Beach Time

While in Florida, we went down to Tampa and spent a few days with one of my oldest friends, Peggy.  We met at Girl Scout camp when we were about 11 or 12.  Peggy purchases sun hats for the girls, and Junior felt left out so she let him wear hers.  Thankfully he wore it the entire time, which probably prevented him from getting sunburned like the rest of us, despite being a slave to the sunscreen.

While Gunner was building the sand castle, Junior tried to fill the moat....bucket after bucket after bucket after bucket.

He finally passed out.

They wanted to go back, but unfortunately, we were so drained we could barely move the next day and instead hid out to watch Toy Story 3 in 3D.

Disney Junior Style

Much to the dismay of other people in the group, Junior loved It's a Small World.

Going all day will eventually lead to meltdowns.

He looks so innocent when he is sleeping.

He loved Epcot because there were so many hands on things to do.  He played the drums for a while, made a mask, danced, and wore himself out.

It's not Disney, but Junior loved Seussland at Universal Studios.  Everything was so whimsical, and who doesn't love Dr. Seuss?

Junior loves maps.  

What boy doesn't love games where you can shoot?  He was a huge fan of the Buzz Lightyear ride and also my favorite ride, Toy Story.

Hopefully he will have some memories from our trip, because it will be a while before we do it again!

Harry Potter--Universal Studios

After 7 days of Disneyworld, we hit Universal Studios.  Our main focus was to see the new Harry Potter section of the park.  

I'll confess, I haven't read the books, but they are definitely on my list now.  Gunner and the girls have read them, and even Junior knows all about Harry Potter.  

Inside the castle is the coolest ride!  I think I did most of the ride with my mouth open, I was so shocked at what I was seeing.  Great ride.  (It's a little intense as a girl passed out on the ride not long after we got off, so they had to shut the ride down for a bit.)

Abs took her Harry Potter costume and several people stopped us and wanted to know where we got it.  (Ummmm......Current outlet for about $7.)

Abs enjoying a butter beer.

Abs with the singing toad choir or something like that.

Junior in front of Hagrad's house.

Abs in front of the Hogwarts Express.

The whole area only had a few rides, but lots of shops.  Em was in a wheelchair this day and unable to walk at all, so we didn't go inside any of the shops because of the masses of people.

They had a wand experience that my kids really wanted to do, but the wait was several hours and then you still had to wait in line outside of  Ollivander's.  Next time I would add the wand experience as the older two were willing to wait hours for that.

I really wish I had read the books before we went there, but I just had a few million other things to do.

So......it's overly priced to get in, the crowds are overwhelming, the heat and humidity is outrageous, but my kids, who are huge Harry Potter fans, loved the experience.  

P.S. The butter beer was good and the pumpkin juice was great as well!  

Abs and water

Remember my facebook status that said something to the effect of "guess which child 'fell' into the fountain?"

I'm sure it wasn't hard to guess.

I was going through pictures from Florida and I stumbled upon these that Gunner took.

He took pictures?

It's a good thing playing in the fountains isn't a big deal, but she went on to get SOAKED.  He couldn't stop her early in the fun?

I'm all ears!

T-Rex Cafe

I had heard from two friends, that the T-Rex cafe was a must-see at Downtown Disney, so I made reservations.  Which I canceled later because I was too busy at the parks!

Finally we made it down there...

There was an ice cave in the middle of the restaurant that changed colors, and the dinosaurs came to "life" periodically throughout the meal.  All three of the kiddos were excited once we got inside (and Abs too).  

That's the ice cave in the back.

Abs was just excited to name each of the dinosaurs.

A giant T-Rex when you come in the door.  Gunner tried to feed Junior to him, but unfortunately those pictures didn't turn out.

The food was overpriced of course, but the place was packed and they were making a killing.  I think I want to own a franchise in some hot family spot like that.  

