If my dogs were barking last night, they are howling tonight! Owwwww! Whatever happened to skybuckets that carried one from one side of a park to the other. And whatever happened to entering a theme park from the parking lot...now you have to walk through an area of shopping before you get to the shopping area interpersed with rides. Oh well, it still was a lot of fun.

Believe it or not Jesse found lizards at Universal Studios as well; and he made a boat out of a leaf and stick, he found some change while digging in the dirt waiting for a ride, and a bead and a button and several strange looking bugs. I think Jesse would have had as much fun in the back yard as he has in the theme parks. Though, we did get a big smile out of him today.

It all started when we went on One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish. You see when we went to Walt Disney World Misty really wanted to go on the Dumbo ride but the lines were too long. So when we got to Suess Land in Universal Studios we spied One Fish... We told her it was just like Dumbo only fish. So we all joined the line. As we where waiting though we discovered there was a water element to the ride. The fish spit water at you as you went around and around in circles. We explained to Justin that you would get wet on the ride that he and I could wait it out but he decide to go only if I sat on the outside where the fish would spit on me instead of him.

When it was our turn to get on the ride we discovered the seats were wet. Big problem! Justin was like a puppy dog going around in circles trying to find a place he could sit down that wasn't wet. He even tried squatting on the floor, or squatting in the seat but he was afraid he would get wet that way too. The ride attendant had to come over and tell us to sit down and get our seatbelts on. Actually she had to tell us several times before Justin figured out he could brace his feet between the floor with his back against the seat without ever having to sit totally in the seat.

As the ride started he realized he could maneuver the fish up and down. And every time we got near the water spitting fish he would move us so I got wet. We laughed and laughed. Finally, one time I moved and he got spit on. At first he looked at me like he had been hit by cow pattie or such and then he began to laugh. When we got off the ride he immediately began stripping. It was all I could do to keep him decent there in front of all those mothers and their innocent little children. Finally he turned toward me and asked if there were other water rides. WHAT! This is from the child who freaks out at the drop of water a shirt.

We ended up riding a couple of water rides and then we got on the "Raging Rapids" ride. Each time Jesse rode the rides with little emotional response. As we began to move through the rapids Jesse had a deer in the head lights look to him. At the end of the ride all of us were soaked...I mean soaked. There wasn't a dry spot left. Justin got off ready for the bathroom so he could change. Jesse got off walking stiff leg with arms extend to his side like some old man. He was so funny to watch. He turned toward me and said without a crack of a smille, "Mom I think I am wet." And then the smile broke out and he said, "Can we do that again."

Yes, it was a day of surprises as Justin enjoyed getting wet for a little while, Jesse smile the biggest smile ever, Misty found pirates exciting and fun while Rosie screamed like a girl and kept her eyes closed on the scariest roller coaster ever. Yes, it was another great day.

Walk Disney World

WOW! What a day! My pedometer says I only walked 719 steps today...it lies! We walked all over Disney and my aching feet will prove it! Surprisingly we got to ride on a lot of rides too. We rode the train, Small World, Stitch, Speedway RaceCars, Buzz Lightyear Galaxy Ride - two times, Haunted Mansion, and Snow White Scary Adventure. We went to Country Bear Jamboree, Monster Inc. Laugh Show,and Philhamonic Magic. We saw two parades and shopped until we were ready to drop.

It was a good day. The kids were great. They had a blast!! Misty was in awe of the princesses. Every where we looked we saw one. There was a boutique called Bippidty Boppidty Boo where little girls could go and get their hair and make up done and get a princess outfit. The only Boo in the store was the parents as they checked out and saw the price, boo hoo hoooo. Prices started at $200. Misty so desperately wanted be a princess...so we slipped into a store and bought her a Tinkerbell dress (thanks Uncle Andy and Aunt D) and put it on in the dressing room. She wore it all day and every where we went the Disney workers would refer to her as Tinkerbell. It made her day. She would shyly duck her head and grin from ear to ear.

Jstin loved the rides. We choose our rides carefully so that we didn't have to wait very long. He got so caught up in the rides that he insisted we go to the Haunted Mansion...he wasn't scared...yeah right! He was climbing my leg before we even got on the ride; though, by the end he was enjoying himself. The thing that scared him the most was the Philharmonic Magic. It was an AWESOME 4-D movie. It was unbelievable. Donald Duck, musical instruments, splashes of water and such flew right over and at you. He snatched those glasses off in about 30 seconds. Every once in a while he would slip them back up over his eyes and then quickly pull them off again.

Jesse played with leaves, found a lizard, picked up rocks, seed pods and acorns "lids" and chased ducks. When we rode "It's a Small World After all" he became facisnated by the water and wondered how the boats moved without a driver. Though he did sit on the edge of his seat for the Philharmonic Magic Music show and rode the Buzz Light year twice!!

