History in the Making

We are leaving the day after tomorrow! The Siblings and I have been planning this trip for 5 1/2 years now. It's hard to believe it's really been that long. I had the priveledge of experiencing Disney during the holiday season in 2001. It is still my most favorite Disney Trip. It was such a magical, beautiful thing, that I wanted to share it with the rest of my family. The Boy had just outgrown the whole Disney thing and I was really longing to experience Disney with a little kid, particularly a kid that I loved. I came back from that trip with the brilliant idea of arranging a group trip for all the people I love most in this world.
We initially set the date to coincide with Grammy's 60th birthday, so that we could all be there to see the holiday decorations. I remember telling the sibs that no one could get pregnant for the next year because that would mess up my numbers. I had printed up a cost estimate for each family including the children they currently had, and if they waited long enough, then the new kids would be under three and therefore free. Jug didn't tell me they were already expecting Laila at that point. Ame didn't even know Ethan was already on his way.
Other major family changes occured in the following years. The dates were changed and moved around more times than I can count. What started as a group of 16 is now a group of 21. The kids have all been with their families in the meantime, so only Baby J will be a first timer.

The last time I went to Disney World with both parents and all 4 siblings, EPCOT was only a couple of years old. I wore Duran Duran buttons on my shirt. My sister lost one of her jellies in the Atlantic Ocean. My dad had only recently finished customizing Ol' Yeller, the Old Yellow Van. My mom and I thought the frozen fruit bars were the coolest things ever, because you couldn't buy them anywhere else. My older brother wore cool T-shirts, my middle brother had a head full of thick hair, and my baby brother had not yet started school.
I thought it was the most wonderful place in the whole world. And I still do.