Jet Lagged

The boys got along pretty well this voyage home making our trip happily uneventful except for the two bouts of motion sickness, one pair of soaked through clothing, a new potty trained little one who can't go without taking practically everything off, and going through customs with 8 pieces of check luggage (one over-sized), two carry-ons, and three car seats. Normally I go home with little and return with lots however, since we aren't returning I had to bring 4 months worth of clothing, sundries, and a few favorite toys.

(Amsterdam Airport during a 4 hour lay over. They ran around with other Expat Kids the first 1.5 hours then settled in for a few cartoons before boarding the next flight.)

On previous trips I over packed the carry-on with things to keep the boys busy and all they wanted to do was watch the non-stop movies. This time I brought practically nothing....I even left the stroller behind and they complained of being bored at times. I've found that every time we travel they are at different stages and I don't always anticipate what they'll want during these insanely long voyages. Thankfully Graham was happy to watch episodes of Handy Mandy and Phineas and Ferb repeatedly....and I mean around 4 times each. Also starting off the journey on a red eye makes the boys want to sleep for a portion off each flight and they still flip times fairly quickly upon arrival.

But every so often something like this happens.

When I left our second night here to go biking with my Dad around 7 pm I warned my Mom that if Ethan stopped moving and sat down he would fall asleep as he'd been up since 4:30 am. True enough when I returned home at 10:30 he was asleep, fully dressed, on the office floor and he been so for quite a while as my mother had been unable to move him. I decided to just let him lay there while I got a few things down. Just as I was ready to head down for a shower he began to stir but when I tried to guide him down the stairs he refused and went to lay down and snuggled up by the oven on the kitchen floor instead. Boy was he MAD when I tried to pick him up and carry him down the stairs. He began kicking and screaming so much I set him down mid way where he fussed for a while. After that he decided that he would indeed come down the stairs but refused any help getting his PJs on or going to bed and decided to curl up on the bathroom floor. At this point I just gave up for a few minutes and let him just sort out his feelings. After about 10 minutes, while gently rubbing his back, I sweetly and softly asked if he wanted to sleep in the bathroom all night or get in bed and he finally chose the later.

Of course this morning, as I suspected, he has no recollection of the event.

That's Jet Lag for ya.

Red Fish Blue Fish We've Got A Little Fish

Is anyone else tired of hearing about this trip?

I am!

Leaving Universal Studios wasn't as easy as we'd hoped after our Magical Morning in Hogsmead. The shortest route to the exit is through Dr. Seuss Land.

This really is one of the most fun Carousels around because of the unique Seuss Characters.

Ethan rode it a least 6 smile filled times. We also spent a few minutes shopping and spinning around on some other kiddie rides. But then we were just done. Done, DONE, DONE with amusement parks, rides, and the lines that comes with these places.

....................................................

One Fish Two Fish...

We discovered we've got a Little Fish!

Who is fearless!!!

Since the pool rule changes we haven't really taken Graham to the pool. We didn't know that he is FEARLESS, doesn't mind going under, can blow bubbles, will dive in, or jump off the edge backwards until this trip.

...................................................

The whole trip I kept looking at this gorgeous red hair and wondered what a few of my curly hair products might do.

WOW!!!

See what a little
Big and Sexy Root Pump Plus
and
Big and Sexy Curl Power Spray Foam
and diffusing it upside down did.

Just look at these LUSCIOUS LOCKS of red!
Who would not want that hair and with those cheek bones and full lips?
I didn't find the right product for my curls until after collage. I spent way to many years with limp or frizzed out curls and worse those wet looking crunchy curls. Those days are gone for me and I'm so glad I could pass this info on to my niece who will be a tween before we know it.

Apparently, the day she went out like this people could not and would not leave her alone. She went to ooh and ahh at all the Princesses at the Magic Kingdom and instead everyone kept oohing and ahhhing at her.

The Magical World of Harry Potter

I'm not sure who was more excited about visiting HP World....the Moms and Dads or the kids.

In all truthfulness I think it was the Moms and then the Dads and then the kids.

Is it too much to say this was a dream come true? Not that I felt I've had no purpose in life before visiting, but come on! For those of us that have loved the books for so many years we've all had dreams about being a part of that magical world if only for a day.

Unfortunately everyone else in the park had the same idea. As we walked towards Hogsmead so did everyone else.

Only a few, and I mean very few people drifted in other directions. Reggie and Lauren took this opportunity to ride some adult coasters on the other side of the park and met up with us later.

Had we known that the crowds and long lines would only last until mid day we would have maybe changed our plans a bit. But there was really no way of knowing.

In reality there was no place else I wanted to be than waiting in the immensely long line sipping the divine shortbread and butterscotch concoction better known as Butterbeer. I brought back as many of the Icee and regular versions as I could carry to the line.

After we knocked back a few of the Butterbeers we could get back to focusing on the magnificent scenes around every corner.

To help the parents not go crazy we played a game of Harry Potter ABC's in line for Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey.

If felt so real inside the castle: talking pictures, advice from the sorting hat, bad singing from the Fat Lady, and after speaking with Harry, Hermione, and Ron it began to snow....inside the castle. The ride itself was the longest most intense ride I have ever been on. I actually closed my eye in fright a few times...thankfully I missed the big snake.

Then it was time for the Wand to choose Zach. For months he had saved and then passed up almost every other tempting purchase during the trip in order to buy a wand. All along he said he intended to buy Dumbledore's wand.