I think Rosie grinned the whole time we where there. She and Gene went on Space Mountain - a in the dark roller coaster...she sat in the very front seat. She said it was the best roller coaster ever even though she was scared to death and had tears running down her cheeks. She wasn't sure if she was laughing or crying!

Yes, the day exceeded our expectations and the limitations of our feet!

We have arrived!

Four o'clock in the morning came awful early...especially since I was the one who couldn't sleep. I guess maybe I was excited too! The kids were quiet on the ride for the first three or four hours though they didn't really sleep. Then Misty was starving and there was no being quiet after that. They played with new toys and watched a movie called "Sammy and the Stinkers." I don't know much about the movie but it brought lots of laughter from the back of the van.

As we crossed the state line Justin spied palm trees and said, "Look, palm pom trees. Is that where we get pom poms?...Just kidding." Of course, I am not so sure he was kidding. The kids saw orange trees for the first time though they argued they weren't trees at all they were orange bushes.

We picked up the tickets from Leslie Purdy's mom and father's house. (Thank you Kathy Leadbeater and Dr. Phillips High School). They have such a nice home on a beautiful lake. We are so appreciative of their work to get us the tickets. The kids kept looking for Walt Disney World. I think they expected it to be the whole state and nothing else would exsist but Minnie and Mickey Mouse. Though billboards advertising Gatorland, Knights Table and other attractions brought squeals of delight. I believe they pointed out every billboard there was along I75 from the stateline to Orlando. We had to look at every one of them.

We arrived at the hotel around 2 PM and decided to head over to Downtown Disney to have a look around. WOW, every thing Disney and everything at a price! Despite the ring of cash register it was like going to a museum for the kids. They oohed and aahed over everything they saw. There was a skeleton pirate, princesses, legos, dinosaurs, Stitch, Winnie the Pooh and every other Disney character you could imagine.

Misty said the best part of her day was seeing all the princess costumes and getting her picture taken with Belle. Jesse's favorite was the pirates and the legos while Justin loved the Rainforest Cafe, legos, pirates, and swimming in the pool. But, I think I agree with Rosie the best part was that we were together!

Seven and half short hours and we will be on our way...at least I hope so. We have just put the children to bed for the third or fourth time. You know they needed a drink and then we had to go to the bathroom again. And "when are we leaving...oh yeah after we go to asleep." "But wait can I take my big headed dinosaur with me. But he will be sad if we leave him." "I forgot to pack turtle some clothes." "How long is it going to take to get there?" And that is just what Gene was saying!!!



Okay, not really; but, Gene and I are also getting excited and nervous about the trip. It is a big adventure. So much that we will have an opportunity to do and see. So many things we hope to learn. They say dolphins can detect things in people in a special way. I wonder if they will detect my worry, hope, fears, and joys. Will they be able sense our deep appreciation for this opportunity? Will they understand how wonderful and special our children are to us? and to all of you?

But there will be other experiences as well. Disney World and Universal Studios....talk about overstimulation. Yet, it will be something I suspect the kids will remember for ever. Life will be measured against this time. Remember this or that happened before we went on our trip or this or that happened after we went to Disney.

For Rosie this is an especially poignant trip. We will be traveling to her birth town. She hasn't been there since she was two or three. It will be a time for her to reconnect with her "roots". To somehow connect with a childhood she doesn't really remember. You see memories are only memories when they are shared with someone. Rosie doesn't know the stories of her childhood because there is no one to share those stories with her. Moments are precious and are meant to be shared. We are so grateful that we are able to share these memories with you.

Two days until the adventure begins. I am beginning to get cold feet. We have great hopes for this program and I am beginning to feel like my expectations are to high. What if we achieve nothing? What if it doesn't help? BUT, then again, what if it does? I don't really know what to expect. Everyone's prayers and well wishes are helping. Thank you for your encouragement.

The kids are excited though. Their energy and anxiety levels are high. Justin is obessive about being together. I have to tell him good bye ten or twelve times every morning and then I still have to stand at the door and wave to him Yet, all he can talk about is the dolphins are going to kiss him. Jesse got his cast off today and is in a splint. And, Misty, welllll, Misty is Misty. She is so excited she is nervous but joyous. Rosie, I think, may be the most excited. She is counting down the hours.

Rosie just shared with me the CD she has prepared to take with us on the trip. Family Force 5 is on the CD. They are a Christian Alternative music group....oh my gosh...I am getting old! I had better pack some more aspirins.

Well, I must finish packing...remember us and may God be with us on this adventure of a lifetime. Thank you all for making it happen.