Life as a Leach

On our second day in Florida, we ate a delicious breakfast at Give Kids the World's dining hall.  They had kid-sized silver dollar waffles with all of the toppings you could want, and super good cinnamon rolls...Caleb helped himself to both!  After that, we headed out to Lego Land.   We had been here once before a year and a half ago, but the kids still loved it.  We got there right when the park opened and stayed until it closed!  If you've never been to Lego Land, they have statues everywhere built with Legos.  It's pretty incredible! Abby liked the Lego Friends area.  It was new since the last time we were here. Fighting Darth Maul... ...but smiling with Darth Vader! Caleb put one of his Minifigures on the horn :) This Christmas tree was HUGE and made entirely of Legos! Abby loved this Einstein model!  He was even the pressed penny she chose from Lego Land! Abby got brave and rode a few r...

One of the many activities Give Kids the World has each week (families are only there for a week, so they can repeat the same activities every week--pretty smart, right?!)  is a special Christmas celebration. Run almost entirely by volunteers, the kids can visit with Santa, receive presents (Caleb got a Transformer and Abby picked a doll--shocker on both accounts!), participate in all kinds of crafts and games, Here they're flinging chickens into this guys huge pants...kind of weird, but the kids loved it! eat Christmas snacks, dance to Christmas music, and watch a parade complete with dancers, toy soldiers, elves, and floats!  It was SO much fun!  We'd been advised by many GKTW alumni to be sure to attend the Christmas celebration, and it did not disappoint! The highlight of the night was when they made it snow.  This one little boy from Puerto Rico was beside himself, having never seen snow.  It was so s...

You've probably never heard of this place, unless you have a child with a life-threatening illness or know someone who has gone on a wish trip to Disney World.  It's not one of Florida's premier attractions.  There aren't huge billboards advertising it.  It's actually in the middle of a neighborhood on an unassuming road with a Walmart at the front of it.  But guys, let me tell you, this place is amazing.  Ah- maaaaa -zing! It's no secret that we are big Ronald McDonald House supporters and love to support the mission in any way we can.  RMH exists to allow families to be close together during medical treatment.  It promotes community among the residents, and many people we have met at RMH have become close friends because we have a common bond. Matt and I observed that GKTW (Give Kids the World) is different than RMH.  You don't get to talk to the other families too much.  The tables at meals are individual, not family-style. ...