Red Pandas and Movies in a Parking Lot

Summers are best lived outside.

I love the hot summer days and the warm summer nights.  I love the time adventuring with my Circus and being a part of the community.

I love summer.

Last Friday I had a work retreat that was held at Hogle Zoo.  After our work meeting our families were able to join us for to see a training session with the new red panda, and then we were able to bum around the zoo and check things out.

It had been a long time since I'd been to the zoo so it was to be able to check out all the animals.  It didn't seem like any part of the zoo was the same as I remembered it.  They've done a lot of work on it.

After wandering around the zoo, we decided to hit a movie in the park.  Though it turned out the one we chose was set up in a parking lot this particular night.  So instead of trying food trucks in the park we tried a new chicken wings place in shopping center, and watched all the Star Wars costumes as the movie we were watching that night was The Last Jedi.

I'll say it again, summer is the best.

Florida Day 4: Disney World Hollywood Studios

On day four of our trip we checked out Disney World Hollywood Studios.  We were excited to see what shows we could catch, and what characters we could meet.

We stood in line for the Star Lord and Groot, being honest here that Groot was the only reason to stand in line, only to be disappointed that it was an electronic small, robot version of Groot and not the giant man in a costume version that I was picturing in my head.

But Jayme and The Man had a Star Lord induced dance off to see who was captain, in which The Man bailed and Jayme won.  So there was that.

And also, see who was brave enough to ride Tower of Terror, which, as it turns out, I was, but not gracefully by any means.  Our pictures, which we did not buy, shows me ctinging in fright and reaching for The Man in terror (apropos), while he had his hands up for some fun, and is looking at me with amusement.

Gracefully is not my style.

We found a lot of rain that afternoon again.  So much so, that it cancelled the India Jones Stunt Show while we were mid show.

But it cooled us off.

And the Rock and Roller Coaster with Aerosmith was far better than I had expected.

Cali slept on a sidewalk to be consistent.

And The Man found an Atat.

Florida Day 3: Universal Studios Day 1

On day three of our trip we tackled our first day of Universal Studios.

We conquered the hulk in the pouring rain.

We watched as Sean found his perfect wand in the Olivander's show in Hogsmeade.

We treated them to dinner at the Three Broomsticks and the kids got so excited over every Harry Potter detail.

Brynn, who has not had interest to delve into the Harry Potter world decided that it would now be time to do so, so she could understand everything she was seeing, and understand why everyone else was so excited about what was coming to life in front of them.

Good choice Brynn.

Cali had a small run in with a raptor.

And we checked out the Chocolate Emporium, which had some really cool desserts going on.

We actually finished Universal Studios day one with time to spare, so we decided to head back to the condo and take it easy pool side.