Fun at Lagoon and Emmie's New Addiction...

Dennis' work does a free Lagoon Day every year, so yesterday afternoon we went intending to spend a couple of hours there and see how the girls did. We ended up leaving the house at 2:15 or so, and staying at Lagoon until closing time! We had so much fun, and the girls all did great!

We started off doing some rides together as a family, then we went to eat the free meal that Dennis' work provides. It's the same fabulous buffet every year: hot dogs, hamburgers, red jello, and potato salad. There are also a few machines with fountain drinks. Dennis got the girls all lemonades, we got them their meals, and then we sat down to eat. As any parent knows, Dennis and I were both constantly getting up and down to fetch more food, napkins, extra spoons, more drinks, etc. By the time the kids were done eating Dennis and I were maybe half-way through our meals. (Admittedly I practically ate my weight in hot dogs. I'm disgusting.) Anyway, I had just gotten up for the billionth time to get myself a Diet Coke (AHHH, happiness in a cup) and sat back down to finish my meal. Just as I sat, Emmie said, "I need more to drink, Mom!" I was not about to get up AGAIN to stand in line AGAIN and get more to drink, so I just poured some of my Diet Coke in her cup. I never let my kids have caffiene, and rarely soda, but I was tired and figured a little wouldn't hurt just this once. She took a sip, her eyes got big, and she said, "Mom, is this brown Sprite?" I said, "It's called Coke, Emmie." Her eyes got super-wide and she said, "I riddy RIDDY like this!" Oh, great.

Dennis then had the FABULOUS idea that he would ride the Sky Ride across the park to the kiddie rides with Kaiya and Emmie while I walked with Claire and Hayden. (You can't take a stroller on the sky ride, so one of us had to walk.) I didn't think it would be a big deal, but should have known that my infamous lack of directional skills would get me into trouble.

Somehow (don't ask me how, I've already been taunted enough) I got completely lost. I am incapable of walking in a straight line. I got lost in some trees, couldn't see anything over them, and ended up heading in the opposite direction I should have been heading. By the time I realized I was seriously lost I had been walking FOREVER while pushing our massive stroller, with Claire on my shoulders in 100 degree weather. I was up somewhere in Lagoona Beach, and everywhere I went trying to get out was a dead end. I finally asked a scary man with a big beer belly if he would kindly point me in the right direction, and he told me to turn left, keep walking, and I'd be fine. I followed those directions and then ended up in Pioneer Village, which is also a dead end. I walked through that twice, and yes, I'm now very VERY sure that it is a dead end. Thank you, Sir. After visiting Lagoona Beach once again and taking a nice little side-trip through the petting zoo, I finally found a Lagoon employee, who must have been all of fourteen years old. She rolled her eyes at my frazzled self and showed me the real way down to the kiddie rides. I was so turned around I was sure she gave me bad directions as well, but finally I ended up where I needed to be. Dennis thought it was hilarious. I told him I'd laugh later. At least I'm pretty sure I worked off all those hot dogs I ate. I will definitely be the one riding the Sky Ride next time!

We took a break in the afternoon and went back to Pioneer Village, because during my lonely travels earlier in the day I'd seen a shop with ice cream. It sounded like the perfect snack to help us all cool down. Claire really got into hers, as usual.



We had such a great time together, and I have to say I still think I have the best baby EVER. Hayden spent maybe 5 minutes total fussing the entire time we were there. She's such a sweet little person. She's just happy to be wherever we are.



Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE cotton candy, so I figured since the kids were already up late and wild and crazy, we might as well stop for my favorite treat at 9 p.m. and get them all sugared up before the car ride home. Do you think anyone slept on the way home? Nope. I'm a genius.





After a long hot day, we let the kids cool off in the big fountains on the way out. I got in to play with them a little, and then Dennis thought it would be great fun to grab me and run me right through the middle. We were all soaked within minutes! At least it was the first time all day I wasn't hot! :)









AND here comes the quote of the day! I asked each child what their favorite part of the day was. Kaiya said she loved bumper cars and the "scary house", Claire said "panes" (airplanes), and Emmie said...."The brown Sprite!"