Hershey Park in the Dark

Today after a marathon clean out of the garage, we picked up Steph, Robin, and Gavin and headed to Hershey Park.  Apparently Lori's work gives out tickets Hershey Park in the Dark.  I did not know that until Steph asked me if we were going.  We made plans for today, the last day of the Halloween set up at the park.  It was 42 degrees when we got there at 2 and 42 degrees when we left at 7.  It was much colder when we left! 

 

 

We went to Chocolate World first and picked up our trick or treat bags and ride the Chocolate World ride.  To me Chocolate World will always be the version of my childhood and Steph remembers that one also.  The kids will know the cow version. 

 

The boys wanted ice cream, chocolate today.  Robin picked out a cupcake and hot chocolate.  Steph and I had mocha coffees. 

 

And then we headed into the park. 

 

We measured the kids so we would know what Baylor could go on.  He is a Kiss and can go on anything with a Kiss or lower. 

 

Gavin was a Hershey bar.

 

And Robin was a Twizzler. 

 

Baylor of course wanted to do a penny.  My goal was to find the Hershey Park in the Dark one and he just wanted the cool looking one on this machine.  I did find the one I was looking for and unfortunately he lost the one he picked out.  I think he took it out of his pocket on a ride and left it there. 

 

The kids could ride more rides than Baylor could and Robin is quite adventurous.  She was on a mission to ride all the coasters she loves.  Baylor was his usual patient self.  He really wanted to ride the little pirate ship which we did before we left.   

 

They have trick or treat section and only my son did not want to trick or treat.  He kept saying he went yesterday and he did not want to go again.  I held the bag from him and he would catch me getting a treat, pull the bag away, and tell them no.   They had Reeses peanut butter cups, Mommy was getting them no matter what he said. 

 

He was more interested in scaring the crows away and touching all the pumpkins. 

 

Gavin loves to pose for photos! 

 

I love the light projections on the ground. 

 

Finally while the big kids rode the Mousetrap, Baylor got to ride some rides.  He rode the beetles first and you can see by his smile that he loved it. 

 

And this little train.

 

And the carriage. 

 

We went on the Paris (Ferris) Wheel like we did in June.  But this season it is called the Witches Wheel.  Most of the rides were renamed with a Halloween theme.

 

We played one game, shooting water to fill up a balloon, and I won!  Baylor picked the blue penguin and he loves him already. 

 

 

I convinced Baylor to do a big slide and I ended up having to do it with him.  The ride was not made for my size rear but thankfully Baylor enjoyed it just as much.  Then we headed to some of the coasters and we went to the Trail Blazer.  It was Baylor's first big coaster ride.  He LOVED it.  It is pretty tame by coaster standards but it was just right for him.  We did it again with Steph and the kids rode the Great Bear.  The second time he did it with his hands in the air the whole time.   

 

On the way to catch up with them Baylor rode the airplanes.  As usual, he was more interested in watching the center to look out at me.  He likes watching the lights and how everything is working. 

 

Being there after dark was a different experience.  And a beautiful one too.  The lights made it a magical place.  I am thinking we need to go to Christmas Candy Lane this year.

 

Baylor playing his first real arcade games.  He and I played hockey against Gavin and while we did not score a point, Gavin only got one past us.  And then Baylor tried this game but he certainly did not get the concept.  He just liked moving the big blue joy stick back and forth.

 

He has seen a version of Whack a Mole on Team Umizoomi and wanted to play this one.  He tried and was so cute to watch. He did a race car game and we crashed and spun out all over the place!  We did Skee ball and Baylor made one in the next lane! 

 

We found the little pirate ship for him to ride and then we went to the Merry Go Round.  He rode an outside horse that did not move and Gavin rode behind us on one that did.  Steph and Robin were on another part of the ride and I am not sure what they chose.

 

 

The kids took Baylor on some of the rides around the Merry Go Round.  One that he loved and did twice was the Scrambler.  He had a smile on his face the whole time he was squashed between the two kids.  He did the Tilt a Whirl twice with Robin.  He had no fear and enjoyed all the rides he could go on and looked with love in his eyes at the rides he cannot go on yet.  I think he will be like Robin and love the thrill rides!  Give him a few years and they will be on everything together. 

 

It was cold and us Moms were wearing out so we headed out.  I bought a large bag of kettle corn on the way out. Steph picked up a bucket of mixed flavors, caramel, butter and cheese.  I never did get around to having a s'more but we have wood for the fire pit and can make them at home sometime soon. 

