Celebrate.....ME :)

picture taken by Maria Elkin-not bad for a camera phone ;)

OK….
How often do you take time out of your day to celebrate the things you need to? Or do you just celebrate when it’s convenient? Most of the time, life is so busy & hectic, we tend to push off celebrations until it’s convenient for everyone. But, thanks to Disney this year, we will stop and celebrate when we have to!

I have lived in Fl since 1973-74-ish. For as long as I can remember back, we always went to Disney twice a year. We always went at some point over the summer & for my birthday in October. For quite a few years, my dad’s company gave out tickets for Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. That’s quite a few trips. And since we have had passes, we average a trip every 2 weeks. But I can honestly say, in all of those years & trips, we never went to Disney on my actual birthday.

This year, I did.

We didn’t get as early of a start as I would have liked, but we did arrive at the Magic Kingdom at about 12:30...just in time for the Move It Shake It Celebrate It Party. We skipped down Main Street & danced in the street with Baloo & sang along with Mickey. Even though I have seen this before, it was different because it was MY birthday this time J I think just about every cast member between the entrance & the castle stopped to tell me Happy Birthday. It was so neat!

Only having a few hours in the Kingdom, we hit a few of the standard you-can’t-go-to-the-MK-and-not-ride rides...Haunted Mansion & Pirates of the Caribbean. By naptime, we had successfully danced, sang, spooked & swaggered all over the land.

Even though I only had a few hours to play, this was definitely one of the most magical birthdays ever. Celebrating with me was The Boy, Peanut & Peanut’s friend. I have to admit, this was a great promotion. I never would have stopped everything to celebrate on a Thursday under any other circumstances. So, Disney, I say thank you. Thank you for forcing me to stop & celebrate me. I had fun.

Princess Peanut turns 2

Princess Peanut has turned 2.

And where do you think she wanted to go for her birthday?


If you guessed Disney, you are correct. Sorry...no prize this time ;)


We went to the Magic Kingdom for birthday number 2. She was lucky enough to have her best friend (who is also a member of a Disney family...another blog) with us for the day. The park was beautifully decorated for Halloween. Wait times were at a crazy all time low for the day & the weather was great! Couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

Princess Peanut was so excited to be there that day, she decided to stop & actually pose for pictures in front of the train station! Normally, she wouldn't stand still for anything. But on this day, she decided to pose...for 15 minutes!! It was so cute :) Pink Tiara and all, she was ready to rule the land for the day.

We rode all of her favorite rides & did all of her favorite things...TTA, Buzz Lightyear, Haunted Mansion. We visited Minnie & Mickey's houses. Rode the tea cups. Sailed on Its A Small World. Took Pictures with Stitch. Carried napping babies onto Pirates (you *can't* leave the MK without riding Pirates). Caught a monorail to Epcot & watched the fireworks. Ice Cream at McDonalds on the way home.

In all of that, after about 10 hours, 6 kids & 2 parks , the moment of the day came when leaving Its A Small World. She wanted to walk to the stroller, so since she is all "grown" now at 2, I held her hand & let her walk. About 1/2 way to the stroller parking, she started jumping up & down. As I stopped to look down at her, she jumped on my leg, wrapping her arms & legs around my leg, and just hugged me with the biggest smile on her face. Its those kinds of smiles & these kinds of moments that keep me going back to Disney again & again .

Oh & btw, she wore the tiara ALL day...even napped in it :)

Nothing like spending the day in the park with your best friend on your birthday!