Monday, December 24, 2012

A Merry and Magical Holiday

Disneyland - Main Street and Sleeping Beauty Castle

About a month ago, over the long Thanksgiving weekend, the four of us went on our first family vacation.



Disneyland - Main Street

Our destination? This enchanting place...Disneyland!



Disneyland - Main Street and Toontown

The moment the four of set foot on the Disney grounds, we were captivated.
Not just by Disney itself, but by the holiday cheer that was spilling out of every nook and cranny.
It was "so tinsel!" {a little Disney's Prep and Landing humor}  :)



Disneyland - Main Street and Main Entrance

And after scouring over more than a thousand photos, these are my favorites. 
Ones that are filled with the spirit of the season.



Disneyland - It's a Small World

Everything twinkled, shimmered or shined.



Disneyland - Sleeping Beauty Castle

Especially the Sleeping Beauty Castle.



Disneyland - It's a Small World

After the sun went down millions of little lights came to life. They were brilliant!
So brilliant that we asked ourselves, "Gee I wonder how much their electric bill is every month???" 
Such practical minds we have.



Disneyland - Main Street

Snow even fell on Main Street after the Believe in Holiday Magic Fireworks show.



Disneyland - Main Street

Undoubtably though, to us Minnesotans, we knew the difference.
It wasn't real snow after all, instead it was sudsy, foamy soap bubbles.
Aww but who cares, we still loved it!



Disneyland - Sleeping Beauty Castle

The fireworks show dazzled and brought tears to my eyes. It was moving!
And the way the Sleeping Beauty Castle was adorned in glistening lights was breathtaking.



Downtown Disney 

Taking a break from the theme parks we spent some time in Downtown Disney. 
Where the lights were bright and colorful also.



Disney California Adventure - A Bugs Land

Our next experience was Disney California Adventure. 
In A Bugs Land the holiday decor was oversized and gigantic. 
Because, after all, we were bug sized as we walked through A Bugs Land. :)



Disney California Adventure - Cars Land

And here it was, what we were most excited about...Cars Land...
with it's rustic junkyard charm!



Disney California Adventure - Cars Land

And it lived up to every expectation.




Disney California Adventure - Cars Land

The Cars themed holiday decor was the best!



Disney California Adventure - Cars Land

Draped in hub caps, filters, tires and all things Cars.





Disney California Adventure - Cars Land

Disney certainly doesn't skimp on details.



Disney California Adventure - Buena Vista Street

The moon was nearly full and glowed above the Buena Vista Christmas tree.



Disney California Adventure - Paradise Pier

Oh those lights how they glimmered! 
Leaving us filled with memories that will last a lifetime. 
An extraordinary trip that will remain in our hearts forever.

Wishing you all a Merry and Magical Holiday filled with many 
twinkling lights and glowing memories!!!



Friday, December 21, 2012

Winter Solstice {Hope Renewed}


Yay, it's the winter solstice! The shortest day.
And I'm excited why? 
Because after today the days grow longer,
 the sun gets stronger, 
the brightness rises higher. 
Hope is renewed. 
Because, after all...




Winter can bend you. Leaving you weary, making you long for warmth and sunshine.




Winter can feel confining, dreary, looonnnggg.




But it can also feel reviving, cozy, serene. 


"Winter is the time for comfort, 
for good food and warmth, 
for the touch of a friendly hand and 
for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home." 
~Edith Sitwell


Wishing you all a winter full of cozy evenings, increasingly sunny afternoons and hope through the bitter cold!
For you know, the bitterness can't last forever. In winter, spring is always around the corner.


Monday, December 10, 2012

Hello Monday!



Hello Monday!

Hello snow, more than 12 inches of fresh and fluffy white stuff fell over the weekend.




Hello shoveling, clearing off walkways, driveways, decks and porches.

Hello white Christmas, don't think it'll all melt before then! :)




Hello Christmas cards, finishing and sending ours this week, love having received some in the mail already.

Hello Christmas shopping, haven't made a dent yet, I better get moving!

Wishing you all a wonderful week ahead.



{ linking up with the lovelLisa Leonard for Hello Monday }