We lived in Southern California for eight years before we set foot into Disneyland. When we finally did visit the park, it wasn't because our kids were clamoring for it or because we had planned for it. It was an accident, really.

When we returned from my daughter's Make-a-Wish trip, we had funds from Make-a-Wish left over. They were so generous and had given us so much to make her trip special — and it was! But at the end of the trip there was still a bit left over, so we decided to use it to purchase tickets to Disneyland.

I quickly realized that we were going to become "one of those families," the kind who can't seem to stay away. The family who will homeschool on Labor Day in order to spend Tuesday at “the happiest place on earth.”

I often feel like people misunderstand why we like going. It isn't because we love thrill rides (but Space Mountain is a favorite) or because we love Mickey and Minnie so much we need to see them frequently. It isn't because the food is amazing (though I do recommend The Grey Stuff) or because the people-watching is superb (which, to be honest: it really is).

The reason that we love Disneyland is because for an entire day you are really do “leave today and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy,” as the sign near the entrance says.. Everything about the park is designed to be immersive: you can't see buildings outside of the park, workers stay in complete character as they talk to you, a cheerful soundtrack wafts through the air, and your kids can't stop grinning. It doesn't matter if you are a child or an adult. For one magical day the only thing that demands your attention is the fun right in front of you.

The first time I saw this plaque at Disneyland I thought it was just a little bit of an exaggeration, but by lunch I understood the magic that Walt Disney was trying to capture: a place where people of all ages could have fun—together.

For our family, specifically, that kind of magical day was healing after a hard and painful year of blood draws, pokes, hair loss, worry, anxiety, anger, trauma, and chemotherapy. In the park we made new family memories. We spent an entire day away from oncologists and lab work. We laughed uncontrollably and saw magic spark in everyone's eyes again. The park was a vacation from our otherwise single-minded focus on leukemia treatment. The park invited us to enjoy something purely fun and blissfully carefree.

Dozens of trips later, that magic is still there waiting for us each time we go. It beckons to us with the promise of a carefree day filled with imagination and layered against the backdrop of years of family memories made in the park together.

Fall room spray

Did you know you can turn any diffuser blend recipe into a room spray? It’s probably the easiest DIY out there and it is the easiest mom hack for keeping any room in your house smelling fresh. I like to put little room spray bottles in my bathrooms, laundry room, and in my car.

I have a slight obsession with the Anthro Fall diffuser blend and when fall rolls around... that’s what’s in my room sprays.

Here’s my recipe:

Snippets of My Week

Ears on for the first time back to Disneyland after a very long break.

Lily and Eva had been saving up to build their own droids at the Droid Depot in Galaxy's Edge. They had so much fun picking out their parts and then building them!

Eva's smiling because she is finally old enough to drive her own car on Autopia!

Smuggler's Run with it's replica of the Millennium Falcon is always a favorite.

Girls teacup: we always end at the Mad Tea Party because the teacups are my favorite.

Thanks for reading! What is someplace that brings you joy? Just hit reply if you’d like to respond. (When you hit reply, your message goes directly to my email. It’s a private conversation between just us.) I read all your messages and try to respond, but not always in a timely manner. Sorry! And if you enjoyed this email, you’d be doing me a favor by forwarding it to someone else who might like it.