Eric has been dreaming of taking our kids on rides since before they were born. (Probably even before they were conceived!) So when Eric got some discount coupons from work for King's Dominion, and we realized Ben had reached the minimum height requirements, the wheels started churning and we planned a trip 3 hours north to take the kids to their very first amusement park! :) We were equally excited that Eric's good friend Dru and his wife Angie were able to come down from D.C. and join us. They will be leaving for Poland in just one month and we were glad to see them before they left! It also helped to have a few extra hands!
On the way there, Julia slept pretty much the whole way. Ben of course fell asleep 15 minutes before we arrived. Keep in mind the kids were up by 6:45am. I am sure you all are familiar with toddlers who haven't napped...so we were cautious! When we tried to have Ben measured at the measuring station- he was having none of it...UH-OH, this might not go so well.
At the front of the park is a big roller coaster, so Eric, Dru, and Angie hopped in line to ride it. I stayed with the kids. We walked a bit, Ben liked watching the coaster as it went over our heads, the kids enjoyed their peanut butter sandwich...and then I began occupying them by giving them ice cubes to suck on. So much for having cold water later on. :) We survived the wait and Angie survived her first coaster!
Hanging out waiting for Daddy
Enjoying their ice cubes
After the coaster, we headed over to Planet Snoopy. Another reason we liked the idea of King's Dominion is that they had a rather large children's area. They had snoopy characters made out of bushes! :)
A space snoopy bounce house. We never made it over there, but I fear bigger kids would have trampled Ben anyway.
Ben did like the snoopy fountain and was sad that neither Eric or I had change to throw in the fountain.
Because this area was less crowded than other sections of the park, Julia enjoyed a good amount of time walking around. She loved picking up leaves, sticks, and pieces of mulch!
Waiting for the ride to start.
Ben helped take a picture of daddy before the ride started.
Helping spin the nest!
FUN!!! There's a smile on his face!
Love this one! :)
Julia finding more leaves!
These little cars were perfect for Ben. They just went around a track. There was no line...even better! He went around once, looking like such a serious little man. When he got off, he said, "Again!" There was still no line, so he got to ride again!
2nd time around
He would have kept going, but after the second ride there were quite a few people in line.
Coming around the curve
So Serious...But Ride #3 was another success!
Daddy and Ben waited in line for this big boat! It went back and forth and spun around. I told Eric to hold on tight! :) Ben did good waiting in line as long as Eric was holding him. Julia tried to get in line too, but I turned her around...not quite big enough yet, Jules!
You can see Ben through the opening on the left. :)
This one moved a little to fast to get a good picture...especially because it kept turning around. But Ben had fun and Ride #4 was a success!
Ride #5 - Oh boy...this one made me mad! So these little airplanes are over water...neat, but quite a dumb idea since it is for kids. Blue cement or rubber would have worked just fine. Since there is water and little kids could fall, the attendant would take one or two kids at a time and walk them to a plane, load them up, then go back for more. I work with kids...this could have been done WAY more efficiently. Remember how I told you the hardest part for Ben was waiting in line and waiting for rides to start??? Yeah, he was one of the first ones loaded. The attendant was walking as slow as she possibly could. I think a turtle or a snail could have loaded these kids faster. THEN, the attendant switched off with another attendant. So one might think..okay this person will just start the ride. OH NO....this person, who may have moved even slower than the first and had an attitude, continued to take kids to planes. Seriously, make the ride go...the kids can wait until the next round - my two year old is ready to go. No Lie...I looked at the first picture I took of Ben and then a picture of the ride moving....it took TEN minutes to load this ride and get it started! So of course after Ben had been sitting in the hot sun for 5 minutes, he was trying to put his legs over the side and climb out - while I am on the other side of the fence. The lady walked by him and moved his feet back in to the plane and gave him this look like "Are you sure you can ride this?" Well maybe if you would start the ride, he'd be fine. So I am already quite furious that it has taken so long for this 1 minute ride and then I just know how slowly she is going to unload the kids...so I tell Eric to go get Ben, and I walked away with Julia. Boy that lady (both ladies) need to learn how to work with kids, move faster, and smile! Nonetheless, no major meltdowns even with the long wait, so I consider ride #5 a Success!
Julia liked looking at Ben and was waving to him through the fence. :)
Happy just to walk around and have freedom!
Ben's sweaty curls. :)
Enjoying the ride...finally!
Ride #6 was Boo Hill. It was one of those rides where it is indoors and you have to shoot at the targets and get points. Ben was very excited and this ride was great because all 6 of us got to ride. Eric and Ben rode in the front of a car, with Julia and I behind them. And Dru and Angie were in the car behind us. We were doing good and Julia sat so well, just holding on to the bar and looking around. There were ghosts and such, so Ben got a little scared and started crying (I think it was more of whimper) half way through. But overall, Ride #6 was a success!
After that, we were getting hot and thirsty, so Eric, Dru, and Angie went on the Volcano roller coaster...the track actually comes out the top of a "volcano". :) While we were waiting, I changed diapers (how fun!), then we got some Dippin' Dots! :) I gave Ben a few options and he picked Rainbow...it was quite tasty and was sherbet. :) I got chocolate and cookies and creme to share with Julia. They sure enjoyed eating their ice cream in the shade. Then we got a drink refill!
Holding his ice cream carefully
Don't spill it!!!
