WISH TRIP - DAY 1 EVENING

We got ready for dinner and headed to the Gingerbread House.  Dinner is served buffet style and was very good.  After dinner, Craig and D-Daddy headed back to Walmart to get some snacks to keep in the villa.  Grandmama, the kids, and I hit the carousel...again.  Tonight was Candy Land night at the village...the kids got a BIG kick out of Murphy jumping on and riding the carousel with them.

Murphy and Grace

Murphy with Bennett and Grace in the background

After our carousel ride, we decided to head to the world's largest Candy Land game.  We ran in to Mayor Clayton and Mrs. Merry on the way.  They are the village mascots.  The come to the village every day and dress in different costumes.  We were also lucky enough to run into Queen Frostine and Murphy again.

Murphy was hysterical!  He was always up to some kind of shenanigans.  This one had the kids cracked up.

Murphy, Queen Frostine, Mayor Clayton, and Mrs. Merry

Grandmama took Maggie back to get ready for bed and I headed to the party with the kids.  Craig met us there.  We started off by participating in candy trivia.  Then, we played Candy Land where we were the game pieces.  Next, it was time for the Peppermint Twist.  This game was cute.  Bennett sat in a chair and Grace (and a partner) wrapped him in red and white crepe paper.

Next up was a game that involved passing a lollipop.  Grace got out early but was cheering on her brother.   Bennett ended up winning the game!  The prize was a special sucker.  He walked right over to us with a huge smile on his face....and handed the sucker to Grace.  Talk about making my Mommy heart happy.  The kids had a great time but we were all getting pretty tired by this point.

Little did the kids know that there was still a surprise in store for them!  I had arranged for Mayor Clayton to come tuck the kids into bed.  We got all bathed and dressed in jammies...when all of a sudden there was a knock on the door.  The look on the kids face when Mayor Clayton walked in was priceless!  He walked with them into the bedroom and started the tuck in process.  He was quite a character.  He had both of the kids cracked up.  It was at this moment that this trip really got me.  I have never heard Grace really and truly laugh until that very moment.  She had pure joy for probably the first time.

Look at the joy on Grace's face!

Bennett cracked up too!

Day 1 was a terrific success!!

WISH TRIP - DAY 1 AFTERNOON

After we settled in to our villa, we unpacked and rested for a little bit.  However, we were all anxious to get out an explore the village.  We explored a little before I had to go to orientation.  We headed to Amberville - an arcade.  Craig played remote control boats with Bennett and Grace (and was proud that he beat both of them!) while Maggie, Grandmama, and I check out the train room.  Maggie loved the trains.

Headed to Amberville

I had to head to orientation so I left the kids with Craig and Grandmama to explore the village more.  They quickly headed to Marco's Dino Putt.  Bennett was walking along the course and triggered a dinosaur who roared really loudly.  Bennett hit the deck and came up crying because it scared him so badly.  Grace is scared of it.  Craig is laughing hysterically.  He continues to play and hits his ball in the hole....which triggers another dinosaur roar which made Craig jump this time.  

After they finish putt-putt, they decided to head to Candyland Park.  The kids had a great time swinging, sliding, and playing.

As soon as I wrapped up my orientation, I was ready to join the kids in all of the fun I was missing!  We decided to head to the Castle of Miracles so Grace could make her star.  This is really cool!  All of the Wish Kids who have ever been to GKTW get to make a star to be hung in the Castle.  It is so neat to walk in and look up and see the ceiling covered with stars!  Grace was given a star to write anything she wanted to write on it.  She wrote her name and the year.  Then she put her star in the Star Fairy's treasure chest. The Star Fairy took her star up to the ceiling.  The volunteer told Grace that the Star Fairy would leave a Star Passport in our villa the following day and then we could find her star in the Castle.

Next it was time to visit the Pillow Tree.  We had a certificate for all of the kids to make a pillow.  They watched a video and then pulled the rope.  We opened the trunk and there were 2 pillows waiting for us.  Oh no!  The Pillow Tree forgot Bennett!  We had to pull the chain again and check the trunk again...and there was a monster pillow for Bennett!

As we walked back to our villa, we had to stop for the first of what would be MANY carousel rides.  All of the kids loved riding the carousel, but Maggie especially loved it!  She would have ridden it 1000 times a day if she could!

