Very Special Trip for 2 Small Boys - Need ideas

[disneyfanatic.60]

My daughter passed away very unexpectedly two months ago. She just adopted two little boys ages 7 and 4 in January. They fostered these children for almost four years.
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I have a solo trip planned in two weeks. I had honestly planned to cancel because I have been trying to be there to help my SIL and the boys. They really have been struggling. We all have. My son-in-law has decided to join me on this upcoming trip and wants to totally surprise the boys. This is not their first trip to WDW.

So now I am rushing to plan this trip. My daughter was the one to get matching shirts, etc. for their trips to WDW. I need some ideas for shirts for the boys for the day we leave The plan is to wake them up and tell them instead of school today we decided to go to WDW. It's a quick 4 day trip to attend MVMCP. I am also looking for anything I can do or get to really make this a special trip for them. I want to get buttons for them with something on them so Mommy is with them in spirit. Just not sure what to have on them.

The biggest thing...I ordered Mickey keys I planned on taking to pixie dust others in my daughter's memory. I need some ideas on what I can say on the tags for the bags.

Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions!

 

[Skippyboo]

Sorry for your loss. Etsy is great place to start for matching shirts. There’s various designs that you can pick from.

Do the boys like animals or have a favorite Disney character?

AK has those animals tours that you can book like Taking Care of Giants. Character dining. Haircuts at MK barber shop, knight package at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

There is mini golf , pony rides at FW.

Maybe you can get them an engraved leather/metal bracelet with their mom’s name on it.

 

[fla4fun]

My daughter passed away very unexpectedly two months ago. She just adopted two little boys ages 7 and 4 in January. They fostered these children for almost four years.
.
I have a solo trip planned in two weeks. I had honestly planned to cancel because I have been trying to be there to help my SIL and the boys. They really have been struggling. We all have. My son-in-law has decided to join me on this upcoming trip and wants to totally surprise the boys. This is not their first trip to WDW.

So now I am rushing to plan this trip. My daughter was the one to get matching shirts, etc. for their trips to WDW. I need some ideas for shirts for the boys for the day we leave The plan is to wake them up and tell them instead of school today we decided to go to WDW. It's a quick 4 day trip to attend MVMCP. I am also looking for anything I can do or get to really make this a special trip for them. I want to get buttons for them with something on them so Mommy is with them in spirit. Just not sure what to have on them.

The biggest thing...I ordered Mickey keys I planned on taking to pixie dust others in my daughter's memory. I need some ideas on what I can say on the tags for the bags.

Thanks in advance for any ideas or suggestions!

I am so sorry for your loss

Do the boys have a favorite character? Do they have any particular interests, like cowboys, dinosaurs, or astronauts? I would theme the shirts around their specific interests. Maybe each person has their favorite character on the front, and then all the shirts have the same saying on the back?

As far as the buttons, the buttons already say “I’m celebrating . . .” on them. You could go as simple as just having them add Mom or Mommy or whatever the kids called her. One caution though, they may get questions about why they are celebrating Mom or why Mom isn’t with them. Only you know if that could be upsetting to them. I like the PP idea of matching bracelets, with maybe her name on them. This would be meaningful to your family, but not draw the attention the buttons do.

 

[leebee]

If you have time, and as you are going to MVMCP, you can make your own shirts. Cut out a simple Mickey head about the size of an oreo or a little bigger (I used an old disney paint chip from Home Depot) to use as a template. Cut out 5 Mickey heads from Christmas fabric per shirt, and iron them onto the shirt with stitch witchery or something similar. Use a fabric pen to put everyone's name under each head- so Dad, Nana, Boy1, Boy2, Mom- and get some glittery felt or something similar and make angel wings to go on Mom's hat- or either side of her name.

I am so sorry for your loss. I cannot fathom how I'd struggle and grieve if I lost my own dear daughter, who is 30. I cannot imagine. May your memories of her be a blessing and a comfort to you in this dark, stressful time.

 

[Mle8308]

So sorry for your loss. If getting matching shirts is going to be a stressor for you, then don't. It is a fun thing to do, but if it is more of a chore to find them, don't do it. They will be excited to go, matching t-shirts or not. It's a nice idea to have keys made to honor you daughter. Maybe say something like "may this bring a smile as bright as [insert your daughters name here] to your day". I hope you have a healing trip and lots of laughs with your family.

 

[LuvOrlando]

So sad to hear you lost your daughter. It sounds very nice of you to do something like this to solidify the fact you all are still a family. I imagine these kids are having all sorts of abandonment issues bubble up so the shirts are a great idea to make sure they feel like they still belong

As for what to write, I'm thinking something in line with what you are doing. Seems like you all intend to celebrate your daughter's life and the people she loved/loves & so here are some ideas:

Loved by ______daughter's name_____!
Celebrating ____daughter's name_____!

or even separate shirts with nicknames for each person, if daughter had them, such as:

Luv's Peanut
Luv's Mom
Luv's Elf
Luv's Smiley

I'd ask each kid & DH what their favorite nickname was that mom had for them & what they called mom, some families have a lot of nicknames so I'd want to get the one each person is most fond of for them.

 

[luvmarypoppins]

Maybe a special Disney picture frame or Christmas ornament to put a picture in