Mark's Starlight Wish Trip - Nov 2008

[twinmum]

Back again! We’ve had a very happy week thanks to Starlight Starbright of Canada. I posted last week about attending the Blue Jays game (that was the game that Mickey and Goofy visited to promo Disney’s “What Will You Celebrate” campaign). Then, Starlight had sent us 2 tickets for the Toronto Maple Leafs game on Friday night. Peter and Douglas went to that – this is one of the reasons I didn’t get decent modeling pictures of the Simpsons shirts – Douglas was on his way out the door to the hockey game.

Then on Sunday, Starlight was hosting an event at Nascar Speed Park just north of the city. We’d never been before. Mark wasn’t really interested in riding along in a go-cart. With the indoor tracks, it was a case that given how small he is, the only rides that he could manage on his own were ones that he felt were too babyish for him – or they were too jerky for my own comfort in Mark’s head and neck control. So, we just played and played…and played…the games. Douglas and Peter left early for Douglas’ flag football game, so Mark and I stayed and played. And played… The entire place was reserved for Starlight families exclusively, so there was lots of room – and lots of staff to help the kids play. They were allowed to play and won tickets for the kids too, so everyone got LOTS of tickets to redeem. I cannot think of how many tokens we used, but I do know that Mark had close to 6000 tickets to redeem by the time we were done!

And what was the most amazing moment for Mark? Well, Mark found a great game, one that he could manage by himself beautifully, and one that gave back lots of tickets. He tried and tried…to win the jackpot…said he, “You’ve just got to keep at it and not let the frustration get to your head.” (!!!). And finally, HE WON THE JACKPOT!!! Bells were ringing, sirens blaring, staff running from all directions cheering and clapping…and he won 862 tickets at once!

Add to the a pizza, chicken finger, French fry and ice cream sundae bar, with loot bags too…then off to the ticket redemption counter, where Mark (and his new best friend Marlon, the most amazing staff member) selected an I-Dog and a microscope w/projection screen for him and Douglas to share.

He had a wonderful time!

Alison

 

[twinmum]

Oh no...my pcitures aren't showing? Any idea how to fix that? I could tell they were showing up differently for me than last time, but I thought I followed the instructions. Any hints?

And if you've been in the photbucket account, you know I have another package to describe...coming soon!

Alison

 

[iu97alum]

Allison - make sure you use the IMG code from Photobucket, then use the square button that looks yellow with a moutain) click and paste in the IMG code. HTH!
Love this thread!
dana j
www.caringbridge.org/visit/emy

 

[jessica52877]

Thanks for posting the pictures! I enjoyed watching the kids open the package.

Heather, we shipped them both first class, I shipped mine a day or two before Jill and I would guess it still hasn't arrived. Obviously it must have something to do with the route mine takes vs Jill's or something! Who knows! Jill's was easily there in less then a week.

 

[twinmum]

Here I am again - as they say, it never rains, but it pours! I meant to post an update about this yesterday, but I wasn't feeling well, and I think I fell asleep before the boys! I've just now been able to upload the photo's.

Jessica, your package arrived yesterday and its contents are magnificent!

I must confess that this time, I did not have the resolve to wait until Peter came home. I brought out the box that the mailman had brought that morning and the cheering began! All I can say is the boys were completely taken by putting Mickey Mouse and Star Wars together in such a magical way.

Look at the detail in these shirts:

Even the boys commented on how intense Mickey looks:

Douglas put his on and wouldn't take it off!

As Douglas said “This will be perfect when I’m trying to be picked for the Jedi Training Academy!”

Here’s Mark in his shirt:

(See how perfectly they fit?)
Said Mark: “They’ll probably pick us both because we’ll both be wearing these great matching t-shirts!”


My two young Jedi Knights in Training:

Talk about building the excitement! I continue to be blown away by all that you have done to make our trip so special!

With thanks and wishing blessings to you all,
Alison
PS Loved this picture of Mark - it's good to have a reader. He is completely enthralled with the new Young Bond book:

 

[iu97alum]

WOW! HOw incredibly awesome!!! those shirts are amazing!!

 

[luvinyou]

The boys look great in their new shirts! I peeked in the photobucket account, and I am happy to see that you have recieved my package already. I thought it would have taken longer (even though it didn't have to travel too far).

 

[luvinyou]

oops double post!

 

[mom2lilnick]

Ohhhh I love the shirts! What great detail and they look amazing in them!

 

[jessica52877]

Thanks for posting the pictures! I hope I didn't rush you. I am really surprised that my package arrived so quickly also, although I was super surprised when the 1st arrived!

I am glad the boys liked them. I couldn't decide on if I should do the same color shirt or not but then I ended up not being able to find the right size in the one. I hope they get picked for the jedi training. That was the highlight of Dallas' trip when we went to DL.

Your trip to the chuck e cheese like place sounded amazing! I bet Mark had a blast playing the games over and over and then to win the jackpot! How great!

