Vacation – Day 3

9-18

Jack,

Yesterday may just be one of the best days that I can ever remember. We took you to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and had such a fun time! You are still very small so there are lots of rides you can’t go on, but you are able to walk so there ARE things you can do at theme parks now.

There was SO much to see. In the beginning, we did a lot of pointing at things that caught our attention.


You seemed particularly fascinated with the trash cans that were made to look like luggage with traveling stickers on them. It was hard to convince you that this wasn't the best thing to see.



We started out by going to the Suess-land part of the park where we rode the Carousseusel which is a crazy looking caroussel with Dr. Suess characters on it. You thought this ride was fantastic! The best thing about it? You never had to get off of it if you didn’t want to. You rode it again, and again, and again, and again (then off to drink some milk) and again and again and again!
There was a One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish ride where you could go up and down on a fish that you controlled while getting squirted with water. You liked the up and down, but you didn't like the getting squirted unexpectedly with cold water part. We only went on that one once.

You also rode on the Cat and the Hat ride (not pictured, because you were WAY too excited to agree to photo ops when it came to THIS ride). This ride is a lot faster and swings you around in jerky motions. Your Daddy thought it might be too rough for you, but we gave it a try and it turns out that it was one of your favorites. You would cry if you had to wait in line to get on it and when the ride would end and we would have to get off of it, you would scream and cry grabbing at the lap bar to try to pull yourself back onto the ride. Not realizing that we were taking you right back on it (although we might have to wait in line again (OH, NO!!!!!).

After a fun morning in Dr. Suessland, you finally drifted off to sleep and your father and I made our way over to the other end of the park where Barney in the park was. Did the party stop while you slept? Of course not! You tried on hats and got to meet Captain America.

I'm sure I'll burn in hell for doing this to a sleeping child, but you were so cute!

Neither Daddy nor I knew what to expect when we got to Barney in the Park. It had an indoor park that looked like the set of the Barney show where you could crawl and play. We got in line for a show also not knowing what to expect. The wait for the show was 15 minutes and I thought by the end that the wait might actually kill you. Your head was completely thrown back and opened so wide, you could see every molar, your face was red and you were SO upset that your eyes were squeezed tight so that I couldn’t even show you the doors where opening, you had to hear the sounds of everyone around you moving in to the show before you quieted and took in the change in the environment.

When the show started, a man came in and announced that a friend had arrived. The stage went completely dark and then spotlights came on and glitter exploded up in the air. There was a blast of Barney music and there was Barney in all his glory. I have to hand it to the park – Barney looked JUST like he did on the show and the whole vocals for the show were pre-recorded so it WAS Barney’s voice. You absolutely FROZE while Barney sang to you and the other children. It was like you were meeting some fantastic celebrity and you couldn’t believe it was real. Then Baby Bop and BJ joined the show and they all sang – even the “If all of the raindrops were lemondrops and gumdrops” song which we sing with you all the time…”

You smiled when they sang the “Ahhh-ahh-ahh-ahhhh-ahh-ahh-ahhhhh-ahh-ahh-ahhhhh” part like you shared a great joke with them.

When the show was over, you got to get your picture taken with Barney. You were a little intimidated, but you gave him “five” and that was great.

We ended up back in Dr. Suessland where we ran back and forth between the Cat In the Hat ride and the Carossel until closing time. We opened the park and we closed it. What a great day!

Love,

Mommy

P.S. Here are some pictures of you trying to convince us to get you everything in the store:

Meeting Barney made a little braver in facing the big cartoon characters roaming the park. Prior to meeting Barney, you were fascinated with them and had to watch them closely, but would panic and cry and grab at my neck desperately trying to get away if there tried to approach.

After meeting Barney, you were brave enough to give "5" to Scooby Doo!