Wizarding World of Harry Potter Part 3!

 When the Hogwarts Express arrived in Hogsmeade I don't think any of us expected we could still be so amazed. But there was such a different magical feel that it felt like a completely brand-new experience. We walked around a bit taking in the town...

...and Little Man stopped into Honeydukes for a chocolate frog and some Bertie Botts every flavor beans.

We walked on and our mouths practically dropped when we saw Hogwarts for the first time! We walked in to begin the tour of the school that is the cue for the ride inside. We all agreed the ride was fantastic!

And we loved seeing things we recognized from the movie, like the entrance to Dumbledore's office.

And the talking portraits!

And the sorting hat!

When you board the ride you see the enchanted ceiling!

After the ride we grabbed dinner. My sister had a ginormous turkey leg.

Hubby had a platter and Little Man had fish and chips while I had shepherd's pie. With butterbeer of course!

We had dinner at the Three Broomsticks.

Butterbeer has long lines!! You can get the original, slushy version, ice cream version or during the cold months you can have hot butterbeer.

We all agreed that the Wizarding World of Harry Potter is truly magical...even for someone who hasn't seen the movies! It was a fun way to celebrate Little Man's birthday!

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Part 2

The first shop that Little Man wanted to go to was Ollivander's. It's the wand shop. We were not prepared. There were so many to choose from. And there were so many people. Little Man wanted an interactive wand so at least that narrowed it down a little. We went to the case and he found one he liked best and then we tracked down the box. The interactive wands enable you to do magic spells throughout the park.  Think making water shoot from a fountain, making window displays move,etc.

After he had wand in hand we headed to the Leaky Cauldron for lunch. We loved that you order and then the food is delivered to the table. The traditional English pub food was so yummy! Oh, and you don't have to find your own seat! AND...it was at the Leaky Cauldron that we had our first taste of BUTTERBEER! Little Man was definitely a fan!

My sister had some Butterbeer too!

My sister and I both thought the Fisherman's Pie (a mix of cod, salmon and shrimp in a creamy sauce topped with mashed potatoes) and Fish and Chips looked good so we ordered one of each and split them. They were both SOOOOO good!

Little Man and Hubby both had the banger sandwiches.

After lunch Little Man walked around waving his wand and checking out some more shops like the candy shop, magic shop and magical pet shop.

Then it was off for our first ride! We headed to Gringott's Bank and waited and waited...and then we saw the inside of the bank and it looked just like the movie too!

There were even goblins at work looking at us while we waited.

After the ride we headed to the Hogwart's Express for it to take us to Hogsmeade. To get to Platform 9 3/4 we had to walk through the wall...

Once we boarded the train we enjoyed the ride and the show during it.

We arrived in Hogsmeade and the Harry Potter fun kept going, I'll share more next time!

Wizarding World of Harry Potter Part 1!

A couple of years ago when Little Man had hit a point where reading the Harry Potter series was possible, we started Harry Potter nights. After he read one of the books I cooked a meal from the Harry Potter Cookbook and would find a little gift that was Harry Potter themed. Then, while we ate the dinner we would watch the movie that corresponded with the book he had just read. We didn't watch any of the movies with him before he read the book. The books get to be pretty big, so Hubby and I told him when he finished the last book of the series we would take him to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal Studios in Orlando. Fast forward to this past spring and we weren't in a place time-wise or financially to take him at the time. So, as his birthday approached Hubby and I decided to do what we needed to to finally make it happen.

We left the day before his birthday and drove to my sister's place, had dinner with her that evening and then turned in early to be ready to get up with dawn the next morning for the drive to the theme park.

We started with Universal Studios and walked through City Walk, Then we walked through Production Central, New York and San Francisco before making it to London where the Harry Potter Wizarding World begins.

We made a call to the Ministry of Magic from the phone booth...

...and stopped to talk with the Night Bus driver and the shrunken head! The shrunken head actually chats and interacts too...he talked to Little Man and wished him a happy birthday....later he asked my sister if she had been attacked by a werewolf because her jeans were ripped...too funny!

We actually had to ask a witch for help finding Diagon Alley! It was so well hidden it felt like magic when we found the opening!

It was so fun and lively!

I may have squealed when I saw the magical knitting needles...although I still haven't decided if I would really like some or not...seems like it would take all the fun out of it!

Stay tuned for more of the magic!!

