Six Flags

What spring and summer would be complete without season passes to Six Flags? One of the nicest perks we have living where we do is making quick trips to Six Flags. 5 minutes down the road and you are parking your car. A few minutes after that you are in the park.

We ride the same rides every time we go. The kids don't mind. I think they prefer the routine. One bonus on going late in the evening is that all the other children have gone home. Leaving our kids with the run of the place. So much that the Bugs Bunny Airplane ride didn't have anyone in line providing Alyce and Luke the opportunity to fly their own planes.  Upon taking off Alyce went straight up to the top. Luke well it took him most of the right to figure out that he had to pull back hard on the stick to go up. He managed to get off "the ground" but never got all the way up.  No worries though he enjoyed himself.

Six Flags

Last Saturday the family went out to Six Flags after dropping off a check starting construction on our new house.  While there we found out that Alyce was 42" tall and she and Mom left Luke and myself so they could go ride a big roller coaster.  While they were gone Luke and I rode some rides too.

Luke and I rode two rides while they were gone.  Elmer Fudd's Weather Balloons and Yosemite Sam's Tugboat Tailspin.  Before they left Luke rode the Foghorn Leghorn National Park Railway with Mom and Alyce.  All of these rides are great because they allow you to ride the rides with your kids and keep them calm so they can enjoy the ride.

Luke enjoyed the Weather Balloons the most and even helped me turn the wheel so the balloon would spin.  The Tailspin ride was also lots of fun, but I think Luke kept losing his bearings as the ride was twisting as he kept trying to focus on the same spot.

After our rides we hung out at the playground because it afforded me a good view of the roller coaster Mom and Alyce were riding so I could get some video.  But Luke, being a great kid didn't complain and kept himself entertained by watching all the kids running by.

Once we picked up Mom and Alyce from their coaster experience we took a turn on the carousel.  This time Mom, Alyce, Luke, and myself were all able to ride!  Luke really enjoyed riding on his horse and spent a decent amount of the ride looking at the mechanics of the ride trying to figure out how it worked.

Luke seems to be much more comfortable on rides than Alyce is.  He is definitely more of a daredevil than Alyce ever has been.  Just another example of how two siblings can be so different.

Luke's First Ride

Last weekend the family took a trip with our friends Josh, Tammy, and Gideon to Six Flags.  While most of the trip centered around Alyce and Gideon Luke managed to have some fun and firsts.

In previous trips to Six Flags Luke has mostly tagged along.  He's been too small or unable to sit still long enough to ride attractions that didn't involve an adult holding on to him.  A good example of those sort of rides are the carousel, Ferris wheel, or steam train.  This past weekend we decided that Luke was old enough and big enough to try a ride.  The ride we chose to be Luke's first was the Elmer Fudd Weather Balloons.  This ride was great because Alyce, Luke, and myself could all ride together.  Josh and Gideon were in the balloon next to us.

When it was our turn to go I dropped Alyce in first, then Luke, strapped both of them in, then took a second to document the event.  Finally I got into our basket, strapped in, and off we went!  Truthfully I don't think Luke knew what to think about it.  His head was on a swivel as if he was trying to get a handle on why the world was moving around him.  One thing for sure was that he didn't complain or cry.  I figure if I tried putting him on it without me we wouldn't be so lucky.

We did ride another kid ride with Luke, the Marvin the Martian Rocket Ride.  For this one the entire family go onto the rocket.  Mom sat up front with Alyce and I was in back with Luke.  Once again Luke got his own seat rather than sitting on our lap.  This ride is pretty tame in comparison to the balloon ride but Luke seemed to enjoy himself as he looked out the window.

I have a feeling that Luke will be the child that likes coasters.  In previous trips to Six Flags and our last Luke has been enamored with roller coasters.  It doesn't matter which one it is Batman, Mr. Freeze, or the Mine Train; the second he hears them going he turns and looks and doesn't break his attention until the coaster train is out of sight.  Alyce on the other handle jumps and is scared of the noise a coaster makes.

Six Flags

Sunday we took Alyce and Luke to Six Flags. It is Luke's first trip ever and the first time this season for Alyce.  Another first for Alyce is that she got her first season pass.  This is the first year that Alyce was old enough to need her own pass.  It was also her first ever picture id.  Getting the season pass was the first thing we did once getting inside the park and Alyce seemed pretty excited about it.

The first ride we rode was the Enchanted Carousel.  It was close and a good introduction to rides at Six Flags.  Luke was even able to ride the horses even though Mom had to be there to hold him.  After the Carousel Alyce played on the playground.  This was also the first and only ride that she couldn't ride on because of her height.  The two biggest and best slides available were only available to kids 42" and taller.  Can you believe it?  You have to be 3'6" to ride a slide?  Before we got busted on height Alyce and I managed to go down the slide so she got the experience.  Hah! Take that height checker.

After the playground Alyce rode all manner of rides in the Looney Tunes kids area.  Some rides she was very excited to go on and others required a bit of cajoling.  The balloon ride and the the boat ride were her two favorites while the plane ride was her least favorite.  The best part about the majority of these rides is that the parents get to go one them too.  They aren't anywhere near as exciting as an adult ride but Alyce's excitement was so infectious that was impossible not to have a good time.


Toilet training continued even at the park.  Alyce was a big girl and told Mom and I she needed to use the restroom and didn't have any accidents.  Upon exiting the restroom I caught this great action shot of her running into my arms.  I love it when she runs into my arms.  I pick her up above my head, swing her around, and we come to rest in a big bear hug that I want to hold as long as possible.

The last ride we rode for the day was the steam train.  The kids area is right next to a train station and the train came through more than once while we were there.  Alyce noticed this and asked repeatedly to ride the train.  We figured we could do it last and ride it back to the front of the park.  Before the train left the station I hopped off real quick to get a picture of Alyce.  Alyce voiced her displeasure with my actions by saying "daddy get on the train it's going to leave without you".  Adorable.  This was also Luke's 2nd and last ride of the day.  Had the Ferris Wheel been open we could have gotten Luke on three.


Luke was an angel during the whole trip.  He spent most of his time in his stroller but he didn't seem to mind except when he got hungry.  I'm thinking he was too busy taking in all the action going on around him.

The last thing we did before leaving the park for the day was to pick up a cape for Alyce.  Mom and I on previous trips to Six Flags say kids and adults wearing superhero capes.  Rather than wanting one for ourselves we knew that Alyce would love one.  So as we were leaving we were $5 poorer and the proud parent of one super girl and owner of a pink super cape.  It will need some hemming to fit perfectly but we know a few people with a sewing machine.