Disney...there we went

So I just spent the last week in the land where dreams come true - so they say - with all 3 of my sisters. It was fantastic...well, most of it. It was great to spend time with them, with no other holiday/family get-together distractions and busyness. It's fun to see as we are all grown up now (tear) who we have become, what we have done, and where we are headed. Growing up, having 3 sisters was not always fun (sharing one bathroom and all), but I wouldn't trade it for anything now.

Now, I'd like to be helpful to you, so through my experience, I'd like to share a few pointers for those of you who are contemplating visiting this vast land they call Disney World.

• My first recommendation is if at all possible, try to visit in the months OTHER than June and July. I do not believe they could possibly cram one more person in, and it is a very large place!


• Second, having a personal tour guide who knows the ends and out, gets discounts (and rather good ones at that), and illegal "fast passes" is the best way to go. Kelsey, my sister, has spent the last 5-6 months living in this fairytale land being "friends with Mickey" (if you know what I mean...). We spent 2 days visiting the 4 parks and hit up every ride. And let me tell you, that is a miracle as I said in point one, there were waaayyy too many people there.
  
• Third, I'm still contemplating if bringing small children is a smart move. They slow you down, whine, cry, can't go on all the fun rides, and did I mention throw fits out of crankiness? Yes, they bring joy - b/c they do get quite excited, but an entire trip seems like a lot. So, we came up with a great system that I might propose to Disney - "Rent-a-Kid". This way, you get the joy of a small child for a short time span and then get to give them back. Perfect.


• Forth, much against my sisters' desires and attempts, I will NEVER have my entire family match outfits when traveling together. I have never seen so many coordinated families in my life. And I'm not just talking about matching color t-shirts - like handmade mickey head to toe outfits. Moms, dads, children, grandparents, cousins, etc. I just want to think what those dads thought when mom pulled out the outfit and declared matching wardrobe day.


• Fifth, and most importantly, a trip to Disney World can put a dent in the old wallet. If you need help cheating the system to make it work for you...give me a shout. We got pretty good at it over the last week.

The RunDown

I haven't been blogging much lately...ok, not at all...but here's a quick rundown of some life lessons I have learned recently:

1. Teaching is the best job. Yes, it has its horrible (yet sometimes fantastic) moments throughout the year, but these summer breaks are worth every minute. :) And I have survived my first year - so I figure it can only go up from here.
2. I learned I do not like being taken care of, and can be kinda stubborn in that area. But I do have many people who care for me and for that I am grateful. But I need to learn to need people.
3. There is something about a Starbucks and a good book that will never get old to me.
4. Apparently, when I turned 25 my body broke down and it's still a medical mystery. I have spent over 9 hours in doctors offices in the last 3 days alone several weeks post my ER scare - me and a large handful of senior citizens.
5. Houston does not seem that bad when you don't always have to drive around in rush hour traffic. Yet somehow the galleria area is still busy in the middle of the day - don't people work?
6. No matter how much time you can have on your hands, life will always seem be busy. I am still learning how to make that stop, and somehow I feel I've gotten worse at this.
7. The fact that the gym has valet parking, I think is quite ridiculous. If you need help spending your money or walking those 20 extra feet on your way to work out, give me a call and I'll help you realize the irony of the matter.
8. No matter how much sunscreen I put on, I still burn and always will. Hello skin cancer.
9. Though my passenger door doesn't always open, I have a huge dent in the back, the a/c doesn't cool well, and the paint is rusting - it still gets me from one place to another and that's what counts right now. Let's hope it holds out just a little longer.
10. Lastly, I have been reminded how I am blessed with some incredible people in my life. I don't deserve them, but I'm glad they have come into my life for some rhyme or reason.