even more magical at night...

Granted - it's the smartest move to get there early in the day (WWHP was closed due to crowds and people had to get "return later" passes when we were there) but we thought it was even better at night...

mmmm- frozen butterbeer

Is there anything more delicious on a hot day? Especially when it's served here?

My Child as the Chosen One ---

You never want to get your kid's hopes up too much but aren't glad when their wishes are granted?

We went back to Ollivander's in the evening as Mike headed elsewhere in the park, and every ounce of her being was quivering with the intention of being chosen. I tried to tell her not to get her heart set on it but I knew it was -

Wizard that he is, he felt it.

Ollivander spotted her as he descended his staircase and picked her out of the crowd. She was radiant and starstruck and seized the wand he offered with zeal -

She tried to water his flowers and they wilted....

but finally he found the right one....

which, of course, even though I vowed that we weren't buying a wand (since she has Ginny's wand at home) we had to get...

A Forbidden Journey....

My kid isn't a roller coaster fan - she inherited that from me and Mike - but she went on a Forbidden Journey at 8 o'clock in the morning -

We wended our way through the greenhouse at Hogwarts, made our way down a dark hallway and past portraits who talked to us (hello Fat Lady!)...

We saw Dumbledore, Harry, Hermione and Ron....

Even the waiting was magical. And therefore not much like waiting....

And this was before the ride even began.

I've thought about showing some photos, about trying to describe the ride exactly but I don't want to spoil your fun or ruin any surprises -

But I do want to say it's fascinating watching your kid gain courage. From the girl who gripped my hand the first time through to the one who gloried in flying on a broomstick and raised her hands up to the rush - to the girl who went on the single rider line so we could get in one more time before we had to leave...

to feel the wind in her face and to fly....

please respect spell limits

When I was kid, obsessed with Little Women and Nancy Drew and Narnia, I'd make up continuing stories where I was part of the action, a character amongst them, immersed in their worlds. But that had to stay all in my head.

For years, as you know, Julia has been creating her own Harry Potter books and adventures -

This past week she got to be part of the action -

We flew to Orlando, woke up at the crack of dawn (the time change killed us) to be early at the park to be among the first when it opened.

I've never been much of a theme park person. I'm now a convert.

My kid was in heaven - I mean Hogsmeade.

Julia enters the Wizarding World of Harry Potter....

un-imaginary lands....

This is one of those parental dilemmas -

When do you say it's not real? And you know who I'm talking about (think yearly holidays and gap-toothed smiles and visitations in the nights bringing money and gifts). I think M killed the tooth fairy this morning, along with leprechauns, when J figured out her leprechaun note was in his handwriting (Note this is the first year she's put out anything for leprechauns, a tradition I'd never heard of before). Evidently there were tears....

There were tears the other day in the car too. A long day at school and an assignment to write about some place you want to go. I suggest place after place to no avail.

"I want to write about some place imaginary" she says

"Write about Hogwarts" says I

"But Hogwarts is REAL."

I shut up and drive on.

Which of us did the right thing?

Only just over two years 'til she gets her letter of admission....

we're off to see the Wizard....

I almost don't want to say it in case it magically disappears.....

But spring break is coming....and with that our first just-us vacation in years.....

Guess where we're going....

Break out the floo powder and click HERE

A Snitch A Day

One way to get J to go to the farmers market every Thursday at 18th and La Cienega - the magical apple man who carves a SNITCH you can EAT!

Healthy, Magical and oh so tasty....

(needless to say he always gets our business)

I thought I blogged about that -

I'm behind - what a surprise -

It's not as if the past months the love for Harry has waned. There was the Harry Potter magical birthday party at Los Angeles' fantastic Whimsic Alley in June. There was our partially-censored mommy-daughter screening of Daniel Radcliffe on the Actors Studio. There was the turning on of a new HP devoted five year old in our lives to Whimsic (and therefore making her dad the man of the hour bringing her there to WIN their halloween contest).

There's the fact that the kids in J's class are finally reading Harry Potter and joining the general obsession themselves.

You'd think that would be cause for joy, right? Until now Julia's friend in Potter obsession has been just her pal Will (and 16 year old cousin). But no - after years of wanting other people to understand the love, she's not so down with the love. Why does everyone like Harry now? is the question. And a bit of possession - the girl is not liking sharing her magical world. Not a lot of respect for those coming late to the table.

Doesn't stop her from enjoying the Dumbledore's Army of Wall Art she got for Chanukah though.