Life and Birthdays

Things have been slowing heating up in the bus lately, but luckily once it hit it's boiling point, we've been able to cool down and get things back to comfortable. While I hate things going bad, it does usually result in things getting better...and for that, I'm grateful.

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Last week our little vegetarian turned nine, and also completed a whole year without eating meat. He has no plans to ever eat meat again, and he's finally begun liking beans. I know they're not the only source of protein, but I know it's a good one, and one that we have often and just makes me feel more secure that he's getting enough "good" stuff. Which is crazy really, because he eats more greens than anyone else in the house, and he's the only kid of ours that doesn't look like a toothpick. I'm a mom...I get to worry. It says so some where.

My mom always sends a box of presents for the birthday kid, and small things for the other kids, so we rarely (if ever) give presents ourselves...we like to take them to do something fun with the family, so on his birthday we told him we'd do whatever he wanted on Sunday, Dad's day off. Last year he got his ears pierced and this year he says, "Get a tattoo!" We're liberal...but not THAT liberal.

I throw out: White water rafting on the Colorado River? Tubing on a tame portion of river? Train ride through the Rockies? All of those being my first choice, but no, he wants to go Bananas!

Bananas Funpark, that is.

At first I decided against taking my camera because I wanted to be free, but last minute I grabbed my old (smaller, with video) camera, and as usual, was glad I did. First thing we did was the bumper boats, and second thing we did was get SOAKED!

These were not the old bumper boats from my day, these had squirt guns on them and if there was an adult in a boat, every single kid attacked said adult.

Luckily it was hot out, so we dried in about three minutes.
Other than the bumper boats and arcades, there wasn't much else for us parents to do, though. Well, besides the mini golf, but that wasn't happening in ninety four degree weather. We had a great time watching the boys on the go karts, Jewel on the inflatable playground, winning mucho tickets in the arcade, killing each other at lazer tag, and relying on the bumper guards in mini bowling. The highlight for all the kids though, was the lazer maze.

The picture doesn't do it justice, but it was hundreds of colored lights that they had to maneuver by rolling, crawling, jumping, contorting...all without hitting the lazers. Jewel's the white dot trying to duck under one. She only hit one lazer, and I think had the best time. That's my girl.

Afterwards we checked out the new ice arena, and learned they're having their grand opening this Friday, which will have all types of activities going on, including free skating. You know where we'll be Friday. :)

We topped off the day with blizzards from DQ.
The very next morning Jewel's asking to go Bananas again. I'm half way there.