Fourth Fun!

I hope that everyone had a wonderful 4th of July full of red/white/blue apparel, yummy food, and fireworks!

Kyle and I hosted a little BBQ at our house with two of our, best couple friends.

This is what happens when you let your husband create the invite on Facebook...

"Four score and seven years ago our Fore Fathers set forth a new nation where Americans could get drunk and shoot off fireworks while dressed like true Patriots in their American Flag bikinis and cut off denim shorts. Laura and I will be grilling burgers and hotdogs as well as supplying corn-on-the-cob and the most patriotic dessert since Betsy Ross jumped out of the cake at George Washington's Bachelor Party with nothing but American Flag booby tassels on! If you all could bring chips or salad or an appetizer that would be great. Also, don't forget to dress as American as Sarah Palin on her Russia Watch missions!"

I almost died when I saw this. I have to give him points for creativity ;)

Per usual when the six of us gather, we had a wonderful time, laughing our Patriotic booties off! We feasted on burgers, hot dogs, corn on the cob, fruit salad, and "free-to-decorate-your-own" sugar cookies...all red, white, and blue toppings, of course!

Kyle and I had been saving some of our "Bertie Botts Every Flavour Bean" from Harry Potter World to share with them! We made everyone blindly choose, which didn't end up working out because everyone chose good ones. So, we forced everyone to try at least one of the gross flavours...I know, we're super kind hosts!

We played games, watched the fireworks on TV (we were worried the weather wouldn't hold up if we actually went downtown), and listened to our favorite 90's pop on Pandora. Nights like last are just the best!

Hope everyone else had a blast, too!

Rainy Days Refuge

I'm having trouble remembering the last day that it didn't rain. Last summer was the summer of unbearable, record high temperatures. This summer is the summer of rain. So much rain that counties surrounding us have declared a state of emergency because of the flooding. Yikes. 

So, what's a couple to do to not go stir crazy during these rainy after-noons?

Kyle and I both love to read and certainly don't make enough time for it. But, during the summer's, when I'm not teaching and when Kyle's work-load is a lot lighter, we both like to cram as much in as possible. We also love going to coffee shops, even though neither of us drink coffee (hot tea for him, hot chocolate for me!). And today, in order to avoid becoming permanent fixtures on our couch, we headed downtown to one of our favorite spots, with a huge outdoor, covered porch to offer refuge from the rain while still providing some much needed fresh air. 

We had our "His & Hers" books to read and drinks to sip. 

And, it was pure perfection.

Peaceful bliss.

Kyle and I were once complimented by one of our youth group leaders for our ability to be together but not necessarily having to always fill the silence. We could be perfectly content being together and not always having to talk. This afternoon we did just that. We enjoyed our beverages and read until our little hearts were content. And despite the fact that few words were exchanged, we were connected by just being together, doing something we love...

....as the raindrops continued to fall. 

Florida Vacay-- Harry Potter World

I promise I'm almost done with my Florida Vacation Recaps (which you can catch up on here and here), but today's may just be one of my favorites because it has to do with our day at Islands of Adventure, which is the amazing park home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Call me a nerd if you like because I'll gladly own up to it...I am an HP lover, despite refusing to read it for years and years. I promised Kyle I would read them after we'd been dating for a while because he was such a fan, and I read them like a maniac! Needless to say, there was no question in our minds that WWOHP was a must-do on this trip. When I found out that WWOHP was part of Islands of Adventure, I was even more excited because I knew it was a win-win!

 Harry Potter World Highlights

Touring Hogwarts before riding the Forbidden Journey

Riding the 3 amazing rides-- Forbidden Journey, Dragon Challenge, and Flight of the Hippogriff multiple times!

Hanna finding a wand that had been left in her locker! I was so jealous!

Trying our first Butterbeer...yum yum!

Going to Ollivander's to watch the wand choosing show

Shopping at Honeyduke's and Zonko's

Sharing the "Feast" with my family at The Three Broomsticks

Getting our photo taken with the greeter at Platform Nine and Three Quarters

Hearing the lovely ladies in blue from the Beauxbaton's Academy of Magic sing and taking a picture with the boys from Durmstrang Institute and them!

Trying the Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans...including the Soap, Earwax, Vomit, Earthworm and much more! So gross, but so fun!

Feeling like I was actually in the books!

1st Butterbeer tasting! Delish!

Bertie Bott's Ever Flavour Beans!

We did venture off into other parts of Islands of Adventure, which is where a lot of the fun, water rides and roller coasters are!

The Rest of Islands of Adventure Highlights

Riding front row on the Jurassic Park log flume ride, and getting completely soaked!

Playing fun games that Hanna taught us while waiting in line for rides

Riding Dudley Do-Right's Ripsaw Falls (similar to Splash Mountain but better!)

Convincing Kyle to go on the Incredible Hulk ride

Riding Popeye & Bluto's Bilge-Rat Barge (and getting soaked!)

Eating our PB & J's and apple slices that we snuck openly carried in our bookbags...the security lady only requested that we make her a sandwich, haha!

Riding the carousel in Seuss-Land

Again, another magical day! I would go back in a heartbeat if I could!

This wraps up the first week of our Florida trip! One more recap of our beach week with Kyle's family to come. Thanks for bearing with me as I document this trip digitally because it's a lot more permanent than my memory!