Bennett and Craig decided they were ready to head to the pool.  Grace and Maggie wanted to head to the LaTiDa Spa.  They could choose to get make up, nails painted, or an air brush tattoo.  They both decided that they wanted to have their make-up done...which made perfect sense as we were about to head to the pool.

As soon as they were finished, we headed to the pool.  All of the kids had a great time splashing and swimming.  I definitely have little fish on my hands!

As soon as swimming as was finished, we headed back to the villa to rest a little before dinner and our evening events.

*As you can see...we covered a lot of ground every day!  This is the easiest way for me to break it down....morning, afternoon, and night of each day.*

WISH TRIP - DAY 1 ARRIVAL

A big shout out to Craig who recorded down our trip every day.  His notes will come in handy when remembering our trip!

***a disclaimer***  There is no way to adequately put into words this trip.  I will do my best to recap but it will not do it justice.  Also, there is a lot of extra detail here...it is so we can remember things too.

We got up SUPER early and headed to the airport.  Everyone is very excited!!  We parked at Park N Fly and took the shuttle over to the airport.  We rode with a lady headed to China for work and a couple headed on a cruise.  D-Daddy and the kids provided lots of entertainment.  

We went to TGI Fridays for breakfast.  The food was good...as evidenced by D-Daddy declaring it "the BEST BLT EVER!"

Ready to leave!

Craig wanted to new book to read on the plane so he and Bennett headed to the book store. Bennett came back with a new book, but not one for Grace....so Grace and I headed to the book store.  By that time, it was time to get on the plane!  Bennett wanted to sit by D-Daddy, Craig sat with Grandmama, and I sat with the girls.  The kids were very good on the flight.

When you arrive in Orlando, you have to take a shuttle to the main terminal.  Grace quickly declared this as our first roller coaster ride!

As soon as we entered the main terminal, we saw the Give Kids the World (GKTW) Village sign with Grace's name on it.  She was sooo excited!  She walked right up to our greeter with a HUGE smile on her face.  He kept looking around and saying "I am looking for Grace Cooper.  Excuse me, miss.  I am looking for Grace Cooper."  She was cracked up laughing and telling him that she was Grace Cooper.  He was a very nice man and was very funny.

Our greeter (I can't remember his name...) took us to get our luggage and then to our rental car.  Bennett, Grace, and D-Daddy took the escalator and the rest of us took the elevator.  Maggie looked at us and said "Maggie ride alligator!"  The kids picked out a black mini-van that had a DVD player.  The kids watched Hocus Pocus and Eloise.  Their favorite part of Eloise was when she called someone a "grouchy butt." They thought it was hysterical.

We successfully navigated to GKTW with a stop at Walmart...where I might have feared for my life a little.  Whew.

As soon as we checked in, the people gave Grace a stuffed Mickey Mouse.  Bennett and Maggie received Shamu stuffed animals.  We were all hungry so we headed to Katie's Kitchen for lunch.  Of course, we HAD to stop at the ice cream parlor for dessert. 

We headed back to check-in and we were escorted to our home for the week - VILLA 230.

GRACE'S PRINCESS PARTY - Wrapping Up

The party that took a life of it's own!  I will always have these incredible memories of people going above and beyond for my girl.  As you can tell, what started as a small party at our house totally morphed into something beyond my wildest dreams!!

Here are some other random pictures from the party as a wrap up.

Found a picture of Princess Blakely

I love, love, love this picture of Peyton (Grace's BFF!)

Officially becoming a princess

I love this picture of Grace looking at the carriage on the front yard.

Playing princess games

Playing pass Cinderella's Glass Slipper

She loved the storybook that Cinderella and Belle brought her.

I also found a picture of Princess Landry.

I can NOT say enough about 2 Friends and Party.  You should definitely use them if you are looking for an AMAZING party!

Even grown-ups need tiaras! (My cousin, Courtney)

Getting a kiss from Cinderella

She FINALLY got her Rapunzel dress that she really, really wanted from Kari.

Bennett and Emily (my niece)

Kari also gave the kids hats to wear on our trip.

All of the kids waiting for Grace to arrive for the party.

This party was truly one for the record books.  I will never be able to properly thank everyone who made this possible.  It was one of the best days of my life.

Next week...we embark on our Wish Trip!!