Even after our staycation, we weren't ready to say goodbye just yet, so Katie, Steph and I met up for a sunset picnic dinner at Ko'olina. The kids ran around silly as the adults were trying to avoid the inevitable. It is so difficult leaving Hawaii because we have such amazing friends, it almost feels like I am leaving part of me behind. I know I will have amazing adventures in Florida and am trying to stay optimistic but moving will definitely create a loss in our lives. While Matt was away, these friends were everything to me- labor coaches, babysitters, advice counselors, peer editors, confidants, movers, you name it, they did it. Saying goodbye that night was tough and as I drove away crying, Makaela said, "It's okay mom, we will just have to come back and visit really soon!"
Today we headed to Epcot center. I recall so many fun rides there when I was young, that I was on a mission to find them all and relive them. Of course there were some new ones and we were running all over the place to squeeze in as many as we could. First though, we bought Makaela and autograph book and a passport (that gets signed at all the different countries). Makaela and I went through a "Meet the Characters" exhibit, so we got lots of autographs and pictures.
After hitting a few rides and shows, we headed to see some of the "countries" of Epcot. We loved Mexico, but it was getting a bit too cold for any margaritas, so we headed for the boat ride. No one decorates and makes recreations like Disney.
Mia had a great time in Norway (or rather Daddy and Uncle Joe had fun dressing her up).
I was on a mission to get to Morocco for dinner, but by China, the weather had gotten so cold, we opted to eat there and call it a night. We were not prepared to deal with the cold and ended up pretty miserable (and no one should be miserable in Disney-the "happiest place in the world". Now that we live in FL, we promised ourselves we would get back to Epcot soon so Makaela could finish her passport.
However, on the way out, the scene was breathtaking.
Matt and Mia stayed at the resort the first day while we were in Orlando, so Donna, Ger, Joe, Makaela and I headed to Islands of Adventure. We loved Suess land because it was all decked out in Christmas decorations. Makaela was not happy about being dragged away from the rides to see The Grinch (we arrived on the last day it was playing). She fussed and moaned the entire time we were waiting in line, but once the show started, she was mesmorized and talked about it the entire day ("Why is the grinch mean? I don't like mean people. Well if all these people are on line to see the Grinch again, does this mean he is going to go back to being mean?")
(there is an alligator in the pond)
December 17th will forever hold a new meaning for me. It is the day I officially became Dr. Hoffman. It was amazing, but that is not to say it didn't go off without a hitch though. The night before I had a nightmare that I wasn't able to graduate. I can't recall the specifics, but I got to the graduation in my cap and gown and was told it wasn't going to happen. I left humiliated and in tears. Then I woke up in a panic, but I did a mental check (at 3am) and did everything the university had asked of me. Well, when I got to the actual graduation, all the PhDs had to line up with our advisors. Our names were taped to the floor so we would know where to stand, but... this PhD couldn't find her name anywhere. Yes, panic set in...for real this time. The graduation assistant told me to just squeeze in and that it was probably an oversight but still, I was worried. Then I was worried that my name didn't make it into the program and I had to sit through the entire ceremony dreading that. It was a very long ceremony, but we got to sit up in the front. It's funny, but I think I actually heard Mia crying which helped me pinpoint where our families were sitting.
