No more surprises!

We have really messed our kids up! A few years ago, we wanted to see if we could plan a vacation for the kids without them knowing. We decided to go on a Disney Cruise and to Disneyworld. Everything went off without a hitch. We planned it, and even packed for them and they had no clue. The day of the vacation came, and we went to pick them up early from school. When we got there, of course they asked why we were picking them up early. We told them we had to pick up Uncle Nate from the airport. Of course they believed us. Then they saw the bags and we made up some lame story about them. Dillon and Logan believed us, but Morgan was suspicious. Matt dropped us off at the airport and took the bags to the Sky Cap, so the kids couldn't see where we were going. I told them that Uncle Nate's flight didn't leave for a while, so we had to go in and wait. We got through security and Morgan says, "Okay- I know we are going somewhere, because they wouldn't let us go through security without a ticket." So we told them, yes we are going on a trip- but you have to guess where. They all say "Disneyworld!" So we told them yes, we are going to Florida and we will be there for a whole week. The kids were so excited, and jumping up a down, screaming. We went to Disneyworld for 3 days. We still hadn't told them about the cruise. So we were wondering how we were going to pack up and leave the hotel, without the kids realizing we were really leaving. Well, a lizard and a spider got into our room, and Morgan started screaming, because she HATES spiders. So we asked the kids if they'd rather get a hotel closer to the beach, a hotel without spiders. Of course, they all say YES! Because, come on, it's the beach!

So the next portion of our journey begins. We had been on another Disney Cruise a couple years prior to this. As we get nearer to the port, Dillon says, "Mom- This is the road the Disney Cruise is on!" How he could remember that, I don't know. I said, Yes- it looks like that road, huh? So Matt asks Morgan to get the instructions to the hotel out of his bag, next to her, and asks her to read the directions to him. She said, "Dad- these aren't directions, it just says My Cruise Documents on it." Then she starts screaming, and the whole car starts screaming with excitement.

Morgan reading the "directions to the beach hotel."

Morgan realizing where we really are going.


Dillon's reaction.

Logan's reaction to the 'secret.'

Anyway, the point is, we wanted the kids to have a great surprise and wonderful vacation. They did. However, we didn't realize the lasting effects of our holding out on them. They don't trust us anymore. For example, last night, we went to Matt's Dad's birthday party. We decided to take a different way home. Morgan asked where we are going and we said home. "Sure- we are, " she replies very sarcastically. Last week, we were going out to dinner. Dillon asks, " Where are we going?" I say, I'm not sure, we haven't decided yet. "Hmmmm. I bet we are going on a fun trip." This has been going on for 2 1/2 years! The surprise was great- and fun to pull off on them. However, I don't think we will be doing that again anytime soon!