Day out with Thomas!

Yes, it is that time of year again, time for our Day Out with Thomas.
The kids always have a great time, as does Pete (must be a boy thing). I hate to be a grumpy grump, but I'm just not that into the whole Thomas thing. Thankfully, this year Pete was able to distract the kids while I fought the crowd in the merchandise tent to pick up new tees for the kids.

They were very excited to have their pictures taken in front of Thomas this year. It really is magical for them. Sam was beside himself when the train departed! After about a 20 minute ride, it returned, and we toured the shops at the Train Museum (it really is a neat place.) Sam was excited, also, to meet Sir Topham Hatt, Maddie not so much so. We rode the street car, had a picnic lunch, Sam jumped in the moon walk, and Maddie got a Rosie the train tattoo!

Two tired kids were loaded in the car along with lots of good memories!

I guess its not so bad, after all.

On the road...

Well, call it stupidity, or call it bravery -- I'm making the two-day trek from Chicago to Williamsburg, VA with Sam and Maddie on my own. Armed with old DVDs, new DVDs, our trusty CD of Louie Armstrong & Duke Ellington (guaranteed to mellow out both kids - its like a Pavlovian response, hear "louie & Duke", take a nap), GPS, ear plugs (for temper tantrums) and LOTS of snacks, we made the 1st leg from Chicago to Ashland, Kentucky with a minimum of hassles.

Honestly, I'm very proud of the kids - they fared wonderfully on the first trip. Sam started the "are we there yet" about an hour into the trip. It progressed to "I want to be there in an hour" and ended with "so, if I take a nap, will the trip go faster?"

Alas, while Sam generally falls right to sleep at bedtime, Maddie has entered the "talk herself to sleep in 90 minutes - or more" phase that Sam went thru at this age. I don't expect bedtime to go well.

Next time, remind me to book at an Embassy Suites - as "sometimes it takes a closed door to keep a family together". There is something to be said about a suite (and not having to go to sleep at 7pm).

Belden Family Fundays

I drove ahead to Williamsburg so that we'd get some extra family time before we head to the beach, and we've had a lot of fun so far!

Wednesday we needed to burn off some of the excess energy accumulated in a two-day drive, so we took a walk through Colonial Williamsburg with Gmom Phyl and cousin Chris. We had to run through Pete's boxwoods, then search out the oxen (in honor of Sam's favorite stuffed pal, Ox) and were happy to find a mama and sweet baby ox. I think Maddie would have loved to take that baby home. It certainly didn't smell any worse than Sam's stuffed Ox...

Pete arrived on Thursday and we took the clan to Busch Gardens, along with Gmom Phyl, Marty, Aunt Simone and cousin Chris. Maddie burned out early, but Sam outlasted us all. He was big enough to ride on most of the rides, my tall boy! Sam and Maddie are speed freaks, and from the minute we arrived, Maddie pointed to the big coasters, saying "I want to wide on DAT one". (Sorry, darlin' - you've got another foot to grow before you are even close...)

Simone and I, and then later Pete and I did sneak several rides on Busch Garden's newest coaster, the Gryffin. For you coaster fanatics, I will state for the record that it was the fastest, smoothest, coolest coaster I've ever been on. Its the world's first floorless 90-degree dive coaster. And yes, I screamed through the entire ride. It was beyond fun, and for me, like being a kid again.

And that is something I need from time to time, to keep things in perspective when it comes to my own two.