Ella's Make a Wish Trip (part one) Give Kids the World

I can not rave enough about Make A Wish or the wonderful vacation they sent us on to Disney World. It truly was one of the best weeks of my life. Everything went so smoothly, much of that was do to all the help from Make a Wish. They had a volunteer meet us at the airport at 5 am. He had a Delta representative waiting to immediately check us in and then escort us to the front of the security line. The Make a Wish volunteer was able to go with us through security to our gate. Another Make a Wish volunteer met us at our gate in Florida and helped us get our luggage and rental car. Our rental was a sweet Toyota Siena and we were able to fit our open carriage in the back without having to unload it each day and fold it down... it was all the little things that made the week wonderful, as well as the pure joy on Ella's face, Biniyam breaking out the dance moves anytime he heard music, and no meltdowns from either child all week!
So, that is why even though the trip was back in March I feel compelled to share some pictures here. Also because I have been promising my mom pictures for 3 months now....

While in Florida we stayed at Give Kids the World which is an amazing village for children with life threatening illnesses and their families. When we pulled into the parking lot Ella got all excited about their creatively painted fire hydrants, we just had to laugh, the girl had no idea just how much more exciting stuff she would see that week!
While at the village were completely spoiled. Everything was free: our villa, food- Boston Market and Pizza delivery, gifts left by housekeeping every day, horseback riding, rides and ice cream- all you can eat, all day- free. We spent a complete day and a half just playing in the village. Here are some of the highlights


In the Gingerbread house, where we ate breakfast every morning. We were so spoiled that they even had volunteers who would carry your trays and drinks to your table for you. The large rabbit is Mayor Clayton, the mayor of Give Kids the World. Ella loved spotting him and his lady friend Miss Merry around the village. We could have even had him come and tuck Ella into bed, but we were pretty sure it would have been traumatic for Biniyam (and me)
outside the Gingerbread house
Mayor Clayton's cottage was in a pretty garden, a friend that Ella made showed it to her. Ella thought it was top secret and a very special place to know about.

The view from our villa, this is how Ella rode on the carriage- like Princess Tiana on the streetcar. It was wonderful to have a villa and not worry about the kids waking up people around us. In the villa it was the kids bedroom that had the attached bath and jetted tub, after all it's all about the kids at GKTW!






Just one of the 3 pools

Dinosaur put put golf
The ice cream parlor, we spent a lot of time here!
Ella was given a star to write her name on and then dropped it in a treasure chest. A fairy came that night and put in on the ceiling in the Castles of Miracles along with the stars of the 80,000 kids who have stayed @ GKTW

"I loved meeting the armadillo"-Ella

The La Ti Da Royal Spa where Ella got her makeup and face painting done as well as a manicure and a tattoo. Notice the toe behind Ella in the picture above, a giant was peeking in through the ceiling.


There was never a line at the carousel and Ella would just go from animal to animal, she probably rode every single one of them at least once.