Picture Perfect?

As you may know, we returned from a big, Disney Vacation on Thursday! Having just been to Disney World for our anniversary in 2017, we felt less confused and had more fun this time, especially with our son and his family along for the ride! Now that we are recovered from the travel, the heat of Florida in summer and the average of 14,500 steps each day, I feel like this is the perfect time to show some pictures! 

Animal Kingdom - checking out the Tree of Life

Please take note: that was your warning. I am going to show vacation photos. You were not there, and you may not care, but you are not trapped at a 1960s dinner party...if you don't want to stay, I promise that I will not be offended, and I hope that you will have a lovely afternoon!

After the Finding Nemo ride in Epcot, at Bruce's House!

Still here? Great! Because I took about 200 photos on this trip! I promise they are not all in this blog post, but I did get some pretty good shots! 

Drumming in Harambe at Animal Kingdom,
our first park together!

I also got some of the bored, waiting-in-line photos...

Waiting in line to see Minnie, Mickey and Goofy!

Just got on the ride, where-will-it-take-us? photos...

Toy Story Mania - we rode 3 times at Hollywood Studios!

Fuzzy, moving-ride photos...

Mad Tea Party at Magic Kingdom! She rode twice!

And, of course, badly-lit-and-staged selphies with 3D glasses!

As for the rest, I am so glad that Disney is on their photo game! Disney tip: If you are going to Disney World with kids, get the Memory Maker for unlimited downloads of every character meeting...

ride...

and chance happening along the way! 

The photographers are great at what they do, and yes...you DO need the photo on Main Street with the castle (and Tinkerbelle!!!)!

But remember that even professional Disney photographers run into bad lighting, or a grumpy, really-needs-a-nap 3-year-old from time to time!

Of course, they also set you up for picture perfect Princess photos!

Parents and grandparents, I found that I was most thankful for the professional Princess photos, so that I was paying attention when Anna asked, "Are you two sisters, too?,"

Anna and Elsa in Norway at Epcot!

and the 3-year-old answered, "Yes, and Lolly never lets me look at the iPad!," with a bit of a boo-boo-lip.

I think Anna, a little sister herself, understood the frustration,

and Elsa seemed to connect with big sister, probably for the same reasons!

I did take some photos of my own with characters and princesses as well, they were necessary at some of the character meals...and they were less than perfect...

Seasonal Character Meal at Hollywood and Dine, Hollywood Studios.

But the looks on the girls' faces as those princesses became people right in front of them? Priceless!

Princess Lunch in Norway (Akershus Royal Banquet Hall) at Epcot Center.

All in all, it was a great vacation, and I would do it again, even with sometimes grumpy granddaughters and other relatives! (Did I mention how HOT and humid it was??? And it rained 3 of the 4 days we were there...)

On the third day, it rained HARD!

Today, my feet and I are glad to be home. I missed the girls almost immediately when we left, and I always wish they lived closer...but I am so thankful for the memories we made and for technology that lets me document those memories. We video chatted with them again just last night, and I think they are glad to be home, too. Though I will miss these views...

Waiting in line for the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Magic Kingdom.

Now that you have seen the photos, I have to go back and choose which ones will become 8x10 on the wall and 5x7 on my desk at work! There is also some post-vacation laundry to finish, and the cats are in serious need of extra cuddles, but I am glad to have had this time to catch up with you! I hope your summer is full of knitting and vacationing, and doing the things you love!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health!

Pre-Vacation Jitters

I am going on vacation. Disney World. With my grandkids. This is going to be fun, right?!? It is going to be fun!

However, I am not to the fun part yet. I am a nervous Nellie with travel and fun, so today is reserved for packing and panicking. Not to air all my dirty, emotional laundry...because all of my laundry is clean today, I promise...

...but I am a mess. Am I the only one who freaks out while planning a stay at the happiest place on earth? I mean, here is where I am:

Pack 4-5 pair of underwear and 4-5 pair of socks. Check. How long will it take us to get to the restaurant where we have our first dinner reservation? 

