Given that I got to go with Nick, Maddie would have been totally heartbroken had I not gotten to go with her (she burst into tears when I mentioned it was a possibility with John's work travel schedule) but we were able to make it work, and I'm glad we did.
It was fun spending those three days with my girl. And it does this mom's heart good to know that my little pre-teen still wants to spend time with and be seen in public with her mom.
And she was ridiculously excited when I surprised her at Sea World with matching friendship bracelets. (squeeling and hugging and all that) 
Ok, so, Maddie has been attending oceanography club after school for a couple months now, and at the end they do this big field trip to San Diego. It's all put on by a teacher Mrs. Hamlin. Which I think is an amazing opportunity, and when I asked Mrs Hamlin about it, she said that she loves doing it, but there's not another teacher in the whole school who would take over for her if she decided to quit. In other words, it takes a really special kind of teacher to give up afternoons and a whole weekend to devote to this kind of thing (without pay).
They get a big charter bus, and we have a tour guide (his name is Tiny), and he's the one who takes care of all the details.
Tiny also brought his son (6 yrs old) his name is Griffin, but since he looks so much like his dad, Mrs. Hamlin calls him Teeny Tiny. I should also mention that Teeny Tiny developed quite the crush on Maddie, and followed her around for a whole day, and insisted on giving her a present. She is now the proud owner of a new plastic Shamu dinner plate. (He has a matching one).
The first day we stopped in Yuma for dinner and had the choice of either In n Out or Panda Express, and then headed to San Diego for our final destination of the day- The Hotel.
I was supposed to get my own room. I got my own room last time, and it was glorious, because then I could watch whatever I wanted on the TV, and take an extra long shower without annoying anyone or having them judge me. I was told this time that I was going to get my own room again, which I was totally stoked about, but then this little nagging thought popped into my head that either I am incredibly lucky to get my own room twice, or there's something wrong with me. Like I stink. Or something. But in the end I ended up with a very nice room mate, and I enjoyed her company. And I didn't mind too much that I had to keep my shower short and sweet, because she let me go first and so she was waiting for me to get out.
That's my room mate Kari. (Carrie? Kerrie?) and I look so fat cause I'm wearing a giant ski parka. Just sayin'.
Maddie shared a room with three other girls. Which sounds weird, having no parental supervision, but there were security measures in place, and night security guards patrolling the area, and the threat that if any kid caused trouble, their parents would be paying for a plane ticket home for that kid.
Also in attendance were some friends of ours- Katarina and her dad Brian. They were in our group too, so that made it nice to be with real friends, not just a bunch of casual acquaintances.(However nice and friendly they may be.)
2 comments:
So fun. I kinda wish we did it.
Oh I so hope this teacher is still in when it's Brooke's turn to go. This would be SO fun--but I'm still green in parenting, apparently. I would be so nervous leaving Brooke with 3 other girls in a room. Maybe its cuz she's so young still now. Maybe I'll get over it by the time Brooke is Maddie's age. ;)
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