Mommy and Carigan Day

Carigan and I had a special Mommy/Daughter day today.  We were given eight tickets to Legoland (that expire today) and had originally planned for Michael to return for a second day with Wesley and Anna Kate today after we went as a family yesterday.  We considered purchasing an additional ticket for her, but I told Michael I would see if I could come up with a fun alternative.  I then offered a special Mommy/Daughter Day, and she didn't have to think twice.  It really did almost make me teary how much higher a day with my ranks above a day at a theme park.  She meticulously planned our day, beginning two days in advance.  I had offered to take her to a movie or skating, but that's not what she had in mind.  She had grander plans, like playing with her new doll house together and reading and snuggling.  She made several drafts but had completed a final draft by morning.

We ended up spending a long day at Legoland from open to well past close last night, staying for fireworks and treats.  Wesley and Anna Kate both rubbed blisters on their feet from walking around in soaking wet socks and shoes after they got drenched on the Chima ride (I remembered to pack a change of clothes, but not shoes).  So no one was up for a second day at Legoland and they ended up staying home.  But there was no changing the plan here at home!  We woke up to Carigan jumping up and down on our bed exclaiming it was Mommy/Daughter Day.  She insisted on picking out my clothes and jewelry and hairstyle.  The whole time we were out she would prompt me to take a picture and then tell me what to write by the picture if I put it on my blog.

I had been taking pictures of her with my phone for most of our date, but near the end she said, "When we get home we can ask someone to take a picture of the both of us."  I told her I thought I could take a picture of us with my phone.  Her face lit up, the thought clearly never having crossed her mind.  She loved that whole selfie business, setting up one selfie shot after another.  She had so much to say about this blog she wanted me to create about our day together that I went ahead and uploaded the photos this evening and called her over here to compose it herself.  She thought that was just about the most exciting thing ever, to be able to write her own blog.  She  meticulously spoon-fed me every word very slowly to make sure I didn't get anything wrong.  This post was composed one word at a time, me typing each word and then trying to wait patiently for her to spit out another.  She jumped up and down when I pushed "Publish."  I had to sneak back and add this prologue.  Sweet memories with my #3.  Can't think of a better way to spend the last day of the year.  Need to do this more often.

P.S.  Anna Kate is waiting not-so-patiently for her turn.  Which she hath declared is to take place tomorrow.  Somehow a wagging finger in my face with an indignant hand on a hip isn't as endearing a motivator as multiple drafts of a handwritten schedule of planned events, but I'll have my people call her people and let her know.

Carigan's First Solo Blog:

This is our list of what we will do-

First we went to the waterfall and it was fun. Next I went to eat out at Crispers with my mom.  I was eating some ice cream and I dipped my salad in it.  I liked it so much.  It was so yummy.

Next I went to a big swan.  It was so big.  Next we went to that big thing it was so much fun. Then I ran to the stair steps while Mommy was still going down that hill and I quickly went up all those steps and I went down when she came down.

Then when I went down those steps I saw a bird my mom had to try to get a picture of it and she did it. Then I tried to scare it away and then I tried and I scared it away. Then I went with my mom and took a picture of the swans the swans in the background you can see.
  

And then I went with my mom again and I took a picture with her when we were sitting on the steps. Then I went with my mom again and I took a picture with her in front of the statue.  It was SO fun.

Then we took a picture in front of the Christmas tree.  It was so big - bigger than a bus.  And I loved it.  And I picked out my mom's jewelry and her dress and her hairstyle and her shoes. Next my mom took a picture of me by the giant pot with flowers and I pretend that I was thinking that I was going to pick one of those flowers.  But I couldn't pick the flower because I can only pick it off from the ground.

This is the park by my house.  I love it, it's so much fun to have a park like this. Then I pretend like I was ready for a bus to come to pick up me so I can go to school.

Next me and my dad went to pick out a movie and that movie was called Shaun the Sheep Movie.  We watched it, it was so funny that at the end they played music, I loved it and I was dancing to the beat. I had a great day with my mom and that was the best. Now we're going to snuggle.   

Finishing out the year at Legoland

Erin's mom not only gave us tickets to Bok Tower, she gave us tickets to Legoland!  The kids were beside themselves.  We had annual passes the first year it opened, but they expired three years ago, so Anna Kate's memories of it were vague, and Carigan didn't remember it at all.  It was fun to see AK's face light up as memories came back to her as we walked through the park. I like Carigan's imprisoned face:

Carigan was just a baby and too small to ride anything when we had Legoland passes.  I spent a lot of time at the Duplo Barn with her playing on the little playground.  It was so exciting that she could actually ride the rides!  I loved getting to ride with her and see her first-time reaction.

Merlin's Challenge ~ We assumed Tate was too short, but as I was in line I noticed them let on a kid about his size.  I called over to Michael to have them check him.  He was just under the line, but they fudged it.  The kids and I were already on the ride when they gave Michael and Tate the okay.  He came bounding in, running toward us with complete joy.  He strapped in with Daddy just behind Carigan and me.  He was all smiled until the coaster started, then he wasn't so sure!  He sank into Daddy with a very unsure look on his face.  The second he sensed the ride was stopping, he suddenly became animated again and started cheering.  We asked him if he wanted to ride again and he said, "No."  -BELOW- I got to ride with Carigan for her first time on the Dragon Coaster, and then it was Daddy's turn.  She is a coaster girl!  She loved them all!

