Well, we were about half-way to Williamsburg (an hour's drive from our house) when I had the sudden realization that I'd forgotten the camera! Damn it! Not only did I want it to take pictures at Busch Gardens, but I was required to take pictures for the hotel mystery shop we were there to do! I had two choices: Go back for it, or use my camera phone, which is a no-no. We'd gotten a much later start (like, five hours!) than I'd planned, and it was nearing the end of my acceptable check-in time, so we had to go with the latter. Major suckage. So, all the below pictures are from my camera phone.
After we checked in, I did as much of the report as I could for the hotel, while the kids ran completely wild in the room. They absolutely love staying in hotels - love it! And it gets them really hyper and excited. The just could not be calmed. It was crazy. I tried to settle them down while Rob ran around the hotel doing more of the job for me.
We were supposed to go out and do another mystery shop at a cool miniature golf course down the road, but it was closed due to rain. It poured all weekend in Williamsburg. We kind of knew that going in but decided to go anyway.
And so, it was time for dinner. I had my Entertainment Book with me, and we found this Japanese hibachi grill restaurant in it. It was a half-mile from the hotel, so we decided to go.
I have always loved a hibachi restaurant. All the knife tricks, all the fun tossing of food and entertaining chefs...! My grandparents used to take Sis and me to our favorite one in New Jersey whenever we'd visit them. Well, come to find out, not only was it our kids' first time going to one, but it was Rob's, too! I had no idea. So he was as entertained as they were (and I was, too, of course, even knowing what to expect), especially at the fire tricks our chef performed. And when the chef threw a piece of shrimp at Rob, and he caught it in his mouth, that was the hit of the night! Chloë couldn't stop talking about it.
As for me, I was mostly excited that I ate all my scallops and didn't barf. Hey, it's a big step for me right now!
That night, it was impossible to get the kiddos to sleep. They were so revved up from being at a hotel, their fun dinner experience, and the idea of going to Busch Gardens the following day. It was after midnight before they finally konked out! I think Rob fell asleep before them, which made it especially fun for moi.
The following morning, we had our complimentary breakfast, I puked, we finished the shop and checked out, and headed to the theme park bright and early. Busch Gardens has a new Sesame Street Forest of Fun area for the tots, so we made a beeline for it to get there before the crowds. There was a splash area they wanted to jump right into, so we got them dressed in bathing suits and slathered in sunscreen, SPF 900. (Not really, but close.)
First, we all went on this really tame Oscar-the-Grouch ride, and everyone but Jack had a lot of fun. He cried the whole time, even though the ride was not a bit scary. We knew it was because he hadn't slept enough the night before and was therefore his usual cheerful self. The girls decided they wanted to go on another ride, but Jack absolutely refused, so here he is, splashing around and having a grand ol' time!
Rob took the girls on this ride. You can kind of see his orange hat on the right side, and the girls are on either side of him. Sophia loved it. Chloë screamed and hollered for the whole park to hear, the entire time. She and Jack are my chickeny babies, while Sophie is the thrill-seeker!
After the girls joined Jack in the splash zone, they wanted to dry off and head across the way to this area for running around and climbing.
It was lots of fun, and they spent a great deal of time there.
The girls climbed up on this "log" and paused for a photo op.
Every so often, select Sesame Street characters would come out and perform a show. It was lots of fun!
It was noon by then, and the kids started complaining of hunger. We decided to take the Skyride (like a ski-lift) over to "France" and see what we could find. Rob and the girls rode in the gondola ahead of Jack and me. I thought he would flip out on the Skyride, but instead, he LOVED it! He kept begging to go back on it, but alas, we never got the chance.
After we ate a way-overpriced buffet lunch (I didn't eat; it would so not have been worth it fo me) and bought a couple of prizes for Bunco, Chloë and Jack had to make a pit stop. I decided to take Sophie, who had been hungrily eyeing the outrageously scary-looking Griffon roller coaster all through lunch, on the LeScoot Log Flume ride. I don't care how scary (to me) a ride is - if there is water involved, I'm in! Okay, that's not entirely true since the Griffon also goes through water, but you are out yo' damn mind if you think I'm going on that thing. Rob even told me he would buy me a SmartCar if I went on it! He wouldn't go, either; the Bigs come by their chickeniness honestly!
