June 4, 2011

• I bribed the kids gave the kids an incentive to finish their math books in a timely fashion:  If, without any prodding from your mother, you finish your book BEFORE the first of June, I will take you to Silverwood.  I did a little math of my own; for just about the same price as eight individual admissions, I got a Gold Pass:  Unlimited admission for me and up to two guests at a time.

  Sunday, after church, Bri and Logan came with me to get my pass printed.  Logan rode the Log Flume, the Corkscrew, and (oops) Thunder Canyon.  Um, Thunder Canyon is the water raft ride with the sign at the entrance: "You will get wet."  I have a little problem with their terminology.  You will be drenched.  Logan was drenched.  Which meant he was cold.  So while Bri left us to ride the big roller coasters, I took Logan to the Victorian Coffee House for a hot cocoa.  Once Logan stopped shivering, we spent the rest of the evening in the Kiddie Rides.  The Frog Hopper, the Tiny Toot roller coaster, and the Kiddie Ferris Wheel are more Logan's speed.

  Monday (Memorial Day) I brought Myra and Wilson.  We eased Wilson into the rides, starting with the Carousel, the Frog Hopper, the Butterfly Swing... and eventually Timber Terror and Tremors.  Yes, Wilson went on the BIG rides.  Can't say he particularly enjoyed them, but he was wide eyed and smiling when we exited.  We made it a point to stop for the 'magic show'.  Front row seats.  Wilson LOVED it.

  So yesterday I brought Kendric.  Just Kendric.  Thanks to the cloudy skies, the park was nearly empty.  Several large buses of college / high school kids, but when the park opened, they headed straight for the big coasters.  We started small.  Silverwood's kiddie rides were plenty exciting for him.  Even more exciting was the fact that for the first eight rides, he was THE FIRST rider of the day.  He was alone on the Blaster Boats; I was glad he had a chance to become familiar with the controls before having to dodge the squirt guns.  (Cue memories of my childhood: I figured how to steer AFTER I was cornered and soaked.)  The first "line" we encountered was the Log Flume, but we only had to wait for three loadings.

  Because I had seen the magic show before, I knew that when in the pre-show Nick told him, "I'm going to ask for your help later," Kendric was going to be called to the stage.  Kendric was scared spitless.  I kept him from bolting, and he went through with it -- splendidly.  At the end of the routine, an assistant snapped a photo of Kendric on stage, and Nick told him to look for it on his Facebook page.  For the rest of the day, Kendric reminded me, "We need to check Facebook...  Do you remember how to spell his name?  Don't forget to check Facebook..."
  

  The Rogne boys spotted us, "We saw your van in the parking lot this morning, we've been looking for you all day."  They invited Kendric to ride the Scrambler, then helped me convince him to go on the Corkscrew.  After countless rounds on the bumper boats and bumper cars, they had to leave the park early (it's a loooong drive to Rice), but it was sure nice to see them...

  We saved Thunder Canyon for the end of the day.  Once alone, twice with other people, then Kendric went alone.  We were dripping wet on the way out to the car.

  Today, it's Mari and Bri's turn.  I'm not looking forward to all the walking.  I'd be willing to just drop them off at the gate, but Mari hasn't been to Silverwood since she was three; she wants me to be there for her first big roller coaster.  Here we go.

  Wheeeeee!

  • 12:34 pm
  • 2 Comments