FOURTEEN

On April Fools day we told the kids we were heading to Harry Potter World the next day. They absolutely did not believe us. They thought we were playing the lamest and most unbelievable prank on them. They ridiculed us all day about our lame prank. The prank was that we were telling the truth and absolutely fooled them. It took quite a bit of convincing for them to finally believey us. But for Easter weekend we did, in fact, fly to Florida to go to Universal Studios. 

On day one we did the park to park pass to get in as much Harry Potter as possible. We rode the Hogwarts Express between parks. 

 

Disappearing to Platform 9 3/4

About to board the Hogwarts Express. 

Entering Hogsmeade

Enjoying our Florean Fortescue Strawberry and Peanut Butter ice cream after the kids got their wands. 

Trying not to curse each other at the Leaky Cauldron after lunch. 

Theo was particularly interested in visiting Knockturn Alley. 

Theo got some butterbeer ice cream and I got a delicious pumpkin juice. 

On Day 2 we explored Epic. It was smaller but the attention to detail was breathtaking. It was actually a beautiful theme park. There were some hiccups with a few of the rides and technical difficulties but it’s pretty new and they’re working out all the bugs. 

The kids rode the Frankenstein ride 8 times while other rides wait times were too long. 

Butterbeer at the French section of the Harry Potter parks. 

Inside the Ministry of Magic. 

Traveling by Floo powder. 

We did a lot of walking. Over 8 miles each day. 

How to Train your Dragon ride. 

Nintendo land was so cool but clearly very popular. 

No one wants to sit by Papa on any of the rides because you WILL get tickled. 

On the beautiful carousel. 

We all rode stardust once but these crazies went back a second time after dark.

V and Matt at ease while Grandpa and Theo contemplate their mortality. This ride was terrifying… for some of us. 

Epic after dark was quite fun. 

On Sunday the kids woke up to an Easter shoe instead of an Easter basket. The kids took turns hiding Easter eggs for each other before taking a long swim. 

THIRTEEN

 

Kip is delighted to be dressed up. Currently she's in her babushka era. 

2026 week thirteen

My birthday boots arrived this week. They are exactly what I hoped for. They do need some breaking in though. 

Matt turned 40 on Sunday. He wanted to have a hot dog party and felt that his birthday was a good excuse for that. 

He smoked about 70 sausages and set up a hot dog bar with various toppings and bun styles. 

We had some family and friends over to enjoy. 

It is a simple way to have a unique party. And it is easy to have people bring a unique hot dog topping. You get some pretty interesting ones. 

The weather could not have been better. 

Matt's Favorite Chocolate Cake

Matt's Favorite Chocolate Cake

2 cups sugar

4 oz unsweetened chocolate

1 stick butter

1 cup water

2 cups flour

2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp instant coffee

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup milk

1 tsp cider vinegar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp rum

1 1/2 cups semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips

1 1/2 cups room temperature sour cream

Preheat oven to 375. Butter and flour a tube or bundt pan.

Melt the sugar, chocolate, butter, and water together on the stove. 

Whisk the dry ingredients in a separate bowl. 

Whisk the wet ingredients in a separate bowl. 

Once the sugar, chocolate, butter mixture has melted, whisk to incorporate and let cool slightly. Add the wet ingredients. Then add in the dry ingredients. I always have to put the batter through a fine mesh sieve to get out any bits of clumps. Bake for about 35 minutes. Let cool in the pan. Melt the chocolate chips in the microwave in 30 seconds increments. Stir smooth. Add in room temperature sour cream and stir until smooth and thick. Frost the cooled cake with your glorious sour cream ganache. 

TWELVE

 

Spring Break!

2026 week twelve

The kids went with Grandma to the Museum of Illusions so I could have a few hours to do taxes in silence.

They had a great time and walked away with so many cool photos.

Matt finally made it to Chicago and got to spend four days with his team working hard and dining harder. 

He was there for St. Patrick's Day and got to see the river dyed green. 

We spent the week watching old cartoons,

getting fresh haircuts,

watching the dogs play tug-of-war,

picking so much asparagus,

and getting all the garden prepped and ready. 

Matt made it home Friday night very late, and on Saturday we went to the Ft. Worth Stockyards to celebrate my 37th birthday. 

The kids got to see the cattle drive.

And they were thrilled to walk around the taxidermy gift shop. We were there ostensibly to find me some cowboy boots but no luck. We even went into Lucchese to try on the fanciest boots imaginable just for fun. 

We ended our Ft. Worth trip with a bbq lunch at Coopers. 

If you ever see beef ribs on the menu, just get them. They're always worth it. 

Theo left Ft. Worth as happy as can be because he bought an opossum hide. He proceeded to wear it as a sleeve for the rest of the day.   

Cousin play time. Theo was the burrito and everyone had to beat him with pillows. Classic childhood game of "beat up the burrito" I guess. 

V helping Matt finish some kitchen repairs. 

Quotes:

My Siri voice pronounces my friend Sera (Sarah) name like (Serr-ah), V- "Why does Siri say it like that? Wouldn't it be spelled like S-i-r-r-a-h?" I had such a laugh. Only a classical school kid would know the word Sirrah from Shakespeare... 

Watching An American Tale after previously watching Anastasia, Theo- "Is this another movie about the Russian Revolution?"
V, so knowledgeable -"Theo, there were A LOT of revolutions in Russia."