View Full Version : Secrets and Smiles
I thought I would share a few pictures from our holiday last year but need to fill you in before hand
Having booked our trip to Florida we kept it a secret from the boys and they had no idea we were even going on holiday, until I came home from work in a strop and said 'right I have had enough who wants to go on holiday' to the expected 'yeah right dad'
My good lady had packed all the gear and she said I'll come and we pulled the bags out of the cupboard and the kids started to beleive.
We still managed to keep it a secret as we made our way to gatwick the night before as they thought the Hilton was where we were staying for our holidays.[msnwink]
Next morning I gave them 4 peices of paper to choose where we were going (all 4 said Florida)and
picture 1 is the moment they opened it up and saw FLORIDA!!!!
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/homer/2004726204030_SSCN0279.JPG
Off to the parks
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/homer/2004726204124_SSCN0280.JPG
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/homer/200472620425_SSCN0281.JPG
and so to bed
http://www.orlando-guide.info/forums/Data/homer/2004726204255_SSCN0282.JPG
This is a picture of 2 boys who fight all day so this is one of my fave pictures of the holiday!!!
We enjoyed it so much we are going back in September this year but this time they know!!!!
Just hope my feet can stand the pace again!!
What an excellent story and fantastic idea. I'm affraid I couldn't keep a holiday to Florida a secret.The looks on your boys faces makes it worthwhile though. I know what you mean about
"This is a picture of 2 boys who fight all day so this is one of my fave pictures of the holiday!!!".
We have a boy and girl and they fight all year but seem to come under the "Florida Magic" and actually play and enjoy each others company, whilst in Florida, that is until....... once were back on the plane home its as if the nearer to the UK they get the more their behaviour returns to "normal".[msnmad]
That is probably why I want to live in America :D.
Great photos as well :D:D:D
AAAHHHH! Brought a lump to my throat!!!:D
caroline
27-07-2004, 02:18
That's so lovely - we've also got a similar photo of our kids, taken quite a few years ago! Great for blackmailing them with when they're older:D
Andy & Arlene
27-07-2004, 02:39
That's what we're doing this year. My lot are always fighting as well, (well 2 out of the 3 are) so I told them that there would be no more holidays after they fought all the time in Florida last xmas. Anyway I've booked 2 weeks in Dubai for the October holidays and they still do not know. I'm trying to keep it a secret till they get to the airport. It's somewhere they have all said they wanted to go, so if we can keep it a surprise till then, they will be well chuffed. [msnwink]
In fact, Homer, that's a good idea what you did with the bits of paper. I may try that one too.
That a brill thing to do, and it looks like you all had a fab time.the boys must off loved you:D
Great story and pics, Homer
great pictures, wish I had some kids to take, mine are off clubbing, so at this stage not interested unless I said fully paid trip to disney anyone want to come[msntongue]
Beverley
27-07-2004, 14:26
Lovely pictures :) Sheer glee on their faces, excellent.
Our boys fight like cat & dog except when we are on holiday.
They gel together when we are away, the eldest makes allowances for the younger one, and the younger one is respectful of the elder ones privacy. They want to do everything together, even when the eldest had a friend with him he didn't exclude the younger one.
Why they can't be like that at home I don't know.[msnscared]
Must admit to see Michaels (youngest)face when we saw Mickey for the first time almost brought a tear to my eye.
Even now he still thinks that they all live in the Castle in Magic Kingdom
As we left that first day Mickey was outside waving and Michael still talks about it and how Mickey waved goodnight to "him"
Was worth all the subterfuge and planning, and now cant wait until September when we go again!!!
Calamity Jane
29-07-2004, 18:22
What a great way to make your kids happy, the last photo is beautiful, that's how brothers / sisters really are, that made me smile.:):):)
Sharon G
29-07-2004, 23:01
Brilliant idea Homer!!!...Their faces say it all on the first picture!!
Sharon
What a great set of pictures, really bought it back to me how my Dad springed a simular suprise on my brother and I before we set off for the other Disneyland in California, I was 11 at the time and now (without giving my age away a few yrs later well maybe more than a few!!) it is still one of my fondest memories. I am sure it will be the same for your sons.
:)
That's just brilliant - I almost cried reading your post.
Your photos are great too!
CarolAnn
11-08-2004, 18:57
Love em!!:DWe are lucky and go most years, but you never fofget the first time how ever old you are!!![msnsmile]
popintune
11-08-2004, 23:23
oh what lovely pictures. bet it was a lovely suprise for them.
lozza[8D].
dolphinv
12-08-2004, 02:16
Brill photos! only married a few weeks but a plan I must remember and use in the future, I hope!!
For my son's 3rd birthday we booked to go to EuroDisney. We did not tell him or his brother. As young one liked planes at the time we said we were going to Gatwick to look at planes, the suitcase was a donation to the local charity shop so we could get to sit on a plane, and then we were only going to fly round the airport and land again - it was only as the Disney bus pulled up in Paris they realised where we were. We then told them we were only here for the day, so it was only as the "donated" suitcase reappeared and we collected keys to our room that they finally realised we were here for a few days.
Needless to say they do not believe a thing I tell them anymore msnwink]]
traceya89
12-08-2004, 23:07
I certainly couldnt keep it to myself about a trip to Florida. My little girl comes to expect it now as she has been every year since she was born. A lot of people say they are waiting until their kids are older so they can appreciate it, but now years ago she can still remember things from all her trips to see the Mouse and of course we have lots and lots of photos of all the trips we have had and we still have all the autograph books from each trip.
diverdrew
22-11-2004, 16:29
Hats off to a very imaginative & thoughtful Dad !! The look on the boys faces says it all...... :D
Just like you, one of our guests didn't tell their kids where they were going, just that they were going 'away'. Suitcases were packed by Mum but they knew it was somewhere warm because of the shorts, T-shirts, etc.
They were still in the dark at the airport check-in and on the flight (Orlando didn't mean anything!) but they suddenly realised at Orlando International that they were in Florida and were told that it was for three weeks and this included going to Disney. They apparently went wild! :)
Unfortunately, I don't have any pics but yours are really special ones to treasure.
This is a lovely story and the pics, well there just great. You are a special mum and dad.
chunkichik
24-11-2004, 06:44
Arrrrrhhh! you have very beautiful children, I am afraid that I couldn't keep it a secret either.
My two boys always seem to fight at home and did get on very well on holiday
Although so did me and the old man [msnwink][msnwink][msnwink] perhaps we should move there too!!!!