Ok, I guess it's finally time to write about our last day.I hate that this trip report is coming to an end, it's almost like leaving disney all over again.
We woke up about 8:00 in Friday morning and headed over to the gingerbread house for our last meal at GKTW.When we were done we went back to the villa and finished packing all of our stuff.I really didn't think we bought all that much but I guess we ended up with a lot more than I realized.GKTW left gifts for us every day.By the end of the week we had a FULL duffle bag of stuff(the duffle was also a gift)I had put two extra fold up bags in our luggage and we needed to use them as well.On the way down we traveled with four checked suitcases and two carry on bags, one wheelchair and two CPAP machines.On the way home we traveled with 6 checked bags,3 carry ons, one wheelchair and 2 CPAPs.Holy moly! Check out time was 11:00 so we took a quick ride around the village to say goodbye.We used our borrowed video camera to tape it as well so we would always remember the village.I thought it would be hard to leave but felt ok about things, that is until Logan started to get teary and said "I don't want to leave this place".My thoughts exactly.Logan and I had a little cry together while Paul finished packing the van.We went to the houe of hearts to check out.We returned the video camera and were given a check out packet.The check out packet contained a really neat suprise called the world passport.For the next year ,there is a huge list of theme parks that will give us one day of free admission.Six flags parks and all kinds of others.We are hoping that will lead to some more great family memories.I was pretty amazed.We bid the village farewell and headed out.Our flight was scheduled to leave at 7:40 so we were advised to be at the airport around 5:30 pm.Since we had done all of the parks we planned on exporing Orlando a bit but mostly doing some last minute shopping.I wanted to bring some gifts home for my nieces and nephews and we really had not done much shopping yet.We went to a couple of stores and went to one flea market.I was excited about that until we got inside and found wall to wall junk.It was interesting but not what I expected.A thunderstorm rolled through so we spent a little longer there than I wanted to.We were able to find a few things there though.I felt like we had not spent much time at Down Town disney so we headed over there about 2:00.We grabbed a quick lunch at McDonalds.It was ok, but I found that it was a overstimulation nightmare and I wanted to scream by the time we left.It was SUPER loud and crazy there.We went to the World of
Disney store and did some damage on our wallets.Then we headed over to Once Upon a Toy.I was super excited to be going there.I knew that they had the build your own lightsabers there and the little pony stuff and MR. Potatoe head.I fell bad that I hardly took any pictures this day.But here are a couple.
We really had a great time in this store.There are big bins and for one price you can stuff a box of my little pony disney accessories.They have super cute stuff and you can dress the ponies up like cinderella, jasmine etc.They also have a big area of Mr.Potato accessories that are exclusive of disney.It was starting to get late so we headed out of DTD and back on the road.We did stop at one more gift shop and got the rest of our goodies.I also ended up buying a minnie mouse bag here because there was no way we were getting all that stuff in our already overflowing suitcases.We spent a little bit of time in the Walmart parking lot, repacking and cramming stuff in.By this time it was around 5:00 so we headed out to the airport.Once again we had great directions so my anxiety about finding it was for nothing.We got inside and checked our bags.Then made our way through security.That was not a lot of fun, for some reason it took forever to get through and no one really seemed to have their act together there.Oh well.Finally we were through and we were in plenty of time for our flight.We went to our gate and settled down for our wait.
We had a nice seat in the corner of the terminal with a great view of the runway.The kids enjoyed watching the planes take off.We were scheduled to leave at 7:40.Not too long after we sat down the flight was pushed back to 8:55! Yikes.We knew that our wish granters would be meeting us at the Albany airport as well as a limo home, so I called Dena and told her of the change.Since the flight was delayed that would put us in at around midnight.I didn't want the girls to have to meet us that late, so I told Dena not to worry we would be fine on our own.The only issue was that Logan's booster seat was in Dena's car.After a few phone calls back and forth she decided to drop the seat at the airport for us(at Southwest's office) and she called the limo company to notify them of the change.I then went and grabbed the kids dinner (McDonalds again, but it was the only thing they would really eat)I came back to our seats and on the way through I noticed that the flight had been pushed back again, now it was 9:25.UGGG!!!!! Another phone call to Dena.She called me back a bit later and the limo company decided to track our flight online and promised to have someone waiting for us at the airport.Ok, now I could relax.The kids started making friends with the other kids waiting for the same flight.One little girl kept coming over and wanting to check out Hannah's stuff.She was cute and all, but she was annoying Hannah by actually going into Hannah's bag and pulling her special toys out.It didn't help that this was now after their bed times but we had been up late all week.This is Logan and a new freind playing with Logan's gameboy.It is dark but I didn't want to disturb other people with the flash as some were trying to catch a nap.
