Our Magical Weekend

Our family last visited Disney World in May of 2013. The twins were 5, Kara was 4 and Luke was 10 months from making his first Earthly appearance. It was the time of Disney. In August of 2012, we went as a family to enjoy time together before Thomas' deployment. Because we planned on staying in Florida for most of his deployment, the kids and I bought annual passes (although, our plans changed and the kids and I only stayed in Florida for about 3 weeks as opposed to 7 months). But, since we had the passes, in May, we went back to celebrate his return. Finally, in October, we went on a Disney cruise. We loved it all, so it is surprising we haven't been back. In the 6 years since, we have done Busch Gardens (both Tampa and Williamsburg), annual passes to Kings Dominion and Six Flags, and an epic trip to Universal Studios. But, for some reason, Disney just kept getting pushed to the wayside. Not anymore!

Once we knew we were going to move to Florida, difficult problems arose. Where to buy a house? To go before or after the school year finished? And, perhaps the most challenging--where to buy annual passes? Obviously, I wanted them all. But, that was not financially responsible. And, we didn't want our time to be too divided. There are other things besides theme parks after all! SeaWorld was a given, I was anxious to go back and it is so close to our house that it just made sense. Plus, it came with great perks, like some free guest passes, so we could enjoy it with our friends and family. And, we had promised Luke and Kara waterpark visits as belated birthday gifts (we never made it to Kalahari) and their waterpark is phenomenal. Finally, it is by far the least expensive (despite having the best perks). The original plan was one park per year. And, we would rotate between SeaWorld/Busch Gardens, Universal and Disney.

But, I couldn't wait a whole year to go to Disney World! So, for our first year, I thought a bit more was okay. We love Universal, but it is not great for Luke--you really have to be 48" to reap the most benefits from that park. So, we decided to add Disney. I say "we", but really this is primarily me. Thomas is okay with theme parks, but he doesn't love them the way I do (no one is perfect!). So, the plan was finalized. Then, with no warning Disney raised their prices. Substantially. And, there are 6 of us, so raising their already expensive passes by more than $100 each was crazy. I began to rethink our options. Then, I read something about Sam's Club selling discount annual passes (thank you Facebook!). I did some research and realized I could get the passes for $29 less than the old annual pass price. We were back in business! The rumor was the number of passes available at the old price was limited and once they were gone, they would go back to being just $29 off the newly raised price. So, I acted fast. We had a year to activate, but I was so excited that I went online to see what kind of fast passes I could book for the next evening. I looked at Magic Kingdom and got Pirates of the Caribbean, Jungle Cruise and Big Thunder Mountain. I wasn't sure we would actually use them, but if we wanted to, we would be prepared! (The passes would become active after we first entered a park, but I could book fastpasses up to 30 days out.)

My brother, sister, JD and Amanda came to visit on Friday. We had a great visit. The kids swam while Kim, Kevin and I played Qwix. We went to Wendy's for lunch (the kids chose) and came back and played Harry Potter Clue with JD and Kara. I ran out of House Points and got booted. JD thought he had it won, but his solution was wrong. Then, we realized something--I had put two rooms in the envelope and no weapon! Ugh, it was a very embarrassing mistake. So, while no one won that game, I was the clear loser on many fronts. They left around 2:30 and Thomas and I decided to go forward with the surprise Disney trip. We told the kids we were going to an outdoor mall, so to wear comfortable shoes and hats or sunglasses. Then, off we went.

We drove through the Disney welcome sign and pretended we were lost. Finally, we said, "since we are here anyway, maybe we should just check it out." The kids understood the surprise and were very excited! We redeemed our passes and headed in. We rode our fastpass rides, and had dinner. We also rode Small World, the People Mover and the Carousel of Progress. Everyone loved everything! The lines were pretty long, so we didn't do much else. We stayed for the fireworks and nighttime show--which was awesome!

I only took a couple of pictures, this one is from the Swiss Family Treehouse.

The night show was amazing!!! Obviously, the picture can't convey.

