Dutch Wonderful Kind of Day

This morning we had plans to meet up with the Clan Hazel at Dutch Wonderland.  We went last year and it is a really good, affordable, park for these kids of ours.  For once, Baylor and I were not running late and arrived early. Only to get a text from Heather that she was running really late and had just left her house.  We went into the park, picked out his souvenir Stegosaurus  and hit a few rides while we waited from them to arrive. 

We both rode the Space Shuttle which rocks back and forth.  I had to close my eyes a few times on that one.  We went into the Dutch house that spins around the seats.  Had to close my eyes a few times on that one as well.  He rode the rockets by himself, loved it.  

He did the swings by himself, loved it. 

We did the spinning turtles of death, we loved it.  

He wanted to do the Space Shuttle again. I paired him up with another single rider so I could sit this one out.  

When Clan Hazel arrived we put them on a few rides and headed back to the dinosaurs and boat ride.  The kids played in the sand for a bit, excavating dinosaur fossils while Heather and I chatted a bit.  Then it was off to see the dinosaurs.  

Awww, the boys are still besties when they are around each other!  Their primary goal was to hunt and shoot all the dinosaurs. 

After the dino hunt we got the kids Dippin' Dots.  I was saving myself for the Dole Whip and just had a few bits of Baylor's and Brigid's dots.  I saw this guy resting his head on his cane and we had a bit of a laugh over it!  

Baylor got mad when we boarded the boats because we could not sit in the back or something about a coaster. Whatever.  He spent most of the ride holding his head up with his hand.  

The rest of us had fun!  

We worked our way to the only large coaster there and he perked up.  They sat in the last car and Brigid, my little buddy, and I sat in the next car up.  

Let's get ready to ride!  We all love this coaster. It is pretty tame by coaster standards but is the biggest ride in this park. 

After the coaster and some lunch, which Baylor would not eat, we rode the Monorail.  My happy kid,  I hope he remembers the fun parts of these days and not all the times where he was a sad for some reason. 

These two had fun the whole time!  

We have this photo from last year as well. 

And one like this on the flume. 

We did watch one of the diving shows but this show we were just walking by as the diver was climbing to the top step.  I told Baylor if the man could dive from that height, maybe he, Baylor, could jump off the low board in swimming class next session.  I don't think he is buying into my logic.  

Photo op! I am sure we have a version of this from last year as well.  

This is the only ride Heather really wanted to ride.  They rode it last year too. 

It was after 5:00 when the kids said they wanted to play in the water park.  It was not a very hot day but the kids enjoyed themselves in the one splash area that was operating.  Heather and I enjoyed ourselves reclining in the shade.  

We saved a bit of money bringing in a refillable water bottle.  We went through several refills during the day.

When Clan Hazel headed out, we stayed for a few more rides and I finally got my pineapple whip!!  It is soooo good.  Baylor chose the orange whip and we toasted our whips to a good day had by all.  

We buzzed my parents house on the way home.  It is not really on the way home, but much closer to the park then not.  We just stopped in to say hello, pee, cuddle, kiss and say good bye.  And there was a rabbit in the yard on the way out but it ran off when Chief came outside.  

When we arrived at the house, the first day of the fair was in in full swing.  Thankfully Baylor was not interested and we just went inside and to bed! 

Blackberries and Bee Butts

The blackberries are doing great this year and it will be the first year we have ever been able to pick more then a few berries at a time.  My bucket is half full of the tart, juicy berries. 

While I was out picking the berries I checked out the other garden bed and found the bum-bum bees (Baylor's name for them when he was younger) enjoying the giant black-eyed Susans.  

I could not find anyone on the annual black eyed Susans but I know they get their share of bugs as well.  

They are starting to lean into the path on the side of the house. Soon I won't be able to walk down there.  I guess I better get some stakes out soon!  

This bush apparently dies every year and then comes back.  The bees love the blue flowers.  It is right next to the side path and I always worry about someone being attacked by bees but the path is totally overgrown this year so it is not being used at all.  They are safe for another year.  And the bees have a lovely place to eat. 

