Universal Studios

On Thursday Jackson and I drove to California to meet my sisters and their 11/12 year old daughters as well as 3 of Ashlee's friends and their daughters that are the same age. The drive went well, other than the last 2 hours when my phone ran out of battery and the phone charger was too weak to keep my phone on. I had to just keep my phone off until it got to about 3% then I could check to see if I was on the right path to the airport (because of course this was the part of the trip I really needed google maps to tell me where to go!) It also started raining really hard around then too. It was a little stressful, but we made it to the airport to pick up the Kenyons. We went to the rental house, then I went to pick up the Crabtrees and Bowlers from the airport. Traffic was awful at the airport and it took forever to get to them (especially since I accidentally went to departures instead of arrivals...oops) and to get out of the airport. California drivers are so aggressive. But eventually we all made it safely to the house.

The next day we woke bright and early to go to Harry Potter World!!! (and the rest of Universal Studios:))

Alexa, Kenna, Alli, and Jack

Dumbledore's Office

We headed straight for the big Harry Potter ride so we avoid a 2 hour wait time later. It paid off, we only had to wait 25 minutes or so. We had to walk through the castle quickly, which was the only downside of a short wait time. We probably missed a lot of cool things. The ride was a lot of fun, but not for weak stomachs, which fortunately Jackson and I both don't have.

Sirius' motorcycle.

Hagrid's hut

Next we rode on the Harry Potter Roller Coaster, which ended up being a pretty long line, with a short ride time. After the ride, the kids kept talking about how it was just a waste of time.

But we did get to see a Hippogriff, so it was all worth it.

Another picture of Buckbeak.

Of course, we had to get some butterbeer. We opted for the frozen butterbeer, because we heard it was better. And it was. Ashlee got both kinds and let us try the non-frozen kind and it really wasn't as good.

Hogsmeade!

These three wanted to go to the wand ceremony, the rest of the group didn't so we split up for a bit. I was glad we went. It was fun witnessing a wand choosing a wizard.

Kenna bought a wand and did some magic around Hogsmeade.

It's the Nimbus 2001!

Honeydukes!

The Hogwarts' Express

After Harry Potter World we explored the rest of the park. We went on the Simpsons' ride and then went to the Jurassic Park ride.

Jackson didn't go on that one. It's basically Splash Mountain and I hate big drops, and he hates getting wet. Although after seeing how little everyone was when they got off the ride, he decided to go on it the second time they went.

Anna, Jackson, Alexa, Leah, Alli

Michelle and I living on the wild side, wearing our 3d glasses before we got on the ride!

Minion Dance party!

We watched  Water World next. We were all sitting in the splash zone, but my sisters, Jack, and I ran to safety after we started seeing how wet we might actually get if we stayed.

We headed back to Harry Potter World to end the day. 

We rode the Forbidden Journey ride 2 more times and then souvenir shopped. Jack had a hard time finding something because it was all so expensive. I told him to make sure whatever he bought was really worth the money I would be paying for it. It ended up getting a little shot glass and wants to collect them, like my parents. He didn't know it was a shot glass (or what a shot glass is) until his cousins told him. He just thought it was a little cup.

He also bought some gummy slugs with the money my mom gave him before we left Arizona.

It was such a fun, busy day!