golden springtime: A is for Amusement Park

It's back! #abcsummertake2 We loved our abc summer that we did last year, and throughout the school year we talked about it a lot as a family. The kids have had ideas that they want to do this summer, and want to repeat some favorites from last year. My dear friend Jen got the idea from a friend a few years ago and passed it on to us, and I'm so glad she did. A couple of my friends have started to do it too! It really makes the summer so easy to document, and helps me think outside of the box a little bit when planning things to do.

After the kids' last day of school, the big countdown was on for my last day. Well, the week finally arrived and was super emotional. I can't remember if I've talked about it yet, but I've accepted a new job teaching first grade for the district that K & T will go to. I've tried for three years to get an interview, and was finally able to this past Spring. I'll still be teaching first grade, which I am so happy about. I love my firsties. But I love K & T even more, and it was really important to me that I try everything I could to get on the same academic calendar as them. It will make life so much easier. Now we can share vacation days, snow days and Spring Breaks. I'll be able to have them at the same school I will teach at. I will know their teachers, I will see them in the hallways, I will be able to get a really good picture of them as students. It is a real blessing to be able to do this.

So, not only was it the end of the school year, but I was packing up my classroom to move to my new school too. Andy was a huge help, as were a couple of my friends. Taking time off work to help me pack and move was so helpful, I couldn't have done it alone. The last day finally arrived, the last boxes were packed and moved, last hugs were given, keys turned in and now it was time to celebrate!

What better way then A day!?!? This was the kids' first trip to an amusement park, this one is privately owned and super cute. We kept the whole thing as a surprise, didn't tell them what we were doing until we got there. They were PUMPED when we drove up to the place and they could see rides, and lights and lots of people.

Andy took them on one of the first rides we saw, here's a glimpse of them spinning around.

Such smiles! We must have known it was going to be a great night.

K & I rode together in one of these.

We loved it.

Next up was a for real roller coaster! It was the biggest one that K & T could ride. Daddy & T grabbed the front seat, K & I were in the next car. K & T were so brave and laughed the whole time! We rode it several more times throughout the night.

Fun swing ride.

We ran into one of T's best friends at the park with his family. T & F know each other from church and look forward to seeing each other as often as possible.

Cutie boys.

Pretty girl caught in an action shot.

I would love to know what they are talking about.

Loving the water rides!

Sometimes he gets annoyed of all of the picture taking I do. Can you tell?

She's always up for a carousel ride.

No one from our family is in this picture, but I'm including it because it was one of T's favorite things of the night. He hadn't seen a dunking booth before and was fascinated. We even had to eat right across from the booth so that he didn't miss any action.