The day we told Scarlett she was going to Disney World is a day we will never forget . . . .The anticipation up to it was a little much, but it was all well worth it in the end . . .The look on her face is one that will be engrained in my brain forever . . . her smile was bigger than I had ever seen on her before. Leading up to the day of the party was really hard because she literally didn't know anything . . . but all the anxiety and secrets really paid off. A couple days before the party we told Scarlett that we heard there was a party at a local park where you could dress up in Disney clothes, an idea that was totally plausible for a 5 year old. It was so hard not to blow our cover as she asked each family member she saw prior to the party if they wanted to come to this crazy Disney party Momma was talking about. . . they of course all acted shocked and accepted as if it was a great idea.
We found out Make A Wish was sending us to Disney World about 5 weeks before we knew we were going to have her wish reveal party. So for almost a month we were planning this amazing event without letting Scarlett in on the excitement. I knew going into it that there were several family members that had to be a part of her celebration and maybe one or two family friends, but we never could've imagined the amount of support and love that would end up celebrating this amazing day with us. We are forever grateful to those that traveled from all parts of California to help celebrate this unforgettable event. About two weeks into planning with Scarlett's M.A.W team they proposed the idea that we have a mock parade for Scarlett's party since parades were such a huge part of her wish. After many ups and downs of the size and locations -(they toyed with the idea of having a huge parade at her school, to one on our street) . . . they finally decided on something at a local park. I've really been trying to embrace this whole situation (I promised myself I wouldn't let my Type A personality interfere with any part of this process. . . . this is Scarlett's Wish), so I reluctantly said I was up for whatever they had in mind. They literally called me the week of the party and were still toying with the idea of having an actual parade. . . It wasn't until just 4 days before the party we finally somewhat knew what was happening. We were supposed to show up at 2pm dressed in Disney Gear for a Disney party. The guests would be lined up almost like a parade while she arrived and as she got to the end of the parade Make A Wish would announce she was going to Disney World. They filled the park with around 50 friends and family that have been touched by Scarlett and have been there to support us on our journey this last three years. I couldn't have asked for a better crowd of people. . . it was absolutely amazing how many people came to celebrate this joyous occasion with us.
Upon arriving my husband and I felt like we were going to have a nervous breakdown, being the center of attention like that isn't really either of our ideal situations, but we endured it for Scarlett and even our little star (who usually doesn't show an ounce of shyness) was clinging to my leg. . . it was somewhat overwhelming. Everyone was wearing Disney clothes or costumes holding signs, chanting yay Scarlett and we walked the length of a basketball court with her clinging to me yet waiving and yelling out to the friends she was noticing as we were walking through this crowd of balloons and familiar faces. She later told me she was thinking it was so weird that all these people were here but it wasn't her Birthday. After we got to the picnic area they told Scarlett she was going to Disney World. . . I didn't know her smile could get that big or that it could stay on her face for so long. . . now I know where the expression she's grinning from ear to ear comes from. Once the excitement from all of that died down they presented Scarlett with a Disney Princess Cake, to which she announced "ooh Cinderella, my favorite". . . I tried to explain to her that now she will be able to MEET HER. . . IN DISNEY WORLD, but I still don't know that she really grasps the reality of the situation, which I can relate to . . . because I still have trouble believing this is all happening.
We leave for Give Kids the World Village on March 28 and return April 3. Scarlett will be treated like royalty through out the week and will get to have 7 days of just pure fun, not concerned with anything but being a kid, something she rarely gets to do and something I know the whole family will enjoy.
The night of the party, as I was saying goodnight to Scarlett, she told me "this was the BEST DAY EVER, thanks for keeping it a secret because this was the BEST SURPRISE EVER."
Upon arriving my husband and I felt like we were going to have a nervous breakdown, being the center of attention like that isn't really either of our ideal situations, but we endured it for Scarlett and even our little star (who usually doesn't show an ounce of shyness) was clinging to my leg. . . it was somewhat overwhelming. Everyone was wearing Disney clothes or costumes holding signs, chanting yay Scarlett and we walked the length of a basketball court with her clinging to me yet waiving and yelling out to the friends she was noticing as we were walking through this crowd of balloons and familiar faces. She later told me she was thinking it was so weird that all these people were here but it wasn't her Birthday. After we got to the picnic area they told Scarlett she was going to Disney World. . . I didn't know her smile could get that big or that it could stay on her face for so long. . . now I know where the expression she's grinning from ear to ear comes from. Once the excitement from all of that died down they presented Scarlett with a Disney Princess Cake, to which she announced "ooh Cinderella, my favorite". . . I tried to explain to her that now she will be able to MEET HER. . . IN DISNEY WORLD, but I still don't know that she really grasps the reality of the situation, which I can relate to . . . because I still have trouble believing this is all happening.We leave for Give Kids the World Village on March 28 and return April 3. Scarlett will be treated like royalty through out the week and will get to have 7 days of just pure fun, not concerned with anything but being a kid, something she rarely gets to do and something I know the whole family will enjoy.
Written by,
Kari Peepe
Written by,
Kari Peepe
For more on our Make-A-Wish trip and lasting impression please check out:
- Make-A-Wish Part 1-Make-A-Wish is going to grant Scarlett 1 wish: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/01/scarlett-makes-wish-part-1.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 2-It's Official: WE are going to Florida: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/02/scarlett-makes-wish-part-2.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 4- Dear MakeA-Wish and GKTW: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-most-amazing-thing-i-could-never.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 5-Give Kids the World, GO to your happy place: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/04/go-to-your-happy-place-give-kids-world.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 6-A lasting impression:http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-lasting-impression.html
- Scarlett's story on Make-A-Wish, SF Bay Area: http://sf.wish.org/wishes/wish-stories/copy-of-i-wish-to-go/scarlett-disney-world
- Here's the piece I wrote for Give Kids the World: http://www.gktw.org/blog/our-happy-place/
- The gift of giving/How Make-A-Wish has taught Scarlet to give back: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-gift-of-giving.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 1-Make-A-Wish is going to grant Scarlett 1 wish: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/01/scarlett-makes-wish-part-1.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 2-It's Official: WE are going to Florida: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/02/scarlett-makes-wish-part-2.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 4- Dear MakeA-Wish and GKTW: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/04/the-most-amazing-thing-i-could-never.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 5-Give Kids the World, GO to your happy place: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/04/go-to-your-happy-place-give-kids-world.html
- Make-A-Wish Part 6-A lasting impression:http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2014/06/a-lasting-impression.html
- Scarlett's story on Make-A-Wish, SF Bay Area: http://sf.wish.org/wishes/wish-stories/copy-of-i-wish-to-go/scarlett-disney-world
- Here's the piece I wrote for Give Kids the World: http://www.gktw.org/blog/our-happy-place/
- The gift of giving/How Make-A-Wish has taught Scarlet to give back: http://atouchofscarlett.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-gift-of-giving.html
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