Our annual Stro family trip to Lagoon happened at the beginning of June. The whole family, at least those that are able, are treated to a day at Lagoon by Brandon's parents. This was the 6th year in a row that I have been apart of this lovely tradition. Well, mostly lovely. Each year, Brandon and I have been isolated by the fact that we were the only ones with little kids. (Marc and Eliza have little ones a bit younger than ours, but have opted not to attend or have left their kids with other family in order to attend.)
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| 2007 |
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| 2008 |
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| 2009 |
For five years we have spent much of our time just the two of us in the kiddieland with the littles while the rest of the family was off going on "the big rides." Two of the six years I have been pregnant and unable to ride much of anything and, voluntarily, allowed Brandon to spend a little time with his care-free siblings. I'm nice like that.
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| 2010 |
Another year I didn't even go, staying home with our 4-week old Anne instead. What a wonderful day to stay home and cuddle my sweet girl while Brandon bonded with our newly ignored older children.
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| 2011 |
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| 2011 |
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| 2011 |
My intent is not to put a damper on the whole tradition. We really look forward to it each year. I adore seeing our kids ride all the little rides and watching as they grow and are able to go on more rides and understand them better, especially the bumper cars. Understanding the bumper cars at Lagoon is seriously a coming of age moment.
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| 2012 |
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| 2012 |
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| 2012 |
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This year was a big one for us. In our anticipation of the event we measured each of the kids and found out that William is officially tall enough to ride every single ride at Lagoon, Marie is tall enough to ride all but three, Anne is tall enough to ride the family rides, and Samuel is just barely old enough that we could put him on the rides and not worry he was going to try to climb out. Barely.
It was such a fun day full of laughing and cheering and enocouragement and smiles. I watched as our kids bonded over the memories they have made together at this quaint little amusement park. They ensured that we went on their favorite rides and were eager to try those they'd never been on before.
However, when I realized another height restriction we hadn't thought about I suddenly got sentimental. Next year, William will be too tall for kiddieland.
This was William's last year to be able to ride these cars that he has always loved so much (and most of the other kiddie rides at the park). This would be the one and only year that we could sit and watch all four of our children enjoy all the same little rides together.
We ate it up and made the most of the day. William and Marie went on several of the big rides and loved them. Then they were content to be together with Anne and Samuel. I just love being together with my own wonderful family. An entire day together with no worries besides having fun is so rare lately.
And I perhaps cried a tear or two as I looked at my sweet little ones and realized how precious and how fleeting each year and each stage is.
I couldn't love those four kids more.
1 comment:
And I know they adore their mother. How could they not?
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