Three of my capri pants, 1 pair of shorts and 4 tops. Can I bring my knitting needles on the plane?

Do not forget the sunscreen, and pack a small container in the carry-on. How much can I really fit into the carry on?

Already pre-registered for the resort hotel on the app. Did I remember to get more Tylenol for the trip?

Yarn wound for a pair of socks, to keep me busy during the layovers. What if the yarn wants to be something else?

I already think it might want to be hat...should I bring it and knit a hat? Or should I find some sock yarn? Should I bring both?

I have q-tips, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant...all my toiletries and essentials. Should I leave a list of important info for my daughter in case the plane crashes?

Jammies. I need decent jammies for the hotel...in case the hotel catches fire during the night, and I am left with nothing else.

Chargers. I have to remember the chargers. And the battery back-up pack. What if the internet crashes around the world while I am on vacation? 

Swimsuit. Check. It is in the bag already. What if my swimsuit rips and I have to go swimsuit shopping? ugh!

I want everyone to have fun. What if any of us does not have fun? 

We are checked into the flights, boarding passes saved to my phone. Is our suitcase going to come in under 50lbs?

I am hungry. I need to eat well today, and not worry about that on vacation. Wait. What does our meal plan cover again?

What if TSA takes away my favorite knitting needles?

What if we miss a connecting flight?

What if the airline loses my luggage?

What if all (or any) of my pre-vacation nightmares from the past couple of weeks actually come true?

Hopefully I will be better by the time the landing gear touches down in Orlando tomorrow, but I will likely not fully recover until I hug a granddaughter or two! 

By the way, I am looking forward to my vacation. But I am stressed. Please pray for me, friends. Not just for safety and travel mercies, but that I can pry my fingers from the control panel of this vacation and simply have fun. It is a goal of mine to have more fun, and to worry less,* even when I am not on vacation!

Thanks for stopping by, and Knit in Good Health. I hear it eases anxiety. ;o)

*Luke 12:22-26

“Do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?”

Magical is One Word

Magical. What does that one word make you think of? Very recently, this word took my mind to Disney World! This was a good thing, since Sweetie and I actually went to Disney World last week, in celebration of our 30th wedding anniversary! Magical is one word for Disney World, and it is a good one!

Another word for Disney is wait. A large amusement park (or group of parks) known around the world is going to bring lots of fun, and lots of waiting. This is a good reminder, whoever you are. The waiting started at the airport, 

and continued at the hotel, 

then on into the parks. We even waited to fill our water bottles, 

and then waited at this sign! (One of our faves, throughout the day!)

But the waiting is just part of the game. The waiting builds anticipation for the fun! After all, we were at Disney World for 4-and-a-half days! Since we stayed at a Disney resort, it was all-Disney, all the time, and that part was magical!

Another word for Disney is crowded. This is almost synonymous with the waiting, but it's a little different...the crowds are not all Disney all the time. The crowds are made up of moms and dads and kids, old and young, who are not getting enough sleep in their hotels. They are outside their normal routines, and grumpy often ensues. Everyone without a Disney uniform or character costume is just a little unsure of where they are, and how to get to where they want to be. It takes a little extra grace and patience to be a part of the crowds at Disney!

Yet another word for Disney is YUMMY! Boy oh boy, did we eat good on this trip! Here are just a few shots of the yummy, yummy-ness we experienced:

Words cannot even begin to capture the tastes and smells of Epcot and all the parks!

Finally, my last word for Disney is FUN! Despite the crowds and the waiting and being out of our own element, we had so much fun! I can prove it with all the selphies we took. See?

We are smiling in nearly every one!

Even though one of us finally had his fill of the photos,

It was a trip we will not soon forget!

Happy anniversary again, Sweetie! I love you!

Thanks for checking in to see how the trip went! If you are planning a trip anytime soon, I hope you find all you're looking for. I also hope that you and your crowd will not be grumpy and sleep deprived during your time in the parks. It really can be the most magical place on earth!

Until next time, knit in good health!