Expectations and Family Vacations....

If you know me at all, then you know I am notorious for forming expectations before a big trip. Mercy, I form expectations about forming expectations. It is definitely one of my less-than-admirable qualities.

Just off the plane...waiting for ride...

Add to that the fact that we began planning this big huge Disney trip two years ago and well, you guessed it, I had two years of expectations just waiting to explode all over the place between here and Orlando.

Disney's Magical Express!

Anticipation had been at a premium for all seven of us -- this was after all the LEGG (Len's Extravagant Graduation Gift), a trip to celebrate our Len, brother, brother-in-law, uncle-extraordinaire and his recent graduation from Arizona State University!

I need this. Just saying.

Add to all of that the fact that the triplets and I had been in Argentina for the two weeks leading up to the trip....well, I had been imagining great things about our reunion and time together. Great great things!

At Epcot...Canada's beautiful garden.

We were testers for the new Agent P sleuthing game at Epcot -- a ton of fun for all ages!

Aquarium

Photo-bombed by a shark!

And no trip can be perfect. I mean things happen, right? People lock their passports -- the ones needed to get on the cruise boat -- in safe boxes and then leave them there when they change resorts. Tropical storms settle over Florida and leave the parks a soggy, hot, humid mess. Favorite parades are cancelled and anticipated character-greetings post-poned. No trip can be perfect.

But this trip was almost that. Almost perfect.

Our days at Walt Disney World were delightful. We did all our favorite things -- from dining in Mexico (a tradition since Mom and Dad's honeymoon) to riding the Toy Story ride repeatedly -- we had a blast! 

We laughed. We made memories. We may have bickered a time or two. But we had such a great time.

We saw characters -- old favorites and new favorites.

We saw shows that made us laugh out loud.

And we rode new rides -- because someone had finally grown enough...

And then....then we got on the big ship. The Dream. Deep sigh.

My boy and his hero...

And while Tropical Storm Debbie tried to dampen our fun -- well, she actually did dampen it but she didn't spoil it one bit! Not even one bit.

We still relaxed. Spent time as a family. And took a lot of deep deep breaths. And when the sun did come out...we did this:

And this:

Some of this:

And a lot of this:

And oh, it was a great trip. A great, great trip.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I'll go start setting some expectations for our next adventure...cause really, time with my family -- no matter the weather, the trials, the expectations -- are always a big big blessing!