Mickeyland!

I apologize that it has taken me so long to share our Special Wish trip with you.  We have been so busy with moving and unpacking, as well as life.  Below are some stories, pictures, and memories from the most amazing trip anyone could ever take.  We are so appreciative of the organization A Special Wish for providing us with so many wonderful memories.

Our trip started out a bit rocky, as we were rushing to get our house packed up (we were closing on our house a couple of days after our trip) and the kids had been sick with colds.  Maggie had a temperature the day before our flight was to leave, which caused me some worry and stress.  However, amazingly so, she showed no sign of temperature the next day or throughout the trip.

We were picked up by limo very early in the morning.  We woke 

the kids (Maggie had told Andy she wanted to be tickled awake)

and rode the limo to the airport.  From the moment we entered the limo, 

Maggie never stopped talking.  She loved every minute of it. 

 The kids first airplane trip.  They both did very well (Colin slept

much of the trip).

 We stayed at the resort Give Kids the World.  It was an amazing place, basically a big playground.  They had a carousel, swimming pool, playground, arcade, all you can eat ice cream and buffet, pizza sent to your villa, putt-putt golf, and so much more.  Unfortunately, we didn't get to enjoy all the amenities because we also received passes to Disney, Universal Studios, and Sea World, and we spent as much time as possible at each park.

We spent a day and a half at the Magic Kingdom.  One of the perks of staying at Give Kids the World was that we didn't have to wait in lines.  It was so nice to go right to the front and hop on the rides.  The first ride we went on was Snow White and this did not go well.  Both kids were crying due to some scary parts (who would think it would be scary?)  After the first ride, we were still unsuccessful with the Winnie the Pooh ride.  We were not redeemed until "It's a Small World."  Both kids loved riding in the boat and watching the children sing.

One of the kid's most favorite things was riding the carousel.  There was a carousel at the resort and after breakfast, we always had to take a couple of rides.  Each park had some type of carousel and Colin always pointed it out and wanted to ride.

We met Dora at Universal Studios.  A rare family picture that turned out okay.

Universal Studios had a play land that the kids loved.  A pit full of balls?  What could

be better?  Maggie also rode her first roller coaster ever.  When she got off, she was

all smiles, but opted not to ride again.  She said it was, "too fast!"

We found Thing 1 and Thing 2 at Universal as well (with Thing 3 on the way).

Maggie enjoyed riding the Dr. Seuss rides.

And yet again, the carousel.

One morning for breakfast, Maggie chose to go looking like this.  It

was a bit funny that a very shy girl who doesn't like attention wanted

to go into public this way.  She gained many stares, smiles, and inquiries.

We thought it was pretty funny.

We visited Epcot.  This was one of our shorter days as Maggie fell asleep around 6-ish and didn't

wake up until the next morning.  We ran these kids (or they ran us) until we were exhausted.

I joked that we needed a vacation from this vacation because we were on the go the

entire week.

We went to Sea World and while the shows were enjoyable for Andy and I, the kids

(or rather Maggie), much preferred the rides.  Who would have thought that the 

little girl who got car sick on the hills of Holmes county would enjoy the twisty,

up and down, and around in circles rides.

Maggie's favorite princess is Snow White, and she is the only princess that

we got a picture with.  Maggie was, of course, super shy and wouldn't

talk, but after the fact, she loved the visit.  

Maggie and Colin both did not do very well meeting the characters.  

She wanted to meet them, but as soon

as we were up close, they both got very shy and scared.

The day we left the resort, they had horse rides.  I thought the kids would be too scared to ride them, but they both loved it.  Maggie was all smiles.  What a wonderful opportunity!

Thank you A Special Wish for a wonderful experience!

And now we have a cowboy and cowgirl.

I think these two final pictures summarize our experience perfectly.  We had an amazing time and we're so happy we were able to go on this trip with our princess!