It started as 4 under 4

Well, we did it. Vacation that is. I know that doesn’t sound like an accomplishment, but in our case it is—airplanes, setting up camp for four little ones on the other side of the country, a work conference, and Disney for 10 days. And there have been more good moments than awful moments, so it’s been a success. Granted we have the flight home tomorrow which will be the last leg of the race, but the finish line is in sight, and I think (I hope!) we are going to make it back to Portland in six pieces.

As we waited for the fireworks last night, we reminded Sam this was his last day at Disney and we are going home soon. We have done so many crazy fun things in the past three weeks, we are a little nervous that we’ve set an expectation for our kids that everyday is supposed to live up to Disney quality. Umm, no. Not really realistic for our Portland life. Remember those days when the “exciting thing” we did in a day is get in our car and just drive around? Maybe go through the bank drive-thru and get a lollipop? Could be a shocking reality to go back to rainy days at home. We don’t even have Disney channel anymore because we cancelled our cable. And I certainly don’t have all of these extra hands at home to lighten the load. I’m a little scared for this trip to be over…and yet simplicity calls.

This trip has been gluttonous—a vacation like a Thanksgiving meal, way more than we really needed to indulge in, but it’s all been so delicious, so wonderful, so tasty. Time at the pool, lots of good eats (although we only ate out once, most good food was cooked in our condo kitchen), a few fun new trinkets from the Disney stores (only a few!), and a massive amount of park days. For our Christmas present this year was we sprung for 10-day park tickets. We know—WAY over the top. Consumerism at it’s finest. The only reason we went so big was:
(a) we were here for three weeks because we have no school-aged children, so it gave us time to spread park-time out
(b) surprisingly, there is a very small difference in price between 3-day park tickets and 10-day park tickets, and
(c) half our family is still free (Disney only charges you for kids over 3).

The perks of having so many days to play with is we have really been able to move slow and leave on a dime if our kids are losing it, and we cashed in on that for sure. We have explored at their pace and when we get tired or it gets more hard than fun, we leave. The kids have been able to ride their favorite things multiple times solidifying the memories of this vacation all the more in their little minds. Again, there have been more good moments than hard moments, so this vacation has been a success.

And yet, it’s time to simplify—to go on a diet if you will. And while we appreciate Disney as much as the next guy, we are getting tired of having to bend over for Walt. $14/day parking. $17 for two beers in Epcot. $4.50 PBJ sandwiches (it should be noted we brought our own sandwiches/food all 10 days).

This life is not sustainable, nor would I want it to be. We miss Portland, we miss our friends and family, we are excited about Young Life at home, and we get to move into our new house when we get back! It will  be a LONG time before we take another vacation, this whole spring will be very fun getting set up in our new place. A stay-cation if you will. We are excited about a budget (for reals!) and simple cheap fun for our family. And really excited for everyone to have their own bed again! (the twins can only sleep in our suitcases for so long, plus Alice is in a closet). 

I will close with my favorite most priceless moment of the trip: After all the fun, all the gluttony, and lots of moments when we began to lose control, we are standing in front of a glowing Disney castle last night waiting in anticipation for the fireworks. It’s completely crowded—like make you claustrophobic crowded—but somehow we are tucked in a great spot with a nearly perfect few of the impending show. Charlie is strapped on me, Max is swaddled up asleep on one side of our double stroller, a delirious Alice is standing on her side of the stroller so she can see, and Sam is perched on the guardrail in between Jon and me. He insisted on having an arm around each of our necks. Cute. Sometimes fatigue brings out true sweetness and cuddles in children. 

“Sam, this is our last night at Disney. We are going to get on an airplane and go back to our Lake Oswego house soon. Have you had fun?” He pauses to think about this upcoming transition back to real life, then he nods that yes, he had fun. Then he said it—with the most sincere little four-year-old voice, an arm around each of his parents’ necks, standing in the place “where dreams come true”, Sam said: “Thanks for taking me here.”

I started weeping there in front of that castle. I well up with tears even thinking now about his thanksgiving. It made it all worth while—all the hard moments, all the packing, sherpa-ing of kids through the parks, all the money… The little man understood that this was not a right to come to this magical place, it was a privilege. There was no entitlement in his words like there so often are in our children. In that moment, it’s like he knew he was a lucky boy to get to experience all of this and he was thankful. Priceless, and a moment I will burn into my memory. It was the perfect way to end a great night and a great vacation. 

Now let’s go home. I hope we make it.