I've been trying for weeks now to figure out how to finish off our summer on a high note, and...it wasn't working. I'll get more into that in a minute, but at least I got Carter to Seabreeze. I decided last week to just take a random Thursday off because the weather would be nice, my work was in a holding pattern, and I just needed a day. We had gotten two free tickets to Seabreeze through Jacob's brain study, and he was uninterested, so Carter and I needed to go. I hadn't gone with Carter since 2018, and he was still too short back then for the Jack Rabbit or the toilet bowl water slide. He's been back a couple times himself through camp or school, but for whatever reason it never worked out for him to go during either of those things. It was time!
We were getting ready to go later that morning and I discovered that our tub drain was blocked. Our sink had been running slow and I put some Drano down it that morning and grabbed our little drain hook that pulls out hair and gunk. I got a good hunk and thought I finally got it cleared, so I moved on to the tub, which had periodically been running slow but seemed to right itself mid-shower most of the time. I cleared a whole bunch of hair out of the drain apparatus and used the hook tool, but then I realized it was not draining at all. Weird. I hoped that when someone used the shower it would clear itself again, but after Craig left that morning I went back up and found a few inches of standing water. That has never happened to me before. I tried to use a sink plunger that sounded like it was working but didn't, and finally gave up and ran to Wegmans. I got two bottles of Drano and a much-needed giant pack of tissues (Jacob had used all of ours thanks to another random virus thing). Luckily, once I got home I realized the tub had cleared while I was gone, but I still dumped Drano down to be safe. I don't know if the sink clog just moved down the line or what. The sink can still be slow-ish, so I have no idea what's happening, but it's better. And we now own a Tub Shroom for an extra layer of protection.
Off to Seabreeze we went. We parked by the water park and headed in. We looked around and decided it was time to conquer the Jack Rabbit! As we walked past the Screaming Eagle, Carter saw our neighbor, who's a year younger than him. Ten seconds later we walked by my co-worker's son, who's Jacob's age and was there with his soccer team. Small world! The Jack Rabbit line was very doable and of course Carter enjoyed it. It's definitely not as exciting as what he's used to riding now, but it's still a fun one! He passed 48 inches a while ago, but we still felt the picture was appropriate!
Next up we tried the newest ride, Windstarz. It replaced the ride that had the rudders you could move like a sail to adjust your flying position. This is similar in that you move a bar back and forth to sail higher or lower.
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| Waiting to ride! |
It was fun--sort of like the kiddie airplane ride for adults, but a little jerkier so a bit more exciting!
We wandered over to the other end of the main midway and hopped on the Music Express, which is always a good time. He only squished me once!
Next up was the Bobsleds. That might have been our longest ride wait of the day, maybe 20 minutes. It's still such a cute little ride and I love it. We were bummed we ended up in the Italy car instead of the USA or Jamaica car (I think they used to have Norway but it wasn't there), but it was a good ride.
We did a quick ride on Whirlwind, the spinning coaster, which was a lot of fun--it really sends you flying around! Then we decided it was time for some lunch, so we settled on walking tacos, which were really good. We had good meal time entertainment watching the midway games in action. That balloon dart game is apparently a tough one! We were just about ready for the water park, but before that was the log flume. I've shared my general dislike of flumes here before. This one just has a couple very small drops, almost like little dips into rapids, and then one big one. But the big one is a pretty wet one! I sat in the back and got a solidly wet shirt. Nothing like the big ones, of course, but quite damp! But it's a fun hill. I just had to hope our waterpark locker baked it dry!
It was the perfect day for the water park. It was hot but not too hot. We started with Carter playing in the water gun area, and then we waited for the slide on the left in the picture below, which was new since my last visit. It's a fun sit down slide--kid-friendly but exciting enough for adults. Then it was time to brave the toilet bowl line. It was long, almost all the way down the stairs, but it actually went quickly. Based on a sign in the line I thought we'd be about a half hour but I think it was less. I guess we had a good view throughout so it went fast enough, but it's the best slide there so it was worth it. The initial slide down (also in the picture below) is so fast, and we had a blast in the bowl. And of course, we went down backward into the pool!
Next up was the Bobsleds. That might have been our longest ride wait of the day, maybe 20 minutes. It's still such a cute little ride and I love it. We were bummed we ended up in the Italy car instead of the USA or Jamaica car (I think they used to have Norway but it wasn't there), but it was a good ride.
