Universal Studios

We loved both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure equally. We had the two-park tickets so we were able to hop back and forth between parks.  With the unlimited Express Passes, we didn't need to rush around or follow a strict plan like we did when we went to Disney.  This park experience was much more laid back and relaxing.  Some of the rides that we enjoyed on the Universal Studios side were Minion Mayhem, the Rip Ride Rocket roller coaster, and the Simpson's ride.  Actually, the kids really liked the whole Simpson's area, and we spent quite a bit of time here.  We even ate breakfast here one morning (we ordered d'oh nuts).  We also got to meet several of the characters from our favorite movies, so that was a treat.  Diagon Alley was also in the Universal Studios park, but I'm going to do a separate post on all things Harry Potter.

Owen was excited to get to meet "B-dog" from one of the "Buddies" movies.

Royal Pacific Resort

We stayed inside Universal at the Royal Pacific Resort.  This Polynesian-themed resort is one of the fanciest hotel that we've ever stayed at. We usually don't stay at places this nice, but staying at one of the "premium" Universal properties has an unbeatable perk- Unlimited Express Pass.  Not having to wait in line is definitely worth the extra cost of the hotel room.  Plus, we got to go into Diagon Alley one hour before park opening.  We were in the parks for two days, and they were two full days.  In the evenings, we hung out by the resort pool where we had dinner, swam, and watched the outdoor poolside movie (a different Harry Potter movie nightly).

WonderWorks

 A few days before our school system's fall break began, Brian surprised us all with the announcement that we would be going to Universal Studios over the holiday.  Brian planned the whole trip, and he did a great job.  The day after the FSU / Miami game, we drove down to Orlando to check into our hotel.  We got there a little early, so we paid a visit to WonderWorks.  The kids enjoyed going through the building and checking out all of the fun exhibits and activities.  We also did the glow-in-the-dark ropes course.  Olivia got a little scared on it, but Owen was a daredevil.  He was all over the place.

Florida State v/s Miami

Brian is a big fan of the Florida State Seminoles, so for his birthday (back in July) we got him tickets to the big rivalry game against Miami. The game was at 8 p.m., so we left the house around 3 last Saturday to travel to Tallahassee.  After a quick bite and a stop at Target to buy Seminole gear for Livy and myself, we arrived at the game.  Traffic was horrendous and there were no available parking spots close the the stadium.  We ended up parking quite a distance from the game and walking.  By the time we arrived, had our tickets scanned, and found our seats, the band was already on the field and the festivities were about to begin.  We did arrived in time to see the Noles make their grand entrance.  The kids were looking forward to seeing Chief Osceola and Renegade, so we're glad we didn't miss them.

 The game was everything that a good football game should be.  It was a close, but our team pulled it out in the end.  The final score was 29-24.  The kids cheered and tomahawk-chopped so much that I was sure they would be hoarse the next day.  The game did not end til around midnight, and we were exhausted.  Not wanting to make that long walk back to the car, Brian hired a pedicab.  The previously tired kids perked right up during the pedicab ride.  They thought that it was super-cool.  (This was my first pedicab ride and I also thought it was super-cool).  We arrived back to the car in no time and were able to beat the traffic out of town.  The kids loved the football game experience, and it was a nice way to kick off our Fall Break.

Promotion Sunday

At the beginning of the school year both Olivia and Owen got promoted to the next class in Sunday School.  They decided to re-align the ages in the various classes, which is why both kids got promoted in the same year.  The kids promoting from Elementary I to Elementary II were presented with a Bible. All of the kids were excited to receive this.  Here is a picture of everyone with their Bibles.

Jacksonville Marine Corps Half

I ran the Jacksonville Marine Corps Half Marathon at the beginning of October.  I wasn't exactly in "half marathon" condition, but this is one of my favorite races so I ran it anyway.  Money raised by this race goes to numerous military charities. One of the most memorable moments of any race I've ever had occurred at the start line.  The microphone died during the national anthem.  Without missing a beat, the runners, military personnel, and spectators all joined in to finish the song a cappella.  It was a moving moment... and then they fired a cannon to start the race and we were all scared out of our skins by the loud noise.
The course for this race is absolutely fabulous, and  I finished better than I thought I would.  I kept a slow, steady pace and didn't stop at all during the run. My final time was 2.24.17- not my best but better than last year.

Grandparents Lunch

 One of the kids' favorite days of the school year is Grandparents Day.  They love having their grandparents visit them at school and eat lunch with them.  Here are some pictures from this years' event.  The kids are so lucky to have such wonderful people in their lives!