When Annalise sees her cousin Keara and her friend Ali going to school, she always asks if she can go too. Well, it’s Annalise’s turn now. Annalise started Prairie Children Preschool on August 25th. We knew it would be an easy transition for her when we went to the open house on August 21st to meet her teacher Ms. Adams and Annalise was upset when we had to leave! On the morning of the 25th, Annalise woke up at her usual 6am and was asking if she can go to school right then. I told her that we had to wait until her teachers were awake. Aunt Kathy came over to watch the boys while I drove Annalise to school. Sean was the most upset, because he wanted to go too. When we pulled up to the school, Annalise jumped out of her booster and jumped out of the car. She took the hand of the helper who was going to walk her into the school and off she went. There were just a few backward glances toward the car before she walked into the building but that was it. No tears! Yay! She’s been having a great time going to school, and Mama and the boys are having some good times too at home.
Now, if only we could get more than an I don’t know when we ask her what she did in school.. . Oh well, can’t win ‘em all!
After 81 years in operation in Melrose Park, IL, the amusement park featuring mainly rides most suited to younger children, will, as rumor has it, make way for a Costco or some-such. This place holds many fond memories for those like my wife and her siblings who grew up in this area. We simply had to take the kids there before the gates were closed for good. And so, yesterday we packed the kids in the van and along with aunt “Bethie” headed out to Kiddieland on a grand “babenture!” (ed: loosely translated from its native “annalise”: adventure).
What a day! The weather was forecast to be rather cloudy with increasing odds of rain in the mid to late afternoon. Perfect, we thought. Not too hot and muggy to make walking around outside oppressive and yet dreary enough to keep the crowds on the thin side. The real chance of rain wasn’t until 2-3pm, which meant we’d certainly be either home or at least en-route by the time it started pouring. We got off to a slow start and didn’t arrive at the park until around 11:30, 1/2 hour past opening and the first thing we noticed was the ginormous line of folks stretching a couple hundred yards or so beyond the entrance. Gulp. Alright, so perhaps we’re not the only ones who thought this would be the perfect day to visit the park. Sean managed to sneak in a decent nap while waiting and sometime after noon we found ourselves in Kiddieland.
What a wonderful place.
My first thought was disbelief that they’re actually closing in a few weeks. I’m not sure what I was expecting, but I was instantly struck by how clean and well-maintained this place was, from the rides to the signage to the people. While there were certainly signs of wear — this is clearly not Disneyworld — the carousels and mid-20th-century rides were obviously well-loved. We started off slowly, taking the kids around to all of the “kiddie” rides first. Unfortunately for Nathan, only a couple were large enough to accommodate an adult with infant. First there were elephants that go round and round and up and down, then cars, stranger cars, spaceships, boats and swings. Round and round. By this time we were brave enough to take the kids on “the Little Dipper” rollercoaster. This is a small wooden coaster with a 30′ drop (if I recall the sign correctly). Based on past experience with our community pool waterslide, I was moderately concerned that at least one of the kids would be screaming to get off before it was over. Was I wrong — they both LOVED it!
Their other favorite ride was the “Log Jammer” flume. The weather held out and it turned out to be an absolutely perfect day for our visit. We had managed to ride nearly everything in the park, and taken the kids on the rollercoaster a total of three times. By the time a light rain started, it was after 6pm and we were all ready to head for home. A fabulous time was had by all. It’s rather sad this gem of a park won’t be around for a few more years.
Since his birth, Suzy and I have been singing “Oldest Established…” from “Guys and Dolls” to our youngest, Nathan. His big sister Annalise has gotten into the act…
On the night we met, at one point in the evening Suzy revealed that she’d always wanted four children. To this day she claims this was part of a strategy — if I’d run away screaming or excused myself to the restroom never to return, I clearly wasn’t “the one”, but if I remained after this bit of news…well…maybe.
And so, here we are.
Nathan’s been a wonderful baby, but his recent regression back to overnight feedings makes me wonder if he perhaps really wanted to be the baby of the family. He certainly seemed to be doing his best to change our minds and decide that stopping at three wasn’t all that bad an idea, afterall! In any event, despite his best efforts, the final decision was taken out of our hands when a couple weeks ago Suzy got a positive test. The subsequent visit to the doctor confirmed it…and we couldn’t be happier. 2010 should prove to be a very challenging year.