We did a quick ride on Whirlwind, the spinning coaster, which was a lot of fun--it really sends you flying around! Then we decided it was time for some lunch, so we settled on walking tacos, which were really good. We had good meal time entertainment watching the midway games in action. That balloon dart game is apparently a tough one! We were just about ready for the water park, but before that was the log flume. I've shared my general dislike of flumes here before. This one just has a couple very small drops, almost like little dips into rapids, and then one big one. But the big one is a pretty wet one! I sat in the back and got a solidly wet shirt. Nothing like the big ones, of course, but quite damp! But it's a fun hill. I just had to hope our waterpark locker baked it dry!
It was the perfect day for the water park. It was hot but not too hot. We started with Carter playing in the water gun area, and then we waited for the slide on the left in the picture below, which was new since my last visit. It's a fun sit down slide--kid-friendly but exciting enough for adults. Then it was time to brave the toilet bowl line. It was long, almost all the way down the stairs, but it actually went quickly. Based on a sign in the line I thought we'd be about a half hour but I think it was less. I guess we had a good view throughout so it went fast enough, but it's the best slide there so it was worth it. The initial slide down (also in the picture below) is so fast, and we had a blast in the bowl. And of course, we went down backward into the pool!
We moved on to the two tube slides--one enclosed tube that we rode singly, and one swishy open slide we rode together. Both of those were fast and fun. After that was the racing slide. This one might be my least favorite because it splashes you in the face in the tube too, not just as you're coming down the final slope and into the end channels. You can see all three of those below.
Then it was on to the lazy river. We always struggle to stay together in those, especially since I avoid most obstacles and Carter goes toward them, and then he just seems to move faster once we get past them. After that it was on to the wave pool, which was in full wave mode when we got there. We waded out about up to our waists and let the waves hit us, and I'm telling you, some of them were rough! The last wave was especially giant and it totally knocked me right over! I prefer wave pools with a tube, for sure!
With that we wrapped up and headed back to change and do more rides. Carter wanted to ride the teacups. I can't spin so we went separately! Ironically, he didn't want to go on the hot air balloons, which are the same ride but up in the air, because he said he spun too much last time he was there. But he spun this one like a madman! Go figure. If I'm not spinning I actually like those better because you get a good view!
We rode the viking ship quickly, then grabbed another ride on the Whirlwind, this time in the backward seat. It's definitely a different ride depending on whether you're in the front or the back--not just the lift hill (which is different) but also how and when you get swung around. It was an intense ride. I think the front ride was more enjoyable for me, but the back ride was crazier!
I debated long and hard about the Revolution 360. Carter had never been on one, but the last time I did one--Fantasy Island in 2015--I got a bit motion sick. But that was also in my ride lull period where I wasn't riding much and my brain might have been out of practice, so I was tempted to give it a shot. I figured by that point in the day we'd ridding almost everything, so it was worth a try. I regretted it for a moment once we were on, but in the end it wasn't bad. It's a weird sensation, but it's also like a big swing and gives you some nice views. By the end I was about ready for it to be over before I moved into icky territory, but I did pretty well and of course Carter liked it a lot! I'm not sure if that means I'll try the one at Cedar Point that's a similar concept but does waves instead of the half pipe, since the constant up and down while spinning could be more intense, but it's food for thought. I was proud of myself.
We went back to ride the Screaming Eagle, which probably wasn't my best move right after the Revolution. I really felt that one but I managed. The hanging upside-down and backward swing was not my favorite. After that we grabbed one more Jack Rabbit ride. Carter really wanted to get fried dough before we left, so we headed over to the fried dough stand to scope things out. I wasn't sure I wanted to battle a giant fried dough and messy sugar, and as much as I love those amusement park waffles I wasn't sure I was up for one of those either, so we took a chance and got the funnel cake fries. They're like a funnel cake but in individual fry form. We got a big bag and sat down on a bench to carefully eat them without dousing ourselves in sugar. They were SO good. They were just the perfect mix of crispy and pillowy. We did a pretty good job but still had leftovers.
We grabbed our wet clothes from the locker and headed out. Carter decided he wanted to stop at the playground across the street, one of our favorites. It's the one where we first went on one of the spinning swing things with three disc seats, and it has a cute nautical theme. I was still feeling the effects of the Screaming Eagle, just a light headache and wanting to sit for a bit, but luckily some kid recruited Carter in a chase, so he was occupied for a while. I helped him on the spinner to give him a few good swings, and eventually we headed out. He really wanted to go to Abbott's across the way, so we topped off our funnel cake fries with ice cream! I got a root beer float, and he got this crazy chocolate covered cookie sandwich!
It was such a nice night to sit out. Of course, he decided he was still hungry on the way home so I grabbed him some KFC and just got myself a single chicken taco from Taco Bell to get something of substance in my stomach, too. But what a fun day we had!
