For our winter break, we went to Universal Orlando Resort in Florida.
We had done Disney three times with Briana (2009, 2010 and 2014), so it was time to check out a new theme park. We decided to check out what Universal had to offer - including all things Harry Potter.
Universal did not disappoint.
We had a wonderful, awesome time...
This theme park is intense though. It's much more intense than Disney World. More action. More thrills. More "tickles in your tummy" (as Bri likes to say).
Almost every ride throws, drops, jerks, spins, speeds up, slows down, goes high, goes low and sometimes flips. Even the kid-friendly "Cat In The Hat" ride spun us around in circles. I have neck and back issues, so I was a little worried if I'd get back home alive and in one piece. Heh.
I did survive. And I had fun. We all had a lot of fun. But, the park kicked my tush after three days. It kicked all of our tushes.
This was my child at the end of Day 3...
When this one passes out, you know it was a fun, full and exhausting time.
So sit back and relax, I am going to blog about our whole experience. As you know, I like to give my opinion and insight on theme park vacations - and I like to keep it real.
Before I get into my posts about our Universal winter break trip, I want to talk about our quick stop to see Doug's aunt and cousin in Daytona Beach. We missed them and wanted to check in on them because they lost their husband/father in September, and we were going to be way too close to them not to say hello and spend some time catching up. I had not seen these ladies in person in several years, though we talk on the phone and e-mail quite often. Luckily, Doug was able to visit them right before his uncle had passed.
On drive down to FL, we saw this sign at one of the rest stops. I guess you know your in FL when you see this...
And when you see these...
We arrived at their beautiful condo complex in the afternoon...
They have the most beautiful view of the beach...
They gave Bri some art supplies, and she got busy drawing...
We had a very nice evening that included eating a bowl of delicious chili for dinner.
We spent the night and in the morning, it was time for some cuddles with Aunt Jene'...
We finally got dressed and walked down the street to eat at a local restaurant with Aunt Jene'.
Doug and Bri waiting to go...
Starting the walk to the restaurant...
We took a detour down the beach...
Crabby Joe's - love that place!!!!
Waiting for our food...
Crab cake benedict - yum...
We took a couple of photo opps as we headed back to the condo...
The weather was getting quite windy and gray as you can see. A front was coming through. But Bri desperately want to play in the sand before we headed out for Universal, so Doug obliged...
She was in her happy place...
Some funny video of Bri and her "sprinkle/pat" method of working with sand...
Before we headed out, we had to have a picture of all of us together...
Some hugs for Cousin Kimberly...
I wish we could have stayed longer and it was such a nice visit, but we had to get to Orlando. We needed to check into our hotel, grab a quick bite to eat for dinner and then hit the hay early. We had a very early morning the next morning ~ Universal, here we come!
Briana had a "quilt book report" due at the end of the month. She had read her book, and when it was time to write her report, I reminded her about her "Bai Jia Bei" or 100 good wishes quilt (I have it tucked away for safe keeping). I told her she should look at it and it might give her an idea of how she could to put her report together.
She wanted to look at it as soon as I mentioned it. We pulled it out and we talked for the longest time about the squares, their meaning and the people who contributed to the quilt. She found it fascinating.
I took the picture below the day the completed quilt arrived at our house (Bri was almost 4)...
She has grown up quite a bit, hasn't she?
I still have a ton of leftover 100 good wishes fabric, and Bri wanted to use some of it for her report.
Here is the "quilt" before words were added...
Words and pictures were then added. It turned out really good...
She was quite proud.
I have used my leftover fabric to make wreaths...
And Christmas ornaments...
And I still have a lot left over! It's definitely come in handy when I have needed it.
It was pretty neat that this project overlapped with Chinese New Year. :)
Wow - we had an amazing Chinese New Year 2016 (4714) in our household. CNY is one of Briana's favorite holidays, and I am glad that Doug and I are able to make it special for her.
We started the celebrating the holiday about a week early. We saw Kung Fu Panda 3 (at our favorite dinner and a movie theater) the weekend before CNY started...
Bri was really excited...
We are getting quite spoiled coming to this theater...
The movie had a significant adoption theme, but I thought it was handled very, very well. Bri was pretty excited to see Mei Mei the panda...
I thought how the movie explained that Po didn't have to choose one father over another to love (adoptive verses biological), he could love them both equally...
The Friday before CNY started, Bri and I went to our local art station to do a CNY craft. It has become a tradition for us. This year we celebrated the year of the monkey...
Bri and I decorated the house the weekend before CNY started (it started on a Monday)...
Gramma gave Bri this amazing balloon...
The Saturday night before CNY officially started, we got together with some of our favorite families at our favorite local Chinese restaurant to celebrate the holiday.
My pretty girl...
The awesome kids...
The amazing mamas...
I can't believe how grown up these girls are now...
I brought along some dragon masks for the kids to color...
The masks were actually a pretty big hit!!
Finally, CNY officially started on Feb 8. Obviously, schools do not close for the holiday in the states like they do in China. Briana wanted to put on a silk shirt the first day of the new year to observe the holiday. And I also got her this adorable stuffed monkey...
That evening, I cooked teriyaki pork, fried rice and broccoli sauteed in soy sauce...
That week, I worked on my CNY presentation for Briana's classes. Yes - classes. Meaning 2. She sees two teachers in 4th grade, so both classes were invited. 50+ kids!!!!
I had all my info and goodies ready...
Bri wore her beautiful red dress on presentation day...
Bri and I were so excited that Doug was able to come and watch this year. Bri and I both did the presentation. I provided information and Bri read a book...
Here I am laughing at something one of the kids said...
After the presentation and book reading, the kids colored dragon masks and opened their goody bags...
I brought along a mini Chinese lion dance puppet...
Bri's class showing off their masks...
I did the presentation on a Friday ~ the Friday before winter break. And the kids had just exchanged Valentine's Day candy before I arrived. They were pretty wired! Despite all that, everything went really well. :D
Honestly, the kids were very inquisitive and asked a lot of questions. I was happy that they seemed to really enjoy the presentation.
Doug, Bri and I went to Universal Studios in FL for winter break (a bunch of posts coming on that), and the day after we returned home, we attended another CNY (dinner) celebration. The restaurant is a bit of a distance for us, but it has delicious food and a lion dance (and we get to reconnect with friends)!
Bri dressed up once again for another celebration...
The restaurant we went to...
We had purchased a table with two more of our favorite families.
Maisie, April and Bri all sat together...
Friend Katie was at the table right next to ours...
They had a lovely dance number...
And a lovely musical number...
There were 8 courses of food. I'm not kidding. I had to roll myself out of the building when all was said and done...
Then it was time for the lion dance...
The kids got to feed the lion lettuce for good luck and wealth...
Posing for more pictures...
Bubble wrap came out ~ it was the Chinese "fireworks" for the evening...
Bubble wrap fireworks...
We ran into several other families at the celebration that we have known over the years. I just had to get a picture of all the girls together. They have all grown up so much.
All of the girls below are 9 and 10 years old ~
April, Maisie, Emily Grace, Amelia, Emma, Briana and Katie...
We truly had an amazing CNY. It was exhausting though! We made a lot of very nice memories and when CNY rolls around again next year, we'll do it all over again.
