I grab my carry-on suitcase from the backseat of the car, sling my purse over my shoulder, kiss the kids and Jordan goodbye, and head inside the airport. With no bags to check and having already checked in online, I head straight for security. I smile to myself as I pass a bickering couple obviously flying for the first time with their baby. They are loaded down with their full size stroller, car seat, and overstuffed diaper bag, arguing about some document the husband had printed off at home, but forgot to bring to the airport. Today, and for the next 3 days, I am free from of all of that. Everything seems so much easier without the kids. No strollers. No backpacks full of  movies, toys and snacks. No diaper bags stuffed with diapers, wipes, blankets and extra outfits. I breeze through security and arrive at my gate. I officially start my vacation by just sitting there and reading.

I had been toying around with the idea of going to Orlando to visit my sister, Liz, for several months before  finally deciding to just do it. The last time I flew without kids was when Jordan and I went to the Bahamas about 2 and a half years ago. The last time I flew completely alone was when I went to Jon and Anna's open house in Denver about 5 years ago. Even then, I was pregnant with Colby, so I wasn't completely alone, right?!? So the last time I flew ALONE...I really can't remember. It may have been when I came home for Christmas my freshman year of college. Not that Jordan is hard to travel with, but there was something about being totally alone on this flight that was pure bliss. It probably had something to do with the fact that as a stay at home mother of two young children I am almost NEVER alone. If I am, its because I'm doing something really fun like grocery shopping. When I am with someone else, the mother and wife in me is always worrying about their comfort before my own. This was like new territory for me!

To make the flight even better, (yep, I'm still writing about the flight!) it wasn't very full, which meant no one sat next to me and no one sat behind me. I reclined my seat, not feeling guilty for taking up the leg room of the person behind me. I sipped my drink leisurely instead of gulping it down in fear that if I didn't, a kid would knock it over and spill it in my lap. I mixed my complimentary airplane pretzels with my Cadbury Mini Eggs to make a perfect sweet and salty combo, and I read 60 pages of my book, uninterrupted!! Completely relaxed, Liz met me at the airport and we were off to her apartment. So many memories of college life came back as I toured her bare white walled apartment full of hand me down furniture and chatted with her roommates. I slept on an air mattress on her bedroom floor and we stayed up until 2:00 a.m. talking. It was some much needed sister catch up and girl talk!

We took our time getting up and getting to the park the next morning. Day one: Magic Kingdom. Now, the plan was to enjoy the parks, not rush around, and relax. Every other time I have been to Disney it has been exhausting, and this time I thought it would be different, but what is it about Disney World that makes you feel like you need to see it all, even if you've seen it all before? Like you are really missing out if you don't get to go on every ride and see every show? And I didn't even pay for a ticket! With that said, Liz has become quite the Disney expert and is an awesome tour guide. She knows exactly how to navigate the park to get you from ride to ride, the best places to eat, and where the nearest restrooms are. She makes getting around Disney a breeze . I don't think I've ever been to a theme park and not had to pick up a map. The plan was to stay until midnight, just because we could, but with Liz's expertise of the park and our efficiency without kids, we had completed everything we wanted to see a few hours early. And, yes, we were exhausted! So much for relaxing at Disney!

Magic Kingdom

My beautiful sister and I

They have added lots of new interactive and interesting stuff to the que lines to make them more enjoyable while you wait. This was part of the grave year that is now part of the line for the Haunted Mansion.

Quick picture of Tigger and Pooh for the kids. Colby wanted me to get pictures with all the characters, but I didn't want to wait it the lines, so taking side shots like this was the next best thing.

Loved all the cute things they had in the line for the Pooh ride.

I seriously did amazing on the Buzz Light Year Space Ranger Spin. I think my score was 124,900. Liz, however, totally kicked my trash on the Toy Story Mania ride in Hollywood.

Serious concentration!

Those are supposed to be Mickey Mouse ears!

Whoa...a visit from Tinkerbell!



Our only character meet and greet because he didn't have a line.



Fun, silly and cute pictures at Hollywood. Partly because we had time to kill while waiting for a show and partly because I never have pictures of just me without kids. These are just a few of my favorites. 










Monday, the last day, was our day for Epcot. As much as Liz tried to talk me out of it, I insisted on walking around the world since I had not done it the last few times we have been there. I should have listened to her, as a marathon trip around the world is boring and extra exhausting when you are hot and your feet hurt from the two previous days, but we did it. We also fit in some rides and a special tour of Base 21, a private conference center in the upper levels of the building behind the ball. We ended the day early so Liz could get to church and go the FHE activity she was in charge of. After the activity, we went to the pool and hot tub at the Grand Floridian (another perk of Liz's Disney expertise is how to sneak into the resorts and use their facilities). We watched the Magic Kingdom fireworks while soaking our tired feet and bodies in the hot tub.

The flower and garden show was going on at Epcot and there were characters all around the park made of flowers.

My plane left early the next morning. I was too exhausted to really enjoy it. The flight was full, which meant I wasn't nearly as comfortable, but I still managed to sleep for a majority of it. Even though I was uncomfortable and tired, I reminded myself that I was SLEEPING, on a PLANE, ALONE, and that may not happen again for a VERY long time! The kids had a blast staying home with Dad. I knew they didn't miss me much when I opened the car door and Colby said, "Mom, where's my pirate hat and sword?" Yep, goodbye Disney, goodbye sister, goodbye single college life, and back to my life as a mom...