January 2016, Latest & Greatest News

Winter Break

Over the last few weeks, not only did we enjoy the Christmas & New Year holidays, but Liam & I also enjoyed some time off of school & work. I am fortunate to work for an amazing university that closes at the holidays so I pull little man out of daycare to hang out with me, too. We wish Daddy could pal around with us, but he’s got an important job to do …and at least, we had the weekends & after work to play 🙂

Liam had really enjoyed riding his new bike and getting used to this “big boy ride”. He was zooming around the sidewalk in no time.

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We hit up Sea World on Christmas weekend to check out their holiday decorations.  The park really looked festive! We spent a lot of time this season checking out Christmas decorations and lights at various venues, and just driving through local neighborhoods. So fun!! I think we found a new tradition that we’ll continue in years to come. All of us thoroughly enjoyed it.

At the time, we thought this was going to be our last visit before our annual passes expired, as well as Liam’s Preschool Pass….BUT, the park JUST announced this week that the Preschool Pass is returning for 2016 so we may be going back again. It’s such a great deal 🙂

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One of things we were most excited to see this visit was the holiday update to the Wild Artic ride — for Christmas, it becomes The Polar Express Experience! This is one of Liam’s most favorite Christmas movies, and he was over the moon to see this 🙂 …it was such a cool ride! You really felt like you were on the train & in the movie.

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Watching  a clip of the movie before we “boarded”….

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All smiles & ready to do it again….

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New Year’s week, my Orlando Mom’s Blog team gave us the awesome opportunity to hang out at the Science Center for the afternoon. We had let our annual passes lapse over the summer, so it had been almost 6 months since we last visited. It was so fun to see my team members from OMB, and we also hung out with Aunt Heather & cousin Sierra. Such a fun afternoon. I literally had to drag Liam out of there after FIVE hours! 🙂 …this mama was wore out!

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We were thrilled to see the new additions to the Nature Works exhibit. The fish tanks are beautiful, and the kiddos loved picking up the different star fish and examining them. What a great experience for sensory learning!

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New Year’s Day, we took little dude to the local carnival. He had been asking & asking to go, so we caved. This same one comes around at the holidays each year, and honestly, it was surprising that Stephen & I had never been to it, ourselves, in the past. It was super fun!

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Can you tell that Liam is used to me taking pictures? 🙂 …cheese!!

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quick selfie while little man was driving a tractor in the background…ha!

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these two….driving bumper cars!

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We met up with Aunt Heather & cousin, Sierra again…these kiddos love hanging out together. I can only imagine what this pic will look like in about 12 years from now…when they REALLY want to take the car for a drive together . Lord help us! 🙂

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baby teacups!

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Seriously, this Ferris Wheel was GINORMOUS!! …My people rode it. I did NOT. I was freaking out while they rode it. Too big & too high for me. Liam loved it (of course!).

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It was a fun & restful break from work & school. I was able to get some things done around the house that I needed to, and Liam enjoyed playing with his new Christmas presents. I do think he missed his friends from school, though, and the structure/routine that he’s used to. I know after a while we did 🙂 …haha!

Until next time, friends

Script Signature

Latest & Greatest News, October 2015

Spooktacular Fun!

We recently spent the day over at Sea World & took in the sites for their Halloween Spooktacular! What a fun-filled family day 🙂 …I really love that Sea World includes the holiday festivities as part of the park admission. A definite plus, so we put our annual passes to good use again! As you can see, we brought Thor with us that day 😉

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One of the special holiday events that we elected to do was the Dine with Shamu Spooktacular Brunch. While this was extra from our admission to the park, I have to say, it was totally worth it! We had a great meal, and best of all, we enjoyed watching two of the whales swim literally right next to us. Liam was in awe ❤

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To our surprise, we had a private show while dining!! Stephen & I honestly thought it was just going to be watching the whales swim around in the tank while we ate, which was cool enough for us…..

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….but, the trainers gave us an entire show & it was incredible! We could not have asked for a better morning 🙂

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After brunch, the kiddos were excited to check out the Halloween decorations around the park AND there was Trick-or Treating!!

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Liam posing with his bestie, Kenadie & her brother, Karsten

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Trick or Treat time 🙂 ….every time he got a candy he showed us his bag & said, “Look what I got!!” …Loved the excitement!!