Garden Update and Little Man's Playdate

Sunday was planned as a lovely Stay At Home Sunday.  The gardens are filled in nicely this time of year but the weeds somehow find their space as well.  This is the side of the garden the neighbors see all the time.  It is a bit mangy looking but the flowers are lovely! 

The giant lilies are tall and wonderful, I think they are nearly six feet tall. I love they do not require staking because that is one less thing for me to remember in the Spring.  

I love these little moments in gardens.  I remember when we moved here there was nothing going on in the yard other than grass and a few bushes.  I dug out an enormous forsythia two years after we moved in and a all the other useless bushes around the house and slowly put in more and more perennial beds.  It is a total pain to weed every year but right now I really appreciate them.  In all the Summer glory.  

I usually change the humming bird feeders one of the weekend mornings.  They love fresh sugar water and usually they are empty within the week anyway.  Thankfully there are plenty of flowers available for them if the feeders are dry.   This year I have at least two females at the feeders and when I change them early in the morning they think I am invading their territory and start buzzing around my head.  I am not out there often enough for them to know I am safe but from a distance they let me take a few photos this morning. 

Baylor still uses his rope swing and every year gets a bit more daring on his moves.  Which he likes to show me every time.  This time while in his PJs.  

We headed to the flea market for some new Lego mini-figures and of course we hit the entrance just as the train was crossing it as well.  We picked up the figures and headed home. 

We had a play date, the first of the Summer, planned with Landon and Ryder for the afternoon.  The boys went swimming while I finished making water balloons.  Next time I am getting the Balloon Bonanza instead.  Tying tight little balloons with pruny fingers hurts after about the first thirty! The boys played Army or something in the playhouse.  

They liked throwing the balloons at targets on the driveway rather than at each other.  Water balloons can hurt on a direct hit.  The boys played in the pool again while I tied off more balloons. After the second round was done, they played inside for a bit.  Landon's dad had mowed the grass while Landon was here and Joey ended up going for a quick swim to cool off when he came to pick him up.  It was good to see the boys again and I know it was good to see Baylor playing with them all afternoon!   

Camelbeach Water Park

We had plans to me an online friend at a water park and while I have good intentions of being on time, I am usually way later than I want to be.  And my luck of catching the crossing trains does not help me out with that.  We had to stop for gas and a snack for Baylor and headed up the road. 

A road that added over 30 minutes to our drive due to construction and then another 30 minutes at our destination due to the one lane traffic just to get to the park parking lot. So an hour and a half after I thought we would be there we arrived.  The girls were eating lunch and we sat with them at our table getting to know each other a bit.  Baylor did not want to eat and ended up not wanting to do anything for a good hour and a half afterward.  The air temp was close to the water temp and he was crying in the pool because he was cold.  After a bit, I told the girls to go enjoy the park while Baylor and I went to our towels to warm up.  He relented to an ice cream to get something in him and after warming up in his towel he started to come around a bit.  At least enough to walk around the park to see what was there.  

The surfing caught his eye and after watching it for a while he decided he would try it.  

I thought he was going to back out, after all just two days ago he would not just off the diving board at swimming class.  This was throwing yourself down a water hill on a board and trying to control it.  Thankfully they helped him and he went down, she caught him and off he shot up the hill into the wall.  They offered for him to try again but he shook his head no.  

I was super excited for him to try the surfing and while he zipped down and zipped right back up, he loved it! 

We headed to another splash area with an ancient Egypt theme.  I thought Baylor would do well with some lunch and we stood in line for over an hour for a burger and fries.  His mood much improved at that but it was close to 5:00 pm when the girls planned to leave.  We played in Egypt for a bit and then headed to the towels to say good bye.  

I had originally planned to leave around 5 as well but since he was opening up and having fun we stayed until nearly 7:00.   We went back to Egypt and did all the water slides and tubes and we loved them.  He even liked the super dark hamster tube this time.  We played in the toddler splash pool until it was time to leave, which was fine but crowded. 

We drove home by the light of the blue moon, but no longer blue because it is now August!  It was a good day to begin the winding down of Summer Vacation.  (how the heck did that happen)