Thanks to a teacher’s aide, Brendan learned about a Harry Potter festival called “Day of Mischief” happening in Scottsdale. The advertising made big promises about how cool it would be, but mostly it said you could “interact with live owls”. We bought tickets of course.

It started with a colossal line outside. Then they opened the doors and the whole crowd made a mad dash for the entrance.

It was a huge let-down inside. There were some cheesy props and lots of independent vendors with overpriced items. We got a bottle of butterbeer (butterscotch soda) that was kind of gross. There was a big double decker bus.

There were lots of themed pillows. Brendan was counting how many had owls on them.

Photo props were cute but poorly executed.

“Interacting with live owls” meant paying $20 extra to have your photo taken with a single eagle owl. I got to hold it, but the boys could not touch it. We all did get a cute time-turner necklace.

While we were waiting in the owl line, Brendan was sitting in his stroller/wheelchair. The guy behind us had bought a decorative “flying broom” and Brendan said he really liked it. The guy must have thought Brendan was super cute because he went back to the vendor and bought an orange one for Brendan! So thank you very much, kind stranger. He made the lame festival kind of special!

He did some upgrades to it and calls it the “Nimbus 2011”

Gramma is having knee replacement surgery on the 8th. Everyone will be thinking of her and wishing her a quick recovery! Brendan would do a magic spell if he could!