Holiday World 2016

Holiday World is one of my favorite places on earth and this year didn't disappoint. Add this fact to perfect weather, an empty park and happy-happy kids and you have a recipe for the perfect day!

Holiday World is a must-do summer trip and I was wanting to go before it got too hot. Chasing Auggie in 100 degree weather sounds awful. I had checked the weather this past weekend and Tuesday looked perfect. Mom happened to have off that day (she is the one that treats us to this trip and we are so thankful) and Doug wasn't too busy at work either. As Tuesday got closer the weather showed a chance of thunderstorms. Sometimes 50% chance-sometimes 20%. We debated on chancing it and decided to just go for it and hope the risk was worth the reward. I am so glad we went. The weather was perfect (cloudy in the morning and sunny in the afternoon), there was NO ONE at the park (I think the longest we waited in line was four minutes) and we got to park close to restrooms and the lunch pavilion. I highly recommend going on a Tuesday in June when there is a slight chance of rain!

We wanted to get Em hooked right away so we let her ride all of the rides in the first kid park. She was kind of straight faced for the first few.

 

But then there was a big smile on her face the rest of the day (well...until she went on the mini-roller coaster....)

 

Auggie watched and waved at Em. Look at those rosey cheeks. The minute this man gets hot he gets red.

 

After a quick drink (free drinks everywhere equals a lot of peach green tea being drank by this family) we had to ride the old cars. We didn't fit in one car this year so Doug and Emery took off on their own. I snapped this picture right as Doug stomped on the gas for the first time. Pure joy!

 

Doug said Em giggled the whole time and was a horrible driver.

 

Just like her Mother! I just realized I have probably never driven these cars...my brothers or Doug always did. Plus I was holding Aug and using my left hand most of the time. I was just awful. But we laughed and laughed (until I made Auggie cry because I was so awful.)

 

Next up was the carousel--probably our favorite ride as a family. Emery LOVES a carousel, especially one with a big bunny she can ride. We were surprised at how much Auggie liked it too. Emery asked to ride it again and we promised we would when we left the park that evening. As we were approaching the car later that evening, Em perks up and asks about riding the bunny again.....we had totally forgot. She teared up but in quick-thinking parent fashion we apologized and promised her a snack in the car instead. All was well.

Em rode a few more rides by herself.....

 

And August enjoyed the train.

 

After that Emery practically ran to see Holidog. Perfect time to try for a family picture.

 

This picture cracks me up. What are my children doing with their hands?

 

Holidog Land has lots of fun stuff to do. Emery and I rode the tea cups which seemed appropriate seeing as how we love a good tea party. 

We then talked her into the mini-roller coaster. We kind of knew she wasn't going to like it. What nice parents we are! This picture explains it all. She didn't cry....but she didn't like it at all either. Just holding on tight!

 

We redeemed ourselves after that and told her she could play in the splash pad as long as she wanted. That beautiful smile was back!

 

Auggie even joined in on this fun! Go Aug go!

 

This picture is just proof that I need a splash pad in my life. Come on Effingham.....

 

We ate a delicious picnic lunch and put on our bathing suits. It was water park time! But first....an Auggie nap. We were crossing our fingers that this would happen and it did at the best time. He probably slept an hour and was OUT. The three of us adults took turns sitting with him and playing with Em in the water. 

 

We honestly could have skipped the rides and rest of the park and just spent the entire day at this kid pool. I am not joking when I say Emery went down every slide more times than I could count. She worked her way up from the smallest to the biggest and decided the bigger the better. On one of the bigger enclosed slides she would walk up by herself, wait in line like a good girl and when she got to the front of the line we couldn't see her anymore....we just had to listen. She giggled and squealed down that slide every. single. time. Her little legs went a million miles yesterday.

 

Auggie finally woke up, had a snack and was ready to go (non-stop) for the rest of the day. He watched Emery slide for awhile but we could tell that wasn't going to cut it....he wanted to slide. So we let him. Doug and I took turns going down the slides and letting go of him about half way down. He would squeal, flip around on his belly and grin from ear to ear until someone caught him. After that he was practically shaking with excitement and would point and lunge back to the slide. So we did this about a hundred times. My little legs went a million miles too! We went on the lazy river (which isn't so lazy with two littles) and checked out a few other pools and slides. Nothing compared to our favorite slides so we finished the day off back where we started. We noticed that with every trek up the stairs, Em was getting slower and slower so we all went one more round and decided to call it a day.

On the way out of the park we ran into Holidog and his kitty friend. Em gave hugs and talked and talked to them. I thought we were going to have to bring them home with us!

 

The very last stop was to buy a souvenir (no....we did not buy this shot glass.) For the last three years, Nana has bought her a Holiday World Christmas ornament to help us remember that years trip. While picking out the ornament, Emery just kept talking about how cute these "baby cups" were and how much she wanted one. If only she knew ha!

 

We changed into jammies and Em was sound asleep before we left the parking lot. She had to be exhausted. I loved watching her have fun. She was cautious at first but then got so brave and outgoing. Just like she is in everything she does.

 

This one fell asleep right after that. For being the wild one, he was such a good boy. Doug and I talked on the way home about next years trip. We can already picture Auggie doing the water slides--probably head first and faster than anyone else. No caution in this one.  Every year I have said it was the best trip yet....but I already know it is just going to get better and better. 

Holiday World 2016 was a success!!