A Wonderful Father's Day Story Land Adventure

This father's day we had planned to go as a family to Storyland because it's a ton of fun for the boys and we love watching them have blast on all the rides and playgrounds.  I was talking with my parents the night before and by chance they both had the day off, so we invited them to come too.  When we told Meo that Grandma and Grandpa were going to come with us he was over moon with excitement.  He just ran around the house shouting "Yes! Grandma and Grandpa are coming! Yes! YES!"

Once we got there we queued up for the antique cars and Meo let us know he wasted to ride with his grandparents and drive (he very much wanted to drive).

After a quick turn about the green we were out and onto the train which had just pulled into station.

... and then onto one of Meo's favorites: the Balloon Race.  This ride was great because it is one of the few we can all get on at the same time.  Meo especially likes the view.

Then we were off and into the Poler Coaster line.  Meo loves this ride too, it's his favorite.  I love that he loves this ride.  My father was big into roller coasters and he shared that joy with me by bringing us to whatever Six Flags was closest to us where we happen to be living and taking me on all the roller coasters.  We use to plan our day around how many of the tallest fastest coasters we could go on.  We would always wait even longer for the ride if we couldn't get a spot in the front row right away, because the front row is the best row!  It warmed my heart a little to see my father walking my son up to the front row line, turning his hat backwards, putting his hands up, and screaming like a crazy person as we rode down the hill at top speed.

Next stop was Old McDonalds Farm for Link.  Currently his favorite song and budding language development seems to revolve around farm animals and the noises they make.  As we walked around the park, without prompting, he would just randomly sing the refrain several time and make all the mothers (young and old) in a 20 ft. radius "coo" and "aww".  E I E I O

The sheep loved him.  He would put his stubby little finger on their nose to pet them and they would wag their stumpy little tail, which would cause to Link to erupt into laughter, and the cycle continued.  He would have poked those sheep in the nose all day if we had let him, each time giggling and doing a little dance.

After we pulled Link away from the sheep we got in line for the pumpkin to Cinderella's Castle.  Link was so amped that he couldn't sit still in line, he just kept running out.  I nudged him over to "Ye Royal Rain Tent", which was a little mist test for people who are getting a little hot.  Link did loops in there for at least 8 minutes.  I was chasing him for a time, but at a certain point I just stepped back and marveled at the kids tenacity.  Once the rest of our crew were next in line I scooped him us just in time to wedge back into line and slip into the pumpkin.

Link held Grandma's hand all the way from the castle to the swan boats, which is something he'd never let either me or his mom do.  There is some magic there that I would pay dearly to harnice.

Then we got into the line for the swan boats.  That only thing that kept Link inside the line was strapping his life jacket to him and pretending he was a sumo and knocking him down.

Meo loved the boats, those steering was a challenge to be overcome.

Link was ... cautiously happy.

Ye Royal Rain Tent

Then the boys got to ride on the carousel with their grandparents alone.  Meo had to tell Grandpa a couple of times that he didn't want to be rocked.

We all had superhero shirts on.

Then we did the teapots while Grandma tried to lul Link into a nap.  Meo is crazy for this ride too, it never occurs to him to be scared on it.

On our way out Grandpa bought Meo a Storyland tractor trailer, which is about the best gift anyone could have give a Meo.  This put a sweet end to the day.  Link was asleep in his stroller as Meo gave enthusiastic hugs to both his grandparents and we left Storyland for the day.  

It was great to be able to have my parent there at Storyland with me for Father's Day.  As years pass I realize more and more the value of family.  Days like this are the salve which soothes stressed and tired heart.