Part 2- Getting ready and getting there is half the fun!

I can hardly believe that a year has passed since last spring break. I started going through photos today with the kids remembering our fun trip and it shocked me how much these kids have grown in a year!

Once we had revealed the exciting news it was time to start preparing.
Our friends know how to do Disney. No really. They KNOW how to do
Disney.

They put together a blog and started posting trivia and ride sneak peeks. They had
weekly drawings for prizes and pins for pin trading.
A spreadsheet for the weeks activities was prepared and revised.
T-shirts were designed and made.





Snacks bought, car checked out and gassed up, all we needed to do was load up and go.

We had a few little last minute things to take care of and experience before we could really get going. Dr. visits for asthma ...


that almost stopped us in our tracks!

Trying to find shoes for a child who all of a sudden had grown out of his shoes!

I can't leave out the fires!


And with that ... let the memories begin!

Part 1- the announcement

Once upon a time there were two families. Their friendship started between their daughters.
Years of school, and after school get togethers and summer hangouts. Then family dinners. Then a far off dream of a trip to the most-magical-place-on-earth together.
It was a wish made then a dream fulfilled.

We had been talking about the possibility of our family going. The kids hoped but probably thought in reality it would not ever happen.

But last November we announced our exciting plans.
We ate dinner with the Smiths and they sent the kids on a scavenger hunt.

The big reveal ...

Disney Night

We were invited to a Disney party to talk about the upcoming trip-
The kids were all excited and wore their ears- I love how they are all at varying heights in the back of the car (can't tell if Tucker is scratching or picking his nose)


We were greeted with the "cutest sign ever" (said in Savanna's voice)


All the details were just right.


You can read more about our night here (from the hosts point of view!)

At the end of the night the kids all got goodie bags filled with mouse fun!


It was a fun night for the whole family!
I was so relieved that everyone behaved. I think they were so mesmerized by all things Disney that they could not possibly do anything but be happy!


They really were so wonderful to have our family of six over!

Cute sign on the way out the door huh?
Thanks again Smith family!
(I can't wait to see what we get to do upon your return- I think it will be our turn to host!)

Disney Surprise

Savanna got a huge surprise the day after Christmas.

Let me start off by saying I have a hard time keeping surprises. It was so hard to not let this one slip. We were so excited for Savanna, we wanted to talk about it all the time. But we waited until the day after Christmas. Savannas friend Jenna had to find out about it first!!
Christmas morning Jenna woke up and found this waiting for her.

So the day after Christmas Jenna and her Mom & Dad came over. I told Savanna I wanted to show her something really funny. Jenna's parents had sent me an email with a link- I pulled it up on the computer and clicked play. It was a short video of Disneyworld with Savanna's name all over it. Every marque, menu item, sign, and shirt had her name on it. I have no photos of the event but we caught it on video and this is what you see & hear-

Disbelieving looks from Savanna lots of laughs from the adults-
and then she starts saying "Why?"- "What is this?" More watching her name appear all over the place and laughs from all the adults.

"Who is that for?"
"Its for you."
"Seriously?"
Laughing-still not sure what is going on-

"That would be so awesome."
Tucker is laughing at the mouse-

"Who is that really for though?"
Jenna hands her an envelope-


and Lori (Jenna's Mom) says that Jenna had one too.
As Savanna is opening the envelope she says -"That would be so cool, that would be really cool." Then she reads what is inside.

She yells "oh my goodness" followed by screams and hugs and jumping up and down!
Jenna announces "transportation is provided by" ... then hands her an envelope with plane tickets.


and a lanyard
and then I give her more pins for trading.


Then Lori gives writing pens for the boys and there is more screaming.

We have spent the last 2 months counting Tuesdays with Jenna and Savanna for the countdown to spring break. Every day at lunch Jenna passes Savanna a little note with some sort of trivia on it about Disneyworld and how many more days, or how many more Tuesdays until they leave!
Seriously. Can you imagine going on such a fun trip? Our family went for 1 day to Disneyland. ONE day. And we were blown away. So much so that I still have not written about it. It is too overwhelming for me to put it down into words. Savanna is going to Disneyworld for days on end. And she is going with her best friend! Who knows the place like the back of her hand! (as well as do her parents!)
We are so excited for them to go- and can't wait to hear of the adventure!!!
Here are a few more links about the excitement of this trip-

The countdown
Im thinking Disney
Buttons
It's Party Time

All this Disney talk is getting me ready to write about our Disney day- I promise to try and do it without crying.