Kentucky Kingdom

Kentucky Kingdom appears to be running an aggressive marketing campaign presumably to win over Holiday World visitors.  There have been signs all over 465 promoting an out of state deal that would allow a person to get into Kentucky Kingdom for 2 days for the total price of about $30.  This 2 day pass would include a pass for free beverages.  I decided to take advantage of the offer, and we had one final hurrah before school begins.  We left for Louisville at around 9:30 Friday morning, and we got to the park around 11:30.

We began with a lot of kiddie rides for Princess.  I tried one ride that had cars rotating around an axis point and felt so nauseous.  I was glad Champ rode some with Princess.  I love their smiles in the pictures as we are beginning our 2 day adventure.

This was the mini ferris wheel.

This ride took you up and dropped you down and repeated over and over.  I love Princess’s expressions.

She is the Princess, and Champ is the guard.

Champ liked going upside down on the Enterprise.

We met the mascot.

The kids pedaled around a butterfly.

Princess rode the swings.

I think this was the Rock a Bye swings.

Champ was tall enough to do this ride by himself.

Princess drove her truck carefully.

Champ is on the Roller Skater.

We ate lunch at a pulled pork place.  

We went to the water park in the late afternoon.  We spent a lot of time at the Splash zone as Princess enjoyed water slides just her size and climbing apparatus.  Big Surf was the place where we could jump over man made generated waves.

I loved how the park had plenty of little kid rides next to rides for bigger kids.  I started giving Champ some freedom to ride a nearby ride and then check in with me at a nearby kiddie ride.  I also loved how short the lines were on Friday.

Once the water park was closed, Princess and I rode the giant ferris wheel.  With a thunderstorm approaching, we headed out around 8.  We headed towards our hotel and ate first at Olive Garden.  Then we checked into the Drury Hotel.  I quickly tried to get kids sleeping.

After our free hotel breakfast, we headed back to Kentucky Kingdom to enjoy day 2.  We got there around 11.  

The lines were longer on Saturday, but we still had a great time.  Champ quickly met a 13 year old boy to ride rides with.  I was most impressed with Champ because the boy was missing one of his hands, and Champ seemed not to notice the difference.  Instead, Champ focused on the similarity that the boys loved amusement park rides.

They are starting to ride the Mile High ride.  I made the rookie mistake of going to the bridge at the bottom to take a photo.  I got there long before my kids got to go on their boat.  As I watched another boat come down, I saw the enormous splash the boat made.  I had a brief debate in my head if I could get hit by a wave that far away.  Then I realized that I could.  I tried to run away, but I was unsuccessful.

My kids are somewhere in the middle of the splash.

Getting soaked while on the bridge is also fun.

Soaked kids and Champ’s friend.  Rookie mistakes: not stopping the kids from wearing their new shoes to the park; letting Princess pick out matching outfits with white shorts.

Champ is off in the Roller Skater again.

Princess and I are on the Roller Skater.

Princess and Champ rode the train.

We spent more time in the water areas on Saturday.  Although we tried the lazy river, Princess didn’t grasp the concept.  She made it the energetic river by running around.  

We ate lunch at a healthier place in the park near Mile High.  We also waited out a 30 minute downpour.  Weather was great most of the 2 days though...not too hot.  I was very impressed with the music selection at the park.  On Saturday, I noticed there were a ton of Christian contemporary music songs that played throughout the day.

"One more ride, Mom!"  Although they begged, it was 8 and I was ready to start the long drive home.  I wanted to make it north of Louisville before stopping for gas and dinner.  Clarksville was where we stopped for gas, and then the nearest drive thru that I saw was Burger King.  

After about an hour and a half of the kids talking (mostly Champ), I told them it was quiet time.  Princess finally fell asleep about 30 minutes away from home.  Champ fell asleep soon after.

