My family has arrived back safe and sound from a wonderful adventure in Orlando, Florida. We spent many fun-filled days surrounded by family and friends and can't wait to do it again next year.

Let me fill you in on some of our highlights...

We scheduled our first full day there with a trip to the Magic Kingdom with my parents, brother, sister-in-law and their three children. We get in our rental Jeep with my son and his 2 cousins just chomping at the bit to "get there fast", when we soon discover that my brother's tire is as flat as can be on his mini-van. Oh no, what are we going to do with these anxious kids in our back seat?

Practical advice #1... there really is no place nearby anywhere to get a tire fixed on a Sunday morning. Forget fixing the tire, drive at a snail's pace with the spare on, and just get to Disney World so that we can join the throngs of families bursting at the seams to join in on this most magical day.

Notice Olivia's forlorn look...

This was our third visit to Disney World. This was Olivia - our 4 year old niece's first visit - her very fist visit. We danced our way in, and immediately headed to TomorrowLand - the boys first request. First ride - Stitch's Great Escape - dark and frightening to a young girl. Second ride - Buzz Lightyear. Her exact words "Mommy, will monsters kill me on this ride?"

Practical Advice #2... Start your young niece's first visit to Disney World on the Dumbo ride or the carousel and not the darkest, scariest rides that little boys love.

We also scheduled a dinner at Cinderella's Royal Table that evening. Two years ago our family dined with Mickey and Friends for breakfast. We waved our napkins in the air, watched as Mickey and Minnie danced around our tables and enjoyed wonderful Mickey waffles. This year, though, we dined as prince and princesses in Cinderella's castle. We enjoyed Prime Rib, Grilled Salmon and Lamb just to name a few of our entree selections. Cinderella posed for a picture with all of us and spent some time talking with my bright-eyed, youngest niece Olivia. It was a special night, except...

Practical advice #3... not all characters are loved by children at Disney World. Cinderella's hard working mice (oh, their names escape me) danced around the room at our dinner and jumped right up to the table next to us and just scared the begeesus out of the little girl sitting at the table next to us. She screamed such a blood-curdling scream and slammed her face down on the table so hard that my sister-in-law and I started giggling uncontrollably. We had tears rolling down our cheeks from the hilarity of it all. Yes - that's right - we were laughing at a frightened little girl! But so was her mother - it was a scene straight out of AFHV.

The sun was out and shining on all the days that we are there. Oh - the poolside, lounge chair with towel, iced tea, books and magazines beckoned.

Practical advice #4... what makes a mom think they are going to enjoy a relaxing day poolside with so many activities going on at the pool. The pirate pool keeps them busy but at ALL over the pool. The hula hoop contest, the limbo contest, the name that tune contest, the water balloons... too many contests to name that will also not keep them in our optimum vision so that we can just sit and relax.

As a child, many of our family vacations were spent at a Kentucky state park hotel. Not a lot of activities going on - just a lot of relaxing and card-playing. This reminded me a lot of those days. We even were able to spend an evening with friends of ours that live near us who were also visiting Orlando. We ate a little pizza, drank some wine, played a little cards... all not on a tight schedule but just enjoying the relaxation of being in a different locale. I was also able to spend some good quality time playing Old Maid with Olivia. She had the best poker face of any ole' card-player I had ever seen. She knew not to give away where the Old Maid was - and she won me over with her joyful exuberance.

Practical advice #5... Do not over-schedule. Too many activities are definitely over-rated and relaxation is key. And scooters meant for kid's races really aren't suitable for grown-ups.

Lastly, my parents took this vacation with us and I so appreciate them in everything they do for us as a family. Taking the kids on a walk when needed, playing many games of miniature golf with them, treating at Starbuck's, and being the true optimists in our family.

Practical advice #6... Thank God every day for the power of praying and loving parents. I knew they were praying from the moment the planes wheels left the ground, to the moment they touched down back at home. Sicknesses were subsided by the time everyone arrived in Orlando, anxieties were kept at bay, and the sun was shining not only in the sky, but in all of our hearts during this week of vacation.

Labels: family vacation