After months of planning and remembering to keep the secret, we are on our way to Disneyland, the Happiest Place on Earth, with the two oldest granddaughters. RayAnne will be 11 years in a few days and Lexie will be 9 years in September. This is their surprise birthday present. Of course, Daddy and Mommy are along also. Six of us all going to see Mickey Mouse. The story goes something like this:
A long time ago (sometime in 2008), both granddaughters expressed wishes to spend their birthdays in Disneyland. Hmm, I thought. Not in 2008 but we will see what happens in 2009. In January 2009 I had a bit of a windfall and decided to take the family to Disneyland in May. I checked all the deals and found one that I liked. I sent out the invitation to both of my kids - now adults, married and with children of their own. One family could not join us at this time but my son and his family were all available without conflicts in their busy schedules. We all agreed that we would keep this a secret as long as possible. No one spilled the beans! Can you imagine that?
Zoom ahead to early morning May 7th at the Vancouver Airport. Tony, Angie, RayAnne and Lexie were waiting in the airport for us. The story that had been told to the girls was April and I were going to Calgary and they were coming with us. Both asked me where we were going and I answered Calgary. Once on the plane to LA, the girls got their journals out and Lexie wrote "My trip to Calgary" then she asked me again where we were going so I said "Toronto". Out came the eraser, Calgary is gone from the list and Toronto is there in its place. She then asked why we were going to LA if we were going to Toronto. My answer (and these get lamer as time goes on)... was we had to travel to LA before changing planes to Toronto so we could all get to Calgary. Out came the eraser again. Scratch Toronto and put in LA instead. Has it twigged yet that we are actually going to Disneyland? NO!!
After gathering all our baggage and are standing on the island in the street waiting for our Disneyland Express bus to take us to the hotel, the bus pulls up with the side painted with the words Disneyland Experience and pictures of the fairy castle, all the princesses, Mickey Mouse and a bunch of other characters. Both girls read the side of the bus. No one said a word.
On the bus, about half way to the hotel, Lexie asked me where we were really going. I asked where they would like to be going but neither would take a guess. It was almost like if they said the word Disneyland, it would evaporate and they would not be there..... So I told them. The looks on their little faces were priceless!! From then on, it was indeed, the Happiest Place on Earth!!!
And here are Lexie (L) and RayAnne (R) after they found out where they were really going!!! Tony is just out of the shot..