Universal Studios

Riley was given the choice of a birthday party or a special trip this year for his birthday.

I decided that it should be a father/son trip since Riley & Josh don't get very much one-on-one together.

Riley & Josh decided on Universal Studios

because of the new Transformer Ride that Riley really wanted to go to.

The trip was scheduled for closer to his birthday but due to bad behavior from Riley it got postponed.

Thankfully the bad behavior ended and they were able to go on their trip on 9/8

They left super early in the morning (4 AM) and texted me a couple hours later as they watched the sun rise.

Riley was so excited, but after a few hours decided to get some shut eye so he wouldn't be tired at the park.

They got to their hotel about 10am & were able to check in to their hotel room.

 They had an awesome view of the park.

Riley called me to let me know they had made it safe

& that he was so thankful that he got to go on this trip with his dad.

After getting all settled in to their room they walked over to the park.

1st stop- Transformer Ride

Josh said "Riley was in heaven."

Riley loved seeing his favorite characters up close.

I think it has been a dream of his for some time.

They goofed off and enjoyed some other parts of the park.

Watching as a flash flood comes towards them.

This is Riley's "scared" face as they drive past the wreckage of a commercial plane that crashed.



"I'll be back"

Motorcycle from Terminator

They ended the first day with the Waterworld show  

where Riley got soaked when a cast member dumped a huge bucket of water right over his head since Riley was sitting in the "wet zone" & was begging to get wet.

The boys "face timed" & Riley told Chase and Dax all about the Transformer ride and how someday they could come too.

It was dang cute!

The hotel that they were staying at found out that this was a birthday vacation so they gave Josh free unlimited movie access.

Josh & Riley watched "Battleship" & then Riley watched "Avengers" after Josh went to bed.

The next day they got in 1/2 a day more of rides before they headed home.

(The "Bumblebee" car was actually in the parking lot of the hotel & not part of Universal Studios at all.)

GOODBYE

Riley cried as they left the park & told Josh they were "happy tears"

because of the awesome trip that he got to have with his dad.