Six Flags Fun!!

Every January for the past several years, the kids have participated in a Reading Incentive program sponsored by Six Flags amusement parks. If a child reads (or is read to) for a total of 7 hours (unrelated to school reading), they receive a ticket for free admission to the park. Their teacher (that's me!!) also receives a complimentary ticket--quite the sweet deal. Typically, Daddy takes a day off work and accompanies the 3 oldest along with another family or 2 to add to the fun but he was unable to get off work . This year P no longer qualified because he is too old-- he was not at all disappointed because he dislikes amusement parks so he gladly spent the day with a friend. Mercy and L were old enough to participate this year( and Odesco was too young but joined us anyhow) , so with a little nudge from MamaK, we made a day of it. No matter how hard we try to plan ahead, it always seems like we are using these tickets the week they expire- how fast the summer always flies by! Mr. S led the way in his van and took most of the older kiddos with him on the crazy , make your stomach sick roller coasters. MamaK and I were perfectly content to accompany the less adventurous crowd on the more easily tolerated rides. Both groups met up for lunch back at our vans (thank goodness for cell phones!) and when we were ready to call it a day, we headed out for dinner on the way home while Mr. S kindly kept up with the other gang. He even delivered C right to our doorstep as they enjoyed rides until the park closed! It was a great day and another freebie blessing (except for the gas , $15 parking, and pricey bottled water!!) Mercy, Odesco , Jenkins, and L thoroughly enjoyed their first amusement park experience and Mama K and I were amazed at how smoothly the day went. Another opportunity to give thanks for His favor and kindness showered upon us!!
MamaB
PS: I never did manage to snap a picture of the other half of our crowd. They were too busy standing in line waiting to ride the most popular roller coasters!

Part of the gang with Mama K.

Are we having fun yet??? Mommy with a very reluctant L as we were waiting for the ferris wheel to take off...This was our first ride of the day and I did not give him the option of sitting this one out... I think by the end he was glad I forced the issue!

Jenkins and Odesco
Whenever I see these 2 doing something like this, I am reminded of how different their lives were just 2 years ago! For those of you with astute observation skills, you'll notice Odesco has 2 front teeth in this picture. Yep, my posts are way out of order and this trip actually took place the first week of August!!

G, J, and Mercy

Odesco's first Merry Go Round ride with MamaK looking on :)

Taking a break waiting for the big kiddos to join us for lunch!

Miss Mercy enjoying her first Merry-Go -Round ride :)

G looking so grown up!!

Keeping out of trouble while waiting in line for the next ride

The boys on the other hand were not so easily contained...they chose instead to chase their hats around as we walked from ride to ride.

Mercy and Mama K...

Mercy did not hold back when she spotted one of the showers available to refresh hot and weary visitors at the park...

Our gang plus a stranger sitting between Jenkins and Mercy!

Fun in the Nerf Zone...Mama K and I had fun ambushing our children with a barrage of harmless nerf balls when they least expected it...the kids did a pretty good job of catching us off guard as well. In between ball battles we rested our weary feet!