OUR SPIRITED BEGINNING = Casper's Magical Journey to Disney

[Twice_as_Nice]

What exciting trip news! I've never stayed at AKL but I am sure it is amazing! I know your kids will love it! I wouldn't worry too much about the buses. I think that the agent was right when she said that with the dedicated buses you won't spend more time on them then you would have at Port Orleans. I wonder if you will also be able to get free dining??? Wouldn't that be amazing!

I think both you and the agent are right Diane the buses won't be that big of a deal and not anything more than what we would deal with at any of the resorts.

Plus the bonuses at AKL outweigh it for sure. I know the kids are going to love seeing the animals.

I believe if free dining came out we would have to switch our offer to that and not the room discount so we will have to figure out which is a better deal for us.

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

You will love AKL and so will the kids. It`s a lot of walking compare to most places but so worth it. i hope you get a bit of pixie dust and get upgraded to a savannah view. There`s nothing like waking up and walking into our balcony and see so many animals. I was just there this past February with my sister and we spent more time at the resort then at the parks

I am so happy to hear you had such a great time at AKL. We will for sure make time to enjoy the resort and go swimming, I heard the pool is awesome there, and also check out the savanna.

Ooohhhhh some pixie dust and an upgrade would be AMAZING, we'll have to keep our fingers and toes crossed.

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

I forgot to share but one thing I did do last week during march break was paint some Panda paintings for Casper's room.

I have been wanting to do this for a while now so I finally made the time. I think he likes them, he points to them when we are in his room and stares at them.

I'm calling today to book the kids Pirate League reservation. They are so excited, Anastasia especially can't wait to be a "pirate princess" LOL

 

[mommy2mrb]

on getting to stay at AKL its so pretty! hope you will get upgraded to a savannah view! the pool is so nice also! bus can take a bit longer to get to some of the parks, but they all have at least one park it takes longer to get to!

happy PT is going well, love the panda paintings too!

 

[greenjellybean]

I forgot to share but one thing I did do last week during march break was paint some Panda paintings for Casper's room.

I have been wanting to do this for a while now so I finally made the time. I think he likes them, he points to them when we are in his room and stares at them.

I'm calling today to book the kids Pirate League reservation. They are so excited, Anastasia especially can't wait to be a "pirate princess" LOL

I love this room! You did a great job on the panda paintings!

I have a pirate girl, too who would love to do the pirate league.

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

I love this room! You did a great job on the panda paintings!

I have a pirate girl, too who would love to do the pirate league.

Awe thanks so much. His nursery is my favorite room in the house, I was actually painting it the day that my water broke so it took me a little while to be able to go in there.

I wanted it to be something not typical "baby" and so we went with the black, red, grey & white and did a Paul Frank Julius monkey theme.

I figured it was something he could easily grow into and still be "cool" as he got older.

 

[greenjellybean]

Absolutely! Love the colors and that will work well as he gets older.

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW

Our mailman brought something HUGE and HEAVY today and both Casper and I couldn't wait to open it.

When the kids arrived home and I told them a package had come they couldn't get their coats off fast enough. Iggy said "I hope it's something for Disney World.....wait for me"

Iggy read us the note and I couldn't help but cry. It's such a humbling feeling to know that so many people are thinking of Casper, the kids and our family and would put such time and love into making our trip so special. We feel so blessed even the kids said that they couldn't believe so many ladies would do something just for them, and that so many ladies were so talented.

Reading the note

The inside

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU

It's truly the MOST BEAUTIFUL scrapbook I have ever seen and I can't wait to sit with the kids after our trip and fill it with pictures.

Thank you Lisa, Sheila, Sandy, Donna, Sandy, Michelle, Nancy, Jennifer, Anne, Stephanie, Amanda, Tracy, Cassey, and Jennifer.

 

[mommy2mrb]

You are so welcome! Happy it made it there safely
Enjoy making so many happy and magic memories to add to the album!!!

 

[paigestauffer]

You will love AKL! We stayed there years ago and it was amazing. I have to laugh because we have been at the hospital all day doing my daughter's bone marrow biopsy and I saw your thread and thought this is the last one I am going to read. Anyhow my daughter and I both have an unknown FAN1 mutation and MMC sensitivity which is a Fanconi Anemia problem! My daughter doesn't have FA but we are followed by one of the doctors on the FA board we have a marrow failure disease that is so rare it doesn't have a name and my daughter is an epileptic too. Small world.

I am so happy you guys are going on such a wonderful vacation and it breaks my heart that your son is not eligible for a wish. It is just so wrong. We go on Kimbell's wish trip in May so if you want me to check anything out for you please let me know, although you seem to be well prepared and in good hands with the disboards!

 

[blueangel2]

Oh wow want an amazing gift. A Scrapbook to store all those wonderful memories. Those ladies are amazing. They must really understand the hardships of taking care of a child with special needs. A mom with a child with special needs would have no time in the day left to make one of these. Such a special gift and then you guys will also get that bonding time when you choose and add your pictures.