Then I took a bike ride on Tuesday night and the sun was so red the entire time it was setting. The phone camera never captures it right, but it was stunning. I stopped in front of McDonald's up the road from where I was the last time to get this shot.
Then Thursday night on our way home the sun was amazing again, this time with clouds, so I took the long way home from Taco Bell to grab this one.
I had a couple rough days at the end of the week, still struggling with the kids' various ailments. Something the dental hygienist said to me when I went on Thursday morning got me worried again about Carter's mouth, and Jacob was still having weird stuff happening. I took him to the doctor on Wednesday because he was still feeling weird and was having neck pain in addition to all the weird viral symptoms he'd been having. It was just time to go and get some peace of mind, and sure enough, the doctor said exactly what I said she would--it's probably a virus and if everything stuck around for another week or so, then maybe go back. Of course, then he swore he was having some abdominal pain and a slight burning with urination, so he ended up back there over the weekend to get that checked too. Negative, though. We did get some good news that week because he finally had his cardiologist appointment. They actually said that our pediatrician messed up a bit because the high blood pressure thing goes more through the kidney doctor (?) but his blood pressure was normal, as was the EKG and a cardiac ultrasound. So, things seem to have eased up, whatever it was. If we notice it creep up again, we can get a referral to nephrology, but for now at least that is fine. And that gives me extra piece of mind that he's not at risk for any sudden cardiac events like you hear about teenagers having sometimes. Now if all the other symptoms would disappear, that would be great. I still think some of it is stress, but I don't think stress produces a swollen lymph node, so who knows. It's just been a terrible run. And I was just in the depths of it most of the weekend, worried about both kids and just confronting the fact that I'm exhausted and anxious and probably need to get help with that. And if God forbid something is really wrong with one or both kids, I am totally screwed. I have seen more than I'd like to of what cancer parents and chronic illness parents go through, and it absolutely terrifies me. I just got caught in that muck for a few days (it took me days to come out of the worst of it but at least I'm just poking my head out and trying to be functional), so that wasn't my best weekend.
We rode the viking ship quickly, then grabbed another ride on the Whirlwind, this time in the backward seat. It's definitely a different ride depending on whether you're in the front or the back--not just the lift hill (which is different) but also how and when you get swung around. It was an intense ride. I think the front ride was more enjoyable for me, but the back ride was crazier!
I debated long and hard about the Revolution 360. Carter had never been on one, but the last time I did one--Fantasy Island in 2015--I got a bit motion sick. But that was also in my ride lull period where I wasn't riding much and my brain might have been out of practice, so I was tempted to give it a shot. I figured by that point in the day we'd ridding almost everything, so it was worth a try. I regretted it for a moment once we were on, but in the end it wasn't bad. It's a weird sensation, but it's also like a big swing and gives you some nice views. By the end I was about ready for it to be over before I moved into icky territory, but I did pretty well and of course Carter liked it a lot! I'm not sure if that means I'll try the one at Cedar Point that's a similar concept but does waves instead of the half pipe, since the constant up and down while spinning could be more intense, but it's food for thought. I was proud of myself.
We went back to ride the Screaming Eagle, which probably wasn't my best move right after the Revolution. I really felt that one but I managed. The hanging upside-down and backward swing was not my favorite. After that we grabbed one more Jack Rabbit ride. Carter really wanted to get fried dough before we left, so we headed over to the fried dough stand to scope things out. I wasn't sure I wanted to battle a giant fried dough and messy sugar, and as much as I love those amusement park waffles I wasn't sure I was up for one of those either, so we took a chance and got the funnel cake fries. They're like a funnel cake but in individual fry form. We got a big bag and sat down on a bench to carefully eat them without dousing ourselves in sugar. They were SO good. They were just the perfect mix of crispy and pillowy. We did a pretty good job but still had leftovers.
We grabbed our wet clothes from the locker and headed out. Carter decided he wanted to stop at the playground across the street, one of our favorites. It's the one where we first went on one of the spinning swing things with three disc seats, and it has a cute nautical theme. I was still feeling the effects of the Screaming Eagle, just a light headache and wanting to sit for a bit, but luckily some kid recruited Carter in a chase, so he was occupied for a while. I helped him on the spinner to give him a few good swings, and eventually we headed out. He really wanted to go to Abbott's across the way, so we topped off our funnel cake fries with ice cream! I got a root beer float, and he got this crazy chocolate covered cookie sandwich!
It was such a nice night to sit out. Of course, he decided he was still hungry on the way home so I grabbed him some KFC and just got myself a single chicken taco from Taco Bell to get something of substance in my stomach, too. But what a fun day we had!
In other news, we've been back in high-level wildfire smoke so we've had some interesting skies lately. I managed to capture three good sunsets in less than a week from the same mile of road. I caught the first one on a walk on Sunday.
