Universal Love

We spent a day at the Old School Universal Park. You know, the one that was super cool before the Harry Potter World opened in the other part of Universal's property. I was not certain Kaelan would enjoy this side as much because I was pretty sure dad had ruined his chances of getting her on many rides after the Hippogriff incident.

That is, until we turned the first corner on the lot and saw this beauty:

If you live in my house, you know this little wagon is very important.

We really had no idea that Scooby and the gang would even be in the area. Total luck on our part because you could not have made this girl any happier.

We got to hang with Scooby and Shaggy for a bit, and then we met up with them later (dressed in their costumes) at the Halloween bash.

There were lots of friends to catch up with at Universal:

Curious George and The Man in the Yellow Hat and that lovable JAWS.

Shrek and Donkey and even Dora.....but shhhhh about that one, because Kaelan is "too big for Dora".

We ended up having a blast at Universal. We practically owned that park for the first part of the day because it was literally us and 2 other families on the whole lot. We rode E.T. over and over and hit the other kid rides enough to tire us out. Kaelan and dad hit the rides that were not baby in the belly friendly while I shopped and relaxed. Can't say I was heartbroken about missing some of those shows and rides. Poor dad.

If we weren't off doing something new and exciting at night, we were doing something new and exciting around the resort. They had a great events calender and lots of great activities each day.

Dock fishing, boating, and kid fun.

Swimming on one of four water parks.

Nightly smores, stories and songs by the fireside.

I am so glad we decided to stay off site of any of the parks. We loved this place and wished we could have spent more time vacationing at the hotel.

Sun, Sand and Space Travel

We decided to hit a more low key beach this year, so instead of heading over to Daytona (which, when I think of the things that go on there over spring break, I get the heebie jeebies), we opted for Cocoa Beach and the Cape Canaveral area. We were thrilled that a rocket launch was scheduled for the time around our visit, and really stoked about getting to watch the show. However, NASA, often without any real reason, will move launch dates. That was the case in our launch. I will be taking that up with NASA officials. Heads will roll.

It only took one mouthful of saltwater to lead to the constant state of "bubble in the mouth" for Kaelan. You can see the before shot....all smiles and teeth. But after a wave caught her off guard, she went for mouth closed look the rest of the afternoon. Seriously, we had to remind her to take breaths every once in a while.

20 feet from waves, but just to be safe, the bubble remains.

I promise, I did play in the water for a while, but I then took my favorite spot on the beach...right on the warm sand, book in hand, cool drink with great entertainment over on the shoreline. The weather was absolutely perfect!

Cutest little mermaid I have seen!

We did Dad over with the Texas style beach look.

We stayed at the beach for a few days and explored the island and the Cape. We had a great time just relaxing and enjoying the beach.

Party

This poor kid. We completely wore her out on her big day before her big party even started. She woke up that morning and after a quick birthday breakfast, dance and present opening, we were off to meet friends and family coming through town. After that, we ran a million errands and then it was off to a soccer game. Kaelan zoomed back home just in time to meet friends already arriving. She was exhausted. Unnapped (I declare this a word). A little grouchy, and within five minutes of arriving at her party, she had a major meltdown over a friend dumping water in her sand table. Mom and Kaelan made a quick exit to her room, and after a few hugs and kisses (and a TALK), she rejoined the party in a much better mood. More hugs, bubbles, a few CareBears painted on her body and she was good to go!

Kaelan did choose a CareBear theme this year, which led to a great amount of headaches for our party planner. AKA mom. There were lots of rainbows involved and when plans to have an actual CareBear fall from the clouds for a visit failed, we went with a Plan B.

Enter the Great Staci Gray!

Not only is she an amazing singer and kiddie rocker, she amazed us with some awesome facepainting! Kaelan has been a huge fan for years, so CareBear or not, when we had the opportunity to have her come and entertain, we jumped on it!


Kiddie Mosh Pits are hilarious! The funniest part about this is that the whole dress-up costume thing was not planned. The kids found a few of Kaelan's dress up boxes just before the concert portion of the party started, and well........they dressed to impress! I just loved watching the boys jam out in their pink high heels and fairy wings! Kaelan and her best bud were just too busy dancing and singing to costume up.



There was cake and cupcakes. I was very disappointed with the cake I ordered. I took a great deal of time sketching out the rainbow with little cupcake clouds (with CareBears stuck in them), but the cake person ruined my vision and used some sort of ghetto airbrushing technique. I thought it looked like one of those shirts you get when you visit Venice Beach, but Doug laughed off my discord and paid for the cake. The kids did not seem to notice.

Cake and cupcakes are not art.

Kaelan and some loot.

Each year, we end our party as a family with a little traditional wish send off. Dad and Mom write a special wish or blessing on a balloon for Kaelan. Kaelan then writes her birthday wish for that year on her own balloon and we send them off into the heavens. This year, we made a night time launch after a very long day.
Happy Birthday, our BIG 5 year old!
We hope your wish comes true!

Sake's Alive! The Girl is Five!

And as in year's past, this is how our day started.......

Not a bad start to the day! She scored a new 16" ride (because that's what big 5 year old girls ride, afterall!). Thank goodness the big wreck that landed her in the E.R. took place on the little girl 12"! But....that's another blog for a different day.
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It's the Great Pumpkin

Perhaps you recall the great pumpkin wish from last fall....

Well, it appears they do come true. This is the fruit, er, vegetable of Kaelan's labor. There were actually about 10 really great pumpkins that came from her planting, but only one survived the driving rains, possums, frogs, ants, and blazing Texas heat.

She couldn't be more proud of her great pumpkin.

And yes, that is hot glue near the base of the stem. Poor little guy had a wee hole from his weak vine. We just wanted to ensure he makes it until the real fall season visits Austin.

Which, by the way, could be December.

Oscar/Emmy/Grammy Nominee

I really wish you could have been outside the bathroom listening to this girl put on her show the day I took these pictures. She literally stood in front of the mirror for 35 minutes giving herself a bid in each category as a nominee.

There was a little singing....mostly songs she was making up on the fly about "not letting turtles die in the swimming pool because it hurts the earth". Very moving and ecologically friendly.

There was a bit of drama and mystery over a missing floatie from the pool area. "What are our choices for finding our floatie? What can be done?", she cried out to her reflection with the most concerned tears in her eyes.

Next, came the Hollywood star. Somewhere, someone has taught her the signature sunglass tip and over the shoulder model pose. I guess I am going to have to quit letting her hang out with that Paris Hilton girl. I had a feeling she was bad news.

I snuck in on another artistic moment a few days ago while she was hard at work in her "studio". She is multitalented in that she plays the recorder (and is there a more lovely sound than a recorder, I ask you?) AND the piano together. I have moved the piano to the far corners of the house because I want her to have the quiet and sound-proof area for her to work. Really. Not because the music was making me want to go lay in the middle of I35.

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Come by for the show anytime! I can pretty much guarantee a ticket everyday!

So you don't think mama has just been hitting the taco stand too hard.

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