Ted's 40th birthday

For Ted's 40th birthday, he decided to take a trip to North Dakota, his 50th state. Apparently, there are quite a few people who save "the best for last" as he was given a certificate at a visitor center across the state line.  He was also able to visit the Field of Dreams (one of his favorite movies) film location in Iowa.

End of the school year

 Walking to school as a threesome for the last time--next year Caleb is on to middle school!

 

 Madeline and her best kindergarten friend

 The student council officers receiving recognition.  (Caleb was treasurer.)

A bitter-sweet moment. The parents surprised the 5th graders by doing a flash mob dance as
part of the graduation ceremony, and the 5th graders sang "Because I Knew You" from
Wicked. Looks like my little boy will be taller than me before too long!

New Orleans Trip

On our way home from Orlando, we stopped in New Orleans for the day. We listened to music in the streets and rode the trolley. Of course we had beignets at the Cafe du Monde, and we got a little laugh when the kids were sitting in Jackson Square eating beignets and wearing their cafe hats when a family needing directions came by and asked us if we were locals.

Harry Potter World and Universal Studios

One of the reasons we went to Orlando was so that Caleb could go to Harry Potter World.  He's a huge Harry Potter fan, and I'm a pretty big fan too. Favorites of the day include the ride inside Hogwarts castle, tasting Butterbeer, and Caleb being chosen in Ollivander's Wand Shop to have a magical wand fitting with Ollivander himself.  He was so tickled by the opportunity that he bought the wand afterwards.  He's a real saver, and the wand was his first purchase ever.

 Standing in front of Hogwarts castle.

 Having a Butterbeer toast at the Three Broomsticks.

 All aboard the Hogwarts Express!

 The shop windows had fun magical details like a dress that was sewing itself at the tailor's store.

 Caleb and his wand.

Madeline riding the Dr. Seuss carousel.

Walt Disney World

Here are some photos of our family vacation to Orlando at the end of May.  It was busy, busy with 4 days of driving and 6 days straight of theme parks.  It was Madeline's first time at a Disney park, and I thought we made it soon enough for her to have the magic Disney childhood moments with the princesses and Small World, but her favorite part by far was the roller coasters.  Once she had her first thrill ride, she wasn't very interested in anything else.  Sierra loved pretty much everything--the shows, flowers, roller   coasters-- except for meeting the characters, who it turns out really frightened her.  Caleb loved trying new foods at the countries in Epcot, the live digital puppetry  shows, and of course the roller coasters.  The first two times we went to Disney World I was pregnant and couldn't go on any roller coasters.  After six days of thrill rides with this wild bunch, I'm thinking that wasn't such a bad idea...

Epcot had many Disney characters in display through flowers and plants

We met Sleeping Beauty in France--Madeline was shy, Caleb embarrassed, and Sierra frightened

All the kids trying to make a call from the phone booth in England

Totem pole in Canada

Disney Gothic

Seeing the 3-D Bug's Life movie in Animal Kingdom

On our safari

The ride that was the biggest hit of the vacation was Everest Expedition. The kids went  on it 3 times in a row and would have gone again if we weren't worried their brains would be permanently damaged.  Here they are posing with the abominable snowman.

Everest Expedition--the kids rode up and down (backwards!) three times in 10 minutes 

Cinderella's castle at Magic Kingdom

Splash Mountain was another favorite

Madeline said Donald Duck was her favorite character because he makes her laugh

Hollywood Studios