Gators and Goodbye from Orlando

OK, I know...this probably borders on Child Endangerment, but you gotta live a little. This was our last day in Orlando. We were just too tired to post anything last night, so you are getting this a day late.

We enjoyed our last day in Orlando by going to Gatorland and feeding the alligators. We were literally 3 feet away from them. I'm not sure if it was safe or not...I'm not sure if I want to know either, but we had fun.

After feeding the alligators, we were hungry so we went back to GKTW and had one last ice-cream. We borded the plan, and were in DFW by 7:00PM.

What a trip.

Happy Birthday Mayor Clayton !

Did I explain that the mayor of Give Kids the World Village is a 7 ft tall bunny named Mayor Clayton? His wife, Mrs. Merry, is the one that tucked the kids into bed the other night. Well, tonight wasy a suprise birthday party for Mayor Clayton, and Jessie was excited about it. She asked everone that she saw today if they were going to the Mayor's birthday party.

We took a train around the village and arrived outside the House of Hearts to attend this invitation only event. All the kids were there and we went into the Theater to watch the pre-party movie.

Also, Jessie made us stop at the store after the airboat trip to buy Mayor Clayton a birthday present. It was cute. So we bought Mayor Clayton some carrots for his big party.

When the mayor and Mrs. Merry arrived in their rabbit cars, Jessie ran up and gave Mayor Clayton a big hug, wished him a happy birthday, and gave him his present. I think that she was the only one that had a present for him. She really believed the whole thing!!! It was a special treat to enjoy our last night here.

All the villas her in GKTW have a name plate in the front with the family's last name posted. As we took the train around the village on the way to the birthday party, I took the time to read each name as we passed each villa. I couldn't help but to wonder what each of these families is going through. I just hope that they have a great week and live for the day. You never know what tomorrow is going to bring.

Goodbye from Orlando. Thanks to Give Kids the World! Thanks to the Make-A-Wish foundation! Thanks to Disney, Universal Studios, Sea World, Airboats of Orlando, American Airlines, and all the Volunteers and Employees that we have met this week. We will always remember this special wish that was granted to our daughter.

Some day, when Jessie is in High School, we plan to come back here and volunteer to work for a week during our vacation. Hopefully, we can take a bit of time to find Jessie's star in the Castle of Miracles and find her paving stone on the Avenue. Maybe we can serve meals in the Ginger Bread House or serve ice cream at the Ice Cream Palace. It will be wonderful to see Jessie and the boys walk down the Avenue and truly realize what a special Wish this was for Jessie and our family and how many people were involved to make this happen.

There are no words that can describe our appreciation for the people here and back home.

Airboat, Alligators and Gifts for the Teachers!

OK, I have a confession to make. The airboat ride was Mom and Dad's idea. Jessie woke up this morning and said that she wanted to play around the village and swim all day, and take naps. Even the boys said that they didn't want to go to Disney, Universal, MGM, Animal Kingdom or
Epcot. They all wanted to hang out at the Give Kids the World Village and chase lizards, eat ice cream, and swim.

We were finally able to convice them to go on a short airboat ride and then spend the rest of the day at the village. I think that the prospect of spotting alligators may have sealed the deal...at least for the boys. Jessie didn't feel very well this morning, but she powered through. We made a bed for her in the back seat of the van, and that helped.

So off to hunt gators we went. And we did see some, but they were pretty small. The airboat was a blast. It feels like your going really fast, but I don't think that we went any faster than about 30 mph.

When we got back to the dock, the kids decided that they wanted to get their teachers a gift from the trip. OK, leave it to the Hall kids to do things their OWN way. So Mrs. Johnson, Mrs. Moorehead, Ms. Huckabee, Ms. McGaugh, prepare yourself for your gifts. I don't mean to spoil the surprise, but I have to let everyone else know what your going to get. Julie, Kathy, Michaeleen you will receive your very own Alligator Foot neclace. Horrray!!! Erin, Jessie picked out a special gift for you. It is an Alligator Foot - back scratcher to scratch your back and underneath your cast. Expect your momentos on Monday morning. :-) Oh, one last thing. The old guy at the Gator Parts stand warned us to not get the gator feet wet, because they might start to stink.....I warned you. ;-0

Princess and Pirates!

