Being in the military has its ups and downs, pros and cons… This move has had its share of cons, but the one definite bonus is that we are close enough to home to visit easily—and this weekend we had a spur of the moment trip home. I hate that we only got about 13 hours to spend at my childhood home (and that includes sleep!) but it’s 13 hours in one of my happy places.
We were at a local park with friends and there was a birthday party there. When it was over they came over and offered us their leftover cupcakes! It worked out perfectly as there were six kids and two adults and we got eight cupcakes! They also gave us Jello cups, spoons, plates, napkins, and wipes!
We were a playground and the weather was really nice and I kept thinking it would be a perfect day for Six Flags…so we went! I texted friends and they were able to meet us there! Yay!
But first, a bit of backstory.
I love rides. Always have. I remember riding carnival rides all day with friends out at Hanson Hills. And Cedar Point with my dad and cousins (one of the best days ever was an overcast/threat-of-rain day where there were so few people there that we could have just stayed on the ride to ride again if they’d have let us). Tom and I even went to Cedar Point together back in the day. And then I gained weight. And gained weight. And then, shortly after we were married, Tom and I went to Kings Dominion and I had to get off a ride because the safety harness wouldn’t close and I felt so horrible that I gave up on all rides and parks after that. For 15 years. Until I recently lost the weight. So when we moved here—two miles from an amusement park—I was going to make the most of it. And I foolishly bought season passes for all of us because I was excited about it. Kind of forgetting that my kids weren’t big on rides. And apparently Tom isn’t anymore, either. 😭
So a trip to Six Flags isn’t as exciting for them as you’d think. And it’s actually a bit of a bummer for me because they don’t even want to go on the little rides (like the swings) so I can’t even go on those so I have to spend the whole time walking by rides I can’t go on. Katie likes the baby rides but we’re obviously not going to spend all day on those. And Owen is too big for those.
Now, our passes are also good for the water park—which they would love—but it’s so big that we would have to stick together and I’d have to follow them around… And that’s not much fun for me. I’d much rather go to our small water park where I can trust them to play on their own for hours at a time and I don’t even have to put my suit on.
So, needless to say, we obviously won’t be buying season passes again…but since we’ve already bought them, we’re going to use them. So here we are, waiting for our friends. I’d hoped that maybe being with a friend would get Owen on more rides… The sky looks a little threatening but it’s just the phone—it was gloriously sunny. Owen wasn’t thrilled to be taking the picture.
This is the type of ride Katie likes.
Owen did go on a teacup-style ride with his friend and said he might go on it again. Baby steps? Katie, on the other hand, loved it.
Both kids did okay on Justice League—it’s just a ride on a track on an “enhanced-motion vehicle” (it spins and moved around) where you get to shoot at things like a video game.
A ride I made Owen go on because our friends had to leave and Katie wanted to go on it. He survived.
The train. Which they both liked. Because of course it does nothing.
And then… Tom texted saying he was getting out of work early and was coming to meet us!! So he surprised the kids and was just standing there as we walked by. I wish I could have gotten Katie’s reaction.
We went on the mini roller coaster together and they liked it. BABY STEPS. 🙂
They were just getting done with morning camp and we were just arriving to go to the playground!
Katie loves the pole.
They still like the baby swings. The only rule is that they have to get in and out of it themselves because I am too old to be picking them up, putting them in, and trying to wrangle them out.
Grannie and Papa wanted to celebrate Katie’s birthday since they won’t see her on her birthday so the kids helped make rice crispy treats!
Granny took on the huge challenge of cleaning up both kids rooms and switching out too-small and seasonal clothes…and one of the last things for Owen was a sock matching party.
When your stepsister texts you at 10:30pm and says they are in town and wonders if you can meet the next day for dinner? Of course you say yes. And invite them over for a home-cooked meal and campfire with s’mores.
We went to the neighbors for drinks and ended up getting out some fireworks for the kids. They had a blast!
Katie was playing down at Sophia’s house. Stacey texted me to tell me the girls had set up a massage business and they wanted me to come see it. I couldn’t pass up the invitation so I went down.
They had a little waiting room set up with books. Each of them was taking turns giving each other massages. Whoever was on the couch got to pick the song that was playing and when the song was over it was the next person’s turn.
I thought they were insane when I first started wearing them but now I LOVE them.
With these two, you take it when you can get it.
