Your Ninth Year

Dear Luke, 

You've completed your ninth trip around the sun.  Wow!  This year has contained some pretty incredible moments, but then again, each of the past nine years has been exceptional since the moment we first laid eyes on you, our precious first born son.   There are many sports analogies written about a child's ninth birthday.  I've seen it referred to as "halftime" in parenting... We've coached you through the first half of your childhood and made a great team, but there are only nine short years before you take this game all on your own.   Some will say that now we're approaching the "back 9", and this is our moment to pause and high five, and change our game plan a little.  During this second half of parenting, the focus will gradually shift from basics and life skills (where we've called all the shots so far), to you calling more plays for yourself and choosing your own path.   We're getting glimpses of this already, as you have much more pronounced opinions about certain things, and have visibly grown and matured this year. 

 If someone had told me that during your ninth year, you'd toss aside the beloved plaid shorts and polo shirts that you've worn your whole life, and ask to wear "sweatpants (athletic clothes) like everyone else", I would have scoffed.  (And I would have been ashamed that on the first morning you insisted on wearing these to school that I may have shouted, "WE WEAR THOSE AS PAJAMAS IN THIS FAMILY!").  I later apologized to you... because it was really about me losing control and you growing up too fast... and not about the clothes at all.

If someone had showed me that in the second half of your ninth year, you'd fall in love with Harry Potter, and read the entire series not once, but twice, I would have been amazed.  Because that's 8,448 pages since January (according to Scholastic Books).  You were exposed to some grown up content for the first time while reading these books, and recently came to me and whispered, "Mommy, there's a bad word in Harry Potter."  I replied, "Yes, but you're a big kid now, and you can handle it," while praying that I was saying right thing, words that would make you feel confident in my trust of you.  Then there was the evening when I went into your room to tuck you in, and found tears in your eyes.  "Mommy, did you know that Dobby (a beloved HP character) dies in this book?"   I had completely forgotten to prepare you for this, and as I held you, I talked about the magic of books, and what a gift it is that an author can make us fall in love with fictional characters so that our hearts hurt for them... how proud I was that you were such a voracious reader... and how that would serve as a gift for your whole life.  Meanwhile, my heart broke for you, my baby, who, just one instant ago, listened to "Good Night Moon" as I read it aloud to you, snuggled in my lap in a rocking chair. 

If someone had warned me that your ninth year would be a time where Daddy and I would be faced with important decisions about your schooling, I would have been incredulous.  Because it's only third grade, and surely you are supposed to be a kid and enjoy elementary school for a few more years, right?  You were blessed with the gift of an extraordinary brain, and this was the year where we received official validation of that through aptitude and achievement test scores that blew our minds (but didn't surprise us).   We prayed and thanked God for the opportunities that this presented us, and made the decision that we felt was best for you and for our family.  We want you to continue to grow and learn in a constructive, nurturing environment that will allow you to socially thrive and succeed, and we've worked very hard this year on developing and maturing these skills.  You're a happy little boy, who is funny and brilliant, and will tell jokes and share trivia and facts with any audience that will listen.  We are thankful for teachers, counselors, family, and friends who have mentored and supported us along this journey during the past year.          

If someone had whispered to me that in your ninth year, you'd still be the tallest in your grade, that your feet would be as big as mine, and that I'd catch a glimpse of what you'll look like as an adult, I would have buried my head in the sand.  Thankfully, you are still extremely affectionate with your mama, and ask me to snuggle you every day.  You let me kiss you, hold your hand, and breathe in your heavenly scent (I know that won't last during the "back 9" as you become a stinky teenager!).  You still love Legos and Pokemon, and your ninth year was filled with milestones and growing experiences.  You taught me how to deal with disappointment this year when you didn't get a spot in the School Talent Show (a moment in your ninth year that was much harder for me than you)... you got your first stitches when you crashed into the bleachers... you continued your adventurous eating habits by consuming more food than the rest of us combined, and want to try every restaurant that you see (we caved and went to Arby's and KFC for the first time this year, which you thought was an amazing treat!).  You're becoming much more interested and engaged while watching college and professional sports teams.  This was our favorite year to watch the Super Bowl with you, to complete March Madness brackets, and it's a great, great sports stage.  You play soccer and basketball, and are amazingly resilient in so many aspects (which adults could truly learn from, as you bounce back from 0-11 sports seasons, and truly do focus on the fun and not the competitiveness).  Your favorite phrase is "I have just ONE question", which you utter about 727 each day, and your inquisitive, curious mind never, ever stops processing, thinking, or wondering.  

