Universal Round Two

Today we started in Harry Potter world, riding some of the same rides as yesterday. When we were looking at the Hogwarts cloaks in one of the shops, I was helping the kids decide if they really wanted one and asked, "Do you think you'll wear it often?" Finley replied, "What do you mean wear it a lot? Like at Universal? Halloween? Saturdaaaaaays?" It made us all chuckle. 

As we rode one of the rollercoasters Hyrum pretended to cast a spell and said, "expensiiiiiivvve PETROLEUM!" which also had us all cracking up.

We enjoyed lunch and a butter beer at the three broomsticks (one of their faves from last time). 

The food is always yummy with a choice between a chicken leg or ribs.

All of the kids just got nuggets and fries...

By late afternoon, they were done with the rides and ready to head back to the hotel. We stopped for a quick treat at Marble Slab on our way out.

Swimming and sun bathing was enjoyed by all.

We walked to Denny's for dinner and on the way back stumbled across this alligator place where you could hold a gator. Hyrum begged and begged, and Mike laughed and checked it out. It's not every day you get to hold a gator where we are from. The kids thought it was super cool!

Then, just as I was falling asleep, I heard a sound no mother likes to hear in the middle of the night. Someone decided to barf up their mac & cheese from dinner and cover the entire bathroom floor (thankgoodness it wasn't the rug). I cringed as I wiped up the chunks with tissues and then mopped the  tiny bathroom floor with a face cloth and shampoo so it would be useable again. Definitely a night to remember!

 

Universal Studios

This morning we woke before the sun once again to eat breakfast and line up at the bus stop so that we could enjoy our early admission to the park. We caught the first bus from our hotel and when we got to Universal the kids basically ran to the gates to get in the next line. 

When we walked to the velocicoaster there was only one person on the ride, and he was screaming around every loop. We all burst out laughing and the kids reenacted the moment at various times throughout the day (you had to be there). 

I am not a fan of rides, or roller coasters, so I was happy to sit with Oliver and wait for the rest of the crew to hop on this crazy coaster.

The Harry Potter rides are some of their faves, and I can actually tolerate them (haha) so we stood in line for Hagrids and Gringots and a bunch of other rides most of the morning.

For lunch we headed to this old school diner and got milkshakes and burgers. It was so fun sitting around the table with these big kids and listening to them visit and chat.

We took the kids to get a Caricature to gift to Grampa since he really wanted one the last time they were here with him. It was cool seeing this artists take on each of their personalities.

After a quick dinner at a little mall, we all headed back on the bus to the hotel.

The evening was finished off with a swim in the pool. The wind made it a bit chilly, but they braved it!

Off to Orlando

This morning we were up before the sun to catch our flight to Orlando! It was Oliver's first time on an airplane and he was pumped! Some of the kids joke that the airport and flying are their favorite parts of these kind of trips. They were definitely hyped up for the early hour!

We managed to squeeze in an airport lunch and a quick nap during our layover!

We finally made it to Orlando in the evening. The view from our hotel window did not dissappoint.

The kids are looking forward to a day at Universal Studios in the morning as well as swimming in this gorgeous pool!

 

Adventuring with the Bigs

The full moon last night was glorious! Slivers of silver light crept through the curtains of the nursery as I sushed Cooper to sleep in the middle of the night. 

We left this afternoon for a trip with the five oldest children, but Coopers smile will be forever on my mind. I'm going to miss the little ones so much!

After a little bit of shopping at the mall, we hit up Costa Vida for dinner.

It was fun to see the older kids lead and help this time around with Fin and Ollie joining. 

Our evening was spent at the hotel pool hanging out in the water and crashing down water slides. They all went to bed exhausted and ready for tomorrow!