Harry Potter World

A few weeks before Vivienne was born, our friend Tyler called Tanner to let him know that he and some of their other med school buddies were going to Orlando and would love for us to come too. Tanner thanked him for the invite but let him know that I would have a newborn so we wouldn't be able to go. I was so bummed for Tanner that he wouldn't be able to see all of his friends and was telling my mom about it and she suggested he go with Mariah and Chet. She and my dad would be here so they could entertain Eliza and Austin and help me. 

It took some serious convincing, but Tanner finally decided he could at least look into it. And then we remembered Harry Potter World. Ever since we started reading the books as a family our kids have been obsessed. They bring up something from Harry Potter daily and Mariah knows more about the books than I do. So Tanner took the plunge. We decided we wouldn't tell the kids until the day of. That way Austin wouldn't have time to think about it. 

The morning they were going to leave, Grandpa took all four of the kids fishing at the neighbor's pond. After an hour of untangling fishing line and no fish, Grandpa decided that might be the one and only time he will do that. About an hour before they were going to leave, Tanner broke the news to Mariah and Chet. Austin handled it so well, and Eliza immediately began packing her backpack to go with them. Luckily Grandma and Grandpa saved the day and took the younger two to Pizza Ranch. 

It's hard to be sad with all-you-can-eat pizza and ice cream.

After pizza ranch, they went grocery shopping with grandma and grandpa and picked out lots of treats that mom never buys. Thats what grandma and grandpa do best. 

They spent a day at the auction where Eliza insisted Grandma name every cow.

 They also got to make cardboard box cars and have a drive-in movie in them. Austin slept in Mariah's bed and they played so well together.  

The big kids and dad arrived in Florida at bedtime but woke up early the next day to head to the beach. It was a cold day but luckily there was a heated pool and hot tub right by the beach. 

These friends were such a blessing to Tanner during Medical School. Pretty sure they spent more time with him than I did those two years in Kirksville. We are so grateful for their friendship. 

These guys were babies just yesterday right? 

The next day was spent at Harry Potter World. 

Mariah's unintentionally rocking the Hermoine look in this picture. They tried butterbeer (at least four times, according to Chet), went on a few rides and wandered around the park. 

After spending all day at HP World they met up with the Robertsons. They got a huge mint chocolate chip shake at the Chocolate Emporium.  

The next morning they headed back to HP world. Mariah and Chet got wands and had a blast casting spells all over the park. 

Mariah and Chet loved Ernie. They came to see Ernie an hour later and he said, "Hello, Mariah." Witchcraft...

Mariah's favorite thing at the park was the Hagrid's motor cycle roller coaster. "I liked when we got caught in Devil's Snare and fell to another track." Chet's favorite thing was riding the Hogwart's Express. "A Dementor came and Harry got it to go away!" 

They had a blast and couldn't stop talking about it when they got home. They also got Austin a Sword of Gryffindor and Eliza a stuffed Hedwig. Tanner was super-dad and had to deal with some unexpected kid-related hurdles on the trip and handled it like a champ. We were happy to have them home and hear all about their adventures.