Tom has a TV in the garage for woodworking videos and to play music while he’s out there. Tonight it was a man cave while Gramma Jean watched Dancing with the Stars.
The last time we made them, Owen was a baby. They all went in the freezer and we will enjoy them all summer!!
They enjoyed the sous vide ribs so we decided to do the king of steaks—the cowboy ribeye!
I had Gramma search for her old Tonka makers (pie irons) and bring it! Tonight we had dessert—another day we’ll do pizza sandwiches!
Apple and Reese’s Marshmallow.
Our cowboy rib eye was deeeeeelicious! Some stir fried veggies and Brazilian Cheese Bread rounded out the plate. So yummy.
Owen loved Katie’s day with Gramma for her birthday and wanted to do it for his, too! Since Gramma was in Florida for his birthday, they did it this trip.
Gramma says:
Owen and I had a belated birthday adventure today; three parks, shopping for picnic lunch goodies and a stop at Dairy Queen for birthday ice cream treat.
Gramma even tried the roller slide!
SURPRISE! Daddy and Katie just happened to show up at Dairy Queen at the same time Owen and Gramma were there—totally unplanned. They sang Happy Birthday to him!
The kids had Parents Night Out and my mom and stepdad were here… So we went out for dinner and realized as we sat down in a crowded and loud restaurant/bar that it was both A) Cinco de Mayo and B) Kentucky Derby day. Thankfully it cleared out within 20 minutes because the race was over.
After, they went home to get the kids while Tom and I did our normal kidless shopping excursion.
Our first stop was Ross, where I saw these hideously hilarious “Protein Snacks” underwear for Tom. I queried Facebook to see if we should buy them and the answer was a resounding YES.
So we did:
Then it was down the parking lot to TJ Maxx (we shopped, but nothing as picture-worthy as the underwear) and then to Trader Joe’s (since we hadn’t been there yet).
And look what I fell into?! Teeny tiny margarita shots! So I succumbed. Yes, it was technically still against no sugar rules but I allowed it.
And then this…
But we didn’t get any chocolate.
And then we weren’t sure where to go and I said “Hey! I washed to try an Everything Croissant at Starbucks—let’s go across the street to check!” So we did and they did so I had a croissant for tomorrow.
And then we realized we were next door to a grocery store so we went in to look for polish meatball ingredients so I could make them with Mom.
When it’s time to get serious about Naturally Slim again. Plus I already have my walk in for the day. #icandothis #ididitonceicandoitagain #failureisnotanoption #facebookaccountability
Lunch!
20 minutes later
I posted the above on Facebook and within minutes, a friend suggested we support each other by checking in via text message. I knew a bunch of my friends were all wanting to reboot as well, so asked who would be interested and quite a few were so I decided to start a Facebook group where we can all post and commiserate and help each other out. I think by the end of the day we had maybe 25 people and a week later we are around 50!
The wintery weather didn’t make for a very nice day (we were in winter coats, hats, and gloves) but everyone was excited!
Katie kept busy waiting for the game to start.
Unfortunately, I had a bit of a bad start as I decided to take a shortcut across a little grassy area to go look at a park map…and I ended up in inches deep swampy muck. I bet you can imagine how wonderful that felt in 35 weather not 15 minutes into our 1.5 hour stay.
Much to our surprise (honestly), Owen scored TWO goals!! Part of it was due to him getting better…but (honestly) part of it was due to the other team not being quite as good. But it was super exciting—and they ended up winning (I think) 4-1!
Owen really needs a haircut but he has so far refused.
Check out the awesome shirt I found at Old Navy (thanks to Heidi inviting me to help her shop). Margaritas for my senoritas!
Heidi and I always manage to have a good time, and this was no different!
She’s wearing:
✨Base:
· Climate Control
· Dry Daytime Moisturizer
· SeneSerum-C
✨Face:
· Light Concealer
· Color Correcting Tinted Moisturizer Medium
· Fawn Advanced Anti-aging Foundation
· Natural Translucent Loose Power
✨Eyes:
· Moca Java Shimmer ShadowSense
· Sandstone Pearl ShadowSense
· Smoked Topaz ShadowSense (eyes and brows)
· Denim ShadowSense as liner
· Black LashSense
· EyeLuminator
✨Cheeks: Bronze BlushSense
✨Lips:
· Fleur de Lisa LipSense
· Silver Glitter Gloss
And then some KILLER fake lashes that I tried but were just absolutely insane on me.