Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Spring Break

Remember Jeremy's "Guy of the District" award? Well, this past week we put it to good use at DISNEYLAND!! We felt soooo blessed to be able to do this-- it's something that obviously costs a LOT when you have eight kids, and his award was able to cover all of our expenses. (: We brought most of our food in (PB & J, etc.) but we were even able to buy some fun food in the park. It was such a treat to experience the magic of Disney with all of our kids. It was even worth the hours and hours and hours spent driving with our big clan! (Driving is hard enough with most kids, but it's especially hard when you can't see. No looking out the windows, watching movies, reading books, etc. Way to go, Lexi and Elli, for hanging in there!)

We were able to spend four whole days at the park. It was perfect. Luckily for us, Disney is very good to children with special needs. We were able to get a special assistance card that let us use our strollers as wheelchairs (meaning we could bring them in line with us) and let us use the fast pass lane for all of the rides. This was a HUGE blessing. We would never have braved Disneyland if we didn't know we would get this help, because there is just no way we could have managed otherwise. It was so great, because even though we had to take things slow, and took about 100 trips to the restrooms each day, we were able to go on lots and lots and lots of rides!

The park was especially busy because of Spring Break. Even still, we managed not to lose any of our kids. I call that a successful trip, don't you? (:

A bit about each of the kids at Disney:

Graci: Loved the princesses the most! Wore her Minnie ears every day. Devoured turkey legs. Was brave enough to go on any ride. Such a good helper with the littles. Had surprising stamina for all that walking.

Taylor: Loved the rollercoasters and Tower of Terror. Disappointed Splash Mountain was closed. Devoured soft pretzels. Loved to sit with Lexi on the rides because she would laugh so hard. Admitted on the last day that he was totally and utterly exhausted!

Parker: Also loved the big rides. Got a kick out of "Turtle Talk with Crush." Always looking out for his little sisters. Was coerced into volunteering to help "The Incredibles" show. Devoured churros. Was convinced we HAD to spend 17 hours in the park on our last day (7 am to midnight) and was only slightly disappointed when we dropped dead 20 minutes short of his goal.

Jesi: Loved the characters. Told us she would wait in line any amount of time to see Rapunzel. Surprised us by going on EVERY SINGLE RIDE and asking to repeat the scary ones. Devoured mangoes. Liked to use the restroom every hour or so. Never got ornery with lack of sleep.

Elli: Hated it. Basically shut down the entire time we were at Disney. Spoke maybe 10 words the entire four days. Developed a vocal tic. Did seem to get some enjoyment out of Tower of Terror on the last day, and was therefore taken on it three times. Devoured anything sweet.

Lexi: Loved EVERYTHING about Disney. Now includes "Thank you for Disneyland" in every prayer. Ended every ride by saying, "More, more!" Was happy as a lark the entire trip. Was everyone's best friend as she allowed the kids to go in the fast pass lane on all the rides Elli and Sophi couldn't or wouldn't go on. Devoured ice cream.

Xander: Was so fun to be with as it was also his first time at Disney. Asked about 20 thousand times for a lollipop before we finally caved. Didn't care for the scary rides, but did try them all. Loved the merry-go-round, Dumbo, etc. Was such a trooper walking so long with his leg conditions. Devoured anything and everything, meaning he asked to eat as often as Jesi asked for a restroom. Claimed, "This is the best day of my whole life!" after his first day at Disney. Announced, "Now all my dreams have finally come true," when he was allowed to buy a pirate sword on the last night.

Sophi: Developed a love/hate relationship with Disney. Was terrified of the characters, including Minnie Mouse, yet begged and begged (in her own way) to buy a little stuffed Minnie on the last day. Liked the very mild rides. Kept saying, "All done, all done!" in the most frantic little voice on anything remotely fast or scary. Devoured frozen lemonade. Had everyone enamoured with her.

Jeremy: (Yes, I'm including him in my kids, because he becomes one at Disneyland.) Loved everything about Disney. Paid a ridiculous amount of money to take his girls to breakfast with the princesses. Was the master planner. Never became Grumpy Mister. Devoured turkey legs-- his favorite food ever. Could barely get out of bed the day we had to check out.

