If you look closely, you can see the launch pad where the space shuttles take off!
Just chillin by a rocket in Cape Canaveral
{did you know I am kind of obsessed with space? Not sci-fi; Non-fiction space.}
Kennedy Space Center {Visitor's Center}
And back to the parks, where we started . . .
Dr. Suess Land—Such a cute place.
Ellie went on a few rides, like this, but she obviously wasn't a big fan.
Ellie only tolerated this photo because the cat had a hat—and she is obsessed with hats right now.
A door just her size.
This was my first time being in Florida and I loved it! Give me some warm weather, and what's not to love? Maybe just the fact that Clay is going back without me next month. :)
Clay, Ellie and I took a little trip to Florida for a business convention. But mostly just for fun.
We traveled with one of our favorite families in the world—The Harrisons. These guys are the most hard-working, optimistic, grateful, happy people we know. We love them lots. Clay is so lucky to be close friends for the man he works for, and for our family to be close with this family. Talk about rare.
Here are some highlights from the vacay.
Universal Studios
The Barney Show—complete with hearts for the "I Love You" song
Ellie playing in Barney World. Best place ever for kids her age.
I don't think Ellie realized the gravity of the Barney-meeting situation. Did anyone else watch and love Barney as a kid? Even though it was is so uncool to admit it?
Our favorite ride at Universal—The Mummy
We had some pool time ...
...then it was back to the park!
Welcome to Harry Potter World (such a cool, creative place, whether you are a Harry Potter fan or not!)
Here is a quick video of Harry Potter World so you can feel like you were there :)
Hogwart's Express
The Butter Beer was actually really delicious! Frozen is best.
Hogsmeade Village
The Three Broomsticks Restaurant
Some strange creature antlers in Three Broomsticks
Honeydukes Candy Shop
Inside Hogwarts on our way to the Harry Potter ride. The pictures moved and talked like in the movie—it was really cool!
The Harrison Clan (Minus Amanda and Brinley) Don't they just look fun?
As I've mentioned before, I love Mindy Gledhill's new CD, "Anchor." Go ahead—check it out. I'll wait.
The other night, Clay took me on a surprise date. Right before we got out of the car in downtown Provo, he told me we were meeting Mindy Gledhill herself. I was totally confused and excited at the same time. Turns out, my determined husband wanted to take me to her concert, but it was completely sold out. So he wrote Mindy this e-mail:
Hi Mindy
I know this might sound desperate, okay, it's REALLY desperate. My wife LOVES you and your music and I wanted to surprise her with going to your show on Saturday the 12th in Provo. Unfortunately, tickets are sold out and we cannot make your newly listed Monday show. I know you may not have any pull over seating or tickets, but if there's anything you can do to help us, that'd be unbelievable. Let me preemptively offer myself at your service. I will come and clean your toilets or scrub your floors--I'm not saying I could do a great job, but I'll do anything. If you can't, it's totally fine.
I know you posted on your blog that you have released a limited number of tickets at the door, but I was wondering if I could in any way secure them or buy them from you or sell my right arm
Thanks Mindy, keep up the great work!
Clay
Later that day, Clay got a call from Mindy. She said she liked his e-mail and it made her laugh, so she had some options for him. We could get VIP seats to the show by helping her out with cupcake catering or merchandise sales. Clay signed us up to sit at the merchandise table before and after the show and we were in.
I was unsuspecting of the whole charade until we met Mindy the day before the concert. We waited inside an office building and Mindy walked in right when Ellie was 100 percent exposed in all her mid-dirty-diaper-change glory. She laughed and said she had definitely been there. She took us up to her office/studio (the cool place where she filmed part of the music video for "Anchor") and gave us the low-down on selling her merchandise. Her voice was scratchy so I asked if she had a cold—she frowned and said, "Yes." But she was hoping her trick of guzzling down olive oil on stage would help, like it had in the past.
At the concert last night, Mindy's voice was almost gone, so she turned it into a sing along. It was a really fun experience. Mindy is such a sweet, genuine person. And amazingly gorgeous. I am impressed that she released a CD while having a husband and two little boys to take care of. You know how guys have harmless man crushes? Can I have a girl crush or is that just weird? We will just say I look up to her. And my husband is freakin awesome for pulling this off. What a night!
Heading out to the concert
Juts workin' it at the merchandise table. {People thought we were BFFs with Mindy so they asked us tons of questions we kind of faked the answers to! It was funny.}
Mindy trying to squeek out a high note. Even with a cold, this girl sounds awesome!
She invited all the kids up on stage for the last song.
Clay doing his "VIP face" in our VIP seats
Mindy and I {She chopped her hair. But she's one of those people who can pull it off, eh?}
Just a random shot after the show. I didn't realize until now that Mindy's husband is peepin' through in the back!
We wish you all a happy {and perhaps unusual} Valentine's Day!
I was a little nervous about how Ellie would do on the flight to Florida, but she couldn't have been better. This little huge quiet book I put together made all the difference.
{Thanks for the idea to make this, Karlee!}
{I followed a pattern for most of it, but did my own thing for some pages, like rainbow, umbrella, pizza and telephone.}
This girl majorly loves telephones (even felt ones) and hats right now.
