Waking up knowing that we had a day full of fun ahead of us was such a great feeling. Our kids were ready for roller coasters and friends…and so were we.
I went to Great America when I was 16 {a long time ago} and I remember it being all about roller coasters. But it has transformed over the years into a pretty cool waterpark as well. Which is great when it’s 90 degrees.
The first coaster ride of the day was on Demon. This turned out to be a favorite, given that it was the only coaster open that they were tall enough to ride. It has two loops and a corkscrew – a first for Payton and Ellie. I think they are hooked.
Their first upside down coaster ride. I love Payton’s last line on the video.
The Snoopy Pumpkin ride. The kids went on this immediately after the coaster. It might have been a bit of a let down.
Shiloh loved the water spray course. His lips turned blue quickly and shook like a leaf from being cold, but he kept going back for more.
Colin and the kids in the water spray course. It may have been one of Colin’s favorite things to do as well.
Shiloh would only let me take a picture of us if we could make mean faces. This was his favorite ride. He called it the “Carriage”. Everyone else calls it the Carousel.
This is the Flying Eagle. Technically a little kid ride, but it ended up being a favorite of everyone. You can change the angle of the eagle head to make your car fly pointing up towards the sky or down towards the ground.
Shiloh was too short for most of the major rides, but they have a ton of rides for little kids. And their daddies.
Colin and Tim, of course, had to go on the ginormous {yes, that’s a word} tower called Drop Zone. Colin screamed the whole time. He started screaming as they started falling {to be funny}, and he couldn’t stop. That’s him, swinging his feet at the top.
Yes, that’s my girl in a full body harness. We decided to go for it and get the biggest thrill we could {And when I say “we” I mean not me. At all. Ever.}.
Colin, Payton and Ellie rode the Xtreme Skyflyer – a ride where they harness you in to a cable, raise you up unbelievably high in the air and drop you so you swing laying flat and face down. It scared me, and I was on the ground. They loved it.
I wanted to cry seeing my little ones up there, but I’m so glad they have a daddy that will do stuff like that with them. Every kid needs someone to teach them to be brave and give them courage to take risks.
Great America was so much fun. Spending a day with friends acting like kids and having fun is like a deep breath of fresh air.
If it was possible in California to take a deep breath of fresh air.
Now…to make it home.
