Busch Gardens 2012

Last Friday we went to Busch Gardens with our good friends the Elmers. My mom drove down that morning (after teaching Seminary at 6 a.m.--Mom, you're amazing!) to watch Cole and Jude while we were gone. We were originally going to go just adults, but decided to take Lance with us when we heard the Elmers were taking their kids. I'm so glad we did!

As you know with amusement parks, there is a height-requirement to ride some of the bigger rides and unfortunately, most of the best rides at Busch Gardens requires you to be at least 48 inches or taller. We measured Lance the night before we left and were sad to see he was about 47.5 inches with his tallest shoes on. We prepped Lance that he may not get to ride some of the big rides, but we would try.

They are pretty strict about height apparently. I put some extra socks in Lance's shoes to give him just a little more height, but he was still 1/4 of an inch too short. 1/4 of an inch. The guy gave him a wristband that said he had to ride the little rides. He was disappointed to say the least.

But it was mostly forgotten when we met up with the Elmers. Melissa's family was still in town so it was a pretty big crowd!

First stop was the Elmo's play world so the kids could ride some age-appropriate rides. Here is Lance with Killian, Kendall, Britton, their grandma and the exchange student that came with the family.

Me and Lance about to ride the kiddie coaster.

Love it! It was actually quite fun for being so small.

While we were riding the rides at Elmo's world, some of the adults hopped onto "Escape to Pompeii".

If you look close, you can see George and Aric in the back row with their "Trust me, I'm a doctor" shirts.

We had to wrestle to get Lance to ride it, but once he was on, he loved it!

The Battering Ram! Melissa and most of her family is in the back three rows.

So what did the kids do while the adults were riding the big rides?

Play games!

They have this awesome system at Busch Gardens called "child swap". Most of your group waits in line while you wait with the kids. Then once the group has ridden the ride, you go up the exit and tell them you're doing a child swap and they immediately seat those waiting with the kids on the ride. It was so great!

Some of our group on "Apollo's Chariot".

Lance and Killian waiting to see the family finish the ride.

George and Melissa's mom.

Melissa and I waited with the kids so we got to do the child swap. The lady running the ride was a bit rude in the beginning, but she totally made up for it by letting us ride the ride twice in a row! Well, she didn't really give us a choice. We rode it, tried to get off and then were told to "stay on!". Okay.

Aric with Jayden and Britton and a cousin.

Tea cups!

We tried to keep the kids happy while they waited for the adults. Ice cream works wonders.

While we waited for one ride, I took the kids to the swings. As simple as this ride is, it is very VERY fun.

Since the boys were riding together, Kendall and I decided to sit together, too.

Waiting outside a ride for the adults. See those toys? The kids got to play three games and Killian won each time. He is a great friend because he gave Lance and Kendall each one of his prizes. Silly kids!

Me and George riding "Alpengeist". This used to be his favorite ride ever until the put in "Apollo's Chariot" and "Griffon". I remember riding this with George when we were in high school and we came to the park with his family. 

Good times.

There was a new ride called "Verbolten" that just opened. Lance actually got to ride it one time. It was a 48 inch ride, but we pulled off his wristband and had them re-measure at the entrance to the ride. He stood as tall as he could and barely, barely made it. It was awesome! I got to sit next to him on his first "real" rollercoaster ride. He thought it was great! We went back a second time to ride it, but someone else was manning the measuring station and they said he was too short again. Oh well.

While waiting for the adults to ride Verbolten, George and I took the kids to play at Dragonland. It's like a huge playground with awesome cargo nets connecting different play areas.

They even had a splash ground where the kids played the majority of the time.

All three kids. Yeah, just ignore the sign that says to stay off the rocks. Oops.

I have a couple great little videos we took going on the "Roman Rapids" ride with the kids, but the computer is being difficult. I'll try to upload them later. 

We went on the ride twice. I don't think there was a dry spot on any of us.

It was such a fun day! We are so grateful to my mom who did a fabulous job with the boys, taking them on a 4-mile walk, playing with Jude and helping Cole take a bottle.

We made the almost 2-hour drive home again, just to hop in bed and leave for the Outer Banks the next morning. Busy weekend!