Growing Up Disney Part II OR........

Our Second Son

Our second son Brian was born April 29, 1983, so yes that makes him 30 today! Time does fly and yes I feel old, but every day with both our sons has been an adventure.  From the start both of them picked a Disney character that was there favorite, Paul's was Mickey and Brian's was Donald, maybe that explains his thing with the ducks at Disney? 

 Both boys grew up watching the original Mouseketeers and then the new version along with Ducktales. (Admit it you went Oo-Ooh) I am sure this helped enhance their need for that Disney trip.  Also Disney could be educational, they both loved going to Epcot doing each building in Future World, playing with the exhibits at the end of the attraction.

His first trip was when he was a year old, both of the were getting over the chicken pox and we drove down there from Chicago.  I don't remember either of them being afraid of the characters, they would run to them and hug them.  We went a few times as the grew up and they both knew it was a treat to go.  Once during the trip we got to pick a "nice" restaurant to eat at we would all dress up and do dinner, they both looked forward to that night and now when we go part of our planning is us getting together (although now it is via phone) to pick where we will eat during our trip.

Brian had a best friend Edwin who one year we took to with us to Walt Disney World, it was so much fun to watch Brian showing him around as he had never been there before, going on the attractions, eating a Dole Whip, sharing his experiences with his best friend.

We planned one last trip for him with us before he left for boot camp on Sept. 18, 2001, that trip never happened as 9/11/2001 happened and there where no flights leaving on 9/12/2011 when we where leaving for Disneyland.  He left a few days later for San Antonio, TX and is still serving his county today in the Air Force.  We where able to take that Disneyland trip much later, but this time we included his bother Paul and his wife Renee.  We did a tour, each had a spa treatment at the Grand Californian Hotel, where we were staying and as a special treat and surprise we treated to a concierge room, which gave us all access to the lounge, which at night they piped in the music for the fireworks and you could watch them from the balcony's.

One of our many Disney Christmas cards! This one is from our trip to Disneyland.

Since then we have taken his girlfriend for her first Disney trip (now his wife) Maggie and another chance to see it doesn't matter how old you are one or 27 your first trip is special.  To watch him again with Maggie taking her to all his favorite attractions and showing her the Disney "ropes", fast passes, treats, and the most important....Winnie the Pooh...if you could have seen the look on her face it was worth every penny!

Brian's 14th birthday

Our next trip was with my youngest sister and her three youngest kids and my parents, you learn hard how to get through a trip with that many people and at Disney fast!!

The all important proof of who put the angel on top of the tree the year before.

You have grown up to be a special person, don't give up your dreams!  

MY BOYS!



I always read to the boys when they where little, I saw this poem on an episode of Criminal Minds and it made me think of both the boys since they are both far away from us now and we don't get to see them as much as we would like - We love you both and miss you!:

Baby Star

Once there was a baby star.

He lived up near the sun.

And every night at bedtime that baby star wanted to have some fun.

He would shine and shine, fall and shoot and twinkle oh so bright.

He said “Mommy, I’ll run away if you make me say goodnight.”

And then his mommy kissed his sparkly nose and said,

“No matter where you go, no matter where you are.

No matter how big you grow and even if you stray far.

I’ll love you forever, because you’ll always be my baby star.”