Amusement Park time

Last weekend we got to check something else off our Summer List--going to visit an amusement park!  This was the first time for the girls and J and I hadn't been since before we were married...more than 16 years ago!

In general, I would say this picture just about sums up our feelings regarding roller coaster parks:

I would be happy never to set foot in one again, but once there, J gives them a big ol' thumbs up!  He grew up living reeeally close to one and so has fond memories of going as a child and teenager.

This was us on the first ride we went on, right before it started.  Since we could do it as a family we decided to go for it.  Please note Mei Mei's happy face.  This was NOT the case once the ride started! It was basically a boat that made huge swings up and down, but when you're prone to motion sickness AND it's your first exposure to a ride, it wasn't a good combination.  #parentfail #thankyouDramamine

This was more her speed--the Classic Car ride.  We spent much of the time "dividing and conquering".  There were a bunch of rides Mei Mei couldn't do because she wasn't tall enough yet, so she and I got to hang out.  J likes the roller coasters and the Noodle was so excited to ride them with him, so they'd go ride one and then circle back around for us.

It was a scorcher that day!  Thankfully there was a section in the park that was geared towards smaller riders and Mei Mei loved those.  Can you tell in the picture above who's missing the thrill, speed and adventure of the big coasters?!  Ha!

 A necessary break in the action!

We're ready to hit the next attraction!

Bring it!!

One of the rides we went on as a family was an antique car that rode along a track.  The Noodle decided she wanted to be the driver.

This is what I foresee in our future...me

and J!

While J and the Noodle went on a few rides, Mei Mei and I went and watched a bluegrass band perform.  It was heavenly to sit down in the shade and just veg.out. for a few.

To get back to the entrance, J had the BRILLIANT idea to catch the train.  Thank goodness, because the littlest one in our group was really starting to flag.  I don't know if we would have made it ;)

One more stop to say hello to Snoopy and go on the ferris wheel.

For whatever reason, the numbers at the park were suuuper low that day.  So low, that for most rides, they only had to wait 5 minutes at most!  Many times they were able to walk right on and ride.

Ironically enough, we had to wait about 25 minutes to ride the Ferris wheel--the longest wait of the day.  Not sure why, but there you have it.

Once we finally got on, the views didn't disappoint!  The Lake, the Bay, the park--all of it!  It was a great way to end the day.

We had been given the tickets and part of the deal was that while the park opens late morning, we couldn't go until after 1:00.  We got there around 1:30 and left at 6:30 and let me tell you, it was the perfect amount of time for this newbie family!  After we left the park, we hit up a yummy, local pizza joint and then drove home.  Exhausted, hot and sticky--exactly what you'd expect from a fun day!