 

[bigdisgrandma]

How wonderful that Mark hit the jackpot while playing that game. I love it when perserverance pays off! Be sure when you go to the Toy Story ride in Hollywood Studios that you use your GKTW button for the easy access. It took a little bit longer than the fast pass line but was worth it for us. They had a special car where Karlyn could just push a button to play the game instead of having to pull the cord and aim and everything. Because she has very limited use of her right hand, this car was perfect for her and she got a better score than I did. Of course, I am like the tortoise and the hare. I am very slow and steady, I have a high degree of accuracy on that ride but I don't seem to score a lot of points! I'll bet your boys will love it!

The shirts are wonderful. The folks at the DisBoutiquers are some very talented people! Those shirts could be just the very thing to have them be picked for the Jedi training!

Hope you start to feel better. I just hate when cold and flu and winter yuckies start! As I tell all our employees when I do new employee orientation:Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands!!

Have a wonderful day!

Denise

 

[twinmum]

Well, guess what arrived today! Yes, a package from someone quite nearby! I hadn’t realized that we had one of the wonderful DISBoutiquers living not that far north from us! Today, we received a package from Daniela.

Now, the boys were really intrigued, because this was a large envelope, and didn’t look or feel like t-shirts. What could it be?

Peter helped them cut open the enveloped, being careful nothing was damaged…

It’s coloured pencil roll-ups and sketchpads!

These will be just great. Last time we went to WDW, Mark did a journal for school. We had such fun collecting things to put in it, took some notes while we were away, then spent hours recounting our trip stories in his journal. He has already said he thinks he’d like to do another one, and now he’s got a fabulous, personalized place to put it!

Here’s Douglas going a little bit goofy over today’s surprise!

Daniela, you’re very talented. The roll-ups will be put to good use on the trip and beyond (I sound like Buzz Lightyear there. Allow me to digress. As usual. We have a friend who, at age 3-4 was mesmerized by Buzz. He would go around the house (in his walker, as it happens) shouting…”To Divinity…and Beyond!” Our minister loved that one!)
The boys will enjoy drawing on the trip, collecting items to keep and putting together a treasured memory book.

Thank you Daniela!!!

 

[luvinyou]

I'm so glad the boys liked them and will put them to good use! I had a lot of fun making them! I too was surprised we live so close to eachother

 

[jessica52877]

Daniela, I didn't realize you lived in Toronto! What a small world!

The boys sure look like they enjoyed the package! I hope they are enjoying the big give so far.

 

[Khalana]

Great update, Alison!! And those shirts are simply awesome!!!!! And the journals/notepads and marker roll ups are so great!!

 

[twinmum]

Hello! Well, today was Renovation Day #1!!! The demolition gang (4 really nice guys) arrived at about 10 this morning. Things were remarkably quiet and not dusty, but that time will come, no doubt. We worked very hard over the weekend getting the garage and den cleared, and moving breakables out of cabinets that are against the walls that back onto the den, just in case. Today is a day when I feel like I am on target with packing up, but I'll be feeling way behind by tomorrow.

Of course, I AM way behind on everything else!

I wanted to pop in and tell you all that Shelli, Mark's Wish Granter is coming tomorrow night to drop off Mark's package!!! It doesn't seem the custom to have a send-off etc, which is fine - we're all so busy. She is going to stay for dinner, so that will be fun. She has asked the boys to paint a 5X7 square for a project she is working on. Sounds neat.

Anyway, once we have opened the package and reviewed its contents, I'll post again. I'll feel relieved to actually have plane tickets (or reservation numbers etc in the era of e-tickets) in my hand, and I am hoping that we'll have some kind of confirmation etc from Give Kids the World. anything to assure me that everything is planned and under control!

I'll be back again soon!
Alison

 

[twinmum]

Hello! I am really looking forward to posting my next update...but it can't happen today! It has been even crazier busy and I am running very much behing on a number of fronts.

I wanted to pop in to say that we received TWO packages today - one with terrific tshirts for Mark (Scooby) and Douglas (Stitch) AND amazing Wish Trip t-shirts FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!!!

I can see that great efforts (!!!) were made to get these oackages to us in time, and I thank you...and I wanted to make sure you knew they made it here.

I will do my best to post tomorrow with pictures - and an update from our evening with Mark's Wish Granter!

Alison

 

[Tracie]

Hello! I am really looking forward to posting my next update...but it can't happen today! It has been even crazier busy and I am running very much behing on a number of fronts.

I wanted to pop in to say that we received TWO packages today - one with terrific tshirts for Mark (Scooby) and Douglas (Stitch) AND amazing Wish Trip t-shirts FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!!!

I can see that great efforts (!!!) were made to get these oackages to us in time, and I thank you...and I wanted to make sure you knew they made it here.

I will do my best to post tomorrow with pictures - and an update from our evening with Mark's Wish Granter!

