My Favorite Things

This is really a magical vacation in so many ways, and I am so grateful for all of it. But I want to pause and remember some of the really special moments that have occurred:

- Seeing a rainbow from the airplane and LilBro's exclamation: "AWESOME!"

- Having enough time that we spent the first two days just bumming around... at the pool, playing minigolf, sleeping in, and vegging out

- The anticipation and excitement as we planned out the first week of theme park fun

- The catch in my throat as we turned the corner at Islands of Adventure and Hogsmeade came into sight. There are a few book series which have captured me whole (Laura Ingalls Wilder, Anne of Green Gables, Harry Potter). To be able to walk inside the world of the books was just, well... incredible. A true dream come true for me.

- Every minute of the "Forbidden Journey" ride... from the moment we entered the grounds of Hogwarts castle until we left. Just being able to walk into Dumbledore's office, to walk through Prof Sprout's greenhouses, to stand in the Gryffindor Common Room, to talk to the Fat Lady portrait, in every possible way, I was "in" the world of Harry Potter. I have never had a ride experience like this.

- Tasting butterbeer. Imagine drinking a sugar cookie. Creamy and frothy on top, cool, smooth and bubbly below. Just perfect.

- Princess' face as we whirled around and through her favorite ride, "The Cat in the Hat," over and over and over again. She never tired of this... and the joy, anticipation and glee never left her face.

- Watching LilBro watch the Shamu show at Sea World. I don't know when or how he became so attached to the killer whales, but he did. And to see them in person was the highlight of the trip for him.

- Getting soaked (and I mean soaked down to the skin) by Shamu. Sitting in the front row was a definite "bucket list" item. Once in a lifetime (cause I won't EVER do it again!)

- Seeing the same show again, a week later, from a much drier position in the stands. WOW! And LilBro was just as excited this time, too!

- Spending an entire day (almost 14 hours) at the Magic Kingdom.

- The experience of all the Cast Members at the Magic Kingdom. I still maintain that they charge way too much for a theme park admission, but every single person we met that day seemed to understand that this was a "once in a lifetime" experience... and made sure that it was perfect in nearly every way.

- Standing in the crowd on Main Street for the fireworks show over Cinderella's Castle.

- Princess' face when she met Cinderella.

- LilBro's kiss from Princess Aurora. "Mom, does it mean that I'm a prince now that I've been kissed by a princess?"

- Our visit to the Kennedy Space Center: wow, have they changed this place since I was last there in the early 80s!

- Walking inside the Space Shuttle Explorer

- The Launch Simulator... the closest I will EVER get to launching into space... oh, man, I wish I could go again!

- Watching all three of my kids get very excited about studying LOTS of science if it might mean working for NASA someday (we'll see if it sticks, but the excitement's there for now!)

- Having a little quiet time this morning, the day before our 10th wedding anniversary, to pause, reflect, and be thankful for the past 10 years... and to look forward to the next decades. I truly am blessed to have married my very best friend.