home sweet home

Thanksgiving for us means visiting family, eating a grand feast and too much of it, slowing our pace for a few days, and giving gratitude for life's many blessings.  This year, in a move very unlike me and Papa, we planned a family vacation to Florida.  To be fair, this is our first family vacation ever, aside from trips to different states and countries to visit extended family.  But, this was our first destination-determined-by-us vacation.

The choice was obvious for our Harry Potter loving family - The Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  Oh yeah, the children are 9, 7, and 4, so we should really throw Walt Disney World into the mix.  And we did just that.

This Thanksgiving was a harried, festive, fast-pace, exciting adventure for our family.  A memorable one to be sure.  I am so thankful we did it - for the magic, for the wonder, for the smiles, laughs, and good times spent with just the five of us (and 50 million others at both parks). 

The trip started with a surprise announcement - an early arrival to Florida and an extra day at Universal.  

In the Wizarding World of Harry Potter (otherwise known to us as Harry Potter world) we shopped Hogsmeade, traveled the Hogwarts Express, toured the Hogwarts castle, flew on our broomsticks, purchased our very own wands from Olivander's, flew with the Hungarian Horntail, sampled butter beer, pumpkin juice, chocolate frogs, and Bertie Bott's every flavor beans (even dirt, yuck!).  The detail in the shops, the classrooms in the castle, and the staff all led you to feel as though you walked right into the hidden areas of Hogwarts, complete with soundtrack.  John Williams will create the perfect ambiance anywhere!

Next on our agenda was Disney.  Our hotel was alive with our favorite characters and we were transported directly into the movies.  The children took turns sleeping in an anemone with Nemo and Marlin.  We were greeted at our buildings by seagulls, Mr. Ray, and Crush and the pool was alive with color.  Every minute of our stay was filled with visual and auditory stimulation.

Swallowing every ounce of the feminist inside me, I treated the girls to a princess makeover.  They thoroughly enjoyed every minute of their transformation.  Oh boy were they sweet!

We had to slip in a few photo shots with our favorite character - Goofy.  Of course, this is because Grandpa is goofy and he likes Goofy.  So we had to say hello on his behalf!

There were so many other magical moments to share, but I'll stop with these highlights.

After all this excitement and wonder, I have to admit that I am oh. so. glad. to be home.  To celebrate our final destination, I promptly poured myself a cup of coffee, baked bread, and made my traditional chocolate chip cookies.  It felt wonderful to have my family behave with as much excitement over my homemade goodness as the day we entered Hogsmeade.  It's good to know they appreciate home and all that it means.

It's good to be home!