Weekend Fun and Ouchies

 At some point this weekend I remember thinking, wow...what a beautiful weekend! I also remember thinking how much I was enjoying the weather and family time...even chores!

First, we worked in the front yard. We planted our begonias and I pruned the rosebushes.

While I pruned I saved buds from the branches and brought them inside...THEY SMELLED SO GOOD!!!

Another yummy smell on Saturday was Hubby's latest smoked meat creation...YUM!

Then on Sunday we rode bikes in the neighborhood to go geocaching. While we were heading back my bike hit a pinecone just the wrong way and I wound up flying over my bike and landing half under a bush...scraping my knee and hand on concrete in the split second that I tried to protect my face.

I'll spare you some of the gross photos...but it sure did put a damper on the day. 

Fortunately before my knee swelled too bad I was able to get the chicken pot pies made for Harry Potter Night...and then I sit down and took it easy the rest of the day.

So, my body may have been battered pretty bad, but it was still a fun weekend!

Harry Potter Night!

Little Man finished another Harry Potter book, so we had another Harry Potter night! He finished book #5...Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. For our meal I turned again to the Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook. We had a traditional dinner of Roast Beef with Yorkshire Pudding (which is actually breadlike and bakes in the juices from the roast so you get a great flavor). We also had PHENOMENAL roasted potatoes (also made with drippings from the roast and are scored to get super crispy on the outside while keeping a soft inside) and brussel sprouts with a bechamel sauce.  And, we had to have the butterbeer...that's now a requirement...Little Man loves it so! If you'd like to try to make it yourself, you can find the recipe we use for it here, we use the simple recipe. Oh, and I found this video from Martha Stewart that was so helpful in making the dinner...it's where I got the recipe for the potatoes from too, so delicious!

And, after finishing such a big book, Little Man's treat was a golden snitch pocket watch.

Did I mention how much Hubby and I look forward to him finishing a book so we can watch the movie and eat yummy food?

Wednesday, Our 9th Anniversary

Wednesday, of our trip was our 9th wedding anniversary. It doesn't feel like it was that long ago that I was tying bows for the pews, making centerpieces. etc. Here are some photos from our big day...

With our folks after the ceremony at the church

The prayer before the meal

My brother's Best Man toast

The cake...yes, I've always loved a water feature ;)

And, last, but certainly not least, the throwing of the bouquet.

Funny story...see the lovely ladies in the wisteria shimmering bridesmaid dresses?

The one in the middle is my sister...is it just me or is the bouquet NOT headed towards her?

She seems to remember that she was attacked and dragged under a table by the bridesmaid

on the right...my VERY detailed notes Little Sister reminded me that YOU dragged bridesmaid #3 under the table, where she then scratched your neck...hilarious no matter what, since, well, people wound up under a table!

Anyway, on to THIS year's festivities...

We woke up, had breakfast, and then we drove the golf cart over to the Rec. Center where Little Man went to Kamp Starfish from 9-12. He colored a t-shirt, played games, met some friends, and had his face painted like a puppy!

While he was at Kamp Starfish Hubby, Doozer and I ran some errands. Then we scooped him up and he treated us to his best doggie bark!

After lunch, Little Man went down for a nap, Doozer settled in for some down time, and Hubby and I headed for the first of our anniversary treats...Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (minus the vomit flavored jelly beans).

On our way into the theater we passed Coldstone Creamery, which I've never been to, and the smell emanating from there was mouthwatering. After enjoying the movie (#6 of 8), we stopped at Coldstone and grabbed some ice cream cupcake treats for later. Then we went back, picked up Little Man and Doozer, and headed to Hubby's anniversary surprise. He had already gifted me a new Nine West wallet (leather for 9th anniversary) with two gift cards earlier in the day, and now it was time to treat him...

TO A HELICOPTER RIDE!

We decided to take Little Man with us, and were glad we did, listening to him talk and ask questions the ENTIRE trip was amazing to watch and hear. He loved it when the pilot pointed out a school of fish and a baseball stadium...and although he held my hand the entire time, I know he enjoyed it, as did Hubby and I. Want to see what it looked like?

After our phenomenal ride down the shoreline and over all the sights...we landed, and headed to dinner at Outback Restaurant ( I love their tilapia with lump crabmeat, fresh mushrooms and lemon butter chablis sauce). Then we went back to the beach spot and enjoyed our ice cream cupcake treats, watched the rest of the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and turned in, ready to have some more fun the next day.