Hoops & Harmonies

41.

The next morning, the family woke up early, eager to start their first full day in Orlando. Rodney, Romelo, and Laiyah were buzzing with excitement, all talking at once about the rides they wanted to go on and the characters they hoped to see. Monica and Angel smiled at each other, knowing it was going to be a long but fun day.

As they all piled into the rental car, the kids couldn't stop talking. Rodney leaned forward from the back seat, asking, "Do you think the roller coasters are scarier here or back home?"

Romelo, always the daredevil grinned. "I bet these are way scarier. I can't wait to try them all!"

Monica laughed from the driver's seat. "Let's start with something a little easier first, okay? We don't want to scare Laiyah right away."

Laiyah, was already rolling her eyes, piped up from the back, "I'm not scared! I just want to see the Minions!" She gave her best serious face, but everyone could tell she was excited.

Angel turned in her seat, smiling at Laiyah. "Don't worry, we'll see the Minions and the roller coasters too. We have the whole day ahead of us."

The drive to Universal Studios wasn't long, but the kids kept themselves busy, making up little games and telling jokes. Romelo started a silly joke about why Minions never get tired—"Because they keep bananas in their pockets for energy!"—which had Laiyah giggling uncontrollably.

When they arrived at the park, Monica parked the car and they all got out, stretching after the short ride. Rodney and Romelo were already running ahead, too excited to wait. Monica called out, "Stay close, you two! We're all going in together!"

They made their way to the entrance, VIP passes in hand, and were quickly whisked inside, skipping the long lines. Angel breathed a sigh of relief. "This was so worth it," she said, looking at the crowds. "We'll be able to see everything without waiting all day."

Their first stop was "Despicable Me Minion Mayhem," much to Laiyah's delight. As they approached the ride, Laiyah's eyes grew wide, and she grabbed Angel's hand. "Look, Mama! There's Gru!" she squealed, pointing to the life-sized characters greeting guests.

Angel smiled down at her. "We'll get a picture with them after the ride, okay?" Laiyah nodded eagerly.

The ride was a hit. Laiyah squealed with laughter as they zoomed through the Minions' world. Even Romelo and Rodney, who were trying to act cool, couldn't help but smile. Afterward, they stopped to take pictures with the Minions, Laiyah beaming as she stood between the yellow characters.

Next, they headed to the "Harry Potter" section of the park. Rodney and Romelo were both huge fans of the series, and as soon as they saw the towering Hogwarts castle, they rushed ahead again, practically dragging Monica and Angel behind them. Inside, they explored every nook and cranny, from sipping Butterbeer to picking out magic wands at Ollivanders.

After several more rides, including the thrilling VelociCoaster that left Romelo breathless, they all needed a break. They found a shaded spot near the park's lagoon and grabbed some snacks. Monica passed out sandwiches while Angel made sure everyone had water.

"You guys having fun?" Angel asked as she handed a juice box to Laiyah.

Rodney nodded, taking a big bite of his sandwich. "This place is amazing. I think the roller coasters here are the best!"

Romelo agreed, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Yeah, and we still have more to do!"

Laiyah, a little tired but still smiling, leaned her head against Angel. "Can we see more Minions later?" she asked sleepily.

Angel kissed the top of her head. "Of course, baby girl. We'll see more later."

After a few more rides and character meet-and-greets, the family decided to head back to their vacation home. The Florida sun had worn them out, and Laiyah had started to doze off as Angel carried her out of the park. The car ride back was quiet, except for the soft hum of the radio and occasional murmurs from Rodney and Romelo, who were talking about their favorite parts of the day.

Back at the house, everyone was ready to relax. Laiyah, now fully awake, immediately asked, "Can we swim now?" Her eyes were wide with hope, and she was already tugging on Angel's shirt.

Angel laughed. "Alright, alright. Let's get changed, and we can hit the pool."

The kids raced to their rooms to change into swimsuits. Monica and Angel took a moment to catch their breath, leaning against the kitchen counter. "Today was a good day," Monica said, smiling at Angel. "The kids had a blast."

Angel nodded. "And we survived it," she joked, making Monica laugh.

Once they were all changed, they headed outside to the backyard, where the pool sparkled under the evening sun. Rodney and Romelo were the first to jump in, making a huge splash. Laiyah, with her bright pink floaties on, followed close behind, squealing as she jumped into Angel's arms in the shallow end.

"Mom, watch this!" Romelo yelled, showing off his best cannonball. Water splashed everywhere, and even Monica, who was sitting on the edge of the pool, got soaked.

"Romelo!" Monica laughed, wiping water from her face. "I'm going to get you for that!"

The evening was filled with laughter as they played in the pool. Laiyah floated happily between Angel and Monica, while Rodney and Romelo tried to see who could make the biggest splash. Eventually, as the sun began to set, they all climbed out of the pool, wrapped in towels, and headed inside for a late dinner.

That night, after the kids were tucked into bed, Monica and Angel sat on the couch, looking through the photos they had taken that day. "Today was perfect," Angel said softly, resting her head on Monica's shoulder.

Monica smiled, scrolling through the pictures of their smiling kids. "Yeah, it really was."

They both knew there were more adventures to come, but for now, they were content, happy to have shared such a special day with their family.