This is a picture of the runway as a large storm rolled through.It was pretty neat to see but I started doing the "what if" game in my head."what if a tornado goes through here, what would they do with us all?" You know, happy thoughts like that.
After a while Southwest finally told us that our flight was delayed due to horrible weather in Phily.Next thing we know the flight is now at 10:05.Perfect.
Then 10:10.Basically all of Southwest's flights were running behind at this point.I have to say that the Southwest person making announcments had a sense of humor and we were trying to keep ours.We figured that if that was the only glitch in the whole vacation we could handle it.I think it was about 9:30 that I took Hannah to use the restroom.It was crowded so we went into one stall together.Hannah used the bathroom and then I did.As I stood up to flush my wallet fell out of my front pocket and INTO the toilet.I quickly grabbed it, but started sputtering and was SO grossed out.I guess Hannah was overtired but this struck her funny and she started to giggle. I started laughing too and we went to the sinks and I SCRUBBED my wallet as best as I could, all the while we are both laughing like maniacs.The rest of the people must have thought we were looney.Back to our seats and watched all the kids on the flight get real wound up from being overtired.Fun times.Hannah started getting tired and very quiet then and she got up and moved four seats down from us.She refused to look at us or speak.I guess she was sick of us at that point.
FINALLY the flight came rolling in and we had to wait while they all deplaned.Fortunately we had a pre boarding pass so I think we were about the third family to board.Hannah did GREAT this time.Once she knows what to expect she is a pro.We gate checked her wheel chair and this time she grabbed her pick princess bag and marched right on the plane.There was a SUPER nice flight attendant this time and she told us that teh flight was not full so go ahead and take up two rows if we wanted.Paul and I chose aisle seats across from each other and the kids sat in the middle seats.Logan was with Paul and Hannah with me.They were in a hurry to take off so everyone quickly boarded and we pushed back from the gate.I got the giggles again when the pilot very quiety said over the loudspeaker "SHHH, You are all getting VERRRY sleepy". We took off and were on our way back to Albany.I think we took off at about 10:30 pm.Now it was officially past the kids bedtime and well as mine.The nice flight attendant brought us all pillows and coloring books and wings for the kids.She also brought luggage tags and postcards that the kids could color.She was so sweet and spent some time with us chatting.Hannah had her make a wish shirt on and we talked about a little friend she had, who also did a wish.She was the nicest lady and really tried hard to make us comfortable.Logan passed out about 10 minutes after take off.After about an hour I couldn't keep my eyes open and dozed a bit.Hannah colored quietly for the entire three hour flight.Paul dozed a bit too, but I don't think he slept much.He started snoring about 15 minutes from home.I forgot to mention that he was scheduled to work (white water rafting) the next morning and had to be up at 6:00 am.Our flight arrived at about 1:30am and there was a nice man from the limo company there, just as promised.Paul retrieved our bags and I went to the office to grab Logan's booster seat.the Limo driver helped us load up and we were off.This time they sent a Large Van limo, which I had never seen before.It was quite neat though.I snapped these quick pics right before we all passed out in the limo for our hour ride home.
We pulled in and unloaded our stuff.I sent Paul to bed right away(it was 2:30 am) and then argued with the kids that it was time to SLEEP and NOT watch tv or play with their toys.I guess they were glad to be home.We had some beautiful flowers and balloons waiting for us too, from my parents.Finally I got them to bed and I crashed myself.
I am sorry to see this trip report end.It feels so final to me.Hopefully in the future I will be able to plan another trip and write another report.I do have to say that there will never again be a trip like this one.Make a Wish did everything to make Hannah's dreams come true.The WHOLE family felt very special and pamered the whole week.We were treated like royalty.Give Kids the World was AMAZING.All the parks and CM's were super nice and tried hard to make it special for us.I will never forget the kindness of others, especially all of those involved in the BIG GIVE.You all humble me.We will forever have happy memories of our magical week.I am happy to have made some new friends along the way.Thanks to all that have stuck with me on this report.It has been an amazing journey.Thank you all.
God bless, Heather , Paul, Hannah and Logan
The kids looked like they had so much fun. It truly is a once in a lifetime dream vacation. Hannah had a smile in every picture 
It seems like you did so much more than we did and we were there for 7 days!
. I hope to post more on our trip report today. I am trying to pack up my oldest to move into college 
tomorrow. It is a lot of work to write the report and post the picture, as you know.
and now I'm crying 