As I'm sure you can tell, we had a great time. I'm pretty sure I was the bravest I've ever been to even attempt this trip, and it all worked out. (:

On Friday, it took us forever to get packed up and out the door. Then we spent 7 hours driving to St. George to stay at my sister's house. We got up early the next morning, exhausted, and drove out to our Easter reunion. We were only able to spend a few hours there, but I was so glad we went. Maybe next year we'll actually dare to camp, but it seemed way too overwhelming this year, especially with the new ones. Lexi managed to get about 20 slivers in her hand from a piece of wood (poor girl) but was very much cheered up by riding around camp with Uncle Matthew on the four wheeler. (I must point out that he was going very slow and just in little circles-- hence no helmet.) Elli began to become herself again, thanks to lots of Easter candy and Grandpa to hold her. Soph was content just to hang out. And the rest of the kids had a ball climbing rocks and ziplining. A perfect afternoon.

Sunday was spent at Grandma's. Anyone else impressed that we actually got to church that day? I am! Even if we were 15 minutes late. That afternoon was spent loving on grandparents and Uncle Ted and Aunt Debbi, eating, and driving the long road home. The kids did great on the long drives overall (probably 30 hours-ish for the week) but I think we were all ecstatic to climb out of the van Sunday night when we finally arrived home!!

Believe it or not, suitcases are already unpacked, though I don't see how I will ever catch up on laundry. We're settled back in to baseball games and homework projects and therapy and doctor appointments and everything else our crazy life affords us. Maybe I actually am ready to get back in that van!

Christianne

PS. Mom, you can click on "view all images" to see the pictures bigger. (:

12 comments:

  1. WOW! I think it's a feat in and of itself to have blogged about your trip already! Good job!

    I had sOOOOOOO much fun seeing your kids and wish we could've spent even more time together! :-)

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  2. All I can say is out of ALL the families in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD yours deserved this vacation the MOST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    (and congratulations, Jeremy for being Rep. of the Year!!!)

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  3. We love you all so much and had loads of fun with you Sat and Sun. I still don't know how you did it all!!!!! I am so impressed how much your older kids help the younger ones. They are so sweet with them and watch for their needs (even when not asked to). Thanks for helping with the salad on Sunday, Taylor. You saved me much time. Thanks to all the kids for being so helpful and good!!!! THANKS for all the pictures also.

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  4. What a suh-weet set a photos of your trip. They are all so good. So much fun was had by all (except poor Elli), it is easy to see. :D

    I cannot believe how crazy, er, ummm..., I mean, BRAVE you two are. LOL

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  5. AMAZING!!! i am exhausted just reading about all that you did, for how many days? wow!!! Pretty adorable family!

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  6. WOW WOW WOW! OK - the picture that was up when I finally got to the bottom of the post was the one titled "Goofy" - are you referring to the Dad, the kids, or the dog? ;)

    The courage that it took to go to Disney - well - let me just say that "I AM NOT WORTHY!!"

    You guys well and truely deserved the joy - of this I am certain - and there was a whole big bunch of joy going on there!

    Hugs - wow - great!! love you guys - aus and co.

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  7. Glad you all had a good time at Disney! (well, except Ellie I guess :) It was fun to see you out at Easter. If you can do Disney with 8 kids, I think camping would be a breeze!! Next year.... :)

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  8. I loved reading this post! You two are amazing parents! Seriously -- and to make it to church only 15 minutes late after all that?! The pictures are fun to look at. I loved the one with "The Whole Fam." How awesome Jeremy won that so you could make those memories!

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  9. If you do a Disney trip again, I'll keep Elli.

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  10. You guys are very brave to tackle such a trip! Your children will have these memories forever and that makes the lack of sleep and the long drives all worth it. I love the comments on the kids at Disneyland. SO CUTE!

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  11. Now THAT was a post worth waiting for! I'm glad you are the wife of the "guy of the district!"

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  12. Beautiful, looks like everyone survived and thrived! I so can't wait to take my 2 to Disneyworld in 2 years!!

    Way to go, Jeremy, congrats on your award!

    You two are like the best parents ever!

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