Christmas in Disney World, Orlando Florida

Christmas in Disney World. 

I like to give myself little challenges. This summer I photographed 

our barn vacation using only the Cannon 5D and a 50mm lens. 

This time I decided to only use the 5D and the 16-35mm lens. 

I have to admit, this is not my go-to lens. Actually that's part of the reason I chose it - I really wanted to push myself to get more comfortable with it. 

Well, at first, I was frustrated. Okay - okay - VERY frustrated. 

But as the days passed I began to understand the lens. 

Seeing this post I am pleased with the photos. I learned much from the self-imposed challenge. The wide angle lens really helps the photographer tell the whole story. It accentuates lines and dramatizes even some of the most mundane moments. 

It's a lens worth being familiar with.

 MOST importantly, however,  I had a wonderful wonderful (WARM) Christmas 

vacation with my family! 

Blessings to all of you. I hope you are spending time with the people who matter most to you.  

I wish you all the very best this coming year. 

Okay Where are we?? 

Italy --- duh!! 

Epcot is not to be missed. The food was fantastic. So was spending time with cousins. 

Awwww... aren't they cute!! 

(Even the one below who is flexing!) 

The Bad (A**) Borozinski Boys. (Minus Big Bad Nate Dogg.) 

 I love to laugh - loud and long and clear... or at least hear children laugh.

We saw an amazing amount of wildlife - a 2-tailed lizard, a variety of birds,
a cotton tail rabbit and coopers hawk... pretty cool!

Merry Christmas from the Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios! 

Although the only souvenirs I bought myself were Wally and Eva pins (they came as a set) ...  I have to admit I almost left with this Bulls-eye toy. I guess I'm just a sucker for horses :) 

(My budding photographer.) 

I've said this before ... but come on ... EVERY PRINCESS NEEDS A PONY!! 

I kept thinking: What if he actually pulls it out.. How awesome would that be??? Seriously. Would bells start ringing and music play and would everyone in the crowd bow down on one knee... it could happen... right?? 

These are The Osborne Family Spectacle of Dancing Lights... and they were magical. The lights danced to perfectly synchronized holiday music. (Every year, Jennings Osborne and his family set up an elaborate collection of holiday lights - in ARKANSAS (shout out to Kaitlyn)... eventually the collection grew until in 1995, the family decided to share their magic with the world and moved the exhibition to Disney World.) 

It made me think of the line from that Christmas Song - by Henry Longfellow:

I heard the bells, on Christmas Day,

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men." 

Two very familiar scenes from our Disney trip - kids in the 

water and everybody waiting for somebody in the bathroom... 

The best view I've ever had!

Then some combination of dehydration, exhaustion, candy and Disney resulted in a 103 degree temperature. Luckily it passed fairly quickly and we were up and ready to go... 

I have to say the staff (cast) are pretty awesome at making the kids feel special. This princess was bowed to multiple times, my little "Stitch" was complimented and his cousin "Captain Jack Sparrow" received many "garrs" and "ahoy-mate's"... they do work hard to give the children "Magical Days." I - for one - appreciated it.

What can I say... we love to shoot each other :) 

Green eyes. 

We stayed in Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. 

I liked it. 

 I loved the pork and cheese sandwich, the pool closest to our room was normally totally vacant (Allowing for family cannon ball lessons) and we slept in pirate beds... what else could we have wanted???

Jedi training was the highlight of our Disney experience. 

Seriously. Awesome. Skills.

When our son turned 6 we noticed he wanted to take photos all the time. At first we bought him a "toy" digital camera - DO NOT DO THIS. The camera was piece of junk. It was soooooooo frustrating. 

A year ago we found the solution.

The Panasonic Lumix. 

It's waterproof. It's shock proof. It shoots video. 

We love it. 

Can't you tell...???