Today was Back to School weekend at church.  I love how the students and school staff are prayed for.  I was honored to have my parents there too.  We ate lunch with my parents.  Princess was very helpful as we shopped at Meijer and Aldi.  Champ was more helpful later when I showed him how much our little trip cost and ways he could help me as a thank you.  He made pancakes...twice.  He unloaded the dishwasher, put away dishes, bagged chips for snacks, etc.  I had told the kids we weren’t going anywhere today because I had too much to do.  It included: mowing, making chicken/fish/corn, budgeting, paying bills, cleaning kitchen, etc.  Today was just our get it done day.

OMG: Back to School Night

Yesterday I spent about 4 hours preparing my classroom for this year.  I was thankful for my mom's fabulous help.  I've been paying the kids to help me too...money well spent.  Champ went to his multi sport camp.  When we went to pick him up, Princess said, "OMG." I asked her what that meant.  She said she didn't know.

Today we went to Bekah's pool.  I took an abbreviated walk at the gym.  My sweet parents took my kids to their back to school night while I went to the one at my school.  The kids loved saying hi to their teachers and seeing old friends.  I have a family in which I've had 4/5 of their kids.  Another family has had me as all 3 of their kids' teacher.  One mom I met through church, and she gave me a hug.  Another dad was good friends with my brother growing up.  I love having siblings.  Plus, I love when former students come in to give me hugs.

Princess has determined that Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are tied at 100 votes each.

Someday

Someday Princess will be embarrassed by me, but for right now I'm enjoying how she wants to dress like me.  

Champ earned money today by helping me get my classroom ready at school.  Princess found friends to play with at my school.  I love when teachers' kids are running around together.

Champ went to multi sport camp while Princess and I stopped by their school to pay book rental, find out their teachers, sign up for Bible club, and make purchases at the bookstore.  Princess got her haircut next at Cookie Cutters before we went grocery shopping at Aldi.

Then we finished shopping for new clothes for the first day of school.  

The kids started exercising on their own with the YouTube videos.  I joined them after I started my cooking...needed things to freeze.

Wacky, Wild Week

The last week has flown by quickly because it has been unique.  On Tuesday, Princess had a kindergarten readiness screening.  The teacher said she is ready to go to kindergarten.

We went to my school to start working on getting my class in order.  As soon as we got there, I got word that Matt and Heather’s birth mother was going into labor.  I was thankful that I could help drive my brother and his 3 other kids to Florida.  It was quite the adventure.

My mom drove me to Ohio where I jumped in Matt’s car.  We stopped for a Chick Fil A dinner in Knoxville, TN.  Sometime around then I learned that no toys were packed for my 2 ½ year old nephew.  We arrived at our Crowne Plaza hotel outside of Atlanta around midnight.  It was an extremely late night by the time the kids enthusiastically explored the hotel room as we waited for a pack n play.  It was the first time that the front desk at a hotel has ever called up to my room to ask me to try to curb the noise.

On Wednesday, Matt and I exercised at the hotel.  We also ate breakfast at the hotel.  Unfortunately, the pool was closed for maintenance, so we didn’t get a chance for the kids to exercise.  We stopped at a Starbucks to get our favorite drinks.  Lunch was at McDonald’s in Lake City, FL.  We also let the kids play in the play area.  I picked up a rare shot of caffeine in the form of a Diet Coke before my turn to drive.  Not long after I pulled out, Matt fell briefly asleep before Will started complaining about his stomach.  We pulled off at a gas station, and I took the 2 oldest kids to the restroom.  Matt picked up a bag in case he threw up.  Not long after we got on the road again, Will threw up.  I loved when Matt (the child who was constantly throwing up from motion sickness in our childhood) turned around and asked Will how he could have possibly missed the bag.  I bust out laughing, but Matt didn’t.  I told Matt that some day he would look back and find that line funny.  We pulled over at another gas station where I encouraged Matt to just throw away Will's outfit.  There was later a brief hour of all 3 kids going to sleep at the same time.  We ate dinner at Moe’s in Sarasota, FL.  Finally, we arrived at the Holiday Inn Express in Cape Coral, FL.  Matt went on to the hospital to meet his baby girl, Amelia.  I had the lofty idea of trying to put the kids to bed.  Without a pack n play though, Will and Parker needed to sleep together and Caroline and I needed to sleep together.  I soon texted Matt and Heather to let them know that there was no way these 3 kids were sleeping in the hotel room without one of them coming back.  When Matt and Heather came back, they took Will and Caroline into their room.  Parker then fell asleep in my room pretty easily.

