cute in the car!

 

[maroo]

He he he he he!!!!

I am SOOOOO glad someone else does GREAT cliffhangers!

Uh...I think...

Actually...nope...I think I like it better when you come home and write ALL of it down at ONE time so that we can see EVERYTHING...

but...I am glad you have not done that, because I would be up FOREVER reading it all!!

Seriously...I am so glad you guys are home, and safe, and had an awesome time!

I went a little crazy for you guys on Friday when I heard that Space Shuttle went off. How totally awesome!!

I can't wait to read more...


But I will TRY to wait patiently. And check back every hour...or so...

 

[SunnieRN]

Off with only a 15 min. delay? That's great!

 

[Lambflock]

Ack, another cliffhanger! I totally forgot you are so close! The kids look cute in the car!

I love living so close! I just wish that I could afford to go more often! Then again I figured it out that Mackenzie has be to Disney 3 times in 15 months and Hank 2 times. Not too bad!

I just need to work on it! Oh, it's good to have goals!!!

He he he he he!!!!

I am SOOOOO glad someone else does GREAT cliffhangers!

Uh...I think...

Actually...nope...I think I like it better when you come home and write ALL of it down at ONE time so that we can see EVERYTHING...

but...I am glad you have not done that, because I would be up FOREVER reading it all!!

Seriously...I am so glad you guys are home, and safe, and had an awesome time!

I went a little crazy for you guys on Friday when I heard that Space Shuttle went off. How totally awesome!!

I can't wait to read more...


But I will TRY to wait patiently. And check back every hour...or so...

You just don't know how cool the Space Shuttle was! We were only 3 miles from the launch pad!!! That is the closest you can get! Total VIP seats!!! I am speechless about how ccol it was. It gives me goosebumps!

But, you will need to wait until near the end of the trip report for the pictures!!! But, I promise it will be worth it!!!!!

 

[maroo]

You just don't know how cool the Space Shuttle was! We were only 3 miles from the launch pad!!! That is the closest you can get! Total VIP seats!!! I am speechless about how ccol it was. It gives me goosebumps!

But, you will need to wait until near the end of the trip report for the pictures!!! But, I promise it will be worth it!!!!!

Fair enough!! Looking forward to it!!!

This is fabulous.

Don't go too fast...enjoy documenting all of your memories. It is a lot of fun...so take it slow...we will survive!!

 

[iu97alum]

ACCCCCCKKKKKK! More please!!!! Can't wait! Sounds like you're off on a good start!!

 

[zeppy68]

Sounds incredible. Cant wait to here more


JOe

 

[Lambflock]

Now, where did I leave off???? Oh yeah, we were on our way to the Village and hoping to make it in time for the 9 am orientation. Now the big question is answered we made it in time!!!! At 8:45 to be exact! Man, can I plan or what?!?!?

Let me tell you I thought that I would pee in my pants when we got to the Wal-mart and I knew we were only 1 mile away!!

GKTW is so wonderful! From the moment you pull through the gates to the moment you leave, you are treated with the upmost respect and love. I don't know how else to put it. The people that work there and volunteer there do it because they want to and love to. And let me tell you that makes a world of difference!

Here are a few pictures of our check in!

You can just see how excited we all were!

We were taken to our Villa and let in. I told Kevin and the kids not to touch anything or do anything in there until lots of pictures were taken! I needed my memories!!

They stayed and took pictures while I went to orientation! It was so great! I got teary eyed (the first on MANY) when they started talking about all the great things! I knew about most of them. But it was really happening! I couldn't believe it!

So, I got my packet with the tickets and packets and was on my way to be with the family for what would turn out to be the trip of a lifetime (with only a few bumps along the way....like~are we going to have to leave the village early?!?!?!? )

Coming up...did they take the pictures or destroy the villa first?

 

[iu97alum]

Oh no! Not another cliff hanger! More please!

 

[mom2lilnick]

More! More!! Great start!

 

[maroo]

I can not wait to hear everything!!!

I definitely believe they destroyed the villa first and THEN took the pictures!! Great start! I can tell this is going to be an interesting TR!

 

[teresajoy]

Yeah!!! You started your TR!!!!

Ok, anyone that knows me knows that I am totally FREAKING OUT seeing your kids buckled up like that! (and I'm guessing Jessica is too!) Can I beg you to get some car seats or at least booster seats?? It is SOOO much safer than just the seatbelts! please?? Corey is my only child not in a carseat! (and if I could find one that big, he would be! )I say this because I care.


I'm laughing about you being 1 mile away!! I hope your first stop was not the bathroom to change your clothes!

You guys looks so cute standing in front of your villa!!!

