Universal Studios Orlando October 2012

We decided to go to Universal Studios in Orlando for the kids fall break.  We had an AMAZING time!  I am so grateful we were able to go.  What fun!  This is a place that we have not been but would like to go back to.  Universal in Orlando has some things that the California park does not, namely, Harry Potter World and the Marvel Super Heroes. 

This is a picture of Hannah having Jambalaya with alligator in the south for the first time, she loved it!  On our way to more fantastic memories together...

Just after getting into Universal before our adventure started.  Boy, was it CROWDED!  I didn't think it would be so crowded for a non holiday time. 

I just loved this picture of the kids

Love the background, so beautiful.

As the sign in the background states: The adventure begins!  Love it!

This is such a great photo of the kids, and you can see how beautiful it is there.

This area reminded me so much of my childhood and my Dad.  My dad LOVED Dr. Seuss.  This day was dedicated to him.  I loved every minute here.  I wish so so much he could have shared this wacky fantastic day with us.  I love you Dad!

 

Green eggs and ham, great any time any where, with a fox, in a box, in a train in the rain!

Here is a shot of Derek

Hannah and Derek, running the zoo!

This picture with the famous hat was a must!

Just about to go on the Cat in the Hat ride.  This was such a sweet ride.  I would love to come back here again.  We sure need more sweetness and kindness and innocence in the world.  This place was hit the spot for that.  (minus all the crowds of course)

This book was one of an absolute favorite growing up in my family and one of ours with Hannah and Derek as they have been growing up

Another of our favorites

Life is great when you have a lot of favorites!

Saving the Lorax trees and the Sneeedes!

Dad, here's another picture for you!  Just outside a Dr. Seuss bookstore

About to go on another great childhood memory ride of our time with Dr. Seuss books.  I also thought this picture was amazing of Hannah

Another great area of the park, I love this background as well

Just before entering a great "ride" beautiful shot though of my handsome boy and beautiful girl!

Ok, I'm not going to lie, this was a HUGE reason why I wanted to go, the Harry Potter World of the Park!

Yep, the butterbeer was very tasty.  We tried it cold and we tried it slushy.  It was very expensive so we shared.  It was very rich flavored. 

We got a picture of their first taste of the magical stuff.

 Right outside of Honeydukes. 

 We had our picture taken with Snape .  We saw him in the store and asked him if we could have a picture and he was very nice and happy to be in the picture.  After, we asked the employees at the store if there were other characters from Harry Potter that we could have our picture taken with.  They had a funny look on their face and said that that man was not actually an employee, just a big fan of the books and theme park.  We had to laugh.

 

 More fun in Honeydukes with Derek.  These toys, candy, jokes etc. would be SO much fun!

In front of the Hogwarts Express to go to school, we wish

In front of the infamous castle.  The ride inside was truly AMAZING!  It is one of our all time favorite rides we have ever been on.

 

Love this picture, thank you to Derek for taking it! Love you!

Just about to get their wands

A good thing their text books are not like this one!

Just outside the castle after the magical ride!

Another view of the Castle

Just leaving to go to Jurassic Park

 

 

Inside the ride area of possibly Derek's favorite ride of all times, Spiderman!

I have read that this ride has been listed as possibly the top/favorite ride of all rides in all theme parks.  I agree.

Derek and his favorite super hero!

Slinging our webs!

You're a mean one Mr. Grinch, but we sure do love ya!

Professor Dumbledore's office.

Outside of Hagrid's house, just before the Hippogriff ride.  Derek loved this ride also.

With the mystery machine and Shaggy and Scooby.  Fun times!

Derek says this is one of his favorite pictures.  I love it!

Men in Black

With Shrek

With Doc from one of my favorite shows, Back to the Future

 Derek loves to play chess, this was at our hotel.  We also had miniature golf and a pool table outside, he loves pool as well.  The hotel was so much fun as well.

 a great picture of my kids!

 Hello to my daughter!

 with my handsome son, I sure do love him!

 Fish Derek, in the pool

 Lady Mermaid Hannah in the pool

 Derek LOVED playing pool with me.  He was much better than me!

 This picture is for Grandpa and Grandma Smith.  The bookstore and my Dad loved to read to us, especially Dr. Seuss.  I am so glad that he gave me that tradition of loving books to carry on to my family!

 We found the cutest little frogs.  Awww

Soooo cute!

 On our way in to Universal Park

Yup, Captain America!

This was a fun thing to see, all the super heroes together riding their motorcycles

 Just outside an amazing show

 This was water circling incredibly fast around us in a circle, quite fascinating!

 

I love this perspective that Hannah captured of the castle.

Hannah and I on the steps of the Hogwarts Castle

 With the "moving" pictures

 inside the Harry Potter ride in the castle, we LOVED this ride!!!

 With the minions after the very cute ride. 

 With Marilyn Monroe

 Outside of E.T. ride. 

 Waiting for our owl post.

Hope to be able to come back here again!  It was so so wonderful.  I will have to research out a better time to go though when it is not so incredibly crowded.  Harry Potter world was especially crowded.  It is 2 years old but I guess we need to let it get a little older.  I feel very lucky we can have these adventures together.  I has always dreamed and still dream of these types of adventures.  I can't wait for more adventures together.

General Conference

A Jam session

 Derek and his best friend, Sam, practicing their saxophones and clarinets together.  They have been at it for about an hour.  It is so fun to hear them have fun together.  I sure do love being a mom!

Conference Center and Zoo

Just a few months ago Hannah received a wonderful opportunity.   A couple of  the youth in the ward were asked if they would like to participate in a choir that would sing at the Conference Center for General Conference.  Wow, the answer was a very excited YES!   I am so glad that Hannah would not only say "yest" but be excited about it.  That she has the spiritual wisdom and maturity to see this in such a great light.  Which is exactly what it is, quite literally a light. 

For most of us, these "light" opportunities help us to grow and mature in what our Heavenly Father wants us to be and return home with honor.  Unfortunately though there are still plenty of Lamens and Lemuels here in the world that are visited by angels and small and simple but powerful spiritual experiences and still have the Lamanitis.  I feel bad for them, they have the light in their life but do not use it and enjoy it and use it to make their life better.

Today was the dress rehearsal for the Saturday afternoon General Conference this next Saturday.  It was so amazing to see so many teenagers get up and be ready to practice Saturday morning at 7:00 in the morning.  I don't think there were any Lamans or Lemuels there, what a welcome relief.  I don't think there were any complaints that they would rather be somewhere else doing what they wanted to do.  These youths are quite amazing and I could feel their spirits.

I was so grateful to be able to see this.  I hope I do not take things for granted.  I was grateful that I was not only able but wanted to take the time to be there with her to share this.  I know that sharing these types of experiences with my family will help to strengthen our relationship with each other and with our Heavenly Father.

I emailed my Mom right away when Hannah got her seat assignment.  She is in the middle section, second row from the bottom, and the 4th from the left.  It will be so great to watch her on T.V.  Derek and I are going to support her and go to the General Conference session she will be performing in.  We can't wait to be able to go to the Conference and be so close to the Prophet and the General Authorities. 

The sound of the choir was amazing.   I had a hard time not shedding a couple tears.  This is such a once in a lifetime opportunity. 

It has been so long since we have been to the zoo, this was kind of a memory lane experience.  Derek needed to do a report for school on an educational trip.  Hannah of course wanted to support her brother and go with us.  I just love how the kids support each other.  It isn't an irritation for them, they genuinely love each other and want to support each other.  I love that so much about them, that is my idea of heaven.