Harry Potter, Here we Come!

If you have been around me at all over the last 6 months, you know how excited I have been to plan our first trip to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. I've been obsessing over all the details and found this theme airbnb for us to stay in Orlando, with one room all HP, one Disney, one StarWars, one Minions, and one Frozen. Ha! It's complete with a backyard pool and local amenities include water slides and a lazy river. It looks so very cool and I hope the pictures live up to the hype!

I've been telling the boys forever that we would go when I turned 40, but this year for my 39th, Jon and I decided it was time. I have been loving every minute of planning, but for the big trip reveal, I acted like it was all Jon's idea and planning so I could jump and around and scream and be excited with the kids. Ha! Highly recommend! 

The party started out with Jon telling me an owl had been spotted on the porch and upon investigation, we found the sorting hat with the following letter rolled up inside: 

Dear Joy, 

You’ve waited 39 years, 

we know this much is true. 

Waiting one more year is far too long for a wonderful witch like you.

So we are sending you this owl 

to say with all our hearts, 

we are excited for you to join us this year at Hogwarts!

Buy your supplies, pack your bags, and get yourself ready for leaving, 

because we really can’t wait to see you soon at the Wizarding World this Thanksgiving! 

Sincerely, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

After reading it out loud, I started slowly by saying something like, "Does this mean what I think it means?!" Jon answered yes, then we all got to jump around screaming. I had gotten everyone an HP shirt or some type of goodie, so we all opened our presents and jumped around and yelled some more.

Then about 40 minutes later while we were watching Youtube videos of rides and checking out our Airbnb online, Mimi and Momo texted everyone saying, "We heard a huge racket by the owl house in the trees, and looked what just showed up!" They had Hogwarts t-shirts too. Then we all jumped around and screamed again, so excited that Mimi and Momo were coming. By this point, I think Ollie was seriously wiping tears from his eyes. Hahaha, it's super fun for me to remember. It definitely makes me smile. About 20 or 30 minutes after that text, Jennifer texted a picture of an owl and had a t-shirt as well. By this time the kids were just stunned and shocked, although we did manage a few more screams and jumping.

We gave Mimi and Momo and then Jennifer a call, excited to share in the news. It's going to be so fun! We can't wait!!

Ollie

It is hard to convey how much we love this kid! We are so proud of the young man is growing into, and also a little stunned that this is the last year before he is a teen. 

He wanted to celebrate his big day this year with all of his favorites: BBQ, Jennifer, and a little travel. He reached out to Jennifer a few months ago to make sure she cleared her calendar so she could come on a day trip with us to San Antonio. We failed to take many pictures, but did have a lovely celebration. 

Oreo Cream Pie

New recipe and it was bussing. (Lol, that is middle school speak for amazing.)

In San Antonio we went to Ripley's Believe it or Not and the Guinness Book Museum before eating BBQ on the Riverwalk. Jennifer and Ollie did a haunted house while Jon, Nolan, and I did this 3-D ride. 

This last picture is the first of what I am sure will be many Friday nights. He has really wanted to go to all kinds of high school sporting events and hang out with his friends. The kid in the camo shirt is Cash, a new Farley friend. (Cash's mom is an elementary librarian that I know a tiny bit, so I am glad that I have some frame of reference for his new buddy.)

Happy Halfie!

Here are some of Nolan's current favorites.

Person: Ollie and Dad are tied for first

Song: Soldiers by Otherwise (How did he ever even hear this song? All I know is, he plays it frequently on his Amazon dot. "Mom! Mom! Come listen to this song with me! Are you listening? ARE YOU LISTENING?")

Activity: Anything with a ball, running, or jumping

Currently in: Swimming Lessons

School Friend: Asher

Neighborhood Friend: Auggie or Avery (It seems an A theme is emerging...)

Toys: Minecraft Legos

Game: The Floor is Lava

Food: Hot cheese (warmed up string cheese), Monkey Drinks (Danimals Yogurt Smoothies), Chips, and Strawberries

Color: Red

A couple of pictures of his first grade class. 

Happy Friday!

Hello world! Here are some of the going-ons of ours from the last couple of weeks. 

Ryan, Susan, and their boys stopped by for a visit! Jon and Ryan have know each other for close to 25 years! 

Obligatory hippo pic with visitors. 

We are nothing if not predictable. :)

Oh my goodness. I am trying to clean all the photos out of the dropbox folder and I have no idea where this even is. But they are 2 of my faves, and they always look cute!

The energy is strong with this one. 

Luna and Ollie with all the feels when their favorite soccer team was losing. 

Ta-da!

Nolan's bball season wrapped up! On to swim lessons for this guy.

Three (four?)weeks of school under our belts and I did not feel dead tired after school! Could it be we are all settling back in??  

Summer Wrap-Up and the 1st day of School

Summer porch napping days are over!

Target practice

Strike!

Luna keeping a close eye on me while I water the flowers.

Goooooooooooal! Austin FC game with dad.

Ollie before his first soccer game, "Mom, if you don't hear anyone else cheering, that's a good sign that you shouldn't be cheering either."

Nolan with bff Eli at church. 

First grade firecracker! Mrs Pepe's class.

Year two as k-5 tech teacher. (I know! I can't believe they asked me to come back either!)

Middle Schooler?!?? 

Ollie on his way to rock his first day of 6th. 

Seth sailing into 8th. 

Praying for a great year full of growth and encouragement!

Missouri!

 Our love for M states continues! 

Jon, Ollie, and Nolan visited the farm last week. (Lol..... I wrote this forever ago and apparently it has been sitting in draft mode.) I missed out since I was back at work and Seth is not always game for travel. It sounds like they had such a wonderful trip and I want to share the pictures!

Look at how sweet this is. 

The favorite swing at Gma and Gpa's rides again!

Playdoh at the farm!

Running around outside.

Chief blackberry picker and perhaps eater.

Water fight!

One of the days, Jon took the boys to Chiefs training camp and excitement about this would be an understatement. 

The boys ended up getting a few autographs and were so pleased.

They got to run some skill challenges as well.

Farm Time!

Nolan with Grandpa's bottle calf, Riley.

Working in the garden.

Cousin Time!

And exhausted on the drive back to the farm.

Nolan's froggy buddy.

Some super cool night pictures Jon took.

Sounds like everyone had a great week, but I was sure glad to have them home! Thanks for taking such good care of everybody Gma, Gpa, and Aunt Joy!