Enchanted Forest

Since Darrin was going to be gone today at the Duck game, we decided we would go and do something fun. We decided on Enchanted Forest and invited along Poppa, Grandma, Uncle Eric, and Aunt Cagney. So we get all our stuff together and load 2 excited kids into the car and we are off! We get there and wait for everyone else to arrive then make our way up to pay and begin our exploration! After a brief potty stop, we make our way up Storybook Lane to the first stop, the Castle. We stop on the bridge to look into the moat and on one side is a crocodile and on the other side are two turtles. The kids thought that was pretty cool. We pause briefly to take a picture of the kids with Poppa and Grandma, then make our way through the Castle. We make it through the castle along the way checking out all the little displays along the way. We emerge from the other side and continue on down the path passing some little forest creatures and Humpty Dumpty to make our way up the path to The Gingerbread house of the witch from Hansel and Gretal. Walking through the Gingerbread house you see the witch getting her oven ready for cooking the children! It was a little scary even for me! So we are making our way out and I am walking backwards, trying to get a picture of the kids coming back up the path, when BAM! There was a tree that was leaning over the path a bit and it smacked me right in the side of the head.....OW! I survived and we continued on. Next along the path was Mary with her Little Lamb trying to take him to school. Followed by Alice in Wonderland and the Rabbit Hole! There is a tunnel carved out to climb down and through and the kids had a blast going around and around and around. I went down with them the first time just to make sure that they would be okay going through, and of course I should know better but there was a camera held by my father at the end of the tunnel to capture me climbing through the rabbit hole. Thanks Dad! The next item to explore that came along was a twisty colorful maze. Poppa led us through and after only a couple wrong turns we made it out!We climbed up the hill some more and came upon Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs house. Inside Snow White was sweeping up with some forest animals, and when you looked in the upstairs window you could see all the Dwarfs beds and a couple little critters making the beds and sleeping. The kids thought this was pretty cool. Next up on the Storybook Lane was the Dwarfs mine. It was a dark windy path through the mine with lots of glowing waterfalls. As we came out on the other side there was a little bench and I got the BEST BEST BEST picture of my kids with Uncle Eric and Aunt Cagney. As a brief side note, we are going to have to make the most of the next couple weeks as my brother is re-enlisting in the Navy and will be moving away from us. I will miss you little brother! Ok now back to the trip....we come around the corner and come face to face with a HUGE witch. You can stand in her mouth and it looks like she is eating you! You can walk up through her head and at the top there is a slide and everyone had to take a turn going down it!After having LOTS of fun sliding, we moved on, making our way past the 3 bears house and then into the Crooked House. The Crooked House brought lots of giggles as it was very difficult to get your footing at first...being crooked and all. As we are making our way out Grandma managed to lose her footing a little and bonked her head pretty well! More laughter ensued! The Shoe Slide was next on the map and was where we spent most of our time. The kids were thrilled with this slide. They spent about 20 minutes before lunch working up a great appetite. Plus I got to go as well as Poppa with the kids quite a few times. Although I think Poppa might have had more fun then all of us combined!After sliding, we decided to head on down to the food court and have lunch. We found a picnic table and sat down to enjoy our lunch.After lunch we decided to make our way up to where the kiddie rides were. But on the way moseyed our