More Flags, More Fun

Fun at Six Flags 2010

This drops you and makes your tummy tickle. In the background you can see the Superman which is the adult version free fall ride.

Anna's taking after her dad. I say "cheese" and she makes a pouty face. haha...I'll just call her my lil punk or punk jr.

A favorite. They may not list this as their favorite ride, but it's a must-do to ride the swings when we come here.

A round of Carousel rides.

In the Colosus (a giant ferris wheel)

Me and Daila on the Shazam! (scrambler)

Moon Cars

Have a Six Flags day! :-p

That's what all the workers say to you and it got kind of annoying. It barely makes sense, "Have a Six Flags day!" Well of course, we are AT Six Flags. They need to re-vamp that a bit.

We had a perfect day at Six Flags yesterday. Ben and I took the girls (Anna and Janae had earned their free tickets for reading during the school year) and the boy I babysit through the summer. We rode tons of rides, played at the tiny toon playground, then went to Hurricane Harbor after lunch. It was our first time at the water park and it was totally worth it. The kids loved the waterslides. So did we. Ben and I took turns riding some bigger rides. Lines were short. Weather was good, humid but overcast. What an exhausting but fun-filled day!

I am having such a content summer! Overall, I have more peace of mind since my dad passed away. I'm terribly emotional about the whole experience, but it shook me up in good ways too. It's hard to explain. I think it has to do with a perspective on life, values, and living. Today's a good day.

Summer with Stephanie

This summer I decided that my kids did NOT have to go to summer school even though I had to teach it. Luckily our good friend, Stephanie, was available to babysit at our house. They played board games, read books, built card houses, colored, swam, blew bubbles, videotaped skits and magic shows, tie dyed t-shirts, built forts, and basically just had a blast. Here are a few photos they took with Stephanie's camera. Thanks, Stephanie, for an awesome summer vacation!

Doesn't Get Any Better than This

Staying up late, sleeping in, shooting a bullseye with a .22 (just hitting the tree with the .40), riding in trucks, eating a breakfast of champions (David made a breakfast Dad would be proud of), cousins sleeping over--outside in tents, bonfires, roasting hot dogs and s'mores, buying a "cow" with Amanda, fireworks in the front yard, cheering on MMA fighters (Ben and I were rooting for Lesner...that was an intense fight), diving down inflatable water slides with my sistas, playing zonk, sumo wrestling with my bros, watching cousins put on skits in the school theater, helping Mom pack up her classroom, watching movies while snuggling with my sweetie, feeling at ease just being myself....

This is my family; my definition of America.

Happy Independence Day!!

First Kiss

While driving home, 3 worn out cuties asleep in back......

Me: Did you know that we had our first kiss today years and years ago?
Ben: How do you know?
Me: *rolling eyes* I remember.
Ben: Where were we?
Me: In my driveway.
Ben: How old were we?
Me: 16. Well I was 16.
Ben: Then I was 16 too.
Me: oh true . . .
Ben: You may feel older and wiser . . .
Me: Whatever.
Ben: What kind of kiss was it?
Me: Just a regular kiss. Not a french kiss or anything.
Ben: hmm
Ben: When was our first date?
Me: I don't know the date, but it was prom. Just a few months before.
(pause) That was my first kiss.
Ben: I remember.
Me: *chuckle* yeah obviously it was all very memorable.
Ben: *chuckle* Who was there?
Me: "Who'd I kiss, again?"
Ben, laughing, holds my hand.