Spring Break

March is the month of Spring Break.  First Sweets had over two weeks of Spring Break which ended Monday.  May and Buddy have a week and a day which started Monday.  Get the picture?

I really wanted to do something special for the kids, but the only way to make it work was to take a long weekend.  After talking with a friend, who is also a foster and adoptive parent (of 11 no less), we devised a plan.  I would leave my two little ones with her and take three of her kids that line up in age and gender with my three older ones to Disneyland.  Sound like a plan to you?

Hotel room for seven reserved; discount tickets found; coordination with school for each child to miss one day either before or after spring break; vacation scheduled at work; lots of snacks purchased and packed.  Then the weekend before, the stomach virus hits Precious followed by BB.  Oh, no!  Did I forget to mention that my friend just accepted a newborn infant as a foster placement?

All last week was touch and go.  The hotel had a 48 hour cancellation policy.  I called 48 hours in advance and explained the situation and the manager agreed to let me cancel 24 hours in advance with no fees if necessary.  (When I did finally checkout, it was with the manager I talked to on the phone that night.  He remembered and said he was glad the kids felt well enough to come.  I will so go back to this hotel again!)  As it turned out, by Thursday both little ones were on the mend, and we decided to go ahead with the plans.

Friday we left and drove to Disneyland.  We arrived after 11pm at the hotel.  We spent three days park hopping between Disneyland and California Adventure.  It was really nice.  The kids all had fun.  No major meltdowns, although there were definitely tired kids.  Tuesday we checked out and drove home.

BB and Precious did really well too.  They enjoyed their time at my friend's and each had a playmate close to their age as well. 

When I returned to work on Wednesday, I heard many comments about taking six kids to Disney on my own.  Many involved the words "crazy" or "nuts".  That's okay.  I enjoyed it and so did all the kids!  In my mind, that's a successful Spring Break.