Once we arrived at Hersheypark, Yvonne and Micah into Chocolate World, and I took Julie (age 21 months), Nadia, Andrew (age 9), and Jenna (age 12) into the amusement park. They started out on the Reese's PB Cup ride, which is Ian's favorite ride at that park. They did it four times in a row while I took Julianna on a couple of kiddie rides. Then I put Julie in the stroller and the others rode Cocoa Cruiser (a kiddie roller coaster), the Claw (only Jenna and Andrew were tall enough for that one), and took them to see the live reindeer. As they were riding another ride, Joe called me to tell me they had entered the park (about one hour after we had entered it). Yvonne and Micah stayed at the park for about 30 minutes, and then she took Micah and Julie to Chocolate World where they would be warm. I took Oliver on some kiddie rides, and then Joe took Joel on some rides while I took the other seven kids on various rides. Most of the time Oliver was in the stroller because he was too little to ride what the others could ride. That coupled with the fact that he was tired (didn't get a nap) meant that he started crying around 4:00.
Somehow I managed to fall down twice. The first time I landed on my left knee, and the second time I landed on my right knee. The second time I attracted a lot of attention, and people were trying to talk me into going to the First Aid station, but I just kept going because I was in charge of seven kids ages 2, 4, 6, 6, 7, 9, and 12. The hardest one to keep track of was Nathan (he just turned 6 this week). I can't remember the last time I skinned a knee, but both of mine have scabs on them today, and I have a goose egg bump on one of my legs. I discovered today that I am often in the kneeling position, and that is far too painful right now. I am trying to be creative in finding other ways to get things done! The things we take for granted.
We rode the Kissing Tower, which was a first for my kids. Nathan loved it and wanted to go back and do it again, but we didn't have enough time. They asked to have their picture taken with Santa Claus, so we did that inside the park. Last year when Paul and I took our kids they had their picture taken with the Santa in Chocolate World. I think all the kids had a great time. If we had a bit more time they could have ridden a few more rides that we didn't have time to do, but I think they had a great time! It was fun to experience Hersheypark twice with their cousins this year, but it's definitely less exhausting to be at an amusement park when the adult/child ratio is a lot better. Usually we go to amusement parks with Paul's parents so the ratio is 4 adults to 3 kids, which was very different than our two trips to Hersheypark this year!
Three weeks ago our pastor encouraged us to write a list of 105 things we were grateful for over a period of 21 days. Today is the 21st day, and so this is my last list although I plan to continue my "Thankful Thursday" posts.
1. My parents made it back safely to Maryland yesterday even though they had a flat tire on the way home. They were grateful to get to a tire store in Baltimore where they received help with putting the spare tire on their vehicle.
2. The cousins had so much fun driving Nadia and Ian's vehicles. Usually we drive them on the grass, but in light of the snow we let them drive them on the road and our driveway.
3. Andrew, Nadia, and Jenna enjoyed listening to an Adventures in Odyssey CD from our church library on the way to Hersheypark. Their cousins were unfamiliar with the radio program.
4. Today we were able to eat leftovers from our Thanksgiving dinner. YUM!
5. Friday morning I made a quick trip to CVS and bought many things (soda, gum, cereal, paper towels, dish soap, candy, batteries, toothpaste, etc.) and only paid $2.28 for everything! YAY!
6. Paul wasn't able to go to Hersheypark yesterday, and I cancelled the kids' registration for Home Depot's workshop this morning because of his illness, but he is now feeling much better. Yahoo!
7. It was wonderful to spend time with my sister and her family. We usually go two years in between visits since they live in Turkey so the moments are treasured when we are together. We're looking forward to seeing them once more next month before they head back overseas in early January.
8. I was able to get some Christmas shopping done this morning while Paul's car was being serviced at Sears, and I did some more online shopping this evening, which means that the end is in sight with my Christmas and birthday shopping! If you need to buy a book on Amazon, you can use HOLIDAY30 to get 30% off any one book. Also, if you need some photo cards, Shutterfly is giving 10 free cards right now (use the code BLACKFRIDAY).
9. We had fun decorating the inside of our house for Christmas today, and Oliver only broke one ornament (so far anyhow). The kids were so excited to play with their Christmas stuffed animals, read some Christmas books, and watch Frosty the Snowman this evening. In a month I'll be ready to pack the stuff back up, but for now we are enjoying it all!
10. I have to put Christmas music as it's own item. I just LOVE it. I listened to the Chris Tomlin Christmas CD I received as a Christmas gift last year for the first time today. Wonderful! At Hersheypark yesterday they played a mixture of secular and religious Christmas music, and it was such a delight to hear religious music (such as Go Tell it on the Mountain and the Hallelujah Chorus) being played in a public place like that.
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