We took the kids out of school two weeks before it got out. On Memorial Day Monday we drove to Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA (3 hr drive punctuated by at least 4 rest stops and added another hour- AHH!) and went straight to the park. It was super hot and sweaty but the Sesame Street area has a splash pad area and we loved that. Diana was ready to go on her first ride without blinking, and Nicole and Mike were on the other side of the ride. Diana loved every second, yelling and celebrating each crazy drop.
I thought this ride just went back and forth and convinced Jake (he's more timid on ride choice) to go. Well, it spun too and he was not pleased but everyone had an awesome time, even Katy.
Slow water ride
Sesame Street characters came out for meet and greet and of course Katy hung back looking interested but too cautious to get a hug from a giant puppet.
After Nicole's first real rollercoaster ride! She got so brave that she did this as well as some of the craziest rides- like Apollo's Chariot, which drops 210 feet at an angle of 65 degrees, going over 70mph. And she loved every second!
Mike after his first coaster- he was in heaven! He did more crazy rides than anyone else, and Jim was a star to do them all with him.
The most priceless reaction to the first rollercoaster was Diana. She was thrilled beyond her wildest dreams and raced back to the ride line. Since it was practically empty at the park, she went over a dozen times during the three days we were there.
Mike and D in the back, absolutely happy to be on the rollercoaster. I got Jake to go once, but he didn't want to go again. Katy was barely high enough (I had to fluff up her curls a bit to make it work) but she was totally chill and after the ride just pointed to the next group going up to the peak of the ride and said "I went up there!"
Another character greeting with Katy curiously watching as close as she dared get.
They chose the farthest back seats in the Battering Ram so they swung super high and Mike was scooting down in his seat feeling a little anxious while Diana was screaming with delight while Jim held on to her :)
The Predator show was neat because they had birds fly right through the audience.
This bird flew right over Katy's head (we had her seated on top of a banister) and she froze for 10 seconds, then let out the most terrified little cries! Poor thing was petrified at this huge bird flying right over her head and actually brushing her curls as it flew by!
Mike did something I am still not brave enough to do. This coaster was the tallest in the world when it opened in 1978. It has you going upside down multiple times and crazy everywhere. Mike loved the Loch Ness Coaster and told me how he just held on tight with all his might when it was going crazy.
Land of the Dragons was mostly for very little kids so Nicole was too tall for some rides but still had fun playing in the water and climbing areas.
High net climbing
Jake loved this rides and was excited to put his hands up to show us how brave he is :)
Meanwhile, it was snack time for little John. And Jim solving business catastrophes one text at a time.
We had lunch at Das Festhaus and got to see a great German dance show. I loved how it was totally a traditional dance and gave the kids a great taste of German culture. It was cool and air-conditioned, which we really needed, and since there was hardly anyone there, when they had the actors come out to participate with the audience they came by to one of the kids.
Jacob dancing the chicken dance as part of the show
They had two bumper car areas- and this one for little kids was so cute because Katy could barely reach the pedal and mostly watched what was going on around here, just like most of the other little kids.
Diana, however, was all engines go! She absolutely loved it when we went to the bigger bumper cars and all I did was press the gas while she did all of the steering. She was actually quite skilled at steering and it was a blast to go with her. Some great laughs at this one!
Jake overcame some fear of heights on this ride because he could control his height during the ride. By the third time on this ride he was proudly going as high as he could, it was so cute!
They had a pet show with dogs, cats, rats, and even a duck and a pig.
A dog pulling up a weight.
We pigged out with this Colossal Carl- 9 scoops of ice cream in a huge waffle bowl and topped with marshmallows, cherries, chocolate chips, Ghiardelli chocolate sauce and caramel sauce.
Somewhat of a free for all.
At some point Jim and I pulled out and left the kids to share the rest. On a super hot day it was delicious!
After a day at Busch Gardens, we went to Water Country USA. I was able to get tickets for a season at Busch and Water Country for the price of a single day Busch Pass, as well as free passes to both parks for D and Katy. We loved Water Country as much or more than Busch because it was practically empty and most of the kids could do most of the rides and of course everyone loved the wave pool.
We had the oldest three watch the littlest two in a stroller while we took Diana on a ride. It was so fun to ride with Jim and it was good for the kids to have that responsibility and be able to support mom and dad having fun. With so few people there and no wait times we felt fine doing that.
A hallmark of this entire trip was the bazillion times a child frantically announced to the general population that he/she had to go to the bathroom RIGHT NOW! There goes Jim off to find another bathroom.
Splash/kiddie pool area
Katy didn't play as much as explore slowly, watching the kids and splashing a little here and there. So interesting to watch her mind work.
Jake was too terrified for this ride but wanted to take a picture here anyways.
Diana got to the top of this ride but was told she was too short (although she went on any other ride in both parks that was this height requirement). She was so sad to have to go back down those steps!
But we made up for it with Nitro Racers! Jim's size made him catch up to the kids and beat them even when he gave them a huge lead. One time, however, he waited long enough and Jake beat everyone, he was so happy! Diana was just thrilled to go down again and again and again! This no line thing was so perfect for the kids.
John slept and we held him in the pools and lazy river. He was such a good baby and so happy. John had his 9 month checkup- when he was 10 months- and he is 20lbs (36%) and is 29in tall (62%).
Jim told everyone to have fun watching him do the big death drop slide and it was off of the same stairs as this tube ride. Mike went with him to do the tube ride but decided not to once he got up there because they put you in this tube, close the door while you hear a heartbeat all around you, and then flush you so you drop down into the tube. We couldn't blame Mike! So Jim went down his ride and when he got down asked where Mike was (Mike was supposed to come down the stairs to me). Then we looked at the tv screen they show riders on and there was Mike, getting back in that ride! He decided all on his own to go!
For the wave pool they all had life vests and played with Jim while I fed John.
The next two days were at Busch Gardens, enjoying every ride the kids wanted to do- it was fun to redo some rides and coasters they loved.
One of the last rides they did was a river rapids and they had to stop the ride right before it was the kids turn because someone saw a snake in the water! The ride resumed eventually, I assume they either got the snake or it wasn't there anymore. According to Jim, the ride wasn't anything to write home about but the snake excitement made it all worth it!
Diana back at the bumper cars while Jim holds on for life!
We got home Thursday and this was my view the next morning. All that mess was completely worth it to make all of those memories together as a family. We have a good a time together and it was a blessing to get away from the normal day-to-day and just play together experiencing new things.
That night, after mowing, cleaning, laundry, mopping and vacuuming...I was making dinner and the rice went kablooey and I was brought back to reality. It was wonderful to not feel overwhelmed or frustrated by this- taking a break like we did really refueled me to handle the daily in and out of life. I feel blessed to have such a fun family!
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