Everyone needs a vacation

I'm settled into this dreadfully typical office chair with wheels that are of little use on our office carpet.  I can't wait to get rid of it and bring something a bit cheerier as I re-decorate this space.  However, here I sit, determined to spill out some worthwhile thoughts.  It's good to be home, and I have allowed my mind to vacation long enough.  It's getting lazy.

Our family just returned from a memorable vacation to the Magic Kingdom- my first, as well as, my kids'.  With my in-laws joining us, we survived 100 degree temperatures, hours of waiting in lines, and treasured the childlike excitement we so rarely partake in. 

As we watched Disney's tremendous fireworks display above Cinderella's Castle one night (they never disappoint), my eyes watered while I thought of how wonderful my daughter's dreams will be.  Treating her like a princess and allowing her to imagine herself as anything she likes- these things I do not take for granted, having missed them when I was a little girl.  This was the heart of our whirlwind trip for me.

We packed in so many activities in the 6 days we spent in Florida, its hard to list them all.  The highlights were meeting the princesses & fairies with Bella, as well as, scheduling her makeover at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique; playing the Toy Story game at Hollywood Studios and meeting Buzz Lightyear with Brody; Watching the fireworks on a Friday night; floating around in the swimming pool for hours; watching Bella dance in the Lion King show at Animal Kingdom; and getting soaked on one of the water rides.

The great thing about Disney is their customer service.  When someone accidentally took our stroller which had the kids' autograph book and Bella's souveniers from Cinderella's Castle, Disney gave us vouchers to use their strollers for the rest of our days visiting the park, AND replaced the items we lost.  They gave us a new autograph book with twice as many signatures as we had collected before.  The kids were ecstatic!

Not only that, but every where Bella went, they called her "princess."  On our first day, walking down main street, a performer tipped his hat to our girl in her Cinderella dress and greeted her while pointing to the landmark at the end of Main Street: "Why, good morning, Princess.  I love your castle.  It is so pretty!"  That was just the beginning.

Now that we're back to the familiar sights and smells of our home, the significance of those many exhausting moments on vacation will stay with us.  Turning off the laptops and cell phones and really looking at each other, enjoying the ride (sweat included) and each other.  It was absolutely worth getting away and wearing our legs out for, so we can also return home with smiles on our faces.  It's good to be back.