Storyland!!!Last week we were lucky enough to have my parents come out for their vacations. It was a rare vacation for my dad because we didn't have any projects for him to do this time! It was such a fun week. We did a lot of great things but I think the topper (for the boys at least) was a trip to Storyland.
What is Storyland? It's New Hampshire's answer to Disneyland. It's a super fun amusement park with very similar attractions to the more popular Disneyland with a few key differences: it's significantly cheaper, the lines are nowhere near as long, it's not as big, and (the best part) it's geared 100% to preschool aged kids! This meant that there were very few teenagers at the park (yay) and a lot of kids Clayton and Noah's ages. This also meant that Clayton and Noah were tall enough to ride EVERY SINGLE RIDE in the park! It was a great place and a great day. To all my fellow Vermonters - if you haven't been yet, it's TOTALLY worth the 2 1/2 hour drive! Check
HERE for more information.
Now, I've never taken my kids to Disneyland, but I can't imagine that my boys would have had any better of a time there. They were in heaven from the time we arrived until the time left. There were no melt downs (which I was definitely expecting from Noah), Clayton was very brave (he rode as many rides as he could and was pretty fearless about some of the 'scarier' ones), and Josie didn't fuss once all day! Magic!!
Sadly (for us), my dad opted out of Storyland. He decided to stay at the house and work on a few projects - even though he didn't have to, and rest and relax (which he totally deserved). Also sad (for us) Justin was working so it was just Mom, me, and the kids. This did make me a little nervous at first, but - as I said - the kids were amazingly well behaved so it worked out perfectly!
So, without further ado, pictures of our "grand adventure":
Me and the kids at the entrance to the park.
Clayton and Noah at 'Heidi's home'. Poor Noah - in a few years it'll probably bother him that we made him be Heidi.
My mom and the boys at the 'Cuckoo Clockenspiel' (we took turns going on the rides with the boys so that one of us could stay with Jo).
Check out how happy Clayton is!
I know you can't see my mom's face, but the boys look SO happy!
Josie was so cute and happy the entire time we were there. I had to take pictures of her.
I love that cute face!
One thing that Clayton really wanted to do was ride a ferris wheel. He was crazy happy when he saw this one!
Me and the boys before we went on our safari.
My mom and the boys on their train ride around the park.
Oh the Spinning Turtles. The boys LOVED LOVED LOVED it! Me - not so much. I just wanted to vomit when I got off it!
Check out the joy on Noah's face!
Our only real 'trauma' occured when this cute boy decided he didn't want to ride the flying fish ride until after he saw Grammy and Clayton get on it. Then he did throw quite a fit until I went to take him on it.
Grammy and Clayton on the 'flying fish'.
Me and Noah taking our turn.
Grammy and the boys on the whale ride.
On the Swan ride waiting to ring the magic bell that would begin our voyage.
You can't see the bell, but the boys are ringing it.
Cinderella's castle. Not as impressive as the one at Disneyland - but cool nonetheless.
Josie and Cinderella. What a gorgeous little princess (and Cinderella isn't too bad herself)!
Me and the boys on the carousel. Now, Justin didn't think this was too cool, but I did - this carousel is one of only two like it in the world. The other one is in Munich, Germany. The reason this carousel is different is that it runs clockwise instead of counterclockwise like most other carousels. Plus every single horse was hand carved and painted. Cool.
The boys looking at the 'Three Little Pigs'. Since it's called STORYland, there are little areas set up all over the park that will tell you a classic fairy tale if you push the button. Since most fairy tales are associated with some sort of animal there were lots of animals to watch while you listened to the stories.
Grammy and the boys on the teacups.
Grammy and Noah sitting on Miss Muffet's tuffet with that scary spider!!
6 hours, 15 rides, 2 snowcones, 4 ice creams, and an immeasurable amount of fun later, we loaded the car up and headed back home. Noah didn't even make it out of the parking lot before he fell into what can only be described as a mini coma. Storyland may not be the 'Happiest Place on Earth', but if you ask me, it's pretty close! Thanks Grammy, for taking us on the "Grandest Adventure" of all!!!
After:
Holy smokes! Is he the most handsome kid you've ever seen or what!?! School out here doesn't start until next Wednesday so I've been reading everyone else's blogs and hearing what you all have to say about your kids going back to school and I have to say that I'm very impressed. I think I've cried at least once a day for the past two weeks. I know I'm going to be a wreck next week! Kindergarten out here is full day and, while I know that he's definitely ready, I don't know that I am. I'm going to miss having my buddy around all day. He's such a great help to me and a great friend to Noah and Josie. Fortunately, he's very excited to go and has been counting down the days for a few weeks now - if he was hesitant, I think that would make me even worse! Man, I'm going to miss this kid!
