Saturday, April 5, 2008

Spring Break with 180 of my closest teenage friends!!!!!


Nicole's birthday lunch with a bunch of friends...this is me talking to her future roommate and friend Rachelle. We are on the pier at Seal's Beach, CA.

Abbie & Megan @ Disneyland!
VE Performing at Disneyland....Nicole is the beauty in the middle!
Oh so seriousssssss......
Jeff, Nicole, & Pascal.

So Spring Break a time for fun, family, relaxation......NOT!! Seriously though it was a great experience. I chaperoned the Performing Arts Tour for Nicole's High School. I only had 6 girls that I was in charge of so it was really a breeze and I did have a blast. This year Shane, Meg, and Abbie flew down so we could all be together for Nicole's 18th b-day, and to see her perform at Disneyland, so it really was great! The buses left the school at about 7:15 pm on Tuesday March 18th and we arrived at Seal Beach at about 7 am on Wed the 19th (Nicole's b-day). The bus ride was long and not very comfortable, but I survived.....it was being at the beach so early that was kinda weird for me.....anyway after Shane, Meg and Ab had a good nights rest in their hotel they came and met us at the beach and we all shopped and had lunch together (with several of Nicole's friends and choir kids). We left the beach and the buses went to a grocery store....it was hilarious.....180 teenagers, 30 chaperones and 4 bus drivers, all going into the Food For Less at one time....the checkers were freakin out! The kids had been given $5 each for breakfast food for 4 days...there were 6 to a room so if they put their $ together they would have $30. It was so fun to see them in their groups figuring out what they wanted and would need. Our hotel rooms had microwaves and small fridges. It was so funny to see the boys getting all the big breakfast items....eggs, sausage, frozen waffles ect. and the girls getting cold cereal, fruit, jucie, and granola bars. After leaving the store we went to the Hotel to check it. I cannot believe how organized it was. The Choir Director's wife went a day early to make sure everything was in place and along with the Choir Mom (Head Chaperone) everything went smoothly.

After a few hours rest we dressed, had Pizza and went to " WICKED", we saw this same show last year, but it was awesome to see it again. It is such a fun show to see and I was glad we had extra tickets so Shane, Megan, and Abbie could come too! You can bet we all slept good that night.

The rest of our days were filled with workshops at Disney, and performances at Disneyland. It is so fun to go with these kids, they are such great kids and they are really supportive of eachother, it is as much fun to watch the kids watch eachother perform as it is to watch the performances.

Sunday was great we slept in then went on a 2 hour Harbor Cruise, where they fed us an incredible lunch! Following the cruise, we went to St. Pious V Catholic Church where our Choir and Orchestra performed Easter Mass. This is the 10th year that our HS Choir has done this and it is an incredible performance. It is standing room only every year, and this year there was a write up in the newspaper about it, and a local TV Station filmed it for a rebroadcast! Our kids were amazing!

Monday found us all day at the park until closing when we met by the California letters and walked to our buses to come home......this was the longest ride in my life...I couldn't sleep, there were kids all over on the floor of the bus, and the air conditioning wasn't working...I was getting claustophobia (not a pretty sight) Finally we stopped, were able to get off the bus, eat, the air got turned on and I was ready to roll. Pulling into the school at about 4:30 pm on Tuesday the 25th.

Would I do it all again.....YEP! Good thing because Megan and Abbie have both told me I have to go with them too! I think I even convinced Shane to chaperone with me next year...Double the Fun!

4 comments:

Mandy said...

I love it!! I hope that I have the courage you have when Ashley and Kylie at at that age. I can't believe Nicole is 18!! Wow how time flies.

Ange said...

You know what, that DOES sound like fun! I sang in Disneyland with Madrigals (VE equivalent) when I was a Senior and I still keep in touch with the mom who was my chaperon on the trip. Your accounts of the long bus ride, feeling claustrophobic, no air--it all brings back memories. Fun ones though.

wandering nana said...

Thank you for sharing the pictures. It was fun to see your girls. I still can't believe Nicole is 18. Be prepared mom. Where is she going to school. Hey I have room for her and friends for a Senior Trip. I'm so excited that you're coming. See you soon.

The Palefaus said...

Hi londons! I just started blogging for our little family and have been camping on this thing while my baby is asleep! :) Anyways, we gotta keep in touch- the girls have grown up to such beautiful women! Love you guys!