I have been exceptionally disorganised this week, so I am linking up with the lovely Jaime from The Olivers Madhouse for her Magic Moments Monday, much later than planned.
This is actually a series of magic moments for me that all happened at the beginning of this month. We were given an amazing opportunity to review the newly refurbished Stena Line ships on their Irish Sea crossings. This was, for us our first family trip out of the country and the first time either of our girls had been on a ship.
We sailed on the overnight crossing from Belfast to Liverpool and they got the opportunity to sleep in a cabin. I can’t describe my delight, listening to our eldest daughter screeching “I’m soooo ex-hike-ed” when she realised we were driving our car onto this huge ship.
The excitement continued when we took them out on deck and she realised we were sitting on the sea and when the ship sailed, I thought she was going to explode! When I eventually got them into their jammies and tucked into their beds, we just sat there in the low cabin lights and watched them sleep. Sleep like little angels, while the ship rocked gently. I admit to becoming a little emotional -( there’s a surprise) she says sarcastically!
I had dreamt about things like this for most of my adult life. I had imagined having babies and going for trips with them, but time and time again our trips were just the two of us. There were no babies, we weren’t a “proper” family. I would sit on cross channel ferries watching the “real” families excitedly going on holiday. Watching other peoples children having the time of their lives. I had no children, life wouldn’t give them to me and it tore me apart, ripped my heart out countless times, slapped me in the face, mocked me.
Now here I was on that same cross channel ferry and my children – yes MY children are fast asleep in front of me. What could be more magical than that?
We had decided to take them to Nickelodeon Land in Blackpool, again the magic kept coming. Meeting Dora the Explorer, meeting Boots, meeting Diego. The whole thing had their eyes gleaming with delight. We rode on as many rides as they could go on, we got soaked on the log flume, we bought tacky tourist tat, we did all those things that every other family does, things that I never thought I’d do.
Our hotel turned out to be right beside the zoo and that evening it was so warm and sunny we went for a walk. Can you imagine the reaction from a 3 year old when she sees Giraffes peering through the hedge at her? Another priceless, magic moment, she just couldn’t believe her eyes, she could barely speak from sheer delight and excitement.
After a couple of days in Blackpool, we then drove up to Scotland and stayed in Ayr. We walked on the beach, we ate ice cream, we played in the park – all things that we do at home, but this wasn’t home, this was a holiday, a family holiday, this was special.
We sailed home from Scotland, the ship is completely different and a short 2 hour crossing, but once again, there was mass excitement. So much so that she collapsed on the bed and slept for a big chunk of it. Once again, I sat in the cabin drinking my coffee and marvelling at the miracles that are my daughters. It was, for me, an unforgettable experience, the joy that I felt over those few days was phenomenal. I know it may sound daft, but honestly when you can’t have the one thing you want most in the world and then suddenly you have two of them, everything, no matter how ordinary becomes magical.
Why not pop across to The Olivers Madhouse and add your magic moment too.
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