Orlando day Four & 5

We knew we wanted to do a water park day. Volcano Bay was a two foot walk from our hotel door to the entrance. Thursday, it was going to be cloudy but 87 degrees so we decided it would be great. We got in an hour early and rode almost every waterslide before the park officially opened. It was a little chilly but not crowded and the water was heated. Mc could have stayed in the wave pool the whole day. We headed back to the hotel to have lunch and shower and decided to stay in the park late to watch the lights on Hogwart's at night. Mark had bought a drink cup that was refillable at the hotel- Mc got a hot chocolate and snuggled into bed one more night before we went home. 

Friday morning I woke up feeling horrible! I think it was because on Thursday, it was 87 degrees and overnight, it dropped to 65. It was super windy and chilly. We decided to head back into the park to gather our souvenirs  and spend the last few hours before we flew home. My sweet friend Alli from work had a $100 gift card she couldn't use- with a few creative customer service people we were able to use that. I was grateful to just sit in the sun as Mark and Mc rode the Mummy a few times. We had warm pretzels, one more frozen butter beer and got ready to head back to the snow. 

Mc and She-Ra

Orlando Day 3

Day three was our day of brave- Mc (albeit crying) rode the Hulk coaster and was so thrilled with herself (not enough to ride again).  We saw Transformers, had more butter beer and stayed later in the park. We rode almost every ride with the exception of the Rockin Coaster, all of Simpsons land, Seussland, and the wet rides. The Jurassic Park ride looked awesome but with an 80 foot drop AND 15 people dryers all full of soaking wet people, we opted out. I think that was a good choice. 

We spent more time just looking around Diagon Alley- they spared no expense on making this such a magical part of the park. Every store had "magic" happening- creatures, moving photos- all of it was so much like being in the book/movie. 

We came back to dinner at the hotel- the ala carte options were great and went to bed watching Live PD. Mc's choice. 

us and Bumble Bee

Mc and the Pygmy Puffs- her chosen souvenir. 

Jaws

Orlando Day 2

Two of my favorite ladies. 

Dragon on top of Gringott's 

Because we stayed at a Universal resort, we got into the park an hour early. Only a few of the Harry Potter rides were open but we knew we wanted to head to those first. We almost missed the entrance (you walk behind a false wall).  After figuring out the ticket/locker system, we rode Escape from Gringott's (twice), the Mummy, and started our day in the park. Once again, the weather was warm and awesome- still snowy in Utah. The park was in "slow" season so we hardly had to wait to ride anything. We got off and back on whatever we wanted. The Mummy, still an all time favorite. 

HOGWARTS

How I have missed those Voodoo doughnuts. 

 We had a delicious lunch at the Three Broomsticks. Mc had her first taste of frozen Butter Beer and fish and chips. Both of which she loved.

Platform 9 3/4

 We rode the Hogwart's Express between parks- so well done! We got our bearings pretty quickly and got excited about having a few days to experience everything. The most amazing ride of the day was the new Hagrid's Motorbike ride! We waited two hours to ride but it was SO worth it. So much fun.

Mc was living her best life- both parents 100% dedicated to her every whim and a vacation that was run exactly how she wanted it to be. 

Orlando- Day One

We finally made it to our Florida, 10 year old trip for Mckinley. We picked THE best time to go. We took the red eye out of Salt Lake and left in a blizzard. We got to FL at 5 AM, ubered to our hotel (let us never forget the song that was playing in the car that was SO disturbing). We went to the hotel and took a nap (three hours) only to wake up and find out that back home, school was canceled for a SNOW DAY. Mary Ann was home with the boys and I am sure that made a long day for her but the boys had a blast playing outside. Not nearly as much fun as we had sitting by the pool- they played music underwater) and lounging in the sun. It was sheer heaven. I needed some Vitamin D. We had a cafeteria in our hotel so we had some lunch and then took an Uber to downtown Disney to just walk around. 

