The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Quincy read books 1-3 of HP a couple of years ago but we wouldn't let her move on to the rest until she got a little older (there's some scary stuff in them!).

This summer she devoured 4, 5, 6, and 7 and is now very much a Harry Potter fan :)

When we first arrived to the park we met these three cuties...

First stop, Hogwarts!

The first ride we went on had these disclaimers spaced in five feet intervals while we were waiting in line.

Notice the man throwing up.

Due to this, Kali and I opted out at the last minute and I'm really glad we did.

As I was waving goodbye to the rest of the gang as they were beginning the ride in their cart, one of the workers was cleaning throw-up off of an empty cart adjacent to theirs.

Gross.

Quaffle, Bludgers, and a Golden Snitch.

Diagon Alley and Gringotts

(I went on that ride---it was fun!)

The dragon on the top of Gringotts shot out actual flames (fire!) at random intervals.  If you were standing under it at the time it happened you really felt the heat!

Kali's BIG Surprise!!

The girls had known for a couple of months that we were meeting the Schroeders in Orlando....but Kali knew nothing.  She didn't even know she was going to Orlando until the morning of.  

When Quincy and Ellie walked into the hotel and Kali finally saw them, it took her a moment to register what was happening...and then the shrieking began (seriously, it was loud)!

 Of course we got adjoining rooms again...it's the only way to do it :)

Disney preview :)

And the odd thing is that Ellie really enjoyed this ride two years ago...

August? It's over? How'd that happen?

Apparently I didn't take a lot of photos in August...

...that's weird.

I did get this one of the girls pretending to be Ninjas....

...that was kind-of weird, too.

First day of school, 2014-15

Mr. Ron was still their bus driver this year ...for three whole days.

But the bus was too crowded so the route got divided and we didn't get to keep Mr. Ron :(

Ellie's BFF, Eleanor, and her sister Rena had a sleepover at our house.

They are just such awesome kids :)

And now it's September.

And we're off to Disney and Harry Potter World...

...with the Schroeder's! 

Yippee!!!!!!!!!!

Huntington Beach, Day 5, Part 2---Last Day at the Beach

I had forgotten just how powerful the west coast waves are...

...on the east coast I can just sit in a chair and keep a (very relaxed) eye on the kids when they are in the water....

...but not this trip!

I had a stress-induced neck-ache after they were (safely) out of the water for the day!

The 60-ish degree water was too cold for Ellie...

...who was content to just hang out and play in the warm sand :)

Britt (above) teaching Quincy how to body surf  :)

It was just such a great trip ...

...*pleasant sigh*...