Don't Mock the Fanny Pack!!!

So, we took our little family to Disneyland. When we told our kids we were going they flipped out! Our Zack (he's 11) actually cried, he was so excited! We drove to St. George, Utah last Saturday and stayed in a hotel. Then drove the rest of the way Sunday. The kids were so anxious! Zack was seriously giddy as we rode in the bus over to Disneyland. We had so much fun!  Zack and Max rode everything at least once. Matthew rode some stuff, then decided he doesn't like the feeling he gets in his tummy when the ride has ups and downs. After that we couldn't get him to try anything unless it was so tame that even Gracie could ride it. I am so proud of him though because he actually ended up trying most everything the last day or 2 that we were there. I know he was scared but at least he tried it! His most favorite ride was Star Tours. They have changed that ride and I like it so much better than I used to. Mainly because it didn't make me sick like it used to. Zack's favorites were Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Max's favorites were The Tower of Terror, Goofy's Sky School (basically the Wild Mouse), The Matterhorn, and Space Mountain. Apparently he's our biggest dare devil. Gracie's favorites were Winnie the Pooh and Buzz Lightyear. When she saw Minnie Mouse she gave her a big hug! It was simply adorable! Unfortunately our bag was stolen off of our stroller and it had the camera in it so we don't have that picture to share. The bag also had my cell phone, Matthew's Epi Pen, his inhaler, my cute little lipstick case Brian surprised me with a few weeks ago, my Clinique lipstick (my mom gets free makeup bags and makeup when she buys stuff at Macey's and she has given them to me a few times. The lipstick that was stolen was THE most perfect lipstick EVER!), my most favorite charcoal gray cardigan-ish thing that I got at Charlotte Russe and that I take EVERYWHERE, Gracie's cute little Minnie Mouse ears we had just bought for her at Disneyland that day. I usually wear a fanny pack when we go to Disneyland, with all of my most important things in it but Brian was making fun of me so I didn't. I caved to peer pressure. It may not be fashionable but certainly smarter and ultimately better!!!  :)   Basically that experience left me feeling stupid, violated, vulnerable, and scared. We figured people were watching the Tiki Room, waiting for someone they could rob. After that I was terrified that if there were people watching so they can steal from you then there could be people watching so they could steal kids. So then I was even more protective of them than I had been before. Other than that part of the trip, we all had a wonderful time! It was so wonderful to just spend time together as a family. It had been about 6 years since we had been on vacation so it was much needed and much appreciated!!! The kids handled the 10 hour drive there and 10 hours back better than we imagined. It was pretty touch and go a few times but for the most part they did well. The car looks HORRIBLE after spending 20 hours in our van. Nasty! We all loved the opportunity to spend so much time with Brian when he didn't have to work! We felt very grown up because it was the first time we've ever been on vacation with just our little family. I had a lot of guilt about going on vacation instead of putting that money in a savings account, until I saw pure joy written on each of my children's, and on Brian's faces when we were in Disneyland. Then, I made peace with our decision. It was priceless!!! I was telling one of my friends about my guilt over it and she said that sometimes you have to spend money to make memories. Her children are starting to leave the house and she has the perspective of a parent with children in their teens and one on a mission. Brian said, you know we only have about 7 years left to be able to take trips with just us and all of our children. Zack will be going on a mission, then comes college, and marriage. It makes me sad to think about how quickly my babies are all growing. It makes me really want to change my perspective. I've just been so wrapped up in trying to get from day to day, week to week, month to month that I forgot about the big picture. And so much time is just....gone. I want the next 7 years to be the most wonderful 7 years we can possibly imagine. I just want to savor this time. Every minute! Of all the things I don't want to look back on with regret, the very limited time I have to raise my children and spend precious time with them, building memories, is at the top of the list! What a blessing! What a gift! To be the mother of 4 fabulously amazing children...truly a gift!!!