Sesame Place

Mr. Andy Man took a week off in August and we did a few daycations, and I even had a whole day to myself! (Thank you my darling!)

One day we asked the grandparents to come to Sesame Place with us, and we all had a great time. It was a bit of a muggy day - and it POURED for about two hours while we were there - but as long as there was no thunder the rides stayed open. There was no thunder - and the girls had a blast in the rain. Thankfully my mom and Andy agreed to get wet with them - and I huddled under an awning with our wagon of stuff for two hours!

The GPS took us through a ridiculously long and windy route to get there - down a highway with a million and one lights. Andy's parents were coming from PA (Sesame Place is in PA) and their GPS took them into NJ first! Crazy maps. But eventually we got there safely and loaded up the wagon with food and towels and clothes and backpacks and the kitchen sink. In case we got thirsty.

Many of you may remember that Maddie does not do well in crowds. Or on hot days. Or waiting for any period of time longer than 15 seconds. So ... you know ... she did just great! (Insert sarcasm here.) The funny thing is that I KNOW she will love the rides once she gets on them and starts moving, so I push her to wait on the lines even though she drives everyone in our general vicinity nuts. "Sorry, people - we all have kids - deal." We did a few dry rides first thing - and she did smile and smile. Katie has much more patience and doesn't mind waiting, but Maddie can rile her up quick.

It was a trying morning, and I think I lost my temper more than I would have liked - but after we ate lunch we decided to just put them in their bathing suits and let them on the water rides for the rest of the day. Then it started drizzling. Just drizzling. Andy's parents decided to call it a day at this point - and I didn't blame them. Good thing, too - because after about 5 minutes after they left the rain came down! My mom was stuck with us because we were her ride - but she just got wet and was fine with it. They were all playing in Count's Splash Castle where every 10 minutes or so a huge bucket would drop hundreds of gallons of water all over everyone. We kept the girls away but Andy ran under it a few times!

I hid under said awning and chilled. It was rainy and it was hot. I stayed about 90% dry and wasn't complaining. After about an hour it started to let up and I saw that some patio tables with umbrellas were open so I rolled the wagon over there and chilled some more. Then it started pouring again! I was in a good spot and didn't get wet, but the wagon was not fairing as well.

Andy and my mom took turns bringing the girls back and forth to get a quick dry off and a drink or a snack - but those girls wanted to go right back into the water. The parade was right by where I was sitting, and because it was raining - we got front row seats. That parade BOOKED by, though. You could tell they were double timing it.

It finally stopped raining and we went to the other water rides throughout the park and the rest of the day went really smoothly. The highlight of the day was when they got to meet Zoe and the Count. Those two were the only characters we saw the whole day. When the girls saw Zoe they just ran right up to her and hugged her legs and wouldn't let go. It was adorable! Katie did the same thing to the Count, but Maddie was a little scared of him. Still adorable!

We left around 6ish - stopped at BK for food for the girls and they fell asleep the rest of the way home. I chose a different route from the GPS and we took highways the whole ride home. Better!

We bought two day tickets and have one day left to use. The water rides are all closed, but we will venture again sometime this month - we didn't do a lot of the dry rides or any of the shows. I'm glad we took them this year as opposed to last year, and I have a feeling next year will be a little better.

As long as it doesn't rain.

Here's a little slideshow of the day - enjoy!

Catching up

Last we left, we were down the shore visiting my Aunt Audrey and Uncle John. We have been going down the first weekend of August for the past two years now - and we have such a fun time.

Last year we brought the girls to the beach, but they were really too young to enjoy it. This year more than made up for that! We all went in the water, Andy dug a hole to China (Katie visited and came back), and Maddie ate so much sand she pooped it out for the next two days (ugh). Of course it wouldn't be our weekend in LBI unless it rained, so we had to hightail it home one day before we all got soaked!

Once the girls go to bed it is "Mexican Train" time - and we have a night of domino playing that Andy takes waaay too seriously. He is in such concentration that it's hard to get his attention to tell him it's his turn! He freely admits it, too - and laughs as he forces himself to relax.

We went on a boat ride - which again went much better than last year. The girls were lost in their life jackets last year, but this year they fit well enough that they weren't too uncomfortable. We went slow at first, but on the way home UJ kicked it up a notch and the girls LOVED going fast.

The girls also go to see their second cousins (who are kids of MY cousin). They loved swimming in the pool and running around in circles throughout the house. My cousin's name is Katie, and one of her daughters is named Maddie - so there was always two heads turning whenever those names were called!

On the way home we stopped at Point Pleasant to walk the boardwalk and go to the aquarium ... but that's a post for another time.

Thank you, Aunt Audrey & Uncle John for a great weekend!

Enjoy the slideshow below!

The Week Things Happened

Andy and I had a wonderful time in Connecticut. The traffic was "on the other side" both ways and we listened to the radio instead of "The Big Comfy Couch" CD over and over and over and over ....

I don't have any pictures yet because we used a disposable camera so we could leave the digital one with the grandparents, but as soon as I get them on a CD I will post them. The aquarium was so much fun - Andy was like a little kid in the touch tank! We kept saying how much the Maddie and Katie would have loved it, but at the same time we could see them splashing water everywhere! I think in a few years we will go back up just the four of us for a family vacation.

Of course we had a great time at the casinos, too! I won $80 playing craps (I learned to play years ago on a cruise) and we met a lot of nice people who just wanted to keep the game going and have fun. We ate at fabulous (albeit casual) restaurants and wait until you see the huge plate of raw oysters and clams that Andy chowed down.

While we were exploring downtown Mystic we stopped at a local pub for a pint and talked to some of the locals who were so nice to us and we learned all about how much they love where they live. It was a great experience we wouldn't get any other way. Andy loves trying new beer and even though I really don't drink, I sampled a chardonney (I don't even know if I am spelling that right!).

Of course the trip would not have been complete without a back injury for Rose! Yep - I fell in the shower on Tuesday morning, right before we were going to Mystic Seaport. It shook me up a bit and I have a black-and-blue nail (and bum) to show for it, but thankfully it wasn't too bad. Although when I went to my chiropracter when I got home it sounded like firecrackers going off in my back.

We missed the girls so much and we were so happy to see them when we got home! My mom and Andy's parents ran the place like clockwork (even with all those empty ice cream cups in the garbage can) and the girls hardly even knew we were gone. They absolutely love being with their grandparents and it makes us feel so good knowing that they probably have more fun with the three of them than with us! Thank you Grandma, Grammy & Poppy!!! If it weren't for you guys we would never be able to do half the things we do!!!

One more happening this week - on Thursday morning our main line from the house to the sewer backed up - but thankfully Andy's dad saw it before any real damage was done. The slop sink in the basement was filled to the brim and then the toliet on the first level overflowed. We had the plumber over and $300 later I was able to use my water again! It's always something.

Hershey Park with Grammy & Poppy

Andy's parents, better known as Grammy and Poppy to our girls, took us to Hershey Park for 4 days at the end of May and we had a great time. I was a little nervous about putting them on the rides, but after Andy & I squished into the few we were allowed to, we let them at it by themselves as long as I thought the strap was good. (Katie's favorite word: "Tight!")

The only ride Katie wouldn't go on was the carousel - you can see Maddie & Grammy & Poppy in the background on the horse. We had wonderful breezy weather - and we were all fast asleep by 9:30pm.