LEGOLAND!

After the zombie race and before Jay set in to take his comprehensive exams, we took a day for a family adventure. Not wanting to take the kids to Disney until Cora is a little taller (most rides require at least 36" height, if not 40-48" height, and Cora is at 35.5") and/or we can spend at least a few days there, we opted for LegoLand, and we are so glad we went! The park is designed really well for little ones (though toddlers through 12-year-old's all seemed to be in heaven, as there are plenty of rides and activities for older kids too), with entire areas devoted to the smallest kids (the ones who haven't yet graduated from their Duplos). Even the lines for rides had areas off to the side with Lego building stations to keep the kids entertained while the parents waited in line. Pure genius!

"Come on mommy, let's go play!"

Jumping from brick to brick. The kid has some serious distance these days!

Lego horses!

A new bird for my life list: Bubo lego

This was the first Lego man we saw, and the only one James wasn't too shy to pose with.

Kissing the farmer man...

Cora was too short for this ride, but James got to ride a fireman ladder and race me to hose off the building's flames.

Miniland was truly incredible (miniature Lego versions of St. Augustine, Las Vegas, Washington D.C.,  Miami, San Francisco, New York, and so much more), and I took dozens of photos, but they just don't do them justice. Go see it for yourself!

Miniland also had a huge section devoted to Star Wars (every movie was represented with multiple scenes) and James was thrilled to see "Dark Vader". He and daddy put up a good fight!

The safari was so cool with all the Lego animals, but it definitely went by way too fast (especially after one of the longest lines we waited in...)

James was a little scared of Coastersaurus

Cora did NOT help her daddy navigate through Boating School.

James took the wheel...

...and Jean probably should have let him keep driving - they ended up backwards near the end!

 (I ran over and rode the Flying School roller coaster while they waited in line for Boating School and was back before they even loaded into their boats - goes to show you how few "big kids" and adults were there, since my line moved so quickly)

This was Driving School (Cora wasn't old enough or tall enough, but that's James there in the yellow car, tongue out in deep concentration). You could definitely tell which kids have electric cars at home...

The line was short, so James went right back for a second try. He did great his second time around and cried when it was time to go (it was also well past his normal nap time by this point though). He even received his "Driver's License" for completing the course, lord help us!

This was a highlight for James, for sure! Here he is high-fiving Batman.

Superhero hugs

Toward the end of the day we attended the pirate waterskiing show. James was pretty fascinated by the whole production, but it turned out later in the night that Cora was apparently terrified of the pirates (we didn't know, since she seemed to be practically asleep on my back throughout) and kept waking up with nightmares that they were coming for her. Poor baby. I guess even Lego pirates are scary for a 2-year-old.

Brickbeard the pirate riding in on the jetski to terrorize the soldiers

The Merry-Go-Round's were such a big hit with James that he rode them both twice.

This one was called Island in the Sky. James, Jay, and Jean are just right of center.

I stayed behind with a then-sleeping baby doll and hunted down coffee for our drive home. What a great day, and so many fun memories made for us as well as the kids. Hopefully Disney (and Seaworld) will be as successful some day!