Holy Snowflakes

Can we just have a moment of silence for my lost childhood? I miss it so much ...

Thank you.

If there's one thing this Florida trip has taught me, it's that... my life isn't my own any more. And I'm okay with that, really. It's just that, sometimes it slaps you in the face when you least expect it. Vacation was wonderful, and I can say that because... I feel like it was all it should have been -- a perfect culmination of challenges and joy.

It was not an easy trip... plane rides, layovers, carrying a toddler around when she refused to walk or sit in the stroller... My body is still recovering. It's funny, though, those memories fade away -- the achey feet. I've already almost forgotten that Elle and I were fighting awful colds and spent the day after Disney laying in bed watching TV.

But I will never forget running through the lobby of the Grand Floridian with my two-year-old, while the lobby piano player played "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?" or that exact moment when my toddler became a "princess" and started ordering everyone around. When she saw the castle for the first time and hugged me, because we had finally made it there -- that castle that she sees at the beginning of her favorite movies -- Frozen, and Lady and the Tramp. When she saw the ocean for the first time.

I love making the impossible seem possible to her. In fact, sometimes I make it a priority over other things -- like bills. Money was tight this trip, and we'll struggle a bit over the next few weeks, but we saw an opportunity and took it. And that's how I want her to live her life, especially as she grows up and becomes a teenager. I want her to feel like she can have a goal and make it happen, that a little luck, good friends, and faith can help her achieve whatever she wants -- even something as seemingly simple as seeing the Disney castle. There was such a feeling of achievement when, as a family, we made it there. To that very moment.

We're back in Vermont. Wow! Snow. Cold. Elle insisted we set up the Christmas tree, because snow = winter = Christmas. So, we did, and it's nice. In fact, I feel like we've transitioned back into home life pretty well.

I'm really into working on our KidsArtSourceVT.com site, right now. So, if you're looking for us -- start there! I think about it constantly and dream someday that we'll have an official studio, where kids and parents can come over and make art any time for free! A friend of mine suggested renting some space at the library, which I'm considering. If you have any thoughts/suggestions/ideas, please feel free to comment or email me on Facebook or at YourMomIsStrange@gmail.com.

Here are all our Instagram vacation photos via #StrangeFamilyVaca2014: