Thrill Seekers (week 298)

For the most part, the Summer of 2012 will be remembered for the swimming parties, roller coasters, and for jumping-off of stuff.   Up until now, I have always been considered the careful one.  My parents never really worried about me running into the street, jumping off a cliff, or eating something I shouldn't--that was Christopher's role in the family.  But this Summer marked a significant turning point in my life.  This was the year that I officially became a thrill seeker.

In addition to canon balls and jumping off of diving boards, I started swimming across pools without my life jacket for the first time.   I am happy that I will be able to start Kindergarten and not be the last kid in my class to have rode a roller coaster--and completed my first loop-da-loop. 

This past week, we went to Knott's Berry Farm at night for the first time.  We planned it for weeks, and talked about it nearly every hour of every day in anticipation.  I watched all of the YouTube videos about each of the roller coasters at Knott's, and even plotted my approach.  There was some debate as we got closer as to whether we could fit it all in, particularly because I wanted to ride specific roller coasters like the Pony Express and the Jaguar in a specific order and they are located at opposite ends of the Park.  

When the big night finally arrived, it unfolded just as I expected.  Daddy came home from work on time and we drove over with the Armstrongs.  When we arrived, the Park was empty and we were able to run right up to the front of the lines, riding Pony Express at least five times in a row and hitting the Riptide pretty hard.  What we didn't anticipate was the announcement a few minutes later informing us that the Park was shutting down early because of low attendance.  They had ended their Summer--later--hours a week early.  When the news sunk-in at only 8:00 pm and at least 10 rides still to go on our list, both Jackson and I melted into a crying, sobbing mess.  It was pretty dramatic.  All the way home to Long Beach.

Because our moms felt so bad for us, we went back to Knott's the next day and rode many new rides. I figured that nothing in the world is a given, so I really stretched myself and went on the Jaguar, and the big loop-da-loop for the first time ever.  It was exhilarating.

Over the weekend, we also had action packed days of USC football barbecues, pool parties, and neighborhood block parties.  It was hot, so we had the Plummet Falls waterslide up in the backyard all weekend.  The Dunneks and Armstrongs came over Saturday to play--five boys--because mommy went to the USC game with her friends.  We all went nuts on the waterslide jumping, somersaulting, flipping, and flying down the waterslide backwards, forwards, and upside down.  Luckily, nobody ended-up at the hospital and the Trojans won 49-10.  On the first play of the first game of the year, Matt Barkley threw a 75 yard touchdown pass to Marquis Lee....hopefully, the first of many this year!  

We finished the Summer with a neighborhood block party at Stacy's house.  They had a giant slip-n-slide bouncehouse, snow cones, and cookies.  We wore our swimsuits because we left that party full of sugar and headed to the Bowers for a pool party with all of our pals.  By the end of the night, all the kids were passed-out on the couches and had to be carried home and dropped in bed.  We slept in on Labor Day and spent the afternoon on the waterslide in the backyard, building a roller coaster out of legos, and eating popcorn.