My Harry Potter Obsession

A few months ago I went to Harry Potter World (aka Universal Studios Orlando) with Nolan. Why just us two? Here's a summary of the conversation that took place between Brian and myself:

Elizabeth: So we're going to HP world some day right?
Brian: Yeah sure
Elizabeth: When?
Brian: IDK, you pick
Elizabeth: Well if I don't go by the end of this year I will certainly perish
Brian: I don't actually like rides so go with someone else
Elizabeth: OK

If you can picture this conversation happening regularly and over the course of a few months (years) until we finally go to the last 3 lines but slowly building towards the bursting point where I had to go or else... that's what happened.

So basically I asked some other adults if they were interested and I was told that they couldn't make it work. Admittedly I didn't try very hard. I was very adamant that if I'm going to Universal - I'm doing it R.I.G.H.T. That means spending a little more money to have a fast pass and staying at a hotel that allows for early park entry. Being a control freak about this, I decided that I would bring along someone who I could (in theory) boss around. Hence, bringing my 5 year old who had JUUUUUUUUUUUUUST reached 42" in height.

42" is the minimum height for many rides at Universal. This was important.

SO I had another conversation with Brian.

Elizabeth: Ok I'm taking Nolan
Brian: Cool
Elizabeth: I bought tickets... they were $120... per person... per day...
Brian: That sounds about right
Elizabeth: I also bought fast passes... they were $120... per person... per day... We're going for 2 days
Brian: Ok that sounds fun... (trails off while he's doing mental math)
**Elizabeth kisses and runs away**

Just wiped my eyes... you can tell

Now I don't mean to brag, but I came in 2nd place in the Harry Potter trivia contest on the cruise this summer. Not only that but I have read the books countless times and could have answered much harder questions than the trivia contest asked. I've watched the movies countless times as well. Whenever I watch the end I am just SO PISSED at J.K. Rowling for bringing this world into my life that I can never actually be a part of which is WHY me going to HP world is such an obsession for me.

After coming back you would have thought my obsession would have waned. Well it didn't. In fact, we're planning a trip to go back when Maxwell is in kindergarten - March 2022. By then he should hopefully be 42" or taller and we should get to go on a ton of rides together as a family. I have reassured Brian that the rides aren't very jerky so you won't have neck pains from them. So we're all in agreement that a visit to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter (the formal name) is happening again.

And in better planning fashion - I have devised a plan to make it a 4 day trip with all the glitz and glitter from before and am now stashing away money each month to pay for the trip. SO RESPONSIBLE.

So what did I think when I first stepped into Harry Potter World? What did I do when I made the very long walk through Universal and finally saw Kings Cross? What happened to my heart when I started to hear the Harry Potter music as I walked into Diagon Alley?

If you're wondering if I cried - the answer is yes, I fucking did.

Walking through the park was like an adrenaline rush for me. I felt like there was no way I was going to be able to take it all in. All of the details were overwhelming. Particularly seeing Gringotts and the dragon as well as Weasleys Wizard Weezes.

The trip with Nolan was so freaking amazing I can't describe it. It was just such an amazing time to be with Nolan and to expose him to the magic that he could do with the interactive wand he got. Even though the wand chooses the wizard - Nolan selected the wand that is a Harry Potter replica. Of course I got a wand too - but I let Nolan pick it blind for me. I just told him to pick a box and that would be my wand.

I am definitely hopping all around how my experience went because I'm writing this 3 months after the trip. So come with me as I recall the highlights:

There are several locations within the park where you can do real magic with your interactive wand. The favorite of Nolan was "reparo" to the armor that had fell apart. When he said the magic words the armor would rebuild from the scraps that lay on the ground. Watching him do this magic while I had a butterbeer was a highlight. Butterbeer is, regrettably, non-alcoholic but still very tasty!

BTW I'm a Slytherin and my patronus is a Black and White cat.

Super Quiet On The Homefront

Man, what do you say when it's been nearly a year since you last blogged? I suppose you bullet points the highlights of the year... Here goes!

• Nolan is 5 and he "graduated" from daycare to kindergarten in August! He loves it! He is so excited about learning how to read and screams "sight word!" whenever he sees one. He's been able to identify "pizza" when written out although that isn't a formal sight word...
• Maxwell is 2 and just so big! He's chatting up a storm and has his favorites of many things. Although they tend to be whatever Nolan has at the time. He likes singing songs like "you are my sunshine" and the TMNT theme song. He also likes it when I make goofy faces.
• Brian is able to work from home at the end of the day now. He used to have to go back in to work for 2 hours or so every night to catch up on paperwork but recently they allowed him to start doing it at home through their laptops and whatever encryption they decide is necessary.
• I have had a big year myself. Although I haven't talked about it much I am so proud that I've taken health and fitness very seriously for the past (almost) 2 years and have lost 50 pounds very slowly but surely. Oh I also started a new job which I LOVE where I do room scheduling for the university. Long story short - you have a class, I help decide where you'll be taught. It's kind of a superpower.

I'll write more when I can - promise!