HaRRy PoTTer FaNaTiCS

A couple of weekends ago the King of the Crazies and I got away from our crazy kids for an anniversary weekend.  It was his year to decide what we do and where we go and he picked Universal's Islands of Adventure.   This post will be about the Harry Potter crazies fans, the Harry Potter village area and Hogwarts.

I read online that if you wanted to ride the Harry Potter ride, you should go there first.  Because it was new we of course wanted to go on it.  We got there before the park opened and were held back once inside the park until the clock struck 9:30 AM.   After that, for some, it was the race of all time.  We took our time.  Some people broke into a full on sprint.  There was also frantic walking, people jumping up to see ahead of where they couldn't wait to get.  It was all quite comical.

Anyway...

Disclaimer:  Know that I did not read the books but a saw a few movies.  The husband has read all the books and seen most of the movies.  So I may be wrong in some of my labeling. 

The Harry Potter village area:

 Hogwarts.  This is where the "Forbidden Journey" ride was.  This ride was not the old "Dueling Dragons" but it is in that area as a Harry Potter ride.  This ride used a movie screen and jerked you around a lot.  I think I got hurt. ;o)  It did move and I think it blew hot air on us at one point.

 I thought it was funny that black birds were flying around and landing on the point.

Some statue inside the castle where we waited for the ride.

 There were faces on these!

 The architecture was amazing.

 :)

 My feet while on the ride!  Buhahaha

 Me with the car.  My husband thought it would be funny to cut me in half.

 Hogwarts students and singing toads?

 Hagrid's home

We also found out that there are three rides in this area that are H.P. themed.  This one, the old Dueling Dragons coaster (which is actually two roller coasters) and what appeared to be a kiddie roller coaster.  (We did not ride that one.) 

These gals were in front of us in the line for the ride.  We later found out you had to wait in a line to get into the store to spend money!

The boy in the dress/cape again.

Nimbus 2000?!  We heard someone that had been in the store saying how one of the brooms (or was it a wand?) was $250.  Um, nothankyouverymuch.  Oh, if only I were as cool as this man.  ;)

A Flashback to Eight Years Ago

I married my best friend...

Me and my girls: My sister Amy, my long time friend Leslie, college roommate Leah, cousin Lisa and my sister in law Charlotte.

My groom with his dad and nephew Grant, Steve, brother in law Greg, future (at the time) brother in law Jon, and my brother Jason

During the vows

"True Love's Kiss"  :o)

The Mr. and Mrs.

Our wedding party

The cake

The groom's cake

Our rings in our flowers

Here's to many more years!

Hermit Crab

Here, in the family of Crazies, we have acquired a hermit crab.  


Now, before you go and get all jealous of our new family pet, just know this:


It is not a NEW pet.  We've had it for a while now.


And it isn't  even a pet per se...


It is our very own Sleeping Beauty.


Sleeping Beauty has been driving her big sister absolutely crazy today.  It doesn't help matters that they are both sick and I am over tired, grumpy and just crazy.  After taking them both to the doctor this morning, Sleeping Beauty eats her lunch and then begins her reign of terror.  She goes into her sister's room and begins trying things on.  No, not for a game of dress up.  She was sizing up her sister's things.  Taking inventory of the things that will one day be hers.  All hers.  Shoes went on and were tried out around the house.  She pretended she was out on a date and that she looked divine.


This drove Cinderella mad.  I do my best to keep little sister out of big sister's room when Cinderella is at school but because Cinderella was in there with her, I wasn't too concerned. 


After the stealing of a pair of boots, it was on like Donkey Kong.  Cinderella lost it.


While laughing in a corner, all I could think of was how the hermit crab searches out a newer, bigger shell to carry on their back for protection.  They go shopping.  Sleeping Beauty has found a boutique that is free.  And it carries nice things.  Things she can't wait for the day to own and have it all to herself.


Do you see the similarities, or is it just me?!  

SiLLy CiNDeReLLa

From this afternoon:

Cinderella may be 5 1/2 and half years old, twice the weight and height of the three year old Sleeping Beauty, but Sleeping Beauty can still do this to her big sis:

And then, when Cinderella cannot get out herself she has to send Sleeping Beauty to get her daddy to save her big sis from the tangled mess she created.  Cinderella says it is fun to be twisted up on the glider, but then when she can't get out she feels trapped.  Also, she lets her baby sister do this to her.  For fun.

Silly girls!

:)

We all have our time machines. Some take us back, they're called memories. Some take us forward, they're called dreams.

- Source Unknown