Gilroy Gardens fun

June 13, 2012

Now that we have a season pass we find ourselves here often... even just for a few hours, like today. :)
MD drove us around....

 That's us being the happy passengers!

 Then we went on a lazy river ride...

 Very soothing...

 LOVE :)

 Then we separated and went on these paddle boats.  These two went ahead of us... and crashed a few times into people!  hahaha!

 He's a great helper.  :)

 The artichoke ride:

 And their favorite -- the roller coasters!!!!!

 He loves it!!!!

 They went on this on their own -- first time and they loved it!

This summer, it's all about the experience and joys of being outdoors.  We are very well tanned, for sure!!!

Gilroy Gardens

It was a nice day to venture out to Gilroy Gardens with some friends.
We started out at the car track -- MD drove this time:

 Then MD and MG went for a drive in this car:

 While E drove Sydney and me around a different track:

 After a walk around we hopped onto my favorite ride -- the Rainbow Garden, which just floats slowly down like a lazy river... and it was very relaxing for this momma:

 While our friends went on the ferris wheel, we walked through the monarch garden -- although it's not monarch butterfly time, so we settled for reading all the signs about the various plants:

 We met up with our friends again and went on the tram for the first time -- it was always closed when we were there last:

 We went over the Monarch Garden -- fun!  (would have been better if the butterflies were out flying around!)

 Then they were hungry, so while our friends went on a larger roller coaster (that my 3 are not quite comfortable with yet), we walked up ahead and watched a show while having our lunch:

 I love the new tin boxes we purchased!

 We heard a show going on and ran over... just in time for the ending... and photo time!  You know who that is right?!  My 3 love that book about Max and the Wild Things!

 And the long awaited... water play area!

 This was their favorite

 They were here for awhile...

 And I mean it...

 They spent a long time here!

 After what seemed like ages - they moved on!  How cool is this?!  See the bucket pouring out on those children?!  FUN!!!  (but not for my 3 -- they did the work and watched as the water poured on other children)

 E and Sydney stuck together for awhile:

 Then E and MD went way up there...

 And slid down here:

After that they needed a treat...

 and ICEE does wonders for hot children!

 Simple joys in life!!!!

Off for a few more rides -- hot air balloon:

 E went with our friends -- he's somewhere behind those bushes!

MG agreed to go on another roller coaster:

 While MD went on this Banana Boat ride with my friend's husband.  I got off the roller coaster just in time to see him on it.  It made me nauseous just to watch him!

 While MD was on the ride above, E was on this with Sydney and Audrey.  Today, he was very independent and was more than willing to ride with his friends, rather than cling on to me.  I am hopeful this will be a sign that when he starts preschool he will go from me without any tears!

 A train ride!!!

 Choo-chooooo!!!!

 Then MD saw this:

 And we waited in line...

 It was a short line though...

 And on the Garlic ride we went!!!!

 The artichoke:

  MG and friends:

 And our day ended at the playground... when the announcement was made that they park would close in 15 minutes!  Yes, we were there when the park opened at 11 AM and we left when the park closed at 5 PM.

What another fantastic day!!!  We LOVE summer with friends!!!!!

Her first sleep over

She went off to camp with her troop yesterday afternoon at Gilroy Gardens...  This is her first time sleeping away from home without a family member in tow.  She was really nervous leading up to the event. But you will see from these photos, she was very excited!
The troop:

 Closer -- love that DJ their mascot is in a matching tshirt too!

 She's getting so big!!!!

 Brotherly love and farewell:

 a bit of a forced farewell?!

 Happy to be on their way!

And I'm happy to report that at 9:45 PM when she called to say good night, she was very happy!  I am so proud of her! :)  Picking her up this afternoon.. more stories to come about her adventures!  I also made her a few new items to carry her supplies!  Photos to follow!

So i don't have too many pictures because I'm still waiting for the leader and co-leader to offer some up!  lol  Cindy (the leader) and Melinda (co-leader) were nice enough to text and email some photos while they were having fun.

The tent they... er... pitched... hmmmm, something not quite right, right?  Turns out they were missing a pole -- so this was used to store their luggage!  (photo courtesy of Melinda)

Dinner that night: (photo courtesy of Cindy)

 The next morning riding the carousel: (photo courtesy of Melinda)

The next day in front of the waterfall:  (photo courtesy of Cindy)

While she was doing all that... they boys and I were doing this:

We celebrated the 5year anniversary of our local library/community center!

There were science demonstrations:

 Private story time:

 Cookie decorating:

 Yum!!!

 Then we went to a different library and they sat for 45 minutes during an opera performance of Hansel and Gretel!  The San Jose Opera members were amazing!  (Sadly, I was the one falling asleep during the show because I was up late worrying about MG last night and wondered if she would need me, etc, etc... but I never received a phone call.. and eventually fell asleep!)

 After the show we went to lunch....

yes, her ate both tacos and the pizza!!!  He's a growing boy!

After this meal we went to pick up MG -- she had a fabulous time!!!!  I am so proud of her!  Now she can have more sleep overs!  :)