We were still waiting so we walked around a bit and realized we were close to the other side of Planet Snoopy and we saw these bouncy space buggies. This is my kind of bad parent moment of the day. I was by myself, so Julia had to wait by the gate while I loaded Ben on. Also, these seat belts were really for two people, and I should have ridden with Ben, but he did make the cut off for height (just barely) and I couldn't leave Julia while I was on ride. So he went and he held on tight and thoroughly enjoyed going "bouncy, bouncy". He even told Eric "I bouncy!" when we saw him! :) Everyone is safe and Ride #7 was a success!
He couldn't reach the bar, so he held on to both sides! :)
I am glad he got the concept of not moving while the ride was in motion!
Julia took a nap. :) At least one baby is getting some sleep today!
After we met back up with Eric, Dru, and Angie - Eric and Dru went on an indoor coaster. Angie hung out with me, which was quite helpful, because there wasn't a lot of shade in this area and the kids needed to roam. So I was chasing Ben and Angie was chasing Julia. Ben found these claw machines and pressing buttons was fun enough for him! :) Julia was having a blast just walking around and trying to find every little thing she possibly could.
After the indoor coaster, Angie and Dru hung out with the little ones while Eric and I went on a roller coaster. It's been a while and of course Eric made us sit in the front row. I was a little nervous, but it was actually pretty fun! :) When we were done, we found the rest of the group and asked someone to take a picture with all 6 of us! :) Keeping the kids in the stroller was the best way to get them still! :) Everyone is smiling except for Ben who is preoccupied with the big cup!
Angie had never had a funnel cake, so they got one and were kind enough to share with Ben and Julia! :)
My sweet happy girl hanging out! I think she was watching Ben and Eric on the Carousel at this point.
Ride # 8 - The Carousel.
***Backstory*** In June we were in Chicago and went to the zoo with my mom and sister. They had a carousel and Ben asked to go on it. So I got him ready, we waited in line, got on the carousel and I asked him to pick an animal. He would not pick one and was going CRAZY. Finally, I had to just sit down with him on a bench and hold him down because he was trying to get off my lap and ....it was just rough! The thought of ever riding a carousel again was frightening to me. So when Ben saw this Carousel and asked to go on it...I told Eric he had to take him. :) Well, lately Ben has really been in to the whole concept of horses and tries to "ride" us saying, "Giddy-up! Yee-Haw!" So Eric took him and waited in line - they were second. And then Eric got on, Ben picked a horse, held on to the strap, and waited patiently for the ride to begin! He even said "Yee-Haw"! When he got off, he said "Again, Again!"
Love that smile! He was so excited!
After a quick diaper change, I went on with Ben and Eric took Julia. Angie took pictures for us and got this cute one of Ben giving me a hug! I love those sweaty little curls! :)
Eric waiting in line with a happy Julia.
Smiling at Angie!
So serious, and yet so excited!
Dru waiting patiently for the ride to be over! :)
Second annoying moment of the day, the guy running this ride said Julia couldn't be on a horse. I swear there was a younger baby riding a pony on the ride before us. I mean this girl can walk and her Dad is not going to let her fall. UGH! Anyway, they still rode, but they sat on a bench. Julia was still happy!
Hands up! Weeeeee!!!!
One of my favorites! She looks like such a big girl here!
Ride #8 - Double Success! :)
Even though they are high, I got a picture with the guys...Dru is on the far left (and you can see Angie's feet) and Eric is on the far right. :)
I told you it was high!
A little blurry, but Eric waved to us as they were coming down!
We got a family shot before leaving! Ben is so tired and so serious, but Julia is still smiling! :)
Waiting for a minute and Eric gave the kids sticks...who needs fancy toys!
And they were out by Richmond!
It was a super busy day, but it was very fun and we were so excited for Ben to go on his first rides at an amusement park! :) And it was also great to see Dru and Angie and spend some time with them before they leave.
On Sunday, we spent the day out and about. We started at a food truck rodeo, then went to get some frozen yogurt before going to the splash pad in Cary. The kids had fun running around the playground and then running through the water when it turned on. Ben brought his dinosaur with and loved making the water splash onto his dinosaur. At the end, he was leaning his head down into the water too...silly guy! Julia was just walking around, loving the water, the bouncy dolphin, and smiling at everyone! One little girl asked how old she was. Then said "I've never seen such a tiny baby walk. I'm impressed!" So glad Julia is impressing young girls! :) LOL!!!
Eating Mac & Cheese with daddy at the Food Truck Rodeo
Ben playing with the King's Dominion cup so he won't run off while we finish eating
Yummy water!!!
And a sno cone! Thanks to Crystal, Ben now LOVES sno cones :)
Julia hanging out...content with a few bites of the sno cone
FREEDOM!!! :) It was fun watching Julia walk around on the hill, fall down, and get back up - just to fall down again because she was on such a big slope (for a little baby).
Here is a little collage I put together of various food truck rodeos we have been too
and how much Ben has grown! :)
Later, at the splash pad/playground...
Julia loved this dolphin and was bouncing and rocking pretty good on it! :)
Ben got splashed in the face...and just laughed it off and went back for more!
Dinosaur's turn to get splashed!
My sweet little Splash Pad Beauty! :)
Some lady asked me where my camera was...I told her I had already taken a bunch of pictures! :)
She was quite the people pleaser as she roamed around smiling and laughing at everyone!
After all that action, Monday was spent just relaxing around the house! Happy Labor Day everyone and YAY for 3 day weekends!