As we pause for a moment for this halftime pep talk, we want you to remember and know that each day of your ninth year was filled with love and joy.   You are a gift to this world and the center of our universe. The next nine years will have many new experiences for you to navigate, but Daddy and I will always be here for you, and want you to know that the best is yet to come.  You will always be our all-star.

Love, Mommy      

Birthday Boy!

We had the most magical birthday planned for Luke.  Our big boy turned 9 last Thursday, and I was so excited about his choice of a Harry Potter theme.  Each year, one of my greatest joys is decorating for my children's birthdays, so that when they wake up on their special day, the house is transformed:  

 There were lots of cute details for Luke's birthday this year, thanks to the abundance of free Harry Potter clip art on the internet.  I couldn't resist ordering some extra surprises, too, and when Luke came downstairs on his birthday, his eyes widened with amazement!

Per tradition, the birthday star chooses one present to open first thing in the morning.  Of course Luke chose the largest gift, which was a huge Lego Nexo Knights set from Mimi! 

Luke also examined his Harry Potter Artifact Box, which contained special scrolls, posters, and keepsakes from the series:  

The birthday boy had a special place mat waiting for him at the breakfast table.  The sorting hat decided on Gryffindor for Luke's Hogwarts House, just like Harry!

Daddy took in donuts for Luke's class, and I planned to meet our new 9-year old for lunch.  This is where the rest of the birthday plans changed a bit.  As I sat with Luke in the cafeteria, he looked pale and asked if I would take him home.  He said that his tummy hurt.  At first, I thought maybe it was the donut(s), but we've learned to trust Luke's instincts about when he doesn't feel well, and I signed him out to go home early.  We barely made it into the house before Luke got sick... and this poor, sweet birthday boy spent the rest of the day like this:

At one point in the middle of the horrible sickness, Luke whispered, "This is the worst birthday ever."    My heart was broken.  Our precious boy had been looking forward to this day for so long, and it was awful.  Sweet Winnie was so worried about her brother, and didn't leave his side... 

Even the magic wizardry of Harry Potter was no match for the stomach bug, so we promised Luke a "birthday re-do" over the weekend.  Unfortunately, it was a very contagious virus, and claimed Mark as the next victim on Saturday.  By Sunday night, I, too, was ill, and we are all still recovering.  I am considering us lucky that we managed to make it 9 years into parenting before the stomach flu had us all down for the count (and so far, Leah has miraculously managed to stay healthy), but it's been an interesting week, and the timing is less than ideal.  We're looking forward to feeling better and having a germ-free, magical birthday celebration this weekend, as we attempt "Birthday Re-do" yet one more time! 

Legoland- Part 2

Day 2 of Legoland proved to be another fantastic day.  We made a plan to ride few attractions that we didn't fit into the previous day, including the double decker Grand Carousel: 

We also returned to our list of "favorites".  The Coastersaurus was ranked the #1 ride by both children.  This wooden roller coaster curves and dips through a prehistoric jungle of animated and life sized dinosaurs and is terrifying (for Mommy and Daddy) and thrilling (for the kids).  I told L&L to make scared faces here, but only one child looks frightened.  Luke was much too happy that we let him have "Wild Hair Day".  When we told him that he didn't have to brush his hair before going to the park, Luke's eyes widened and he exclaimed, "Really?"   We are definitely much more fun parents when in vacation-mode.

Project X was rated as our #2 favorite ride, and is another wild roller coaster, which is in the Lego Technic section of the park.  You can see from the picture that once again, there were absolutely no lines, and we got off the ride and right back on again that morning.  As a side note, less than 5 minutes after we rode this one, it had technical difficulties and was stopped with riders stuck on it (this does not boost my faith in roller coasters)! 