Sunshine girl

STEM

In October, all the fifth grade teachers sent out a packet for "stress free" STEM project planning (not due until January 22) . It seemed like plenty of time. Mc picked a project, we started working and then I realized, this was no joke. She decided she wanted to do a drawing robot. We started researching and prototyping and STEM 2020 began. Mc worked really hard and Mark helped her with most of the disassembling and assembling. Her little robot worked! We did 3 prototypes, did the 20 page journal and she did the poster all by herself (which also took plenty of time). We finished two days early!

Our first prototype

Robot drawing

 They let all the parents come walk through and look at the projects and Mc did really well. They had high school kids come and judge them and decide who was going to district. Well, Mc made that too. We had to show up, set up and then come back for judging. She did such a great job, she is moving on to STATE! The coronavirus (more on that later) postponed the March day for state BUT we are so proud of you! What an amazing accomplishment. I am sure her strength was her interview. All her hard work paid off for sure.

Just feeling a little bit like we set the bar too high for Kingston and Enzo. Oops.

Mc at district. 

Mc moving on to state

Mimi and Papa came to your award ceremony and brought you a candy poster. Lucky girl!

Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam.

First day of primary. Last day of primary. 

Mckinley is no longer in primary! How is it possible she is now in young womens?!? It seems like once the prophet changed the age from 12 to 11, the kids instantly became ready to leave. I am so so grateful I got to spend her last year with her in Primary. She was assigned the last talk of the year and shared what she had learned in Come Follow Me (her favorite story of Jesus raising Jarius's daughter from the dead) and sharing her testimony about how the Savior loves us and died for us. She was SO ready to leave primary but when asked about her first Sunday in sunday school she said, "It was kind of boring". She got her temple recommend on Sunday and I CANNOT wait to take her to the temple. Just crazy she is already there. Where did that tiny Sunbeam disappear to?

Christmas 2019

We spent Grandpa Junior's birthday with the Williamsons- G & Chris had their dinner/gift exchange at their church and it was nice. They had us all draw a number and gave us each a Rubbermaid with different rooms attached. We got the kitchen- it was full of dish soap, garbage bags, a platter, dish towels, paper towels. All things you don't want to have to buy but were a welcome gift. All the kids (except Matt) pitched in and got them a Roomba Robot vacuum. We also all pitched in (probably except Matt too) and got Mary Ann one too. She was so happy she did a little "wahoo" dance. It was great.

Christmas eve started at Grandma Irene's party. We ate, won some white elephant gifts and wondered yet again, how much longer Grandma will be here to carry on this tradition with over 100 of her posterity. It was fun sitting with the Ricks kids and laughing with them. Mark had excellent friends in his cousins, like I did, and it felt good. I still miss Ash every holiday.

We then made our way to Mimi's to eat again and start the night's festivities. We had the sibling white elephant gift exchange- always a winner! We had a blow up Christmas skunk and a pimple popping kit that was a hit. The kids get jammies and get to spend time with cousins. Always a tradition I loved when I was growing up. I also need to note for future reference, I found the Christmas pickle again. Always the winner. Ha.

Jammie Kids

We all pitched in and had my friend make mom and dad this sign for the cabin. It says "On Mountain Time"

Christmas Lawrences

Christmas morning. Another year where we trapped the kids in their rooms with wrapping paper. It works great. We also started a new rule- whoever we hear before 7:00 AM (ahem, Kingston) gets to open their presents last. It worked like a champ! The kids waited until 7:00 and by 7:13 the presents were all opened. 

getting ready to charge through the wrapping paper

Mimi gave us a manger this year where we could place straw when we did good deeds or said something nice .We made a nice soft bed for baby Jesus who came Christmas morning. 

The face you make when you find a hoverboard in the pantry- thanks Doug & Amanda. 

Prized presents- the hoverboard, Heelies (shoes with wheels in them) and a baby Yoda shirt. 

The Treasure X skeleton house and transformers. 

A keyboard and a stuffed elephant (from Kingston). 

Christmas Coma. 

We really were blessed this year. Spending a night downtown with the kids was a great way to give them an experience vs more stuff. The kids seemed excited and full of Christmas wiggles. I wonder how many more years we have left where they are SO pumped to wake up early and open presents. There is Christmas excitement that is tangible.  It feels like this year, 2019, was the pinnacle of Christmases. These are the years we will talk about when they are adults and I love it.