The North Pole (take 3!)

The past two summers we have enjoyed a family day-trip to the North Pole, located right at the base of Pike's Peak.  Kai really enjoyed it last year, and I had a feeling Finn would just love it this year, so on the Saturday before Labor Day we decided to take the boys again.  We were right--Finn was the perfect age for the adventure.  Since he is under two years old, his admission was free, but since he also just past 32 inches in height he was also able to ride about 90% of the rides that Kai could.  He just loved it!  For the few rides that we did not allow him to ride with Kai (mainly because we felt they were too fast), he would stand at the gate and cry while wailing out the word "riiiiiiiiieee", or "ride".  It was pathetic and cute.

Since this was our third trip to the park, we're pretty aware of the little tricks to having a good time.  There are really just three important ones--show up right as the gates open, have a jacket (because it's cold in the morning on the mountains), and go straight to the back of the park where the kid rides are.  If you do that you can just walk right on to any ride that you want and ride by yourself.  We were at the back of the park practically by ourselves for nearly 45 minutes.  It gave the boys enough time to ride everything they wanted at least once, and most rides they rode two or even three times.  We took a break for lunch and then headed back towards the front.  The only ride we really had to wait for were the cars, but that's a given at the park.  (I don't know who designed it, but that was a poor decision.  The one ride that you can only load one to two people onto it at a time is the very first ride inside the gate.  It always makes for a line, even when the park has just opened.  Silly planning!)  We sure wore the boys out that day and they both fell asleep for a nice nap on the way home.  It was a fun day.  I'm sure we'll be doing it again, but maybe not next year.  :)

Riding the train

Check out last year's blog (and then the year before that) to see how Kai has grown.  Wow--it makes me sad and proud at the same time.  I just love my big boy!

Finn's first ride--we're in an ornament circling a Christmas Tree.  Can you see Finn?

Now can you see him??

Kai loves the lady bug ride, but Finn wouldn't go near it.  We didn't figure out why until later in the day.

Once again, Finn wouldn't get on any of the carousel animals.  We didn't know why.....until later.

Finn was excited to go on this mini-ferris wheel with Kai.

Four feet!

This was Finn's favorite ride, and he had to sit right there every time--middle of the back row.

Race cars!

Riding the boats.  Kai loved ringing the bell and Finn started to feel left out.

On the firetruck, again.  I think this was his third time.

Kai's very first rollercoaster

The "North Pole"

I love Finn's expression as he realizes it's cold.

It was at this point that we put together why Finn had refused certain rides.  All of the rides had one thing in common--animals.  Finn does NOT like them.  See the stink eye he is giving this horse.  It's almost as if you can hear him say "Why are you chasing me?  Stop chasing me!"

This is my favorite ride (except for the lines) because the boys always love it!