way through Western town. We browsed through windows with little western displays and then got to watch Poppa and Uncle drive little remote control boats around and try to hit targets. The kids thought is was really cool! Next as we walked through there was some caves that you could walk through and explore, then after going through we discovered a tepee we thought we would check out, turns out that there was a secret underground tunnel to the caves. So we crawled through, Ally and I came out and Uncle Eric had taken Dylan up the stairs to check it out and they found a couple little holes in the rock to peek out! Dylan had a huge smile on his face while he was peeking out the holes with Uncle, he thought it was so cool! We finally made it up to where the BIG rides were and stopped at the ticket booth to buy some tickets so that we could go and let the kids ride the kiddie rides. We stopped to rest for a few minutes, then carried on. We came upon a pit where you could "pan" for treasure.So the kids got to pan for treasure and both got some really cool stuff....Dylan even got some fool's gold! Finally we make it up to the kiddie rides! First Ally wanted to go on the Bumper Boats so Ally got in a boat while Poppa, Dylan, and I watched her as she drove around and around. She had so much fun, but she is definitely not ready to drive a car! Next they both wanted to go on the Ferris Wheel so we waited in line and then when it was their turn Ally marched purposefully over the the car and climbed right in followed closely by brother. They were so cute smiling really big as they went around and around. They even got stopped at the top and thought that was pretty cool too.....no fear at all! The train was next on the list of rides to go on....So Grandma and I got on with Dylan and Ally.We buckled the kids in and then we were off around and around the track. There was a button inside you could push and it would make farm animal noises and make the car rock back and forth. Grandma and I had probably as much fun as the kids! One last kiddie ride...it was called The Frog Hopper. I made Aunt Cagney go on it with the kids. So they get all buckled in and then up up up it goes. Hop down Hop down Hop down...it bounces down and then back up this thrilled the kids to no end! This was probably one of the favorite rides of the day! Next Poppa, Aunt Cagney and I decided to give the Big Timber Log Ride a go. So Grandma and Uncle Eric took the kids to the observation area to watch us get wet. This was such a blast although I didn't get very wet....I picked the right seat! Next we walked back down to Western town for a potty break and a little chocolate snack from Grandma. We went back up to the Ice Mountain Bobsleds and both kids said they wanted to go on it, so I checked to see if Ally was tall enough and she was....so we decided to go for it! We waited in line for about 5 minutes and the kids were very excited but patient. Finally we get up there and Dylan, Ally and I get the back car. Poppa got some really good pictures of us on the ride! The kids thought this was totally cool and after we got done and back down they were jumping up and down and begging to go again! I have such brave kids! Grandma wanted a turn on the Log Ride and Dylan was wanting to go on it also so we wnt back to check to see if he would be tall enough, and he was!!!! So Grandma, Cagney, Dylan and I went to get in line for the Log Ride, while Uncle Eric took Ally to ride on the Bumper boats again. Poppa went into the observation area to get some pictures of us when we splashed down at the end of the ride. So after about a 5 minute wait it is our turn to get in a log boat. We had put Dylan in one of the ponchos so he wouldn't get totally soaked! I kept telling him what was coming next so he would know what to expect. He kept telling me that he needed to close his eyes after I told him there would be a hill with a splash at the end....at first I thought it was because he was a little scared, but I found out later he just didn't want to get water in his eyes!!!! He HATES water in his eyes!

