July in Review

FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY -- BEECH BEND PARK

Okay, so I know I titled this post JULY in review, but I HAVE to blog our trip to BB which was at the END of JUNE =).  Shannon, Lisa and I took the kids make the trek to BB.  We've had season passes in the past but have decided to nix that purchase the last two years.  Since the Maglingers have a beautiful pool for us to enjoy during the summer, we just hang out there most weeks.  Beech Bend has become a special summer treat for us.  We try to go at least once. I knew this year would be exciting because Isaac was tall enough to ride the Kentucky Rumbler--BB's huge wooden coaster.  Last year he rode his first roller coaster at Holiday World (The Raven) and was "shaken" when he got done.  I was surprised by his excitement to try the Rumbler.  

The bigger kids started out at the Tornado while the little kids rode on the motorcycles.  It's nice because these two rides are right next to each other.

After the kids got done with their first rides, the big kids headed over to the Flying Bobs, and the littles kids went behind the Bobs to Rainbow Rock (one of those climbing/sliding/tunneling free standing jungle gym of sorts).  I was keeping my eye on the older kids because I knew they would be heading to Rumbler which is about a football field length away from  Rainbow Rock.  When the Bobs was finished I couldn't really tell where the kids were--I was hoping they would get on the Sea Dragon Pirate Ship.  No luck, I saw them at quite a distance heading for the Rumbler running :/.  Yikes, I thought to myself.  I hadn't told Shannon that Isaac was wanting to ride, and it would be his first time.  I told my friend Lisa I need to get over there quick and start sprinting (swim bag, flip flops and all) toward them.  It was to late by the time I got up to the Rumbler.  The kids were already loaded in.  Thank goodness Karson was riding with him.  I didn't want him to ride alone (Evan doesn't do roller coasters).  I asked him if he was okay to ride, and he said yes.  The coaster didn't last long before they came back, and Isaac had that stunned look on his face again.  I asked him if he was okay again, he said no =).  The Rumbler is exciting, but it's super fast and wooden coasters beat you to death.  He wasn't about to go on it a SECOND time like the wild girls in our bunch.

Enjoying more rides at BB.  We like to pack a lunch and avoid eating at the park.  This year, BB stopped their free soft drink program which was a bummer.  Isaac loves infinite soft drinks. After lunch, we headed to the pool which was nice and refreshing.  We ran in to some friends there which was fun -- lots of our friends still have their BB passes.  

Season passes at BB are a really great deal for what you pay.  However, I think going once a summer is enough for me. BECAUSE....

Our family thoroughly enjoys Holiday World (as you can tell by our large group size) which is only an hour and a half from Bowling Green AND it costs about as much as BB AND there is WAY more to do. 

I decided not to load to pack my camera for the trip this year.  We spend a majority of the day at the waterpark, and I figured Matt could snap a couple of photos with his iPhone.

The little and big kids usually split up immediately because the big kids are ready to ride the coasters.  Matt took Miles to the lil' kids area, and I headed to The Raven to literally get beaten to death on the wooden coaster.  Isaac was a trooper and wanted to to ride it.  By the end of the day, he rode it three times.  I'm excited he likes roller coasters.  The older I get, the less my brain can keep up and I leave coasters feeling confused about what just happened.  It helps if I close my eyes and reopen them during the ride.  I'm sure it would look funny if someone saw me, but at 50 MPH who's looking right?  We spent about 1/4 of the day at the park rides and the rest of the day at the waterpark.  We usually end the night in Holidog's fun town.  We took off around 7 p.m. that night completely worn out.

We've frequented Chick Fil A for breakfast and lunch.  Nothing makes Isaac happier than a 12 count of nuggets and a Diet Dr. Pepper for breakfast or lunch.

We've celebrated lots of birthdays in July beginning with my brother-in-law's on July 2.  I never know how to shop for men, and Matt's usually zero help.  I figured since Paul's birthday was around the 4th, I'd go to the Thunderdome Fireworks tent and get him some fireworks.  Fireworks can be pricey little suckers, but I was able to get some of the ones that shoot up in the air and some parachute troopers for around $25, and I also picked up some lottery tickets for him.  When we went to celebrate that night, I think everyone was excited about the fireworks so a few people took off to Sam's Club to buy even more of them.  It was a fireworks extravaganza.  Speaking of fireworks, we took the kids to Alvaton Church's annual fireworks show.  What a wonderful ministry this church has for our community each year.  The show lasted over an hour, they had inflatables for the kids, there was free food, drinks, snow cones, popcorn, you name it.  We loved it and loved fellowshipping with our friends there.

One of Karson's dearest friends, Kaylee, also celebrated her birthday this month.  It was a nice opportunity for all of our girls to get together and hang out--what a sweet bunch.  Her birthday was at Spa Fabulous.  The girls decorated sleep masks, had facials, get mani/pedi's and then had a runway fashion show. Love this group!

The twins celebrated their 9th birthday on July 18.  I had to include the invitation since I designed it--love doing invites.  We took the kids to Nashville to the Aquarium and to see the movie Turbo.

Our lil creatures of the sea =).  I can't believe Evan and Elizabeth are already 9 years old.  Our kids are growing up in a flash.  It seems like yesterday when Shannon and I were both preggers with our three-pack.  Thankful our kids have such incredible cousins and their relationships are so strong.  They literally would spend every single day and night together if they could.

In other July news, I got rear-ended.  My poor "new" car has had more accidents than my old van every had.  I went to happy hour at Sonic one afternoon during my break at SKyPAC and was enjoying my mozzarella snack pack and 1/2 price cherry limeade when cars started merging into my lane on Louisville Road.  The truck that came over in front of me slammed on his brakes and almost came to a complete stop.  I almost ran into him but didn't.  Unfortunately I got the brunt of his wreckless driving and got rear ended.  I felt sorry for the poor teenager who ran into me.  It could've happened to anyone.  It was just poor timing especially during my HAPPY HOUR =(.  All of well though, and the car was fixed almost immediately.  Back to new and keeping my fingers and toes crossed that this will be the LAST big event to my bionic car.  Sheesh.