Aloha From Paradise - Day 2

Aloha again from paradise.  We are still working to acclimate ourselves to Hawaii time.  Grace pretty much had no trouble at all.  Kyle was up before 6 a.m., and I woke up around 7:15.  Those who know us well are probably laughing now trying to believe that's true!

We started out the morning checking out a state of Stitch.

We enjoyed some quiet time this morning on the deck of our hotel room, just watching the ocean and taking it all in.  Kyle ran downstairs to get us some breakfast, and Grace woke up just in time to enjoy some of the bounty.  I'm afraid the healthy eating will just have to wait until we get back home.  There's just too many great things to try out here.

Since we were all up and going pretty early, we decided to try out the pool this morning, which was a huge hit.

All suited up and ready to go swimming!

We got all suited up and headed downstairs for another walkthrough of the resort.  We checked out Aunty's Beach House where she had an activity later in the evening, and also visited the Pau Hana house, where they had a special free gift for Grace, a dolphin necklace, flower hair clip and a Hawaiian bracelet. They also told us they would reserve Grace a special spot up front for their evening show on Thursday night, and that we could come by anytime to cool off from the heat and enjoy activities there.

Trying out her new life vest in the pool. She smiled the whole time!

Then, we made our way to the pool. You use your room keys to get bracelets and towels for the pool area. It was the first time Kyle had a chance to see Grace in her new life vest, and she smiled pretty much the whole time we were there.  The pool even had some parts in the shade, where we hung out so the sun didn't bother her eyes.  She splashed in the water, and just loved to splash Kyle.

We even found some shady spots where Grace could really enjoy the water.

We were trying to decide if one of us could take her down one of the water slides, so we each gave it a go. The slide is completely enclosed and very dark, so after my trek down, we decided it probably wouldn't work to take her down.  But as I came up sputtering, Kyle was giggling, so I suggested he give it a go.  He did and even made a GoPro video going down.  It's pretty hard to see since it's so dark in the slide.  However, we did get a darling video of Grace swimming in the pool.

All smiles in her darling dress that Aunt Mikaela had made for the trip!

After about an hour and a half or so, Grace decided she was done swimming, so we headed back to our room.  Grace and I headed out to get some sandwiches and yogurt for lunch. She's really been enjoying yogurt parfaits on this trip.

This is Grace seeing Mickey and Minnie for the very first time.

Then, it was time for what is sure to be one of the highlights of the whole week. We got Grace dressed in a special Hawaiian Minnie Mouse dress that Aunt Mikaela had made for her.  We put on her necklace, bracelet, and even a flower in her hair.  She had to look her best to meet Mickey and Minnie!

Seeing Grace smile like this was one of the highlights of our trip!

The resort set up an exclusive "meet and greet" just for Grace with her very favorite characters. And it was amazing.

Cheesing with Mickey and Minnie!

We met them in a courtyard, just us and a photographer, who provided a CD with nearly 100 photos from the 15-minute meet and greet.

Grace just LOVED when Minnie played peek-a-boo with her!

As Mickey and Minnie, dressed in their Hawaiian finest, approached, the smile on Grace's face was something I will never forget. They posed for photos with her, smiled at her, and even played peek-a-boo with her, which is her very favorite game.  Watching them take the time to really interact with her on her level, got a bit emotional for me and Kyle.  Just watching her smile and "talk" in her own way to them is something I will remember as long as I live.  They made sure Grace knew she was the most important person they visited that day, and even though she couldn't tell them she loved them or thank them for their time, I know they knew how grateful she was, just from her bright smile.  I still get a little teary eyed just thinking about what a special time it was.

Even mom and dad got in on the fun!

To celebrate, we stopped at the gift shop, and Grace got her very own stuffed Hawaiian Minnie to take home with us, and it hasn't left her side since.  We tried to lay down and take a nap, but Grace just decided there was too much to see and do to sleep. So, instead, we joined daddy, who was sitting on the deck listening to Jason Isbell, and just relaxed and enjoyed the view.

As Kyle was looking through some of the programs for today, he saw a surf party with Disney friends, so we thought we would try it before Grace's party tonight. They had a bunch of brightly colored surfboard shaped rugs on the lawn, and the leader was teaching kids some surfing terminology.  It was really cute, and Chip and Dale even showed up before we left for some dancing.  Grace really seemed to like it.

Grace trying out some surfing moves with her dad.

Our final activity for today was Chip and Dale's surf party at Aunty's Beach House, which is a kids-only place.  They allowed one parent to help Grace, so I went to join the fun.  We ended up meeting another Make-A-Wish family, and really enjoyed that.  Grace enjoyed the dinner of pizza and macaroni and cheese, which are two of her favorites, plus chocolate for dessert.

Mommy and her tired girl after the Chip and Dale party.

She also liked the music and watching the kids dance with Chip and Dale, but without a nap this afternoon, she got pretty tired before the end of the program.  I stood up to hold her, and she immediately started waving bye, which was a good sign it was time to go back to the room. But the Disney staff packed her a bag so she could decorate her surfboard back in our room.

Daddy relaxing at dinner, while Grace and I were at the party.

