Adventureland 2013

I haven't blogged in forever and I certainly now, am out of order but the most recent fun adventure we have had is taking a short vacation to go visit "the cousins".  Travis' sister and family live in Waukee, a Des Moines suburb. We thought we'd spend a few days there and hit up Adventureland while there.  There were 347 photos taken between Heather and I over 2 days...it was hard to narrow it down.

Mapping out the trip and in the car loaded to go. 

                                                                                This was Carson's favorite ride and what we are still talking about today.  FIE TUCK!

Parker wanted to ride the cars like at the fair, so we started small!

Then he and his cousin "Got their motors Running"

 I reluctantly got Carson on the Big Trucks.  He was ready to get off quickly so I had to keep him entertained...I think he might be a "non-ride" person like his dad.

I however am a ride person, love them.  It was my idea to do the adventure to Adventureland.  I learned quickly though that after you have children your body and tolerance to double spinning rides changes.  After my first ride, the scrambler, I felt scrambled, sweaty and nauseous. 

The cousins

We decided that the scrambler must have been a fluke, I just needed a cereal bar in my belly, so we loaded everyone, except my sister in law, who knows what having children does to you, into the teacups, another double spinning ride.  

Scrambler was not a fluke...

Love this photo. Boys in blue cup lovin' it.  Yellow tea cup....not so much...God bless Annica, she tried to have a good time..even with a nauseous aunt and a not so enthused young nephew who was clinging to his mommy pulling her shirt down yelling done, done, done.

 (This was Carson's last ride of the day, after this he said, NOOOOOOooooooo! To every offer and opportunity.)

Parker loved it so much he wanted to go again!  We let Annica and Tyler join the fun cup!  While Travis helped Carson and I get back to normal.  By the way, the scrambler was not a fluke, I can NO LONGER do double spinning rides. 

The Chervenkas and I rode the raging river, we tried to get Parker to agree to go but he didn't want to until he saw us right before they pushed us in to the water, 

So instead we took him to Saw Mill Splash

Up a huge conveyor belt to the top 

down a large, fast bumpy water slide. 

Travis and Uncle Kirk took him.  He absolutely LOVED it!  Travis said he belly laughed the whole way down and instantly said, let's do it AGAIN! 

  So we did.  Travis said I had to hear the laugh so we both got on with him.  Up, up, up!

The next two pictures have caused countless laughs in our family and I am not opposed to making fun of myself.  Note everyone's faces in this photo.  Parker= loving life; Travis = cool, calm and collected; Annica=a pro at this ride; Caleb= having a good time; Me= Terrified like I'm on some super coaster...

and the photo that wins the odd family photo coffee table book award...

an even more photogenic photo of myself.  We have laughed so hard at this photo Travis was crying and I had to use the bathroom!!!! It's like I've seen something from a horror movie...

I really did enjoy the ride, despite the photos.

We had a really great time at Adventureland and can't wait to go back again soon!  The boys did far better than we could have hoped and imagined; and Travis and I had a great time too!

The Little Mermaid

Parker went to his first musical a few weeks ago!  

The Galesburg Performing Arts Academy put on The Little Mermaid

We made 1/2 way through the first half before he smelt the popcorn....

We made it the rest of the way to intermission by counting down "how many more songs until I can have some popcorn?"

After intermission and a snack break ;)  He really seemed to enjoy himself!

Watch out Broadway....here comes Parker!

Youth Group

Parker finished his first year of Youth Group!  He has learned a lot and even reminded us one night at dinner that we needed to pray before we ate! 

Parker's two teachers, Miss Blair, and Miss Terri (not pictured) have blessed our lives tremendously!  We can't wait to see them again at VBS! 

We celebrated the end of this years youth group with a church bowling party! Parker was not a fan of bowling..."this is boring", however, once we got out the ramp things perked up a bit! :)  

Kastle Kreme

It isn't spring until we've made our first trek to Kastle Kreme!  Much to my disappointment the day we went their flavor burst machine was broke...drats...guess we'll have to go back! :)

Mowing Season

Spring is here, and mowing season is in full gear. 

This year a new recruit has joined the team.

 

 

The "veteran" mower walks along side shouting commands...I mean pointers! ;)

 

Give it a few years and we could start our own mowing business!

Swimming Lessons

Tonight was Parker's first swimming lessons at the same YMCA I learned to swim at and taught swimming lessons at for so many years!  It was fun and weird at the same time to walk my own child into the pool for lessons!   

We are very fortunante to have such a great instructor!  One of our family friends happens to teach lessons at the Y and was willing to take on Parker and some of his friends.  Parker did GREAT! 

There was no time to waste!  She had them in the water on their fronts, on their backs, and even dunked them under water! ;)  Before we know it Parker will be diving off the high dive swimming like a fish! 

Of course the lesson wouldn't be complete with out a little play time at the end!

Parker and his buddies before swimming lessons.

All of his friends from daycare joined us for lessons. 

After lessons everyone of the kids came out of the pool saying, "that was SO fun!"  Parker wanted to go back tomorrow...it's going to be a long week of waiting!