(V.4 because the first three versions wouldn’t load)

I’ve never been good at surprises. I know that because my Mom made the slip of tongue that she was throwing a surprise party for my Dad’s 40th Birthday and my innocent, 4-year old self, excited and eager to please, told him! I’ve literally never lived that day down but what was true at 4 is still true today. I love experiencing the happiness and joy of others, of watching them open a gift that I specially selected for them and seeing the look on their face as they do it, of having a hand in making someone’s day, of putting a smile on their face.

When I began planning this adventure late last fall, I knew that I wanted to help make one of my Mom’s dreams come true, to see Italy, and more importantly, the Vatican. I also knew that I wanted Brittany and Scott to experience Europe, a first for them, to be able to do something wild along with us. These desires, coupled with my planny plannerson tendencies meant that I had to hatch a plan 8 months in advance of our travel dates and somewhere along the way I thought it’d be epic to keep their inclusion on the trip from the kids, to make it a surprise a few weeks into the adventure! Yay!

Well by the grace of God, I managed to keep the surprise for 8 looooooong months and yesterday we finally experienced the arrival of Guh Guh, Auntie Beebs and Uncle Scott, joining us for the Italian leg of our journey!!

I expected Gus to cry but I think he was in such disbelief and shock that he had a hard time processing it. He couldn’t comprehend how they had all gotten here, in this same place, far-away from home. Tessa was so excited to see her Guh Guh and Gus could not stop talking about how this was, “the best surprise of his life!”

He also could not believe that I had kept a secret from him for so long. Wyatt, always so cool, calm and collected, went running toward them at first sight, just so happy to see them and squeeze them.

To say we’re all excited is an understatement and to say that my heart is full to see their wonder at this new place is also an understatement. We’re just getting started on the next chapter of the adventure – The Traveling Anderzoo + 3.

Finally, maybe, just maybe, after 36 years, I’ve earned the right to say that I can keep a surprise!