Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Lynsey's Make A Wish to The Grammy Awards

My baby girl before she leaves for The Grammys!

November 2014, when her wish was approved! 

Ever since she was diagnosed at five months old with Cystic Fibrosis, we have had a roller coaster of a life, with ups and downs, knock downs and moments where we felt like we were unable to breathe. After multiple times in the hospital, lots of surgeries, Ports and Picc lines, feeding tubes, and millions of breathing treatments and pills taken. After 14 years of fighting for her life against this disease and trying our best to let it take anything from her, the amazing Make a Wish organization has blessed her and us, beyond words, making her want to continue in the fight for her life! After long thought, Lynsey decided she want to attend the Grammy Awards. With only four in the country able to attend, we didn't think it was possible for her to be able to go, but In December 2015, I received a call that would change her life, she gets to go in 2016.... 🌟💛🌟💛🌟
Here we come.... 58th Grammy Awards 

Day one
Today we left for LA for a week to go on Lynsey's Make A Wish trip, which is to attend the famous 58th Grammy Awards! 
We arrived in LA, with beautiful sunny skies and 85 degree temperatures (in the teens back home) and stayed at Loews Hollywood Hotel on the famous Hollywood boulevard, with the infamous HOLLYWOOD sign within just miles and the walk of fame just a few steps from our hotel. We ate dinner at Hard Rock Cafe, which is next door to the Dolby Theater..... Which in itself is amazing, hosting The Oscars, which takes place in just a week, and the finale season of American Idol, which had a show while we were here!! Also across the street is the studio of late night talk show, Jimmy Kimmel!
We walked the walk of fame, where thousands of celebrities have earned a star.... And took lots of pictures with our favorites, and some legends that never die!


On the airplane headed for LA!


Hollywood sign


Kaylee and Lynsey walking down the walk of fame 

Lynsey and Jonathan with one of their favorites, Michael Jackson! 



Day Two
We started our day by driving up Hollywood Hills to see LA and the Hollywood sign from up close. I couldn't believe the gorgeous homes upon that hill! And unfortunately going up to the sign was against the law, so we were only able to enjoy it from a distance, in our pictures it seems far, but it's so close that we could walk to it, but oh well! 
Then, We met with our other three Make A Wish families which was Anna from Nebraska, Natajasha from New Jersey, and Isabella from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, and also met with our Make A wish America granters Jen and Lauren, who have been doing this amazing opportunity for years, for hundreds of special kids. We ate lunch in downtown Los Angeles at The Yard House, which was really great food, I recommend it to anyone staying in LA, Lynsey and Jonathan LOVED the queso!
Then afterwards we all went around the corner and toured The Grammy Museum and saw years and years of music history!! Saw all the different Grammy award trophies and how they have changed over the last 58 years. Music sure has came a long way as well!!! 


Lynsey with the current Grammy award! 

Then we walked over to the Staples Center where the Grammys are taking place and took some pictures and saw all the hard work and long hours to get ready for such an event that only lasts a few hours!
After that we drove down to the West Coast to Santa Monica Beach and Pier, we saw upcoming musicians performing trying to catch their big break, rode rides on the famous pier walked on the beach and saw the sunset! The pier is also part of history, it is the end trail to famous road Route 66, which travels from Chicago to California!





Day Three
We again went to downtown LA where lots was taking place in preparation for the upcoming event and some Pre Grammy parties as well. Tons of celebrities at every turn. We started by eating lunch at WolfGang Puck, and all I can say is WOW!!!  While me and Lynsey were eating lunch, Chris, Kaylee and Jon hung out in the lobby of the Marriott Hotel where a Pre Gifting Grammy Party was taking place, Kaylee saw Joe Jonas and his new band, sat right beside of JoJo and had a 5 minute conversation with her about Joe and she didn't realize who she was talking to, until after the conversation, JoJo got up, hugged Joe and went into the party herself (Kaylee is still upset over that!!) She also uploaded a picture of Joe Jonas for his PR rep, without knowing until later!!! 
While we were eating, she's sending us pictures and texts saying what's all going on and we couldn't believe what surprise came afterwards.... We to got to go in to that same Pre Party!!!!! The girls were treated as celebrities, and received a huge bag full of free gifts!! There, we met Lindsey Shaw who played Paige from our favorite TV show Pretty Little Liars!!!! 

Anna, Natajasha, Lynsey and Isabella at gifting party! 

Then we went into the Staples Center and attended Grammy rehearsals!!!!
At rehearsals, we got to witness behind the scenes action, of what it takes to put together the show, and also saw the amazing celebrity performances rehearsing, such as Alabama Shakes, Little Big Town and Justin Bieber!!!!  We were all star struck, the girls went crazy over Justin!! Then we were asked to get up, and we got to go backstage, we had no idea what was about to happen, but WE GOT TO MEET JUSTIN BIEBER!!! Needless to say, the girls all went crazy, Lynsey received two hugs and two kisses from him, which I got pics and video of!!!  I have to admit, I myself was excited and Proud of how amazing he was to our girls, he just finished rehearsing his set  five times and then treated them with the upmost respect and honor!!! He spoke with them and took individual pictures and signed autographs!! He even met with all their parents! 
That was the BEST day by far, and the Grammys were still days away!!!! 