While we were partying, Kyle enjoyed ahi tacos for dinner and sat in an outdoor cafe enjoying the live music. He met us when we were ready to leave and we got some ice cream in the gift shop before coming back to the room.  Grace was too tired to even eat any, which means you know she was tired.

So, she's fast asleep, awaiting her chance to meet a dolphin tomorrow.  Yup, just another day in paradise.

MLH

Aloha From Paradise - Day 1

Aloha from paradise!  Literally.  As I type this blog, I am sitting on our balcony on the 15th floor of our ocean view suite, listening to live music and watching the ocean.

This is the view from our suite at the Aulani resort, paradise indeed.

The good news is that we arrived safe and sound at the Disney Aulani Resort in Hawaii this afternoon.  The only flip side is that it took nearly all day to get there, and I haven't been up for almost 24 hours straight since I was in college!

Grace slept in her Make-A-Wish shirt the night before our trip so she would be ready to go!

But being here for Grace's Make-A-Wish trip more than makes up for a long day of travel.  We started out bright and early, with the alarm going off at 4 a.m.  A stretch limo arrived in front of our house around 4:30 a.m. to take us to the airport, with a last minute surprise farewell from Grandma and Grandpa Galer.

Two smiley girls on the airplane ride!

We decided that riding in style like that is the only way to go too.  Grace laid on a seat in between us, and we just enjoyed the ride into the sunrise, which is something we never, ever see.  

Grace and daddy cheesing at the airport!

We had no trouble getting checked in at Lambert Airport in St. Louis, and the first three hour flight to Phoenix was a piece of cake.  Grace slept nearly the entire flight, and we slept a good part of it too.

Believe it or not, we found Kyle and Mary bottles of Diet Coke in Phoenix!

After finding a quick sandwich for lunch at the Phoenix airport, we boarded another plane for the six hour flight to Honolulu.  Since Grace slept the other flight, she didn't sleep for any of this flight, but she really did a great job.  We read some books and watched part of Despicable Me 2 on DVD.  She was a little cross the last two hours of the flight, but it didn't last long once we got off the plane.

Hello, paradise. Here we come!

A representative form Leis of Hawaii was there to greet us as we got off the plane.  Grace and I got real flower leis, and Kyle got a shell one.  Grace's smile when she got hers was priceless.  And she only tried to eat it a little bit on the cab ride to the resort.

Grace was all smiles when she got her beautiful purple lei.

After we collected our luggage, we made the 30-minute cab ride to Aulani, which has to be one of the most beautiful places on Earth.  When we got out of the cab, a bellman immediately came to collect our bags while someone from the hotel met us to get us checked in.  They had more leis for Kyle and I, and a special Menehune necklace for Grace.  Everyone who helped us on our journey, treated us like royalty, and we feel so truly blessed to be part of this Make-A-Wish experience.

Our first family photo op in Hawaii!

Although we arrived at Aulani at 3 p.m. in the afternoon Hawaii time, it was 8 p.m. our time, and without a nap, Grace was getting a little feisty.  She and her daddy laid down for a nap, while I went to get some groceries for the room.  Then Kyle and I ordered room service while Grace snoozed.

Sunset in paradise, day one.

We woke her up around 7 p.m. to take a quick walk around the resort.  Most of the pools were closed already, but we decided to take it easy anyway and get rested up for the week, which will probably be one of the best of our lives.  We are so grateful to everyone who has ever donated to Make-A-Wish - you truly do make dreams come true.

MLH

Christmas In July

Today, we had lunch with some very special friends.  They are also members of the Sassie Lassies Red Hat Society, and shared their Christmas in July celebration with us!

Several weeks ago, my friend Sharon Schwab, asked if Grace could come to their Christmas in July party in Litchfield. Instead of exchanging gifts this year, they wanted to make a donation to the INAD research study.

This awesome group of Sassie Lassie Red Hats shared their Christmas in July party with us!

Sharon has always been one of my very favorite people, so I couldn't turn her down, even if it was a paper night.  It's hard to be gone on paper nights, but luckily I talked the boss into letting me have a few extra minutes for dinner.  She even rode with us.

Before that night, Sharon had asked me to write out part of Grace's story that they could share with their members, and we were happy to oblige.  

Grace had fun when the ladies were talking to her, and even got to try on the pink, sparkly hat!

When it came time for the party, mom rode over to Litchfield with me and Grace, and we were greeted by their entire club, and a bunch of presents for Grace, and even a box for me!  Grace got some new stuffed animals, snacks and some Capri Sun drinks.  And waiting for me were two beautiful angels in a butterfly box.  We certainly felt loved by such a sweet group!

Although we could only stay about a half an hour, it gave us time to share our story, and for Grace to get to see the ladies.  She even got to try on a sparkly hat, and she just loved it!  They even sent dinner home with us since we couldn't stay for the whole party.

And we had to promise to have lunch with Sharon and Joetta so they could give us the money for the study, and we were shocked they had more than $200 for the study.  We truly live in such an amazing community.

Having lunch today with Sharon and Joetta.

As we chatted throughout the lunch, we talked about Grace and the club, and how blessed we are to be surrounded by such loving friends.

MLH