January 2018

Monster Jam

January 16, 2018 casademurphy

Over the weekend, we had an amazing time at Monster Jam in Tampa. Get excited because the trucks are headed back here to Orlando this coming weekend, January 20th, at the Camping World Stadium. It’s definitely a show not to be missed!

Monster Jam will be performing at Camping World Stadium in Orlando on Saturday, January 20, 2018. Gates open at 5 PM, and opening ceremonies and racing start at 7 PM.

The event will feature 14 trucks and drivers vying to be the Orlando champion, including: Grave Digger^®; Max-D; El Toro Loco^®; Monster Mutt Dalmatian; Monster Energy Mutant; and many more. Trucks/drivers subject to change without notice.

Monster Jam^® is adrenaline-charged family entertainment providing jaw-dropping displays and gravity-defying feats that promise to always leave fans entertained. Monster Jam events feature some of the most recognizable trucks in the world including Grave Digger^®, Max-D, El Toro Loco^® and many more. World-class drivers push these perfectly-engineered Monster Jam trucks to their limits in Freestyle, “2-Wheel Skills” and Racing competitions that will put families on the edge of their seats and leave them craving more of this unexpected, unscripted and unforgettable event!

The Monster Jam Pit Party, which will take place on Saturday, January 20, from 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM, provides unprecedented access to the Monster Jam trucks and drivers. This unique experience in the world of motorsports gives fans access to see the trucks up close, take pictures, meet the drivers and get their autographs.

New in 2018, the Pit Party Early Access Pass is available to every fan who purchases a ticket to the event. The pass provides early entry into the Pit Party from 1:30 PM – 2:30 PM and serves as the regular Pit Party pass from 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM. Monster Jam drivers will depart from the Pit Party at 5 PM. The Pit Party Early Access Pass must be accompanied by an event ticket, and quantities are limited.

Tickets and Pit Party Passes are available at the Amway Center Box office in advance, online at www.ticketmaster.com, or charge by phone at 800-745-3000. Same day event ticket and pit pass required for entry to pit party. All seats reserved. Subject to facility fee, plus convenience and handling charges. Camping World Stadium is located at 1610 W. Church Street, Orlando, FL 32805.

For more information on a Monster Jam, please log onto www.MonsterJam.com (click on “Tickets” and search for Orlando) or follow us via their social channels below:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/MonsterJam
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MonsterJam
Instagram: www.instagram.com/MonsterJamLive
YouTube: www.youtube.com/MonsterJamLive

This is definitely an action-packed show and fun for the whole family. The stunts the drivers can do with these big trucks is pretty incredible! With tickets starting at just $15, it’s an affordable and fun even for all ages. Grab your tickets now before they’re gone!

*I am a Feld Entertainment Social Media Ambassador, and in exchange for my time and efforts in attending shows and reporting my opinion within this blog, as well as keeping you advised of the latest discount offers, Feld Entertainment has provided me with complimentary tickets to Feld shows and other exclusive opportunities.

January 2018

Winter Break Wrap-Up

January 9, 2018 casademurphy

Right off the heals of Christmas, we had a chance to relax, unwind & enjoy some good old fashioned family fun. Liam was off of school the last two weeks, and I also was off of work for one of the weeks with him. Stephen was able to take a day off, as well, and we did some activities in the evening so it could be all three of us.

On Tuesday evening (the day after Christmas), we checked out Santa’s Winter Wonderland Village ….a holiday fair that comes around by our house each holiday season. It’s quickly becoming a tradition to go to it after the holiday. This year was Liam’s first time riding in the “The Force” . He really wanted to also do “The Himalaya” ride, but he’s not quite tall enough still. He & Stephen rode on the super tall Ferris Wheel …I watched. Haha! They also love the bumper cars & the maze house. Stephen got a really cool picture of the fair from the top of the Ferris Wheel!

The next day, we met up with the Bengel’s at the Science Center. We hadn’t been there since the beginning of the summer, so it was cool to play around there again for the afternoon. The Gingerbread Lane exhibit was still up, so we enjoyed looking at that….it smelled delish, too! It’s incredible that one artist baked AND decorated all that gingerbread.

The beginning of our cold front started really coming through on Friday, but we hiked over to Legoland to check out their Christmas Bricktacular decorations. It never really gets old seeing the amazing displays of LEGO creations.

For all the times we have been to the park, we never stopped to see the ski show. Today, we did & were so happy! It was super cute! Liam absolutely loved it 🙂

It was fun to walk about Miniland & spot the added holiday decor / scenes 😉

It was uber crowded there that day, but we still snuck in a few rides…..

We also took a relaxing walk through the old gardens area. Again, we’ve bypassed this in so many past trips…such a shame because it’s so beautiful & they are doing an awesome job of maintaining. The Banyan Tree was incredible!! Such a wonder that nature can create something like that! Liam loved the Southern Belle’s & it was fun to explain to him about how they used to walk around the old park. Not sure he really got that. LOL!

He spotted this statue of Jesus & had to find how the winding path lead to him. It honestly took us a second to figure it out from where we were. When we got up to it, he ran up to Him & just stood there….so I snapped this. I love how it turned out ❤

As part of our Legoland passes, we have admission to the Orlando Eye & surrounding attractions. Such a great deal! So, on New Year’s Eve, we made our way down to International Drive to check them all out.