Then I took a bike ride on Tuesday night and the sun was so red the entire time it was setting. The phone camera never captures it right, but it was stunning. I stopped in front of McDonald's up the road from where I was the last time to get this shot.
Then Thursday night on our way home the sun was amazing again, this time with clouds, so I took the long way home from Taco Bell to grab this one.
I had a couple rough days at the end of the week, still struggling with the kids' various ailments. Something the dental hygienist said to me when I went on Thursday morning got me worried again about Carter's mouth, and Jacob was still having weird stuff happening. I took him to the doctor on Wednesday because he was still feeling weird and was having neck pain in addition to all the weird viral symptoms he'd been having. It was just time to go and get some peace of mind, and sure enough, the doctor said exactly what I said she would--it's probably a virus and if everything stuck around for another week or so, then maybe go back. Of course, then he swore he was having some abdominal pain and a slight burning with urination, so he ended up back there over the weekend to get that checked too. Negative, though. We did get some good news that week because he finally had his cardiologist appointment. They actually said that our pediatrician messed up a bit because the high blood pressure thing goes more through the kidney doctor (?) but his blood pressure was normal, as was the EKG and a cardiac ultrasound. So, things seem to have eased up, whatever it was. If we notice it creep up again, we can get a referral to nephrology, but for now at least that is fine. And that gives me extra piece of mind that he's not at risk for any sudden cardiac events like you hear about teenagers having sometimes. Now if all the other symptoms would disappear, that would be great. I still think some of it is stress, but I don't think stress produces a swollen lymph node, so who knows. It's just been a terrible run. And I was just in the depths of it most of the weekend, worried about both kids and just confronting the fact that I'm exhausted and anxious and probably need to get help with that. And if God forbid something is really wrong with one or both kids, I am totally screwed. I have seen more than I'd like to of what cancer parents and chronic illness parents go through, and it absolutely terrifies me. I just got caught in that muck for a few days (it took me days to come out of the worst of it but at least I'm just poking my head out and trying to be functional), so that wasn't my best weekend.
So, imagine the moment I walked out of Dollar Tree that Sunday after a quick burst of errands to see this:
It was so vivid. We'd had wacky weather for a number of days at that point. Fluctuating rain and sun, downpours, and then days of abnormally cool weather after it all, but this was quite the sight that evening. It was so pretty and while I wanted it to be reassuring, I'm at a point where it felt a bit juvenile or something to consider it a sign that everything is going to be okay. Rather, I probably should be seeing it as a reminder that God's always there even when I am struggling mightily and even if everything is going terribly wrong. It was amazing to see, though.
My gardens are pretty much going to crap right on schedule--or maybe a bit early--but I have had a couple winners. This new flower just popped out of my one random pot the other day and I just find it so lovely.
This pot is oddly thriving despite being swamped for days at a time half the summer. The coleus and the celosia match better than I even planned!
My front planter is thriving, almost out of control. My front zinnias are mostly pink and have been getting destroyed by birds (?) looking for seeds, but the little pot on the porch table has kicked out an orange and a yellow. This one has been delighting me the last few days as it continues to kick out petals.
My garden seems to be dying off rapidly from fungus. I had a zucchini growing, but I left it to grow bigger only to discover that the plant must be dying off and the zucchini was half rotted. Darn it. I did make a nice hibachi-style stir fry for myself out of the good half. Cukes have slowed down, too, and my tomatoes are crap. Hardly any this year. Guessing it's the constant heat? Boo. So, with the gardens going to crap, it feels like just about that time for vacation, just like the last three years when we've gone around now and come back to just complete garden chaos or sudden death. But I wasn't sure vacation was going to happen this time, despite our best efforts for a last-minute push. We just seemed to keep running into issues. I wanted to get Carter to Cedar Point during the last week of summer, even though Top Thrill 2 officially isn't reopening this summer, but that was also pretty much our only chance for family vacation because we had to work around my work retreat and a middle school parent meeting one Wednesday, middle school orientation the next, and Carter's dentist appointment (which feels important to keep on schedule given the mouth issues) a couple days later. But we kept talking about options, finding only expensive hotel options, and sort of giving up for a bit. And then there was a high school basketball complication--Jacob needing to make gym time in order to play fall ball--that made it seem almost impossible. But while I was at my retreat on Wednesday, in between doing this amazing virtual reality experience and listening to a huge donor answer our questions, Craig texted me to say they wanted to get the vacation in. So we started planning just a day ahead of leaving...but true to form this summer, that's not even close to the end of the drama of this story! But that's plenty for another post, so stay tuned!
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