On Thursday, Heather and I exercised.  Our gang ate breakfast at the hotel.  Matt and Heather went to the hospital while I took the 3 kids to the pool.  I soon noticed that Parker wasn’t swimming anymore.  I suspected poop.  We had to go to the car to get another swim diaper.  I changed him in the hotel bathroom.  As we started to get back in the pool, I noticed that I had gotten his poop all over my leg.  The kids and I played Marco Polo and had swimming races.  Matt came back, we stopped at Publix, and then we checked into the Westin.  The kids and I ate lunch.  I loved that Will was thrilled that his kindle worked with FL electricity.  It was not the greatest weather, but I took the kids out to walk along the water.

Wonder who had my phone for that picture

Loved when PArker waved to the geckos

After the signing of the adoption papers, I went to the hospital to meet precious Amelia.  She was beautiful and so sweet.  Our time together was cut short by my need to get to the airport.  Although I loved bonding with my brother and his kids, my job was done and I was ready to get back to my own kids.

We dropped off the rental car Heather had used after flying to Florida.  Then I scooted on to the American Airlines desk.  I quickly noticed that no one was moving.  I soon learned that my flight was delayed.  When I finally made it to the front of the line, the lady wasn’t sure if I could make my connecting flight out of Charlotte due to the delay of this flight.  If I stayed in FL, she couldn’t get me out of FL until Saturday.  If I missed the Indy flight out of Charlotte, I was stuck in Charlotte until Friday afternoon.  She told me to get on this plane and hope for the best.  The delay gave me time to grab dinner, Starbucks, and a costly magazine.

When I finally boarded my plane, I accidentally sat in the wrong seat.  The gentleman who pointed it out to me told me to go ahead and stay there, so I did.  I was sitting between two super nice gentlemen that traveled all the time for business.  Both reassured me that I would make the connecting flight and coached me on how to get around the Charlotte airport.  

I walked so quickly at the Charlotte airport.  When I finally arrived at my gate, I noticed the door was closed.  I asked the attendant if I missed the flight.  He said it had just gotten delayed.  The delay gave me time to charge my phone.  The next plane was smaller.  I was seated with just one lady, and she snored as she slept.  I arrived in Indy around 12:45 AM on Friday.  It was around 1:30 AM by the time that mom brought me home.  That is a good mom who doesn’t want you riding a taxi at that time of morning.

I was thrilled with how happy the kids were to see me.  We went to my school so that I could plan with others.  I had a hair appointment in the afternoon.  I went to a coworker’s party that night.

Saturday was a day of errands and getting organized.  I enjoyed spending some time shopping with my mom.

Sunday I helped in Champ’s Sunday school class before attending service.  I attended a surprise birthday party for my friend Lara at Jameson Camp.  Princess joined me in exercising with a lot of my dance videos.  I loved that sweet time together.

Today we briefly went to my school.  Champ went to Chicago’s Pizza for Out to Lunch with church.  I cooked turkey burgers and banana bread.  I accidentally put mint extract instead of vanilla in the bread, so it has a unique flavor.  Champ attended a multi sport camp which played dodgeball and kickball today.  We went to Target and Dick’s looking for back to school clothes.  Princess got a Shopkins shirt, while Champ wanted a Nike shirt.  Tonight Champ’s baseball coach treated the players and their families to a dinner at Texas Roadhouse.  I was one of 3 dumb mothers who sat by this rambunctious group of boys...we couldn't hear each other because they were so loud.