I took Tate to the big playground while the other kids stood in line for the jousting horses.  I love how independent Tate can be... I went up the stairs with him the first two times he went down the slide, but then I kept having to come down the slide after him.  I was wearing a dress so this was problematic.  I started just standing at the bottom of the slide and he would run and find the steep staircase and find his way back the slide all by himself.  He was so sweet... One time he was getting ready to go down and a little kid darted in front of him.  I called out for Tate to wait, so that he wouldn't collide with him at the bottom of the slide.  Tate proceeded to stand back and let five more kids in front of him and then looked left and right and patted his chest and asked, "Me?"  Sweet thing can be so aggressive sometimes, and then can go and be so stinkin' patient and conscientious.  -BELOW- Carigan's first time on the jousting horses.  Wesley found it thrilling.  It's sad to see them outgrow these things. 

Battling pirates in Miniland.^ Ms. Christine (Erin's mom) had told us to be sure to find Bok Tower in Miniland (below).  It played a recording from the actual carillon bells of Bok!  It was a little bright.  The record high temps carried us all the way into 2016. 

Watching his bubby and sissies ride on the jousting horses, Tate kept yelling to ride the horses.  So we took him to the carousel (the only ride Carigan ever got to ride at Legoland when we had passes).  But once we got to the front of the line, he cried when I plopped him on a horse.  I realized he was lurching for one of the benches.  Maybe not so much my thrill-seeker.  My biggest complaint about Legoland when we had passes was the lack of things to do for little ones.  We found they've added numerous play areas for little ones near the larger rides, so I didn't have to spend half my day all the way across the park at the Duplo Barn like I used to do with Carigan.  There was a fun little playground right next to the wave runners... so fun that Carigan wanted to stay and play with Tate instead of ride the wave runners with Wesley and Anna Kate!  Definitely nice to have some entertainment for the little ones.  We still got to run over and hit buttons to fire the water cannons at Daddy, Wes and AK:

Everyone's favorite ride was Project X.  They each got to ride it three times.  I held onto Carigan tight her first time... can't believe she's so brave!!  -BELOW- Look who we ran into at Legoland!  Only Coach Evans would be braving the heat at an amusement park less than two weeks after surgery and being released from the hospital!  I'm telling ya, nothing slows this man down!  December 30, 2015

Anna Kate was always just a smidge too short to ride Flying School when we had passes.  I even foofed her hair up in bouffant to hit the line but the lady working the ride wasn't buying it.  AK was SO excited to finally be tall enough to ride!  Even Carigan was tall enough this time, but she wanted to play in the new play area with Tate.  This one was air conditioned!  So I got to sit in the AC while they played, watching Michael sweat it out in the coaster line just through the automatic glass doors.  I definitely got the better end of that deal.  Although I was a bit sad to not get to ride with AK for her first time.  When they texted that they were close to boarding, we walked around to get a photo.  Wesley was right behind Anna Kate.  -BELOW- Tate fell asleep as we stood in line for Project X the second time.  I put him in his stroller and he snoozed all through the ski show.  I didn't want to get him out so we didn't try to go inside the stadium.  We just stood at the end of stroller parking.  A word of advice:  Avoid the 5:00 show on a sunny winter day.  The stadium faces west and you are staring directly into the sun.  Carigan was interested, but the rest of us were pretty miserable.

We had a snack on the lake by the edge of the original gardens (I promised Wesley I wouldn't make him walk through the gardens, because he was on a mission to ride EVERYTHING.  But I love the gardens!!) and then the kids changed into bathing suites to ride World of Chima.  It's a soaker!! 

No one really wants to get that drenched, so there was no wait at all.  They even got their own boat. As long as they were drenched, I told them to go again a couple times.  I tried to get Tate to play in the splash area while we waited, but he was way too cautious.  He loved to push buttons and pull levers to make the water go, but this was his face anytime he got close to actually getting wet:

Santa, sleigh, reindeer & Christmas tree made entirely of Legos.^ Shooting mummies on Lost Kingdom Adventure:

And my very favorite ride of all, Coastersaurus!  The last time I rode this (with Beth Abrams) I was pregnant with Tate and didn't know it.  I got to ride with Carigan for her first time, and then stood at the exit and watched for this photo when it was Michael's turn to ride with the kids.  I cannot believe how brave Carigan is!  This is a pretty big wooden roller coaster -  It's been there since it was Cypress Gardens.  This is the coaster I was riding with Erin Rogers when Michael propped an infant Wesley up on a trash can and hid behind it, trying to freak me out as we zoomed by!