Luke was exhausted, but it was a fantastic day. We were only there for about 5 hours and still walked around 5 miles. Our plan is to go in the evenings and see all the nighttime shows. Once we have seen all of those, we'll go in the mornings. We will work rope drop and the fastpass system until we've done everything we want to do. And, if it takes all year--that's fine with us! It is much more relaxing than trying to see it all in one week.

We intended to go to Epcot yesterday afternoon/evening to see the nighttime show. We even talked Luke into taking a nap, but shortly before we were going to leave, it started to look nasty outside. The forecast had been fine earlier, but a quick check revealed it had turned to rain all evening. So, we ran some errands and postponed Epcot to today. Since it is a work night, we decided to forgo the evening show and got there at park opening instead. Epcot has fastpass tiers, you have to choose between Test Track, Soarin', and Frozen. I was able to grab fast passes for Soarin', Spaceship Earth, and Finding Nemo. So, when we arrived, we ran straight for Test Track. It was amazing!

I loved this ride and this picture!

Then, we did the Frozen ride, which was fun (but wouldn't be worth an extended wait). From there we tried the different "cokes" from around the world and then went to Mission Space. I hated it! Luke was crying and also hated it. It was very uncomfortable and disorienting. Thomas gave it a 2 on a scale of 1-10. Kara and Jack thought it was okay. And, Anna liked it. Never again for me (unless I do the less motion version). We had lunch and then used our first fast pass on Nemo. The ride was mediocre, but the aquarium in the Seas area was amazing!

We rode Spaceship Earth, which everyone enjoyed. Then, we did the Figment ride, which was cute. Finally, it was time to use our Soarin' fastpass. Everyone loved it, although, I was the only one who proclaimed it my Epcot favorite. Thomas chose Spaceship Earth, Jack, Luke and Kara said Test Track and Anna chose Club Cool, where we got to sample the sodas. Since Soarin' was our last fastpass, I checked the system to see if any others were available and was able to grab passes for Living with the Land, which everyone but Luke liked. I grabbed one more fastpass to ride Spaceship Earth again and then we called it a day.

 Our annual pass ownership is off to a promising start! We have days lined up at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom and then will likely start over again. Today, we were able to ride every ride at Epcot, but there is still lots more to see there and we barely made a dent in the Magic Kingdom.

A Weekend in Florida: SeaWorld, Movie, Mall, Bikes and Family

I think I mentioned that SeaWorld is only 20 minutes from our house. That made it the obvious choice for our first Florida resident annual passes. It also didn't hurt that it is (by far) the most reasonably priced. They have a nighttime summer event that I was excited to check out. We decided to go Friday night. Thomas and I alternate our work schedules and one of us is off every Friday. That means the other one can go in early and leave early. It was my Friday to work. I went in at 6 and left at 2:30. Kara was on a field trip (to the Mascot games--which she loved), so we were running a little late, but still got there by 5. The first "special" show was at 5:30. It was hot! We met Marta and Frank there (they also got annual passes!). We saw all the special night time shows and had a really good time.

I don't really like seeing the killer whales. I feel bad for them, they are amazing animals and it seems like they deserve more than to live in captivity. I don't feel that way about all the animals--I came to the conclusion it is because the whales are so big, that comparatively speaking, it seems like they are the worst off. Also, I have read a few books that focused on orcas in captivity. Regardless, I think SeaWorld does FAR more good than harm for animal conservation, so I have no problem supporting them. And, it is really nice having annual passes. We don't feel rushed when we go. At one point, we spent about 45 minutes just sitting inside and having a snack and drink to cool off. If we were only there for a day or two, I would feel pressure to wait in the long, hot, lines to make sure we saw everything.

So majestic

The last show had water features, lasers, fire, and fireworks!

On a weird note, as we were walking to the parking lot after the fireworks, a bug flew into Thomas' eye. This happens to all of us on occasion, but this time was very different. He said it felt like someone stabbed him. And, he couldn't get it out. His eye was bright red, it was awful. He was finally able to get it out, but, his eye just kept watering and looked terrible. The next day, he still felt like something was in it. I took a picture to show him and there is a gouge in the corner of his eye. Today is day 3 and he woke up with it all gunked up. Very strange! Hopefully, it heals quickly (or, I convince him to go to the doctor).

