Make-A-Wish - Disney World

Last month, Isaiah was granted his Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World in Florida.  We feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to create such a special memory with the kids.  Before we left, some very special volunteers from Make-A-Wish visited our home to present Isaiah with his Make-A-Wish box.  Inside was an all expense paid vacation to Disney World....AMAZING!

Flights were provided by West-Jet.  We were given such special treatment.  The pilots took the boys to the front of the plane and let them explore the cockpit.  They even announced us over the intercom.  It was pretty cool.  

Flying with four kids went better than expected.  The kids did very well and survived our crazy travel day that started at 2am leaving for the airport and ending around 10pm Vancouver time when we finally arrived at Give Kids the World.  

Our villa at Give Kids the World

Give Kids the World is a non-profit resort that provides cost-free vacations to families who have children with life-threatening illnesses.  It is mostly volunteer run and everything we needed was on site.  The resort was amazing.  Every night there was a party.  All the parties had a theme.  One of our favourites was the Christmas party.

There was also an ice cream shop on site that had unlimited ice cream any time of day.  Adam had a banana split after breakfast one morning.  

The first part of our trip was a bit of a bummer.  Adam had a bad fever.  Because we only had five days to spend in Florida, we were really trying to maximize our time so we decided to try visiting the theme parks anyways.  When Adam started begging to leave Universal Studios, we knew he must have felt very ill.  

That night, we decided to take him to the hospital.  Turned out he had an ear infection and bronchitis. 

So the first two days were a write-off but after spending a day at the resort swimming, resting and letting the antibiotics kick in, we were able to enjoy the rest of our time.  

Hello Disney World!

Disney World was amazing, but I say that now in the quiet of my home while my children sleep.  Crazy crowded Disney World with four kids, in the heat of Florida???!!!   Exhausting?  Yes.  I felt like a sheepherder, keeping everyone in site and tending to the constant needs of a baby and toddler.  David and I did a lot of tag-teaming and it went as best as it could have gone.  It did help that we were give a Genie pass so we didn't have to wait in any lines.  Some of the lines were 2 hours long!!!!  I would have never survived.  The Genie pass was really what made the trip.  Even the Disney characters would come up to us because one of the kids was wearing the pass.

The boys were our little thrill seekers.  Adam and Isaiah loved the roller coasters.  Isaiah's favourite ride was a roller coaster that took him upside down and Adam loved the Tower of Terror....of course.  I love Adam's wild side.  He's so fearless.  

And Victoria, since visiting Magic Kingdom has a new obsession with princesses....which I love!!!  I grew up with three brothers and have three boys so I am so excited that my little girl is such a girly girl.  Since coming home, she wears her Disney princess dress through the house every day.