But as we walked along feeling each one it was Hermione's that chose him. If I had purchased one, and I was tempted, it would have been Professor Lupin's.

This was a we're out of Pumpkin Juice, or Butterbeer, or I want a wand too melt down. I don't honestly remember now. He was still very sick so you really can't blame the little guy.

The tricky part about this day was that Ethan did not meet the height requirements for most of the rides. So that meant a lot of standing in line with nothing to do except harasses his immediate and extended family. But can you blame the kid? He hasn't read the books and only seen snippets of the movies- since he hasn't read the books. So what else was there to do?

Hiding in this nest is a giant Hippogriff.

Just look at the smile on Ethan's face here. Finally something he could do.

By this time we were ready for a feast.....

and there was no place better than the 3 Broomsticks.

The set up inside was very well organized and went smoothly considering how crowded of a day it was.

And feast we did. There is also a giant family salad that goes along with this meal. Of course we washed it all down with a few more Butterbeers. So glad they didn't stick with a traditional British menu because for park food this was really good....especially the ribs.

After lunch we separated, the Jenkins to Honeydukes and the Slocombe/Hamms to Olivander's Wand Shop.

Zonko's was a delight where you could adopt fuzzy pets or buy extend-able ears.

We missed the show but caught a glimpse of wizarding students from Hogwarts, Durmstrang, and Beauxbaton.

The boys decided on enormous chocolate frogs with collectible wizard cards inside. Meanwhile Chris and I shared a chocolate cauldron and some mini mint chocolate frogs.

It did feel as though a magic spell was cast upon us that morning, playing a game of Quiditch, escaping the Dementor's Kiss, being chased by a fire breathing dragon amongst other things..... if only for a few hours.

Magic Kingdom

Supposedly this is the "Happiest Place On Earth."

It may have started off this way but it didn't last....at least for me.

Here's just a small sample of why.

I don't know if it was PMS or the fact that the kid couldn't be still- let alone not bother, hit, kick, or spit on someone. Now, we love Ethan dearly; his energy and life add so much spice to our family we wouldn't know what to do without him, but we also don't always know what to do with him either.

There were good family moments, like below on one of our favorite rides, but Chris and I were so exhausted that we ran out of appropriate consequences for the kid. It got ugly at times, in fact we almost walked out of the park. I am happy to say since we've been back, in our right minds, and in a normal routine we have come up with appropriate consequences for the hitting, kicking, and spitting and they have been almost completely eliminated from E's repertoire.

Double click on the picture above so you can really grasp the hilarity of this moment. Chris and E are in front with Zach and I in the second row. I love water rides.....as long as I don't get wet. I just hate walking around a park all day wet and uncomfortable, even if it is a hot day. We brought our ponchos so I could enjoy the ride to it's fullest. Also, with a kid play area we could do the rides as individual families or switch it up as much as we wanted.

By lunch time I still hadn't recovered from my grumps and was ready to sit and let these guys entertain the kids for a bit.

The Crystal Palace is really a nice way for the kids to meet characters and there are plenty of kid-friendly foods.

I recommend having a reservation; it just makes things smoother.

In the end it wasn't a horrible day it was just exhausting.

I think Tiger was giving Graham a kiss but now it looks like he's eating Graham's head.

In the end we rode all our favorite rides several times and saw everything else we were interested in. Happily the Jenkins left before the fireworks show so it was not overly crowded as we left. The Slocombes and Hamms who departed later were not so fortunate.

Hollywood Studios

This park was unexpectedly packed and super hot.

We had three goals today
1. To ride the Rockin' Roller-coaster as many times as possible with out getting sick.
2. Terrorize as many of our family members as possible on the Tower of Terror.
and
3. Become True Jedi.

Everything else such as: The Car Stunt Show, The Indian Stunt Show, the Muppet Show, and Honey I Shrunk The Kids Park were all fun time fillers until the main event.

Also during this day Graham's goopy nose turned into a high fever and vomiting. I knew we would be making a Dr. visit later but for the time being he slept in my arms for a while and perked up later in the day.

The deal for this trip was we'd provide the place if Reggie and Ryanne would research and plan each day's activities. We are so glad we did! Otherwise our boys would not have had the opportunity to:

BECOME TRUE JEDI KNIG,HTS!
We felt really bad for all those kids who showed up for the show hoping to get in as they didn't realize that you must arrive first thing and the day fills up in an hour.

To do so one must:

1. Arrive at the park early.

2. RUN to the sign up point only to wait in line behind all the other hopeful Jedi.

3. Receive and retain the coveted ticket until show time.

4. Then comes the last and final test.....FACING VADER HIMSELF!

Happily none of them turned to the Dark Side.

We are now the proud parents and aunts and uncles of four Jedi Graduates.

Before the day was done we did Rockin' Roller coaster numerous times. Ethan choose to ride the Tower of Terror, even though last time he swore he'd never do it again. By the way, he retook the oath. Senneca was also terrified during the ride but after decided she loved it enough to convince Zach to try it. After the freaky Twilight Zone video he decided not to ride the ride and took the Service Elevator out and bought a grape lollipop to calm his nerves.

Reggie's family actually had a fourth goal to see Fantasmic but the Jenkins decided our family wouldn't stick around for it so we could have an early night and take Graham to a Doc In The Box. So glad we didn't because the lines were forming for it when we left, about 2 hours before the show. None of us were prepared to stand in line with our kids for that long. At the beginning of the day possibly when everyone is fresh but certainly not at the cranky hour.