Alison

I am so glad the wish shirts made it! There was a card, but I know you didn't get it because I am looking at it on my desk sorry about that hope you like them.
Can't wait to hear about your evening with Mark's wish granter!
Tracie

 

[twinmum]

Hello! It's been such a whirlwind around here this week! The renovation started on Monday, and it has taken up a great deal of my time, between the final final clearing of the garage and den, helping figure out how the contractor is setting up etc. It should be calmer next week (I hope!). In summary we went from this:

To this:

Adding to the excitement were the delivery of 2 Big Give packages (!!!) and a visit with our Wish Granter, who was delivering Mark's Wish Package. All in all, a hectic but FUN week!!!

I have to fight hard for the computer on the weekend, but I am going to post a few updates to fill you in.

On Tuesday, we received 2 Big Give packages on the same day. I have given up holding the boys back! Their friend Max was over for lunch and he has happy to be joining the fun. He had heard about the wonderful ladies (who we don't even know" who have been sewing for the boys.

Max is a really good friend to both boys (which can get interesting with twins), and his mother is a very special person. She is the director of the child care centre at the boys' school, and she was the first (and 1 of only 3) mother to invite Mark over for a playdate without me being there too...and then became the only one to have him over for a sleepover. She's just the type of person who is doesn't worry about whether she can meet Mark's needs etc, she just does it. I no longer get upset about other parents who are uncomfortable with having Mark over without me or Peter - I'm not sure how I'd be reacting if mine was the child who is the friend of the child with special needs rather than being the child with special needs.

Anyway, back to the Big Give! Here are the boys opening up their own envelopes, to discover:

Tshirts! A fabulous Stitch for Douglas:

And for Mark, "Scooby's Ultimate Fan" - this is how Mark introduced himself to Scooby at Canada's Wonderland when we was 5 years old. when he saw this tshirt, he said, "But how did they know I am Scooby's Ultimate Fan?" Well, I guess they really did read the pre-trip report, Mark!

Thank you, HeatherSue - the boys love the tshirts, and they fit beautifully! They were both so impressed that you knew exactly which characters they like!

Ah...but HeatherSue hadn't finished sprinkling her pixie dust! There was something else in her package...personalized pillowcases...and they were SUCH a hit with the boys!!! I am sorry, I have not taken a close up of them, so I'll show you how they were put into use the very first night:

Here is Mark, comfy with his SpongeBob pillow:

And Douglas dreaming of the Simpsons:

(Did you catch those Spiderman sheets? They have no idea Spidie is at Universal, too!)

HeatherSue, they have slept with their pillows every night since then. They just love them. Thank you!!!

Aren't they just ever so cute when they're sleeping? My little angels. Sometimes I still go into their bedroom at night, just to watch them sleep. Do you know the story "Love You Forever" by Robert Munsch? He's a Canadian author, who's had success around the world. While most of his stories are really funny, this one is ever so touching about a mother who holds her little boy first as a baby, then a toddler, then so on, including teenage when she would just go into watch him sleep. As she ages, the tables turn and as a grown man, he cradles his mother when she is old and frail. I am one of many mothers I know who can't read the story to their children all the way through without crying. Bob is a big supporter of kids with disabilities and we've met him a few times. He even wrote a story just for the boys!!! It hasn't been published, but we still dream that maybe he'll publish it someday...it's a precious, priceless memory.

And precious, priceless memories are what you DISBoutiquers are giving us. We shall never forget your kindness. Thank you!!!

I'll post an update about the package that came from Tracie as soon as I can, and also tell you more about the Wish Granter's visit.

Alison

 

[GoofyDoo]

Oh, Alison. I LOVE it all!! Everything is just superb!! That HeatherSue! What a creative one she is. And those pillowcases!! I am envious of the SpongeBob one! You just wait. You think you don't like the Simpsons now, but once you ride the Simpsons ride...well, I'll just let you be surprised.

Absolutely LOVE the pencil roll-ups and awesome sketch pads!! Just perfect for boys your age. Those roll-ups are just about the coolest idea I've seen in a long time. My kids are still loving theirs!

And Jedi Mickey! Jessica is awesome, too! She made Clay's SpongeBob shirt, so I'm not at all surprised at how completely cool her Jedi Mickeys are! And it's so perfect that the shirts are different colors of brown--again, just perfect for twins the ages of Mark and Douglas.

If I've missed anything, haven't meant to! It's been a crazy week for me, too!!

Your house is gorgeous, even pre-renovation!

OMGosh, Robert Munsch. I LOVE HIM!!! When Madison (my first) was born, my dad brought me Love You Forever in the hospital. He told me to read it to her every day. I could not read it without crying for MONTHS. It still gets me all choked up. When I was an elementary school librarian I had ALL of Robert Munsch's books in the library. They took up half a shelf!!

Seriously, love your BigGive stuff!