Wave Your Mouse Ears In the Air Like You Just Don't Care

I'm a fan of the Mouse. Mickey Mouse, that is.

Yes, we just returned from our first family trip to Walt Disney World. That's in Florida, for those not in the know.

I figured that a trip to Disney with two kids under five would be loads of fun for them, and not so much for me. I was partly right. The girls had a hootin', hollerin' good time. But surprisingly, I did, too. I think I had as much fun as they did, if not more.

I didn't go so far as to get a lined, embroidered Mickey Mouse jacket (you know what I'm talking about), but I did thoroughly enjoy having money ripped from my clutches at an alarming rate. We had so much darn fun, I can't even hold it against those Disney masterminds who have thought of every scheme under the sun to separate wide-eyed folks from their hard-earned cash.

I have to say, though, navigating the retail landmines that pop up every three feet in the Magic Kingdom proved a bit difficult. My girls usually are not ones to ask me to buy trinkets and such everywhere we go, but I heard a lot of, "Mom, can I puh-leeze have this?"

We came home with a plastic pirate sword and a light saber and not much else.

I declare, that is no small victory.

I also decided that Disney's current advertising phrase, "Year of a Million Dreams" should be changed to, "Year of a Million Meltdowns". I saw many of those, and experienced more than a few myself, from my little one.

All in all, though, we made many good memories.