Congrats! What a great gift.

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

Okay I am hoping someone here could help me out with this. Casper is OBSESSED with Pandas, giant pandas, it's his first and only word and he also signs it.

Recently on one of our trips to the Children's Hospital I got him one of the plush Small World Pandas from the Disney Store and he is CRAZY for that panda.

It HAS to go EVERYWHERE he goes, he carries it around and makes YOU carry it too. Problem is the thing is almost as big as he is. Seriously it's more than half his size.

Does anyone know if they made a smaller version or know where I could get a smaller version?

Here he is with "PO" that seems to be what he calls it.

 

[dianemom2]

Love the awesome bedroom! I adore that Paul Frank monkey but I'm not sure why! The colors are definitely cool and Casper can really grow into that bedroom.

The scrapbook is amazing. You will really have some great fun re-living your trip as you fill it with your pictures. What a lovely gift from a bunch of wonderful ladies!

I am not sure about the panda. I don't know if they sell smaller ones. I would imagine that they do. You could probably try calling. They can get you connected to the right place if you call Disney and explain what you are looking for. In the meantime, what if Casper wore the panda in one of those front carriers meant for baby dolls? Like you wear him in a sling? I've seen front packs meant for dolls. Would that work?

 

[greenjellybean]

How stinking cute is Casper in that picture with his MASSIVE panda? Lol, that does look like a large stuffed animal for him to carry everywhere. I don't know if you can find a smaller one that is identical or not, but hope you can before WDW.

The scrapbook looks amazing! What a thoughtful and personal gift! Hope you'll share some pictures after your trip of some 'completed' pages.

 

[Emilyswish]

Hi!

I'll be following along. We were also in WDW during that chilly December of 2010 and we'll be overlapping a few days with yours on our August trip. I just started our PTR.

That's a real shame that Casper can't qualify for a a MAW trip. That really makes me mad, and sad. Our daughter, Emily, has multiple medical issues, and did qualify for a US MAW trip. She couldn't and still cant express her wish, but we did it for her. We were also chosen by the amazing Big Givers, what wonderful people they are!! I'm looking forward to seeing more of your plans and your Gives.

Aimee from NJ

 

[3pletprincesses]

You are most welcome for the scrapbook album. we all had a lot of fun making it.

Love love love the picture of him with his Panda. I will keep an eye open for one of those around here. If I find one, I'll let you know.

 

[Twice_as_Nice]

Just a quick check in for April 1st and FINALLY SPRING!

It's warming up around here and we are starting to get out and about more. My mother in law was kind enough to offer to buy us a membership to the Zoo so we have already been back a couple weeks ago and will be going again this weekend. Even though it's a 2hr drive we would like to go every other weekend as long as it's nice. Casper and the kids have so much fun and it's nice to get out and walk around. We pack a lunch and just have fun relaxing while the kids run around.

I've been inspired by all the Big Give ladies and since I hope to join you when we get back from our trip I have gotten my sewing machine out and completed a couple little beginner projects.

They are definitely not perfect but not bad for first projects. I made Casper and my Mom some circle infinity scarves and then took on the Panda project and made Casper a ring sling, as Diane suggested, so he can carry around his BIG Small World Panda.

He seems to like it.

I am going to keep at it and work on some fabric crowns and other little things and hopefully by the time we get back from our trip I will be good enough to send some off to be loved.

 

[blueangel2]

love the sling! Now Panda Bear will get to enjoy disney too Do you "wear" Casper? If so then thats probably why he's okay with wearing his bear, he's being just like his momma.

 

[greenjellybean]

Love it! I'm always impressed when someone knows how to sew. Something I'd like very much to learn how to do. Casper looks so tiny with his panda bear on his back. Good to hear it's warming up!

 

[dianemom2]

Glad it is finally starting to feel like spring for you. It is the same here. We had 3 inches of snow on Sunday but on Monday it turned nice and has been in the 60's all week!!! I hope spring is finally here. I have had to talk my younger daughter out of wearing shorts every day already so I will be glad when it is warm enough for her to actually wear them. It has been nice not to have to stand outside in the freezing cold during recess duty too! Soon I will be complaining about how hot it is during recess time. Now we are discovering that most of the kids' summer clothes don't fit them and we will have to get lots of new things.

I think it is great that you are learning to sew. You should consider buying the Scientific Seamstress Easy Fit pants pattern. Her patterns are PDF patterns. They are bit expensive but you will use them a lot and they are like a complete sewing lesson as well as a pattern. I use that pattern all the time to make pajama pants for my kids. She has a group on FB where they announce discounts from time to time.

I LOVE the sling you made for Casper. The picture of him wearing the panda is so adorable. I agree that he probably likes to wear his panda because you wear him. He is being like his mama!