We can’t possibly keep the streak going
forever, but this was definitely the best-ever-so-far amusement park trip!
The weather was perfect – sunny, hot, but
not scorching; and the fun was non-stop.
That started with Tai Chi by the hotel pool and gardens with all of my
favorite exercise buddies; a long swim in that same pool; and breakfast at a
nearby restaurant once we were all ready to go for the day. We were at the amusement park right on time
for the opening, and didn’t have to deal with much of a line-up because we
already had our two-day passes and could go straight in.
The teens were all set free for the first
hour or so to hit the thrill rides that the younger kids couldn’t go on. Michael, Tim, Lucas, Rebecca, Rowen, and I
stayed together for that while the rest of the older teens were in two other
groups. We managed to get through four
of our favorite rides during that little blast of fun, and then we met up with
our families for some less-thrilling but equally entertaining play time.
While I wasn’t at the center of the action
most of the time, I want to mention that I really loved getting to hang out
with Hannah and Liz. Ethan and Ehlana
are closer to both of them for obvious reasons, and they’re friends of Mom’s
and Dad’s, but I don’t really get to normally spend much time with them; so it
was a lot of fun playing with them – and with Eli and Hailey too. Naomi’s and Aiden’s younger brother and
sister are each close in age to Zack and Leah, and they’re already able to play
together; though that’s more true for the girls right now because they are
between four and six months older than the boys. That sounds funny when you think that
Michael’s five months older than me; but it is a bigger deal at one than it is
at thirteen. That does have me wondering
what it would have been like for us if I had been born in Witch Falls and known
Michael since we were babies. Would we
have been like Ethan, Ehlana, Naomi, and Aiden; or like Rowen and Tim?
Then again, I don’t actually know what they
were like around each other at that age.
I should ask their parents sometime and find out. Maybe they’ve really just rekindled an old
flame from back in their church nursery days. (I do know that they didn’t do
daycare together – they were taken care of at the computer store or dealership
when their Moms were working.)
That rolled off on a tangent, so let’s get
back to the report. That first round of
family play time included watching a show; going on some rides that the younger
kids could do; and just one thrill ride with the parents. We went for a cool-down swim and then had
lunch before some of us were set free to play again while the younger kids had
some babysitter-managed quiet time watching a couple of shows and having
naps. That allowed the parents to go on
some cool rides too; so our group had my parents, Michael’s, and Uncle Adam and
Aunt Leanne with us for a while as we hit a few coasters together. We were on our own again after that until we
needed to meet up for round two of family play time and dinner.
By the way, I wouldn’t dream of knocking
the food options at amusement parks, but I can report that Aunt Leanne had
enough of fast food by the time we left; and Jacob did not find any new dishes
to add to the menu at the Inn. Then
again, it’s probably also fair to suggest that if they had Jacob put on one of
his buffets at the amusement park that there would be a lot more messy
incidents on the thrill rides – if you know what I mean; so maybe it’s just as
well that the food isn’t so good that people go back for seconds and thirds!
Since I think that’s a cute theory, let’s
not mention that Tim – and a few of the other guys – actually did still manage
to eat double or triple helpings at every meal.
We’ll just chalk that up to football training. Tim managed to find a way to tie in nearly
everything we did over the past two days to football training anyway; so adding
diet – or lack of one – to the list is easy enough.
Getting back on track again, our
late-afternoon play time included more kiddie rides; another swim; and a show
while we had a burgers, hot dogs, and fries dinner. We – the teens – were then given one more
hour to hit the thrill rides before needing to meet up with everyone at the
park entrance so we could load up for the ride home. The trip was long and mostly uneventful. Rowen and Tim won the draw for the back seat
and best cuddle location in the minivan, so Michael and I were in the middle
seats. I did try to lean over and cuddle
with him for a while later in the trip, but that wasn’t very comfortable; so we
mostly just held hands and enjoyed the quiet chat time with Rowen, Tim, Mom,
and Miranda.
Now that I think about it, Miranda flipped
that coin for us. I wonder if we really
did lose the toss or not? ;^)
It was going on one by the time we got
home; and nearly two by the time I got up here to my room after helping to get
the twins to bed; unload vehicles; and say goodnight to everyone – though we
didn’t quite have half of our entire group with us at our house – just those
either dropping off kids or picking their own up from us. Lucas is staying overnight with the Stones,
but will be up in a few hours and getting a ride out to the farm before Miranda
and Jacob need to be at the Inn. That’s
also why neither of them were driving on the way home tonight; though I know
Miranda didn’t get more than a micro nap or two while with us.
Sleeping in won’t really be an option for
me either, since Tim insisted that football practice is on as normal – especially
after missing two days. That doesn’t
exactly mesh with his assertions on how thrill rides and g-forces were a
training substitute, but he’s a guy; and logic is not required – as every girl
knows.
I would have really liked to have a soak in
the Jacuzzi tonight, but didn’t want to keep anyone awake who is exhausted
after two play days and a long drive home; so I settled for a two-minute shower
before getting ready for bed and cuddling with Mandy. Tomorrow is a work day, and I do need to be
up early; so I’ll be wrapping this up shortly.
Before I head off to dreamland, though; there are a few things I want to
mention with this update.
First up, Alicia is now finished working
with Mom and has a few days off to get ready to leave for college on the
weekend. That will affect me because I’ll
need to help Mom with picking up the work slack – and some babysitting. Ethan and Ehlana may spend some extra time at
KidZone starting in September too, but I’ll be the go-to babysitter for the
next few weeks – particularly next week while Dad’s in the city. Violet and Dillon will be leaving for school
this weekend too, along with a lot of the college students; but Jake and
Stephanie are here for one more week – mostly because they don’t need the extra
time to get used to New York; and don’t want to spend the extra money for
hotels and restaurants.
Memo to me about that – the family
financial bonuses take a hit after the freshman year; so be prepared! There are not any subsequent rounds of going
away gifts each year for most collegians – at least not any that I’ve noticed
with my favorite college students. I’m
not suggesting that they’re left to fend for themselves or anything, but there
also aren’t as many extras for sure – like an extra week’s worth of travel
expenses.
Violet and Dillon will be getting ready to
leave now too, but they’re still also both still working for another couple of
days too before taking Friday off. For
me, while tomorrow is a work day, we still have our weekly camping night on
Thursday; a going away dinner and whatever night on Friday for Violet and
Dillon; and Roger’s fourteenth birthday party on Sunday – though Michael and I
will be working at the Inn during his dinner party there. Dad will be playing catch up on his work too;
Mom will be at the lab a lot; and I’m sure there will be a busy yard work day
on Saturday too. There’s a good chance
that none of that will be as fun or exciting as the past two days have been,
but I could use a day or two off from that much fun anyway to rest up for the
rest of the summer – which really should continue to be great – especially if
Michael and Tim can make the football team like they hope they will. It’s hard to believe, but they’ll know the
answer to that in just a bit over two weeks.
Yes, I could give you a hint; but won’t.
;^)
I guess that’s it for now. We had an awesome adventure, and I’m so glad
that we got to do that with our families – and so many of our friends. That likely won’t happen all that often, so I’ll
take those moments when we can have them – and be grateful for my photographic
memory too. Some down time is in order
right now, though; so, until next time...
...Live long and prosper, fellow Magi of
the Light!
