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- Derrick and I started a new “tradition” a few months ago – after the kids go to bed on Friday nights, we officially take the night “off” (which can be very challenging because we both always work after the kids go to bed – Derrick on his YouTube channel and me on my wedding photography business). So, we take the night off and we celebrate what we’ve accomplished during the week – but mainly it’s just our excuse to eat cheese and crackers.
We’ve tried all sorts of weird/delicious/exotic cheeses and it’s just a super fun thing to look forward to at the end of a crazy week.
(Don’t worry, we don’t let Abby eat any of it.) - Big news of the week: we finally convinced Leander to ride the Jack Rabbit at Kennywood (!!)
Jack Rabbit is a classic wooden roller coaster at our home park and it’s height restriction is 42″. Leander’s been 42″ all summer long, but we haven’t been able to talk him into riding. He’s VERY nervous of “big” rides (but he’ll ride most kiddie coasters over and over again – hands up and all).
Well, we went to Kennywood last night – it was their last “regular season” weekday to be open and besides a few raindrops, it was a beautiful night to be at the park. On our way out, we decided to try our best to get Leander to ride. There was hardly no line and we gave it our best shot (yes, we bribed him). And he actually agreed.
He rode with me – Derrick and Braelynn sat directly behind us.
He was completely fine for the first drop and the second, but he started getting a bit freaked out when we rolled up the lifthill to Jack Rabbit’s highest point.
And then – if you’ve ever been on Jack Rabbit – you know what comes next.
Jack Rabbit’s calling card (and the reason it’s still around and a CLASSIC) is it’s double-down. You dive down into the ravine, slightly level out, and then dive down again. The entire train lifts off the track and you get launched out of your seat. It’s insane (and I remember riding it without seatbelts!) and let’s just say: Leander was not a fan. We rolled back into the station (after one last small drop) and he was bawling his eyes out.
He did it though and we were so proud of him for not backing out at the minute! He even told us, on the drive home, that he might be open to riding it again sometime. So, all in all, we feel like it was a success. - While we’re talking about amusement parks – we went to Kings Island last weekend. We spent Friday evening, Saturday, and then Sunday morning in the park. Friday evening was gorgeous and the park was dead (it was amazing). Saturday was also gorgeous and the park was packed out the wazoo (it was insane). Sunday morning was also gorgeous and the park was getting busier and busier, so we rode a few things and then got out of there.
Braelynn rode her first “big” inverted roller coaster (Banshee) on Sunday! She was nervous about riding, so she said she wasn’t going to, but she decided last minute to ride with me during “early ride time” for season passholders Sunday morning. We rode in the front row (Banshee is a front-row-or-bust kind of ride) and she loved it. She rode it a second time with Derrick and she had the biggest smile on her face. It was so fun! - This week was (and it’s still going on!) the massive kids consignment sale that happens twice a year at the Monroeville Convention Center. I always take between 200-300 items to sell and normally I have my stuff prepped and tagged and ready to roll days in advance. But this round, I kept thinking of more things I should sell, so I found myself tagging items less than an hour to go before I left for drop off. That gave me a little bit of anxiety, but it truly doesn’t matter (they never turn the tagging system off).
I dropped all of my stuff off on Tuesday night and then I shopped the pre-sale on Thursday. I LOVE shopping this sale – not only is consignment/thrift shopping one of my favorite things, but I leave my kids behind, so I take my time and really enjoy it.
By the time I was (more or less) done shopping, my sister had arrived, so I walked around with her and helped her look for the stuff she needed, and then we went to dinner together. We’ve done it this way for a few sales in a row now, so it’s officially a tradition (and I love it). I never get to sit and talk to my sister without one of our children interrupting us, so it’s like a whole afternoon-slice of heaven. - I’m happy to report that school “week 2” has been much more successful than school “week 1”. We had way less whining and complaining this week and we really felt like we got into a good groove.