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The “Sea Witch” thought these two were pretty adorbs ❤ ….Liam said she smelled like candy 🙂

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After candy time, we hung out & did some rides. Liam rode the kiddie roller coaster there for the 1st time! He also rode this one, below, “Ocean Commotion” — safe to say he loved it!

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I think I asked Liam about a hundred times throughout the day if he wanted to take his costume off ….mama bear in me was worried he was too hot in this FL heat, but he always said ‘nope, I’m good’. So, Thor accompanied us the entire day 😉 and I would say he had a fabulous time …. we all did!

Until next time, friends!

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June 2015, Latest & Greatest News

Weekend Update // Happy Father’s Day

Friday was a fun day for these two // Donuts with Daddy at school in the afternoon & Liam gave Stephen a super cute Father’s Day craft that Ms. Sumar helped make.

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❤ BEST DADDY I EVER SAW

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On Saturday, we went to MyGym for class & this happened…Ms. Deanna asked the kiddos to do their forward rolls & then pop up & roar like a bear & try to scare all the parents….this child is HILARIOUS:

It had been a few months since our last trip to the park, so we decided to head over to Sea World in the afternoon to catch the beginning of  their #SummerNights with some of our good friends. There was a nice storm just before we headed in, so it cooled it off a tad & kept the sun at bay.

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I’m not kidding when I say that these two little ones did this all on their own // Sweetest thing ever! // They both were so excited to spend the afternoon together & play — it’s all either of them talked about 🙂

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Daddy & Liam in a version of a “teacups” ride 😉

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Playing in the Shark Encounter area — seriously, these two are adorbs ❤

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We caught our 1st show this visit, as well. Liam’s fav is feeding the Sea Lion’s, so it was fun to see their newest show –> Clyde & Seamore’s Sea Lion High

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Just as we were heading out, the sun made an appearance 🙂

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….and, this –>  a lucky rainbow!

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On Father’s Day, we decided it would be fun to take Liam for his 2nd movie theatre experience. Disney Pixar’s Inside Out — We all LOVED IT!! Definitely recommend it. He sat through the entire show and really enjoyed the experience…..including eating a TON of popcorn…LOL!

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Until next time, friends!

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Latest & Greatest News, March 2015

Sea World

How is today the last day of March?!?! It has definitely been quiet around the blog here lately for me, but today I’m back sharing our adventure from Sea World over a few recent weekends. March was a busy one for Casa de Murphy & I have some more super fun things to share with you soon about what we’ve been up to!! 🙂

Sea World Orlando recently ran an AWESOME BOGO deal for annual passes (sorry, it’s over now!). Taking that deal into account on top of their other current promotion for the Sea World Orlando 2015 Preschool Pass & this was an offer we just couldn’t pass up. All 3 of us have a whole year of fun ahead of us for less than $200. Score!!

If you have a kiddo that’s age 5 or younger & you are in our Orlando area, you should definitely take advantage of the Preschool Pass. It’s FREE….seriously, can you beat that?!?!

Stephen & I hadn’t been to the park in several years, so it was fun to get reacquainted with things & see all that had changed. There are so many new, fun things to do. You can great information about the park to plan your next visit!

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We didn’t have Liam the last time we visited, so this was our 1st time checking out Shamu’s Happy Harbour ….he really loved the choo-choo train ❤

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Acting like Shamu 😉

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A current fav is Pacific Point Preserve — where the Sea Lions are. Liam loved feeding them & I am sure this will be a stop at each visit.

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A new exhibit for us: Antarctica — Empire of the Penguin ….Liam almost didn’t want to go in here {still not sure why…the whole area is very close to the Manta & Kraken roller coasters & we think he may have thought we were walking onto one of them when we were waiting in line to go into the Antarctica buidling}. This attraction replaced the old penguin exhibit & it’s so fun! It’s a ride that then takes you to get off at the penguin exhibit, where you can walk around & view the little guys.

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In love with the many underwater aquarium viewing areas found throughout the park ❤

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Such a great time learning about the animals & exploring the park. Time permitting, we hope to make it back at least once-a-month to continue to enjoy it.

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Until next time, friends!

~H