 

I don't think it took very long for this to happen but we were out of the park and up the road a few miles before we noticed it.  He was pooped, crashed out, and done with the day.  At 7.  But he loved it and I am so glad we went! 

 

 

 

Trick or Treat

 

With the passing of my grandma so recently and history of  Halloween being a time when the veil between their world our ours lifts, I felt the need to also celebrate the Day of the Dead.  I only decorated one of the paper mache skulls which was harder than I thought it would be.  I could not decide what to put on it.  But I did what I could and tried to have a few items with meaning and mostly decorative items. 

 

 

I put a photo of my grandparents with their dog Girl, or Jenny as she was originally called, and a photo of Lori's sisters and their dog Petey.  We lit the candles and I asked Lori to tell me a memory of her sisters and Petey.  She comes from a family that loves to sit around and tell memories and stories so for her it was easy.  For me, not so easy.  But I managed to come up with memories from when I was young and we had come to PA for vacations.  I lit the candles for two nights but I think we will keep the photos all year.  I know it is good for Lori to talk about her sisters and it is good for me to learn how to share memories. 

 

So here is the back yard today.  The leaves are all down, they are brown and even after a tropical storm, they are still on the ground.  So we will have to mulch them up because I don't like raking them.  I take Grandma's philosophy, why rake them up when they will eventually just blow away. 

 

Heather hosted the Aunt's meeting today and her house looked awesome decorated for Halloween.  She goes for the animated and spooky items and the kids loved it.  And the adults also. 

 

I did not see Baylor unless he was hurt or hungry. Connor and Baylor stopped just long enough to eat chicken corn soup and Baylor also had bacon for extra energy. 

 

 We had to leave a bit early because Trick Or Treat was moved to Saturday at 2-4.  We decided to join Steph and her kids in Nana Heidi's neighborhood.  We went their for his first Halloween when he was almost one.  He had fallen asleep in the car and was not happy awake for the first eight or so house.  He sat on my shoulders and the kids would take his bucket to the house or bring something back for him.  Eventually he was willing to hold the bucket and when I asked him if the thought he might be able to walk himself, he said he would give it a try. 

 

Off he went and was right in the swing of things.  He was very polite and said thank you (at least I heard it when I was listening). 

 

 

 

We had quite a haul by the time we made it back to Nana's house.  We also drove over to Steph's friend's neighborhood to see their daughter's costume.  We hit a few more houses and headed home. 

 

It was a good day and having it in the day light made it easier to keep an eye on the kids.  Baylor loved it and amazingly only wanted to eat one pack of skittles and a peppermint patty.  What a good little boy I have!  Certainly did not get that control from me. 

The Softer Side

Baylor has been all boy since he could choose what he wanted to play with.  He loves to bash toys together, destroying several in the process.  He has mountains of trains, diggers, and tools.  But he also has a nurturing side that he shows to his friends.  And by friends I mean the many stuffed friends we have all about the house.  They often take over a couch because they are too uncomfortable on the floor.  Tonight he was the caretaker for bunny, a little four inch bunny that apparently was rather accident prone while we were away today.  Bunny needed several bandages and had to have a special bed made in the living room so she could get better.  She has three blankets for a bed, four couch pillows and one body pillow.  And she has a wooby for extra special cuddles. 

 

 

 

 

I hope he keeps this side as he grows up and we enjoy it as much as we love all his little boyness. 

Sunrise

This morning I opened the door to leave for work and the sky was a gorgeous mix of pinks, purples and oranges.  I called back to Baylor to come see the sunrise and he and I awed at the beautiful sky.  

 

 

 I love that my son can appreciate a sunrise, a sunset, the moon at any stage, the stars, clouds, and even the sun. The moon by far holds the strongest appeal. I think that goes back to my love of the moon.  It has always been my favorite celestial body.  I remember when Baylor was younger, having a bad dream or crying jag and nothing would work to break the pattern, I would take him out to the deck, no matter what time of year or night, to sit out there until it was over. It might take 15 minutes or more or just three, but it would always work. Being outside would break the jag and he would calm down and cuddle.  As he got older, we would point out the stars, planets, airplanes, and of course the moon.  And sometimes a helicopter.  He would point and say helicopter. More often than not, there was a helicopter flying across the big bluish black thing.  Often at night he will ask to look for the moon and we will run around the house going to the back and the front, the alley, looking for that moon.  Most nights we can see it from the deck but sometimes it is a hunt. And sometimes we find it in the morning, which is always a fun surprise.  I hope he never loses his appreciation for the world around and above him. 

 

And never loses the joy of blowing milk bubbles.