Last week, I shared a picture of that rare and fleeting moment known as “sibling love”, so for this week’s blog hop theme of “Love is in the air”, I thought I’d turn the camera on myself (very rare since I’m usually behind the camera) and share a couple of pics of me and the love of my life – Colorado Dad (I almost typed Mickey Mouse there. Hehehehe!)

This first pic is from the “Wayback Machine” known as 1998 and is from our first Disney trip together as husband and wife. This was our honeymoon cruise on the Disney Magic, circa Sept. 1998.

Disney Fan and Colorado Dad - Honeymoon, Sept. 1998

And by contrast, here we are again, almost 13 years later. Less hair, more gray and with a couple additions to our family, but still going strong after all these years

Disney Fan and Colorado Dad - Palo on the Disney Wonder, April 2011

Thanks to Deb from Focused on the Magic for hosting the weekly hop! Click on the image below to see some other great Disney pictures in this week’s Wordless Wednesday blog hop!

Whew! We survived another Christmas season, with only a few tears here and there Thinking back over the weekend, I realized that it really was a very Merry DISNEY Christmas for us this year, even though we were nowhere near the parks. Here’s a couple highlights from the weekend.

Colorado Princess turned 3 on Christmas Eve and we HAD to celebrate with a Princess cake. Thanks to Sara’s Sweets for another awesome birthday cake! And of course, a birthday isn’t complete without a new princess dress (thanks Colorado Sister!)

Christmas Eve night, we switched gears from birthday to Christmas, and opened our traditional Christmas Eve pajamas. The kids got a princess nightgown and Mickey robe, respectively.

I was apparently too tired on Christmas morning to get any decent pictures, but the kids woke up to some exciting Santa gifts – princess dolls for Colorado Princess and Harry Potter legos for Colorado Boy.

Later in the day, we had our families over for Christmas lunch and I was able to use my Mickey Twas The Night Before Christmas dishes and linens (yes, I know, I should use them on Christmas Eve…oh well!).

 It was great spending time with the family, eating great food, laughing and opening presents. By the end of the day, I was exhausted, but I must say – my family sure does know me well! They got me some really cool Disney stuff this year (including my own personalized bag). Now I just have to figure out where to put it all!

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas with your friends and family! Did any of you get a special Disney gift this year?

• My family (the ones I live with):This is probably pretty obvious, but it is so true. We just spent a few days up at my parents’ house in the mountains as a mini “staycation” and while there were a few grumpy moments, we shared a LOT of laughs, some good relaxation and a little bit of healthy competition (I won Phase 10 AND pinball. HA! ) Thank you for helping me enjoy this life to the fullest!

• My family (the ones I don’t live with): From my mother-in-law who watched our dog while we went to the mountains, to my mom who came over to check on our house while we were gone, to my sister who encouraged me to start blogging, to those relatives that live in North Carolina and Georgia that I don’t see enough, I have a great extended family and I am truly blessed for all the help and support I get from them throughout the year. Thank you!
• My coworkers: I know you probably don’t hear this very often, but honestly, my company kicks a**. While there are occasional bad days, I can always count on my coworkers to make me smile, and I honestly count them all as “family”. We laugh, cry, fight and celebrate just like any other family I know. Thank you to all of you for getting me through the day with a laugh or a smile.
• My home:
  

  Rocky Mountain National Park, outside of Estes Park, CO

  I take it for granted a lot, I think, but we really live in a beautiful state. Although we don’t have an ocean nearby (something Colorado Dad reminds me of EVERY DAY), we have the mountains. And they ARE beautiful. I hope to always have Colorado in my life.

And finally:

• My friends: Whether I have known you since kindergarten or have just met you virtually for the first time, I am so grateful to all of you. No matter how well I know you, you are part of a group that actually knows me the best and give me encouragement and support, no matter what –  for that I am so thankful. I’m looking forward to expanding all my friendships in 2012!

So, to all that I am thankful for in my life, Happy Thanksgiving! I hope that your celebrations are full of love, thanks, good food and great friends!