#40daysoflight: to the happiest place on earth!

A couple of weeks ago, when I got back from Los Angeles, Alex plopped down on the couch in my office.

"My friend just got back from Disney World," she said.  "She had a great time."

"I bet she did," I responded, not looking away from my computer screen.

"You know, I'm almost twelve and I've never been to Disney World."

I turned to look at her.

"Yes, I know.  But you're kind of old for Disney World, aren't you?"

"No, I'm not," she said firmly.  "And it's sad that I'm almost twelve -- twelve, Mom -- and I've never been to Disney World."

"Well, I wouldn't worry about it," I responded with a smile. "I have friends who've spent their honeymoons at Disney World.  Maybe your future husband will take you."

She looked at me levelly.  "Twelve, Mom.  Twelve."

"I had no idea you wanted to go."

"I'm a kid.  Of course I'd want to go."

"Well," I said, sighing deeply.  "Maybe we'll take you in 2017.  Maybe."

But the truth was that I was lying.  What she didn't know is that two weeks earlier, Disney had invited the three of us for a quick trip to Disney World, specifically focused on tweens.  I'd happily accepted, even though I had no idea how Alex would feel about going -- but I thought it would make a great surprise for her 12th birthday.  So needless to say, sitting there in my office, her whining was making me very happy.

"Twenty seventeen?!" she wailed.  "I cannot believe ..."

"Lookie-here, sister," I growled.  "Keep it up. We can make it 2018 ..."

"No! No!  Twenty-seventeen is FINE ...."

I'm not nice.

Anyway, we revealed the truth to her on her birthday, and as I type this, we're at the airport, waiting for our flight to Orlando.  I'm a little concerned, though -- Houston weather over the next 48 hours is dire, and we're actually on an earlier flight trying to escape the storms.  Our flight out is already delayed an hour and a half, so I'm not entirely sure we're going to make it -- but we're trying to keep hope alive.  And if we do, the next few days I'll be blogging from The Happiest Place On Earth™.  

Needless to say, my mind has been consumed with Disney over the last couple of weeks -- I've been researching what we shouldn't miss, what we should pack, tips and tricks for navigating the parks.  So it's not surprising that I came across the following video based on one of Disney's newest campaigns -- and I so love it.  Talk about broadening the definition of "princess," man.

This video made me believe that Disney truly does get the beauty of different.   I'm more excited to visit the park than ever.

With that, fingers crossed we make it safely.  And hopefully more soon from the Magic Kingdom.