Where does the time go?

I'm ever amazed when I show up to blog and realize how long it has been!

I wanted to share about the amazing vacation that we recently took.

We were very blessed to have my dh's parents offer us three day passes to Disneyland. We packed up the car and the kids and drove West for 6 hours to LaLa land once again. We've done this trip to LA many times and my kids are pro's at it. But this time we were going to DISNEYLAND...there was just a little more excitement in the air than usual.

It is a little odd for me to go to Disneyland...almost like going home after a long absence. One summer as a teenager I visited Disneyland 17 times (and that was before annual passes!) Heck, I remember using TICKETS to get on rides!! Needless to say I don't need a map to get around the place.

There are differences though. Like the fact that there is now an offramp from the freeway that dumps you straight into the Disney parking structure. This parking structure is rumored to be the largest in the United States. Where we used to park is now a whole new theme park, California Adventure.

The Swiss Family Robinson tree house is now Tarzan's treehouse. And I have a feeling it may soon become the Pixie Dust Tree of Pixie Hollow. Did you know that Tinkerbell has friends? There are other fairies that live in Never Never Land...they have merely been hiding for years!! (visit www.disneyfairies.com if you want to learn more!) Tinkerbell is my youngest daughter's current obsession and favorite character (in close running with Dora, who she was very sad to find out, does NOT live in Disneyland) My youngest daughter exudes the personality of Tinkerbell so it's a fitting obsession. Her greatest thrill on this trip was that she SAW Tinkerbell fly over Disneyland during the firework show (now there's a Pixie who ought to get hazard pay!) My greatest thrill was watching her. Several times people asked me what was my favorite thing about Disneyland and I had to reply over and over...watching my three year old experience the wonder.

I have gotten old.

Maybe I need a little pixie dust.

I saw crowds and high prices and long lines. I did silly things like time the fact that we waited for an hour to go on a 45 second roller coaster!

Then I saw that little blond head as she took it all in. She didn't like the scary fast rides (but went on them over and over again!) She LOVED the Pooh Bear ride, especially when the gal running it let us just stay in the car and go again, and again, and again...(I think those heffalumps and woozles are still after me in my dreams!) She didn't conveniently forget that her daddy promised her cotton candy. Watching a child visit Disneyland for the first time has got to be up there on the list of things everyone should do at least once.

It's enough to make you not really care about the crowds and the lines. I guess that's what makes it the "Happiest Place on Earth."