Day 250: Work Hard, Play Hard

So, it has officially been over 12 hours since my band director told us that we're going to Disney World, and I'm starting to wonder if it's bad that I'm still crying. I just can't believe that this is actually happening. I am so proud of the band for helping me make this dream come true. It certainly wouldn't be happening without each and every one of them.

But as I was laying in bed this morning and listening to the confirmation recording for what is probably the 20th time, something occurred to me. Once and a while, when I'm having a bad day or am just missing Disney, I'll go and watch videos of families surprising their kids with a trip to Disney. I've talked about it before, and about how I can't wait to have that experience with my kids. I've always thought, for many years, that I would never have the opportunity to have a surprise like that. I go to Disney all the time, so my family announcing it is more of a "finally you picked a date for us to leave." But standing at that game last night, I feel like a video camera could have been there filming us for one of those commercials. I had no idea that was coming, and it was the happiest moment of my life. Obviously it is if I'm still like crying.

I have no clue how my band director came up with that brilliant way of telling us, but I am so glad that's how he decided to do it. There could not be a more magical and meaningful way for us to find out that we got accepted to march at Walt Disney World. Not a better way to tell me that my dream is actually coming true, the one that I, in all respects, thought would never ever happen. So I just want to thank him for that!

And you know what's even funnier? A few weeks ago I opened a fortune cookie, and you know what the fortune was? "Your fondest dream will come true within the next year." Looks like those things don't lie after all. That or you really can wish upon a star and your dream will come true. Whatever it was that made this possible, what made all the hard work we put in pay off, I want to thank that.

All I know is that I really hope someone has footage or pictures of that moment (I know someone does!). And that all the hard work that I put in, that WE put in, is finally paying off. As our director (and the recording from Disney) say, Work Hard, Play Hard. And now we get to do both at Walt Disney World.

Honestly though, I really do feel like we could be in this commercial, only instead it would be for Disney Performing Arts. I never ever thought I would get to have an experience like that, but I'm so glad that I did.  

For #Frumpstagram today the prompt was "Palm Trees," and if I'm being completely honest, I don't have a lot of pictures of palm trees. Probably because there really aren't a ton of them, but I did eventually manage to find a picture of one! It did take some looking though! 

And here's today's Disney History: 1994: Disney theme parks welcome their 1 billionth guest - Mary Smith from Illinois! After walking through the main gate of Walt Disney World, she is awarded a lifetime pass for her and her family and a cross-country flight to Disneyland. 

Have a magical day!

Day 249: A Special Announcement

If you would, please watch this video before you read the rest of this post. 

And so, you, now, have heard the same thing that I, along with my High School Band heard at tonight's football game. I'm not kidding. I was there helping with stuff and was on the field taking pictures and helping carry the drum major ladder (because someone did it for me, so now I'm doing it for the wonderful drum major we have this year! Love you Gail!). So I was there and our band director was doing something with his phone and some wires but I had no idea. I got the ladder and was walking off the field with the band and he was blowing a whistle and I was so so so confused. But we kept going and then he started playing the above recording over the entire system on the field. And then we stopped and my mom was telling us all to stop so I yelled to the band to stop and then I heard the announcement continue and I just started crying and hugging people. 

In all honestly, I have no idea what to say. I was crying for probably a good half hour, and I called my best friend to tell her and I kept hugging people and I was just freaking out. Like standing on that field, that was the moment when my dream came true. Overall I'm pretty sure I just was standing there in shock, and there's probably a ton of pictures of me just absolutely crying with people all around me. That moment was the proudest moment of my life. 

We made it Seymour. We, the SEYMOUR HIGH SCHOOL BAND, made it into WALT DISNEY WORLD. You guys make me so proud to be a member and have been a member of this group, and I am so excited for this trip. I am excited to finally get to march at Walt Disney World and I'm excited for those of you going there for the first time and I'm excited for everything. 

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank You. I cannot say it enough. Without each and every single one of you this would not be happening. My dream would not be coming true right now. I wouldn't be going to Walt Disney World. 

And that leaves me just one thing to say...

WE'RE GOING TO DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!

Here's today's #Frumpstagram post, based on the idea "Makin' Memories." So, as excited as I am about the whole Disney thing, and about all the memories I'm sure we'll make on that trip, I chose a picture from my last trip of me and my brother playing the drums in Harambe at Animal Kingdom. My brother and I always make such great memories at Disney World! Like Space Mountain! Great times!

And here's today's Disney History: 1972: Tony Award-winning actress and singer Anika Noni Rose is born in Bloomfield, Connecticut. She supplied the voice of Tiana for Disney's animated 2009 feature The Princess and the Frog. Known for her stage work, she played the role of Amneris in 2000 for Disney's musical Aida. Rose was named a Disney Legend in 2011. 

ALSO, and here's another important announcement! Everyday Disney finally has a Facebook page! I just finished working on it last night! I'll be posting the blog posts daily there as well as other pictures and videos of Disney and so on and so forth. =) You can find it here! 

Have a magical day!