I can't wait to hear more!!!

and see PICTURES!!!

LOTS of PICTUERS!!!!

 

[maroo]

Yeah!!! You started your TR!!!!

Ok, anyone that knows me knows that I am totally FREAKING OUT seeing your kids buckled up like that! (and I'm guessing Jessica is too!) Can I beg you to get some car seats or at least booster seats?? It is SOOO much safer than just the seatbelts! please?? Corey is my only child not in a carseat! (and if I could find one that big, he would be! )I say this because I care.


I'm laughing about you being 1 mile away!! I hope your first stop was not the bathroom to change your clothes!

You guys looks so cute standing in front of your villa!!!

I can't wait to hear more!!!

and see PICTURES!!!

LOTS of PICTUERS!!!!

Well, Teresa...watch out...this may make you have a full on heart attack...

I was actually surprised to see seat belts on her kids AT ALL... Going to Disney World was the only time we did this...but long trips...we didn't have to wear our seat belts...AT ALL! I know, I know...but since I am over 30, you probably can't turn my parents over to the authorities.

We would just stretch out on the seats...and sometimes over the luggage in the back-back seat...and lay down to sleep...and NO SEATBELT!!! And my drive back then was over 2 DAYS...not 2 hours. :sad2

Sorry to hijack your TR...

back to business!!!!

MORE, MORE, MORE!!!!!!! (I know I said to take it slow...I take it back!!!!!)

 

[jessica52877]

Yeah!!! You started your TR!!!!

Ok, anyone that knows me knows that I am totally FREAKING OUT seeing your kids buckled up like that! (and I'm guessing Jessica is too!) Can I beg you to get some car seats or at least booster seats?? It is SOOO much safer than just the seatbelts! please?? Corey is my only child not in a carseat! (and if I could find one that big, he would be! )I say this because I care.

Okay, I gotta say I was freaking out too! Then I slowed down so I could breathe again and decided it wasn't much my business! And then did think, well the kids are atleast 6 and 8. But I gotta agree with Teresa! Dallas will be harnessed forever!

As a side note, I would have loved a carseat when I was older so I could have seen out better!

 

[teresajoy]

Well, Teresa...watch out...this may make you have a full on heart attack...

I was actually surprised to see seat belts on her kids AT ALL... Going to Disney World was the only time we did this...but long trips...we didn't have to wear our seat belts...AT ALL! I know, I know...but since I am over 30, you probably can't turn my parents over to the authorities.

We would just stretch out on the seats...and sometimes over the luggage in the back-back seat...and lay down to sleep...and NO SEATBELT!!! And my drive back then was over 2 DAYS...not 2 hours. :sad2

Sorry to hijack your TR...

back to business!!!!

MORE, MORE, MORE!!!!!!! (I know I said to take it slow...I take it back!!!!!)

We did this when I was a child too. I remember driving down to Florida in the back of our station wagon. No seat belts, Heather standing up in the front seat between my parents. It's hard to imagine now! Luckily my parents smartened up, and by the time we got into a full on car totalling crash coming home from Florida one year, we were all buckled up. The people that pulled us from our car coudln't believe we were all alive. And, when my car was totaled 5 minutes from my house, when Corey was 6 and I was pregnant with Arminda, again, everyone was surprised that we walked away. It would have been such a different story if we hadn't been properly restrained. So, it's not too late to start buckling up.

Okay, I gotta say I was freaking out too!

I KNEW it!

And, now, Janel, I turn your TR back over to you!

 

[Lambflock]

Thanks for the concern ladies!!! I do appreciate it!!

As for the TR I will update soon. Things are a little crazy! They started Hank on a new heart medication and it caused him to seize. Please bear with me right now.

 

[Lambflock]

They didn't destroy or touch anything until Kevin could take pictures!!! He knew that I would want to share them with you all! Here are just a few of what he took. Don't tell him but he went a little crazy and took a ton!!!

So here we go with a picture walk of Villa 130! It was our home away from home! And I loved it!!

The kitchen

The Living Room

The Kids Room and Bathroom

Washer and Dryer

Our Bedroom and Bathroom

 

[Lambflock]

You can just see how nice it was! I couldn't believe how large the Villa was. Besides the fridge being stocked (1 time deal) there was also coffee! I can't live with out my cup of joe in the mornings!!

Anything you can imagine needing for a 1 week stay was in the villa, plus some! I knew from the moment I walked in that this was going to be a great wish trip! You could just feel the happiness in the air!

After we got "moved in" it was time to explore! We were all so excited to see what this magical place had to offer!

What we do first???? Of course you all will have to wait to find out until the next post!!!!

(You all know that I find myself funny for making you all wait! )