Happy Birthday, Luke!

In Florida, Luke's birthday always seems to fall during Spring Break. That is both good and bad. Good because we can do things like go on a cruise (last year) bad because crowds are higher for local outings. Luke had several requests for his birthday: visits to the arcade, fun spot and a trampoline park. We also had a reservation to be on a float during Universal's Mardi Gras parade (passholders get to reserve one night, he chose to go the night before his birthday).

Fun Spot lets you bring a friend free during your birthday week. Luke decided to bring Adrian, his favorite friend from his baseball team. Kara and I met Adrian's family there on Wednesday. We were there at park opening and did go-carts and all the other rides, at least the ones they wanted to do. At one point, Luke told Adrian not to worry, the park didn't close until mid-night! I should have definitely set expectations. Fun Spot is small, but easy. They rode rides, ate pizza for lunch, and played in the arcade. We had to force them out at 4:30, I think Luke might actually have been willing to stay until midnight. Adrian gave him a game and a Guinness Book of World Records. Luke loved both!

Adrian, Anabel (Adrian's sister) & Luke

Kara went on this crazy ride (she's in the center). Luke, Adrian and Anabel got in line with her, watched the ride go upside down and one by one retreated to the tilt-a-whirl next door :)

Thursday, Thomas and I had to work in the morning/early afternoon. After work we went to Universal. We had gone three days in a row last week (post to follow, maybe?). And, it was way more crowded this week. We rode Men in Black, had dinner, and then checked in for our float. We got assigned the lead-off float--River Boat. It is probably the least exciting float, but we still had an amazing time. We threw thousands of beads and the atmosphere was awesome.  When we got off the float, we had to wait for the all-clear to get escorted back to the park from the backstage area. Our float captain asked if it was anyone's birthday and Luke told her it was his. Everyone from the float, about 60 people, sang him Happy Birthday (we were still backstage, so we weren't allowed to take pictures). Then, people starting putting beads around his neck. One girl even gave him a cool, light up necklace in Mardi Gras colors! We left the park after that and went to get Krispy Kreme for the morning. Even though it was around 9 and they closed at 10, the light was on and they gave each of us a warm, green (in honor of St. Patrick's day) donut fresh off the line. 

My favorite thing at Universal. Too bad it's only once a year.

Birthday Boy!

Friday was Luke's actual birthday. Mike came over at 9 and Thomas left with the boys around 1030 to go to Arcade Monsters. His other good friend, Davi, met them there. It opened at 11, and they had lunch around 1230, then kept playing. Thomas had to drag them out around 4:15. They stopped for slurpees on the way home. 

We had Luke's requested dinner (Pasta Roni fettucine alfredo). The rest of us also had chicken and broccoli, but Luke only wanted the noodles. And, on his birthday, he makes the rules :). He chose a cake from Menchi's and it was delicious! We played the game Adrian had given him, Grounded for Life, which is like Apples to Apples but funnier. And, he opened his presents. 

And, that concludes Luke's birthday celebration. We still owe him a trip to the trampoline park. But, we will probably do that once the Spring Break crowds have left the area. Today, we might go shopping to let him spend his gift cards from Mike and Davi. 

Copying here from Lana, 9 things about Luke (in no order):

1) He's very smart. He's in the gifted program at school and rocks reading and math (he's already read a million words this school year!)

2) He loves sports, especially baseball

3) Because he was born on St. Patrick's Day, his middle name is Patrick

4) He loves pajamas, as soon as he comes home, even if he knows he is leaving the house again, he will change into pajamas

5) He does not like regular cake (hence the ice cream cake)

6) He does really like video games

7) His favorite YouTuber is Mark Rober--he loves his videos (especially the squirrel mazes)

8) He can name the Detroit Tigers starting lineup

9) He really enjoys playing board games and just wrapped up a heated game of Risk with Jack