First day of school

Here we have a brand new second grader. 

Here we have a brand new sixth grader.

Here we have two students who were classmates all last year and are gonna miss each other for a lot of the day. 

And here we have two crazy people who are looking forward to a little less crazy of a school year this time around. 
 

How is it not football season yet?

Seriously, we're ready. Why isn't the NFL?
 

Working around the problem

Look, if this train is gonna run on time, we'll just have to build around this mountain of brother. 
 

Scenes from around Universal Studios

I asked if I could have one of the Fast and Furious cars for my souvenir and Dad said no. Bummer. 

"I wasn't asking if Emma could eat all of this. I was asking why would anyone let her try to eat two pieces of birthday cake and a full tub of ice cream for dessert!"

Dad really, really likes this Simpsons clown and ... Jonathan does not. 

Don't worry everybody, the raptor doesn't bite. 

My mistake, it does. Run, Lexi!

Mom, we've decided instead of going to school we're gonna travel around the country solving mysteries. 

I still can't believe we got to do all of this with Grandmom and Aunt Jul. Best vacation ever, as those weird Simpsons guys would say. 

 

Leaving the muggle world

A minute ago we were in the park, but we just walked through a wall and ... is this Diagon Alley? 

Oh yeah, it definitely is. 

And that's the Hogwart's express, wich means we can take a trip to ...

... Hogsmeade! 

Good thing we brought our wands on this trip. We're gonna need them if we get to go inside... 

... Hogwarts! Can this trip get any better?

A round of butterbeer for everyone? I guess it could be even better. I hope this spell doesn't ever wear off!
 

Onto the next park!

As if Disney World wasn't enough, now we get four more days at Universal? What's the catch? 

Ah, I see. Our hotel overlooks the water park and we need to sacrifice someone to the volcano god. Well, Ollie, we've had a lot of fun and we'll miss you terribly. Anybody else ready for some rides? 

 

Scenes from around Disney

Viewing Space Mountain from atop the Swiss Family Robinson treehouse. 

Biggest game of Uno ever. 

The view of Epcot from above. 

Two explorers checking out the park at night. 

Dinosaur alert! 

One last look back at the park with Grandmom and Aunt Jul. 
 

That's no moon

That kinda looks like a spaceport. 

Those kinda look like droids. 

Are those ... stormtroopers? 

Is that what I think it is? 

Ohmigawd we're IN THE MILLENIUM FALCON!!

Ok, you got me, this Star Wars stuff was pretty awesome. 

Magic in the Magic Kingdom

So many rides to ride, so many sights to see. 

But the whole crew still found time to stop in front of Cinderella's castle for some smiles (or, in Emma's case, what appears to be an impromptu rock concert). 

You gotta take a spin through "It's a Small World." I'm pretty sure it was Uncle Mike's favorite. 

And we even had a gorgeous view of the nightly fireworks right from our hotel balcony. How cool is that?!

 

The big vacation

It's the trip we've been waiting for all summer: 10 days at Disney World and Universal Studios Florida! With Grandmom! And Aunt Jul! And cousins! And this guy!

No, I'm not sure who he is, and I don't care! Everything here is so magical I'm just gonna roll with it. 
 

A second home in the water

You wouldn't believe how much time we've spent at the pool this summer. I'm starting to think we should leave a set of pajamas here. 

 

Horrible visions of the future

Not sure what is more terrifying -- the one behind the wheel or the one egging him on.