Luke goes it alone

So... we sent our 6 year old son on an airplane by himself to meet up with his best friend at Disney World.  That's normal right?

It was a strange feeling to know he was flying alone - oh that I were a fly on the wall of that airplane and could watch how he was with no parents.  He seemed pretty confident and brave about it.

The story is that we had a free flight that was about to expire and we were tying to think of a way to use it.  I was having a baby, Joey needed to work - so next in line was Luke.  The flight wouldn't get him to Utah but it would get him to Aiden in TX and her birthday was coming up.  I talked to Lezlie about it and she was excited.  So, I booked him a flight to San Antonio, TX as a birthday surprise for Aiden.  Then I got an email that they had changed his itinerary.  He was going to have a layover in Atlanta!  I called the airline and explained that he was 6 and there is no way he can have a layover.  And they said all non-stop flights from Memphis to San Antonio had been cancelled.   The flight just didn't exist anymore.  When I told Lezlie the trip was off - she said that Aiden was actually doing a Disney soccer camp in July and why didn't I just fly Luke out to Orlando and meet up with their family to do the camp with Aiden and Disney World with their family!  Well, who is going to say no to that!

This is a picture of Aiden the night they told her that Lukey was going to soccer camp with her!!!  (Aiden still calls Luke Lukey - it's cute)

Here are a few snapshots of Luke having the time of his life.  I was clinging to every text and picture Lezlie sent that week.  I missed him so much but was happy he got to have this amazing adventure (while I relaxed at home with a newborn)

Meeting up at the airport

Soccer Camp!

 Luke and Aiden's team was Chile in the World Cup and they got all the way to the finals and just barely lost.  Came in 2nd overall.  (that morning at breakfast Luke said "I am going to get serious and win this thing"

 Luke and his coach Christina

 Disney World!!

 they loved mt. everest ride.  Luke with his yetti. (he's wearing Lezlie's sweatshirt cause he got drenched in the rain)  Aiden's grandma said he rode this ride with her and she thought - oh this is so scary for such a little boy!  and he looked at her and saw she looked worried and said "don't be scared, it'll be ok"  :)

This boy was pretty hammered when he got off the plane to come home.  When the Terrys play, they play hard.  Once I texted her saying "Oh, I was going to call Luke tonight but just realized it's an hour later there so he's probably asleep!"  (it was 10:00pm)  She texted back "asleep? uh... no - he's riding Splash Mountain for the 3rd time"  I think they got home that night at 12:30.  

I asked him what his favorite part of the whole trip was and he said "the first time I saw Aiden"