This picture doesn't show it very well, but that "scratch" goes pretty far back and it looks bruised around it.

On Saturday, we went to Toy Story 4. It was cute and the theater was really nice. It was our first time visiting a theater with reclining seats. Then, Marta and Frank met us for lunch. They had come to Orlando to visit the temple and were picking up the girls to go spend the night at their house.  After lunch, they headed off to Winter Haven and we went to the Florida Mall. We went to Dick's and picked out bikes for Jack and Thomas, got some ice cream, and walked around the mall.

Lately, we have each had the opportunity to spend time with just two kids (the Maryland promotion and now this). It doesn't seem to matter which combination of kids--two is SO MUCH EASIER! Obviously, I wouldn't trade any of the kids and I am so thankful that they each get to grow up with both brothers and sisters, but let me say it again--two is SO MUCH EASIER! We had fun at the mall and got pizza for dinner.  Thomas and Jack went on a bike ride to test out their new bikes. I went out to work with Luke on riding his bike without training wheels. It was only his second time trying, but he's got it. He can turn corners and stop. He needs to work on starting by himself, but that's it. It was incredibly easy. All our kids learned to ride the summer before kindergarten and it was easy for each of them. I think it is one of those things that if you wait for them to be developmentally ready, there is no stress or difficulty. He is very proud of himself. There are trails and great places to ride near us, so I see lots of bike rides in our future!

Luke on two wheels and Jack on his new bike!

Everyone was hot after riding, so they all jumped in the pool. It is so wonderful to have our own pool! I talked to Anna and Kara who had a super great day with Marta and Frank. We are going to pick them up around 2 tomorrow. Marta invited us to a late lunch, along with my Dad and Maggie, Kevin, and Kim and her family. I am happy to be able to see them. Being close to family was our prime motivation in moving to Florida, so it is really fantastic to see it coming to fruition!

Jack and Anna's Fifth Grade Promotion: A Return to Maryland

Once we learned that we were going to miss the last 3 weeks of schools, we told Jack and Anna that we could return for their 5th grade promotion. Then, I looked at flights and it was more expensive than I expected, so we told them that if we didn't go, we would do something really fun here. They were fine with that, but I felt bad. So, to gage their interest, we told them that we were willing to drive them, but that it would be basically be a day in the car, a day in Maryland, and then another day in the car. They said that they would rather not go. Then, one of their teachers sent out the call for baby pictures for the 5th grade slide show. And, I felt bad again. So, I told them we could fly up. They were thrilled! Although, I am not sure if they were more thrilled about going on an airplane, or going back for promotion. I waffled between thinking it was stupid and thinking it was important. Elementary school promotion definitely wasn't a thing when I was growing up. But, they have been there since Kindergarten. And, the slide show allegedly contained photos going back to their entire time at HES. Plus, I thought it likely they may get a big award or two. 

It was still a very quick trip. We flew out on Thursday morning and back on Saturday morning. I don't like traveling on Sundays (unless I can take Monday off), although since this was such a short trip, it would have been fine (no recovery period needed). But, we still have so much to do here, and I didn't want our family to be separated longer than necessary.

We live so close to the airport, that we were able to do our normal morning routine and get Luke and Kara off to camp before leaving for the airport. We took an Uber and it was fast and easy. It was cheaper than driving and parking and nicer than having Thomas waste a morning off for a 13-minute drive. The flight was uneventful. We took Sprit Air, which is a no frills airline. Everything is priced separately. You pay a low fare, but have to pay more for everything else, including a carry-on. So, we stuck with just a "personal item" which has to be able to fit under the seat in front of you. Since we were only going for 2 days, this was fine. They have a fleet of newer planes that are all the ultra-safe Airbus' (I looked it up before booking!). But, seriously everything is extra--a can of soda was $3, choosing our seats was $13 each, one way (so we could sit together). You get the picture. It still came out cheaper than any other airline, since we didn't need any luggage (which I think was $34 for a carry-on or $32 for a checked bag if you reserved at the time of booking and something like $60 if you waited until the day of travel). 

