My Disney Year In Review

12 years ago today....

....I got married! Everyone is always asking what do we do to celebrate our anniversary since it's on New Year's Eve. We don't really do anything. In the last few years our tradition has been to sit at home and watch the Twilight Zone marathon. I know it's nothing spectacular but it's what we like to do.

Happy Anniversary to my honey and to all my other friends celebrating anniversaries today too!

And the answer is...

.....outside of Pirates Of The Caribbean. It's outside before you go through the archways into the queue.

Great job!!

I took a lot of light pictures while I was away so there will be plenty more to come. I may even do a few together.

We'll Leave The Light On!

Let's see if anyone knows where this light is at.

Twas The Night Before Christmas

Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care,

In hopes that St Nicholas soon would be there.

The children were nestled all snug in their beds,

While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads.

And mamma in her ‘kerchief, and I in my cap,

Had just settled our brains for a long winter’s nap.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,

I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash,

Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.

The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow

Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below.

When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,

But a miniature sleigh, and eight tinny reindeer.

With a little old driver, so lively and quick,

I knew in a moment it must be St Nick.

More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,

And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name!

"Now Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!

On, Comet! On, Cupid! on, on Donner and Blitzen!

To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!

Now dash away! Dash away! Dash away all!"

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,

When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky.

So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,

With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too.

And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof

The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.

As I drew in my head, and was turning around,

Down the chimney St Nicholas came with a bound.

He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,

And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot.

A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,

And he looked like a peddler, just opening his pack.

His eyes-how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!

His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!

His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,

And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow.

The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,

And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath.

He had a broad face and a little round belly,

That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly!

He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,

And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself!

A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,

Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.

He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,

And filled all the stockings, then turned with a jerk.

And laying his finger aside of his nose,

And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose!

He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,

And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.

But I heard him exclaim, ‘ere he drove out of sight,

"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!"

Christmas Is The Time

I was trying to remember if there was that one Christmas that stood out from the rest, but I can't seem to recall one. Sure there were Christmases that I got everything I wanted and ones that I didn't. I never did get that Care Bear I wanted all those years ago. At least not until I was married and Erin got me one. I guess it's always good not to get everything you wanted. I know Cassidy isn't getting everything she wants.

One thing I really want this year is for everyone to have a blessed holiday season. Whether you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Christmas my holiday wish for you is to enjoy it and your family. This will be the first Christmas without my gram and I know I will miss her deeply but I also know that I need to enjoy it and celebrate the birth of Christ. It's what she would've wanted.

When I was younger, up until a year or so ago we would always go to my gram's house on Christmas Eve. We would have oyster stew (except I didn't eat it), open our presents and then go to church. When I was in middle/high school and college, church was always at 11:00. I loved coming out of church the wee hours of Christmas day and seeing the snow fall. That one part of the tradition changed once I had Cassidy. But it will resume again someday when she's older. I just hope she loves it as much as I had.

One of my favorite silly traditions is that I LOVE watching A Christmas Story over and over again during the 24 hours of A Christmas Story on TBS. "You'll shoot your eye out!"

What are some of you holiday traditions or even favorite holiday memories?

Mousefest Mayhem

April enjoying her first Mousefest.

I love these guys!

And I thought I packed a lot!

Pop's pizza van

Cause this is Thriller

We're here to Pump You Up!

The star of the show! I'm talking about me, of course. LOL

Lou's BIGGEST fan. The minute the doors opened to the Mega Meet this woman beelined it right to Lou.

Lou's LITTLEST fan!

WDWToday 500th Episode Celebration

What's in the bag?

Lapu Lapu anyone?

My own Hidden Mickey

Mousefest report

I know I'm behind on posting my Mousefest trip report and photos. I'm trying to decide whether or not I just want to make a slideshow of photos or actually write something to go along with it.

What do you guys think?

My husband is having surgery tomorrow so I plan on working on whatever it is at the hospital. I'll need something to do for all those hours.

3 weeks from today

Three weeks from today I'll be participating in the Walt Disney World 1/2 marathon. Doing this race is imporant to me but it also important for the children I am running for. Not only have I been training for the race, I've also been collecting donations for the DisneyWorldTrivia Dream Team. This great group of people raises money to send ill children to Walt Disney World. I have a goal of $1,000 and I'm about half way there. Please help me fulfill my goal but more importantly help me help the children.

Please make donations at www.firstgiving.com/dwtdreamteam . Mention in the comment section that it is for Lori Burke's 1/2 marathon.

Thank you!

WDW Day 7 Dad's 70th Birthday

WDW Day 6 1900 Park Fare and Epcot

How's that for a look?

WDW Day 5 The Kitchen Sink and Epcot

The Kitchen Sink!

I think Teppan Edo is my favorite place to eat now.