The Last Adventure of the Summer – The Pennington Point

While everyone else is going back to school we are on a trip once more, heading to Florida for our big family adventure. Six of us are going for some serious Harry Potter discoveries and riding some crazy coasters. I can’t wait to experience the Rip Ride Rockit. I didn’t get to ride it last year because no one was with me to watch the boys who didn’t want to ride it, so I hung back while my older kids rode. This year my hubs (aka: roller coaster hater) will be with us so I can coaster to my heart’s content.

The boys are so excited about this trip that it’s been non-stop Universal talk for weeks. Since April we have had a countdown display on the school white board and every morning they change the number. When it got to single digits they started hopping around the house like little minions. We have been watching YouTube videos of the rides at Universal in preparation for our trip. This one is our favorite (warning: there’s one bad word).

I spent the past weekend getting the house clean and food prepped. I don’t want to come home to a messy house because I know I will be exhausted after this grand adventure. Plus we are having a houseful of company only 3 days after we get home so we are trying to get the extra beds ready and floors swept. The sweet things in life are simply endless. I am so blessed with travel and a home and friends to share it all with!

Today we are packing. I have a whole list of what we will be taking in my Mom’s Guide to Universal. Since I am trying to keep the costs as low cost as possible, we are trying to pack in small duffle bags instead of suitcases so we don’t have the extra charge of checking a bag. It’s a challenge! But by golly we are going to make it happen if it means wearing the same clothes for 6 days in a row. Mama can rinse and dry in the hotel bathroom if necessary. 😉

I have also been trying to get all of the ipods and ipads ready. Apparently they all need new games and movies before we go. I remember when our entertainment on trips was my dad calling out what to look for out the station wagon window and the first to see it got a nickel. I’m pretty sure he had us looking for mountains in the desert just to keep us quiet. But now they’ve got all kinds of entertainment and earbuds and self-contained activities and frankly, I am fine with that. Saves me some nickels. And my sanity.

Speaking of packing, I have learned the art of the roll. I can’t believe how much space it saves in the suitcase when you roll your clothes. I’m sure there’s some complicated math out there to explain it, but I am just rolling and accepting it. No reason to fill my brain with math when there’s important stuff like where the Pokestops are or which oils to carry around with me at the park.

We will also see the BlueMan Group while we are there. Last year we went to their show and, if I am being totally honest, I thought it was kind of dumb. My daughter and I kept looking at each other and rolling our eyes. But then we would look down the row and the 3 boys who were with us were laughing so hard I thought they would bust a gut. It’s definitely a Three Stooges kind of humor. There’s a dividing line in our house between who thinks the stooges are funny and who doesn’t. I think the BlueMan Group will cause that same division. So I will go to their show again for the sake of seeing my boys laugh so hard they nearly fall out of their seats. In fact, I may just watch my guys instead of the blue guys.

So that’s what’s going on here. School starts the day after we return, so we plan to enjoy every last second of not doing any book work. I am gonna need a countdown on the board to the next time I get to take a long, hard nap. And it better not be a double digit number.

Have a great week!!!

If you liked this you will also like A Mom’s Guide to Universal, part 2 and 10 Ways to Lighten a Traveler’s Load.