The Orlando Eye is HUGE! It’s really neat & pretty to look at ….just the boys went up in it. I am way too afraid of heights to leave the ground that far. It takes about 25 minutes to go around in it. They enjoyed it & said the view was awesome. The weather that day was perfect for it, too! Liam told me, afterwards, that he was a little bit nervous while in it but not too bad.

Next, we walked around the SEA LIFE Aquarium. It turned out to be a larger facility than we expected it to be. There was quite a few 360 degree tanks that you could look at & it was neat! Liam was excited for the sharks!

Our last stop of the afternoon was Madame Tussauds Wax Museum. Stephen had been to one of these years ago, but this was a 1st for little man & me. The figures were pretty life like….it was funny! We also got a kick out of seeing what celebrities & historical figures were featured. Liam had fun with trying to pose as each of them were 🙂

Last week, it was back to work for Stephen & I but Liam had his 2nd week off of school. So, he spent the week having fun at winter camp with his old daycare. It was a school age camp so he was with other kiddos in elementary school. Many friends he knew from previous summer camps & breaks, so he was glad to hang out with them again. They did a few field trips during the week. The 1st one was bowling.

They also went to ICE! at Gaylord Palms. This year’s theme was Christmas Around the World. We didn’t make it there this year for our family trip, so I was happy he still got to go. He had a ball but said his face was freezing off….hahaha!!

It was a great few weeks vacation for us all & a much needed mental break. Love creating memories with this sweet, little family of mine!

Until next time, friends!

January 2018

Happy New Year! {2018}

January 5, 2018 casademurphy

Happy New Year, friends! We’ve kissed 2017 good-bye & are now welcoming in our 1st week in 2018. I feel like last year went by in the blink of any eye. Our little family made some great memories & shared a lot of laughs in 2017. We’re very thankful & blessed. Definitely looking forward to new adventures in this coming year!

happy-new-year

A recap of our NYE 2017 ….

We spent the afternoon as tourists & went to the Orlando Eye attraction area on International Drive. We have free admission to it, as well as to the Sea Life Aquarium & the wax museum from our Legoland passes. So, it was a great deal & we didn’t want to pass it up. More pics on all that soon!

Later on, we rang in the New Year quietly at home with just the three of us, but we had fun. The boys were playing with the Playstation for awhile so all was right in the world. LOL! . Since it was a special occasion & because he is almost never allowed to, we let Liam stay up as late he wanted {or could stand it….he’s a light weight but he wanted so badly to make it to midnight 😉 } ….he was getting a kick out of watching New Year’s Rocking Eve with us (the music is his favorite part), but some where between 10:00 & 11:00, he curled up on the couch with me & we both passed out. Stephen woke me up for the ball drop. We tried to rouse Liam but that kid is a solid sleeper. Before we all called it a night, though, we had done some sparklers out back & did a sparkling grape juice toast in fancy glitter flutes (he loved them!).

Some highlights from 2017 ….

In January, we officially became Disney annual passholders for the very 1st time. That month began our addiction to the parks & I believe over the winter, we visited over 10 times, easily. It’s been exhausting, at times, but so fun.

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In February, just before Valentine’s Day, Liam fell off a slide at the extended day center he was attending & broke his left arm just above the elbow. He had to get a cast on & it was an interesting time for us all…but he as a trooper & had the best attitude.

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In April, Stephen & I celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary!

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In May, Liam finished Kindergarten! I can’t even believe that….by the end of the school year, he was reading beginner chapter books with me. Where is my baby going?!?!

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In June, Liam attended his 1st church camp with our church. He LOVED it & really thrived. We’re already looking forward to it for this upcoming summer.

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Liam turned 6 at the end of July, and {holy cow!} started 1st grade in August!! I thought last year’s start of Kindergarten was a crazy milestone, but this is again over the moon! He’s in actual grade school now. Seriously?!?! We celebrated his birthday with a weekend trip to Disney, including a stay at a Disney hotel (his request this year in lieu of a party). We chose the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and it was an unforgettable weekend. We all loved every second of it.

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Over the summer, Liam attended summer camp for the 2nd time. He had a blast 🙂

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At the beginning of June, I decided it was my time to step away from Orlando Moms Blog. It was a platform that provided many great opportunities to me & I learned a ton ….but it was time for me to grow in other directions.

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At the end of August, I was hired by Valencia College to be an adjunct faculty member at their Lake Nona campus. I am credentialed to teach their New Student Experience course, SLS 1122.

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In September, our newest family member, Simba, celebrated his very 1st birthday!

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In September, Liam celebrated one-year of classes with Victory Martial Arts. He’s doing so well & has earned several belts this year in the Tiger program. We’re excited to see what this next year brings for him with this.

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In November, Timber celebrated his 15th birthday!! ❤

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Looking ahead to 2018….

Life these days is very busy for us….it’s just the season that we are in & we embrace that. This next year we want to enjoy all the good stuff but try to also remember to take things slow. We don’t want to feel rushed or hurried because life has a way of doing that to us many times.

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Liam continues 1st grade next week and then 2nd grade will be around the corner. School is an amazing experience for him & we are savoring it through his eyes, too.

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I begin a new chapter in my career as a faculty member with Valencia College so I’m excited to see where this journey takes me & how I’ll grow with that.

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Stephen’s been hard at work with his job in the restoration industry & doing so well. We’re very thankful & blessed.

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We’ve been avid Disney passholders for almost a year now. I have so many pictures to still share. We’ll soon see if we renew & carry on the fun for another year.