The flight was uneventful, we got to Maryland and picked up our rental car. We stopped at Six Flags for a quick lunch. We bought all-season dining before we knew were moving, so I was up for a "free" meal. We rode one ride, but despite the overcast day, the park was overrun with badly behaved 8th graders, and the lines were long, so it was just Superman and then depart. We got to Hollywood around 4; we were staying with our former neighbors, so driving there was like driving home. It felt like FL had been a vacation. Until we got there and pulled into a different driveway. It was weird seeing "our" house, and not being able to go in. I even dreamed that I went in the next day to look around and they called the police on me!

But, being at Kayce's house was really nice. We have all spent so much time there that we are very comfortable hanging out and making ourselves at home. Sitting on the deck while the kids played was very natural. The only weird part was I kept looking for Luke. He loves to play at their house and would look everyday after school to see if they were out in their yard so he could run over and join them.

We love these boys!

For our first night, Kelly was there and bought pizza for everyone. The next morning, she brought donuts and braided Anna's hair. Then, we were off to the school. 

We got there at 8 so Mrs. Molina could show J &A the routine for the ceremony. Dr. Gillman was heading out to do her traditional photo at our bus stop and asked Mrs. Molina if she could bring them. So, back we went. And, we got to ride in her car. The kids felt like celebrities rolling up with the Principal and then jumping back in after the pictures! We returned to school and the kids were shown what to do. They went off to the classroom with Mrs. Molina and I stayed behind and got a good seat for the promotion. It was nice not to have to wait outside in line. 

Traditional last day photo

The ceremony was very nice. The kids looked wonderful. I remember many of them as kindergarteners and now they all look so mature. Mrs. Hazuda (the media teacher) came up to me and told me that every time she sees Jack she remembers his little face as a kindergartener, hiding under a media table and refusing to come out. I had (almost) forgotten how rough the first few years of school were for him! Jack and Anna both got Presidential Academic Awards and Citizenship Awards. They had a different awards ceremony earlier in the week. For that one, they chose two students from each class for an award in each subject. Jack got one for being on the math team and then maybe the English Language Arts one and maybe the Social Studies (we got mixed reports, but he definitely got one and maybe both).

My favorite part was the slide show when they got to a slide that said "our fifth graders as babies". There was a collective groan and laughter from the kids. But, it was sweet and fun. These are the ones I submitted:

Then, we had cupcakes and punch and took pictures with friends. 

Their friends from the peanut free table (and their crushes :)

With their beloved Ms. Molina, this was her last year teaching. After 33 years in the classroom, she's retiring!

And, the amazing Ms. Alanis

We made a spur of the moment decision and went to Okada with the Reeves. Which, turned out to be a bad decision. Jack is allergic to shrimp. Normally, we tell them that and they keep his food separate, but this time, there was a lot of comingling, so I didn't let him eat anything. He was a great sport about it and still said he had fun being with his friends. We went back to the Wills and he had leftover pizza (I offered a drive through, but that was what he wanted). We played all afternoon and then let Jack choose dinner--Cracker Barrel. I wanted to treat the Wills, but Kayce wouldn't let me. She grabbed the check when I took someone to the bathroom.

We left for the airport around 7 on Saturday morning. I was surprised at the amount of traffic, it has changed so much in 10 years. When we first moved to MD, we'd go into the city on a Saturday morning and there would be few cars on the road. Not anymore! Jack didn't want to leave. Anna was looking forward to sleeping in her own bed. Our flight arrived 20 minutes early. The plan was for me to call Thomas once the plane was at the gate and then he would leave--that is how close we live. It worked out perfectly and it was nice to be home so quickly and easily. It was a short, but good trip. We are very thankful to the Wills and Rohacek families for their amazing hospitality--we can't wait until they come to Florida and we can reciprocate.

Airplane selfie!

Finally, a comparison. from the first day of Kindergarten to the last day of 5th grade, the kids and the tree have really grown!

Orlando, Two Weeks In!

