FLORIDA! Sarah's 8 year-old Trip

When we started the 8 year-old trip tradition, it was because Libby overheard me saying that I was going to go to Florida to visit my sister and help with her new baby by myself.  Libby (who was about to turn 8) was super sad!  She wanted to go.  So, I decided to take her.  She was, after all, old enough to be helpful. She was helpful, and we even got in some time at Disney.  The trip was a success.  

Sarah's trip was also a success.  We weren't as "helpful" although I did clean out my sister's fridge for her.  Instead they entertained us like crazy!  We spent a surprise day (for Sarah) at Universal so we could explore The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a day split between Hollywood Studios and Animal Kindgom, a 3/4 day at the Magic Kingdom and an evening at Epcot.  All for free.  Seriously.  Disney employees get some serious perks (although high salaries aren't one of them, so my brother-in-law may not work for Disney for much longer).  And our Universal day was due to one of Rachel's church friends whose husband works for Universal.  I am such a cheapskate.  I would never have paid enough to have such an amazing vacation.  (And I read The Cheapskate Next Door during the trip, so I am even cheaper now ;).

My mom got concerned on our second morning when I hadn't posted any pictures, so I posted a fair amount during the trip, but here are a few more.

Sarah boarding the plane, I had to teach her the trick where you set your backpack on your suitcase so you can fit down the aisle without hitting people or seats.  

Before the red eye.

After the red eye.  We each had a row to ourselves. But could I sleep?  No!  Thankfully she did.  And I caught up (sort of) by getting 9+ hours of sleep almost every night we were there.  

We went to a couple of resorts and went swimming in the pools.  This is the Port Orleans pool.  It was the day before Mardi Gras, so they were getting ready for big parties.  

This little guy just captured my heart.  Seriously.  Adorable.

When we got to Universal, Sarah kept seeing signs for Harry Potter and pointing at them with sadness, but not saying anything.  When she finally realized where we were, and that she was going to Hogwarts, she was pretty darn excited.  

Hogwarts Express was one of my favorite things.  You get to hear Harry, Ron and Hermione going past and conversing.  A dementor also "looks in" your car.  The chocolate frog trying to hop away is adorable.  The whole Wizarding World experience is fun.  I went on the Gringots Bank ride.  It was 3D amazing and didn't make me sick.  All of the trolls in suits with wispy white hair sitting there doing their work in the bank reminded me of General Authorities.  It was hilarious.  

Probably my favorite thing from the whole trip was the Butterbeer.  I LOVED it. I may have had 3.  Or 2.5.  It was a frozen slushy butterscotchy creamy deliciousness.  I seriously loved it.  I am craving it right now.  

Hogwarts!  Didn't go on any roller coasters since I didn't want to get sick.  But Sarah loved loved loved them.  She even loved the Dragon Challenge, Hulk and some other crazy scary looking one.  What she didn't not like were the creepy rides.  Like the Haunted Mansion.  

Sarah with the Night Bus.

Sarah "driving" me in Fantasyland at the Magic Kindgom.  

Sarah with the castle.

For our Universal day Devin stayed with his nanny.  At Disney I got to watch Devin while the big "kids" went on the Roller Coasters.  It was a pretty fun job.  He had so much fun playing with the toys in the all the stores.   

Sarah had a blast at the pool party at the Animal Kingdom lodge on our last day.  It was a really sweet place!  

Sarah's prize from the pool party.  

This is what Sarah did when she had free time.  She read Harry Potter.  

Sarah "enjoying" the fireworks from Epcot.  These were from another park.  When they actually lit off the ones right there in Epcot, it was right over our heads and so loud it freaked her out.   I forgot how much I love Epcot.  Sadly we only had a little time there, but we got to see my favorite thing, the Chinese acrobats!  This year they did some roller skating stuff!  It was amazing!  

Last selfie with Ray Ray.  I couldn't ask for a better sister!

After a bit of confusion finding our flight (we were on Delta connecting to Alaska instead of starting on Alaska) we ended up cutting it close to our flight time.  Then we sat on the ground on our flight for 45 minutes before taking off.  It didn't matter to us though, since we had 4 hours in St. Louis.  The airport in St. Louis had an amazing play area!  Sarah could have stayed there for 10 hours! It was basically a mini airport.  

We got off the plane at 9:30 pm Seattle time and hit the ground running.  Picked up the van from our friend Shawn who fixed the passenger door lock and life resumed!