GoodBye to Kiddie Land or Turning My Nephew into an Adrenaline Junkie

Here's Amy with Orlando (in orange) and Angelo.
I thought the transition would be a bit more gradual, but it wasn't. It came on line a rush or water. It started yesterday with an innocent trip to Elitch Gardens, the local amusement park. Grandma Gay used Orlando's 11th birthday as a reason to get us all together for a day of fun. The bigger kids went on the roller coasters and the big rides. Angleo, Orlando's younger brother, started out in Kiddie Land. He had been happy there for years. We expected it would be the same again this year. We met part way through and he went on the Farris Wheel with his mother.

Grandma Gay had us all meet for lunch and ice cream.
When the conversation turned to what people were going to ride. Ang did not want to be left out when the big kids turned to go on the Boomerang.At first Ang was just going to watch, then Orlando talked him into giving a try - and that was the end of Kiddie Land for this kiddo.

While the big kids were riding the Minderaser (or the Mind Blower, as Grandma Gay calls it), the boomerang, Twister II (an old school style wooden coaster, the Half Pipe and other adrenaline rush inducing rides, Amy (my sister), Grandma Gay and I went on the Ghost Blaster ride, shooting at the targets in the ride with the laser guns.

It was also a chance to take some nice photos of Kaylah and Aleah. Aleah is a Snow White look alike with her lovely, soft skin and her deep,dark black hair.

The kids enjoyed the wave pool and the Pirate's Cove Water Playhouse. We went on lots of rides. Grandma Gay, Robert (my brother) and Aleah had enough and went home around 4:00. The rest of us were diehards, staying until the park closed.

Amy and I stayed for a bit of the Loverboy concert. She made me laugh when she said, "Tam, just imagine, this is our first concert together." Then about ten minutes later we both agreed that it was too loud, so we left.
We had a great time visiting while the kids went after every thrill. Little Ang was exhausted but refused to give in. He was a trooper, going to the very end. I imagine that he was asleep in the car even before we got to the main road. With a stay of about 12 hours, I am sure we got our money's worth from our time at Elitch's.