We did it! After weeks of the weather not cooperating and Dollywood being closed randomly, we were finally able to treat Luke to a day at Dollywood for his birthday.
Since last summer, he's wanted to go. On our local t.v. stations they always ran ads for specials that Dollywood was having and he had begged us to go. I think being pregnant and going to a theme park probably enters you into the 3rd rung of hell so I really wasn't interested in going. I gave him the option of having a party for his birthday or having an experience and he chose the experience so we signed on for Dollywood.
I bought the tickets and we were going to go on his actual birthday, but the day came around and it was something like 90% chance of rain. The following Thursday we had appointments all day and we really didn't want to test it out on a weekend. We decide to go the next Tuesday and I randomly pull up their schedule on Monday and they are closed for the day we want to go! Out of all the days of the month, and it had to be that day. Ok, so Thursday it is. Only the weather forecast keeps changing and by Wednesday it says 60% chance of rain and thunderstorms. UGH. I was only supposed to work a half day today so I switched it to Thursday and we were determined to make it there today, and we did! I'm so glad we didn't go yesterday, too, because we talked to another mom there and they had tried going then and she said it was miserable. They ended up leaving and coming back today.
Luke was so excited that he couldn't sleep last night. He drove me crazy, hollering for me all night, up and down out of his bed, so I finally made him just crawl in bed with us. At least then he wouldn't be yelling across the hallway. We woke up this morning after a restless night, got ready to go and headed out. It's only about an hour and a half from our house, so not a bad drive at all. We got there right as the park opened and Luke was so excited about the roller coasters. He wanted to go on them all and I had to explain that he would have to grow a little more before that could happen. We fed baby before we went in and off we went.
PS, has anyone ever told you how hard it is to go somewhere with two kids and pack the right amount of stuff? We had the stroller, baby seat (to set in the stroller), two baby carriers (one for me and one for Dill), the camera, and a back pack filled with bottles, diapers, wipes, changes of clothes for both kids, bottles of water, etc... and then there were the 4 actual humans going. I only needed the kitchen sink and the dogs to make it complete.
Our first stop was the car ride and we learned that Luke wasn't the 42 inches we thought he was. He lacked by a few inches and so that cut down on his rides he could do, so that was a bummer. We ate lunch at the diner and then headed off to do the Firechaser Roller Coaster! Luke was so pumped and I was nervous. This was at the other end of the park so by the time we lazily made our way there it was almost time for Charlie to eat again, so off to the baby feeding station I went (it's really nice, by the way. A rocking chair and a big bathroom with a changing center. It was a nice perk for mom's with young babies). By the time I finished feeding Charlie, Dillon and Luke were done and came looking for me. Luke liked the ride for the first little bit, but then apparently it went really fast and it was kind of scary for him. It put a damper on the rest of the rides and he wouldn't do some pretty tame things like the rapids ride (we waited in line to do that and at the last minute he said he didn't want to... sigh.) We did get to ride on the train and this ride where you can shoot other people with water. Luke LOVED that ride and we went on that one twice.
After the train ride, we could tell that Luke was dwindling. No nap and hot weather was making for a grumpy child. So we promised him a toy and then headed out. We got hot dogs and HUGE ice creams at the A&W down the road from the theme park and then headed home.
Luke had a blast, Charlie was a champ and Dillon and I are exhausted. We did have a lot of fun, but boy does it take way more time to do things with little ones. Stopping to eat, their steps are small, and they take time to look at the snapping turtles and baby ducks that inhabit the park instead of rushing to the next ride. But really, would it be as fun without them? Absolutely not.
Finally!
He read the map all day like he knew where we were going. HAHA
Luke's in the teal shirt!
Dillon and Luke are in the yellow car to the back. Great picture taking skills here. Ha!
Dippin Dots!
Snapping turtles!
Luke also really loved the bald eagles. We looked at them twice!
So I think this may have been Luke's favorite thing if some kid hadn't pushed him off the slide (backwards no less, so that Luke faceplanted and slid down). I yelled at the kid. The kid's mom yelled at him and it was an awkward situation all around. After that, poor Luke said he wanted to just put on his socks and shoes and leave :(
Luke, sad, after the "incident". He perked up ok though.
His favorite, Trains!!
Mama messed this up to. Somehow I got us onto the back of the train where the seats were more cramped so Dillon's legs didn't fit. And then Charlie woke up and wanted to eat halfway through the train ride. Good times. My apologies to the other passengers.
Charlie at home this evening!
The picture I sent Dillon while they waited for the roller coaster...
The picture I received back! :)
Our ice cream cones before heading home!
Luke ready for the Firechaser! I'll be honest, he was braver that I was. We watched videos of this one on Youtube and I told him Daddy had to go on it because I wouldn't. :)
Dillon and I always joke that when my birthday rolls around in September that we celebrate the whole month. We eat out more, because, hey, I have a birthday this month. I always buy extra clothes that month with the excuse that I turn another year older. It's a month long "celebration."
In Luke's case, this really has been a month long celebration that he was born! His pappaw Eddie sent a HUGE box of gifts towards the beginning of the month that Luke ripped into. Then there was Easter (which isn't really anything to do with his birthday, but he got gifts). Then the Monday before his birthday my mom and dad gave him his gift, then it was his birthday and we ate at Waffle House and he got balloons. Then yesterday, Dillon's mom, step-dad, sister and brother-in-law all traveled to Asheville to have a small celebratory party. And, then of course, the culmination of "birthday month" will be our trip to Dollywood on Tuesday that was postponed from last week due to bad weather. Can I just say, whew. It's been a hectic month.
Yesterday was a fun day as we grilled out and had cake and ice cream. I know I had told Luke no birthday party, BUT, how sad is it to not get cake and people to sing to you on your birthday. It was a small group of family, but we had a great time catching up. Dillon's sister and brother-in-law traveled 8 hours yesterday just to come and see Luke and celebrate. We are so thankful for all of them to come down and hang out. It was such a good time. Dillon made kabobs and we hung out on our back porch. Dillon and I ended up cleaning the house all yesterday morning because a pediatrician's appointment for Charlie turned into a whole morning thing on Thursday with a shopping trip to Wal-Mart and awhile at the doctor's office. It was lunchtime before I was done!
Tuesday is our big trip to Dollywood! We're all pretty excited about it, especially Luke. I don't know what we'll do when we don't have any more birthday celebrations! It looks like the weather is going to cooperate so we'll head out early Tuesday morning. Wish us luck tackling the amusement park with a 4 year old and a baby! Woohoo!
Grammy, Charlie & me photobombing
Win for Aunt Kenzie & Uncle Wally. Luke's favorite toy was the huge truck and the silly string! We asked Luke what his favorite thing was yesterday and he said the silly string!
Dino beer
Kenzie practices her baby skills! We're super excited for Baby Indie to arrive in August!
