Day Five: Universal Studios and New Years Eve!

We got a late start to Universal, but decided today was still the day! We went to Islands of Adventure! Walking through there alone is really cool the way they sectioned it all off. We walked through the front area and through Marvel Super Hero City. Andrew AND Daddy loved seeing all the super heroes on the buildings. Then we went into Jurassic Park. I had been telling Andrew how badly I wanted to be eaten by a dinosaur. He wasn't very happy about the idea. We tried taking our picture with a T-Rex, but Andrew would have none of it and ran away. So when we got to the Jurassic Park River Adventure ride, I was sure we should not take Andrew. I told him it was too scary when he asked. I was impressed with my boy! He watched the people after the splashdown laughing and all the smiles and told me: "Mommy, they don't look scared. And I have a forcefield." So we tested our forcefields so the dinos wouldn't eat us and took Andrew to see them. It starts out slow and scenic, showing you the nice friendly dinosaurs, and then heads into the restricted area. You know it's restricted by the flashing lights and loud noises. He got a little scared there. You go up and up through the compound surrounded by (somewhat cheesy) raptors and the big T-Rex is at the end in your way! Just as he comes at you to eat you, your boats drops into the dark and falls into a splash at the end. He made it through and did a very good job; and even though he was scared, he wanted to go on it again.

Harry Potter Land was amazing! I learned that I really like Butter Beer. It's like a cream soda with butterscotch foam on top. Yummy! The rides there were all really fun. In fact, the one in Hogwarts Castle was CRAZY amazing!!!! I've been wanting to go on it again since I got back.

After the ride being broken most of the day, Andrew finally got to go on the Spiderman ride! He loved it! It's a 3D ride and a lot of fun! Then Daddy, Billy, Jackie, and Jake went on the Hulk, which is a really big and really green roller coaster. After they rode and before they got off, it was stuck. They were about 20 feet away from the exit and not able to go anywhere. So of course Rey did his best to keep people entertained.

One last ride before we went home for Andrew was the Cat in the Hat ride in Dr Suess' Landing. It was a really cute area. Next time I'd like to go over there first. After hitting all the highlights as fast as we could, we headed back to the house where Jeanette and Lilly were waiting for us.

Lilly had spent the day with Jeanette making cookies and chocolate treats while watching Disney princess movies. We arrived JUST before midnight so we could ring in the New Year together. I don't know why, but Lilly was very upset when we started counting down. I guess she wasn't ready, but when we got to "Happy New Year" she was in tears. We finally got her calmed down by giving her a party blower that rolled out instead of making a noise. She was a happy girl after that.

Jake had gotten firecrackers, a ton of flowers, and some sparklers and the troop headed outside to play. The kids always enjoy this stuff. It was their first time really playing a lot with the sparklers. Andrew liked helping pick out what to set off next, and apparently Billy had never played with Snap "poppers" before. That was pretty funny to watch.

With only one minor burn on Lilly's sparkler finger, which kept hurting until we put an icepack on it and she finally fell asleep, we got kids in bed and rang in the New Year twice more; once for Utah and once for California. We were very worn out and tired after all was said and done.