You'd Really Like It Here

It's been awhile. Many things have happened here in the last month, but one thing stands out. Through a series of well placed inquiries and investigations, Sean and I were able to take a trip with our boys to the place where 'dreams come true.' Yes, we went to Disney World!!!

I'm very proud of my man, but this trip cemented in my mind that he is a whiz, that he is brave, and that he is an incredible provider!!! First, he turned in most of his reward points from his overnight trips for work and got us free tickets to SeaWorld and a rental car for seven days!!! Second, he used priceline.com to secure, at a very good price, two adjoining rooms at the Holiday Inn and plane tickets for all six of us. Why Holiday Inn....because all four boys can eat there for free for breakfast and dinner!!! Another bonus!!!! Third, he used a great tip from our friend Tisha, to buy us 4 day passes to Disney World, plus a one day pass to a specialty park. The cost of these tickets was nearly half what it would have cost had we bought the tickets at full price.

What a wonderful, fabulous, exciting time we had as a family! So many memories were made there. One of the best memories of all was how the trip began.

This trip was a complete surprise to the boys. We kept it hush, hush around them. So, the Friday after Thanksgiving, the boys spent the night with my mom and dad so that Sean and I could pack up everything for the trip. On Saturday, Mimi and Papa (my mom and dad) spent the day entertaining the boys. They nonchalantly mentioned that they wanted to take the boys to see the new airport. As they walked through the mid-way, checking out all the new structures and all the people, heads bobbing from left to right, and up and down to see this impressive place......there stood Sean and me. One by one their eyes fell on us and all the backpacks and suitcases surrounding us. "What are you guys doing here?" they asked. "Oh, we thought it would be a good time to take a trip. Anyone want to go to Disney World?"

The looks on their faces and there expressions were priceless.
"You mean, now! You mean, all of us!"
"We're going today......in a plane!!"
"What?! What?! Are you serious?"
"Mommy, did you pack my swimsuit?"

Nearly every day we'd call Mimi and Papa to tell them of the previous days festivities and the plans for our new day. They enjoyed the updates. Of course, their heartstrings were pulled each time they spoke to Parker. "Mimi, you really need to come down here with us. Can't you just come down tomorrow? You'd really like it here."