The Land of Make Believe

Last summer we took Gia to the Land of Make Believe in Hope, NJ. It's a small amusement park and water park meant for little kids. Last year, our trip was one of the first times she'd gone on rides and we had so much fun.
I was worried we'd have to skip this summer because I'm pregnant and not really up for trekking around in the heat, but last week, we decided, spur of the moment, to go.  This pregnancy is so different from when I was pregnant with Gia. I feel better the farther along I am; and I feel better the more active I am. (Don't get me wrong, I'm still exhausted and achy and all that good stuff, but in general I feel pretty good.)
Instead of getting there at 10 am when it opens, we did the late shift and it worked out perfectly. Gia napped in the car, stocking up on all the energy she'd need to run around for a few hours. We got there a little before 2pm all the early birds were already leaving. We scored a parking spot right near the entrance. And, since it was later in the day, it was already starting to get cooler.
Gia went on lots of rides and loved them all.

    And of course we spent over an hour with the animals at the petting zoo.

Later, we went on the train two times. Here we are at the station, waiting for it.

We both have crazy eyes in this picture.

I love this litte face so much.

 

At the end of the day, Daddy convinced Gia to ride on a mini free fall ride. Somehow she wasn't scared. Till she got on, that is.

Jon didn't realize quite how scary it was till they got on. He talked her through it--telling her she was ok and that it was almost over. She didn't cry and she didn't freak out. I don't think she truly loved it, but she was a trooper and made it through. I was really proud of her for acting like such a big girl.
Add another fun summer day to the books!
 

Watch out Tiger Woods!

While we were in Wildwood we took Gia mini golfing for the first time. In true Gia fashion, she loved it. There are so few things that she doesn't like...it really makes taking her most places a breeze. 
We went to Duffer's on a sunny, non-humid, gorgeous morning. Gia loved her golf club and the fact that she got a pink ball. She didn't really care to hold the club the right way though. Nor did she care for the actual rules of the game.
Her version of the game goes something like this.
1. Hit the ball (the right way).

2. Watch it roll for about 2 seconds.   3. Pick it up and run to the hole with it.    

    4. Drop it near the hole.  

    5. Use the club (in a very awkward way) to shove the ball into the hole.    

   

    6. Yell "I WON!"

 

7. Proceed to pick up Mommy's ball or daddy's ball and "help" us get it in the hole the same awkward way. 
8. Repeat 17 more times.

 

The other day we went to one of Gia's friend Gianna's 3rd birthday party at an indoor play place in New Jersey. It's right next to a mini golf place. I didn't think she spotted the golf place, but I was wrong. As we were leaving the party, Gia said, "Look Mommy! Golf! I want to play golf!" So on Monday we had some cloudy weather and were looking for something to do (Jon was off) so we took her back. She had just as much fun the 2nd time around.

Let's Go Fly a Kite

A few months ago I bought Gia a kite. She was so excited and couldn't wait to fly it. I put it in the playroom, just waiting for a windy day, and of course, forgot all about it. In the middle of the stifling July heat wave she found it and had been asking to fly it every.single.day since then.     Luckily I came up with the brilliant idea to buy her cousins kites too, and tell Gia we'd fly them when we went to Wildwood.    Luckily we had a few breezy days: perfect for kite flying. 

Turns out my husband is an expert kite flier --hurt wrist and all--and he got Gia's kite off the ground in a few seconds. Literally. Like, in under a minute it was flying high. 

 

 She was thrilled.

I predict there will be many more kite-flying beach days in our future.