My Birthday

My birthday was this past weekend, but instead of mulling over the fact that I'm a year older, I'm thinking about what we were doing 10 years ago.

A decade ago this week, Paul was just starting a new job in Ohio while baby Edith and I remained in New York for one final week, packing up and waiting for the movers. The following weekend Paul drove back to Ohio to pick us up and we moved back for good.

Ten years! I had tears in my eyes when we left Brooklyn, but I haven't regretted the decision (although I thought that I would). It was a good choice.

A lot happened between the ages of 22 and 32: I got married. We lived in New York for more than half of that time. Edith was born toward the tail-end of that decade.

But maybe 32 to 42 was just as eventful: We moved back to Ohio just days after that birthday. I started a freelancing career. Atticus was born a couple of years later. We built strong friendships and a community that supports as ... and vice versa.

No one likes getting older after a certain age, right? But I'm eager to see what the next 10 years bring.

WDW: Free Day!

Sunset view from our hotel at Pop Century

Wednesday was the park-free day of our weeklong trip to Walt Disney World. But even then, sleeping in meant only until 8 a.m.! When we were all ready for the day, we took the Skyliner from our hotel to Hollywood Studios, and then a boat toward the Swan and Dolphin hotels. From there it was a short walk to the Fantasia Gardens mini golf course. It was the first time we'd used the free passes that always come with our Disney reservations, and also the first time that the kids had ever played mini golf anywhere. Not only that, but it was the only time all week that we had to get out our disposable rain ponchos, during a downpour that lasted a hole or three. Before long the sun was shining again.

We then walked through the Boardwalk area, but it was too hot to linger. We grabbed a bus from there to Disney Springs for lunch and shopping. Stopped at Gideon's Bakehouse on a whim and ordered two half-pound cookies, which ended up being a steal at $6 apiece. The triple chocolate cookie was one of the best things I've ever eaten anywhere, even if I did have to wait about 30 minutes in line for it!

Back at the hotel, a storm closed the pool so swim time for Paul and the kids got delayed until after 7 p.m. But all in all it was a refreshing rest day.

A few photos from around the Pop Century Resort earlier in the week:

WDW: Magic Kingdom & Epcot

We had planned two full days at both Magic Kingdom and Epcot -- they are my very favorite parks! And we made the most of them, staying from beginning to end.

But Magic Kingdom got off to a slow start. First, I failed to get tickets to the Tron roller coaster in the 7 a.m. virtual queue (although I snagged them at the 1 p.m. drop), Paul had to turn back for his forgotten coffee when we were almost to the Magic Kingdom bus at our hotel, and Edith was less than thrilled about putting on sunscreen. Then Peter Pan wasn't open during early entry, causing us to waste time backtracking to Space Mountain.

The day improved. Between 8:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. we rode every major ride except for Peter Pan (down for much of the day) and Small World. We got Tron tickets in the afternoon queue and rode 7 Dwarfs twice in an hour during the fireworks. It was objectively a successful day, but it hardly felt complete without Peter Pan, my favorite of all Magic Kingdom rides. (I was more than repaid later in the week, but more about that in a future post!) The kids, however were well pleased, probably nearly as happy with the funnel cakes with strawberries and whip cream that counted as our supper than with any single ride.

The next day was Epcot. We "slept in," which still meant we got to eh park at 9 a.m. after a very enjoyable Skyliner ride. Even the (newish) Remy ride in France was an hour-long line by that time, but oh well. Then it was time to cross the park to make our early boarding time for Cosmic Rewind (another virtual queue). I purposefully didn't read much about the coaster, and I'm glad I kept it a surprise -- it was the best new ride I've ridden in a long time, anywhere. Highly recommend.

We finished the front of the park with short waits, plus Mexico. The rest of the day was something of a bust. Frozen was an hour wait when we entered it around 6 p.m., and we were tired. Then we had supper and meandered along World Showcase and watched the fireworks from the Japan pavilion. Taking the Skyliner back to the hotel sure beat a bus, but I think the day taught me that three days in a row at the parks might be too much, at least in this kind of heat. But the next day was a free day!

More about that later. And now: Photos from Animal Kingdom that I forgot to attach to the previous post!