Day Four
Today we had a free day to do whatever we wished, so Lynsey decided she wanted to go to Universal Studios Hollywood, which was also included in her trip! But we just didn't go, we got the best tickets they had, front of the line to every attraction in the park!!! When Make A Wish does something, They go to the extreme to make all your wishes come true!!!
We toured the park in it's entirety!!! Rode rides, Harry Potter world and The Mummy were our favorites, also saw shows like, Water World, which featured an all star celebrity cast, it was very enjoyable to watch. We also took a tour and saw how all the movies and TV shows are made!! All of them are fake, it's totally crazy how they make everything seem so real with props, images and cameras! We saw sets of Jaws, Desperate House Wives and Psyco just to name a few. 
We even saw a woman get her arm cut into, a man catch on fire, but neither got injured!!! Totally crazy!! That's the magic of Hollywood!!! 






Day Five
Today was also a free day to do whatever  Lynsey wished. But do to Lynsey having extreme exhaustion and not feeling well we just hung out around Hollywood! We took a tour and saw celebrities homes, and went to Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills.
 I mean who can come to LA and not go to Beverly Hills!!? Then afterwards we went to the pool to relax and Lynsey went and took a long needed nap! Later that night we went back to Rodeo Drive to walk around, I'm pretty sure we saw Katy Perry doing some late night shopping as she drove past us in disguise! We also went into the Beverly Wilshire Hotel, set of some famous movies, like Pretty Woman! 


Sitting on rodeo drive on Valentine's Day!

GRAMMY DAY
Today we had an early morning appointment for hair and makeup for our big night. We were remade by Paul Mitchell Salon, like I said when Make a Wish does something, they do it right!!!
Hair and makeup took two hours, so afterwards we went to eat a big breakfast at the hotel before we left for the awards since we wouldn't be eating until after the  show!! 
Then we dressed into our gowns and went down to our two stretched limousines awaiting to take us to the Red Carpet! As we arrived, they had security like I've never seen, I mean secret service, cameras under our limos and thousands of police to protect every person going to the show. We all felt like celebrities ourselves as we stepped out onto the red carpet, Grammy sign over head, huge Grammy trophy replicas, crystal chandeliers hanging and tons and I do mean tons like thousands of paparazzi and cameras. We saw celebrities getting interviewed, Red Carpet coverage being filmed!!!! The we arrived at the end of the red carpet and had reserved seating in the front three rows!!  There, the girls took at least, a hundred pictures, met celebrities, got autographs and even made blogs, celebrity's snapchats and TV appearances! It was beyond spectacular, better than anything that I have ever been apart of in my life, I was so proud and excited for my baby girl because all her dreams and wishes, for a fourteen year old was coming true and I got to witness it!! The only downfall, was she was an arms length away from her all time favorite, Taylor Swift, but still didn't get to meet her. She was opening for the Grammys so she had to be rushed off to get ready. Lynsey had an unforgettable night regardless, meeting absolutely everyone else that performed and presented an award; 40 autographs in total!!
Then the show opened with Taylor, we had spectacular seats, 6 rows from the floor and was right next to the entrance to go backstage! The show was magical with some incredible talent, like Carrie Underwood and Sam Hunt, Little Big Town, Lady Gaga, Chris Stapleton, Demi Lavato, Adele just to name a few!
After the show we went over to the LA Convention Center for an after Grammy Party! 
We entered a world of color, Candy Land themed, music playing, entertainers dancing and flying and bands playing and tons and tons of food and drinks, unlimited supply! And of course Jonathan wanted McDonald's, which was also available!!! 
The night had come to a close, 16 hours later we rode back in our private limo to our hotel reliving all that the day had brought!!!! Lynsey was extremely pleased and happy that she wished to come to the Grammys, it was an unbelievable experience that will last all of us a lifetime and give us memories that will never end! Make A Wish made it possible and to them I am forever grateful and will do anything to give back to this organization to help other kids who unfortunately have to suffer with sickness get their wish of a lifetime to come true as they did for Lynsey and Jonathan! It is also an unforgettable senior year that Kaylee will never forget herself!!
Cystic Fibrosis has given us all years of tears and heartbreak......but because of Make A Wish and their wonderful supporters, this week has brought extreme tears of joy and happiness that we can reflect back on for life! 
🌟 Make a Wish made all our wishes come true!!! 🌟
Family before leaving to go to the Grammys! 
Johnny Depp! 

Girls with Ariana Grande! 



Girls walking into the red carpet 

Carrie Underwood 
Demi Lavato 

With LA celebrity at after Party! 

Candy land theme after Grammys party!

Lauren and Jen.... Our wish granters! 
THANKS to everyone who made all of this possible and please help, Make a Wish grant more wishes to others by donating!!!