Sandy Lake Park

Today was such a beautiful day and we got to take advantage of it with a Chili Cook-off that Neal was "working" for SWAPA. The best part of it was that it was at Sandy Lake Amusement Park - which means there were lots of fun things for the kids to do while Daddy was hard at work manning the chili booth. Another perk to our trip was that Landon is staying with Gigi and Papa this weekend while his mom and dad are off in Mexico, so we decided we would include them in our fun day!

We weren't really sure what to expect us to be able to ride since we have pretty little ones, but we quickly discovered the carousel and the train, and we knew we were set! The park was rented out for the event, so we got to ride as many rides as we wanted, and with as much fun as Landon and Meredith had, I know we got great use out of that perk! After the first of 3 carousel rides, we hit the train. The train itself was great, but then it went past an area where they keep ducks, chickens, a turkey, peacocks, and a goat. Jillian was in heaven! Her finger was pointing like crazy, while she "oooohed" like crazy! We went back for a second ride later in the day and she was ready for the animals as soon as we got to them and was equally as excited!

A way-too-bright picture but I thought everyone's faces were priceless!

After taking this picture, Gigi tried to hold Jillian with her, but she would have none of that - she wanted to sit up by herself with the big kids!
Luckily, she has a great big sister who held her had the whole time!

After those rides, I decided to swallow my slight fear of "carnie" rides and hoped that Neil and Katie wouldn't be too freaked out that we let Landon hop on a few too! Jillian was pretty sad during this part of the day since she was too little for the rides, but Meredith and Landon had the most fun I had seen them have ever! They seemed like such big kids because the rides were too small for parents to join them on, so they were riding solo. There was a flying fish ride (that was I think the favorite - they rode it at least 4 times), a car ride, a boat ride, and a space ship ride, too. After each one, Landon would get out and look up excitedly to say "Ride again?!"

This ride was a little too big for Landon - we tried him on it, but he slipped down onto the ground. However, as soon as we saw Neal, Meredith told him all about how Landon "fell off" the ride - so I will have to make sure to tell the story to his mama and daddy before Meredith does!
The very fun fish ride - I think we probably got to ride every color of fish!
Having a blast driving the cars
They both loved the boats too - Meredith loved to ring the bell over and over. By the third ride on the boats, Landon was so comfortable with his surroundings, he was leaning out the back dipping his hands in the water - eeek!
Poor Jillian was not too happy with having to just watch all the fun, but she was as patient as could be!
I was a little scared they would be terrified on this ride since it went up so high, but they had a blast! Look at that - no fear - even waving to us down below!
We made sure to let Jillian ride on a horse on the carousel so she could have a few thrills too

Another highlight was the Pony rides. Jillian got to join us on this one for her first pony ride ever! All three kids loved them, of course!

Meredith was a pro and rode all by herself on a pony for the first time.
Although it looks like she was terrified, she was actually just mad that the ride was over! She loved her pony!

A little more drama over getting off her pony

We talked Neal into taking a break to come do the roller coaster with us. Landon was too little for the first one, but there was Dragon roller coaster that he had set his sights on early in the day that he and I conquered together!

Meredith and Daddy ready for the big hill
This picture makes me laugh so much! Poor Neal squeezed into the kiddie coaster from 1960 - and these things were not slow little things either
Now that looks like more fun!
Landon and me on the Dragon coaster - there was lots of "wees!" and then a "Ride it again?"
Don't look too closely at the seat belt that wouldn't fasten and that the ride operator told me not to worry about!
Look at those cute little cows with slightly inappropriate signs! :)