Anyway, the log flume. There was no wait at all, and we got right into a log car. I clutched Sophie in front of me, and she held on for dear life, laughing the whole time as we zipped around the track and splashed down at the end. She loved it! I got soaked, though. When we emerged, there were Rob and the Bigs waiting for us. Chloë had an upset tummy, but she wanted to go on the ride, and Soap wanted to go on again. Jack, of course, did not, so I stayed behind with him.
In the end, though, he decided he did want to go, so we ran to catch up with the rest. I couldn't believe he was actually willing to go on it - and he did, with Rob! It earned a thumbs-down from him, but he didn't cry! Then Chloë rode with me, and she cried the entire time. Two thumbs down. But again, she did it!
The kids climbing the walls outside the flume ride - well, Sophia was the only one who did it successfully on her own!
Trying to find the Skyride again to go back to Sesame Street, we came upon the carousel. Ah, this was more the big kids' speed.
Jack opted to ride on a bench instead of a horse, so I sat with him. A nice smile from him!
We started going to the kiddie Dragonland right next to the carousel after that, but then began the downpour. Rides shut down all over the park, and we hid under a covered bench. I got soaked, as did the kids, but Rob somehow stayed mostly dry. Eventually, it became obvious that the rain was not going to let up, so we made our way across the entire park to the exit. I was sad, though I knew this was going to happen. Of the five of us, I am definitely the trooper when it comes to being caught in the rain!
Back at the van, we dressed the kids in warm, dry clothing and decided to go to the outlet mall. The girls have grown out of their shoes, so I wanted to visit the Stride Rite outlet for sneakers and sandals, at least.
By the time we arrived, five miles down the road, all three children were sound asleep. And the deluge continued. No matter, my father called me, so I talked to him awhile and let the kinders sleep. When we hung up, we got the kids up, and Jack was highly annoyed at the intrusion. But we had work to do!
After getting the kids' feet measured (for the curious, Sophia and Chloë both wear a 9½, and Jack wears an 8 - yes, their feet are tiny!), Rob took the boy and I took the girls to find them some shoes. Jack hasn't really grown out of his, but they are getting quite worn, and I've never bought them decent Stride Rites before. This was our chance, so we took it. In the end everyone got sneakers, everyone got sandals, Rob got a pair of docksiders (the dog chewed up his old ones), and the Littles got some rain boots. Chloë already has some.
Here is Sophie, this morning, modeling Jack's PolliWalks, which are similar to Crocs. I thought they were Crocs, actually, until we got home. Oh, well, they're adorable.
After the shoe store, I went next door to the Carter's outlet and got a TON of kids' clothes for a hundred bucks. I mean, a LOT. And all for the next size up, so their next summer wardrobe is well on its way! Great deals! I'd forgotten there was a Gymboree outlet there, too, or I would have gone crazy in there. Too bad; next time, I guess!
Our last stop was the Ben & Jerry's shop in the outlet mall for some ice cream. Chloë's poor tummy was really upset by then, but we'd promised them all ice cream after shopping, and it didn't seem fair to let the Littles eat and not her. So she had plain vanilla soft-serve while the Tots ate mini sundaes. I asked for sugar-free, but they were out of it. Then I checked out the nutrition poster for another choice, and found chocolate-peanut butter swirl for the same carb content! I was excited, because that's my favorite flavor, until they told me they didn't have that, either. So I seriously pouted. I know I don't need to be eating any ice cream, but man, one tiny spoonful or two wouldn't have killed me.
We drove home in the rain after that, and I got a killer migraine. I still have it, too. Bummer.
Next weekend, we're going back to the Outer Banks for another hotel shop! I can't wait!
Fin.