RailRider Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. ~James 4:14 Life is full of peaks and valleys and the past year has been quite challenging with the unexpected death of 2 very close family members, being laid off from work and my daughter is growing up way to fast. While this time has been challenging it has afforded me much time to reflect and reevaluate life. What is important? What does it all mean? And all of the other tough questions regarding life. This reflection time has cemented my beliefs that the 2 most important things are God and Family, after that it really doesn't matter. I know you are wondering at this point "this is quite the weird way to start a trip report", but I think its a good background as to what I am trying to accomplish, so bare with me. As many of you know I have shared our Family adventures quite frequently on this site, sadly I have become lax is sharing more recently. One of the fondest memories I have is our trip to Disneyland and the joy I had sharing it here. To say that we became hooked on Disney after that trip is an understatement. Jesse (Avatar) shared with me long ago that the Magic only lasts a few years and eventually it fades away. This is one of the many tremendous insights on life he has shared with me and I am so thankful for that. Since our first trip in 2010 we have visited a Disney park every year since and I think this annual tradition has become a major part of enjoying life and adventures with my family. We believe in adventure and making lasting memories... Please sit back and enjoy a retrospective on Disney over the years and how the Magic is still there for my little girl. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 2010 - Disneyland & the Magic Begins Amazing that our first trip was still the most Magical. I am not sure who had more fun my daughter who was 2 1/2 or Mom and Dad. Some highlights. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 Amazing and Magical. Yes I over use these words, but that is what Disneland was and is to our family. We were hooked so we needed to plan and book Disney World immediately 2011 Disney World - 3 1/2 yrs old The magic of the World 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 2012 Back to Disney World for MNSSHP - 5 years old My how times have changed, I have a little thrill seeker who loves the adventure and magic at the World. Princesses are ok, but Pirates are better... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 Our most recent trip 2013 - Age 6 - Sharing the Magic The Magic has continued, yet changed. Without getting in to great detail we did an extended family trip and it was amazing to see how the Magic of the World was able to promote so much healing and love at a time when it was greatly needed. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thedevariouseffect Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Wow I never had the ability to go down to Disney as a kid, and I really wish I did, good job taking your little one there, hope she had lifelong memories from all of that, because it looks awesome just seeing those smiles on her faces with everyone. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 Magic can happen anywhere and for us we always have one very special place we go. How long it will stay Magical? I don't know, but I will love every minute and moment we have as a family always looking for new ways and adventures to create Magic. Let me encourage you to take that extra moment and spend with your family, travel, make adventures. Because these moments and memories are all we really have and they will be remembered more than any gift or item from a store. Our family motto is Make Memories with every Magical Moment. I am truly blessed with an amazing family and amazing moments. Thank you for letting me have a place that I can be a bit sentimental... Find your Magic, make your Memories and Love your Family. ~RailRider 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medford Posted August 29, 2013 Share Posted August 29, 2013 Magic can happen anywhere and for us we always have one very special place we go. How long it will stay Magical? I don't know, but I will love every minute and moment we have as a family always looking for new ways and adventures to create Magic. Let me encourage you to take that extra moment and spend with your family, travel, make adventures. Because these moments and memories are all we really have and they will be remembered more than any gift or item from a store. Our family motto is Make Memories with every Magical Moment. I am truly blessed with an amazing family and amazing moments. Thank you for letting me have a place that I can be a bit sentimental... Find your Magic, make your Memories and Love your Family. ~RailRider wow, that was inspirational. We went to WDW when my son was about 13 months (wasn't even walking on his own yet, until the very end of the trip where he took his first unassisted steps). He's now 5, and we've added a daughter who is about 15 months now. My wife and I had talked about going to Disney when she was around 5, our son would be 9 so that she could have a better memory of it, but this has inspired me to bump that up. I don't know how much my son actually remembers from his trip (he brings up stuff from time to time when he was 1 that we've completely forgotten about ourselfs, so I can't totally discount that a toddler is going to forget everything they experience prior to 2 years old), but maybe next summer, or now I'm thinking 3 at the latest. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted August 29, 2013 Author Share Posted August 29, 2013 I advise start sooner than later, I am amazed at how much my little one remembers. But I have also found that some of our first trips are the most memorable for us as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
upstop Posted August 30, 2013 Share Posted August 30, 2013 Excellent photo retrospective! These are great memories for your family. You are so right....time is precious and short....my policy is to tell my family and friends that I love them and to be safe whenever we meet....because you never know what tomorrow brings and I'd hate to not have the opportunity to say those things. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted August 30, 2013 Author Share Posted August 30, 2013 Thanks for the kind words. Was feeling a bit reflective that day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted September 3, 2013 Author Share Posted September 3, 2013 Now that the retrospective is up for viewing, I wanted to take some time and highlight some of the memories and magic. The most magical moment was the first; This being our first trip to a Disney park and being the original only makes this picture and moment even more special. Thankfully not many attend Disneyland in January, especially early in the morning. So what took place that morning was a Minnie and Friends character breakfast that we had all to ourselves. My daughters first character experience was being the only kid with some of her favorite characters, them taking her by the hand and having a pretend meal around the table. Tigger passed the ketchup, Pooh gave her a very special container of honey, and Captain Hook brought balloons. Most parks would have canceled this event with only 1 family, Disney did not and for that I am thankful. What an amazing memory to have. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RailRider Posted September 9, 2013 Author Share Posted September 9, 2013 The Next big Jerry Bruckheimer Blockbuster? Maybe 2012 we visited Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party. What a fun time and the special parade and fireworks that evening are the best I have ever experienced from Disney. I love this image because it capture our little Pirate for the evening with some awesome pyro in the background. This was also our first experience with the Pirates League, which in my opinion is much more impressive and fun compared to the Bipiti Bopiti Botique. My daughter agrees and how much fun is it to be transformed in to a pirate (Sea Siren in her case) and then ride Pirates? Pretty awesome experience for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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