The Toy Box Years: Disney Princesses on Ice

The Creators of the Toy Box Years

The creators of the Toy Box Years are my two beautiful daughters and wonderful, handsome soldier husband.

"Nani" (our oldest) is a 11 year old 6th grader who loves Taylor Swift, ballet, books, fashion designing and sewing. Ask her what she wants to be when she grows up and it changes daily to anything from "an artist" to "a teacher" to "a singer/dancer". Nani is also currently fighting a battle against brain cancer -- recently diagnosed in June 2016.

"Nudgie" (our youngest) is a very smiley, very happy, very giggly, very spirited 8 year old 3rd Grader who's favorite toys are anything that gives mommy an anxiety attack - ladders, stepstools, the climbing wall at the playground. Like her sister, she has a love of reading and coloring, loves gymnastics and still provides mommy lots of snuggle time!

"My Marine" is my high school sweetheart. We've been married over 20 years and met when we were 17. (You do the math....) His favorite toys are Blackhawk helicopters, the lawnmower, our steam cleaner, and microbrew beer bottles. My husband is also my hero in that he proudly serves his country as a Blackhawk crew chief (hence his favorite toy!). And need I say that there is nothing hotter than my man in uniform!

All About Me......

Once upon a time I had a career and worked in the corporate world. Once upon a time, I dreamed about leaving that all behind to follow my true calling -- being a wife and mommy.

The first part of my calling was fulfilled in 1995 when I married my Marine (now soldier) and my love. Little did I know that being a military wife would change me in so many ways and that because of that, I would have an extended family all over the world from Japan, to California, to North Carolina.

The second part of my calling took a little doing, but I finally achieved that dream in 2004 with the birth of our first child, followed 4 years later by her baby sister.

So now, when someone asks me what I do for a living - I simply smile and say proudly that I'm following my calling - I'm a mommy and a wife -- and I couldn't be HAPPIER -- I'm living in the Toy Box Years!!

Last Friday, as a special Spring Break treat, I took the girls and my mom to see Disney Princesses on Ice. We went to the 11am show since Nani didn't have school that day. We had fabulous seats - about 8 rows from the ice.

I was more excited to see Nudgie's reaction since this would be her very first time to see the Princesses so real and up close! She didn't disappoint me at all! Her eyes were as wide as saucers as soon as we entered the Coliseum. She couldn't stop smiling even after we had her and Nani's picture taken with Cinderella. She practically fell off my lap with excitement when she saw Ariel and Sabastian. Both her and Nani sang along to every....single....song. And Nudgie didn't blink or close her mouth the entire show.

And mommy got incredibly teary-eyed watching them watch the show. Seeing Nudgie's big smile and open mouth and "WOW!" and hearing Nani sing along, believing every word with that six-year old innocence was absolutely PRICELESS!!

I just wish that I could bottle up those moments and capture them forever!