We've been here for two weeks. The first week felt like a vacation. Marta and Frank came and visited on Sunday. Marta brought dinner with her, which was awesome. Monday was Memorial Day. Tuesday I went to work so that I could do the initial orientation and get on payroll. Wednesday, we went to Aquatica--SeaWorld's waterpark. We had an amazing day. They have a cool lazy river, and fun water slides, but the best thing was the Roa Rapids, which is a non-lazy river. No floats are allowed. We all put on life jackets and let the "rapids" pull us along. It was super, super fun and everyone's favorite. Luke was tall enough for most rides and rode everything he could. There was one ride that Anna and Kara backed out of, a racing mat type ride, that he loved. We had a great day.

Thursday was not great. Thomas was back at work and I had to take the kids to the Health Department to get proof of vaccines for camp/school enrollment. It took 2 hours! I had tried to get everything arranged before we got here and attempted to coordinate with their future pediatrician, but it just didn't happen. First, they said they sent the paperwork, which they insisted they could not e-mail. I never got it. I called and they e-mailed it. I faxed it back to the number on the form. I was told to wait 5-10 days for a response, but it never came. I called and left a message, never got a callback. Called again and finally talked to someone who said the paperwork went to their overarching records department and it needed to come directly to them. So, despite my attempts to be on their rolls before we moved, I failed. I went to their office hoping they would still fill out the vaccine form. We had proof from our Maryland doctor, I just needed a Florida doctor to sign off and put it in the system. They wouldn't do it. I was really mad and was ready to just tell the office to forget it, that they just lost 4 patients with their terrible communication. But, I knew they wouldn't care and their office is super close to our new house and has great reviews, so I bit my tongue, which is very difficult for me. So, that is how we spent an entire morning at the health department, which is exactly where 4 healthy kids need to be! They were so miserable, and said they never want to move again. But, we got it done. Friday, my dad and Maggie came up and saw us. Saturday, Kim, Dave and Amanda visit (JD is at a scouting camp). We enjoyed our visits with everyone and it was a good reminder why we moved.

Which was necessary, because financially, it is costing us a huge premium. Whoever said the cost of living here was lower, knows something we don't. Almost everything is more expensive. Car insurance went up (a lot), our house is more expensive than a comparable Maryland house, homeowner's insurance is higher, toll roads are everywhere, etc. We could have chosen a less expensive neighborhood, but our point in being here is to be close to family, so we really wanted to be south of our work (thus an hour from Winter Haven). To get in a decent school district, this is what it costs. We could have lived 30 minutes up the road and saved on some housing costs (maybe), but adding an hour of travel time seemed like it would limit how often we went to see them and how often they came to see us. It was tough to find a house that had everything we wanted: good schools in a good location for work, family and theme parks. And, unfortunately, the house has been a bit of a lemon. I still love the neighborhood and the layout of the house. But, we have already had to replace the pool pump, pool command center, refrigerator and dishwasher. The overpriced inspection definitely failed us! And, there is more coming.

The second week was our new reality. The kids all went to camp and Thomas and I were at work. Work is just okay. It is a very different atmosphere than Maryland. The attorneys here have been doing this for years and are very experienced, therefore, they just aren't as collaborative. Everyone already knows what they are doing. I feel a lot more on my own. Maybe that will force me to learn quicker. On the positive side, I like working with Thomas. We had lunch together every day and get to see each other even more than we did in Maryland.

Camp went very well for the kids. Jack and Anna are at their future middle school. They have made friends and are enjoying themselves. On Thursday, they went on a field trip to Universal Studios. They had park-to-park passes and...Universal Express!!! I was very jealous. Kara and Luke are at the YMCA camp, also at their future school. They go swimming everyday and have lots of activities. Luke can't do field trips yet (he's in a special kindergarten camp), but he still loves it. Kara's field trip was to a Pirate lunch (normally dinner) show and she loved it. They are all happy with their camps, at least after week 1. Hopefully, the novelty doesn't wear off and next 9 are as successful.

Initial impressions-- I like Florida. I like that everything we need is within a few minutes drive. I like all of the entertainment options. I love having a pool and once we get everything fixed, I am going to love the house. It is great that everyone has their own bedroom and the extra upstairs bathroom will save lots of arguments. I love being close to family and I am excited about all the opportunities the kids will have. I don't love my job, yet, but maybe I will. I really hope everyone is happy here. It feels weighty to have put this on everyone.