I got more wet this time and Dylan managed to not get wet at all, besides a little spray in the hair.

Ahh...good times! We all met back up at the end of the log ride and Grandma, Dylan, Ally, and I made our way into the Old Europe Village

while Poppa, Uncle Eric and Aunt Cagney did a ride called The Challenge of Mondor. We went through Pinnochio's playhouse and out through Gepettos workshop.

Sat for a little bit at the crow's singing "Sing a Song of Sixpence."

It was time for a snack and we had made it to the free water and light show so we got a little snack at the snack bar and sat and watched the water and light show. It was so pretty and very relaxing also.

We decided to finish the day up at the shoe slide again and wrapped up with about 20 minutes or so of sliding.

The day ended by having everyone over for dinner and playing. It was a fabulous day with family. Until the next adventure!

Back to School

Wednesday was Dylan's first day back to school. He was guardedly optimistic about going back yet had a large degree of excitement as well. Here are some pictures from the first day back. I am sure we will have some more stories as the year goes on, until then.....

Silver Creek Falls and Happy Birthday to Poppa!

On Monday we took advantage of the holiday and decided to head up to the Falls. We decided to leave and time it so that we would get up there to picnic for lunch. So after eating our yummy lunch of sandwiches and chips, we packed up the leftovers and un-needed items in the car and headed off to explore and meet up with Poppa Mike, Uncle Eric, and Aunt Cagney. We finally all got connected and headed over to trek down to the South Falls. The kids were really excited about seeing "The Waterfall." We got to the top and looked at the waterfall from a couple different locations. Then it was time to trek down. We headed on down and made it down to behind the falls at a leisurely pace. The kids were pretty excited about it, and we got a couple pictures of them, one with Poppa and another with Daddy and Uncle Eric. After hanging for a brief few moments we continued on our trek down to the bottom. After arriving at the bottom we stopped on the bridge to check out the falls from yet another angle and to decide if we wanted to try and trek down to one more waterfall. After asking a very helpful couple to check their map we decided to go onto the next falls then turn around and come back. So we took our time and explored little paths off to the side of the main path, stopping to have a snack at one pointand watch the crazy Uncle Eric climb across the stream and up on logs and all over the place, this was very entertaining to Dylan especially when I called Uncle Eric a monkey! So after a couple more brief treks down side paths we make it to the Lower South Falls. So you can see the Lower South Falls from the top but then you can also trek down a bunch of stairs and walk behind this one as well. So we made our way down, Poppa and Uncle waited for us up top and Aunt Cagney made it halfway down with us before heading back up. Ally was starting to get a little worn out but still wanted to go see the waterfall. Daddy and Dylan went ahead of us, Dylan was a little trailblazer had seemingly endless energy! Ally and I finally made it down to behind the falls and I was able to get this cool picture of Daddy and Dylan through the waterfall. Also a couple other pictures of the falls from interesting angles. It came time for us to make our way back up the stairs and back down the path to get to the top of the BIG HILL. So we made our way up the stairs, Ally made it about two thirds of the way up then she needed me to carry her up the rest of the way piggyback. WOW....how exhausting.....34 pounds of little girl can give you a workout and a half! After making it back up puffing and panting, I guzzled some water and we made our way back down towards the BIG GIANT HILL. So we took our time on the way back, stopping a few times to let the kids rest. Ally had it pretty dang easy most of the way back she got a shoulder ride from Daddy....ahh to be 2 and small enough for that again! Finally we get back to where we have to climb up the HUGE GIANT HILL and Daddy flies up stopping only once with Ally on his shoulders. Followed by Dylan and I, we stopped two times and the second time we were sitting there and Dylan reaches over and lays his hand on my knee and tells me, "You let me know when you are ready." So sincere and honest it just cracked me up! What a sweet soul. So we got up to the top and had a little snack and drink and looked at the waterfall a little more. We made our way back over towards the car where there was a little playground and let the kids play for awhile. So after playing for a bit more, we decided to start on our way back to townand onto dinner for Poppa Mike's birthday! So we get into town and head over to where Poppa told us the restaurant is.....only to find that it IS NOT THERE! So after scrambling for a bit, Darrin discovers that it has moved down about a block and a half. Crisis averted. So we all get there and enjoy a very delicious meal. Dylan even tried something new! He had some of my Fettuccine Alfredo, and he loved it! So we get all of our leftovers packed up and head on over to Poppa Mike and Grandma Jo's place for some cake and ice cream! We sang to Poppa, he blew out his candle and then ate his very yummy cake! After a bit he opened his presents and then we hung out for a bit relaxing, letting the kids play around. It was a day filled with fun, happiness, family, good food, and lots of family love!

"Finger" Painting

Today I was feeling brave and decided to let the kids finger paint in the garage and I told them if you get it on you no big deal. Even going as far to tall them they could use their arms, legs, feet, etc to paint with. Dylan wasted no time and within 5 minutes had pretty much abandoned the paper and started painting himself. He started putting paint on his belly so I told him he should try to put it from his belly onto the paper...he thought that was funny but he tried it anyways. They had forks and straws, some sponges, and one paintbrush. They had so much fun. He was blue from the waist down, plus his belly and a little on the back. Ally kept her painting to her ankle then decided to spread it up her whole leg eventually. It was fun and a great success, I think I can do this more the mess really wasn't so bad!