Sunday 19/8/07

We all managed to stay asleep until 7.00am and then Alan, Sam and Barney went in the pool for an hour or so, after which we went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. The boys are both fussy eaters, although Sam is getting a bit more adventurous, but they both found something they liked.

After breakfast, the boys dropped me off at Florida Mall for an afternoon of shopping (heaven, I'm in heaven!!) while they went back to the house and spent the afternoon in the pool. I didn't actually buy much but still had a lovely afternoon.

We had promised Barney that he could build his own light saber at Downtown Disney so we headed there after I had been picked up from the mall. Alan helped Barney and he chose the double ended Darth Maul saber. Sam wanted to go to Planet Hollywood but Barney wanted to go to McDonalds so we split up and Barney and I headed off to McDonalds. I wasn't very hungry, having eaten an Auntie Anne's Glazin' Raisin pretzel and drinking a Starbucks vanilla bean frappucino at the Florida Mall so I settled for just a diet coke while Barney tucked into his Happy Meal.

We were all in bed fairly early as we were planning to get up at 7.30am to go to Universal the next day.

Monday 20/8/07

We were all up and out for 8.30am (something of an achievement with a nocturnal 14 year old!) and reached Universal at around 9. We had bought the 4 park flex tickets (via this site - so easy and such a good price) and decided to start off at Universal Studios. First stop was breakfast - you will probably begin to notice that my life tends to revolve around food! - I had 'Monkey Love' cheesecake (mmmm), Alan had a cheese danish, a choc chip cookie for Sam and nothing for Barney as he had already had cereal at the house.

It was over 6 years since Sam had been to Florida with us and last time, when he was 8, he wouldn't go on many rides but had really enjoyed 'Men in Black' last time so he headed over there with Alan while Barney and I had a wander round. After MIB, we all went on Jaws and I think Sam was more nervous than Barney while we were in the queue! It would appear that the passing of years has not inspired him to be much more adventurous than last time! Barney was a bit scared and announced that he was never going on that ride ever again! However, he did enjoy the fact that his dad was on the end of the row and got quite wet. Alan was trying hard to persuade Sam to try 'The Mummy' and after a lot of cajoling he agreed to go on it. I think he enjoyed it but he said it was the scariest thing he had ever done in his life!!

Barney wanted to go over to Islands of Adventure so me and him headed over there while Alan persuaded Sam to try 'Terminator'. Barney and I rode the carossuesel and the train and one fish, two fish while waiting for Alan and Sam to join us. I think 'The Mummy' had put Sam off and he couldn't be persuaded to try any of the big rides at IOA.

By this time, we were all very hot (93 degrees) so headed off to the Nascar restaurant at City Walk. We had not been before and really enjoyed it. Sam had fish and chips, I had a pulled pork sandwich and fries and I can't remember waht the other 2 had but you can bet your bottom dollar that Barney had fries!

We got home at about 7ish and all piled into the pool to coole off. The excitement and sun had got to me and I was asleep soon after 9!!