4/11/2008

Tonight was the Village Princess and Pirate Party!

All pirates received swords and face paint. Princesses had their nails painted, faces made-up, and tiaras carefully placed on their pretty little heads. Shamu and Princess Dolly Dolphin appeared for pictures and fun with the kids. Taller princesses and pirates played and danced with the kids. I can tell you Captains Josh and Jake wore them out! Jessie had a wonderful time talking with EVERYONE and Matt showed mom how to Get Funky. The evening wrapped up with the coronation of Princesses and Pirates - all were individually presented to the crowd with lots of applause and cheering! Once again, Give Kids the World was truly a kid's dream come true!

Good Night!

Jessie and her brothers are hamming it up!

All the BEAUTIFUL Princesses!

And the HANDSOME Pirates!

Off On Adventures!

4/11/2008

Today we decided to check out Adventureland at Universal . . . but first we had a little diversion after breakfast at the Village. We stopped to see our "favorite" purple dinosaur and his cohorts and have our picture taken with them. Don't tell the boys we posted a picture - they will be so angry at us! ;o)

We had a wonderful time checking out Adventureland and then Cris and I had a blast from the past - we had a late lunch at A&W Root Beer! We both remember going for burgers and rootbeer when we were little. The kids enjoyed eating in their own miniature cars.

The rest of the late afternoon / early evening was spent swimming, looking for Jessie's star in the Magic Castle, and eating ice cream before tonight's festivities began.

Merry Christmas !!

Who says that it can't snow in Florida? Well, it snowed today at Give Kids the World in Orlando. And Santa was here, along with Mrs. Claus and the whole place was decorated with Christmas lights and Christmas decorations and Christmas trees and everything.

Jessie and the boys started off the festivities by getting a Christmas present from under the tree. They had footballs, and transformers, and games, and dolls. The boys all picked a transformer...oh...so did Jessie.

We had a complete Christmas dinner with all the fixins; including turkey, dressing, and even pumpkin pie. Kristi liked it best, because she didn't have to prepare it.

We all got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what we wanted for Christmas. I didn't hear anyone else's wish, but I can guess what every parent wished for in the village tonight.

Oh, did I tell you that it snowed? Sure did. We got the pictures to prove it. It was so fun to watch all the kids play and dance and sing Christmas songs and forget their troubles.

We are so fortunate to be here and blessed by so many wonderful people and have the future to look forward to with Jessie. She may be going through an awful time, and an awful treatment, but the figures are on our side that we will spend Christmas 2008 as a family together with Jessie. She may not walk, or use her left hand, but she'll most likely be there with us. There are so many people around us here in Give Kids the World, that know that celebrating Christmas here in Orlando might be their last Christmas with their child.

Tonight, I don't choose to pray for Jessie, but instead choose to pray for the families of these children and for the children who are have terminal diseases here. I pray that their cancer unexpectedly goes into remission and their failing body finds strength again. I pray that their parents find courage and happiness, and inner peace. I pray that this week, that they forget their problems and smile and laugh and sing Christmas songs like it is truely December 25th.

Merry Christmas !!

Late Night Newsflash : 9:20 PM ; Bedtime Tuck-In by Mrs. Merry !

04/09/2008

Oh, I forgot to mention that the mayor of Give Kids the World Village is a rabbit, and his wife's name is Mrs. Merry. The kids have seen her here and there in the village throught the week, and have even received a hug or two. Tonight at dinner, she came by to give hugs and wave hi, and Jessie asked her where she lived and if she got to take a nap today. (Her volunteer buddy for the night told us this.)

So to Jessie's suprise, we got a knock on the door tonight, and it was none other than the mayor's wife, Mrs. Merry coming to tuck the kids in bed for the night. Jessie gave her a big hug, and the boys ran away to the back room as quick as possible.

Mrs. Merry spent about 15 minutes with us tuck all the kids in bed...yes even the boys, and then gave us an autographed picture, kissed Jessie goodnight, and drove away in her rabbit car.

Of course, the kids didn't go to bed after that. Who knows when we will finally get them in bed tonight.

Love to All.

Kristi and Cris