For our summer vacation in 2016, I focused more of my camera time on creating a family video. The video turned out great, we all love it, and it will be something we cherish forever. I hope to make more videos of our vacations in the future.
We started our vacation in Palm Springs with a visit to Uncle Tom, Aunt Jeanne and Grandpa Passow. We spent a few days with them, it was such valuable time. They are gracious hosts and really were so kind and accommodating to us and our kids. The kids lived in the pool and everyone fell in love with their family dog! He would get worried when the kids would splash in the pool, he thought they were drowning. Cale and Uncle Tom went to get grandpa from the care center and we were able to spend a few hours with him. He is still so sharp as a whip, well spoken and great to converse with at 90+ years old. Staying in Palm Springs was a wonderful start to our summer vacation!
I finally caught Kinlees hilarious eyebrow face!
Our next stop was the main core of our vacation, Universal Studios with Harry Potter World. At this point, of course I made everyone stand for a pictures (which they just LOVE! Including Daddy. Buddy showed in his face how everyone else was feeling. haha) I just know that if I don't get these pictures at the beginning of our trips, then I'll never get them, so I do force the issue!
I had planned the entire few days before arriving so that it would be a more enjoyable experience. I planned detail by detail and everyone, for the the most part, went along with it. Our first stop was Olivander's wand shop. It was so neat, the book came to life for these kiddos. So magical! We picked out a wand for us each to share so that we could go throughout Harry Potter World and do our tricks with the wand.
I think I was most looking forward to trying the Butterbeer. For me, it was all that it was cracked up to be. But for the rest, it was a $7 slurpy.
In order to get to the second portion of the park, there is a set of 4-5 loooong escalators that take you there. We tried to only do this one time each day.
Kinlee is a big fan of Dora
Kinlee's souvenir choice was a huge Minyon cup
One of our favorite rides was the Simpsons, of all things. The kids didn't know anything about them, which I was kind of glad about, but I will admit this ride was a favorite of mine too!
Universal Studios was so fun! I have to say, it may be equal to Disney in my eyes. We could be our chaotic (and sometimes a little dysfunctional) selves as we went through the park with just our little family. It was also nice to not have to worry about pleasing anyone else but our family and do things the way we needed and wanted. These are the experiences that will bond us for eternity.
After Universal, we met Elizabeth and her girls at the Beach. We spent a few hours (in the cold, because it's a California beach haha) with them, went to our favorite restaurant of Wahoos and made a connection with our dear friends.
He was obviously exhausted!
We made a stop to visit family on our way home from our wonderful vacation, which made it even more wonderful. We spent a little time with all four of our siblings plus our Taggart cousins. So many people we love live in Utah so it can be stressful trying to fit them all in, but we want to see them all so we make it happen.
Brenna and Kempton spent a night with Layla and Liam in their camper. Their smiles say it all.
All these cute girls and their sister pairs.
Averie and Maci, two peas in a pod as per usual
I took Averie to be fitted for her first pair of pointe shoes. It was a "coming of age" experience.
We explored the children's museum at Thanksgiving Point.
We tested out our sparkler pictures with aunt Chelsea.
And visited the Taggart clan and bonded with our second cousins.
I'd say our California vacation sure met expectations! Now to the rest of the summer...
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