Wesley and Anna Kate rode Legoland's newest ride, Mia's Riding Adventure, four times in a row!  Michael took them first and then came and told me I had to try it.  The motion didn't bother me, but it was the first time I've seriously questioned the engineering of a ride!  We were on a giant disk that went spinning from one side of a large incline to another, and we came (what felt) dangerously close tot he end of the track!  I felt like all it would take was one overweight rider and one extra ounce of momentum and we would have gone spinning off the end of it!  I saw nothing on the track that would prevent it.  I seriously had to close my eyes and pray we wouldn't die every time our disc went high in the air.  I told Michael he was on duty for the remaining rides and I watched Carigan and Tate play on this Duplo car.  I felt much safer there.  Final days of the Christmas season!  Loved the live Christmas music:

Our second time to see Legoland 3D fireworks!  We got to see them for the 4th of July back in 2012.  I tried to hold my 3D glasses in front of the camera, but it only picked up one set of Lego bricks (that red thing to the right of the firework).  When wearing the glasses, all points of light create Lego bricks like that.  Imagine how amazing a huge fireworks display is with all those Legos!  Carigan & Tate had more fun doing somersaults and dancing to the music.  Running wild is what they do.  

We arrived before opening and left nearly an hour after close.  What a way to close out 2015!

Picnic by the Singing Tower

It quickly became evident we needed to plan some outings the week after Christmas - the kids were absolutely bouncing off the walls.  Four kids bouncing off the walls in this 100-year old all hardwood floor house is LOUD.  A mama can only handle so much of it!  Thinking of things we could do nearby, I thought it might be time to take the kids to Bok Tower.  I've been a few times when we first moved here... first with friends, then my dad and I took my grandparents when they visited when Wesley was only a year old, and I took my aunt when she visited right after Anna Kate was born.  But that was eight years ago, and we haven't been back.  My friend's mother works there and had told us to let her know if we ever wanted to go.  So I sent Erin a message asking her if Bok Tower was something the kids would enjoy.  She said her kids love it, and she hooked us up with her mom, who was so super generous and left tickets for us at the gate not only for the gardens, but for the Holiday Home Tour at Pinewood Estate.  It's pretty sweet to have friends in high places! 

Another late December day in the mid 80s!  I could stand for it to have been cooler, but it was still a beautiful day.Getting ready to tour Pinewood Estate.  Originally known as El Retiro, the estate was part of the Mountain Lake community where Edward Bok (Longtime editor of the Ladies' Home Journal) lived part of the year.  Built in the early 1930s as the winter estate of Charles Austin Buck, a Bethlehem Steel Vice President, the 20-room mansion was acquired by the gardens in 1970 and is filled with period-appropriate Christmas decor every year. We have friends that live in Mountain Lake today.  Anna Kate's best friend Marin's dad grew up in a house in the Mountain Lake community that was designed by the same architect (Charles Wait) and that was built in the late 1920s, several years before El Retiro was built.  We got to spend some time in the house during Matthew's birthday party last year (There's a view of Bok Tower from the back yard) and it's very similar in design and decor.  I love all the history!  I think our friend's house is even more fascinating, since it's been in the same family for almost a century.  El Retiro changed owners a couple times before being acquired in 1970.

So pretty!  Stairs just like in Cinderella's Castle:

One of the closets was full of clothing from the time period.  The girls loved it - maybe they'll be history lovers like their mama!

The kids got a cookie for successfully finding all of the hidden squirrels in the estate.  Smart people... they know to give kids something to keep them occupied and to feed them on the way out! The gardens surrounding the estate were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted Jr., the same man that designed Bok Tok Gardens (and son of Frederick Law Olmsted Sr., who designed Central Park in Manhattan).

Pretending to have a tea party.

Tate gets really excited at the sight of any water feature.  He went running yelling, "Waterfall!  Waterfall!"  Hey, if there's water and it's falling in any way, shape or form... it's a waterfall.  I loved how you could tell that the roof on the house has been replaced, but the roof over this porch was still 85-year-old tiles, moss and all:

Erin's mom Christine gave us a personal tour around the Visitor Center, where all the kids got to press down and ring a bell on the tower's original carillon organ.  This is how Carigan would size up to the largest bell in the tower.^  December 29, 2015
 

We walked up to the top of Iron Mountain to Edward Bok's Singing Tower (built in the 1920s) just in time for the 3:00 carillon performance. Listening to the bells while we picnic by the tower:

Wesley, Anna Kate and Michael sitting on the benches, listening to the music... Carigan & Tate to the far right, doing what they do.

Thank you so much to Christine for such a fun day spend NOT bouncing off the walls at home!  She also gave us a little sneak peak of the children's garden that is opening later this year.  Next time we come there will be so much for them to do! We promised the kids ice cream but we had to go through the drive through at McDonald's because Tate crashed before we made it out the gate.  That's Carigan's nightgown he'd holding, by the way.  Tate's lovey is anything with a tag, and this nightgown has a particularity long, silky tag that he loves.  The night before I could hear Carigan yelling and I went upstairs to find Tate terrorizing the poor thing, grabbing the tag while she was wearing the nightgown.  Every time Carigan managed to wrangle away and run, he would scream and follow in hot pursuit!  I tried to appease him with a different lovey, but he wasn't having it.  We finally had to change Carigan into a different nightgown.  I know, I know... 4th child indulgences.  He'll grow up to be rotten for sure.  ;-)