“Surprise! We’re Going to Orlando!”

This last summer was packed with a ton of wonderfully uplifting and fun activities which was just what I needed. All of the planning, organizing, shopping and most of all praying, was well worth it to see the growth and friendships developed during each of the events.

One thing that was missing from our summer, however, was a good family vacation. Harvey and I were feeling particularly anxious about that because we knew that in the coming years our family is going to change dramatically.

Sam will be leaving to serve a mission for our church next month and will be gone for two whole years. Chase, likewise, has decided he would like to leave for his mission one semester after graduating from HS this June. So that means, our family will not be together for almost 4 whole years. It is also becoming very obvious that our family will not ever be the same with these major milestones/rites of passages approaching.

So…

At the end of August this year, I found a great deal on tickets to Orlando and at the condo we stayed in during our trip in 2011. But rather than let the boys know we were going, Harvey and I decided to surprise them. mwah, ha, ha. I have to say that planning how to surprise them was way more fun than planning the actual trip.

This is how it played out:

During Family Home Evening the Monday night before we were scheduled to leave, Harvey mentioned he had a business trip to Washington DC coming up the following Monday and that he had to be to the airport very early in the morning – 5:30am. Chase gave a smirky laugh since that’s the time he leaves for Seminary each day.

He asked the boys if they would be willing to drive him to the airport since we are down to two cars right now. (The old blue Expedition finally gurgled her last breath in August at nearly 280,000 miles.) Of course, they were glad to help.

A few days later, I mentioned it might be fun if all of us drove Dad to the airport. Then afterwards the boys and I could have breakfast together at one of our favorite ma and pa pancake houses before coming home and getting ready for school and work. They fell for it…err…LOVED the idea!

On Sunday night, while the boys were at a friend’s home, we packed their bags and loaded them into the trunk of our car. When our alarm clocks rang at 4:30am the next morning, the boys brushed their teeth, washed their face, threw on a hat and some random clothes and out the door we stumbled. Harvey, of course, looked like he was heading right into the D.C. office.

Sam, Chase and Gage were not very chatty in the car at 5am, but Harvey and I were nearly busting at the seams.

When we arrived to Manchester Airport, we all got out to say good-bye to Harvey. I popped open the trunk and thought for sure the boys would think something was odd when they saw that dad had 5 pieces of luggage for a one week business trip. But nothing! They innocently went about unloading it all  on the curb, gave Harvey a hug good-bye and started to get back into the car.

Before they got in, I handed them their boarding passes and said, “Hey boys, would you take a look at these before Dad leaves?”

It was so funny, because they didn’t “get” what they were looking at when they first saw their tickets. But then, it was as if we could see the gearing of their brains working in slow motion trying to sort through and process what they were seeing.

When we saw their eyes widen and their jaw dropped, Harvey and I said, “Surprise! We’re going to Orlando right now!”

Their responses of “What!!!???” “Are you KIDDING ME?!?!?!” “NO WAY!!!”” and “This is totally SIC!!!” were priceless.  Sam, Chase and Gage were suddenly very awake and thanking us, hugging us and chattering away.

Here are some glimpses:

Serengeti Safari at Busch Gardens Tampa

 

Magical Discovery Cove.

 

Random Shots

A Few of Our Favorite Rides

@ Busch Gardens

SheiKra (You hang there for what feels like an EEE.TURN.UH.TEE before you are dropped. Our boys, of course, had to ride in the front row which meant I made sure I didn’t eat before going with them.)

The Cheetah Hunt.

 

@ Universal Studios Orlando

The Harry Potter Ride (We could live in Universal’s version of Hogwarts.)

Rock It.

The week was more memorable than I can express. Harvey and I have images recorded not only through the camera, but in our hearts and minds that will last us a lifetime –especially during these coming transitory years. We hope the same is true for our wonderful boys who we love and cherish.

Hugs!