End of Summer Fun!

We cram packed as much stuff into the last two weeks of summer vacation as we could. First, the girls headed to my parents house for a week. And had an absolute ball with my parents and their cousins. Mom has lots of pictures, so I'll get copies and post sometime. Anyway, while they were there, Neil and I took off to Austin again. We stayed at the Hilton this time, and the view from our window the first night was this....

....it was a film crew! I never knew Neil to be so awe struck about celebrities. Not that we saw any, but he sure did try. We had walked to IHOP for breakfast, but we didn't see anyone and nothing was really happening. Later that night, we walked around 6th street and I think they were actually filming. It was really neat. Probably nothing big, no one famous, but it was still cool. Anyway, while we were heading home from Austin, my parents took my two brothers and their family, and our girlies to Wonderland Park. But as soon as they walked in, it started to rain. So, they got rain checks. We decided to head to Dumas instead of going all the way home, so we got to Dumas around 12 that night. Saturday we had a huge family cookout. It was so good! And it was so much fun to catch up with everyone! Sunday, after church, we all headed back to Wonderland and cashed in that rain check. Neil and I were so glad we got to go this time. Well, I was until I realized what dare devils my girls are. I never thought they'd ride anything other than kiddy rides, but with their big cousins around, they were ready for anything. At first, I made Neil ride with them, then I just let them go. I held my breath with fear as they rode several rides you couldn't drag me on. And they loved it! I think the first ride was the bumper cars.

Emma was begging to go on this. So, when we got there, Lily wanted to go, and Emma let her go first. Lily and Neil rode and Emma decided, "No, that's not what I want to do." So, after Lily and Neil got off, we headed back to the train.

(Can you see Neil in the back?)

As I was waiting for them to return, Ike and his family showed up. When the girls got back, they rode the kiddy rides with Kade.

(OH! They boat ride! This use to be one of my favorite rides!

I sure don't remember the bell being so loud though!)

Kade and Emma

Miss Lily

Emma riding the horses!

Lily and Daddy on the helicopters!

Emma and Kade in a cool car

Neil trying not to get sick from going in circles.

Emma and Lily riding in the cars

Lily on the Frog Hopper. This was Emma's favorite ride when we went 5 years ago.

Then, we went walking around and Lily saw the Himalaya. She really thought it was cool, and begged Neil to go on it. There was no way we could have dragged Neil on it, so Uncle Ikey came to the rescue. I was saying "No way!" That thing goes WAY too fast. I really didn't think she would be able to hang on. He said he would just take her over to it, and check the height requirement. Thankfully, Lily doesn't like loud music, and they are always BLARING music. She quickly said "No, thank you!, Then, she saw a HUGE water slide.

She was begging to go on it, I was saying "NO", (see a trend here) and Neil was saying "sure, let's go!" So, they went. It was such a long flight of stairs, that Neil ended up carrying Lily halfway up. You can't see the stairs from this pic, but there was a ton of steps. They zoomed down, and got soaked.

Lily LOVED it! Emma decided she could try it, and she loved it too! They both rode it several times. Neil was wore out after those stairs! Then the girls meet up with Laura and Katelyn, and they took off with them. (I was following closely!) They took the girls on another water ride. But this one wasn't in tubes but on a huge boat.

I thought for sure that one was too much, and they'd come crying to their Momma, and never leave my side again, and my heart wouldn't have to have an attack, and we could walk around Wonderland Park with cotton candy and two little girls holding their momma's hand for the rest of the time. (Run on sentence much?) Think that happened? NO!!! THEY LOVED IT!! MY HEART DID NOT!! I, actually, was the one so scared, just watching them, that I cried. I wanted my momma. They came off laughing and giggling and soaked. LOVED IT! They rode that one another time or two, I had to quit watching, my stomach couldn't handle it. After that, it got easier to let them go on stuff. They had the best time. I was so thankful my dad got his money out of those two. After they got off the Scare Your Momma To Tears Boat Ride, Neil and Isaac thought they'd prove their manhood by riding the Drop of Fear!

(The arrow is pointing to the top, where you sit and then drop)

This thing, would take you 180 feet, act like it was stalled out at the top, and then drop the platform, so the rider free falls for about 2 seconds and then brakes and you stop at the bottom.

I would have puked! You could hear Isaac screaming (on purpose). Neil just took it as if it was a Sunday ride. I wanted to see some sort of reaction, but they just grinned. Really, it was fun to watch. I was proud of them. After a few more rides, it was just about time to leave, but Lily wanted to try out the Sky Ride.

Which looks like a ski lift and you ride around the park in the air. I use to love this as a kid. So, Neil and Lily rode it. She really liked it.

Look at those cute feet!

Neil held her shoes so she couldn't drop them.

When they headed back down, she was curled up against Neil, looking like she could fall fast asleep.

Emma hopped on with them next and they rode it two more times, I think.

Right before I took this picture, Mom and I both whispered, "Hold on to them Daddy."

He waved, and then put his hands on them. I don't know if he could read our lips, but it was funny.

They had so much fun. And, as much as they scared me, I was thrilled they were brave enough to get on those rides. Thank you, Dad and Mom, for taking us to Wonderland! I still have fond memories of going as a child, and I'm thrilled and thankful my girls will get to share those memories now!

We left, wiped out, and headed home. It was a wonderful way to start our vacation!

PS- ALL these pictures were taken with my phone. They are not great pictures, but I'm glad I have them! Oh, and I'm a wimp, so I just got a hand stamp to get in, and my dad gave me money to go on the Rattle Snake River Ride. That's my favorite now. Thanks Dad!