School's Back In!

I've been on a bit of a digital hiatus the last few days, for the most glorious of reasons. I've been making amazing childhood memories with my family at Disney World. I visited that magical place the first time as a third grader, and I still remember how I felt the first time I rounded the corner onto Main Street and saw Cinderella's Castle. There is nothing more fun than watching my children's faces light up just like mine did so long ago.

We drove to Disney for the first time. Traveling 11 hours with three small children and one grandmother gave our trip a bit of a "National Lampoon's Vacation" feel. We played, laughed, colored, slept, and sang our way to Disney World and back.

We were lucky enough to take my mother in law with us. At the tender age of 85, she wore her "First Visit" button proudly on her jacket and did a fine job keeping up with all of us for four days. As tired and sore as I was after walking that far on concrete, I know she had to be, too. Naturally, she never complained once.

Anyone who has ever visited a Disney park can appreciate the term "Disney tired." This is a phenomenon that affects children who have finally come to the end of their super-sized adrenaline rush and crashed. This normally happens just after the fireworks and right before the park closes. Nine out of ten children in strollers leaving the park are asleep. My kids usually made it back to the room, then fell into a deep sleep that somewhat resembled a coma. Sheridan, who generally impersonates a grizzly bear in her sleep, flounces and flops and rolls around in the bed, which is why no one wants to sleep with her. Last night I tucked her in, already asleep, and this morning the only thing that had changed was the position of her arms.

On another note, my kids did actually learn a lesson during this trip. They learned how much fun it is to make someone else happy, especially when that someone is a child. After begging us for balloons every day at the park, my husband finally gave in. I have to admit that although they were ridiculously expensive, Disney does make some industrial strength balloons. They still looked perfect a day later. 

As we began to load the car the next morning, it quickly became apparent that someone was about to get whacked in the face for eleven hours by balloons, in addition to their limiting the visibility of the person driving in a most annoying way. Quickly we devised a plan. "Why don't you share your balloons with a child who is just getting here? That way, we can recycle them!" I held my breath, hoping I had sold them on the idea. They thought for a moment, then smiled at us and practically ran to the lobby. Sure enough, there were people milling around everywhere, struggling with suitcases and waiting in long lines to check in.

Picking out the first kid they saw, they all ran up to her, scared the life out of her, and offered their balloons. Watching those kids' faces light up was the best feeling ever. The parents' faces lit up too, but I suspect it was because their kid just got something at Disney for free. 

The highlight of the trip had to be on our last night, when Daddy took his littlest princess for one last ride on the carousel. He was all caught up in the moment, breathing in the scent of pure happiness. And then the bell on the carousel rang. Without a moment's hesitation, my three year old yells, "School's back in, suckers!" Ah, yes. Such a little lady.