Day One: Magic Kingdom

About an hour after we planned to leave for Magic Kingdom, we finally headed out.  We heard about lines, but nothing could have prepared us for what we were about to face.  We live less than 10 minutes from Disney parking, but it took over an hour to get into "The Kingdom" due to lines at the trolley and lines at the monorail, not to mention lines at admission.  Our kids again were very patient, all things considered.

Michael and Jason prepare to lead us to Disney World!  God help us all...

We're excited to go!

Here we are riding the trolley from the parking lot.  That's Jason behind the stroller!

We hit Main Street, USA just in time for a parade that unbeknownst to us, we would hear or see three more times that day.  It was magical the first time, and annoying by the third.

Annalise got to meet Snow White!

The kids got to ride the big carousel, which had a pleasantly short line.

The lines for everything were a hundred miles long with endless waiting.  We clearly didn't plan well enough for this, because we spent too much time standing around talking about what everybody wanted to do.  We decided that going all the way back to our vans to eat our picnic lunches was way too much trouble, so we just found expensive food in the park.

James was in his glory eating a Nutella and fruit waffle sandwich.

We were getting hot and tired, but still kept smiling!

The littlest among us really enjoyed, "It's a Small World".

Some of the big kids had a blast on Splash Mountain!  (That's Christian behind Michael's arm.)

About mid afternoon, it was time to re-group.  The kids and some of the adults headed back to the house while Michael, Christian, Dad, Courtney and I stayed behind to ride Peter Pan, Jungle Cruise and to take in a couple other attractions.

We were very alarmed to get a couple calls from the other car, which got lost for two hours!  They were crowded, with Abby and Mark taking turns in the back...

...with the double stroller!

When those of us in the second van arrived home, Jason was grilling brats and the kids were enjoying the pool.

We spent the evening relaxing and having fun on the patio and in the water.

Needless to say, we all slept well.

Traveling Miles and Miles and Miles...

Yahoo!  This morning my kids were up before 6:00 a.m. wondering when we would leave for their first trip by plane.  After hours of listening to, "Is it time yet?  When can we go?", we took off for the airport.  Jason and Mark kept our cars amused with their text exchanges about our trips to the airport and getting through security.

Just hours before, Abby told the kids about removing their shoes at security, (We didn't know they can keep their shoes on!) and five year old Jacob innocently stated, "I'll just tell them I don't have a bomb in my shoes."  We both asked our kids NOT TO TALK as we went through the checkpoint and the only one to have trouble getting through was me.  After three times and a near meltdown, removing a forgotten copper bracelet and undoing my hair, I got through too.  Mom was so relieved to hear we made it!

This is us outside the airport before Matthew took home Jason and Abby's Tahoe and Ann drove back our van.  Courtney and Michael were already inside and through security at this point.  We were envious!

We told the kids that today would be a long day of sitting and waiting.  They all did so well!

I'm just sittin' round here watching airplanes, take off and fly!

Michael tries to convince me he just saw Johnny Depp sitting down at the bar.

Christian wonders how he will survive a week without seeing his beloved Marissa.

The kids loved taking off and flying so high in the air.  They sat so well and were antsy only the final hour of the three hour flight.

We rented our vans and I followed Michael who had his GPS activated.  He tried to lose me in traffic to no avail.  He must have forgotten that we have the same mom and learned from her example.  (Hey, her nickname, isn't Turbo because she runs fast, you know!)

 This is our house.  We were so happy to finally be at our destination!  Michael was in the pool before the rest of us were even out of the vans!  How exciting to finally BE on our family vacation!

Disney World: Here We Come!

Late in the summer of 2011, the Timm family began speaking of a trip that only seemed a fairy tale of a possibility.  My mom was going to take us all to Disney World.

We decided that spring break 2012 was the best time to go, never believing that we would have the warmest Minnesota spring on record, with a several day string of 70 degree days, never dreaming that Jason and Michael would be worrying about dethatching or mowing lawns while we would be gone.

After countless hours of planning, it was finally time to act.  Saturday evening, my dad was sent down to have supper with Jason and the kids while my sisters helped Mom pack her van with all of our luggage.  Mom and Dad were leaving the next morning for a road trip to our Florida destination.  Despite our concern, every thing fit just fine in the van.

On Sunday, my sisters, daughter and I went to get pedicures for days of sandals and flip flops.

 Emily's feet were ticklish.  I would hear her giggle from the seat next to mine.

Courtney had the most beautiful fingernails, so when she gave my color selection her nod of approval, I knew it was an excellent choice!

Our pretty toes are ready to walk miles of Disney acres and revel in the beach sand.

By Sunday evening, Mom and Dad arrived in Memphis, where they stayed till Tuesday morning.

Here is Dad on Beal Street.

They went on a tour where they got to see the building of a Gibson guitar.

At the Peabody Hotel, Ma and Pa had a great conversation with a man who used to be and errand boy for Elvis Presley.

On Tuesday, they continued on their long trek to Florida, staying that evening in Lady Lakes, Florida.  Wednesday was a special day spent with Mom's aunt Betty and Betty's husband, Nando.

After two long days of traveling in the car, my dad isn't sure he will ever survive the trip home!

Timothy Pleads with God

This morning Timothy crawling into my my bed to snuggle just before 6:00 because he could hear a noise in his room.  While laying there, he confided, "I prayed to God and asked him not to let me die until after we get back from Disney."

I reassured him that he would most likely be fine.  There's something very disturbing about listening to a five year old talk about his own mortality.  I always thought Timothy's biggest concern was that nobody play with his toys when he has to use the bathroom.  I don't want him to think about dying, at least not for a few more years.

I thought about old Simeon, who was promised the time he would lay eyes on his messiah.  When that time actually came, he took that child in his arms and praised God.  I envisioned Timothy on the airplane in sunny Florida as we taxi away  from the terminal lifting his eyes and his hands to the heavens and praying, "Oh Lord, let your servant depart in peace according to your word. For my eyes have seen my salvation that you have prepared for me in the magical world of Disney!"

My runaway thoughts were interrupted by my reflective son. "When I die, I wonder who the smartest person in the family will be."

"We have a lot of smart people in this family, Timothy," I reminded him.

"I know.  But nobody's as smart as me," he humbly admitted.

Perhaps he's right!