The Aqua Wave racers were another big hit.  Anything with shooting water and loud noises seemed to be appealing to our adventure-seeking kiddos:

We also adored the water skiing show that took place in Pirate's Cove.  We were warned that the first 5 rows were in the "Splash Zone", so of course my crazy crew sat right in the middle of the front row and teased me for wanting to sit in the rear of the amphitheater.  Sigh.  I joined them up front in the "Soak" Zone, which is a much more appropriate term...

Lego Treasure chest in Pirate's Cove.

More Priceless Treasure.

The kids purchased their souvenirs on Day 2, and I am always amazed at how they choose to spend their money.  Luke bought a small Lego set, a key chain, and a personalized "Luke Way" Legoland sign, while Leah insisted on this Lego Ninjago mask.  Looks like we are all set for the next "Character Day" at school! 

We stumbled upon a new section of the park that afternoon that we hadn't noticed the day before, called Imagination Zone.  This indoor (and lovely, air-conditioned) area contained a Creation Zone, Building Area, Lego Mindstorms programming section, and Flying & Wheel Zones. 

Leah wrote her name with bricks...

...while Luke tweaked a common Lego Movie phrase.

Luke made me giggle, when (after working on this for over 20 minutes) he asked, "Do you think I can write 'cool' instead of 'awesome' because it's much shorter?"     

The kids raced their creations down timed ramps, and enjoyed adapting their vehicles:

Our last ride at the park was one of our favorites from the previous day, in the World of Chima.  The Quest for Chi was an interactive boat ride where each rider shot water cannons at targets (and at innocent bystanders on land!).  My family LOVED this one, and I volunteered to take pictures of them.  Little did I know, they had a plan to soak me, too!

Wet Luke with Laval, the Master of Chi! 

It was a perfect grand finale to Legoland!  

After wrapping up our second day at the park, it was time to start heading home.  Luckily, we planned to break up the drive into 2 days, and found a last minute hotel a couple of hours into our trip right on Daytona Beach!

It was such a treat to spend the afternoon/evening at the beach.  We had dinner right on the boardwalk, and our room overlooked the ocean.  We're of the opinion that the end of vacation is much sweeter with a stop at the beach on the way home!

We woke up the next morning and drove the rest of the way home.  It was a wonderful vacation from start to finish, and Luke's pose here sums it all up.  How we loved Spring Break 2017!

Legoland- Part 1

We returned last week from our Spring Break trip to Legoland, Florida, and it was incredible!  We've been planning this vacation for a long time, and everything came together beautifully.   We left at 3:30 a.m. on Saturday morning, and I was nervous since we haven't done a middle of the night departure in several years.  However, we bought travel pillows, and the kids were very excited about this novelty.  Leah even had an eye mask, and we told L&L that they had to promise to try to go back to sleep until 7:00 a.m.    There was some rustling from the back seat, but for the most part, it was quiet and the first few hours of the trip flew by (easy for me to say, since I wasn't driving!).   I packed breakfast for the car (along with about 17,000 other snacks), and with the help of a few movies and a stop for lunch, we had an uneventful journey.  Traveling is so much easier than it used to be, and we didn't have Winnie with us on this drive, which allowed us to have more room and be more flexible in our stops.

    

We arrived at the Legoland Florida Resort around 3:00 p.m., and the hotel did not disappoint.   It was a huge, colorful oasis after a long drive, and we all squealed with delight when we saw it!

We were able to check into our room right away, and had selected to be on the pirate-themed floor.  The decor was amazing, with Lego sculptures throughout the suite, and a treasure chest full of prizes for the children:

Mommy and Daddy's section of the room.

Our Pirate Bathroom.

L&L had their own tv in their section, which showed the Lego Movie continuously (among other channels).  They were captivated!

Kids' Bunk Beds.  

The "Adults Keep Out" sign was one of their favorite parts!

Unlocking the treasure chest.

Treasure Chest Prizes: Lego Set, Activity Pack, and treats!

 There were many activities at the hotel, and the kids were able to attend a Master Builder Workshop shortly after we arrived.  This was right up their alley, and they were thrilled that Legoland's rule is: "You Make it, You Take it!", which meant that Luke and Leah got to keep the sea planes that they built:

We found BrickBeard in the lobby and told him how much we loved staying on his floor:

Even the hallway walls, carpet, and the elevator on our floor were pirate themed!