The food was actually pretty good, and I can't complain about the margaritas either.  When it was all said and done, we actually spent what we usually do at Rainforest Cafe, so it wasn't too bad.  I was just feeling cheap by that point!  

They have a play area outside where the kids can dig through the sand and "excavate".  Unfortunately we didn't see that till we were in line waiting to be seated.  I'd definitely go back again because I have kids that love dinosaurs, but if you don't, skip it for Planet Hollywood (which we did too!).

M-I-C-K-E-Y MOUSE

Junior has decided that only potty trained boys can go to Disneyworld with their sisters, and I am "just a mommy" so I shouldn't go.  Thanks kiddo.  I'm going anyway.

Abs dressed for the trip.

The bags are packed, and even though Gunner wouldn't share any of his bag with me, I managed to fit in everything that I needed.

Gunner wanted to arrive at the airport an hour and a half before our flight.  The Denver airport takes forever to get around, plus we have to park, then get bags and 4 kids to the terminal.  I told him we needed at least 3 hours at the airport, and we could always stop off at the USO if we had time.  His solution is that he will drop me off outside the terminal with 4 kids, 6 bags, 6 carry ons, and a carseat.  

How fun does that sound for me?  I think I will line them up, make them each drag a bag, Em will get two, I'll handle the carseat and my bag, and we will march to the counter to check it all in.  I think we might make the evening news.  

Some people frown at "leashes" for the kids, but since my stroller is in FL since we didn't have room in the car on the drive back from TX, I think Junior might have to be on one while we are marching.  I can't afford to lose him.

Speaking of Junior, Gunner took him to get a haircut today and Junior told the barber that he wanted his cowlick chopped off.  He came home and was so proud that it was gone, till Em pointed out to him that it wasn't.  Tears, more tears, and even more tears.  He's convinced 4 year olds should not have cowlicks.

This is our last hurrah before Gunner leaves.  So while I am excited about the trip and all that we have planned, I am also sad that it will be a long time before we can do something like this again.  

Wish us luck, and be glad that you won't be on our plane!

Too tired to pack

I got a little packing done, but it's not almost 9 pm and I am nowhere near done.

I'm exhausted.

The race was great!  The water was cold, and the timing mat was at the top of the ramp to T1.  Ummmm....that added minutes on to my swim time, and made me look uber fast in transition.

The bike was a nice course.  Lots and lots and lots of hills.  One right after another.

The run course was all cement, but wove through some field/marsh type things, so it was nice.  Lots of water stops.  I probably should have slowed down on the liquids, because I eyed the port a potty on the route pretty hard.  Fortunately I made it without a pit stop!

Abs and Gunner were there throughout the race cheering me on.  Abs was really impressed every time I raced by. She looked up from my iPhone long enough to smile, wave, yell for me, and then return to what she was doing.

I was 18th out of 54 in my age group.  Not great by any means, but having not worked out in two weeks except for a short 4 mile run one day, I knew I wasn't going to break any records.  It's my fault, but camping wasn't exactly the place to be working out, although I guess I could have run when it cooled down and the mountain lions were out.

The main thing is that I enjoyed the race.  So much so, that I am looking for another race in the same location so that I can kick some butt next time!

Abs and I went to get pedicures, and the lady saw the bottom of my feet and got grossed out.  They are covered in dry skin, blisters, healed blisters, and were looking rough.  She didn't speak enough english to understand what I was trying to say, but she did what she could with them.  All I know is that the massage felt great!

I've got tons of laundry to do before we left, but I did make Junior a shirt while Gunner ran to the store.  I also sent him out with 4 kids to get Em some Keen's for the trip and so that I could try to sleep.  I dozed off and on for hours.

I'm reading The Book Thief right now, and if you haven't read it, it is amazing!  I'm hoping to finish it up on the plane tomorrow and then start in on some of the other books I have lined up.  I completed about 5 or 6 books while I was in Texas, so I am making some more room on my bookshelf...sort of.

We are flying with 4 kids today, wish us luck!