On Sunday we make our annual trek to Disney World. We normally go in November when the crowds aren’t as big, so going at Christmas will be a whole new adventure.

Today we are looking back at the trip that started it all: my parents honeymoon. Back in July 1981 after they committed their lives to each other, they hopped on a plane, entered the magical world, and never looked back.

They spent three whole days exploring the world of the Magic Kindgom, as it was the only park open. Epcot was in the process of being built.

Here they are at the Pirates of the Carribean:

My dad, twenty-one at the time,  at the Polynesion Village, where they stayed:

My mom at nineteen:

Sharing a meal at Cinderella’s castle:

My dad:

My mom and pluto:

{See more fun flashbacks here!}

Journey back with me to 1985. My first Christmas. It isn’t something that I remember, but now that I have kids and get to experience all these “firsts” I finally understand how special it really is. Seeing little eyes get excited about Christmas lights or keeping little hands from yanking on the Christmas tree really is something to cherish. Getting to be a witness to a child learning about Jesus and how he was born is wonderful. These little discoveries only happen one time and I was blessed to have parents who cared about them. I also pray I can be that parent to my two children.

Now for the cuteness. Me and my older brother digging under the Christmas tree:

Our family picture in front of the tree. Don’t you love my pacifier?

Three generations (how awesome is it that now we have five?!):

Little family of four (little did they know 8 years from then they would add another baby…and what a great kid he is!):

Older brother tearing into the presents (with a little help from dad):

First visit to see Santa, but really he was Fr. Bill from church.

See more flashbacks here!

Today I am going to flashback to our first Christmas as a married couple. We were living in Tulsa, as were my parents. The plan was to all go to my grandparent’s house in West Virginia for the holiday, but I had to work on Christmas day. So we had my family over for a Christmas dinner before they headed to West Virginia. We joined them a few days later.

We had a yummy sushi dinner. Of course my little brother doesn’t like sushi so he had a cheese and cracker lunchable.

Ahhh the days before kids where I actually decorated.

After dinner we shared gifts:

Charles and I decided to fill each others stockings for Christmas morning, so before I headed off to work we exchanged them.

We had such a great time!

Click here for more flashbacks!

One Thanksgiving in high school we cruised around Mexico! It was so much fun! Ever since I have been wanted to go on another cruise. Maybe one of these days I will convince Charles….maybe when he graduates I can make it his present…shhhh…don’t tell….

Here we are with the boat in the background:

Me and my brothers:

The whole family:

I remember eating pizza ALL day long at the 24 hour pizzeria, I remember the beautiful views, I remember dressing up for dinner, I remember getting my hair done, I remember the awesome waiter we had (my brothers and I actually convinced him to play a trick on my mom!), I remember the TINY bathroom/shower, I remember taking a limo to the boat, I remember the beach….it was fabulous!

Another funny tidbit is that my little brother was convinced a week before the cruise that he wasn’t going to go. Whenever anybody asked him about it he told us we could go but he wasn’t. He had it in his head the boat was going to sink. But he ended up having fun!

Check out other people’s flashbacks here!

Since Halloween is tomorrow I thought I would take a look back at some of the costumes my brother and I dressed up in.

Here we have a clown and a skeleton. I wonder if the skeleton was supposed to scare the clown or if the clown was supposed to scare the skeleton?

In this picture I think I was Laura Ingalls Wilder from Little House on the Prairie (right Mom?) and my brother was a cowboy…in converse shoes!

My older brother as a hockey player and me as a leprechaun. I wish I still had those shoes!!

Ahhh good times!

Here my parents are dressed up and on their way to an office party. Any guesses at who they are dressed as?!?

I have been inspired by Muthering Heights to show off the cuteness (and of course the stylishness) of my early years. In honor of October I have decided to start with pumpkin carving!

Here are my dad, my big brother, and I looking inside the pumpkin:

My Papa helping dig out the guts (and me just watching):

My great Grandmother (who Peanut is named after) helping big brother Ryan (notice that I am again just watching):

Me holding the very clean scoop (did I actually help?):

And my Papa helping with the guts (didn’t my parents own the most awesome car?!):