Waiting for the elevator.

We had a few minutes of downtime, and explored the other floors of the hotel, which also had fun themes.  There was a Kingdom floor, Land of Adventure, and Lego Friends hallway.  Something for everyone! 

Leah on the Kingdom Floor.

One of our favorite parts of the Legoland Hotel was the (disco) elevator.  As soon as you got into the elevator and the doors closed, a disco ball spun, music played ("Dancing Queen," anyone?), and strobe lights flashed.  I have a video of us dancing, but the kids may kill me if I post it on the blog.  When the doors to the elevator opened, everything stopped, and you walked out as if nothing had happened.  It's hilarious.  We also loved how self-conscious all of the children were when you rode in the elevator with another family.  The adults still danced, etc., and the kids looked at their parents with mortified expressions and were as still as statues.  What a hoot!

L&L at the hotel entrance.

After exploring the inside of the hotel on Saturday afternoon, it was time for the pool!  After a long car ride, it was wonderful to burn off some energy with an afternoon of swimming, and we were amazed by the huge poolside Lego sculptures:

Luke was especially looking forward to the dinner buffet at Bricks, the restaurant inside the hotel.  He certainly ate his money's worth, and we loved the buffet breakfast each morning, here, too!

After dinner, we walked along the beautiful boardwalk that surrounds the resort and borders Lake Eloise.  

Mommy spotted an alligator in the water, so we kept our distance and scooted past him:

Close Up of our alligator "friend".  When in Florida...

Can you spy the Lego fisherman?

Lake Eloise boardwalk.

My loves.

We crashed early, and Mark and I commented that this is one of the keys to our family's success on vacations:  an early bedtime.  We were all in bed each night by 8:00 p.m., but without any downtime/naps during the day and going non-stop with very early wake ups, this just works for us.

One of the advantages to staying at Legoland hotel is that it's adjacent to the amusement park... and is advertised as being only "130 kid steps" from the entrance!  Additionally, if you stay at the resort, you are able to get into the park 30 minutes before it officially opens at 10:00 a.m.   Somehow, my children took this whole "early bird gets the worm" thing literally and were the very first people in the entire resort to be awake/down in the lobby ready to go to the park the next morning... because, really, who can sleep when there is a giant Lego pit with millions of bricks just 3 floors under your room? 

Even Daddy was much too excited to sleep!  Maybe it was that 8:00 bedtime?

Our family had the Lego play castle in the lobby to ourselves...

...and there was plenty of time to read the LegoLand Times:

FINALLY, it was 9:30 a.m. and we dashed into the park and straight to the Dragon, which is one of the roller coasters:

First ones on the ride!

We rode ride after ride with absolutely no lines.  We couldn't believe our luck.  Legoland seemed magical to us.  There were sections of the park devoted to each Lego theme that our family has cherished over the past few years:  Duplo Valley, Lego City, World of Chima, Lego Ninjago World, Lego Technic, etc.   The park was small enough that we could navigate it in one day, but we had a 2-day pass, and created a mental list of "favorites" that we'd revisit the next day.  We saw several shows and the kids posed happily beside many sculptures of their favorite Lego characters:

One of the highlights of the park was Ford Driving School, where the children received their own Legoland Driver's Licenses and drove on a real course.  This ride was for kids ages 6-13, but Luke looked almost too big to fit in the Lego car!  Luckily, he still enjoyed the ride:

This little boy's eyes grew wide when he saw this Mustang, made entirely of Legos!

 Miniland USA was another amazing part of the park.  There were acres of "cities" (made from 32 million Lego bricks), with moving, interactive pieces in each area.  We thought it would be fun to pose by Washington, D.C. (our 2016 spring break destination), and show how big the kids have gotten since last year!

  

More Miniland.

There was a Star Wars section of Miniland, too, which Luke and Leah loved.  They both asked to take a picture with Darth Vader:

 We concluded our afternoon with a couple of hours at the water park.  There were giant water slides, a lazy river, wave pool, and a fun water play area for the kids: 

After the water park, we were pooped, and walked back to the hotel, where we had a poolside pizza party and another early bedtime.  It was an fantastic, full day at the park, with more adventures to come!